Jim and the Rest of the List,
Great post!  Here is what we are distributing next week through the
(Houston Area Parkinson Society) HAPS newsletter to our 1000 members.
It's a little different than yours because Joan Samuelson is still
talking to Senator Mc Cain and others about introduction on the 29th.
Either way we win so Ii am showing alternate dates for the Bills's
introduction.

HAPS  News Letter March 15
Udall Parkinson's Bill Alive and Well

The 105th Congress is in session and the new Parkinsons Research
Education and Assistance Act (Udall Parkinson's Bill) will be introduced
either April 9, or April 23.  While the 104th congress did not complete
the approval process for last years Udall Bill, it was approved
unanimously by the Senate as part of the NIH Reauthorization.
Unfortunately the House did not act on the bill so we must resubmit the
bill to the 105th congress.

Since our last report many positive things have been happening. We have
the beginnings of a National Parkinson's Coalition that includes the
APDA, NPF PDF, PI and PAN. Early meetings have served to identify
differences but have validated the importance of the Udall bill to the
PD community.

In the Senate, Senator Paul Wellstone (D) MN, and Senator John McCain (R
) Arizona have agreed to be principle Co-Sponsors. In the House
Congressman  Fred Upton (R ) and Henry Waxman (D) California have also
agreed to Co-Sponsor.

The bill will have all the key points that the last bill had and will
request $100 million.  You can help greatly by calling our Senator's and
Congressman and by asking them to support the Udall Parkinson's Disease
Bill.

A schedule of events for the next few months follows.

March 24 - April 4,  Congress will not be in session and members will be
at home in their district offices. This is an excellent time to call and
visit them. Let them know who you are and how much you care.

April 9, alternate  date for introduction of the Udall bill.

April 23, Muhammad Ali to testify before the Senate Appropriations
Committee - alternate date for Udall Bill Introduction. Expect national
media coverage.

April 29,  Udall Awards Dinner in Washington  honoring Congressman Fred
Upton (R ) Michigan and Senator Tom Harkin (D) Iowa for their support of
the Udall initiatives.

The PAN Forum is scheduled for June 9 -12, in Washington. Any one (From
Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma) wishing to be an Advocate should contact
Bob Martone at 281-358-5168 and/or the Parkinson's Action Network at 1-
800-850-4726. The forum includes Parkinsonians and caregivers from all
over the country and provides in-depth training on how to be an advocate
for PD including scheduling visits with your representatives to discuss
the Udall bill while you are in Washington.
Bob Martone

-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

> Date: Thursday, 13-Mar-97 04:21 PM
>
> From: [log in to unmask]       \ Internet:    ([log in to unmask])
> To:   Parkinsn Mail            \ Internet:    ([log in to unmask]
utoronto.ca)
>
> Subject: WE HAVE A PLAN !
>
> I'm joinning Bob Dolezal in presenting this plan of action( see
separate post).
>  The plan is the same, the appeal a little different.  I hope that one
of these
> appeals motivates everyone.  This plan had substantial input from Teri
Whitling
> and Bob Martone among many others.  After a long winter staring at the
specter
> of a year of lost opportunity (our failure to pass the Udall Bill), I
feel the
> excitement of spring and a new initiative building.  As the bulbs
begin to
> break their way out of their dormancy, I see my fellow advocates
beginning  to
> emerge.  Just as these bulbs will surely burst into the warm sunshine
of
> summer, I look forward to basking in the success of passing the Udall
Bill.
>
> HERE'S THE PLAN
>
> Now is the time.  Our leaders have positioned us such that victory is
ours
> for the taking. That victory is increased funding for Parkinson's
research (the
> Udall Bill).
> We now have a plan.
>
> 1) WRITE & CALL/VISIT IN DISTRICT - The last week in March and
> the first week in April  Congress is on recess.  Visit every
Congressman
> and Senator possible during that two week period and    politely
insist that
> they cosponsor the Udall Bill which will be introduced upon their
return.  Prior
>  to a visit or if you can't visit - write or call (800-962-3542 the
capitol
>  switchboard, just ask for your Congressman or Senator)  Calls and
letters are
>  not as effective as a visit but are the next best thing (on their own
) and
>  compliment a visit(demonstrating the visitor represents many more)
>
> 2) INTRODUCTION - The Udall Bill will be introduced by Senator McCain
and
> Congressman Upton on Apr. 9th. Equally vital to the ultimate success
is the
> support of their minority counterparts Senator Wellstone and
Congressman    Waxman
> 3) ALI AT APPROPRIATIONS - Two weeks later, on April 23rd, Muhammed
Ali will be  on Capitol Hill to testify before the House Appropriations
Committee.  We will
> recruit a group of advocates and go to Washington that week to contact
any and
> all of those who have not yet agreed to cosponsor.  Word of Ali's
presence on
> the Hill should maximize our presence and impact.
>
> 4) FINALE - On April 29, as the grand finale, PAN has its annual Udall
Awards
> dinner.  By that time we should have as cosponsors the majority of
both houses.
>
> We then will have given our political leaders (McCain, Wellstone,
Upton and
>> Waxman) a majority in both Houses  far earlier than last year and
Congress
> will  not be  adjourning early for a presidential election.  We will
also have
> given them  something almost as important -  a dramatic demonstration
of the unity and  resolve of the Parkinson's community.   A  message
that we will not be
> denied.
>
> My challenge is to come up with the words that will motivate people,
many
> who  may have never been  involved in politics or perhaps do not even
know who  their  Congressman is,  to summons up the nerve, resolve,
chutzpa, cojones (call  it what  you will), and  go see their
Congressman and Senators. There is simply no  substitute for seeing your
elected official in person.  If during that
> visit you convey  the misery brought about by this affliction and
establish that a cure or  new  effective treatment is close, then that
person must look you in the eyes  and either  say  "Yes, I will help" or
"No, I will condemn you to a life of disease and  suffering".  The
latter is extremely difficult for one human to say to
> another. If you  have Parkinson's and would like to do your part to
cure this hideous  disease, plan  on seeing your Congressman in person
during those two weeks. Call now as  you  may have to convince their
aides that you will see your elected official if  you have  to sit on
the door step.  Tenacity should not be a problem for those who  suffer
daily with this scourge. You cannot convey this emotion by phone or
letter.  You cannot convey this  emotion through an aide.  It takes a
personal visit and it works.   My wife and I have personally seen 23
elected officials and 19 have agreed to cosponsor.  Conversely  we have
spoken to 20 aides and only 10 of those elected officials have  agreed
to  cosponsor.    If you want to one day have the freedom of movement we
all use to take for granted, you simply must seize this opportunity.
>
> This is it folks.   We need to get this legislation passed now.  We
must
> demonstrate that the Parkinson's community has the resolve to demand
that
> we obtain the breakthrough that the neuroscientists tell us is so
tantalizingly    close.  We cannot keep coming back year after year with
the same message.      This is  the  year we must get it done.

> Jim Cordy
> Pittsburgh
> [log in to unmask]
-------- REPLY, End of original message --------


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