 |
 |
Someone wrote me offering too write truckloads of letters. While composing my reply my computer ate his address. Here's the reply. Please E-Mail me again. Great to hear that kind of enthusiasm. If we could just get a few more like you say in Florida or Chicago or North Carolina. At the top of your list to write should be your two Senators. Next on your list should be your Congressman. Writing letters is good. A lot of letters is great, but, I believe that the most effective method of influencing legislators is a personal visit. If we could have one person with Parkinson's meet with every Senator and Representative we will easily pass this bill. We have a compelling case and when presented personally the overwhelming majority of legislators contacted have agreed to cosponsor. Next on the list is Senator Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas and those on her Labor and Human Resources committee who are not currently cosponsors (Ashcroft-MO, Jeffords-VT, DeWine-OH, Gorton-WA, Coats-IN, Gregg-NH, Abraham-MI, Harkin-IA). Despite 29 Senators cosponsoring this legislation, it remain stalled in this committee. The same is true in the House Commerce Subcommittee on Health and the Environment, chaired by Congressman Mike Bilirakis of Florida, where this bill languishes despite 109 cosponsors. Should this bill get out of the Subcommittee it requires approval of the full Commerce Committee chaired by Congressman Bliley of Virginia. Finally, the Republican leadership (Senator Bob Dole and Speaker Newt Gingerich) who will ultimately have great influence on whether this bill is ever considered or passes. Keep your message simple try to limit our pitch to 3 items: 1) PARKINSON'S IS A DEVASTATING ILLNESS - Although treatment with medication is often effective in the early stages, these medications lose their effectiveness resulting in incapacitating stiffiness and loss of the ability to iniatiate movement. 2) A CURE IS WITHIN OUR GRASP - Researchers describe Parkinson's a the most easily cured neurological disorder - if adequate research support is provided. Several major research advances (neural cell transplantation, neural growth factors, and genetic engineering of cells) leave Parkinson's poised on the brink of a major breakthrough. 3) THIS LEGISLATION IS COST EFFECTIVE - Congressional testimony estimated the cost of Parkinson's Disease to exceed $26 million per year. Even the most conservative estimate is a staggering $6 billion per year. Expenditures of $100 million per year for five years to save $26 billion per year is an investment any company in the private sector would make without hesitation.