Forwarded message:
From: [log in to unmask] (Parkinson's Action Network)
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: 97-02-05 14:36:16 EST
Original Co-sponsor Drive =97 105th Congress =97 February, 1997
If advocates don=92t have direct access to their Senators or Representative
themselves, contact be made with the DC-based staff person responsible for
"health care issues." Advise them that the Udall bill will soon be
simultaneously introduced into the House and Senate. A press
conference will announce introduction, and our goal is to show the strong
bipartisan support for the Udall bill by having a significant number of
"original co-sponsors" in both the House and Senate. (Original co-sponsors
are those Members who have demonstrated their strong support for the bill by
signing onto it before its actual introduction.)
A "Dear Colleague" letter will be circulated the week of February 3rd to all
Members of the House and Senate. This letter will advise Members of the
Udall bill, its provisions, how urgently it is needed, the planned date of
introduction, and ask for their immediate support. =20
The Udall bill is a bipartisan bill, and therefore has lead Republican and
Democrat sponsors in both the House and Senate. They are:
House Senate
Fred Upton (R-MI) John McCain (R-AZ)
Henry Waxman (D-CA) Paul Wellstone (D-MN)
However, since only one Member is allowed to officially introduce a bill
into each house of Congress, the Udall bill leaders decided to have the bill
introduced by the two Members of the majority Republican party. Therefore,
while your Senators can contact either Senator McCain or Senator Wellstone
with questions or information requests about the bill, they should only
contact Senator McCain to officially sign on to "co-sponsor" the Udall
bill. Similarly, House Members can contact either Representative Upton or
Representative Waxman with questions, but they should contact only
Representative Upton to sign on to "co-sponsor" the Udall bill.
Of course, you can refer any Members' or staff's questions to PAN =97 we are=
more
than happy to provide any information or answer any questions.
In this process, it is very important to be persistent with the offices you
contact. Members and staff have a tremendous number of demands on their
time, and there are literally hundreds of bills for them to review and take
positions on. Polite persistence is the only way to ensure that your
Senators and Representative follow through and actually sign on to become
original co-sponsors. You should not hesitate to contact PAN (800) 850-4726
at any point to ask for advice or assistance in your efforts.
Any Senator or Representative can be contacted toll-free through the Capitol
Switchboard: (800) 962-3524
Margaret Tuchman (55yrs, Dx 1980)- NJ-08540
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