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>Date: Thu, 06 Mar 1997 20:03:22 -0800 >From: "Parkinson's Action Network" <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: [log in to unmask] >Organization: Parkinson's Action Network >To: Margaret Tuchman <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: Udall bill; need info >References: <[log in to unmask]> > >Margaret Tuchman wrote: >> >> Hi Mike, >> >> I think you may want to answer this. Is it possible that new aides are >> working in congressional offices and the really have no knowledge of last year's bill? >> Did a "Dear Colleague" letter go to all the Senators?? Mike Claeys, PAN wrote: > >Margaret, > >I spoke with Debbie White about this issue just today. I cleared things >up with her, but if people are discouraged by her account, please post >my explaination so that people will have the whole story. > >The Dear Colleague has gone around to all offices on the Senate side. >However, Congressional offices receive mail three times a day, and each >delivery can include upwards of thirty or forty Dear Colleagues -- >especially at the beginning of a session like now. There are literally >hundreds and hundreds of bills out there, so don't be surprised that >every staffer does not know about every bill off the top of his or her >head. Typically what happens is when staffers get calls about a bill >like the Udall bill, they call the office of the bill's sponsor and >request information on the bill -- usually a Dear Colleague -- and then >begin their consideration. > >Let me assure you there are people in both Kennedy's and Wellstone's >offices who know about the Udall bill. First of all, make sure you are >calling the DC office (I'm sure everyone is, but I just have to mention >that.) Wellstone has two people who know the bill well: Health LA Margy >Heldring and Health Fellow Linda Degutis -- talk to either one of them , >or refer other staffers to them for information. > >Senator Kennedy's office is a little different. Because Kennedy is the >ranking Democrat on the Labor & Human Resources Committee, he has >staffers who work at the Committee to handle health care issues. One >person I know knows about the Udall bill is Dr. Pearl O'Rourke, and she >and other Kennedy staffers can be reach through the committee. > >I know it can be confusing and frustrating trying to deal with all these >staffers and interns and voice mail, etc, but we have to use a lot of >patience and persistance and stay focused on the goal. As Joan likes to >say when I'm get a little stressed, "Nothing great is easy!" We can do >it! > >Please don't hesitate to call PAN (800) 850-4726 whenever you have >questions or feel you are getting the runaround from your legislators. > > Margaret Tuchman (55yrs, Dx 1980)- NJ-08540 [log in to unmask]