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I have been asked by the Parkinson's Action Network to post the following: ---------------- March 14, 1997 UDALL BILL TO BE INTRODUCED APRIL 9TH The Udall bill has been finalized and is set for introduction in the Senate and House on Wednesday, April 9th! The press conference featuring the bill's sponsors -- Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Paul Wellston (D-MN), and Congressman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Henry Waxman (D-CA) -- as well as representatives of the Parkinson's community, is scheduled for 11:00 am that morning. THAT LEAVES LESS THAN A MONTH TO SIGN UP ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS! The Parkinson's community needs to do all it can in the coming weeks to contact Senators and Representatives urging them to sign onto the bill. The ultimate goal is to help our Udall champions introduce the bill with a majority of cosponsors in each body -- 50 Senators and 218 Representatives. Working as hard as possible, this ambitious goal is attainable. Call your Legislators' Washington, DC offices toll-free at 800-962-3524, speak with the Legislative Assistant responsible for health care or medical research issues, urge them to immediately support the Udall bill, and ask for a definitive response whether or not their boss will cosponsor. Be polite but persistant until you get a definitive response. Never hesitate to contact the Network for assistance. These updates are intended to inform and inspire Parkinson's activists, and you are encouraged to publish, reproduce and distribute them to any and all interested persons. Senate: The latest cosponsor is indeed a significant one: New York Republican Alfonse D'Amato. Despite a heroic effort by local advocates, Senator D'Amato did not cosponsor the bill in the 104th Cngress. Three cheers to the New York area advocates for their persistance and perseverence this year! House: Representatives Upton and Waxman will circulate their Dear Colleague letter next week and then begin signing up cosponsors. Please contact your Representatives and urge them to sign on to the Udall bill immediately. Cosponsor Count Due to the lack of House cosponsors, the entire list of Senate cosponsors is listed below. When you see any of your local Legislators listed here, please contact them to say, "Thanks for supporting the Udall bill!" SENATE : 22 HOUSE: 00 Senate Paul Wellstone (D-MN)* Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)* Christopher (Kit) Bond (R-MO)* Barbara Boxer (D - CA)* Richard Bryan (D - NV)* Conrad Burns (R-MT) Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO)* Thad Cochran (R-MS)* Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY) Thomas Daschle (D - SD)* Christopher Dodd (D-CT)* John Glenn (D-OH)* Charles Grassley (R-IA)* Tom Harkin (D-IA)* Ernest Hollings (D-SC)* Daniel Inouye (D-HI)* Patrick Leahy (D-VT)* Connie Mack (R-FL)* Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY)* Charles Robb (D-VA)* Robert Torricelli (D-NJ)** * = Cosponsor in 104th Congress ** = House Cosponsor in 104th Congress ----------- Parkinson's Action Network 800-850-4726 Headquarters: 818 College Ave., Suite C Santa Rosa, CA 95404 phone 707-544-1994 fax 707-544-2363 email: [log in to unmask] Washington, DC office 601 13th St. NW., Suite 310 Washington, DC 20005 phone 202-628-2079 fax 202-628-2077 Brad Udall, Chair Joan I. Samuelson, President John L. Dodge, Treasurer Bonnie K. Mioduchoski, Administrator Michael Claeys, Community Coordinator The Action Reporter is a free publication of the Parkinson's Action Network, a non-profit charitable foundation for a cure for Parkinson's. Use of this material in other publications is welcomed. We ask that the Network be identified as the source of the material, and notified how, when and where the material is used. Simply call 800-850-4726