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Dear friends, Several of my caregivers have asked me to re-post this to the List, in case you missed it. On Thu, 5 Mar 1998 13:55:57 -0500 Ivan M Suzman <[log in to unmask]> writes: >^^^^^^WARM GREETINGS FROM^^^^^^^^^^ >Ivan Suzman 48/10 [log in to unmask] >Portland, Maine land of lighthouses 47 deg. F sunny >*********************************************************** >Dear LIstmembers, > > I am writing you, having talked with Helen Mason in Oregon and >many >others, about OUR research funds in Washington, D.C.. > A large number of us still fear that we Parkinson's people have >been "lost in the shuffle!" > Americans on our Parkinson's List are at a CRITICAL point, right >NOW, >in our four-year long battle to win $100,000,000.00 of "Udall Bill" >moneys for Parkinson's Disease research, from the U.S. government. >Our battle is so close to being completed. We must, however, do one >more CRUCIAL thing--we must AGAIN telephone, e-mail, write, meet with >and educate all of our United States Senators and Representatives, and >especially, the Appropriations Committee, about our desperate need for >an Appropriations Committee vote to FULLY FUND the Udall research >moneys. > I am profoundly concerned that ALL of the American listmembers, >and >our politically able friends elsewhere, are STILL not heard, LOUDLY >and CLEARLY, about this $100,000,000,.00. > In the 1980's, AIDS activists successfully developed the art of >being >visible on the media, attracting celebrities to the cause, and getting >the "ears" of the politicians in Washington. > In the 1990's, we Parkinson's activists are, unfortunately, far >too >few in number. Most of our Parkinson's DIsease community consists of >people NOT able to walk the halls of Congress and the streets of >Washington. My own TV appearance in January was rare, as were Joan >Samuelson's and Jim Cordy's testimonies in Washington, D.C. Even >Muhammad Ali's efforts have not firmly won our long-awaited >$100,000,000.00. > Last fall, $100,000,000.00 was approved by Congress for >Parkinson's >research. However, unless the Appropriations Committee of Senators >and Representatives votes BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30, 1998, and uses its >power to actually transfer the $100,000,000.00 into the hands of the >National Institute of Health, the money might not get used for >Parkinson's at all !! > As far as I understand, after talking yesterday to Paul Smedberg, >Director of the American Parkinson's Disease Association Office in >Washington, (tel 1-800- 684-2732), this Appropriations Committee >action is the FINAL STEP needed to be sure that the $100,000,000.00 is >actually spent on Parkinson's, and not lost to something else! > Therefore, I urge everyone on this List, to PLEASE take time to >telephone, write or contact your elected U.S. Senators and >Representatives, and ask them to relay and support our message to the >Appropriations Committee. > The Message is, simply: > ><< Please, members of the Appropriations Committee , vote to "FULLY >FUND THE UDALL BILL." >> > > Only once the Appropriations Committee VOTE has happened, are we >TRULY >able to celebrate. > Until then, our "Udall" job is not completed. Jim Cordy's >hourglass >truly represents our time to ACT NOW, before it's too late!! > > Ivan Suzman, 48/10 Portland, Maine. >