CALL TO ACTION 2008 #4 (June 13, 2008)
CALL TO ACTION 2008 #4
from Pat Smith, President, Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (LDA)
http://www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org/
Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Prevention Education & Research Act of 2007
S-1708 / HR-741
History: As you know, the Lyme bills are being held hostage by IDSA &
congress. The IDSA (Infectious Diseases Society of America) does not
want your voice heard and has made that clear to Congress. We must
make patient voices heard. You need to be counted. We are hearing
that many congressmen and senators have heard about this Lyme/IDSA
issue but they have still not acted. Only you can reverse that
situation. There may still be a chance for the July agenda. Don’t let
IDSA control your health!
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:
Who: All Individuals, organizations, doctors
When: June 13th - 27th 2008
What: Contact the following Congressmen and Senators (6 total)
How: Please call them. Second choice fax if there is a listed fax number
Why: The House Health Subcommittee (part of Energy & Commerce
Committee) and Senate HELP Committee are where the Lyme disease bills
are, and if the Committee chairs do not release the bills for a vote,
the bills will die.
1. Call Your Personal Congressman
Find your own US Representative: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Sample Phone Blurb:
I’m calling to ask Congressman (NAME) to contact Frank Pallone,
House Health Subcommittee Chair. Tell him to schedule a hearing on HR
741, the Lyme bill. Currently, the Committee is not scheduling the
bill but is bowing to a powerful medical society (IDSA) that has been
investigated by the Attorney General of Connecticut and found to have
substantial conflicts of interest regarding Lyme disease treatment
guidelines.
The Lyme bill does not focus on treatment, but research monies to
find a gold standard test for Lyme, and it establishes a federal
advisory committee based on a common model for federal committees,
which includes patient representation. IDSA does not want patients to
have a voice in their own disease. I need your help today. Call Mr.
Pallone and tell him you represent me and expect me to have a voice in
Lyme disease issues and to post the bill. (leave your name, address,
contact)
2. Call Congressman Dingell (MI), Chair of Energy & Commerce
(P) 202-225-4071 / (F) 202-226-0371
Sample Phone Blurb:
I’m calling to ask Congressman Dingell to contact Frank Pallone,
House Health Subcommittee Chair. Tell him to schedule a hearing on HR
741, the Lyme bill. Currently, the Committee is not scheduling the
bill but is bowing to a powerful medical society (IDSA) that has been
investigated by the Attorney General of Connecticut and found to have
substantial conflicts of interest regarding Lyme disease treatment
guidelines.
The Lyme bill does not focus on treatment, but research monies to
find a gold standard test for Lyme, and it establishes a federal
advisory committee based on a common model for federal committees,
which includes patient representation. IDSA does not want patients to
have a voice in their own disease. I need your help today. Call Mr.
Pallone and tell him to post the bill and give patients the voice they
deserve to have. (leave your name, address, contact info)
3. Call Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ) Health Subcommittee Chair
(P) 202-225-4671 (F) 202-225-9665
Sample Phone Blurb:
I’m calling to ask Congressman Pallone to schedule the Lyme bill for
a hearing today! He has made a grave mistake in siding with the IDSA
which has been investigated and discredited. The IDSA Guidelines’
settlement is a treatment issue unrelated to the bill which asks for
research money to find a gold standard test and for a patient voice on
a federal advisory committee which is a common model for federal
advisory committees. Mr. Pallone’s job is to help patients not support
an investigated, discredited medical society. (leave your name,
address, contact info)
4. Call Your Personal US Senators (2) today
Find your own 2 senators: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/
Sample Phone Blurb:
I’m calling to ask Senator (NAME) to contact US Senator Edward
Kennedy, Senate HELP Committee Chair. Tell him to schedule a hearing
on S-1708, the Lyme bill. Currently, the Committee is not scheduling
the bill but is bowing to a powerful medical society (IDSA) that has
been investigated by the Attorney General of Connecticut and found to
have substantial conflicts of interest regarding Lyme disease
treatment guidelines.
The Lyme bill does not focus on treatment, but research monies to
find a gold standard test for Lyme, and it establishes a federal
advisory committee based on a common model for federal committees,
which includes patient representation. IDSA does not want patients to
have a voice in their own disease. I need your help today. Call
Senator Kennedy and tell him you represent me and expect me to have a
voice in Lyme disease issues. (leave your name, address, contact)
5. Call US Senator Edward Kennedy (MA) Senate HELP Committee Chair
(202) 224 4543 (P) (202) 224-2417 (F)
Sample Phone Blurb:
I’m calling to ask Senator Kennedy to schedule the Lyme bill for a
hearing today! By not holding a hearing, he is ignoring the plight of
patients and listening to the IDSA, which has been investigated and
discredited. The IDSA Guidelines’ settlement is a treatment issue
unrelated to the bill which asks for research money to find a gold
standard test and for a patient voice on a federal advisory committee
which is a common model for federal advisory committees. Senator
Kennedy’s job is to help patients not support an investigated,
discredited medical society. (leave your name, address, contact info)
If you need inspiration, look at the photo at:
http://www.rally11-30-06.lymerights.org/html/lynn_mccabe_11-30-06_protest_21.html
or: http://tinyurl.com/3masz3
(thanks tincup for link)
CALL TO ACTION 2008 #3
From Pat Smith, President, Lyme Disease Association, Inc.
http://www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org/
Lyme & Tick-Borne Disease Prevention Education & Research Act of 2007
S-1708 / HR-741
History: As you know, Congressman Pallone has given the IDSA control
over the Lyme bill. We must change his mind. The patient call-ins,
protests, & great newspaper coverage & flyers in his district have had
an impact. We cannot confirm this, but we heard from a doctor who
called Mr. Pallone’s office that they are discussing the issue in DC
now. Congress is in recess next week. IDSA (Infectious Diseases
Society of America) does not want your voice heard and has made that
clear to Congress. Time has almost run out We must make patient voices
heard. You need to be counted.
Don’t let IDSA control your health!
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED:
Who: Individuals, organizations, doctors
Where: Across the US
When: May 21, 22, 23
What: Contact the following (1) Congressman and (2) Committee Staffs
How: Please call them. Second choice fax if there is a listed fax number
Why: The House Health Subcommittee and Senate HELP Committee are
where the Lyme disease bills are, and if the Committee chairs do not
release the bills for a vote, the bills will die.
1. Call Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ
Phone: 202-225-4671
Fax: 202-225-9665
Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee
Sample Phone Blurb:
I’m calling to ask Congressman Pallone to schedule the Lyme bill for a
hearing today! He has made a grave mistake in siding with the IDSA
which has been investigated. The IDSA Guidelines’ settlement is
unrelated to the bill which asks for research money and a patient
voice. Mr. Pallone’s job is to help patients. (Leave your name,
address, contact info)
2. Call the US House Health Subcommittee Staff
Phone: 202-225-2927
Sample Phone Blurb:
I’m calling to ask the Staff to ask Congressman Pallone to schedule
the Lyme bill for a hearing today! He has made a grave mistake in
siding with the IDSA which has been investigated. The IDSA Guidelines’
settlement is unrelated to the bill which asks for research money and
a patient voice. Mr. Pallone’s job is to help patients. (Leave your
name, address, contact info)
3. Call the US Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP)
Committee Staff
Phone: (202) 224-5375
Sample Phone Blurb:
I’m calling to ask the Staff to ask the HELP Committee Chair to
schedule the Lyme bill for a hearing today! He has ignored patients
and listened to the IDSA which has been investigated. The IDSA
Guidelines’ settlement is unrelated to the bill which asks for
research money and a patient voice. (Leave your name, address, contact
info)
4. Note: Out of respect, we are not asking you to call the office of
Senator Kennedy, Chair of the HELP Committee, at this time.
LymeRights.org, who supports this call-in has info on its website
about other actions you can take.
http://www.LymeRights.org/
For other bill info: http://LymeDiseaseAssociation.org/
Watch YouTube protest video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13bj_6L1hbI
Pat Smith, President, Lyme Disease Association, Inc.
PO Box 1438
Jackson, NJ 08527
888-366-6611 Toll free info line
732-938-7215 (Fax)
http://LymeDiseaseAssociation.org/
