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Dear Fellow Advocate,
Summer is sizzling on the legislative front in Washington. Read the
latest news on SCREA and CRPA, then get ready to TAKE ACTION on your
own behalf.
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SCREA Vote
 Washington is buzzing with news of the scheduled vote on the Stem
Cell Research Enhancement Act. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, MD
(R-Tenn.) just announced that the package of stem cell bills will be
considered on Monday, July 17, with all action taken by Tuesday, July
18.
This is a watershed moment for the future of regenerative
medicine. Don't let the threat of President Bush's veto deter you
from taking action. The will of the American people must be heard
(over 70% support embryonic stem cell research).
Phone, fax, and e-mail your Senators from now through Tuesday and
urge them to vote "yes" on HR 810 (also known as S 471). To send a
form letter e-mail, visit
here.
To phone, fax, or send a personalized e-mail, visit
here for
contact info on your Senator.
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CRPA
There is still hope that the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Act will be
brought up for a vote during this session of Congress. You can help
make that happen by continuing to communicate with your legislators
and asking them to cosponsor the bill. Just this past week we heard
from Todd Phillips of New York, who finally got Sen. Charles Schumer
to sign on as a co-sponsor. In Todd's words, "Thanks for your advice
in following-up. Between you and Bob Mulcahy telling me to keep at it
. . . really paid off. It did take a while but you were right.
PERSISTENCE!" Passage of the CRPA will help set the stage for a
human clinical trial network as science progresses toward curative
therapies.
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Meet with Your Legislators during August Recess
Also known as the "Summer District Work Period", this is an opportune
time to meet with your legislators without having to travel to
Washington. NOW is the time to call and schedule an appointment, as
many will also take vacations during this recess. If the SCREA
passes and Bush vetoes, this may be a critical time to talk with your
Senator or Representative about overriding the veto. If you couldn't
attend Working 2 Walk (or even if you did), take this opportunity to
visit your legislator and continue the push for CRPA. The House is
scheduled to adjourn July 31 and the Senate on August 7, and will not
reconvene until after Labor Day. Let's make sure this truly is a
"Work Period" for those who represent us in Washington. You can find
phone numbers for your local district office
here.
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Stem Cell Policy Summit
U2FP's Marilyn Smith and Bob Mulcahy attended the recent Stem Cell
Policy and Advocacy Summit hosted by the
Genetics Policy Institute.
An outstanding lineup of speakers presented a wealth of information
that we are still digesting. We did a lot of brainstorming with
advocates from other patient groups (Parkinson's, Cerebral Palsy,
Multiple Sclerosis, etc.) about strategies and unification
opportunities in the ongoing effort to push science forward. You
will see the fruit of these workshops in the coming months, and can
read Marilyn's notes on the advocacy sessions
here.
Unite 2 Fight Paralysis is a 501c3 organization dedicated to
improving the present and future lives of all those afflicted with
neurological disorders. To learn more about our activities, visit
our
website.
To contact us directly, send us an
email.
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