Capitol Hill Day 2008
Capitol Call-In: Monday, March 3, 2008

Call for a cure for psoriasis!
Capitol Call-In: Monday, March 3, 2008

Who: You-and your friends and family!

What: Three brief phone calls to your elected officials in Washington, D.C., calling for a cure for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis!

Where: From anywhere you might be. All you need is a phone and a few minutes. We give you all the information you need.

When: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday, March 3, 2008

Why: On Monday, March 3, 2008, psoriasis advocates from across the country will be in Washington, D.C., during our annual Capitol Hill Day to ask members of Congress to help give psoriasis a "Fair Shake." Capitol Call-In is your chance to reinforce the message other volunteers are bringing in person, and to urge congressional support for the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure, and Care Act (H.R. 1188/S. 1459), which will help lead to a cure for psoriasis and improve access to care.

Participating in this national effort only takes a few minutes and is as simple as picking up the phone to call a friend. If elected officials don't hear from the psoriasis community, they won't know about our issues or concerns. By participating in Capitol Call-In, you can raise awareness about the seriousness of the disease and invite your member of Congress to join in working for a fair shake for psoriasis.

Calling the offices of members of Congress is one of the easiest and most effective ways for people affected by psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis to communicate the importance of these issues to policymakers. Such phone calls, when organized as part of a national effort, can be very effective in building more support in Congress for our cause.

How: Click here to make your calls!

You may wish to refer to these more detailed talking points during your calls:

1. Identify yourself as a constituent. Clearly state your first and last name, your hometown, and why you are calling.
   
   "My name is John Smith and I live in City/State, and I am a constituent. I also am a person living with psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis (or I know someone who lives with psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis)."


2. Immediately identify the topic you are calling to discuss.
   
   "I am concerned that there is not adequate federal government funding for psoriasis research and that more needs to be done toward finding a cure and improving access to treatments for patients."


3. Be clear about what you are asking the member to do.
   
   For your representative: "I urge the representative to support H.R.1188, the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure and Care Act (PPARCCA) of 2007."
   
   For your senators: "I urge the senator to support S. 1459, the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure and Care Act (PPARCCA) of 2007."


4. Keep it brief. Limit your call to no more than five minutes unless the staffer asks you questions and seems engaged in the discussion. If the staffer seems open to hearing more about the bill, feel free to share these points:
   
   The legislation specifically calls on the federal government to:
   
   
   • Expand psoriasis research conducted by the National Institutes of Health;
   
   
   • Strengthen patient data collection on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis by establishing a national psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patient registry through the Centers for Disease Control;
   
   
   • Convene a federal summit on psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis to discuss issues and opportunities in psoriasis research;
   
   
   • Direct the Institute of Medicine to create a report to evaluate and make recommendations on issues around access to care for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patients.


5. Specifically request a written response from the office on the member's position or action on the issue you addressed.
   
   "I would like a letter from your office spelling out the senator/representative's position on S. 1459/H.R. 1188, and whether or not he/she will become a co-sponsor of this important legislation."


6. Provide your full name, mailing address, e-mail address, and phone number.


7. Thank the staffer for his or her time and indicate that you appreciate his or her willingness to listen and record your comments. Be sure to get the name of the staffer so you can have it for your records, and record the day and time you spoke in case you need to follow up.
   
   "May I have your first and last name for my records? Thank you very much for your time and for recording my views and seeing that I receive a response from the senator/representative. Good-bye."


8. Let the National Psoriasis Foundation know what happened during your call by using our online feedback form.