Does YOUR U.S. Rep Support Psoriasis Research?

[jshearer]

The government's $28 BILLION medical research budget is up for grabs, and you can help ensure that psoriasis gets its fair share.

As a result of our Capitol Hill Day, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) and Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Penn.) are leading the charge to increase psoriasis research funding. Please contact your U.S. representative (http://www.capwiz.com/psoriasis/issues/alert/?alertid=7637081&type=CO) and request that he or she sign Rep. Lynch and Rep. Murphy's "Dear Colleague" letter supporting psoriasis research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

In early June, Reps. Lynch and Murphy will send this "Dear Colleague" letter to the two powerful members of the House of Representatives who control funding for the NIH. The more signatures on this letter, the more Congress will recognize the importance of funding psoriasis research.

Please contact your U.S. rep NOW! (http://www.capwiz.com/psoriasis/issues/alert/?alertid=7637081&type=CO)

Thanks,
Joey

[ouchyk]

Awesome,

Thanks Joey!

[Kimbercat]

bump!...I'm making my call in the morning as soon as I review my notes from CHD. :)

[ouchyk]

bump, please ask your representative to sign on!

[nitegale]

Thanks again Joey. You have made it so simple!! :)

Marie

[SandraJean]

Hi,

Thanks Joey,

I've just called my Reprensatives office plus the one I went to see in Ali's district too.

I just got a voice mail for Randy Kuhl's office, but I'm going to call again till I can speak to the aid in person.

It's funny as I have the TV on now and Randy Kuhl just stepped off the airplane with George Bush as the President is in Rocherster, NY right now for a special meeting in our area.

Thanks again,

Sandy

Joey,

Prior to your post I received a letter from my rep regarding a previous letter I sent to him stating his support for my (our) cause. He added in the letter that he is on the appropriations committee and will what he can to see that the funding happens. I was pleased that it was not a form letter.

Annie

[jshearer]

Annie,

That's great! Make sure that you remind him of his previous letter. I'll also post some phone call talking points for any brave souls who want to call their representative's office.

It's actually really easy, and you'll probably end up leaving a message for the health staffer instead of talking to him or her in person. Remember, your representative's office is in Washington, D.C. to work for YOU! And they hear from constituents all the time.

If you're a fantastic phone talker, please see below.

Thanks,
Joey

[jshearer]

Making a short phone call is another important way of communicating with Congress. Every congressional office receives dozens, if not hundreds, of phone calls from their constituents every day. If you are patient and polite, your phone call can be VERY EFFECTIVE. Below is an outline and talking points for an effective phone call.

You can find your representative and his or her phone number HERE (http://capwiz.com/psoriasis/dbq/officials/). Note: this message is not for senators, only for members of the House of Representatives.


When the receptionist answers:

● My name is [YOUR NAME]. I am constituent from [CITY, STATE].

● I’m calling to speak to the Representative’s “health staffer.”
-If staff person is not available: “Could you please put me through to voicemail?”


When staff person answers or you get to voicemail:

● Hi, this is [YOUR NAME] from [CITY, STATE].

● I am calling to personally ask that the Representative sign on to the “Dear Colleague” letter supporting psoriasis research funding, dated May 18, that Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) and Congressman Tim Murphy (R-Penn.) are co-leading.

● NIAMS spends about $5 million, or only about $1 per American with psoriasis, on research for a disease which costs more than $4 billion annually to treat.

● (OPTIONAL) The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) supports the vast majority of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis research at the NIH. However, since 1995, while NIH funding has increased 99 percent, even after inflation, funding for psoriasis at NIAMS has decreased 9 percent.

● An estimated 12,000 people in the Representative’s district have psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis.

● For more information, or to sign onto the letter, please contact Caroline Powers in Rep. Lynch’s office at 5-8273 or Michael Baxter in Rep. Murphy’s office at 5-2301

● The deadline to sign on to this Dear Colleague is Tuesday, May 31.

● My phone number is [YOUR PHONE NUMBER].

● Thank you very much. I hope the Representative will support psoriasis research.


REMEMBER TO SHARE WHAT YOU LEARN FROM YOUR REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE NATIONAL PSORIASIS FOUNDATION.

[littleangel]

***bump***

[abbyroad]

just emailed my rep in California and when I get back to the states will make a call as well..
thank you for making it so very very easy for us to contact our reps and for the wonderful talking points...
that is awesome!
Abby :)