RFTS leadership meets in Washington DC to discuss the need for national CP surveillance research in the office of Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (Missouri) and Viquar Ahmad, Assistant to the Chairman for Congressman Ralph Regula (Ohio), Chairman of the House Congressional Subcommittee for Health and Human Services.
RFTS and The United Cerebral Palsy Foundation were honored to meet with Dr. Margaret Giannini, MD, F.A.A.P in Washington DC to discuss Cerebral Palsy research. Dr. Giannini is currently Director of the Health and Human Service Office on Disability and the highest ranking person in the Bush administration dealing with disabilities.
Dr. Giannini's Bio 
Discussions on the state of Cerebral Palsy research in Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson's DC office with Congresswoman Emerson and Viquar Ahmad.
Congressman Ralph Regula, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Health and Human Services pauses for a photo after Dr. Janice Brunstrom's Congressional testimony on behalf of RFTS.
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RFTS Advocacy Update
 to see exactly what we presented and asked for in terms of
research and funding.
In early March 2006, RFTS leadership, parents of children with Cerebral Palsy and Dr. Gary Clark, Chief of Neurology of Texas Children's Hospital met with several US Senators, Congressmen, Congresswomen and their health issues staff from a variety of states including Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri, Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania (also Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Health and Human Services), Congressman Tom Price (Georgia), Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas), Viquar Ahmad, Assistant to the Chairman - Congressman Ralph Regula (Ohio and Chairman of the House Subcommittee of Health and Human Services), and other key national lawmakers. Thanks to the efforts of Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson and Viquar Ahmad, RFTS was invited back to Washington on March 30th to testify before the House Subcommittee on Health and Human Services regarding the need for primary surveillance national research by the CDC. The RFTS testimony was beautifully delivered by Dr. Janice Brunstrom, RFTS Medical Advisory Board Member. You can view this testimony by Clicking Here .
Please also visit this link to see more about what went on during our visit to Washington on March 30th. Also on March 30th, we had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Margaret Giannini, the highest ranking official on disabilities currently in the Bush admininstration to discuss the importance of Cerebral Palsy research on a national level. Cynthia Frisina Gray, Dr. Janice Brunstrom, Dr. Mindy Aisen (CEO and Director of the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation) met with Dr. Giannini after the RFTS Congressional testimony. All national lawmakers emphasized the importance of parents raising their voices, writing letters to their Congressmen, Congresswomen, Senators and the President expressing how important it is to have national Cerebral Palsy research come to the foreground of national medical research and surveillance being conducted. The more letters, phone calls, emails and faxes that are sent now during this critical budget time, the better chance we have to all make a difference. If you are interested in more information please call us at the phone number listed on our Contact Us page or email us at info@reachingforthestars.org . We would love to have more of you involved across the country and there are many ways you can help. Just give us a call or email us if you would like to find out more. It's not too late to add your voice. We can't afford to be silent. We need to continue to speak up and let our national lawmakers know why we need more federally funded, national cerebral palsy research. We encourage you to use the main points in our Fact Sheet to your Senators and Congressmen. One
person really can make a difference!
We need to raise awareness among specific members of the 1) US Senate Subcommittee on Health and Human Services, and 2) the US House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. The members of these two powerful committees cover 36 states and control funding to the CDC (Centers of Disease Control) and other organizations that can make a positive impact on Cerebral Palsy research. Please click here to see a complete list of these committee members and their direct contact information. Your faxes and emails really do make a difference. Please let your voices be heard. Why might you want to follow up with a phone call? There are over 5,000 bills that have been introduced in the Congress. There simply is not the time to review in detail all of these bills. There are hundreds (if not more than 1,000) health care related bills introduced in the Congress every year and a member usually has only one staffer partially dedicated to working on health care issues. The CDC budget is very tight this year. National lawmakers need to know that CP research is important as they are making their funding decisions. Tell them that it is. Please join us on our journey of hope and change. Thank you! Reaching For The Stars. A Foundation Of Hope For Children With Cerebral Palsy Advocacy in Action Committee |
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