| Oregon_kidney 2006-08-23, 8:26 am |
| IMMEDIATE GRASSROOTS ACTION REQUIRED
TRANSPLANT COORDINATORS AND PATIENTS
NEED TO CONTACT CONGRESS IMMEDIATELY
Dear NATCO Member:
Now is a critical time in the legislative process for federal funding
of critical transplant programs. You and your patients should
contact your Congressional representatives today to encourage funding
for Organ Donation and Recovery Act.
The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate have both
passed preliminary versions of legislation to fund federal health
care programs. The legislation, known as the Labor-Health & Human
Services Appropriations Act, provides dollars for all federal health
care programs. For the first time, a Senate Committee has passed a
preliminary proposal which includes funds for the Organ Donation and
Recovery Improvement Act.
Unfortunately, the House's version of the same legislation contains
no dollars for the program.
That is why it is critical that Members of both the House and Senate
hear from constituents today about this important program. The
different versions must be reconciled and signed by the President
before any health care programs are funded. If Members of Congress
hear from their constituents during this critical negotiating period,
thousands of patients could see improved access to transplant
services.
Attached are talking points you and your patients may use to write an
email or make a phone call to your Members of Congress. Remember,
contact both of your U.S. Senators and your Representative. For
information on how to contact your Members of Congress go to:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Congress is considering funding the Organ Donation and Recovery
Improvement Act. Now is a critical time for Members of Congress to
hear from their constituents about this important program.
Talking Points for Transplant Recipients Contacting Their Senators
Ask your Congressional Representatives to fund the Organ Donation and
Recovery Improvement Act in this year's Labor-HHS Appropriations
Legislation
Ask your senators to do the following and emphasize the points below
-Please appropriate $2 million for the Organ Donation and Recovery
Improvement Act in the Labor, HHS and education Appropriations Bill
for Fiscal Year 2007.
-The Senate Committee-passed legislation contained $2 million for
this critical program, but the House version did not. Please support
the Senate funding level.
-While $2 million would be a very small portion of the overall Labor-
HHS appropriations bill, it would provide thousands of people with
critical and life-saving access to transplants.
-The funding would support critical transplant programs including
financial support for living organ donors, thereby decreasing the
number of people in need of deceased donor organs.
- Currently more than 92,000 Americans are awaiting organ
transplantation.
- The "waiting list" has become the "waiting to die list" with more
than 6000 candidates who have died this year while awaiting organ
transplant.
-This law is in its 3rd year of its 5 year authorization (after 5
years funding expires). I implore you to support the funding of this
law so that people like me can continue to benefit from cost-
effective alternative to dialysis (or dying) such as transplantation.
-Please take the lead in funding this critical law.
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