You all have done an amazing job getting your concerns across to some key senators who have been able to hold the Autism CARES bill, in order to work on some changes that could make a big difference in the lives of folks with autism and their families.
Autism Speaks has been asking people to call their senators and pressure them to get the bill passed. That’s because to them the passage of a bill, any bill, is what matters. We want something better, and we’re working hard to achieve that goal. We’re asking you to call your senators too, but we want you to give them a different message:
“The current bill won’t help our families or provide taxpayers the return they deserve on their investment in autism research. The APRC has proposed modest changes that would go a long way toward fixing this. Please ask Senator (your senator’s name) to call Majority Leader Harry Reid and ask him to work with the senators holding the bill to make the changes the APRC has requested.”
The Senate will not be in session for the month of August, so we really want everyone to get this message before Friday. If you can call within the next 48 hours, that would be terrific.
To find your senators and their phone numbers, go to this link: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm, and choose your state from the dropdown box. It will select your states’ two senators and their phone numbers. If you happen to live in Washington DC, please call the Virginia senators.
Then please call Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ((202) 224-3542) and ask him directly to work with the senators holding the bill to make the changes the APRC has requested.
Thanks for all you do!
~ The Thinking Moms’ Revolution and the APRC
Please look around and see how many of our children are suffering from Autism,
and know they can be rescued from this but it will take a lot of care and services.
Some will need help for their entire life.
On July 24th there was a hearing held by the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations titled “The Global Challenge of Autism”. This hearing was convened by the Chair, House Rep. Chris Smith. Did anyone know about it? Did anyone get a call to submit testimony or to provide written comment on this hearing? There are many things missing in this testimony….many things, especially things that address access to choice in health care, access to appropriate victim/survivors services, access to representation…obviously when you read the statements of those that presented this wasn’t about civil rights or basic human rights, this was about the commerce of autism. I would urge each and everyone of you to listen, read the witness testimony, and advise Rep. Smith that he missed the boat on this…..BIG TIME. Then call your senator’s office this week, prior to the summer recess on Friday, to tell them that the current 2014 Autism CARES Act is not written to ensure the needs of individuals with autism in this country are met. Please get involved folks. Believe me when I say now, more than ever, we are not being properly represented to legislators and we must to so ourselves. Here is the link to the hearing and the address to write the committee is on the page. http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/subcommittees/africa-global-health-global-human-rights-and-international-organizations