Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act

[Leo]

hi litespeed,

have you heard Dodd's opinion on this

my guess is Harkin may just need to be reminded or is in the process

thinking consentraiting on the comm. members

we need a generic letter thanking these committee co-sponsors and maybe ask them who else would be possible and also urging them to get this out and vote

we cannot wait until last minute again

imo

[Leo]

here are the co-sponsors from last year that are not yet on this years.

some are no longer in office,



Sen Corzine, Jon S. [NJ] - 7/20/2005
Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] - 10/31/2005
Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] - 5/3/2006
Sen Jeffords, James M. [VT] - 2/7/2006
Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 4/18/2005
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA] - 7/20/2005
Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] - 12/7/2006
Sen McCain, John [AZ] - 5/25/2005
Sen Santorum, Rick [PA] - 9/20/2006
Sen Sarbanes, Paul S. [MD] - 9/20/2005
Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] - 4/18/2005
Sen Stabenow, Debbie [MI] - 7/11/2005

--------------------------------------------

Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1] - 11/16/2005
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] - 4/14/2005
Rep Bass, Charles F. [NH-2] - 6/19/2006
Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 9/25/2006
Rep Boehlert, Sherwood [NY-24] - 9/6/2006
Rep Bradley, Jeb [NH-1] - 4/19/2005
Rep Brown, Sherrod [OH-13] - 4/12/2005
Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] - 7/12/2005
Rep Case, Ed [HI-2] - 4/12/2005
Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] - 4/26/2005
Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-15] - 7/28/2006
Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] - 5/26/2005
Rep Engel, Eliot L. [NY-17] - 4/6/2006
Rep Fossella, Vito [NY-13] - 4/12/2005
Rep Goode, Virgil H., Jr. [VA-5] - 5/11/2006
Rep Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4] - 2/8/2006
Rep Harman, Jane [CA-36] - 9/29/2006
Rep Herseth, Stephanie [SD] - 6/13/2005
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 4/12/2005
Rep Holt, Rush D. [NJ-12] - 4/26/2005
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 3/29/2006
Rep Inslee, Jay [WA-1] - 9/6/2005
Rep Jenkins, William L. [TN-1] - 9/6/2006
Rep Jindal, Bobby [LA-1] - 7/20/2006
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] - 4/26/2005
Rep Kelly, Sue W. [NY-19] - 5/16/2005
Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 4/26/2005
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] - 9/21/2005
Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12] - 9/25/2006
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 4/12/2005
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 9/12/2006
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 4/28/2005
Rep Lowey, Nita M. [NY-18] - 9/29/2006
Rep Lucas, Frank D. [OK-3] - 9/6/2005
Rep Lynch, Stephen F. [MA-9] - 10/25/2005
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] - 5/2/2006
Rep Manzullo, Donald A. [IL-16] - 9/6/2005
Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-3] - 9/12/2006
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 4/14/2005
Rep Michaud, Michael H. [ME-2] - 7/13/2005
Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] - 9/7/2005
Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] - 5/3/2005
Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 7/12/2005
Rep Napolitano, Grace F. [CA-38] - 6/26/2006
Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] - 4/25/2006
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 5/18/2005
Rep Owens, Major R. [NY-11] - 9/6/2006
Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. [NJ-6] - 9/19/2006
Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] - 4/20/2005
Rep Reyes, Silvestre [TX-16] - 10/6/2005
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] - 7/27/2005
Rep Saxton, Jim [NJ-3] - 6/9/2005
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] - 5/23/2005
Rep Shaw, E. Clay, Jr. [FL-22] - 11/18/2005
Rep Simmons, Rob [CT-2] - 9/28/2005
Rep Smith, Adam [WA-9] - 4/12/2005
Rep Strickland, Ted [OH-6] - 11/16/2005
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 4/12/2005
Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] - 5/3/2006
Rep Visclosky, Peter J. [IN-1] - 4/26/2006
Rep Walden, Greg [OR-2] - 4/13/2005
Rep Wolf, Frank R. [VA-10] - 5/11/2006
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 9/14/2006
Rep Young, C.W. Bill [FL-10] - 4/19/2005

[Susan M]

Thx, Leo--Sen. Mark Dayton is no longer in office. I am working on his predecessor, Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

[Leo]

bump, mods can we maybe have this as a sticky

[Susan M]

Excellent progress, here is the latest co-sponsor lists:

House Co-Sponsors of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act (H.R.1727)
40 Co-Sponsors

Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
Representative Mary Bono (R-CA) Representative G.K. Butterfield (D-NC)
Representative Michael Capuano (D-MA) Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Representative William Delahunt (D-MA) Representative Charles Dent (R-PA)
Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA)
Representative Barney Frank (D-MA) Representative Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD)
Representative Gene Green (D-TX) Representative Raul Grijalva (D-MD)
Representative Tim Holden (D-PA) Representative Michael Honda (D-CA)
Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) Representative Nick Lampson (D-TX)
Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI) Representative Edward Markey (D-MA)
Representative James McGovern (D-MA) Representative John McHugh (R-NY)
Representative Michael McNulty (D-NY) Representative Martin Meehan (D-MA)
Representative James Moran (D-VA) Representative Donald Payne (D-NJ)
Representative Jim Ramstad (R-MN) Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Representative Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) Representative Pete Fortney Stark (D-CA)
Representative Betty Sutton (D-OH) Representative Lee Terry (R-NE)
Representative John Tierney (D-MA) Representative Greg Walden (R-OR)
Representative Timothy Walz (D-MN) Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) Representative Robert Wexler (D-FL)
Representative Albert Russell Wynn (D-MD) Representative John Yarmuth (D-KY)

Senate Co-Sponsors of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Act, S. 1183
24 Co-Sponsors
Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)
Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS)
Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD)
Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA)
Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY)
Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

[cheesecake]

We need Ben Cardin to sign on to the CDRPA. Maybe you and Sue can make that happen.

[Foolish Old]

Anybody want to provide a summary update on the major provisions and talking points for advocates of this bill in its current form?

[Susan M]

Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Act (H.R. 1727, S.1183)-Courtesy of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Act (CDRPA) was introduced in the House of Representatives (H.R.1727) in March 2007 and the Senate (S.1183) in April 2007. The CDRPA is non-controversial and has strong bi partisan support, led by Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mary Bono (R-CA), Jim Langevin (D-RI), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA). In honor of Dana Reeve, her generosity of spirit and her tireless work as a wife, mother, caregiver and advocate, Congress has added her name to the title of this important piece of legislation. The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act solidifies the vision Christopher and Dana worked so hard to achieve for the paralysis community, including collaborative scientific research, enhanced rehabilitation research, and improved access to better quality of life programs for people living with paralysis throughout the country.

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Act has three components that support and enhance paralysis research, rehabilitation and quality of life programs:

Title I: Paralysis Research. The bill expands research on paralysis at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by establishing the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Consortia. This style of research promotes collaboration – connecting scientists doing similar work in multiple fields to enrich understanding and speed discovery of better treatments and cures.

Title II: Paralysis Rehabilitation and Care. The bill calls for research to advance daily function for people with paralysis including intensive activity-based research to measure the effectiveness of certain rehabilitation tactics that aim to improve mobility, prevent secondary complications, and develop improved assistive technology.

Title III: Improving Quality of Life. The bill will develop unique programs at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to better the quality of life and long-term health status of persons with paralysis and other physical disabilities. Programs include providing grants to non-profit health and disability organizations to educate the public about paralysis, improve access to services, and integrate life with paralysis into society, as well as coordinate services within each state to assist persons living with paralysis.

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Act has been labeled a model bill that enhances current programs with an eye to the future. The main tenants of this legislation are in-line with the initiatives advanced by the current Administration: coordination, collaboration, and a reduction in research redundancies. The CDRPA creates mechanisms to more efficiently spend current dollars and would support programs proven to reduce health care costs.

[john smith]

Oregon's sole Republican Representative, Greg Walden, who represents my district; has signed on as a co-sponsor of the CDRPA. When we visited him during W2W, he was unaware the CDRPA had been re-introduced. Two follow up emails, one to thank him for his taking time to visit with us personally and another to layout our reasoning as to the bill's importance and he signed on. It pays to visit!

Here is a link to the latest numbers as posted in Thomas.

John

[Susan M]

Massachusettes advocates are closing in on 10 for 10. 9 of the 49 cosponsors are from MA. Way to go, Massachusettes!

John--congratulations!!