Thanks to our advocates, 2011 has proven to be another incredible year in Congress for congenital heart disease (CHD). Yearlong efforts were realized with first-time funding for the Congenital Heart Futures Act. For fiscal year 2012, $2 million was appropriated to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically to be applied to better understanding CHD across the lifespan.
Interested in participating in Lobby Day? Scroll down for more information, and click here for the registration link.
Our goal for Congenital Heart Lobby Day 2012 is to meet with our legislators and celebrate this success. However, we realize this is only the beginning. We need to motivate our members of Congress to learn more and do more. We will be asking them to continue funding the CDC so we can learn more about prevalence, barriers to effective care, survival outcomes and neurocognitive outcomes, and to increase funding to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for CHD research. New this year, we will be asking our members of the House to join the Congenital Heart Caucus. Representatives can join this group, chaired by Congressman Gus Bilirakis, to show their support and receive continued information about issues related to CHD, including what the federal government can do to save money and save lives.
Your participation is invaluable. The efforts from your emails, phone calls, and previous visits to Washington, D.C., truly are making a difference. Our successes have been astonishing.
Recognizing the value of encouraging advocates to unite in Washington, D.C., the Adult Congenital Heart Association and Mended Little Hearts are hosting Congenital Heart Lobby Day 2012.
All About Lobby Day:
On March 1 we will hit the ground running with a buffet-style breakfast and training at the Park Hyatt Hotel Washington to help prepare you for your legislative visits. You will then spend the large portion of your day visiting the offices of your Senators and Representatives. More detailed event information, titled “Ready, Set, Lobby,” will be provided upon registration and is also available by clicking here.
Breakfast, snacks and evening hors d’ouevres, as well as transportation to and from the Capitol complex, will be provided by the hosts on March 1. Travel to Washington, D.C., and overnight accommodations will be your responsibility. We have arranged for a block of rooms at a reduced rate at the Park Hyatt Washington for your convenience; however, it is not mandatory that you stay there. More details about hotel accommodations can be found in “Ready, Set, Lobby.”
Please consider arriving early to join us for a casual Welcome Reception sponsored by the American College of Cardiology on the evening of February 29. This event will allow us to gather and celebrate our successes before a long day of work on Thursday.
We are eager to unite our voices once again, to celebrate and motivate!
Register Today!
Online registration is available by clicking here. You may also register by calling 888-432-7899. A nominal registration fee of $25 is required for participants with an additional $15 for each guest. Hurry, this early bird rate ends February 8! If needed, there are a limited number of registration waivers available—please contact our advocacy team at advocacy@achaheart.org.
Important Dates:
- February 8: Early Bird Registration Ends
- February 15: Last day to receive Lobby Day Event Room Rate at Park Hyatt
- February 22: Last day to register online! To register after this date you must call 888-432-7899
- February 29: Welcome Reception
- March 1: Congenital Heart Lobby Day!