CONTACT YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TODAY: Ask Them to Support Federal Funding for CHD Activities!
As you know, ACHA’s advocacy work continues throughout the year beyond our CHD advocacy day in February. As one example, we are currently working to encourage Members of Congress to co-sign a letter supporting federal funding for the CHD activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
We need your help today! Visit www.senate.gov and www.house.gov to find your elected officials, and contact them to ask them to support our community. Below are templates for you to use to send them a note that you can easily personalize and send to the Hill.
Do not hesitate to contact ACHA’s Program Manager, Danielle Stephens, with any questions.
HOUSE TEMPLATE
Dear Representative [INSERT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL HERE]:
I live in [INSERT YOUR HOMETOWN HERE] and am writing to ask you to take action on an issue very important to me – congenital heart disease.
Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common birth defect, affecting nearly 1 in 100 babies. Children and adults born with CHD require ongoing, costly, specialized cardiac care, and face a lifelong risk of permanent disability and premature death. As a result, healthcare utilization among the CHD population is significantly higher than the general population. It is estimated that compared to their peers, the medical costs for individuals with CHD are 10 to 20 times greater.
This is why the CHD activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are so important. The CDC’s surveillance activities for infants, children, adolescents and adults affected by CHDs are critical to better understanding CHD across the lifespan, including healthcare utilization and demographic concerns. This will ultimately improve outcomes and reduce costs.
[INSERT YOUR PERSONAL STORY HERE]
Please show your support for our community by signing onto the Dear Colleague letter being circulated by Representatives Bilirakis and Schiff. Please contact Kristin Seum with Representative Bilirakis at kristin.seum@mail.house.gov or Dao Nguyen with Representative Schiff at dao.nguyen@mail.house.gov to be added to the letter. The deadline to sign onto this letter is by Friday, March 18, 2016, at 5 p.m.
I appreciate your consideration and please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have. I hope we can count on your support!
Sincerely,
NAME
ADDRESS
CONTACT INFORMATION
SENATE TEMPLATE
Dear Senator [INSERT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIAL HERE]:
I live in [INSERT YOUR HOMETOWN HERE] and am writing to ask you to take action on an issue very important to me – congenital heart disease.
Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common birth defect, affecting nearly 1 in 100 babies. Children and adults born with CHD require ongoing, costly, specialized cardiac care, and face a lifelong risk of permanent disability and premature death. As a result, healthcare utilization among the CHD population is significantly higher than the general population. It is estimated that compared to their peers, the medical costs for individuals with CHD are 10 to 20 times greater.
This is why the CHD activities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are so important. The CDC’s surveillance activities for infants, children, adolescents and adults affected by CHDs are critical to better understanding CHD across the lifespan, including healthcare utilization and demographic concerns. This will ultimately improve outcomes and reduce costs.
[INSERT YOUR PERSONAL STORY HERE]
Please show your support for our community by signing onto the Dear Colleague letter being circulated by Senators Durbin and Grassley. Please contact Max Kanner with Senator Durbin at max_kanner@durbin.senate.gov or Karen Summar with Senator Grassley at karen_summar@grassley.senate.gov to be added to the letter. The deadline to sign onto this letter is by Friday, March 18, 2016, at 5 p.m.
I appreciate your consideration and please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have. I hope we can count on your support!
Sincerely,
NAME
ADDRESS
CONTACT INFORMATION