Legislative Activities

Founded in and serving the Washington DC area since 2001, the National Capital Lyme Disease Association works to educate elected and appointed government officials and health care industry leaders about Lyme and tick-borne diseases, and advocates on behalf of those afflicted with these diseases and their families. NatCapLyme continues to work with national leaders on Capitol Hill, with state leaders in the region, and with county and local officials to help raise awareness and implement strategies to combat these diseases.

CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING A GREAT SUCCESS.... STANDING ROOM ONLY!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monte Skall: 703-821-8833; monte@skall.net

CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING A GREAT SUCCESS.... STANDING ROOM ONLY!

Washington, D.C., September 25, 2008. The Capitol Hill Lyme disease briefing yesterday was an enormous success by all accounts. More than 100 people attended the briefing, of which at least 80 represented offices of senators and representatives. Many put aside their lunch to take notes.

Stephanie Spar, speaking for founding sponsor Turn the Corner, began the briefing with an excellent message of urgency. During the special 25-minute montage of Under Our Skin, which director Andy Abrahams Wilson specially prepared for this briefing, the audience was stone silent, transfixed on the message. The audience broke into spontaneous applause at its conclusion.

Pam Weintraub, author of Cure Unknown, delivered a compelling presentation about her six year quest to unravel the mysteries of Lyme disease research and treatment, urging the audience to avoid becoming trapped in the extremes of either side but to seek the truth from the vast majority of the medical community still seeking to discover effective treatment for late-stage Lyme and tick-borne disease. Two local doctors, Dr. Sam Shor and Dr. Robert Mozayeni, gave effective medical science presentations on the research they are doing coming out of their practices.

NatCapLyme board members delivered books, DVDs, and constituent letters to congressmen’s offices following the briefing. The entire Lyme community across the country was heard in this unprecedented effort to bring their message to Congress. A screening of the full film, Under Our Skin, was attended by a crowd estimated at around 300 at the Avalon theater in Northwest Washington, DC.

The goal of the briefing was to provide education and increase awareness in Congress of the growing epidemic and suggest the need to establish a new Congressional record. The message yesterday conveyed the need for complete research encompassing the full spectrum of the medical community to be considered and its intent to continue congressional oversight until the disease is conquered.

Press Coverage:

WJLA ABC NEWS 7:
Congress Asked To Take a Closer Look at Lyme Disease ABC 7 News

SEATTLE KING TV:
http://www.king5.com/video/healthlink-index.html?nvid=286048&she=1

SEATTLE KIRO TV:
http://www.kirotv.com/video/17556948/?taf=sea

REPORTERS NOTEBOOK:
http://blog.kennebunkpost.com/2008/09/25/reporters-notebook-the-dark-side-of-lyme-disease-detection-sept-26-2008.aspx

FOX NEWS NETWORK:
New effort to put the national spotlight on Lyme Disease

More than 400 people have reserved tickets to attend the “sold out” free screening of Under Our Skin at the Avalon Theater in NW Washington, DC tonight.

Virginia Lyme Disease Task Force To Hold Hearings In March

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s appointed Lyme Disease Task Force held its first public testimony hearings March 1 in Virginia Beach and Richmond. Scores of residents testified about the detrimental impacts of Lyme disease and the problems of finding prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Delegate Comstock Resolution Designating May as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” in Virginia Passes

Delegate Barbara Comstock’s House Joint Resolution 643, permanently designating May of 2011, and all succeeding years, as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” in Virginia, passed this week in the General Assembly.

Maryland Legislation - National Capital Lyme Response

There has been an incredible amount of discussion regarding the Maryland legislation dealing with Lyme disease on LymeNet. A lot of this discussion has focused on the role of NatCapLyme in the legislative process.

Report on the Virginia House of Delegates Committee Hearing

A standing room only crowd was on hand Monday evening for the House of Delegates committee hearing on H.B. 512. Although, the bill was not forwarded to the full committee for action, neither was it was defeated. It was rolled over to the 2011 session of the House of Delegates.

Personal Appeal from Monte Skall

As you know H.B. 512 is scheduled to be introduced tomorrow, Monday February 1st at 5pm in Richmond. Many people have worked very hard on getting this bill drafted and preparing for this hearing. Many professionals are coming from all over the state to testifying in support of this bill. Delegate Tom Rust will introduce H.B.512 with letters of support from Frank Wolf and Governor McDonnell. But presenters alone will not get this bill passed.

Come to Richmond Monday - It's IMPORTANT

If there was ever a time your presence makes a difference, it is now! SAVE THE DATE---NEXT MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 at 4:30 pm in Richmond VA. THIS IS OUR TIME TO FIGHT FOR CHANGE!

Congressman Frank Wolf Endorses VA H.B. 512

Congressman Frank Wolf (R, VA) wrote Delegate Tom Rust today endorsing his bill, H.B. 512, the bill relating to long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease.

Virginia Legislative Action Alert

Delegate Rust believes that H.B.512 , bill relating to long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease.will come before Subcommittee #1 of the Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions this coming Monday, January 25, at 5 pm.

New Lyme Law Proposed to Protect Virginia Doctors Treating Lyme Disease

A new bill, introduced in the Virginia House of Delegates by Tom Rust, Delegate, 86th District (R), seeks to protect physicians in Virginia who provide extended antibiotic therapy to patients diagnosed with chronic Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. Currently doctors treating Lyme disease aggressively with long term antibiotics are targeted by medical boards and insurance companies and face losing their license.

Call to Action : Contact the VA Health Committee Members

H.B. 512 HAS NOW BEEN REFERRED TO The Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee...

Lyme Legislation Introduced in Virginia

Great news for us all! Delegate Tom Rust has introduced H.B. 512, a bill in the Virginia House of Delegates relating to long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease. This bill allows a physician to prescribe, administer or dispense long-term antibiotic therapy to a patient diagnosed with Lyme or tick-borne disease.

Wolf Gets Funding for Lyme

We are forwarding an email received from Ms. Jillian Pevo in the office of Congressman Frank Wolf of Virginia. Congressman Wolf and Ms. Pevo have been steady supporters of the Lyme community and we all owe them our thanks for their efforts on our behalf.

Legislative Activities

CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING A GREAT SUCCESS.... STANDING ROOM ONLY!

Virginia Lyme Disease Task Force To Hold Hearings In March

Delegate Comstock Resolution Designating May as “Lyme Disease Awareness Month” in Virginia Passes

Maryland Legislation - National Capital Lyme Response

Report on the Virginia House of Delegates Committee Hearing

Personal Appeal from Monte Skall

Come to Richmond Monday - It's IMPORTANT

Congressman Frank Wolf Endorses VA H.B. 512

Virginia Legislative Action Alert

New Lyme Law Proposed to Protect Virginia Doctors Treating Lyme Disease

Call to Action : Contact the VA Health Committee Members

Lyme Legislation Introduced in Virginia

Wolf Gets Funding for Lyme

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