Viral Hepatitis Action Alert

This is really easy to do. Please ask your representatives to co-sponsor the Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control Act of 2009. Here's how to make your voice heard.

HR 3974 is the number the bill was assigned in the House of Representatives. The actual name of the bill is the Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control Act of 2009. The bill was developed to reduce the significant morbidity and mortality from end stage liver disease and liver cancer caused by chronic hep B & C. Its aim is to increase awareness and prevention for the millions of people who are infected with over 50% unaware that they have these viral diseases. The bill asks for $90,000,000 for 2011, to establish, promote and support comprehensive prevention, research, and medical management referral for hep B & C. It asks for support of state health departments to do surveillance, prevention and immunization.

We are asking you to contact your State Representatives and ask them to sign on to sponsor HR 3974. The Representatives who have already signed on are Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), Charles Dent (R-PA), Dr. William Cassidy (R-LA), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Anh "Joseph" Cao (R-LA), David Wu (D-OR), Todd Platts (R-PA), Donna Christiansen (D-D-VI), Barbara Lee (D_CA), Bobby Rush (D-IL), George Butterfield (D-NC), and Judy Chu (D-CA).

If you do not see your Congressman or woman on the list, please contact them by phone or email and ask them to sign on as a sponsor. We want 100 sponsors to better assure passage.

You can reach your Representative by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 1-202-224-3121 or email Representatives directly from http:/writerep.house.gov. If you don’t know who your Representative is, go to www.congress.org http://www.congress.org and enter your zip code in the upper right corner. If your representative is already a sponsor, thank him for his sponsorship and offer to provide your experience/expertise in this issue as needed. Use your social and professional networks to get more people like you to call their representatives! Forward this email widely!

Sample call/email script:

“My name is ____________ , I live in (city, state), and I care about viral hepatitis. Hepatitis is a serious health problem in the U.S., in my District, and is a very important issue to me. I urge Representative _____________ to show leadership in the fight against hepatitis and liver cancer by cosponsoring Representative Honda and Dent’s Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control Act, H.R.3974. Thank you.”

[JennyPenny2009]

C'mon guys. Do this. It takes 5 minutes and your voice will definitely be heard.