Debate on capitol hill concerning LD from yesterday

This is GREAT news for every one of us!! make sure you go to the site that is provided within the article for the clip! this gives a complete video of the proceedings concerning everything we have been wanting, needing, and fighting for!


Sunday, September 28, 2008
Pat Smith, LDA President's Update on Congress/Lyme
CALL TO ACTION UPDATE 2008 #8
September 28, 2008

Pat Smith, President, Lyme Disease Association, Inc. (LDA)
http://www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org

Update: Today, history was made and patients’ plight was revealed. By
working together at grass roots level & focusing on what would best
serve the entire community, our voices have finally been heard in the
most prestigious Congressional arena.

What began as the routine business of Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ),
House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Chair−bringing his Committee
health bills directly to the House floor for action−ended as a three
Congressman debate on the plight of Lyme patients, chronic Lyme disease,
and the failure of Mr. Pallone’s health sub committee to bring up the
Lyme bill, HR 741 (Smith NJ).

Congressman Frank Wolf (VA), HR 741 co-sponsor, called Mr. Pallone on
the carpet for burying Smith’s vital bill, which addresses the exploding
Lyme disease epidemic sweeping the nation. In an impassioned plea, Wolf
repeatedly called for Congressman Smith’s bill to be brought up for
action. He spoke of the increase in cases in his own state of Virginia
and pointed out that Mr. Pallone comes from a high incidence area
himself, New Jersey. Mr. Pallone responded that Lyme disease is a
serious issue that requires a lot of study, since some doctors and his
neighbors who are doctors have said antibiotic treatment can be
dangerous, even cause death.

Congressman Frank Pallone indicated to the Lyme Disease Association
(LDA) that he would bring up the bill before his committee in 2008.
After the IDSA lobbied congressmen in DC, Pallone refused to post the
bill for any action in committee, saying we have to wait for the IDSA to
reconsider its Lyme disease treatment guidelines under the settlement
with the Connecticut Attorney General, effectively putting the
disposition of the bill in the hands of the IDSA.

Since that time, volunteer patient advocates have worked together and
continued to educate Mr. Pallone and Congress about the science
supporting chronic Lyme. In April, the LDA held two congressional
briefings in DC, and in September, LDA and National Capital each held a
briefing in DC.

Congressman Wolf entered into the Record the effects of Lyme disease on
his district and the nation, describing in detail various complications
associated with Lyme and the consequences of not being adequately
treated. He reported Lyme case numbers have risen dramatically in his
state, and he knows his constituents are suffering due to Mr. Pallone’s
actions.

Congressman Christopher Smith then rose and laid out the rationale for
action – vast underreporting of case numbers, misdiagnosis, inability of
patients to get treatment and insurance reimbursement. Mr. Smith then
stated that his bill does not address treatment, but will provide a
federal advisory committee and funds for much needed research to
determine the status of chronic Lyme disease, that there is a companion
bill in the Senate, and the House version has over 112 co-sponsors.

Mr. Smith said he personally knew many Lyme patients who were seriously
debilitated due to chronic Lyme, and he described how patients were
unable to be treated due to the treatment guidelines for Lyme disease
published by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) −a
Society which has been investigated by the Attorney General of
Connecticut for conflicts of interest in the guidelines’ development.
Mr. Smith read into the record excerpts from the AG’s action and
settlement where the AG mentioned the conflicts and also the lack of all
the science of Lyme disease being presented. Mr. Smith also indicated
that he believed a cover up of chronic Lyme exists.

Mr. Pallone called both Congressman Smith and Attorney General
Blumenthal, “grandstanders,” and implied the AG was interfering rather
than helping this situation.

Wolf & Smith demanded a hearing or some action on the bill; Smith cited
a letter from the House Lyme Caucus of which he is co-chair, to Mr.
Pallone. Although the Congressional session is ending, a lame duck
follow-up is still a possibility.

From the early days of educating representatives through massive letter
writing campaigns, phone calls, petitions and countless personal visits
to Washington DC offices, to the many rallies, protests, scientific
presentations, formal gatherings and Congressional briefings, we are now
seeing that the goals we set years ago are within our reach. We have
reason to celebrate. We will provide updates as they become available
– please stay tuned and be ready to take action if needed.

We suggest the Lyme community thank these two brave congressmen but wait
until mid-week due to their tight schedules.

For those who missed the exciting exchange on the House floor, you can
hear the clips by clicking on http://www.LymeRights.org

Make sure you go through the entire clip, which ends with two totally
separate talks by Congressman Smith.

- -

The Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University is
now open! Thank you everyone for making it happen!

Pat Smith, President
Lyme Disease Association, Inc.
PO Box 1438
Jackson, NJ 08527
888-366-6611 Toll free info line
732-938-7215 (F)
http://www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org

[bruce622]

there is a site link within the text in the above. it is actually a video clip of the debate that took place in the house of reps. the debate was centered around  lyme .It was between congressmen Smith,Wolf and pallone. this is a must see for anyone suffering w LD!!