Rep Tierney (D-MA) introduced H. Res 1232 on May 22, 2008 supporting the idea of a National Scleroderma Month. The Scleroderma Foundation’s advocacy committee has been working to secure more co-sponsors for this legislation, and you can help this effort.  With 50 co-sponsors, the bill does not need to go to committee and can be passed more quickly, and there are currently 20 co-sponsors.

You can figure out who your congressperson is, and how to contact them, by clicking here and entering your state and zip code. You will be given a contact phone number. All you have to do then is call that number and ask to speak to the Health Affairs Legislative Aide and tell them you would like to request your congressperson become a co-sponsor of H. Res 1232.  Leave a message with contact information if you can’t get through.

Become an Scleroderma Foundation advocate today by clicking here and filling out the online form. You will receive “action alerts” periodically prompting you to contact your legislators about specific issues of importance to the scleroderma community.

The bill currently has 20 co-sponsors, and I’m proud to say both of the legislators that I contacted (Bobby Rush and Danny Davis, from Illinois) signed on. Here is the complete list so far:

Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D-WI]
Del. Madeleine Bordallo [D-GU]
Rep. Lois Capps [D-CA]
Rep. Michael Capuano [D-MA]
Rep. Steve Cohen [D-TN]
Rep. Danny Davis [D-IL]
Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY]
Rep. William Jefferson [D-LA]
Rep. Patrick Kennedy [D-RI]
Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D-OH]
Rep. John Lewis [D-GA]
Rep. Edward Markey [D-MA]
Rep. James McGovern [D-MA]
Rep. Gregory Meeks [D-NY]
Rep. Bobby Rush [D-IL]
Rep. Linda Sánchez [D-CA]
Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D-IL]
Rep. Robert Scott [D-VA]
Rep. Christopher Shays [R-CT]
Rep. Christopher Smith [R-NJ]
If your representative is not on the list, please make a phone call today! You’ll be surprised how easy it is to make a difference.