*This update is packed with essential information, please read through to avoid confusion.*
1.) What We Need You To Do Right Now
First, please take a moment to thank Congressman Kissell for his sponsorship of our bill in both the 111th and 112th Congress. We are saddened that he was not reelected, but will be eternally grateful for all he has done for us. Click HERE to add your name.
Second, please continue to write your Congressperson if they are not yet a cosponsor. Click HERE to view the cosponsor list and HERE to send your letter. We have very few weeks remaining to try and gain more cosponsors during this Congress.
2.) The Election Results
The breakdown of our cosponsors is as follows:
- 72 of the 78 who ran for reelection (92%) were reelected.
- 6 of the 78 who ran for reelection (8%) were not reelected.
- 14 (15%) of our cosponsors did not run for another term or ran for another office, two of whom were elected to the Senate.
The bottom line is, of our 92 current cosponsors, 72 (78%) will remain in office for the next Congress. A complete list of all our cosponsors and their reelection status is available HERE .
3.) What Happens When The New Congress Begins In 2013
Bills do not carry over from one Congress to the next. All bills that have not been passed into law must be reintroduced in the next Congress. In the process, they receive a new bill number.
Because our current sponsor was not reelected, the Lymphedema Advocacy Group board will be working to secure one of our current cosponsors as our main sponsor to reintroduce the bill next year.
Cosponsors also do not carry over from one Congress to the next. Once a Congressperson cosponsors a bill, however, they are very likely to sign back on to that bill when it is reintroduced in subsequent Congresses. From the 111th Congress to the 112th 90% of our reelected cosponsors signed back on, so please keep the pressure on your Congressperson to cosponsor if they haven’t already. (Click HERE to send your letter now.)
4.) Why We Will Succeed
As more people become aware of the Lymphedema Treatment Act and write their members of Congress our Congressional support will continue to grow. We made considerably more progress in the 112th Congress than the 111th, and together we’ll go even farther during the 113th Congress. Please continue to further our progress by using the links provided above and below.
The federal legislative process is not easy, and it’s important to remember that a bill like ours will take many years to get passed. It is a long and tedious process that can feel frustratingly slow at times, but those who succeed do so because they have the will to endure the process. They gather more support each year and learn better strategy. With your help, we will persevere as long as it takes. We will succeed!
Heather Ferguson
Executive Director, Lymphedema Advocacy Group
www.LymphedemaTreatmentAct.org
info@LymphedemaTreatmentAct.org
