Your calls and emails are working!
But we have to keep them coming, here’s why…
The Senate majority party is expected to release a bare bones first draft for the next legislative package this week, after which lawmakers will negotiate to get addition provisions like the LTA added. There will be stiff competition, and Senator Cantwell, our bill sponsor, can’t do this alone.
It will take multiple Senators going to leadership, asking for the LTA to be included, and that’s why your continued advocacy is so important! Members of Congress do want to please their constituents – especially in a big election year – but we have to generate enough volume for our issue to rise to the top.
To quote Senator Cantwell’s staff, “we need a barrage of people calling their Senators, not just once, but every day!” Congressional offices are receiving an unprecedented amount of communication, and the only way for our issue to become a priority for other Senators is for us to be relentless.
I know this is asking a lot, and that many of you, like me, have been advocating for this bill for too long already. I’ve spent all 13 years of my son’s life fighting for coverage of his compression supplies. But the finish line is in sight. The House has already passed our bill, so let’s do everything we can to get through the Senate and see the bill signed into law this year!
The information to keep calling your Senators’ offices (daily or as often as you can) is below – calling is the single most effective thing you can do! Per the advice of Senator Cantwell’s office, we’ve also updated the call script and added the name of the Health Aide for each office.
You should also write to your Senators if you didn’t last week – you can contact both offices by email in one easy step via this new Action Alert. Make sure to take a moment to personalize the template letter provided.
And lastly, please ask your family, friends and colleagues to take these actions as well. Together, we can get the Lymphedema Treatment Act passed into law this year!
Heather Ferguson
Founder & Executive Director
Lymphedema Advocacy Group
LymphedemaTreatmentAct.org
A list of all Senators and their phone numbers follow
the call script and tips for personalizing your message.
CALL SCRIPT & INSTRUCTIONS:
Ask to speak with the Senator’s Health Legislative Aide (HLA) by name. His or her name is below, listed with the Senators. If they are unavailable ask if the Legislative Director is available. If neither can come to the phone ask that they pass along the following message, and request a call back from HLA.
“I am a constituent calling in support of the Lymphedema Treatment Act, which is Senate bill S.518, to ask that this bipartisan, preventative healthcare bill be included in the next COVID-19 response package. Ensuring that lymphedema patients have access to the medical compression supplies they need to effectively manage this condition at home and stay out of the hospital has never been more important! This issue is important to me because… [personalize your message using the tips below]. Please ask Senator [name] to speak to leadership about including S.518, the Lymphedema Treatment Act, in the next COVID-19 response package.“ – and if applicable – “I would like a call back from your Health Aide and can be reached at [your phone number].”
TIPS ON PERSONALIZING YOUR MESSAGE:
Begin by stating your relationship to lymphedema. Emphasize that compression garments are vital. Highlight any challenges/obstacles you have in managing your lymphedema. If the pandemic and shutdowns have impacted your ability to manage your lymphedema, please explain.
For example: Have your symptoms worsened? Have you been unable to obtain new garments or go to therapy? Has your financial situation been impacted, leaving you unable to pay for anything related to your lymphedema care? Have you had an infection or other complication and been unable to get it treated properly or in a timely fashion?
Anything pandemic-related that has had an impact on your lymphedema can be included, and be mindful that stressing the medical necessity of your doctor-prescribed compression garments is always important. If the Senator is a cosponsor make sure to thank him or her for that.
PLEASE CALL BOTH OF YOUR SENATORS:
AK-Senate: Lisa Murkowski, 202-224-6665 Cosponsor, HLA is Angela Ramponi
AK-Senate: Dan Sullivan, 202-224-3004 Cosponsor, HLA is Sara Bell
AL-Senate: Richard Shelby, 202-224-5744, HLA is Andrew Burnett
AL-Senate: Doug Jones, 202-224-4124 Cosponsor, HLA is Katie Campbell
AR-Senate: Tom Cotton, 202- 224-2353 Cosponsor, HLA is Madison Erstine
AR-Senate: John Boozman, 202- 224-4843 Cosponsor, HLA is Ryan Losak
AZ-Senate: Martha McSally, 202-224-2235 Cosponsor, HLA is Edward Kim
AZ-Senate: Kyrsten Sinema, 202- 224-4521 Cosponsor, HLA is Sylvia Lee
CA-Senate: Dianne Feinstein, 202-224-3841 Cosponsor, HLA is Andrew Fientes
CA-Senate: Kamala Harris, 202- 224-3553 Cosponsor, HLA is Kelsey Mellette
CO-Senate: Cory Gardner, 202-224-5941, HLA is Megan Axelrod
CO-Senate: Michael Bennet, 202-224-5852 Cosponsor, HLA is Santiago Gonzalez
CT-Senate: Chris Murphy, 202-224-4041 Cosponsor, HLA is Elizabeth Darnall
CT-Senate: Richard Blumenthal, 202- 224-2823 Cosponsor, HLA is Brian Steele
DE-Senate: Chris Coons, 202-224-5042 Cosponsor, HLA is Corey Linehan
DE-Senate: Tom Carper, 202- 224-2441 Cosponsor, HLA is Lynn Sha
FL-Senate: Marco Rubio, 202- 224-3041 Cosponsor, HLA is Jaime Varela
FL-Senate: Rick Scott, 202- 224-5274 Cosponsor, HLA is Thomas Powers
GA-Senate: David Perdue, 202-224-3521, HLA is Charlotte Kaye
GA-Senate: Kelly Loeffler, 202- 224-3643, HLA is Gus Youmans
HI-Senate: Brian Schatz, 202- 224-3934 Cosponsor, HLA is Meghan O’Toole
HI-Senate: Mazie Hirono, 202-224-6361 Cosponsor, HLA is Kerry Allen
IA-Senate: Joni Ernst, 202-224-3254 Cosponsor, HLA is Anna Breen
IA-Senate: Chuck Grassley, 202-224-3744, HLA is Zach Schulz
ID-Senate: Jim Risch, 202-224-2752, HLA is Scott Reber
ID-Senate: Mike Crapo, 202-224-6142, HLA is Kellie McConnell
IL-Senate: Dick Durbin, 202-224-2152 Cosponsor, HLA is Jesicca McNiece
IL-Senate: Tammy Duckworth, 202-224-2854 Cosponsor, HLA is Benjamin Rhodeside
IN-Senate: Todd Young, 202-224-5623 Co-lead Sponsor, HLA is Jaymi Light
IN-Senate: Mike Braun, 202-224-4814, HLA is Reily iNman
KS-Senate: Pat Roberts, 202-224-4774, HLA is Anjali Chhatre
KS-Senate: Jerry Moran, 202-224-6521 Cosponsor, HLA is Kyle Christian
KY-Senate: Rand Paul, 202-224-4343, HLA is Zach Bennett
KY-Senate: Mitch McConnell, 202-224-2541, HLA is Amy Nabozny (simply ask that McConnell include the LTA, not “speak to leadership” because he is leadership)
LA-Senate: Bill Cassidy, 202-224-5824, HLA is Jeff Lucas
LA-Senate: John Kennedy, 202-224-4623, HLA is Jasmine Moody
MA-Senate: Elizabeth Warren, 202-224-4543 Cosponsor, HLA is Susannah Savage
MA-Senate: Ed Markey, 202-224-2742 Cosponsor, HLA is Brianna Battle
MD-Senate: Chris Van Hollen, 202-224-4654 Cosponsor, HLA is Christina Ramsay
MD-Senate: Ben Cardin, 202-224-4524 Cosponsor, HLA is Lauren Jee
ME-Senate: Susan Collins, 202-224-2523, HLA is Amy Pellegrino
ME-Senate: Angus King, 202-224-5344 Cosponsor, HLA is Shelby Luce
MI-Senate: Gary Peters, 202-224-6221 Cosponsor, HLA is Devin Parsons
MI-Senate: Debbie Stabenow, 202-224-4822 Cosponsor, HLA is Alex Graf
MN-Senate: Tina Smith, 202-224-5641 Cosponsor, HLA is Kripa Sreepada
MN-Senate: Amy Klobuchar, 202-224-3244 Cosponsor, HLA is Elyssa Malin
MO-Senate: Josh Hawley, 202-224-6154 Cosponsor, HLA is Chris Weihs
MO-Senate: Roy Blunt, 202-224-5721 Cosponsor, HLA is Caitlin Wilson
MS-Senate: Cindy Hyde-Smith, 202-224-5054 Cosponsor, HLA is Elizabeth Henry
MS-Senate: Roger Wicker, 202-224-6253 Cosponsor, HLA is Sally Farrington
MT-Senate: Steve Daines, 202-224-2651 Cosponsor, HLA is Rachel Green
MT-Senate: Jon Tester, 202-224-2644 Cosponsor, HLA is Katie Rubinger
NC-Senate: Richard Burr, 202-224-3154, then enter #2, HLA is Angela Wiles
NC-Senate: Thom Tillis, 202-224-6342 Cosponsor, HLA is Bill Bode
ND-Senate: Kevin Cramer, 202-224-2043 Cosponsor, HLA is Ben Bergstrom
ND-Senate: John Hoeven, 202-224-2551 Cosponsor, HLA is Daniel Auger
NE-Senate: Deb Fischer, 202-224-6551 Cosponsor, HLA is Ted Sacasa
NE-Senate: Ben Sasse, 202-224-4224, HLA Shannon Hossinger
NH-Senate: Jeanne Shaheen, 202-224-2841 Cosponsor, HLA is Peter Fise
NH-Senate: Margaret Wood Hassan, 202-224-3324 Cosponsor, HLA is Kenzie Marshall
NJ-Senate: Cory Booker, 202-224-3224 Cosponsor, HLA is Kimberly Miller-Tolbert
NJ-Senate: Bob Menendez, 202-224-4744 Cosponsor, HLA is Swarna Vallurupalli
NM-Senate: Tom Udall, 202-224-6621 Cosponsor, HLA is Lauren Arias
NM-Senate: Martin Heinrich, 202-224-5521 Cosponsor, HLA is Andrea Mares
NV-Senate: Jacky Rosen, 202-224-6244 Cosponsor, HLA is Olga Zoraqui
NV-Senate: Catherine Cortez Masto, 202-224-3542 Cosponsor, HLA is Casey Badmington
NY-Senate: Kirsten Gillibrand, 202-224-4451 Cosponsor, HLA is Alex Lowe-Server
NY-Senate: Chuck Schumer, 202-224-6542 Cosponsor, HLA is Matt Fuentes
OH-Senate: Sherrod Brown, 202-224-2315 Cosponsor, HLA is Abigail Duggan
OH-Senate: Rob Portman, 202-224-3353, HLA is Seth Gold
OK-Senate: Jim Inhofe, 202-224-4721 Cosponsor, HLA is Devin Barrett
OK-Senate: James Lankford, 202-224-5754 Cosponsor, HLA is Kevin Kincheloe
OR-Senate: Jeff Merkley, 202-224-3753 Cosponsor, HLA is Elvia Montoya
OR-Senate: Ron Wyden, 202-224-5244, HLA is Elizabeth Jurinka
PA-Senate: Pat Toomey, 202-224-4254, HLA is Alyssa Palisi
PA-Senate: Bob Casey, 202-224-6324 Cosponsor, HLA is Gillian Mueller
RI-Senate: Sheldon Whitehouse, 202-224-2921 Cosponsor, HLA is Kristen Donheffner
RI-Senate: Jack Reed, 202-224-4642 Cosponsor, HLA is Jill Boland
SC-Senate: Tim Scott, 202-224-6121 Cosponsor, HLA is Conor Sheehey
SC-Senate: Lindsey Graham, 202-224-5972 Cosponsor, HLA is Nick Meyers
SD-Senate: John Thune, 202-224-2321, HLA is Danielle Janowski
SD-Senate: Mike Rounds, 202-224-5842 Cosponsor, HLA is Andrew Rothe
TN-Senate: Marsha Blackburn, 202-224-3344, HLA is Dr. Karen Summar
TN-Senate: Lamar Alexander, 202-224-4944, HLA is Grace Graham
TX-Senate: Ted Cruz, 202-224-5922, HLA is Joel Heimbach
TX-Senate: John Cornyn, 202-224-2934, HLA is Jeffrey Last
UT-Senate: Mike Lee, 202-224-5444, HLA is Caitlyn Burk
UT-Senate: Mitt Romney, 202-224-5251, HLA is Jess Pavel
VA-Senate: Mark Warner, 202-224-2023 Cosponsor, HLA is Greg Mathis
VA-Senate: Tim Kaine, 202-224-4024 Cosponsor, HLA is Katie Wright
VT-Senate: Patrick Leahy, 202-224-4242 Cosponsor, HLA is Jeff Van Oot
VT-Senate: Bernie Sanders, 202-224-5141 Cosponsor, HLA is Michaela Brown
WA-Senate: Patty Murray, 202-224-7675 Cosponsor, HLA is Colin Goldfinch
WA-Senate: Maria Cantwell, 202-224-3441 Lead Sponsor, HLA is Anna Conroy (Cantwell is our bill sponsor, so be sure to thank her for that)
WI-Senate: Tammy Baldwin, 202-224-5653 Cosponsor, HLA is Erin Dugan
WI-Senate: Ron Johnson, 202-224-5323 Cosponsor, HLA is Michael Weiss
WV-Senate: Shelley Moore Capito, 202-224-6472 Cosponsor, HLA is Dana Richter
WV-Senate: Joe Manchin, 202-224-3954, HLA is Audrey Smith
WY-Senate: Mike Enzi, 202-224-3424, HLA is Amanda Lincoln
WY-Senate: John Barrasso, 202-224-6441, HLA is Jay Eberle
