TO:                 U.S. House of Representatives

FROM:           Mary McTernan, Ph.D.

RE:                 OPPOSE H.R 5766 and H.R. 3282

DATE:            July 24, 2006

VOR strongly urges you to OPPOSE H.R. 5766, the Government Efficiency Act of 2006, and OPPOSE H.R. 3282, the Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act of 2005. A floor vote for both bills is anticipated shortly.

VOR represents people with severe and profound mental retardation, the most needy, the most fragile, the most disabled citizens of our country. These people are the very constituents that Congress had in mind when it first established the Medicaid program. People with mental retardation rely on critical life-line services provided through federal programs, including the Medicaid, Medicare and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Both H.R. 5766 and H.R. 3282 propose the creation of “Sunset Commissions” with unelected members to review federal agencies and programs. Unelected members, with no requirement for public input, will have the authority to recommend whether federal programs live, die or get “realigned.” H.R. 3282 goes further to an abhorrently irresponsible proposal that calls for the elimination of any agency that Congress does not reauthorize within one year of the sunset commission report.

Americans with severe and profound mental retardation who can’t help themselves because of no fault of their own are dependent upon your good will and compassionate leadership in the Congress.

Thank you for opposing H.R. 5766, the Government Efficiency Act of 2006, and H.R. 3282, the Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act of 2005.

VOR * 836 S. Arlington Heights Rd., #351 * Elk Grove Village, Illinois * 60007

877-399-4VOR ph. * 847-253-0675 fax * tamie327@hotmail.com