H.R. 1255 - ACTION ALERT

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Contents:

1. H.R. 1255! Background Information and Call to Action

2. CONGRESSIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION

3. TEMPLATE MESSAGE

4. H.R. 1255 COSPONSORS SO FAR
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Dear VOR Members and Choice Advocates:

Great news!

On March 3, 2009, Rep. Barney Frank introduced H.R. 1255, “to protect the interests of each resident of intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded [ICFs/MR] in class action lawsuits on behalf of such resident.”

We need your help enlisting COSPONSORS.

H.R. 1255 supports the common sense principle that residents of ICFs/MR and their legal guardians (usually family members) should be the ones to decide whether a class action lawsuit proceeds on their behalf, not federally-funded attorneys.

H.R. 1255 already has 60 cosponsors (see below)! We need to maintain our MOMENTUM and continue to line up as many H.R. 1255 cosponsors as possible.

Below you fill find template phone and email/fax messages, and a link to Congressional contact information. A copy of the bill is attached and can also be found at http://thomas.loc.gov (just choose “bill number” and type in H.R. 1255).

VISITS: When making contact with your Congressman/woman, also request a meeting in his/her District office. Members of Congress will be working in their District offices April 6 – 17, 2009.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for all your efforts. Please let me know if you have any questions and/or if I can be of assistance in any way.

Sincerely,

Tamie Hopp
VOR
605-399-1624

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2. CONGRESSIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION
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http://www.congress.org
(type your zip code in the search box at the top of the screen OR click on “Congressional Directory” at the very bottom of the home page)

U.S. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121

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3. TEMPLATE PHONE MESSAGE
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[When calling to request an appointment, ask for the scheduler. When calling to discuss H.R. 1255 and ask for the Congressman's support, as for the "Health LA" (legislative aide)]

The following is your basic “please support H.R. 1255” letter. It can be used as part of a written request for a meeting, if necessary; as a template for your phone call to Representative’s office, or as follow-up communication. It can be changed and personalized.

Template Message:

I am your constituent and am writing to ask that you cosponsor H.R. 1255.

Introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), as of July 31, H.R. 1255 had 60 cosponsors, with nearly equal Democrats and Republicans. This strong bipartisan support is not surprising. H.R. 1255 will advance the civil rights of individuals with profound cognitive disabilities whose care needs are often best provided for in Medicaid-licensed homes where high quality, compassionate supports are provided.

H.R. 1255 will require that before federally-funded class action lawsuits can be filed on behalf of the profoundly disabled residents, they and their legal guardians (usually close relatives) must receive notice of the lawsuit and be given a time-limited opportunity to opt out of the lawsuit. As it now stands, the attorneys filing these actions have never met the majority of class members and could do not know their individual needs. When these lawsuits force the closure of the residents’ specialized homes, tragedy often (predictably) follows because these vulnerable people are separated from the services they require for their survival.

The injustice and resulting tragedies will be addressed by passage of H.R. 1255. Please contact Pilar Falo, Legislative Counsel to Rep. Barney Frank at 225-5931 to support H.R. 1255 as a COSPONSOR. Thank you very much for your prompt consideration and action.

Sincerely,
NAME, CONTACT INFO

H.R. 1255 Cosponsors as of July 31, 2009
Sponsor: Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)

Cosponsors so far: 60!

Republicans (31)
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX)*
Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)*
Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)*
Rep. David Dreier (R-CA)*
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA)*
Pep. Frank Wolf (R-VA)
Rep. John Culberson (R-TX)
Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA)
Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL)
Rep. John Boozman (R-AR)
Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao (R-LA)
Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX)
Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ)
Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL)
Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY)
Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA)
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX)
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA)
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA)
Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX)
Rep. Steve King (IA)
Rep. John Fleming (R-LA)
Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA)
Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN)
Rep. Kenny Marchant (R-TX)
Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-LA)
Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX)
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)

*=original cosponsor
 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY. IF NOT US, WHO?