Reaching out to Legislators

Senator Amy Klobuchar- is the sponsor of senate bill 994 and has worked closely with Representative Debbie Wasserman Shultz to promote the bill through the legislative process. Senator Klobuchar and Representative Wasserman Shultz were the first to propose this legislation at a press conference in the capitol building. In support of the bill in March 2009, Senator Klobuchar stated,

"Breast cancer is a leading cause of death for women. We need to make sure that women, especially young women, have access to the best information and the best support possible to protect themselves against this killer”

Senator Klobuchar is actively involved in this legislation as she is the sponsor of senate bill 994. It is vital to gain her support and recognition of our efforts to support this bill in our political action process.

Congressman Bob Goodlatte- Because Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Shultz’s jurisdiction is in Florida, we decided to contact Bob Goodlatte, congressman of the 6th congressional district of VA ( covering Harrisonburg) We contacted Congressman Goodlatte because he has already worked to pass the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Reauthorization Act, which was signed by the President in 2007. In a 2007 newsletter, Congressman Goodlatte stated,

“I encourage folks to mark Breast Cancer Awareness month by remembering and honoring friends and family who are living with breast cancer and those who have lost their lives to this dreadful disease. The courage and determination of these brave women, like Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, are an inspiration to us all. We must seize this opportunity to renew our commitment to fighting this disease, raising awareness, and supporting those affected by breast cancer.”

Senator Barbara Mikulski- is important to contact because she has control over key issues in the state of Maryland. Not only is she the Maryland's state Senator, she is the Dean of Women- serving as a mentor to other women Senators when they first take office. Being a woman with social work and activist experience make her a prime candidate to influence the passing of the EARLY Act. Senator Mikulski believes that her constituents have a right to know, a right to be heard, and a right to be respected.

Senator Jack Reed- is a critical Senator to contact. His track record on his issues in health care is great for supporting this bill. He is a strong supporter of appropriating funds for healthcare workforce education. He believes that public education and awareness has helped prevent and treat many diseases as well as lessened the stress on families involved. Contacting him will be beneficial to gain support of this bill.

Senator Kay Hagan- It is important that we contact Senator Kay Hagan because she supports the passage of this bill and the need to identify problems early on through education of warning signs and risk factors. As a mother of two daughters, she understands how crucial it is that these issues to be addressed in young women. Senator Hagan states,

"Women need to be aware of techniques to identify problems early on," said Hagan, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. "As a mother of two daughters, I think it is crucial that young women know how best to recognize early warning signs and reduce risk factors. I applaud Representative Wasserman Shultz for bringing attention to her experience with breast cancer to raise awareness for women. Passage of the EARLY Act will help build on her efforts, and will provide a support structure for those diagnosed with breast cancer."