He tells “From the College” that “Alissa has gone from a spry, sprightly three-year-old with more confidence than anyone that age should have to a five-year-old that weighs more than 60 pounds, is self-conscious and unsteady, is developing a cataract, and has learned to live with more uncertainty than even an adult should have to worry about.”
The Legislation
The Arthritis Act, introduced by Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Christopher Bond (R-Mo.) and Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Charles Pickering (R-Miss.), focuses on five key points:
- Enhancing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s public health activities related to arthritis by implementing the National Arthritis Action Plan;
- Expanding, intensifying, and coordinating the National Institutes of Health’s arthritis research activities;
- Investing in tomorrow’s pediatric rheumatologists;
- Expanding, intensifying, and innovating juvenile arthritis research and public health activities; and
- Requiring a Government Accountability Office study of arthritis and the workplace.
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), a co-sponsor of the Act, joined the briefing to discuss the importance of passing this legislation. “It is very important that we establish a national action plan on arthritis,” said Sen. Isakson. “This bill is a good bill to set that foundation and establish what I think is the appropriate level of attention on arthritis and its related infirmities.”
“We had the ear of many offices on the Hill today, with people who are going to make policies that are going to affect our patients and our physicians,” said Joseph Flood, MD, ACR Government Affairs Committee chair. “We were able to make our message clear, and it was heard today.”
Touched by the speakers’ stories and enthused by Sen. Isakson’s promise to do everything he can to get the Act passed. Many panelists, patients, and volunteers made personal visits to policy makers – ensuring that their voices were heard on the Hill.
