LeAnn Rimes continues her advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill

LeAnn Rimes returned to Capitol Hill on July 8, to urge legislators to support the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure and Care Act (H.R. 930/S. 571) and ask for $1.5 million in funding to start a national psoriasis patient registry at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). 

Rimes' appearance on the Hill was especially timely since the House of Representatives is allocating funds for a range of projects to be approved as part of next year's congressional budget. Having Congress appropriate $1.5 million to CDC is the first step in starting the psoriasis patient registry.

While Rimes was on the Hill, more than 2,000 messages from the Psoriasis Action Network were sent to Congress asking for their support. The e-mails went to elected officials in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In less than 48 hours, four new co-sponsors of H.R. 930 came on board: Reps. Howard Berman (D-Calif.-28), Charlie Gonzales (D-Texas-20), Jim Marshall (D-Ga.-8) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

During her visit, Rimes met with Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), and a staff member of Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii). Rimes had spontaneous "hallway meetings" with Sens. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.).

On the House side, Rimes met with Reps. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.-5), Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.-18), Tim Ryan (D-Ohio-17), Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.-4) and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Fla.-20).  

Send your encouragement and appreciation to our newest advocate, LeAnn Rimes, at LeAnnRimes@psoriasis.org and help her deliver a strong message to Congress about the need for more psoriasis research.

From F.A.N. mail—July 2009