State of Massachusetts            

	Title	1st Name	Last Name	DC Phone #	DC Fax	Link to reps e-mail form	
MA	Senator *	Edward	Kennedy	(202) 224-4543	(202) 224-2417	http://kennedy.senate.gov/senator/contact.cfm	
MA	Congressman **	Edward	Markey	(202) 225-2836	(202) 226-0092	http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_email_form&Itemid=124	
MA	Senator	John 	Kerry	(202) 224-2742	(202) 224-8525	http://kerry.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm 	

* Senator Edward Kennedy is Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pension (HELP) Committee
** If e-mail form doesn’t get through to Markey’s office, send to him at 				   				   			http://energycommerce.house.gov/membios/contact_form.shtml

ACTION TO TAKE

1.	Contact ALL the legislators above 
2.      Use sample phone blurbs or letters below 

SAMPLES TO USE

1.	FOR SENATOR KENNEDY

A. PHONE BLURB asking bill hearing in Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pension (HELP) Committee:

My name is _______________________________ and I am calling as a resident of Massachusetts to let you know that I would like you to push Senator Kennedy to schedule S 1708, The Lyme and tick-borne disease bill, for a hearing in the Senate HELP Committee today.  We live in a highly endemic state and too many lives are being destroyed.  You and Senator Kennedy are in a position to take action against the devastation caused by ticks and the diseases they spread.  
Thanks. (leave your name, address, contact info)

B. LETTER asking bill hearing in Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pension (HELP) Committee:
    
		E-mail and/or fax your letter to the Washington, DC office. 
    			(Blue font indicates areas for you to input – personalize if possible)

Your First & Last name
Your Street Address
City, State and Zip Code
Your Phone Number

Month, day, year

The Honorable Edward Kennedy
U.S. Senate 
Dear Mr. Chairman:
I am writing to ask you to schedule S 1708 (Dodd/Schumer/Hagel) for a hearing in the HELP committee as soon as possible.  “The Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2007,” which has House (HR 741 Smith/Stupak) version, is an important piece of legislation that will benefit Massachusetts residents and the entire nation.   We live in a highly endemic state and too many lives are being destroyed.  You are in a position to take action against the devastation caused by ticks and the diseases they spread.  Please schedule S 1708 for a committee hearing now and help save our state!
Tick-borne diseases (TBD), especially Lyme, are an increasing worldwide problem, with concerns expressed about Lyme disease by a number of agencies, including the UN and the World Health Organization, which are looking at global environmental and health-related issues.  Yet, funding is not forthcoming from government sources and has even decreased for Lyme despite rising case numbers.  In fact, its funding is being vastly overshadowed by funding for other less prevalent diseases like West Nile Virus (WNV).  In 2005, the government expended about $32.6 million (down from $33.6 million in 2004) on Lyme disease and $80.8 million (up from $77.6 million in 2004) on WNV, despite the fact that there were 8 times more Lyme cases reported than WNV cases.    
Additionally, there are 10 times more cases of Lyme disease that meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria than are reported.  In 2005, the final CDC reported numbers show 23,305 reported Lyme disease cases nationally; translating into 233,050 actual new cases that met CDC criteria.  No one knows how many occurred that do not even fit CDC surveillance criteria. 
Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the United States , is usually contracted by the bite from a bacteria-infected tick.  In humans, infection with Lyme disease bacteria can lead to early symptoms such as severe headaches, debilitating fatigue, joint pain, and skin rashes, while long-term symptoms can lead to problems related to the central nervous system including the brain, heart, joints and other musculo-skeletal problems.  Symptoms of Lyme disease vary for each individual patient, and also vary in intensity over the course of the disease.

The long-term cost of Lyme disease to families, school systems, the health care system, and the economy is astounding.  According to a study published in 1993 in Contingencies, an actuarial trade publication, the cost to society for Lyme disease was about one billion dollars per year.  The average treatment and diagnosis and lost wages related to Lyme disease was $61,688 per year per patient.  Cases have more than doubled since then, so today’s costs are probably $2 Billion or more annually. 

Despite the prevalence, severity, and economic costs of this illness, patients with Lyme disease are having increased difficulty obtaining diagnosis and treatment.  You are in a unique position to right this wrong.  Please put S 1708 (Dodd/Schumer/Hagel) on the calendar for a hearing today!  It will improve surveillance and prevention of Lyme disease, the development of accurate diagnostic tests, physician education, and it will fund additional research to determine long-term course of illness and the effectiveness of different treatments.  It also sets up a federal task force to coordinate the federal efforts to combat Lyme disease.

I am sure you agree that Lyme disease patients and the public deserve more from our health care system. 

Sincerely,
SIGNATURE (If email, no signature is necessary, but type in your name)
Your First & Last Name typed 

2.	FOR CONGRESSMAN MARKEY
     A. PHONE BLURB asking House Energy & Commerce Committee members for bill support:

My name is _______________________________ and I am calling as a resident of Massachusetts to let you know that I want Congressman Markey to push for a hearing on HR 741, the Lyme and tick-borne disease bill.  Very little money is spent for research on ticks and the many diseases they spread – a growing problem nationwide.  Please urge the Congressman to contact Congressman Frank Pallone, Chairman of the House Health Subcommittee and tell him to schedule a hearing on HR 741 today!  Let the Congressman know I appreciate his recent co-sponsorship of the bill and encourage him to do what he can to get the bill on the committee calendar. 

Thanks. (leave your name, address, contact info)

     B. LETTER asking House Energy & Commerce Committee for support: 
          E-mail or fax your letter (personalized if possible) to the Washington, DC office.
Your First & Last name
Your Street Address
City, State and Zip Code
Your Phone Number

Month, day, year

The Honorable Edward Markey
U.S. House of Representatives

Dear Representative Markey:

I am writing to ask you to contact Congressman Frank Pallone, Chair of the Energy and Commerce Health Sub Committee, and urge him to schedule HR 741 (Smith/Stupak) for a hearing in the Energy and Commerce Health sub committee as soon as possible.  I am also requesting that you please sign on as co-sponsor to HR 741, “The Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2007,” which has a companion bill in the Senate (S 1708 Dodd/Schumer/Hagel).   
Tick-borne diseases (TBD), especially Lyme, are an increasing worldwide problem, with concerns expressed about Lyme disease by a number of agencies, including the UN and the World Health Organization, which are looking at global environmental and health-related issues.  Yet, funding is not forthcoming from government sources and has even decreased for Lyme despite rising case numbers.  In fact, its funding is being vastly overshadowed by funding for other less prevalent diseases like West Nile Virus (WNV).  In 2005, the government expended about $32.6 million (down from $33.6 million in 2004) on Lyme disease and $80.8 million (up from $77.6 million in 2004) on WNV, despite the fact that there were 8 times more Lyme cases reported than WNV cases.  
Additionally, there are 10 times more cases of Lyme disease that meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria than are reported.  In 2005, the final CDC reported numbers show 23,305 reported Lyme disease cases nationally; translating into 233,050 actual new cases that met CDC criteria.  No one knows how many occurred that do not even fit CDC surveillance criteria. 
Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the United States, is usually contracted by the bite from a bacteria-infected tick.  In humans, infection with Lyme disease bacteria can lead to early symptoms such as severe headaches, debilitating fatigue, joint pain, and skin rashes, while long-term symptoms can lead to problems related to the central nervous system including the brain, heart, joints and other musculo-skeletal problems.  Symptoms of Lyme disease vary for each individual patient, and also vary in intensity over the course of the disease.

The long-term cost of Lyme disease to families, school systems, the health care system, and the economy is astounding.  According to a study published in 1993 in Contingencies, an actuarial trade publication, the cost to society for Lyme disease was about one billion dollars per year.  The average treatment and diagnosis and lost wages related to Lyme disease was $61,688 per year per patient.  Cases have more than doubled since then, so today’s costs are probably $2 Billion or more annually. 

Despite the prevalence, severity, and economic costs of this illness, patients with Lyme disease are having increased difficulty obtaining diagnosis and treatment.  You are in a unique position to right this wrong.  Your co-sponsorship, getting the bill on the Committee agenda and your vote for HR 741 (Smith/Stupak) are essential.  It will improve surveillance and prevention of Lyme disease, the development of accurate diagnostic tests, physician education, and it will fund additional research to determine long-term course of illness and the effectiveness of different treatments.  It also sets up a federal task force to coordinate the federal efforts to combat Lyme disease.

I am sure you agree that Lyme disease patients and the public deserve more from our health care system. 

Sincerely,
SIGNATURE (If email, no signature is necessary, but type in your name)
Your First & Last Name typed 

3.	FOR SENATOR KERRY

A. PHONE BLURB asking to urge Senator Kennedy for a senate hearing and to sign on as a co-sponsor:

My name is _______________________________ and I am calling as a resident of Massachusetts to let you know that I want Senator Kerry to push for a hearing on S 1708, the Lyme and tick-borne disease bill.  Very little money is spent for research on ticks and the many diseases they spread – a growing problem nationwide.  Please ask the senator to contact Senator Kennedy, Chairman of the HELP Committee, and tell him to schedule a hearing on S 1708 in the Senate HELP Committee today!  Also, please sign on to co-sponsor the bill. Thanks. 

(leave your name, address, contact info)

B. LETTER asking Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pension (HELP) Committee for support: 
E-mail or fax your letter (personalized if possible) to the Washington, DC office.
Your First & Last name
Your Street Address
City, State and Zip Code
Your Phone Number

Month, day, year

The Honorable John Kerry
U.S. Senate 
Dear Senator Kerry:

I am writing to ask you to contact Senator Edward Kennedy, Chair of the HELP Committee, and urge him to schedule S 1708 (Dodd/Schumer/Hagel) for a hearing in the HELP committee as soon as possible.  I am also requesting that you please sign on as co-sponsor to S 1708, “The Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2007,” which has a companion bill in the House (HR 741 Smith/Stupak).   
Tick-borne diseases (TBD), especially Lyme, are an increasing worldwide problem, with concerns expressed about Lyme disease by a number of agencies, including the UN and the World Health Organization, which are looking at global environmental and health-related issues.  Yet, funding is not forthcoming from government sources and has even decreased for Lyme despite rising case numbers.  In fact, its funding is being vastly overshadowed by funding for other less prevalent diseases like West Nile Virus (WNV).  In 2005, the government expended about $32.6 million (down from $33.6 million in 2004) on Lyme disease and $80.8 million (up from $77.6 million in 2004) on WNV, despite the fact that there were 8 times more Lyme cases reported than WNV cases.    
Additionally, there are 10 times more cases of Lyme disease that meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria than are reported.  In 2005, the final CDC reported numbers show 23,305 reported Lyme disease cases nationally; translating into 233,050 actual new cases that met CDC criteria.  No one knows how many occurred that do not even fit CDC surveillance criteria. 
Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the United States , is usually contracted by the bite from a bacteria-infected tick.  In humans, infection with Lyme disease bacteria can lead to early symptoms such as severe headaches, debilitating fatigue, joint pain, and skin rashes, while long-term symptoms can lead to problems related to the central nervous system including the brain, heart, joints and other musculo-skeletal problems.  Symptoms of Lyme disease vary for each individual patient, and also vary in intensity over the course of the disease.

The long-term cost of Lyme disease to families, school systems, the health care system, and the economy is astounding.  According to a study published in 1993 in Contingencies, an actuarial trade publication, the cost to society for Lyme disease was about one billion dollars per year.  The average treatment and diagnosis and lost wages related to Lyme disease was $61,688 per year per patient.  Cases have more than doubled since then, so today’s costs are probably $2 Billion or more annually. 

Despite the prevalence, severity, and economic costs of this illness, patients with Lyme disease are having increased difficulty obtaining diagnosis and treatment.  You are in a unique position to right this wrong.  Your co-sponsorship, getting the bill on the Committee agenda and your vote for S 1708 (Dodd/Schumer/Hagel) are essential.  It will improve surveillance and prevention of Lyme disease, the development of accurate diagnostic tests, physician education, and it will fund additional research to determine long-term course of illness and the effectiveness of different treatments.  It also sets up a federal task force to coordinate the federal efforts to combat Lyme disease.

I am sure you agree that Lyme disease patients and the public deserve more from our health care system. 

Sincerely,
SIGNATURE (If email, no signature is necessary, but type in your name)
Your First & Last Name typed