Action Alert – Dear Colleague Letter

 

 

 

 

Thank you to those of you who sent an email to your member of Congress – our advocacy efforts are working –  the Dear Colleague Letter in the House has reached 24 signatures!  

Now, we need to focus on the Senate!

Send an email to your Senator, today.

 

Building Champions for congenital heart disease in Congress is key to successfully supporting research funding.

One way that your member can be a Champion is to sign the Congenital Heart Dear Colleague Letter. But the deadline to do this is approaching fast!  See below for a current list of those who have signed the letter, or visit our Legislative Champions page on our website.

Ask your Senator to sign the Congenital Heart Dear Colleague Letter!

Send an email today to encourage your members to support federal funding for research and surveillance.

Take action in three easy steps:

• Find your legislator’s contact information.
  1. If this is your first time reaching out, use the contact form on the legislator’s website to send your email. Visit senate.gov or house.gov
  2. If you have identified the Health LA, or had a previous contact with your member or a member of their staff, please feel free to use the direct email address you were given.
• Copy and paste the paragraph below – adding your own personal story.
• Send it!

You did it!  If you successfully connect with your legislator or their office, let us know you made contact by completing our online form available here.

Subject: Sign the Congenital Heart Dear Colleague Letter, Today!Sample Letter:

Dear Senator [Fill in name here],

I’m writing to urge you to support federal research and surveillance for the most common birth defect by signing the Congenital Heart Dear Colleague Letter, today.

Every 15 minutes, a baby is born with congenital heart disease, the most common birth defect and leading cause of birth defect related infant death.  Even for those who receive successful intervention, it is not a cure. Children and adults with congenital heart disease require ongoing, costly, specialized cardiac care and face a lifelong risk of permanent disability and premature death. As a result, healthcare utilization among the congenital heart disease population is significantly higher than the general population.

[Insert your story here]

Continued federal investment is necessary to provide rigorous epidemiological and longitudinal public health surveillance and public health research on infants, children, adolescents and adults to better understand congenital heart disease at every age, improve outcomes and reduce costs.

Demonstrate your support for this serious public health issue by signing the Congenital Heart Dear Colleague Letter.

• In the Senate, join lead authors Senators Dick Durbin and Chuck Grassley by emailing Senator Durbin’s office at Elise_Ackley@durbin.senate.gov  Deadline: Friday, March 20

If you would like any additional information or sample report language to use, as well, please contact Amy Basken at abasken@conqueringchd.org.

Thank you-

[Your Name – your city/state]