Congress Address Lyme Disease Issue
July 17, 2011. The all volunteer national Lyme Disease
Association (LDA) is pleased to announce the
introduction of a bill and proposed legislative actions
that focus attention on the growing concerns
surrounding Lyme and tick borne diseases.
Congressman Christopher Smith (R-NJ) introduced HR-
2557, the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention,
Education, and Research Act of 2011, on Friday, July
15, 2011, along with cosponsors Frank Wolf (VA), Tim
Holden (PA), and Chris Gibson (NY).
Congressman Smith’s bill, HR-2557, requires the
Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a
Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee to address a
variety of important issues. The Committee will be
charged with advising Federal agencies on priorities
related to Lyme and tick-borne disease issues and will
be composed of scientists, representatives from
government agencies, health care providers and patient
representatives. The Committee is charged with
ensuring that a broad spectrum of scientific and stake-
holder viewpoints are represented in public health
policy decisions and that information disseminated to
the public and physicians is balanced.
Congressman Smith, Chairman of the Congressional
Lyme Disease Caucus for the past seven years, has
worked diligently to foster greater knowledge about tick-
borne diseases over the years. Amongst his many
Lyme-related endeavors, he hosted a Lyme and Tick-
Borne Diseases Forum last summer in Wall Township,
NJ, for health officials, medical professionals and the
public, with over 300 people in attendance. Pat Smith of
the LDA was one of the guest speakers.
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) has plans to
highlight legislation to combat the spread of Lyme
disease. He will meet with volunteer patient advocates
from the Connecticut based Lyme disease group, Time
for Lyme (TFL), an affiliate of the Lyme Disease
Association, at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment
Station in New Haven on Monday, July 18, 2011.
Senator Blumenthal, who served an unprecedented five
terms as Attorney General in Connecticut, is known for
his efforts to make real and lasting difference in the
lives of the people. He has been a long-time public
defender of Lyme disease patients rights.
The Lyme Disease Association (LDA), an organization
that seeks to eliminate tick-borne diseases by funding
research, educating the public, and providing scientific
conferences for doctors, is grateful to Congressman
Smith, Senator Blumenthal, the bill cosponsors and staff
for their enduring commitment to improve the health of
countless patients suffering from Lyme and tick-borne
diseases.
For more information please visit the LDA website www.
LymeDiseaseAssociation.org
Contact your local PBS station requesting them to air
Under Our Skin documentary. Clicking on this site
http://www.underourskin.com/tv gives a state-by-state
local PBS tv schedule.
What can I do - letter writing How To
6 minute YouTube video of Lyme Disease rally at
White House May 21, 2011.
click here to view There was a rally this week-end,
Saturday, May 21, in front of the White House to create
Lyme disease awareness and to protest the IDSA
(Infectious Diseases Society of America) treatment
guidelines. The guidelines restrict diagnosis to leave
many cases undiagnosed, and they limit treatment to
just a few weeks, which is not nearly enough for many
people. People came from many states to participate in
the rally. They wore Lyme green shirts and hats and
chanted, "Hey, Obama! Don't you care? Lyme disease
is everywhere!" and "Hey Hey, Ho Ho, IDSA has got to
go!" There were several people in wheelchairs. People
carried signs, some telling where they were from, others
with clever slogans. Many onlookers stood by and
watched. One said, "Ticks aren't choosy, will you be
next?
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