ACTION: "FAX FRIDAY" to Speaker Pelosi, and THANK Representative Doyle for Supporting Autism Insurance Reform in Healthcare Reform!

Autism Speaks - Rep. Mike Doyle's [PA] Opening Remarks (July 16, 2009) 2:19

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt3vxn_n1g8

Washington, DC (July 16, 2009) -- In his opening remarks during the House Energy and Commerce Committee markup of HR 3200, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, Congressman Mike Doyle (PA-14), chair of the Congressional Autism Caucus, pledged that any bill that does not put an end to autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable.

TAKE ACTION TODAY:

• FAX IN FRIDAY! Fax a message to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi!
  (you don't need a FAX machine to send this message! Autism Votes will do it for you if you send through the link!)
  
  
• SEND REP. DOYLE A THANK YOU NOTE!

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Help Keep the Message on the Airwaves!

THURSDAY'S ACTION ALERT: Keep your calls coming to Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid

"...Autism Speaks is constantly adapting a strategy to give us the best chance of making this [autism insurance reform in health care reform] happen. The strategy may change every hour or it may appear redundant but there is a "method to the madness". The important thing is that as the troops, we stay alert and be ready to act when we get our mission plans..."

This is crunch time and if ever there was a time for concerted
grassroots action and advocacy - this is it.

A message passed along by one of the state Advocacy Chairs of Autism Speaks...

"Thursday, July 16 2009

Autism is relentless. In order to effect a change at the national level, we must be relentless too.

The government relations team at Autism Speaks is monitoring the health care reform issue in D.C. very closely. A health care reform bill is going to pass - likely in the next several weeks. The issues we face as families affected by autism must be addressed in this bill.

Autism Speaks is constantly adapting a strategy to give us the best chance of making this happen. The strategy may change every hour or it may appear redundant but there is a "method to the madness". The important thing is that as the troops, we stay alert and be ready to act when we get our mission plans.

Today's mission

Make two phone calls.
Call Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid at the phone numbers below:

Speaker Pelosi (202) 225-0100
Majority Leader Reid (202) 224-3542

Just say this:
"Hi, My name is ____________ ___. I am calling from (Your city, your state). I want you to know that health care reform that does not stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable. Thank you."

Be patient. Be polite. Keep dialing until you get through to them. Then do it again. If the voice mail box is full, call back and request that the receptionist take a message. Please send this message on to 15 other people.

Thanks and stay tuned!

Michael Wasmer, DVM
Founder, The Kansas Coalition for Autism Legislation (KCAL)
Autism Speaks Kansas Chapter Advocacy Chair
www.autismvotes.org

URGENT ACTION ALERT: Call Speaker Pelosi and demand autism insurance reform be part of health care reform

URGENT ACTION REQUEST -
CALL U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER PELOSI'S OFFICE to let her know that health care reform MUST include autism insurance reform!
and
PASS THIS MESSAGE FORWARD.
THANK YOU!

From Autismvotes
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"The health reform ship has sailed and autism insurance reform is
currently NOT ON IT.

U.S. H.R. 3200 is currently IN MARK UP and our hope of achieving autism insurance reform for children with autism as part of the larger health reform initiative WILL REQUIRE AN AMENDMENT to the Resolution.

NOW MORE THAN EVER IS THE TIME TO,

CALL U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Office at
202-225-0100
and tell her office that health insurance reform that does not stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable.

You must get 20 people in your life MINIMUM to start calling NOW, and you must keep the PRESSURE UP and keep the PRESSURE ON if you want to see this for your children.

All you have to say is this simple message:

"Hi. My name is ________. I believe that health insurance that does not stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable and I am counting on Speaker Pelosi to be sure that children with autism have appropriate coverage for the treatments and therapies they deserve access to for their medical condition. Thank you."
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ACTION ALERT: AD and Phone-in Campaign to End Autism Insurance Discrimination as Part of Health Care Reform! Calling on YOUR HELP.

Today, Autism Speaks has launched its first national television advocacy campaign, "Neighbors", aimed at reaching millions of informed and politically active Americans and asking them to call Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and tell them that ending autism insurance discrimination must be part of Health Care Reform Legislation.

Autismvotes is alerting that phone calls from ALL autism families AND those of friends and extended family are crucial for our issue to be taken seriously and included in Health Care Reform. This is an opportunity that has huge significance for our children. The phone-in campaign kicks off TODAY and will be ongoing until autism insurance reform is included in health reform.

“Neighbors" depicts the consequences of insurance company discrimination against individuals with autism and calls on the American public to urge Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to end autism insurance discrimination in the upcoming health care reform legislation.

1. CALL HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI (D-CA) & SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID (D-NV) AT THE PHONE NUMBERS BELOW!

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: (202) 225-0100

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid: (202) 224-3542


If you aren't sure of what to say, just say this:

"Hi, My name is _______________. I am calling from (Your city, your state). I want you to know that health care reform that does not stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable. People with autism deserve coverage for the treatments and therapies that will help their medical condition. Thank you."

Be patient. Be polite. Keep dialing until you get through to them. Then do it again.

2. CLICK HERE TO SEND A MESSAGE TO SENATE MAJORITY LEADER REID AND HOUSE SPEAKER PELOSI, URGE THEM TO WATCH THE AUTISM SPEAKS AD, "NEIGHBORS", AND TO END AUTISM INSURANCE DISCRIMINATION!

IMPORTANT: Make sure to add some personal information on why this is such an important issue for you and your family. Be sure to let them know that all children with autism from coast to coast deserve appropriate insurance coverage.

3. IMPORTANT: FORWARD THIS ACTION ALERT ACROSS THE COUNTRY!

Put this action alert on your Facebook page, Twitter it, forward to Yahoo groups and local support groups. Forward this email to at least 20 people that do NOT have a child with autism - neighbors, extended family, coworkers, old college and high school friends - and ask them to make these two calls every day for your child

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The health care reform debate in this country is reaching a fever pitch. Autism insurance reform can and MUST be included in the final health care reform bill that President Obama has stated he will sign by the end of October. THIS IS THE TIME to end autism insurance discrimination once and for all. Our children have a medical condition which deserves appropriate treatment, therapy and care. Congress needs to know that health care “reform” that fails to stop autism insurance discrimination is unacceptable.

To stay updated on this initiative and more, register at


www.autismvotes.org!