Georgia Chapter
Grassroots
Watch for information on how you can become involved with public policy and advocacy issues including Medicare reform, the high cost of prescription drugs and diversity and youth issues.
Georgia Advocates attend the Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC
Over 400 arthritis advocates visited Capitol Hill in Washington, DC this past February at the Arthritis Foundation Advocacy and Kids Summit, 19 of those were from Georgia.
Our Georgia advocates visited with representatives in their congressional districts. Some of were Senators Isakson and Chamblis, and Congressmen Johnson, Lewis, Price and Deal. There were three key messages conveyed during these meetings: 1) Pass the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act in 2008 2) $1.9 Billion increase needed for the National Institutes of Health to continue arthritis research 3) Increase funding to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by $10 Million over FY 2008. WIthout this increased funding, approximately 20 states will lose financial support for their state arthritis programs.
How You Can Help
The Arthritis Foundation promotes government and private sector action to improve the lives of the 46 million Americans living with arthritis. But we need your help to get more government funding for arthritis research, to encourage early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment, and to improve access to quality health care for everyone with arthritis.
Visit www.arthritis.org/advocacy/ for tools you need to become informed about the issues and to make your voice heard. You will find issue "backgrounders," Arthritis Foundation position statements, as well as links to other Web sites that may be helpful.
Become An Advocate -- Join the Arthritis Foundation Advocacy Network and encourage friends and family to join with you. If you have a question about our advocacy network in Georgia, please contact Andrea Collins by email or via phone at 800-933-7023, ext. 227.
Arthritis Advocacy Priorities -- Read about the issues
Contact Congress -- Quickly locate your legislators and send a message to encourage them to pass the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act.
