We must build support for H-Res 258, a resolution to express the sense of the House that there should be a national Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month, which has been introduced in the House of Representatives. To get this passed, we must have 50 sponsors.  Similar legislation naming May as National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month has been passed in the Senate (S-Res 116).

Below are the current cosponsors. If you see your representative listed, he/she has signed on and would, very likely, appreciate receiving a "thank you for cosponsoring." If you do not see your representative on this list, we would like to encourage you to write a letter to your representative asking him/her to cosponsor H-Res 258. We must act now as time is short. Below is an example of how to write your letter. It can be e-mailed to your representative. In fact, it is better to e-mail or phone because the mail takes quite a bit of time as it must be put through a very slow security delivery process. See sample letter below.

You can use the Congress Connect button at the bottom of this page to identify your representative. This will give you his/her Web site from which you can send an e-mail. You can also call their local or national office.

Current Cosponsors: Allen (D-ME), Berman (D-CA), Blumenauer (D-OR), Boswell (D-IA), Capps (D-CA), DeLauro (D-CT), Doggett (D-TX), Grijalva (D-AZ), Hinchey (D-NY), Holden (D-PA), Honda (D-CA), Kennedy (D-RI), Kilpatrick (D-MI), Knollenberg (R-MI), Latham (R-IA), Representative Sander M. Levin (D-MI), Markey (D-MA), Marshall (D-GA), McCotter (R-MI), McDermott (D-WA), Mitchell (D-AZ), Moran (D-VA) P. Murphy (D-PA), Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Ramstad (R-MN), Schakowsky (D-IL), Sires (D-NJ), Souder (R-IN), Upton (R-MI), Walberg (R-MI), Van Hollen (D-MD), Waxman (D-CA), J. Wilson (R-SC), Wynn (D-MD)

Sample Lettter

The Honorable (full name)
__(Rm.)__(name of)House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative:

I urge you to cosponsor H.Res.258, a resolution expressing the Sense of the House that there should be established a National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness month. Similar legislation naming May as National Autoimmune Disease Awareness month has been passed on the Senate side (S.Res.116). In order to pass this resolution before May, I ask that you sign-on as soon as possible.

( Include) A sentence or two about your involvement with autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune diseases are chronic, disabling conditions in which underlying defects in the immune system lead the body to attack its own organs and tissues. They can affect any part of the body, including the blood, blood vessels, muscles, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, endocrine glands, and multiple-organ systems and can be life-threatening.

The NIH estimates that autoimmune diseases afflict up to 23.5 million people in the United States, 75% of which are women. Additionally, prevalence levels are rising.

Unfortunately, though, there has not been enough improvement in our knowledge about the causes of and treatment for these chronic, disabling conditions.  Further, diagnostic tests for autoimmune diseases are not standardized, making these diseases very difficult to diagnose. Because diagnosis of autoimmune diseases is difficult and lengthy, treatment is often delayed, resulting in irreparable organ damage and unnecessary suffering.

There is a clear need for more public education about autoimmune diseases. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this important resolution in support of National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month. This resolution also supports the goal of increasing Federal funding for aggressive research to learn the root causes of autoimmune diseases, as well as the best diagnostic methods and treatments for people with autoimmune diseases.

As a constituent I would like to ask for your support by signing as a co-sponsor to HR-258. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Your Name