Subject: The Advocate, May 17, 2003, Update From: Date: Sat, 17 May 2003 14:04:33 EDT
Good Day, Advocates,
The update I am sending you today is probably the most important of 2003. The last few weeks have been very busy for advocacy and people with MS. We have had definite successes which I will update below, but our biggest challenge and hopefully success is ahead of us. Senate Bill 293 (commonly called Circuit Breakers) will be voted on this week. This is the final vote for passage in the Illinois Legislature. SB-293 will provide MS prescription drug assistance to those people with MS, deemed disabled, with incomes in the $20,000-$30,000 range. These are many of our neediest people who often fall between the cracks for services from our state. I ask you to please call your state representative and ask for their support of SB- 293. If you need to know who your state representative is, here is the link:
http://www.elections.state.il.us/DLS/Pages/DLSAddressCrit.asp
Please do this, there are people with MS who need help with the cost of prescription drugs and they need our help now. So, again, please take a few minutes from your day and call for all those with MS who need our help. Thanking you in advance. I know we can count on you for that phone call.
I promised to give you an update of our accomplishments this year and here it is. I believe we have a record so far to make us all very proud.
INCOME TAX CHECKOFF
As of May 1, 2003, we have a total of $96,000 from our Illinois Income Tax Checkoff and with approximately 1 million returns to be counted, we hope to exceed our threshold of $100,000. I hope within the next month to report to you that figure.
ILLINOIS LEGISLATION UPDATE
1. Emergency Evacuation From High Rise Buildings For Persons With Disabilities clarifying language (HB-3095) has passed both chambers of the Illinois Legislature and will be sent to Governor Blagojevich for his signature into law.
2. Prescription Drug Discount For Seniors and Persons With Disabilities, HB-209, supported by the Greater Illinois Chapter has passed both chambers of the Illinois Legislature and will be sent to Governor Blagojevich for his signature.
National MS Society Issues & Empowerment Forum, Washington, D.C.
Pam Swenk, President, Greater Illinois Chapter, Angela Justice, Vice-President Programs, Greater Illinois Chapter, George McCague, George Treiguts and Yolanda Treiguts, Advocacy/Government Relations Committee (A/GRC), met with Sen. Richard Durbin, Rep. Mark Kirk and Rep. Danny Davis. The A/GRC also met with key staff of Sen. Peter Fitzgerald, Rep. Philip Crane, Rep. Jan Shakowsky, Rep. Dennis Hastert, Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., Rep. Judy Biggert, Rep. Jerry Weller.
1. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding For MS Research. The Greater Illinois Chapter delegation urged the continuation in Fiscal Year 2004 of an 8-10% increase in NIH Funding for MS related research
2. Respite Care. The Greater Illinois delegation asked for support of the Clinton-Snow legislation for community based respite care.
3. Medicare Coverage Of All MS Injectable, Disease Modifying Prescription Drugs. The Greater Illinois delegation asked for sponsorship of the Greenwood-Waxman legislation for Medicare coverage of all injectable, disease modifying medications. The Greater Illinois delegation secured the sponsorship of Sen. Durbin, Rep. Jackson, Jr., Danny Davis and very probably Rep. Judy Biggert and Rep. Mark Kirk.
Accessible Housing
Ongoing work being done by Maureen Howard and Leigh Gilmore, A/GRC, working with the Mayors Office For Persons With Disabilities and a coalition of health and disability organizations to further the goals and mission of accessible housing in the City of Chicago.
Transportation
Ongoing Work from the A/GRC with the City of Chicago and the County of DuPage for accessible transportation, in particular taxicabs.
Accessibility
Ongoing work with Rosemarie Botthof, MS advocate, and Lisa Madigan, Attorney General State of Illinois, for accessible Walgreen Drug Stores
Thanks, again, and have a good day.
Yolanda Treiguts, Chair
Advocacy/Government Relations Committee
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Greater Illinois Chapter