FW: Two Bills Make Progress in Congress. Contact Your Senators & Representatives Today!

[Guest guest]

From: NDSS National

Poilcy Center & NDSC

Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 4:02 PM

To: Kathy Ratkiewicz

Subject: Two Bills Make Progress in Congress. Contact Your

Senators & Representatives Today!

Two Bills Make Progress in Congress

Take Action!

We Need More Co-sponsors Now, Contact Your Senators and

Representatives Today

Two bills in Congress could significantly improve the

future of children and adults with Down syndrome in the United States.

Please contact your Senators and Representatives to show your support for

the following bills:

Prenatally Diagnosed Condition Awareness Act

Rep. Sensenbrenner (R-WI), along with Reps. Mc-Rodgers

(R-WA) and Pete Sessions (R-TX) in the House, and Sens. Kennedy and Sam

Brownback, introduced the Prenatally Diagnosed Condition Awareness Act of

2007 (HR 3112/S 1810). The bill increases the amount of scientifically

sound information and support services to patients receiving a positive

test diagnosis for Down syndrome or other prenatally and postnatally

diagnosed conditions.

In addition, the bill would fund grants, contracts and cooperative

agreements to collect, synthesize, and disseminate current scientific

information. Further, the bill would coordinate and provide access to

supportive services for patients including:

• A Telephone Hotline

• An Information Clearinghouse

• Peer-support Programs

• Registries of families willing to adopt children affected by such

conditions

Contact your Representatives and Senators today. Ask them to cosponsor

HR 3112 and S 1810.

Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities

(FSAID)

Rep. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) introduced the Financial Security Accounts

for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2007 (HR 2370) in the House and

Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced the companion

bill, Financial Security Accounts for Individuals with Disabilities Act of

2008 (S 2743), in the Senate. Both of these bills would establish

tax-exempt financial security accounts for individuals with intellectual

disabilities and not jeopardize benefits. Funds in the accounts will pay

for important expenses such as:

• Education

• Medical care and dental care

• Transportation

• Moving

• Assistive technology

• Housing and Transportation, after the age of 18

• Employment coaching and training

The purpose of these accounts is to establish a savings instrument for

individuals with disabilities and their families to provide them with the

same flexibility, portability, and tax advantages that are available to all

other Americans and their families. These accounts are not intended to meet

the long-term support needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities.

The legislation is built on the premise that persons with disabilities

should be encouraged and supported in their efforts to save in order to

create an independent and meaningful life just as other Americans strive to

do.

Contact your Representatives and Senators today. Ask them to cosponsor

HR 2370 and S 2743.

ACTION REQUESTED

We are asking that you contact your Senators and Representatives, via

telephone or fax, to build support for the aforementioned bills related to

the Down syndrome community. The following is a sample letter that you can

send:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sample letter to your Senator or Representative

[insert Date]

Dear Senator/Representative:

I am writing to you today to ask you to support two bills that will

greatly aid the Down syndrome community and the families that take

responsibility for raising and supporting them. The Prenatally Diagnosed

Condition Awareness Act (HR 3112/S 1810), sponsored by Rep. Sensenbrenner

and Sens. Kennedy and Brownback, helps modernize our public health infrastructure

to ensure pregnant woman receiving a positive diagnosis for Down syndrome

and other genetic conditions receive timely access to evidence based and up

to date information and help facilitate better access to support services

such as telephone hotlines, information clearinghouses, peer-support

programs and registries of families willing to adopt children with such

conditions.

I am also writing today in support for the Financial Security Accounts

for Individuals with Disabilities Act (HR 2370/S 2743) sponsored by Rep.

Crenshaw and Sens. Casey and Hatch. This bill would establish tax-exempt

financial security accounts for individuals with disabilities to pay for

education, medical care and dental care, transportation, moving, assistive

technology, housing and transportation, after the age of 18, and employment

coaching and training. These accounts allow for individuals with

intellectual disabilities to save for their futures just like everyone

else.

I have a [child/sibling/grandchild/friend] with Down syndrome and am

hopeful that these bills will help us better serve the Down syndrome

community. [insert a few sentences about your family member or friend with

Down syndrome.]

I appreciate your time and work on behalf of my

[child/sibling/grandchild/friend]. I look forward to working with you in

the future.

Sincerely,

---------------------------------

For more information, contact: Sara Hart Weir, National Down Syndrome

Society (NDSS), at sweir@..., or

; or Goodman, National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC),

at G1961@..., or (301)

570-8892.

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