SAMPLE phone blurb asking House Members for bill support.

I am calling to urge the Congressman/woman to co-sponsor HR 2557, the Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Bill that was introduced by Congressman Christopher Smith.

Lyme disease has become an epidemic spreading across the country, we are sick, the tests aren't accurate, and we need a cure! Patients, and those who treat them, also need a voice in this process. Only you have the power to make that happen. Please co-sponsor HR 2557 today. Thank you (Give your name, address, phone number)

SAMPLE phone blurb asking Senate Members for bill support.

I am calling to urge the Senator to co-sponsor S 1381, the Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Bill that was introduced by Senator Blumenthal.

Lyme disease has become an epidemic spreading across the country, we are sick, the tests aren't accurate, and we need a cure! Patients, and those who treat them, also need a voice in this process. Only you have the power to make that happen. Please co-sponsor S 1381 today. Thank you. (Give your name, address, phone number)

SAMPLE letter asking House Members for bill support.

Month, day, year

Dear Congressman xxxx:

Please co-sponsor the “Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2011” (HR-1381).

Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the United States, is usually contracted by the bite from an infected tick. The problem that exists today, however, is much more than just Lyme disease. There are many diseases (some life-threatening) carried by ticks that can complicate the diagnosis, treatment and ability to recover once a patient has been exposed, e.g. babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness (STARI), ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Tularemia, and bartonellosis.

In humans, infection with Lyme disease bacteria alone can lead to early symptoms such as severe headaches, debilitating fatigue, joint pain, and skin rashes, while long-term symptoms can lead to problems related to the central nervous system including the brain, heart, joints and other musculo-skeletal problems. Symptoms of Lyme disease vary for each individual patient, and also vary in intensity over the course of the disease.

The Lyme disease bacterium has the ability to enter the brain less than 24 hours after a tick bite. Lyme is called the “great imitator,” because it can mimic MS, ALS, fibromyalgia, lupus, chronic fatigue, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and even autism. On average, patients with chronic Lyme disease had symptoms for 1.2 years before being correctly diagnosed. At the highest risk of acquiring this horrible disease are our children, ages 5-14.

The CDC states Lyme disease is still vastly underreported, with only 10% of cases that meet its surveillance criteria being recorded. That translates into more than a quarter of a million new cases of Lyme disease each year.

The medical resources available to help our family members, friends and neighbors with Lyme disease are far from adequate. For example, a person with Lyme can test negative and still have the disease. Treating doctors think tests miss 50 % or more of patients. Research funding, as provided for in this bill, could lead to the development of more accurate diagnostic tests.

The long-term cost of Lyme disease to families, school systems, the health care system and the economy is astounding. Mothers and fathers are losing their jobs and their homes and many seek disability because they cannot get treatment. The federal government is footing the bill for many of the chronic cases that slip through the current system and the numbers continue to grow.

Federal legislation is important because it will open the door for more opinions and unbiased research to get to the real answers. Please cosponsor HR 2557 today and actively promote it to your colleagues.

Sincerely,

Your name

Street Address

City, State and Zip Code

Phone Number

SAMPLE letter asking Senate Members for bill support.

Month, day, year

Dear Senator xxxx:

Please co-sponsor the “Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases Prevention, Education, and Research Act of 2011” (S 1381).

Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the United States, is usually contracted by the bite from an infected tick. The problem that exists today, however, is much more than just Lyme disease. There are many diseases (some life-threatening) carried by ticks that can complicate the diagnosis, treatment and ability to recover once a patient has been exposed, e.g. babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness (STARI), ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, Tularemia, and bartonellosis.

In humans, infection with Lyme disease bacteria alone can lead to early symptoms such as severe headaches, debilitating fatigue, joint pain, and skin rashes, while long-term symptoms can lead to problems related to the central nervous system including the brain, heart, joints and other musculo-skeletal problems. Symptoms of Lyme disease vary for each individual patient, and also vary in intensity over the course of the disease.

The Lyme disease bacterium has the ability to enter the brain less than 24 hours after a tick bite. Lyme is called the “great imitator,” because it can mimic MS, ALS, fibromyalgia, lupus, chronic fatigue, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and even autism. On average, patients with chronic Lyme disease had symptoms for 1.2 years before being correctly diagnosed. At the highest risk of acquiring this horrible disease are our children, ages 5-14.

The CDC states Lyme disease is still vastly underreported, with only 10% of cases that meet its surveillance criteria being recorded. That translates into more than a quarter of a million new cases of Lyme disease each year.

The medical resources available to help our family members, friends and neighbors with Lyme disease are far from adequate. For example, a person with Lyme can test negative and still have the disease. Treating doctors think tests miss 50 % or more of patients. Research funding, as provided for in this bill, could lead to the development of more accurate diagnostic tests.

The long-term cost of Lyme disease to families, school systems, the health care system and the economy is astounding. Mothers and fathers are losing their jobs and their homes and many seek disability because they cannot get treatment. The federal government is footing the bill for many of the chronic cases that slip through the current system and the numbers continue to grow.

Federal legislation is important because it will open the door for more opinions and unbiased research to get to the real answers. Please cosponsor S 1381 today and actively promote it to your colleagues.

Sincerely,

Your name

Street Address

City, State and Zip Code

Phone number