The Arthritis Foundation’s network of Advocates and Ambassadors were hard at work engaging members of Congress during the annual August congressional recess. Spanning mid-August to early September, the recess gives Advocates the opportunity to meet one-on-one with their representatives to encourage them to join theCongressional Arthritis Caucus, support arthritis-related legislation and fight for funding for arthritis research initiatives.
“It is so important for members of Congress to see and hear personally from our Advocates,” says Laura Keivel, the Arthritis Foundation’s manager of grassroots advocacy. “Putting a face and name on this disease helps our elected officials better understand the impact arthritis has on our nation. Our Advocates are able to tell their story and affect change by personalizing a disease that affects millions of people.”
对于那些无法与他们的代表见面的倡导者来说，社交媒体在帮助传播需要做更多工作来治疗和治愈关节炎的信息方面发挥了至关重要的作用。超过570名支持者通过推特或发送签名信，要求他们的国会成员成为关节炎核心小组的成员，加入对抗关节炎的斗争。
In total, over 40 face-to-face meetings took place, 10 new members of Congress joined the Arthritis Caucus, and six new co-sponsors signed on to theEnsuring Children’s Access to Specialty Care Act of 2015(H.R. 1859).
“Our Advocates did an incredible job engaging their members of Congress and inspiring them to take action,” says Laura. “Thanks to their hard work these past few weeks, the Arthritis Caucus now boasts 103 members, and we have gained support for legislation that will help kids living with arthritis receive the care they desperately need. This is a tremendous victory for our Ambassadors, Advocates and the arthritis community.”
Related Resources:
- Learn more about how you can join the movement andbecome an Arthritis Advocate.
- Read more advocacy events and headlines