Government Relations Action Alert

AL, AR, CT, IA, KS, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, NC, NH, NM, NY, OH, RI, TN, WA, WY, VA, VT

Urge Your Senator to Support the Clinton Respite Care Amendment!

Wednesday, June 19th in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

THE ISSUE AT HAND

Access to quality respite care is critical to the provision of quality health care in the United States. Senator Hilary Clinton (D-NY) has introduced legislation on this issue, S. 2489, the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2002. NASW has endorsed this legislation.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 19th, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is marking up a women's health bill, S. 2328, the SMART Mom Act, which NASW also supports. However, Senator Clinton is going to offer the text of her respite care bill as an amendment to S. 2328.

ACTION NEEDED

Please call or FAX the U.S. Senators listed below and ask them to support the Clinton respite care amendment as well as the SMART Mom Act. All Senators may be reached through the Capitol Switchboard, 202-224-3121.

Once you've been connected to an office, be sure to ask to speak with the "Health Care Legislative Assistant" and ask him/her if the Senator or Representative will support both the Clinton Respite Care Amendment and the SMART Mom Act, S. 2328.

SAMPLE SCRIPT

As a constituent, social worker, and member of the National Association of Social Workers, I urge Senator (name) to support both the Clinton respite care amendment and the SMART Mom Act during Wednesday's HELP Committee markup. These important pieces of legislation express that quality respite care and prenatal care are national priorities. If you support quality health care in the U.S., the Senator should vote in support of the Clinton Amendment and S. 2328. Thank you.

TARGETED SENATORS