Government Relations Action Alert

Republican Cosponsors Needed for the National Center For Social Work Research Act!

THE ISSUE AT HAND

Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) reintroduced the National Center for Social Work Research Act, S. 73, in January.  It is imperative that this bill receives bipartisan support since it will be difficult for any bill to move through Congress without it in the current political climate.

Representative Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX) plans to reintroduce his version of the bill in the House of Representatives in the near future.  Having Republicans sign on as original cosponsors to this bill before it is reintroduced is extremely important!

ACTION NEEDED

Contact your Senators

Contact your Republican Senators and request that they join Senator Inouye in supporting social work research by becoming a cosponsor of S. 73, the National Center for Social Work Research Act.

Republican Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (which the bill was referred to):  Chairman Gregg (NH), Sen. Frist (TN), Sen. Enzi (WY), Sen. Alexander (TN), Sen. Bond (MO), Sen. DeWine (OH), Sen. Roberts (KS), Sen. Sessions (AL), Sen. Ensign (NV), Sen. Graham (SC), Sen. Warner (VA)

Contact your Representative

Contact the office of your Republican Representative in the House and ask that he/she join Congressman Rodriguez in supporting social work research by becoming an original cosponsor of the soon to be reintroduced National Center for Social Work Research Act.

Republican Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee (which the bill will be referred to):  Chairman Tauzin (LA), Rep. Bilirakis (FL), Rep. Barton (TX), Rep. Upton (MI), Rep. Stearns (FL), Rep. Gillmor (OH), Rep. Greenwood (PA), Rep. Cox (CA), Rep. Deal (GA), Rep. Burr (NC), Rep. Whitfield (KY), Rep. Norwood (GA), Rep. Cubin (WY), Rep. Shimkus (IL), Rep. Wilson (NM), Rep. Shadegg (AZ), Rep. Pickering (MI), Rep. Fossella (NY), Rep. Blunt (MO), Rep. Buyer (IN), Rep. Radanovich (CA), Rep. Bass (NH), Rep. Pitts (PA), Rep. Bono (CA), Rep. Walden (OR), Rep. Terry (NE), Rep. Fletcher (KY), Rep. Ferguson (NJ), Rep. Rogers (MI), Rep. Issa (CA), Rep. Otter (ID)

To contact your Members of Congress, you may call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121 or find their numbers at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.  You may also

e-mail them a letter through Congress Web, available on the NASW website: http://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/grassroots/congressweb.asp

BACKGROUND

The National Center for Social Work Research Act authorizes the establishment of a social work research center to support, promote, and disseminate research on the prevention and treatment of critical health and social problems.  Such a center will provide vital information that can be used by Members of Congress, social workers, and other professionals to develop effective policies that address complex social problems.  In addition, it will help the social work profession, and other service delivery professions, to provide even more effective services to the public by building the knowledge base and consolidating best practices for the delivery of social work services. 

A social work research center would benefit individuals and families across the country.  Currently, nearly 500,000 professional social workers deliver crucial mental health and other human services nationwide through community organizations, health care facilities, government agencies, research organizations, and educational institutions.  In fact, clinical social workers are the key group of mental health providers for our military, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and many community school systems.  Having access to a wide range of information and research would enable these social workers to assist those who are in need in a much more effective and efficient manner.

For more information, please contact Ann Bradford, NASW Government Relations, at abradford@naswdc.org or (202) 336-8237, or you may refer to the ANSWER website at  http://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/answer/.