NAA Grassroots Center

Dear Parents and Guardians;

They Think We�re Getting Tired.

With your help, parents and caregivers in the autism community have successfully stopped numerous attempts by Senator Frist to change vaccine legislation in favor of the drug companies.

Once again, Frist and Senator Judd Gregg have introduced a bill containing vaccine language. Senate Bill S3 was introduced in the Senate Finance Committee. S3, �Protecting America in the War on Terror Act of 2005, is being called a bill �to strengthen and protect America in the war on terror.�

A press release from Sen. Gregg�s office on 1/24/05, stated the bill dealt with Vaccine Compensation. The bill is now available on the Thomas database of the Library of Congress at http://thomas.loc.gov/

In a section entitled �Vaccine Injury Compensation and Litigation Reform,� the S3 bill states,

(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds that--

(1) there are shortcomings in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and loopholes in that program that have been exploited in a manner that has contributed to a decline in the availability of vaccines generally in the United States and a decline in the number of manufacturers able to supply vaccines; and

(2) the condition described in paragraph (1) presents a barrier to the development of vaccines needed for bioterror countermeasures.

(b) RECOMMENDATIONS- After considering recent changes in the litigation environment with respect to vaccines as well as recent scientific evidence and reports by the Institute of Medicine and others with respect to the safety of vaccines and their components and ingredients, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General shall, not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, jointly submit recommendations to the appropriate committees of Congress concerning necessary modifications to the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and Federal rules regarding litigation involving vaccines.

The bill is currently in the Finance Committee but the HELP Committee has traditionally dealt with these issues. The Chairman of the HELP Committee, Senator Enzi, has stated this past week that the HELP Committee will be dealing with this very issue soon. So, while your fax and phone calls are imperative to the Finance Committee right now, the HELP Committee should also be made aware of your concerns should any bill regarding the justice of your child be introduced there.

We need to tell Senators on both the HELP and Finance Committees that we are watching and will fight for our children�s rights.

PLEASE PHONE AND FAX IMMEDIATELY!
(see below for contact info)

Tell these Senators that your child is mercury poisoned.

Tell them that he/she received exposure to mercury far in excess of EPA Federal Safety Guidelines from his/her early infant immunizations and now suffers permanent neurological damage.

Tell the Senators that they need to look into the problems of VICA (Vaccine Injury Compensation Act) in fair public hearings where experts on the program can be consulted in order to make the best VICA possible. Not dictated by the Attorney General and the Secretary of the HHS to Congress without public input.

VICA should be created by the people and for the people. Not a program that is created behind closed doors by a handful of politicians aimed at protecting the pharmaceutical industry.

We must insist that our vaccine-injured children receive equal protection under the law. Without this, justice will be denied to our children�the most vulnerable in society.

Click here to get the latest press release and send it along with your letter. http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/press012805.php

There is a sample letter below. Cut and paste anything you think will be helpful for your letter.

Thank you for all of your efforts! We will keep you updated on this important issue as we find out more information about the bill, whether or not it is going to committee for a vote, etc. Please feel free to update us on what you find out.

The NAA Team

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

Dear Senator ___________,

This is regarding S.3, the latest attempt to take away my child's rights to receive just compensation for injuries sustained through vaccines. The current threat, once again disguised as legislation that will help families such as mine, is called the Protecting America in the War on Terror Act of 2005. It appears the bill only benefits the pharmaceutical industry�the very companies that caused grave harm to my child.

Perhaps because similar legislation has gone nowhere in the past, this time the Institute of Medicine has been referenced as a reliable source of information regarding thimerosal. Legislators should not underestimate the many parents who understand the IOM's choice to ignore sound science from renowned independent researchers confirming the thimerosal/autism link at the February, 2004 Immunization Safety Committee meeting.

Policy-makers considering this legislation need to know that families seeking restitution for vaccine-injured children are not engaged in "frivolous" lawsuits. We are only seeking what is fair for our children whose lives were thrown needlessly into turmoil simply because we adhered to the mandated vaccine schedule.

My child was born completely healthy, meeting all developmental milestones. After receiving many thimerosal-containing vaccines, each of which exposed my child to amounts of mercury greatly in excess of federal safety guidelines, my child regressed. The physical and behavioral symptoms of the diagnosis my child received, autism, are completely consistent with mercury toxicity. Furthermore, lab tests indicate high levels of mercury. Mercury exposure through vaccines has left my child with many cognitive and emotional deficits. While my child has improved through various interventions and therapies, this comes at a tremendous cost to our family at approximately _______ per month. I cannot place a dollar figure on the grief it has caused my child and our family.

The parents of the one in six children now requiring special services in public schools are becoming increasingly aware of the science supporting the role mercury in vaccines played in their children's disabilities.

I am one of the hundreds of thousands of parents across this country who will be watching how this bill is handled very carefully. I ask that you stand up for my child and countless other vaccine-injured children by opposing this legislation.

Sincerely,

___________________

Here are the Senator�s names, phone numbers and faxes.

We have included both the Finance and HELP Committee�s contact information.

Again, S3 has been introduced into the Finance Committee but we fully expect other bills to be introduced into the HELP Committee dealing with this same issue.

If you only have a small amount of time, just phone and fax the Finance Committee.

If you have more time to alert the Senators on the HELP Committee of the autism community concerns, please phone and fax them as well.

Congressmen Weldon and Burton are also listed at the end of the list. Let them know you want them to look out for your child�s rights in the House as well.

Finance Committee

Republicans on Finance Committee

Grassley Charles R- IA
135 Hart Senate Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510-1501
202.224.3744
http://grassley.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home

Hatch Orrin R- UT
104 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-5251
Fax: (202) 224-6331
http://hatch.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Offices.Contact

Lott Trent   R- MS
487 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-6253
Fax: 202-224-2262
http://lott.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Email

Snowe, Olympia R-ME
154 Russell Senate Office Buildg.
Washington DC 20510-1903
Ph 202-224-5344
Fax 202-244-1946
olympia@snowe.senate.gov

Kyl Jon R- AZ
730 Hart Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4521
Fax: (202) 224-2207
http://kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Thomas, Craig R- WY
United States Senate
307 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: 202-224-6441
Fax: 202-224-1724
http://www.senate.gov/%7Ethomas/html/contact.html

Santorum Rick R- PA
511 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-3804
Phone: 202-224-6324
TTYD Number: 202-224-5024
Fax: 202-228-0604
http://santorum.senate.gov

Frist Bill R- TN
Office of Senator Bill Frist
509 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3344
202-228-1264 (fax)
http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSenatorFrist.ContactForm

Smith Gordon R- OR
404 Russell Building
Washington, DC 20510-3704
Phone: (202)224-3753
Fax:(202)228-3997
http://gsmith.senate.gov/webform.htm

Bunning Jim R- KY
1717 Dixie Highway Suite 180
Fort Wright KY, 41011
Phone 859-341-6480
Fax: 859-341-6482
Jim@bunning04.com

Crapo, Mike R- ID
239 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone 202-224-6142
FAX 202-228-1375
TDD 202-224-2806
http://www.crapoforsenate.com/contact_us.asp

Democrats on Finance Committee

Baucus Max D- MT
511 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2651
(202) 224-4700 (Fax)
(800) 332-6106 (from MT)
(202) 224-1998 (TDD)
http://www.senate.gov/~baucus/emailmax.html

Rockefeller, IV, John D. D- WV
531 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
Ph: 202-224-6472
DC Fax: 202-224-7665
Email Address: senator@rockefeller.senate.gov

Conrad, Kent D-ND
530 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510-3403
Fax: (202) 224-7776
Online: http://conrad.senate.gov
E-mail: http://conrad.senate.gov/webform.html

Jeffords, James (I - VT)
728 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5141
Fax (202) 228-0776
http://jeffords.senate.gov/contact-form.html

Bingaman, Jeff D- NM
413 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5141
(202) 224-5521
TDD: (202) 224-1792
http://www.senate.gov/~jeffords/contact-form.html

Kerry, John F D-MA
304 Russell Bldg.
Third Floor
Washington D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2742 - Phone
(202) 224-8525 - Fax
http://kerry.senate.gov/bandwidth/contact/email.html

Lincoln Blanche L. D- AR
355 Dirksen Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510-0404
Phone: (202)224-4843
Fax: (202)228-1371
http://lincoln.senate.gov/webform.html

Wyden Ron D- OR
230 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-3703
(202) 224-5244
fax (202-228-2717)
http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/

Schumer Charles D- NY
313 Hart Senate Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-6542
Fax: 202-228-3027
TDD: 202-224-0420
http://www.senate.gov/%7Eschumer/webform.html

HELP Committee � Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Republicans on HELP Committee

Alexander, Lamar (R-TN)
SH-302 / Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4944
Fax: (202) 228-3398
http://alexander.senate.gov/contact/

Bond, Christopher (R - MO)
274 Russell Senate Office Bldg
Washington DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5721
Fax (202) 224-8149
E-mail: kit_bond@bond.senate.gov

Burr Richard (R-NC)
1526 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3305
Phone: (202) 225-2071
Fax: (202) 225-2995
E-mail: richard.burrnc05@mail.house.gov

DeWine, Mike (R - OH)
140 Russell Senate Office Bldg
Washington DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2315
Fax (202) 224-6519
http://dewine.senate.gov/

Ensign, John (R -NV)
364 Russell Senate Office Bldg
Washington DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6244
Fax (202) 228-2193
http://ensign.senate.gov/forms/email_form.cfm

Enzi, Mike (R - WY)
379 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3424
Fax: (202) 228-0359
http://enzi.senate.gov/email.htm

Frist Bill R- TN [[[**ON BOTH COMMITTEES]]
Office of Senator Bill Frist
509 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3344
202-228-1264 (fax)
http://frist.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutSenatorFrist.ContactForm

Graham, Lindsey - (R - SC)
290 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5972
Fax: (202) 224-3808
http://lgraham.senate.gov/index.cfm?mode=contactform

Gregg Judd (R-NH)
393 Russell Senate Office Bldg
Washington DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3324
Fax: (202) 224-4952
E-mail: mailbox@gregg.senate.gov

Isakson Johnny R- GA
P.O. Box 71955
Marietta, GA 30007
Phone Number:(404) 705-8822
Fax Number:(404) 256-9085
Email ???
Staffer: stephanie@isakson.net

Roberts, Pat (R -KS)
302 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4774
Fax (202) 224-3514
http://roberts.senate.gov/

Sessions, Jeff (R-AL)
493 Russell Senate Office Bldg
Washington DC 20510
Phone (202) 224-4124
Fax (202) 224-3149
E-mail: senator@sessions.senate.gov

Warner, John (R - VA)
225 Russell Senate Office Bldg
Washington DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2023
Fax: (202) 224-6295
http://warner.senate.gov/contact/contactme.cfm

Democrats on HELP Committee

Clinton, Hillary Rodham D-NY
476 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-4451
Fax: 202-228-0282
http://clinton.senate.gov/email_form.html

Dodd, Chris D- CT
448 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Tel. (202) 224-2823
Fax. (202) 228-1683
Web Form: dodd.senate.gov/webmail/

Harkin, Tom (D - IA)
731 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington DC 20510
Phone (202) 224-3254
Fax (202) 224-9369
E-mail: tomharkin@harkin.senate.gov

Kennedy, Ted D- MA
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202/224-4543
Web Form: kennedy.senate.gov/contact.html
FAX: 202/224-2417

Mikulski, Barbara (D - MD)
709 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-4654
Fax (202)224-8858
E-mail: senator@mikulski.senate.gov

Murray, Patty (D - WA)
173 Russell Senate Office Bldg
Washington DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Fax: (202) 224-0238
E-mail: senator_murray@murray.senate.gov

Reed, Jack (D - RI)
320 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4642
Fax (202) 224-4680
E-mail: jack@reed.senate.gov

Bingaman, Jeff D- NM    [[[**ON BOTH COMMITTEES]]
413 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-5141
(202) 224-5521
TDD: (202) 224-1792
http://www.senate.gov/~jeffords/contact-form.html

Jeffords, James (I - VT) [[[**ON BOTH COMMITTEES]]
728 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington DC 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5141
Fax (202) 228-0776
http://jeffords.senate.gov/contact-form.html

Others to Fax and Call Who are Important to Us

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) [[Minority Leader of the Senate]]
528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3542
Fax: 202-224-7327

Senator Susan Collins (R-MA)
172 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2523
Fax (202) 224-2693

Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI)
141A Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2921
Fax: (202) 228-2853

Senator John McCain (R-AZ)
241 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone (202) 224-2235
Fax (202) 228-2862

Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
702 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Fax (202) 228-0325

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
332 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-2152
Fax (202) 228-0400

Congressman Dave Weldon (R-FL)
2347 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-3671
Fax: (202) 225-3516

Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN)
2185 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-2276
FAX: 202-225-0016