NATIONAL AUTISM ASSOCIATION
GRASSROOTS CENTER

Do you have 5 minutes to spare?
That's all it takes to make a difference.

Together, Anything's Possible

Your help is needed to make sure Congressman Weldon's bill, HR 4169, moves forward in Congress. Please take a few moments to copy this letter and fax it into your Representatives and Senators and also consider adding your signature to our petition at http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/petition.htm ---it will eventually go to all members of Congress asking for the complete removal of Thimerosal from all vaccines. Your faxes really do make a difference. Please let your voices be heard.

For contact information for your congressman, visit http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/congress.php

For a Step by Step Guide to contacting your Congressman, click here.

The NAA Team

Below is a list of Co-sponsors of HR 4169.

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From SafeMinds:

Below, we've provided some sample letters to send to members of Congress. Please note the sections which require your personalization. Feel free to modify/personalize to make it YOUR letter. However, we caution you not to make the letters too long---one page is preferred, two pages maximum. We suggest you fax these letters to your Representative and Senator. To find out who your elected officials are and their contact and fax numbers, go to www.house.gov and www.senate.gov. After faxing, wait one or two business days and call your elected official's office(s) and remind them of your position and mention that you faxed in a letter.

We have made great progress in protecting the nation's children from needless exposures to mercury - this bill is one more step in offering further protection.

Your friends at SAFEMINDS
www.safeminds.org 

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Sample Letter to Your Congressman:

June 1, 2004

Type Name
Typed Address
Typed City, State, Zip
Typed Telephone:
Typed Email:


Delivered Via Facsimile: (Type in Fax Number)

The Honorable (Type In Name)
United States Congress
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative (Type in Last Name):

As a parent and constituent, I am writing to request that you join Congressman Dave Weldon, MD of Florida and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of New York as a cosponsor of HR 4169, the Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2004. This bill is an important step to protecting children from future medical exposures to mercury.

Five years ago, after Congress requested that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluate the level of mercury in medical products, it was discovered that the exposure to mercury in the first six months of life through vaccinations exceeded at least one Federal safety standard. This previously unrecognized exposure was from thimerosal, a mercury-laden preservative that has been banned as a topical ointment. All forms of mercury, including that found in vaccines, have the potential to cause harm to the brain. In 1999, the U.S. Public Health Service, of which the FDA is part, joined with the American Academy of Pediatrics and manufacturers in announcing that a move to thimerosal-free vaccines was possible and preferred. Since that declaration most, but not all, vaccines are now available in mercury-free forms.

Without a ban, however; there is no guarantee that our children will be protected from future similar exposure to mercury. Without a ban, however; medical exposures to mercury through vaccination remain a possibility. Of additional concern is that children in other countries are being injected with mercury through vaccine produced in the United States. These children need our protection as well.

In the 70 years since thimerosal was first used in vaccines, science has made great strides in understanding the danger of exposure to even minute levels of mercury. We have succeeded in removing mercury in many items such as paints and thermometers; and warnings are routinely issued about mercury in fish. Thimerosal, once marketed as the topical ointment Mercurochrome, was banned specifically due to recognition that exposures to mercury could be harmful.

As a parent and constituent, I hope you will move quickly to support this effort to protect our children from the potential harm and tragedy of injury from medical exposures to mercury. {IF APPROPRIATE, you can insert – I have a child (or grandchild) who has been adversely affected by exposure to mercury through (his or her) vaccines.} I would be pleased to provide you further information. I will be contacting your office in the near future to follow up on this request.

Sincerely,


Typed Name
Concerned Parent


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Sample Letter to Your Senator:


June 1, 2004

Type Name
Typed Address
Typed City, State, Zip
Typed Telephone:
Typed Email:


Delivered Via Facsimile: (Type in Fax Number)


The Honorable (Type In Name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator (Type in Last Name): :

As a parent and constituent, I am writing to request that you introduce the Senate companion bill to HR 4169, the Mercury-Free Vaccines Act of 2004 recently introduced by Congressman Dave Weldon, MD of Florida and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney of New York. This bill is an important step to protecting children from future medical exposures to mercury. Your help is needed to ensure this bill becomes law.

Five years ago, after Congress requested that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluate the level of mercury in medical products, it was discovered that the exposure to mercury in the first six months of life through vaccinations exceeded at least one Federal safety standard. This previously unrecognized exposure was from thimerosal, a mercury-laden preservative that has been banned as a topical ointment. All forms of mercury, including that found in vaccines, have the potential to cause harm to the brain.

In 1999, the U.S. Public Health Service, of which the FDA is part, joined with the American Academy of Pediatrics and manufacturers in announcing that a move to thimerosal free vaccines was possible and preferred. Since that declaration most, but not all, vaccines are now available in mercury-free forms. Without a ban, however, medical exposures to mercury through vaccination remain a possibility. Of additional concern is that children in other countries are being injected with mercury through vaccines produced in the United States. These children need our protection as well.

In the 70 years since thimerosal was first used in vaccines, science has made great strides in understanding the danger of exposure to even minute levels of mercury. We have succeeded in removing mercury in many items such as paints and thermometers; and warnings are routinely issued about mercury in fish. Thimerosal, once marketed as the topical ointment Mercurochrome, was banned specifically due to recognition that exposures to mercury could be harmful.

As a parent and constituent, I hope you will move quickly to support this effort to protect our children from the potential harm and tragedy of injury from medical exposures to mercury. {IF APPROPRIATE, you can insert – I have a child (or grandchild) who has been adversely affected by exposure to mercury through (his or her) vaccines.} I would be pleased to provide you further information. I will be contacting your office in the near future to follow up on this request.

Sincerely,


Typed Name
Concerned Parent

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