Legislation in Congress and how YOU can make a difference

We are pleased to let you know that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Sen. Christopher Dodd have just introduced legislation (S. 3980) directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to develop voluntary food allergy guidelines for preventing exposure to food allergens in schools and assuring a prompt response when a child suffers a potentially fatal anaphylactic reaction. FAAN worked diligently during the past year on the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2006 (S.3980) and hopes to see the bill passed into law in November. This bill, and a virtually identical companion bill introduced into the House shortly afterward by Rep. Lowey, effectively replace H.R. 4063 which had been introduced in 2005.

How You Can Support the Bill

Now is the time to contact your senators and demand that they support this bill. The most effective form of support for S.3980 is a simple five minute phone call to your senator. Below you will find a suggested guideline for your phone conversation:

1. Ask to speak to the staff member who handles health issues in the office.
2. Briefly describe how food allergies affect you and your family. Also mention the importance of a safe school environment for children with food allergies.
3. Tell the staffer you want your senator to co-sponsor bill S. 3980. [The more co-sponsors the food allergy bill collects, the more likely the bill will come up for a vote during the short period the Senate is in session in November.]
4. Urge your senator to speak to Senate leadership and request the bill be voted on under “unanimous consent.” [This means the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act of 2006 (S.3980) will be voted on by a simple “yes or no” vote, without debate. Many non-controversial bills are passed under this mechanism at the end of each year, and we feel S.3980 falls squarely into this category.]

Talking Points About the Bill

Feel free to use the information from this outline to make a case for the bill. In addition, you should briefly describe how food allergies have affected your child and your family. Read and Download an outline of S.3980. 

Below you will find a link providing phone numbers and e-mail addresses for both of your senators:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Please let us know what kind of feedback you receive from the staff person. This information will provide a critical foundation to our efforts in Washington in November. Please send feedback to our Washington Representatives at Peter.Banks@whaonline.org.

Thank you for participating in this important effort!

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