Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

I want to adress this some more, but first

with permission from the IFFGD

ARIZONA
If you are from Arizona, please consider contacting one of your U.S. Senator's, John McCain (R-AZ), and informing him about Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

In mid-December, as the Senate was considering the Fiscal Year 2010 Omnibus Appropriations Act � the annual legislation which funds federal programs � Senator McCain, in the context of identifying wasteful government spending, made the following comments on the floor of the Senate:

December 12th-"$665,000 for, I'm not making this one up, for the Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles California for equipment and supplies for the Institute for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Research. Now, I have a lot of comments on them . . . on that issue . . . but I'll just pass so not to violate the rules of the Senate."

December 13th-"Another (spending project) that I have been unable to describe adequately without violating the rules of the Senate. $665,000 for Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles California for equipment and supplies for the Institute for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Research. The only thing I can say is that problem will not be reduced when people read this legislation, so there may be a need for it. The list goes on and on, it is crazy stuff."

The Issue
When prominent individuals trivialize IBS and refer to it in jest, the challenges and prejudices patients with IBS struggle to overcome only become greater obstacles. More importantly though, Senator McCain's comments reflect a lack of awareness and sensitivity to the IBS community's needs that is unfortunately present on Capitol Hill. Patients from Arizona can take this opportunity to reach out to Senator McCain, inform him about IBS, and help turn him into a congressional champion of the IBS community.

Take Action
IFFGD hand-delivered to Senator McCain's Washington DC office a letter and packet of information which will help inform the Senator and his staff on this issue. We will continue to follow-up with Senator McCain and other legislators. (View a pdf copy of IFFGD's letter to Senator McCain here.)

Constituents of Senator McCain are encouraged to send him similar letters so that he understands IBS is an important issue to the people he represents and he can begin working constructively with the IBS community. To assist with your outreach, a sample letter is located below.

Please send final copies of your personalized letters to the IFFGD's Development Coordinator, Dane Christiansen, at dchristiansen@iffgd.org or mail to Dane at IFFGD, PO Box 170864, Milwaukee, WI 53217. Dane can ensure that your letters are hand-delivered to the Senator's Health Staff in Washington, DC. He is also available to answer any questions you may have.

Sample wording for your own letter/email to Senator McCain.
[DATE]

The Honorable John McCain
241 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

RE: Healthcare Issue - IBS

Dear Senator McCain:

Thank you for your continued leadership on healthcare issues.

[Tell your story as an IBS patient.]

I hope in the future you will work to raise awareness of IBS as the serious public health concern that it is. There are numerous positive opportunities to call attention to IBS in Congress, such as working to advance the IBS and Functional GI Disorders Research and Treatment Act or lending your support to the resolution recognizing April as IBS Awareness Month. In addition, I hope you will work with your colleagues in congress to bolster important federally supported IBS research efforts and improve treatment options for IBS patients.

Thank you for your time and I have included my contact information below if you are interested in responding.

Sincerely,

[Signature]
[Name]
[Address]
[Contact Information]

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My website on IBS is www.ibshealth.com

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