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Action alert
Write to Congress - Online!
Helpful hints for contacting legislators
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It is the hope of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan (BIAMI)
to greatly reduce the number of preventable traumatic brain injuries
(TBI), but as we work toward that goal, an estimated 5.3 million
people in the United States are currently living with a permanent
disability as a result of a brain injury. BIAMI works hard for
and on behalf of those in Michigan through its advocacy efforts.
Auto
No-Fault
One of the largest advocacy issues currently facing those with
brain injury is the attempt to dramatically revise Michigan’s
31 year-old auto no-fault insurance system. To better respond
to this attempt,
BIAMI provides leadership and participation in the activities of
the
Coalition Protecting
Auto No-Fault (CPAN). This coalition is composed
of over 25 consumers, nonprofit organizations, trial attorneys and
numerous health-related associations. Due to this dedicated effort,
17 bills being considered by the legislature in 2004 were prevented
from being passed.
Motorcycle Helmet
Repeal
As in previous years, BIAMI continued to working partnership with
numerous insurance companies and health-related organizations as
part of the
Heads First Coalition, which was created in 2003 as a response
to the mounting pressure to repeal Michigan’s motorcycle
helmet law. Motorcyclists from ABATE have worked in surrounding
states to have
their respective legislatures repeal helmet laws, arguing the challenge
that helmets restrict the personal freedom of motorcyclists. With
the assistance of many Heads First members, BIAMI was able prevent
the
repeal from being considered during the “lame duck” legislative
session in November and December, and therefore, the appeal was
finally put to rest when the legislature year ended on December
31.
TBI Act Reauthorization
This Act was initiated in 1996 and assists the plight of those
with TBI in several ways. First, it allows the Centers for Disease
Control
(CDC) to conduct research and surveillance studies. It also funds
the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the
national Protection & Advocacy Agencies, organizations that
help address the needs of individuals and families with TBI.
In 2006, the CDC
TBI Program will receive $5.354 million and the HRSA-MCH Programs
will receive $9 million. This success over
the
past year is
attributed to the deep commitment and quick action of our advocacy
network that consistently answered the call when needed.
BIAMI
is participating in the reauthorization of the TBI Act during 2007.
Congressional
Brain Injury Task Force
The mission of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force is
to further education and awareness of brain injury (incidence,
prevalence,
prevention
and treatment) and support funding for basic and applied
research on brain injury rehabilitation and development of a
cure.
These numbers do
not include incidence or prevalence of "acquired
brain injury" such as occurs with anoxia or stroke.
ABI and TBI should be considered together by the Caucus.
The
Traumatic Brain Injury Act is due to be reauthorized
in 2007. The Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
is hard at
work to
ensure this
happens. As the only federal legislation that helps
the 5.3 million Americans who live with a long-term disability
as
a result of
a TBI. This law must be reauthorized – bottom
line.
In Michigan,
only 4 Congressmen are members of the Congressional Brain Injury
Task
Force. They are:
Dale
Kildee (MI-05),
Thaddeus McCotter
(MI-11), Mike Rogers (MI-08) and Fred Upton (MI-06).
Please ask your US Congressman to join the Congressional
Brain
Injury Task
Force.
Click here for helping in asking
your Representative to join!
Do you need to contact your legislator?
MichiganVotes.org is
a free website that gives instant access to concise, plain language
and objective descriptions of every bill, amendment, and vote in
the Michigan legislature. Citizens can automatically e-mail legislators
or others about a bill. MichiganVotes.org is
a free public service of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Check it out at: www.michiganvotes.org
Get
Involved ACTION ALERT!
We
need your help! The Brain Injury Association of Michigan has an active
Legislative Network of people concerned about
brain injury that we keep informed of current policy matters. Members
receive rapid ACTION ALERTS and regular e-mail updates about important
policy issues under consideration in Michigan and Washington, DC. These
updates allow people to effectively educate our elected legislators
and other government officials on the unique needs of people with brain
injury. For three reasons, we rely on people like you in the Legislative
Network to contact their legislators to discuss why legislation may
help or harm people with brain injury.
- You
have valuable knowledge about brain injury that a legislator
needs to make informed decisions;
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- Legislators
want to hear from the voters they represent
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- We
have power in numbers! Join the Legislative Network.
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HelpfulHints for
Contacting Legislators
Generally,
a personal letter (or e-mail) is more effective than a phone call,
but a phone call can have a greater impact than
a non-personalized form letter (or e-mail). Whereas a staff person
from the legislator's office usually handles a phone call, records
the important information, and relays the message to the legislator,
a legislator sometimes brings the most moving letters with him or her
when it is time to vote on a bill. But pick the most comfortable method
for you. Whatever method you choose, here are some helpful hints to
remember when contacting your legislators…
Writing
Your Legislator - Calling Your Legislator
- Write
a personal letter (e-mail). It is far more effective than a form
letter. Tell your
own story about how brain injury affects
you, your family, or your community. Consider discussing life
before brain
injury, as well as how the injury happened.
- If
you are calling about a service provided by the state, identify
the service in
the first paragraph of the letter and whether
or not it meets your needs as a person affected by brain injury.
- If
you are calling about a bill, identify the bill number in the
first paragraph of your letter, and immediately establish
whether you would like the legislator to support or oppose the
bill.
- Identify
yourself as a constituent (a resident of the legislator's district).
- Try
to limit your letter to one page, and do not write more than
two. Legible hand-written letters are just
as good as typed
letters.
Be sure you include your return address!
- Be
polite.
- Do
not be afraid to ask for a meeting with your legislator or someone
from his or her office! This
can be the most
effective form of advocacy.
- If
possible, send a copy of your letter to Brain Injury Association
of Michigan so
we can keep track
of the advocacy
efforts in the
community and how the legislators are responding.
Send copies to BIAMI, 18619
W. Grand River, Suite I Brighton, MI 48116-2334.
- Most
important! Send a "thank you" note (or make a "thank
you" call) when your legislator responds
to your request! Prepare your remarks before
you call. Keep in mind that the person you
speak with will very likely be unfamiliar with
brain
injury. Keep notes available
if this will make you more comfortable.
- Don't
be surprised if you don't speak to the legislator
directly. Staff who answer or
respond
to the majority
of calls have the legislator's "ear" and
will make sure that your comments are recorded
and relayed to the legislator.
- Identify
yourself as a constituent (a resident of the legislator's
district).
- Immediately
establish what you are calling about, and what you would like
the legislator
to do (i.e.
improve a state service,
support
or oppose a bill).
- Be
positive, and try to be brief. Remember: the staff person you most
likely
will talk
to will work
even harder
on your behalf
if this
conversation is one he or she remembers
fondly!
- Leave
your name, address and phone number.
- Do
not be afraid to ask for a meeting with your legislator or someone
from
his or her
office! This
can be the most
effective form
of advocacy.
- If
possible, contact the Brain Injury Association of Michigan
to alert us that
you made the phone
call so we
can keep track of
the advocacy
efforts in the community and
how the legislators are responding.
Call toll-free
1-800-772-4323.
- Most
important! Send a "thank you" note (or make a "thank
you" call) when your legislator
responds to your request!
Legislative Action
Links
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L
e g i s l a t i v e A c t i o n C
e n t e r Michigan |
| The
National Brain Injury Association maintains a terrific online
advocacy resource called the Legislative
Action Center where you can enter your zip code, find out
about your Michigan representatives and contact them
regarding issued that are of great importance to you and the
future of the brain injury community. Simply click on the image
of the Capitol building. |
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L
e g i s l a t i v e A c t i o n C
e n t e r Washington
DC |
| The
National Brain Injury Association maintains a terrific online
advocacy resource called the Legislative
Action Center where you can enter your zip code, find out
about your Washington DC representatives and contact
them regarding issued that are of great importance to you and
the future of the brain injury community. Simply click on the
image of the Capitol building. |
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