Celiac Sprue Association

Press Release
For Immediate Release
July 1, 2009

Raise your voice and lift your hands as members of the Celiac Sprue Association in support of a new bill introduced by Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-1st RI), co-sponsored by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-6th FL) and Rep. James P. McGovern (D-3rd MA) that will infuse more than $43 million into new funding mechanisms for autoimmune disease research, awareness, and prevention. H.R. 2084, cited as the “Prevention, Awareness, and the Research of Autoimmune Diseases Act of 2009” (PARAiD), seeks to bring vital funding. PARAiD is a landmark piece of legislation, when passed, will focus on…

• Find your congressional representative on the CSA website under Resources/governmental links
• Write your email using our template on Advocacy Issues or make your own.
• Send your e-mail of support to your congressional representative at https;//writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml, or mail your letter to The Honorable (full name), House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515. Begin your letter: Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. (last name) or Dear Rep. (last name).
• Please send the CSA national office a copy of your email or letter so that we can track your support. (E-mail us at csaceliacs.org or mail to CSA, Box 31700, Omaha, NE 68131-0700).
• Personally call your representative to ask support for H.R.2084 and request that he/she become a co-sponsor because of the impact that autoimmune disease has had on your life and because you are a constituent who wants his /her support. Get the phone number for your congressional representative at the CSA website under Resources/Governmental links!

The Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) is a member-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping
individuals with celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis worldwide through education, information and research.

Press Release
For Immediate Release
July 1, 2009

CSA holds membership in the Autoimmune Diseases Association (American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.), which is a non-profit association bringing a national focus to autoimmunity, the major cause of chronic diseases.

As a member of CSA, you have the power to make a difference in the future of autoimmune diseases by raising your hand to write a letter, lifting your voice to make a call, enlisting the aid of your family members and friends. These tasks may seem small, but they will make an immense difference in the success of H.R. 2084 (PARAiD). One voice, just one voice at a time, added to others through CSA—and a change is made! Be voice!

Sample support letter provided below.

Press Release
For Immediate Release
July 1, 2009

Sample Support Letter
TRY TO KEEP YOUR LETTER TO ONE PAGE

The Honorable (full name)
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representatives,

As a constituent of your congressional district, I would like to request support for H.R. 2084, cited as the “Prevention, Awareness, and Research of Autoimmune disease Act of
2009” (PARAiD). The $43 million that H.$R.2084 could authorize for autoimmune disease research, awareness and education has the potential to lay the foundation for
new discoveries and understanding of autoimmune diseases.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), autoimmune diseases affect more than 23.5 million Americans, and these disease have been shown to be on the rise.
There is no cure for any of the 80-100 disease classified as autoimmune, such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, type I diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, vasculitis, vitiligo, psoriasis and celiac disease. I have celiac disease and have discovered through awareness programs that a proper diet is the answer.

Personalize one or both of the following statements:
The discoveries and increased understanding that could be obtained through passage of
H.R. 2084 would affect my life through…
-or-
H.R. 2084 is important to me because…

Rep. (last name), in addition to my request for your support of H.R. 2084, I would also ask that you become a co-sponsor of this landmark legislation. The funding authorized in H.R. 2084 will positively affect not only my family and me but also the millions of Americans around our country suffering from autoimmune diseases.

Thank you for your consideration of my request. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

First and Last Name
Address
City, State, Zip
E-mail:
Daytime phone:

Note: CSA expresses appreciation to Virginia Ladd, ADA President the Autoimmune Diseases
Association, Inc. for their leadership in promotion of the House of Representatives Autoimmune
Bill H.R. 2084.

The Celiac Sprue Association (CSA) is a member-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping
individuals with celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis worldwide through education, information and research.