Congressional COPD Resolution 2005

November is COPD Awareness month, during which we and many others make concerted efforts to call attention to COPD. A Congressional proclamation is one way of getting attention.

Representatives Stearns (FL) and Lewis (GA) have introduced H CON RES 10, a joint Congressional Resolution to support COPD Awareness generally and the month of November as COPD Awareness Month specifically. We ask that each of you write your own Representative urging him/her to support this Resolution. Compose your own letter, or use the sample letter here. (And your family and friends can also help by slightly modifying the letter and sending it to their Representatives, too).

1. Go to http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/ ; enter your Zip Code.
2. Click on "e-mail" under your Representative's name; click on "Compose Your Own Message".
3. As your subject, paste in: Congressional COPD Awareness Resolution
4. Write your message, or paste in the following:
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I have COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and I am a member of EFFORTS, an Internet based support group of about 2,500 COPD patients. We are working with other respiratory-related organizations not just to improve care and treatment for current COPD patients, but to reduce the incidence of COPD in the future, and to reduce the enormous costs associated with this disease.

Cliff Stearns (FL) has introduced H CON RES 10, a Resolution which supports COPD Awareness generally and the month of November as COPD Awareness Month specifically. I am asking you to cosponsor H CON RES 10 now and to favor it on the floor.

Why?

COPD consists mainly of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Over 13.3 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD and possibly that many again have undiagnosed COPD. It is now the fourth largest killer in the US and may well become the third largest by 2020.

Even so, it is generally not at all well known. And this lack of awareness may in itself be a major cause for the prevalence of COPD. Unlike many better-known diseases, COPD develops so gradually and with so few obvious symptoms that it usually isn't diagnosed until it is already well advanced. However, if the general population were more aware of the nature of this disease, aware that there is a simple test that can spot it early on, and aware that early diagnosis can prevent further development of the disease, the future suffering and enormous costs associated with COPD could be greatly reduced.

Your support will help us develop a much-needed awareness of COPD -- a vital step in reducing its morbidity, mortality, and cost to American society.

5. Fill in the blanks with the information about yourself.
6. Click on the "Send Message" button.

That's it! You have just written your Representative in the US House. Now, please drop a note to fbarrettao@aol.com so we can add your letters to our count. Thank you for your participation!