Urgent Action Item from ALS Association

Following is a communication from the ALS Association:

ALS Registry Vote Possible Friday!

As early as Friday, September 19, the Senate may hold a critical vote on S. 3297, the Advancing America's Priorities Act, which includes the ALS Registry Act. This may be the first of potentially several votes on S. 3297. However, Friday's vote likely will determine whether the Senate passes the ALS Registry Act this year!

Therefore, please contact your Senators immediately and tell your friends, family, colleagues - and everyone you know - to do so as well. Urge your Senators to vote YES on S. 3297. Even if you already have contacted your Senators this week, your outreach is still needed. We want to fill Senator's inboxes and make it clear that they must pass the ALS Registry Act this year. People with ALS don't have time to wait.

Letters you can personalize and send to your Senators are available in the Advocacy Action Center of our website, here: http://capwiz.com/alsa/home/. If you don't know the names of your Senators, don't worry. The Advocacy Action Center automatically will identify them for you and enable you to contact them directly from the site.

ALS Association, Key Senators Meet with Senator Coburn

Over the past few days Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and our supporters in Congress once again have reached out to Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) in a last ditch effort to convince him to release his hold on the ALS Registry Act and S. 3297. In fact, just a few hours ago, The ALS Association joined Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) for a face to face meeting with Senator Coburn. Senator Murkowski shared the story of her cousin whose husband is living with ALS and once again urged Senator Coburn to join us in providing hope and help to thousands of Americans fighting this horrific disease. Unfortunately, Senator Coburn continues oppose this bill. And that's why it's so important that you contact your Senators TODAY!

Don't Be Fooled

As the Senate prepares to vote on S. 3297, we anticipate that some may try to muddy the waters by raising issues such as energy, the cost of the legislation, and the financial crisis - some of the same issues that were raised when the Senate voted on S. 3297 in July. Tell your Senators not to be fooled by these tactics. They are just excuses for voting against people with ALS. Tell your Senators that their vote will demonstrate whether they support their constituents with ALS or whether they support Senator Coburn. And make sure you let them know that you'll be watching how they vote!

So again, please contact your Senators NOW! Together, we can pass the ALS Registry Act this year!
If you have any questions or would like information or assistance, please contact the Advocacy Department at advocacy@alsa-national.org. Thank you!