It is a cruel disease which extracts a tremendous physical, emotional, and financial toll from all it touches. We must continue our support for those with this disease and their care partners, but we must also fight to stop this disease by finding varied innovative ways to fund research!
The proposed legislation for an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Semipostal Stamp, H.R. 1508 or S. 1091 is one such way.
Quite simply, this legislation would direct the USPS to design and issue a postage stamp that would raise awareness and crucial funds for Alzheimer’s research.
The beauty of this stamp is that is does this WITHOUT increasing taxes, discretionary spending, or the deficit.
Like the popular and successful Breast Cancer Research Semipostal which has raised over $77.6 million for breast cancer research, the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Semipostal would cost a few cents more than regular first class postage, with the extra funds going to the NIH to fund research for better treatments, prevention, and - the ultimate prize - a CURE for Alzheimer’s & related disorders.
We must use EVERY means available to defeat Alzheimer’s, our formidable opponent.
Like many of you, we have lost those we’ve loved the most: Max, his great grandmother. Lynda, her dad and her husband. These losses, as painful as they are, have fueled our advocacy and our determination to fund and find a cure, but we need YOUR help!
We need to recruit the majority of our representatives to step up and sign on to this legislation, or it will fail.
This is the 5th time this legislation has been introduced in the House and the 4th time in the Senate since 2005. Each time it fails to get out of committee, the process begins all over again.
Please CALL your elected officials TODAY! Ask them to get on board.
This is the single most effective way to influence their opinions about legislation.
Members of Congress regularly ask their staff to report on the opinions of constituents calling their offices, and they often keep track of the numbers of constituents weighing in on a particular issue.
It’s easy. Follow these steps:
1. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121; then ask to be put through to the office of your congressman or Senator.
If you don’t know the names of your representatives, you can find out who they are, as well as the direct line to their offices by visiting:
2. Once you reach the lawmaker’s office, ask to speak with their Health Legislative Aid.
Then use these talking points:
Provide your name and let them know that you are a constituent in their state/district.
Let them know that Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States; that there are currently 5.4 million Americans with Alzheimer’s, and 15.4 million unpaid caregivers. These numbers are expected to triple over the next decade.
American families and taxpayers now spend $200 billion per year caring for those with Alzheimer’s and within ten years, more than $2 trillion will have been spent on care for those with Alzheimer’s. Our only hope at changing these figures is to vigorously fund research.
Ask your Senators/representative to COSPONSOR H.R.1508 (House) and S.1091 (Senate): To provide for the issuance of an Alzheimer's Disease Research Semipostal Stamp.
Passage of this bill would raise awareness of the enormity of this health crisis AND help fund research WITHOUT increasing taxes, discretionary spending, or the deficit. The semipostal would, in fact, provide much needed, cost neutral, additional revenue for dementia research.
Make it a Forever stamp.
ReplyDeleteBetter yet, why don't we just make a donation to the Alzheimer's Assc. where it will really count?
ReplyDeleteSeems the Post office has Alzheimer's! Rate is NOT 42 cents!
ReplyDeleteI will have Alzheimers when paying my taxes this year.
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