Please post this and the prior post everywhere you want - in the full version.

****** ** URGENT ACTION *********

-We MUST stop the last-minute secret dealings to pass the two Lyme bills
stalled in Congress. These bills give MORE power and money to an already
unresponsive and bloated gov't. HR 741IH (Smith), S 1708S (Dodd)

Call, & fax, & email to the following stating you are:
1. NOT in favor of the current Lyme bills and want them stopped because
they gives TOO MUCH power and money to an already un-responsive &
bloated government that has already failed to meet the needs of the
community!
AND
2. Lyme is too serious to leave in the hands of a few people in the
community who conduct secret behind-the-scenes deals - such as the
current bad legislation. Ask for a hearing that includes the FULL Lyme
community, including you, to have input into any future legislation
*before* it is crafted and *before* it is introduced.

End with your name, address, & phone number so you can be contacted when
Congress starts up again.

------- Call the following people right away. Go email to them off their
websites, fax where you can.
• Chris Smith - p 202-225-3765 f 202-225-7768
(Prime offender who keeps submitting the tired old legislation, without
input from the full Lyme community, that
increases the unfunding and power of an already unresponsive government.
• Chris Dodd - (202) 224-2823. Senate supporter of the companion bill.
• Rep. Wolf - 202-225-5136. Tell him you do NOT want more power and
money for the gov't. NO Lyme bill!!

------ Also give the same message to these people if you can . . . (Key
committee members).

• Sen. Tom Harkins - 202-224-3254. (you can email him off his site).
• Sen. Arlen Spector - 202-224-4254 (you can email him off his site).
• Rep. Pallone - 202-225-4671
• Your own Senator & Your Representative.


BACKGROUND:

Anyone reading this must now stand up to any bully who attacks our right
to know what is going on! The current legislation does NOT have the
support of the over half of the Lyme community and people only now have
the chance to call their Senator and House member to stop the
steamrolling of the same old obsolete and dangerous legislation into a
bill. While life has evolved over the last 10 years, we are only getting
a rehash of old legislation. Well, we all deserve better! Some better
ideas should have come forward, but are not even given a chance to be
heard because THIS legislation is being conducted in secret
behind-the-scenes actions. If your the life of someone you know depends
on a cure to Lyme . . . then you can not afford to be on the sideline,
watching while others blunder through a well-intended but poorly
constructed legislation. You need to fight for your own rights to be
heard and control your own destiny!

I have watched as "petitions" in favor this tired legislation have
included names of groups who were never asked for inclusion of their
name, could not get their name(s) removed from the list, were not real
groups but individuals masquerading under assumed names, and the like.
This falsely represents the community's support and it is time it stops!

It is time our community stands up and demands its own multiple voices!
It seems that just a few internet-bound individuals are the gatekeeping
spin-doctors to what Lyme-concerned citizens are allowed to know and
think. NO MORE! Patients, doctors, family members and others must now
get fully engaged and demand input into the next round of legislation.
This also means that "Lyme literate" non-ILADS medical providers must be
included too!

If you want to be part of the solution then call Chis Smith AND Chris
Dodd and demand they stop reintroducing the same bill and solicit ideas
from us all! No one should be putting dangerous anti-Lyme wording into
legislation introduced into Congress!

And, you should demand that any Lyme group that thinks it controls the
federal Lyme legislation stop putting the rest of us in jeopardy!

I have been in the community for over 20 years and find we need many
more diverse voices in order to find the answers to the many problems
with tick-borne diseases. Please stand up and take back control of your
and our destiny!

My best,

Dr. K. V-Forschner