Your Congress - Your Health

There will be no bigger topic on the political agenda this summer than health reform. The decisions that Congress makes will have long lasting effects for all of us - which makes it even more important for us to be proactive citizens. For this reason, Research!America is relaunching its constituent education initiative Your Congress - Your Health for the 111th Congress.

Every member of Congress has been invited to complete a brief questionnaire about research and other issues that affect our health. Help us achieve our goal of getting everyone on the record by visiting www.yourcongressyourhealth.org and sending them a message urging them to participate.

Just put in your zip code and all of your elected officials will appear. Check out their responses, and if they haven't already responded, click the link (it will redirect you) to send them a quick message. It took me less than 5 minutes, and I personalized the message that went to both my senators and my representative.

We'll be talking about Your Congress - Your Health on the blog from time to time, but for regular updates (including alerts when your members of Congress respond), join us on Facebook.

Fourth of July

Image credit: ramblingrovers

New Voices is off today in (advance) celebration of the birthday of this great nation. We'll be catching the fireworks at the Capitol Fourth celebration this weekend and otherwise enjoying the beginning of another year for the United States of America.

Land of the free. Home of the brave.

Have fun, stay safe, and remember that fireworks in a closed hand can be awfully dangerous.

Happy Independence Day!

Always Wear Sunscreen

And other 4th of July advice.

When you were a kid your mom was doing you a huge favor when she would cover you from head to toe in sunscreen while you tried to squirm away from her because all your friends were already on the beach building sandcastles. Always wear sunscreen is one of the few things that absolutely everyone can agree on.

This 4th of July weekend when you are at the beach, the barbeque or even the patio of your favorite restaurant, it’s a good idea to follow Mom's advice. It’s an even better idea to check and see which sunscreens are worth your while. We all see the SPF numbers, but unfortunately, there’s no real regulation on what those numbers (and all the various add-ons for water proofing and pore cleansing and etc.) mean.

This is why the Environmental Working Group undertook a major study to determine which sunscreens are helpful and which ones are nothing more than coconut smelling lotion. Make sure to check their searchable database before you choose which sunscreen to buy. But, whatever you buy, remember to wear sunscreen this 4th of July.

In keeping with a healthy 4th, we're betting there may be some grilling in your future (hey, it's better than frying, right?) But check the research on dieting before you barbeque. I know, I know, no one wants to hear it. What you may want to hear is that in some ways you’re better off eating less of what you like than you are eating diet foods. For those of us, myself included, who prefer a regular cheeseburger to a garden burger with sprouts, this is nothing but good news. For those of you who like cheez whiz on your burger, well, I can’t help you. Sciencentral has your report here.

Finally, and most importantly, do not hold fireworks longer than is necessary. As many as 9,000 people are injured annually in fireworks accidents. There’s a really simple way to avoid joining their number. Don’t hold on to fireworks and take two steps back. Your fingers will be so grateful they'll stay on your hand.

Seriously though. Wear your sunscreen.

July is ___________ Month

In terms of observed causes, July is a relatively 'light' month. Still, we here at New Voices think it is important to give these important health-related causes the attention the deserve.

July is . . .

Hemochromatosis Awareness Month--Hemochromatosis is also referred to as Iron Overload Disorder. Organs cannot function properly when too much iron is present in the body. Too little iron can lead to iron deficiency anemia. Treatment options are available. For more information, visit the Iron Disorders Institute.

Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month--Rheumatoid arthritis is familiar to many of us. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) is the most common form of juvenile arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease, mainly characterized by inflammation of the lining, or synovium, of the joints. Rheumatoid Arthritis can lead to long-term joint damage, resulting in chronic pain, loss of function and disability. The cause of JRA is unknown, but treatment options are available. The Arthritis Foundation offers excellent resources.

Group B Strep Awareness Month--Group B strep (GBS) is a bacteria that occurs naturally in the digestive tract and birth canal of 1 in 4 women. Babies can be infected by GBS during birth. According to the Centers for Disease Control, GBS is the most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborns. Group B Strep International offers resources to learn more about GBS.

Phelan-McDermid Syndrome Awareness Month--Phelan-McDermid Syndrome is a genetic disorder also referred to as 22q13 Deletion Syndrome. There is a large range of emotional, mental, physical and developmental characteristics associated with 22q13 Disorder. According to the 22q13 Deletion Foundation, 100 percent of individuals with 22q13 Deletion who were studies exhibited global development delay and absent or severely delayed speech. The 22q13 Deletion Foundation offers information about current research into this genetic disorder.

Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month--Bebe Moore Campbell was an accomplished author, advocate, co-founder of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Urban Los Angeles and national spokesperson for mental illness, who passed away in November 2006. According to the World Health Organization, four of the 10 leading causes of disability in the US and other developed countries are mental disorders. For more information, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Take a moment to browse the informational material provided by these organizations. With greater awareness comes a great possibility for treatments and cures to these diseases and disorders.

Speak Out for Research Funding Now

A Capitol Fourth, 2007

Recess Offers Ideal Advocacy Opportunity

Urge your members of Congress to support robust funding for NIH, CDC, AHRQ and NSF in FY 2010. This Independence Day recess offers an ideal opportunity to speak with your representative and senators and let them know that investing in research is critical to the health of Americans and the economy.

Meet with, call or write to your delegation in support of a funding increase of at least 10% for NIH in FY 2010 with the goal of reaching an annual appropriation of $40 billion as soon as possible. Other essential investments for research to improve health are increasing CDC's core program budget by $2 billion, establishing a base funding level of $405 million for AHRQ and increasing the NSF budget by 8.5% to $7 billion.

Time is of the essence because the House of Representatives will begin consideration of the appropriations bill for NIH, CDC and AHRQ on July 8. Take action now!

Rockstars!

If you’re like me, then there’s nothing more entertaining to you then seeing scientists put on shiny suits and ties and then pose awkwardly with various famous musicians.

Rock Stars of Science from the Geoffrey Beene Foundation is a long overdue acknowledgment of the importance of science and the need to promote interest in it. It's particularly exciting to see this kind of promotion done in an innovative way. Rather than simply profile these scientists as has been done numerous times before, Rock Stars of Science is trying to get people to see science in a new light and they're emphasizing how cool science is, and how cool it should be.

The Geoffrey Beene Foundation has an excellent history of promoting science, and their new program (coming soon to a GQ near you), is exactly what the scientific community needs. In a world in which 74% of people can't name a living scientist, it’s doesn't hurt to take abstract ideas such as “cure for cancer” and “AIDS vaccine” and show the people who are working so hard to make them a reality. These people have devoted their lives to saving the lives of others and they are responsible for some of the greatest discoveries of our lifetime. I think that should earn them the chance to stand next to Sheryl Crow for a photo shoot don’t you?

It’s with this in mind we present the . . .

New Voices Coolest Scientist Ever Tournament

For those basketball fans out there, the New Voices tourney is the science version of March Madness. Our bracket will feature the world's coolest scientists in a geeked-out challenge for title of Coolest Scientist Ever. We will have brackets for past and present scientists, and over the next month narrow the field from 16 to the one, undisputed Coolest Scientist Ever. Keep in mind we are not just comparing the quality of their discovery, but also how they would look in hyper fashionable clothing standing next to Will-i-am.

Take a moment to nominate your favorite scientist in the comments section. Starting next week we will post the brackets and begin the tournament! Followers of this blog will vote for the winners from each challenge (posted on Tuesdays), and the brackets will narrow each week. On July 31st, we will crown the Coolest Scientist Ever.

Silence is the Enemy

Men and women from across the blogosphere have been writing in support of the Silence is the Enemy campaign started by Sheril Kirschenbaum over at The Intersection.

Silence is most assuredly the enemy when it comes to violence. Some quick facts*:

• 1.6 million people worldwide die each year from violence. More than 51,000 are Americans.
• Violence is the leading cause of death among people aged 15-29.
• The U.S. saved $14.8 billion on heath care, police response, lost productivity and death in the first five years of the Violence Against Women Act. In comparison, the investment in the program to prevent violence against women was $1.6 billion over the same time period.

According to a 2008 Research!America survey**, 98% of Americans think that the U.S. should work to prevent violence in the U.S. and 61% think the U.S. should work to prevent violence globally. Either way, that's a lot of Americans who want to stop the violence before it starts.

How will you stand up and make your voice heard so that silence is no longer the enemy?

*Facts from the Investment in research saves lives and money fact sheet on Global Violence.
**See slides 12 & 13

Friday Round-Up

Photo credit: Unhindered by Talent

Our New Voices team has pulled together some suggested reading for those of you trying to beat the heat with a little indoor reading this weekend.

Matt's picks:

• Op-ed: What science deserves its stimulus money
• New sources of stem cell seem to be discovered every week

Takao's picks:

• Richard Posner’s does a cost/benefit analysis of American health care
• Atul Gawande’s brilliant piece detailing the spiraling costs of health in a small Texas town
• Op-ed: Health care reform doesn’t accomplish a thing if it doesn’t support innovation
• Is Hell endothermic or exothermic?

Heather's picks:

• Jerry Zucker discusses the value of the Science and Entertainment Exchange with the National Academies
• Israeli newspaper's experiment results in a pretty unique issue

Happy reading and see you on Monday!

Upcoming Town Hall Meetings

We hope everyone is already scheduling their meetings with members of Congress who'll be home in their districts next week for the 4th of July recess. Many members will also be sponsoring town hall meetings for their constituents to raise issues. So grab a few friends and make your voices heard! Here are some members of Congress who'll be available locally for their constituents in the next week:

Arizona
Rep. Raul Grijalva

California
Rep. Brad Sherman

Connecticut
Rep. John Larson

Delaware
Rep. Mike Castle

Florida
Rep. Bill Posey
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Georgia
Rep. John Barrow

Hawaii
Rep. Neil Abercrombie

Iowa
Sen. Chuck Grassley

Kansas
Rep. Jerry Moran

Mississippi
Rep. Gene Taylor

Missouri
Rep. Sam Graves

Minnesota
Rep. Keith Ellison
Rep. Betty McCollum

New York
Rep. Tim Bishop
Rep. Eric Massa

Oklahoma
Rep. Frank Lucas

Oregon
Sen. Jeff Merkley
Sen. Ron Wyden

Rhode Island
Rep. Jim Langevin
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

South Carolina
Rep. Bob Inglis

Texas
Rep. Michael Burgess
Rep. Ciro Rodriguez

Washington
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers

Wisconsin
Sen. Russ Feingold
Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner

How to: Have a Successful Meeting in Your Elected Official's Office

Map of 111th Congressional Districts courtesy of FiveThirtyEight.com

Members of Congress need to hear from you - their constituent - about issues important to your community, such as research. Take advantage of the annual Independence Day congressional recess (June 29 - July 3) and make an appointment to meet with your elected official in their district office.

In fact, now couldn't be a better time to reach out to your officials about the hot topic of the summer - health reform. When they get back after all the fireworks and fun, they'll be diving into at least a month of discussion and debate about how to improve the health of Americans.

So how do you have a successful meeting in your member of Congress' office? We asked Research!America board chair and former member of Congress John Edward Porter to share his principles for a successful meeting in your representative or senator's office.

1. Be prompt and patient.

• Be on time and prepared to wait if needed.

2. Start with a thank you.

• Thank the member for their service to you as their constituent and for taking the time to meet with you.

3. Have a specific and singular request. Examples include:

• Support specific legislation.
• Ask your member to sponsor or endorse a “DearColleague” letter.
• Invite members and their staff to come see where you work.

4. Be brief.

• Plan what you want to say and provide essential background information.

5. Speak with passion and personalize the message.

• Tell a story and make it relevant to the member.

6. Follow-up.

• Make sure to send a thank you note that reinforces your request and includes any materials that might be useful to the member/staffer based on your meeting.

You may have noticed that this post isn't titled How to: Have a Successful Meeting with Your Elected Official. That's because you won't always get to meet with the member themselves. When given the opportunity to meet with a congressional staffer, TAKE IT! Treat the staffer as you would treat your member of Congress, and remember that staffers handle most of the day-to-day in an office and have a tremendous amount of influence. Be kind and make yourself available to them as a resource and you're sure to develop a good relationship.

Check out all of Porter's Principles for more on how to make an appointment, have a successful meeting and sample advocacy messages to use during your meeting.