Grassroots

HB 859 (arthritis bill) passed out of the Illinois House of Representatives on April 1, 2009!! 

Thank you advocates for contacting your state representatives and stressing the importance of funding the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act.  We have been successful in the House because of your hard work and perseverance.

Synopsis As Introduced (HB 859) 

Appropriates $1,000,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for grants for research on autoimmune diseases. Appropriates $350,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Health for the purposes of the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act. Effective July 1, 2009.

Please go to www.ilga.gov (type in HB 859) for full details of the bill (including how your state representative voted) or click on:  http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/votehistory/96/house/09600HB0859_04012009_003000T.pdf. 

Please thank your state representative for passing this important bill!
 
House Sponsors (HB 859)

Rep. Betsy Hannig - Elizabeth Coulson - Eddie Washington - David E. Miller, Kenneth Dunkin, Daniel V. Beiser, Linda Chapa LaVia, Al Riley, Dan Reitz, Brandon W. Phelps, Monique D. Davis, Mary E. Flowers, Patrick J Verschoore, Michael K. Smith and Michael J. Zalewski

Our work is not finished.

Now is the time to contact your state senator to cosponsor Senate Bill 1295 and emphasize that Illinois does not receive federal or state funding for arthritis.  Current cosponsors are Senator Heather Steans and Jeffrey Schoenberg.

ALERT:  The Illinois General Assembly will be on Spring Break April 6th – April 20th.  This is the perfect time to schedule a meeting with your state senator at the District Office.

If you are unsure who your legislators are contact us or go to www.arthritis.org/advocacy.

Exercise, Arthritis and Fibromyalgia Forum with State Representative Jehan Gordon
Monday, May 4, 2009 from 10:00am - 11:30am
Neighborhood House
1020 South Matthew Street
Peoria, IL 61605
To register, please contact State Representative Gordon's office at (309) 681-19923

Arthritis Legislative and Exercise Public Forum with State Representative Rich Myers
Monday, May 11, 2009 from 1:00pm - 3:00pm
YMCA of McDonough County Senior Center
400 E. Calhoun Street
Macomb, IL 61455
To register, please call (217) 228-3208.  Limited to the first 60 participants.