24 November 2002

Dear RRP Community,

Your assistance is urgently needed! As of the end of FY2002, CDC funding of the RRP Task Force and the RRP Registry, has been terminated. The RRP community needs to unite in a lobbying effort to restore this funding. In this regard we ask that you contact your Senators, Representatives and others who may have an influence on the direction of funding at CDC.

Below are some more lobbying suggestions:

Senators on the DHHS finance committees; Getting influential people to write to the Director of CDC (Dr. Julie Gerberding) and the Secretary of Health andHuman Services (Tommy Thompson); Writing to individuals in the executive branch of government who are interested in children (for example Laura Bush); Media contacts

Dr. Craig Derkay, head of the RRP Task Force has taken the lead in this effort to restore CDC funding for these important RRP related activities, it is now up to the rest of the RRP community to follow-up by showing our strong support.

To view a sample letter in HTLM format, click here. To download it in MS Word format, click here or in plain text click here.

Thank you for your help.

Bill Stern
RRP Foundation, Director