SAVE THE DATE: Announcing Lobby Day 2007!

Advocacy Alert: 11/16/2006

Lobby Day 2007 promises to be our most exciting—and potentially successful—event ever! For the 15th time, advocates will gather in Washington, DC for an afternoon training session on Monday, May 14, and then will travel in groups to meet with members of Congress and staff on Tuesday, May 15.

We have much work to do with the 110th Congress, with last week's election sending at least 51 new citizens to work as U.S. senators and representatives, and new leadership in place in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

But we've never had more news to share with lawmakers and their staff members, with widespread news reports following the November 3 press conference and headlines like United Press International's, "CDC: Chronic fatigue syndrome is real, brutal." And our Lobby Day advocates have the chance to show them how this real, brutal condition affects the lives of their constituents and warrants greater federal investments in research and education. The payoff from this CDC-funded awareness campaign will be great evidence to share with even the most thrifty members of Congress.

So plan now to attend or to ask someone close to you to go on your behalf. Read about last year's great event at http://www.cfids.org/advocacy/lobby-day.asp. 

Be sure you get early notice of additional details and sign-up information by sending your name and mailing address to lobbyday@cfids.org.

NOTE: This week the Senate and House are meeting to elect party leaders, appoint committee chairmen and make committee assignments. We'll let you know how these decisions affect our advocacy prospects. Stay tuned for more advocacy and media updates!