Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus in the US House of Representatives
Is your US Representative a member of the Congressional Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus?
Probably not since only 22% of all Representatives are members! That’s 73 of 337 representatives nationwide (4 of 32 Texas representatives)!
What does the Caucus do?
Founded in 2004, it is the leading Congressional Caucus of bipartisan Members who are dedicated to educating and raising awareness among lawmakers about addiction issues in hopes of increasing legislative support for expanding access to treatment. Joining does not commit the Representative to support any particular legislation. It is simply a forum to get relevant information to its members.
What can you do?
Visit http://sullivan.house.gov/Biography/ATRCaucusMembers.htm to see if your Representative is a member. If he/she is, call the office and thank them for being involved and let them know this is important to you! Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for the office of your Representative. You will probably have to leave a message but leave your “thank you” and it will get to the Representative.
If she/he is not a member, and/or you don’t know who your Representative is, visit http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/7158/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=7809 and scroll to the bottom of the page, enter your zip code and click submit. On the next page Option 2 allows you to send an email directly to your Representative and the email is already written for you, all you have to do is add your name at the bottom of the pre-written text and then fill out your demographic information and click “Send Your Message”.
I will be visiting Washington DC next week on behalf of La Hacienda and treatment providers in general. Caucus membership will be one of my “asks” with the Congressmen I meet with. Having calls and emails from their constituents will make my request more “on the radar”.
Thank you!!! Let me know if I can help you with any legislative questions or contacts, slayton@lahacienda.com.
(Source: lahacienda.com)
