HOW TO BE A CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN’S HEALTH
Transcription
HOW TO BE A CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN’S HEALTH
HOW TO BE A CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN’S HEALTH WHEN ADVOCATES DEDICATED TO CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING RAISE THEIR VOICES, great t hings happen Photo by Justin Kelley, Women and Children’s Hospital University of Missouri Healthcare, Columbia, MO Raise your voice and join the Children’s Hospital Association and activists from children’s hospitals across the country as we work together to advocate for policies that improve access to quality care for kids everywhere. With your help, we can ensure our elected officials put forth policies that support children’s unique health care needs. TOGETHER WE: Representing more than 220 hospitals, the Children’s Hospital Association is the voice of children’s hospitals nationally. The Association works hard to promote policies that enable hospitals to better serve kids, and is the premier resource for pediatric data and analytics. Formed in 2011, the Association brings together the strengths and talents of three organizations: Child Health Corporation of America (CHCA), National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) and National Association of Children’s Hospitals (N.A.C.H.). • Worked to pass legislation that would help alleviate the record number of drug shortages that hamper quality pediatric care • Halted Medicaid cuts that would harm children’s access to health care • Secured funding to train more than 6,000 pediatric specialists at nearly 60 independent children’s teaching hospitals But the fight for quality health care for all kids is far from over. WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO THE RIGHT CARE AT THE RIGHT TIME. AND WE NEED YOUR HELP TO DO IT. 1 IT’S EASY TO BE A CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN’S HEALTH The children we serve depend on champions like you to be their advocates and to support policies that improve the well-being of all children. Whether you’re a patient, parent, staff member, or just concerned about our kids’ health, you can raise your voice to influence local, state, and federal policies. We need to educate our elected officials on how their decisions impact children’s health. It is important that champions for children’s health work within the law to change the law. Federal and state governments limit the amount of legislative advocacy in which nonprofit organizations may engage, but there are no such limits on concerned private citizens. Legislative advocacy by private citizens is constitutionally protected by the Bill of Rights, just like freedom of speech and freedom of religion. In fact, elected officials encourage petitioning the government; they want to hear from the people who elect them. As jazz great Wynton Marsalis once said, “We always hear about the rights of democracy, but the major responsibility of it is participation.” Follow these simple recommendations to increase your effectiveness as a champion for children’s health: n FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS n WRITE TO YOUR LEGISLATORS CONTENTS LEARN ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS................................................... 4 Find your legislators........................................................................................................................ 5 WRITE TO YOUR LEGISLATORS......................................................................... 6 When to write....................................................................................................................................8 ADVOCATE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.......................................................... 10 Facebook.............................................................................................................................................11 Twitter..................................................................................................................................................12 Send a video message...................................................................................................................14 When making your video.............................................................................................................15 MAKE TIMELY PHONE CALLS............................................................................18 VISIT YOUR LEGISLATORS................................................................................20 Prepare for your visit....................................................................................................................22 The powerful 90-second prepared speech.........................................................................22 During your visit..............................................................................................................................23 After your visit.................................................................................................................................24 RESOURCES.......................................................................................................... 26 Glossary of terms...........................................................................................................................26 Common policy priorities for children’s health.................................................................. 27 Additional resources.....................................................................................................................28 nP ROMOTE YOUR POSITIONS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA n MAKE TIMELY PHONE CALLS n MEET YOUR LEGISLATORS 2 3 INTRODUCTION HR 1 Introduced in House ➧ TAKE ACTION COMMITTEE ACTION Referred to House Committee ➧ REFERRED TO SUBCOMMITTEE ➧ REPORTED BY FULL COMMITTEE ➧ RULES COMMITTEE ACTION ➧ TAKE ACTION FLOOR ACTION House debates, vote on passage HOUSE ➧ ➧ HOUSE THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS ➧ This chart is meant as a general overview – most legislation follows this process. Occasionally, however, a piece of legislation will skip one or even many steps to be passed ➧ ➧ TAKE ACTION COMMITTEE ACTION Referred to Senate Committee ➧ REFERRED TO SUBCOMMITTEE ➧ REPORTED BY FULL COMMITTEE As a champion for children’s health you want to be in the know when it comes to understanding the legislative process. Creating and passing legislation is complicated. This chart will help you understand how a bill becomes a law. Remember that at every step in this process, you have the power to influence your legislators. Some sit on committees that craft legislation before it reaches the full House or Senate. And all of them will ultimately vote on any legislation considered by Congress. There is no bad time to reach out to your legislators, but some steps in the process allow for more influence from the public (indicated by TAKE ACTION above). This guide will show you how to maximize your effectiveness in communicating with lawmakers. 4 ➧ PRESIDENT SIGNS OR VETOES ➧ SENATE more quickly. INTRODUCTION S2 Introduced in Senate ➧ CONFERENCE ACTION TAKE ACTION FLOOR ACTION Senate debates, vote on passage SENATE ➧ FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS There are multiple resources available to find your elected officials at each level of government. For starters, visit www.speaknowforkids.org and click TAKE ACTION . You’ll be given contact information on all your lawmakers, from the president all the way down to your city council. You can also find information about important bills Congress is considering that may have an impact on children’s health care. And, as you’ll see next, we give you the tools you need to contact your legislators. 5 WRITE TO YOUR LEGISLATORS Elected officials respond to constituent outreach in a number of different ways. In-person visits carry the most weight with legislators, but of course it’s not always convenient to visit your legislator in Washington, or even while they’re at home in their district offices. Luckily, more than 90 percent of congressional staffers say that written communication from a constituent can influence their bosses. write Now that you know who your legislators are, let’s talk about the best way to contact them. As a constituent, you carry a lot of power with your elected officials – remember, they work on your behalf. Simply visit our Legislative Action Center at www.capwiz.com/nach. There you’ll find pre-written letters to your legislators you can personalize with your thoughts on why quality health care for all kids is so important. Many congressional staffers say a personalized letter carries more weight since it illustrates that the constituent took the time to tell his or her story. While our pre-written letters will cover most of the basics, here are some more tips on writing to legislators: • Begin by introducing yourself as a constituent. Many legislators won’t accept letters or emails from folks outside their district. 6 •M ake the ask. Within the first paragraph, specify what action you want taken and, if possible, refer to bills by name or number. v congress.go rep.smith@ ce Program alth Insuran Children’s He Expand the to te Vo e Pleas our the services ram support for urance Prog longstanding Ins h ur alt yo r He fo ildren’s ank you nding the Ch I want to th pa l, ex ita r , sp fo t ith Ho ed. Children’s entative Sm your suppor ing uninsur tric nurse at Dear Repres you to urge result of be writing to nt and pedia h care as a . am ue alt 07 I tit he . 20 ns ity to FY co un ss n in As a acce r comm illion childre rrently elihave proper ovides to ou rage to 6 m illion are cu ren do not hospital pr urance cove million, 6 m at our child ncerned th d health ins . Of that 9 co ce ide an ry ov (CHIP). ur ve pr ins at am m th health c nurse, I tisan progra States lack As a pediatri l and bipar the United state level. a successfu children in federal and • CHIP is ess, 9 million IP. cc sure at the CH su s or IP’ CH edicaid reased pres M inc . r in, ge de d ra • Despite lle un m is IP cove t not enro y net progra tly from CH gible for, bu nefited grea ildren’s safet ge. I gle, this ch and have be CHIP covera e very sick ing to strug ar inu expanding o nt wh r co l y spita in favo of onom Ho te ec s e n’ vo re th to ild u ith W ge yo n at Ch issue and ur any childre important I care for m mmunity. ion on this n in our co t your posit re ou ild ab ch g ing tin fec ard to learn e matters af I look forw ion to thes your attent appreciate Sincerely, r Susan Mille Street 4545 Main OH 44444 Springfield, m [email protected] ille Susan.M 0 123/456-789 Follow this approach for a successful email communication with your elected official. • Briefly explain the issue you are referencing – this is your chance to educate legislators on how the policy will affect you. •M ake it personal. Briefly share your story about how your legislator’s actions will directly impact you, your community, your job, and your family. •A sk for your legislator’s view on the issue. If they agree with your opinion, you can hold them accountable if they don’t vote your way. • I nclude your name, home address, email address and phone number. It is important to include your home address so you can be identified as a constituent. • Include a link to your CarePage or blog if you have one. • Keep the length of your email to three or four paragraphs, and less than 500 words. 7 WRITE TO YOUR LEGISLATORS “ Kyler Quincy from Vermont visits Capitol Hill. Kyler is in Washington, DC with Boston Children’s Hospital. ” “Political action is the highest responsibility of a citizen.” — John F. Kennedy WHEN TO WRITE: There is no wrong time to communicate your concerns to your legislator, but there are key times in the legislative process where legislators may be most receptive to your point of view (these are indicated by TAKE ACTION on the chart on page 4 and 5): • When a legislator acts favorably on your request, follow up with a thank you note regardless of whether or not the end result of the vote is consistent with your position. The thank you note strengthens the constituent/legislator relationship and helps reinforce that constituents pay attention and are engaged in the entire legislative process. • After a bill is introduced and assigned a number it is sent to the appropriate committee. This is a great opportunity to educate your elected official on the impact that the new legislation may have on children’s health. Committees are always seeking input from the public, and sending an email can provide just the right amount of detail and personal touch. • Congress still accepts snail mail, and many legislators say they appreciate hand-written letters. But keep in mind that because of security restrictions it can take more than three weeks for your letter to arrive. • Just before a committee takes action or votes is another ideal time to reach out to your legislators with a clear request to vote for or against proposed legislation. 8 9 INTERACT WITH LEGISLATORS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER A survey conducted by the Congressional Research Service in late 2011 found that legislators sent more than 30,000 Tweets and posted more than 16,000 times on Facebook in just two months. connect Social media has radically increased the number of venues and opportunities constituents have to communicate with lawmakers. Legislators continue to rely on traditional means such as their own websites and email, but have begun using blogs, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook to be more accessible to those that elect them. Additionally, electronic communications are less expensive than sending postal mail, and allow legislators to respond much more quickly. 10 Finally, social media allows you to break down geographical barriers to communicating with Congress. Normally, legislators only want to hear from constituents – the people that live in their district, vote for them and keep them in office. Social media, of course, is not tethered by these restrictions; you can communicate through Twitter and Facebook with a legislator in a position of leadership, or who has jurisdiction over a key health committee, even if they aren’t your legislator. (You can learn more about congressional committee jurisdiction on page 28.) FACEBOOK More than 90 percent of legislators in the 113th Congress have a Facebook page and use it for sharing information with constituents. Legislators are most frequently using Facebook to communicate their opinion on pending issues or legislation. However, they also use Facebook to talk about what is going on in their states or districts, including events they’re holding or attending – this is a good way to find out about where you can meet your legislator in person. In addition, legislators read comments and posts on their Facebook pages. In a study by the Congressional Management Foundation, nearly two-thirds of House and Senate social media managers said Facebook is an important tool for understanding constituent views and opinions. Keep track of what they post and add your thoughts; these are great ways to make your voice heard. 11 INTERACT WITH LEGISLATORS ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER Photo by Dana Johnson, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN TWITTER Twitter has become a favorite tool of legislators to release press statements, photos, and short news items. In the 113th Congress, 100 percent of senators and more than 90 percent of representatives use Twitter. Every state has at least 70 percent of its delegation on Twitter. There are two easy ways to find your legislator’s Twitter handle: 1) Visit www.tweetcongress.org and enter your home address. You’ll be given information about your legislators as well as their Twitter handles. 2) Visit www.govsm.com, a Wiki page devoted to legislators’ social media usage. You’ll need to know the names of your legislators in advance, but you’ll see the full range of social media platforms they are currently using. 12 Reaching your legislators through Twitter is easy; simply begin your tweet with their Twitter handle (user handles begin with an @ sign). You’ll also want to include relevant hashtags, (which begin with a # sign). Hashtags are a way of branding your tweet and making it easier to track conversations. For example: @SpeakerBoehner Please support children’s health by providing funding for #Medicaid and #CHGME. Other common hashtags used by the Children’s Hospital Association include: #speaknowforkids #medicaid4kids #dontcutkids #healthcare #congress 13 SEND A VIDEO ADVOCACY MESSAGE “ “One of our office’s top priorities is ” maintaining a high quality of dialogue with the people we represent.” — Senate Correspondence Manager, “Communicating with Congress,” report by the Congressional Management Foundation Video messages are an important and personal way to share with legislators how you feel about a topic or policy. While there’s no substitute for face-to-face interaction with your elected officials, recording and sharing a video advocacy message explaining how an issue affects you personally is a close second. If you’d like, you can let the Children’s Hospital Association know you are planning to send your legislators a video advocacy message. Just send an email to [email protected]. We can provide you with the most immediate policy concerns affecting children’s health which will enhance the effectiveness of your message (also be sure to visit our website, www.childrenshospitals.net). We can also post your video to our YouTube page to increase your visibility. And of course, don’t forget to post your video to your social media and on your legislators’ Facebook wall. 14 Best practices for recording a video advocacy message: Try to think of your video advocacy message as a quick face-to-face meeting with a decision-maker. You are in complete control of the content of this video “meeting.” The ideal length for your video advocacy message is less than 90 seconds. When making your video, address these important details: • The decision-makers who watch your video will want to know your name, city, and state. Do not include your home address as this video will be accessible to the public • If you are recording a message for your senator, it is appropriate to address her as senator and use her last name. If you are contacting your representative, you can address him as congressman or her as congresswoman and use his/her last name. 15 SEND A VIDEO ADVOCACY MESSAGE gov @congress. sen.jackson id ts to Medica proposed cu against the Please vote cuts to e proposed te against th ge you to vo y ur I or . lst CA na d, rso pe son, ringfiel e.com/your Senator Jack urs from Sp www.youtub tituent of yo on this link: I am a cons by clicking Jones and y on hn m Jo sti is te e My nam y personal ase hear m Medicaid. Ple Thank you, John John Jones Avenue 1125 Street CA 55555 Springfield, e-mail.com John_Jones@ 7 123/555-456 Use this example e-mail containing your video advocacy message. Follow this example for an introduction: “Congresswoman Johnson or Senator Cornyn, my name is Jennifer Smith from Houston, Texas, and I want to tell you why Medicaid is so important in my child’s life and how it addresses his special health care needs.” • If you are or your child is a current or former patient, or if you work at a children’s hospital, mention the name of your hospital. •B e prepared with what you want to say – it’s always okay to prepare a script in advance. •S peak slowly and clearly. A helpful tip is to address the elected official directly by looking straight into the camera. • Remember, this video is your opportunity to share with decision-makers your personal interest and passion about this issue. •C learly state what action you want taken and mention the bill name and number if you know it. 16 17 MAKE TIMELY PHONE CALLS Communication from constituents is crucial. A well-timed phone call can have a big impact on influencing legislation. call A personal phone call to your legislator’s office is always an effective and timely advocacy tool. It’s quicker and more personal than an email, and your legislators will appreciate your input. When calling your legislator’s office: •P rovide your name and address so you are recognized as a constituent. • I dentify the bill or issue you are calling about by its name and/or number if you have it. • Ask to speak to the staff member who handles health issues. You won’t be able to speak directly to the legislator, but the health staffer will relay your comments and concerns. • Briefly state your position and how you would like your legislator to vote. 18 • Ask for your legislator’s stance on the bill or issue and for a commitment to vote for your position. Remember to make the ask. •D on’t guess at answers to questions. If the elected official’s office requests information you don’t have, tell them you will gladly follow up with requested information. •F ollow up with a note restating your position and thanking the legislator or staff member for his or her time. It is important to keep your phone calls quick and simple since most offices are flooded with phone calls. For the most effective phone conversation, follow this example: “ “Hello, this is Tiffany Smith at 123 Main Street in Hartford, CT. As your constituent, I am calling to let you know that I fully support H.R. 1234, which would expand health care ” coverage for children. I urge you to vote yes. Thank you.” 19 VISIT YOUR LEGISLATORS Amauri Bowman from South Carolina meets with Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Amauri is in Washington, DC with The Children’s Hospital of the Medical University of South Carolina. visit Photo by Ken Cedeno 20 Visiting your legislator connects the issue you care about to the people your legislator was selected to serve. While less convenient than using email, social media, or calling by phone, it is by far the most effective means of conveying your message. Building a positive face-to-face relationship requires that you to plan ahead. If you would like to visit your legislator, you may want to consider contacting your children’s hospital government relations department to ensure that your efforts and messages are coordinated. The more personal the interaction you have with your legislators, the more attention your request will receive, and nothing is more personal than an face-to-face meeting. In a recent survey, 77 percent of congressional staffers said that an in-person visit carried the most weight in terms of delivering a constituent message. Visiting your legislators may sound intimidating, but remember: their offices are open to the public; they are elected to work for you; and they need to hear your story and opinions in order to vote on issues that will benefit the communities that they serve. Please note that legislators often can’t control their calendars and frequently ask their staff to handle meetings with constituents. These meetings are just as effective; the staff member will relay your concerns and comments to the legislator, and will frequently advise them on how to proceed. 21 Zeb Garvey-Knapp from Vermont talks with Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) at the Russell Senate Building on Capitol Hill. Zeb is in Washington, DC with Boston Children’s Hospital. VISIT YOUR LEGISLATORS An example of a good introduction/90-second speech: “Hi, I’m Chuck Jenkins. I am a constituent of yours and I am here to talk with you about health care coverage for children. I am asking you to vote yes on H.R. 1234, which reauthorizes the Children’s Health Insurance Program. CHIP provides health insurance to children who do not qualify for Medicaid and can’t afford to purchase private insurance. Here’s a sheet with some more information. My phone number and e-mail address are included if you have any questions. Thank you for your time today.” Photo by Ken Cedeno Prepare for your visit: •M ake an appointment in advance. Expect to get about 15 minutes with your legislator or their staff, but be prepared to deliver your message in as little as 90 seconds. • Be on time. • Be prepared by knowing where your legislator stands on the issue by doing some research on his or her website. You can also contact the Children’s Hospital Association at [email protected] to get your legislators’ voting history. • The Children’s Hospital Association frequently posts fact sheets on its website; download the relevant fact sheets to share with your legislators and their staff. 22 • Use this meeting to explain how the bill or issue will affect you personally, as well as other voters in your district or state. • Dress in business attire for an appointment with your legislator. During your visit: • Firstly, summarize in a 90-second speech who you are and why you are meeting with the legislator by doing the following: · Identify yourself as a constituent · Identify your relationship to your children’s hospital (if any) · Highlight the issue you came to discuss · Be specific about the action you want taken •M ake the ask. You can’t know if the legislator will support (or oppose) a given piece of legislation if you don’t ask. •S tick to the issue and avoid political attacks on your legislator or staff (or even his opposition). 23 VISIT YOUR LEGISLATORS Photo by Julie Stefaniak, Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY •S hare a personal story by providing context for why you care about the issue. • Before leaving, ask how you can be of help on this issue. Position yourself as a resource. • Give your legislator or staff the fact sheet on your issue and briefly highlight your points. •T hank the legislator or staffer for his time. After your visit: Follow up with a thank you letter or email and include any information that was requested by the legislator. This will strengthen your relationship and leave a positive impression with the legislator’s office. 24 25 GLOSSARY OF TERMS Glossary adapted from “Congress at Your Fingertips,” copyright 2013, CQ-Roll Call, Inc. Publishing: Newington, VA. Filibuster — Tactic used in the Senate whereby a minority intentionally delays a vote Act — Legislation that has passed both Houses of Congress and becomes law Lame Duck — Senator or representative (or the president) who has not been reelected but whose term has not yet expired Amendment — A change in a bill or document by adding, substituting or omitting portions of it Appropriations Bill — Legislation that provides funds for authorized programs Authorization Bill — Legislation establishing a program and setting funding limits Lobbying — The process of attempting to influence the passage, defeat or content of legislation by individuals or a group other than legislators Bill — Legislation introduced in either the House or Senate Majority Leader — Chief spokesman and strategist for the majority party, elected by members of the majority party. In the House, the majority leader is the second-ranking lawmaker, behind the Speaker of the House Budget Resolution — Concurrent resolution that establishes spending and revenue targets for the upcoming fiscal year Minority Leader — Chief spokesman and strategist for the minority party, elected by members of the minority party Chamber — Place where the entire House or Senate meets to conduct business; also, the House of Representatives or the Senate itself Omnibus Bill — Bill regarding a single subject that combines many different aspects of that subject Cloture — Method of limiting debate or ending a filibuster in the Senate. At least 60 Senators must vote in favor before cloture can be invoked 26 COMMON POLICY PRIORITIES FOR CHILDREN’S HEALTH Quorum — The number of senators or representatives who must be present before a legislative body can conduct official business Committee — A group of legislators assigned to give special consideration to certain bills Ranking Members — The members of the majority and minority party on a committee; next in seniority after the chairman Conference Committee — Meeting between representatives and senators to resolve differences when two versions of a similar bill have been passed by the House and Senate. Sequestration — The permanent cancellation of budgetary resources by a uniform percentage, applied to all programs, projects and activities within a budget account Continuing Resolution — A joint resolution to appropriate funds, usually for a short period of time and often in the absence of a regular appropriations bill Speaker — The presiding officer of the House, elected by members of the House Cosponsor — Legislator who joins in sponsoring legislation but who is not the principal sponsor or the one who introduced the legislation Medicaid Medicaid is a federal-state program that covers 40 percent all children in the U.S. While a quarter of the population, children are roughly half of all Medicaid recipients. Children’s hospitals provide about 45 percent of the hospital care required by children covered by Medicaid and almost all the hospital care for Medicaid-covered children with complex medical conditions. Medicaid, on average, pays for 56 percent of all inpatient days of care provided by independent children’s hospitals. However, Medicaid payments for services are inadequate, resulting in barriers to care for children covered by Medicaid. On average, Medicaid pays only 78 percent of the cost of care, even after hospitals account for supplemental payments, such as disproportionate share hospital payments, that provide financial help to hospitals that treat a large number of Medicaid and uninsured patients. Get the facts on Medicaid in your state by visiting www.childrenshospitals.net/statebystate. CHIP The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides health insurance to children who do not qualify for Medicaid and do not have access to private health insurance. It provides federal matching funds for states that put up funds of their own to expand Medicaid to uninsured children of low-income families, create alternative insurance programs for them or both. The Affordable Care Act authorizes and funds CHIP through Sept. 30, 2015. After that date, states may enroll CHIP-eligible children in qualified health plans that have been certified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Beginning on Oct. 1, 2015, states will receive a 23 percentage point increase in their CHIP federal matching rate. Congress will revisit CHIP, as the program’s funding and authority will need to be extended beyond 2015, providing another opportunity for children’s hospitals and Congress to ensure public policies strengthen children’s health care coverage. Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education or CHGME Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) program was created in 1999 to provide children’s hospitals with federal graduate medical education (GME) support comparable to the GME support the federal government provides to adult teaching hospitals through Medicare. CHGME supports the training of 6,000 residents at nearly 60 independent children’s teaching hospitals. Hospitals receiving CHGME funds train nearly half of all pediatricians and pediatric specialists. Sponsor — The representative or senator who introduces a measure 27 TRICARE TRICARE is the Department of Defense military health system for active duty military, guard and reservists, and their families, serving more than 9.6 million beneficiaries, including almost 2 million children. TRICARE is the only health insurance plan for children that is consistent in policy and payment across all 50 states. The Children’s Hospital Association TRICARE Project seeks to optimize the military health system’s understanding of children’s health care needs, and the ability of children’s hospitals to best serve military children. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL ADVOCATES TO STAY INFORMED The Children’s Hospital Association website provides more details on policies affecting children’s health and how you can get involved as a champion for children’s health www.childrenshospitals.net. Take action and find bills, voting records and other legislative activity at our Legislative Action Center at www.capwiz.com/nach. Contact us at [email protected] Relevant Congressional Committees House Energy and Commerce Committee energycommerce.house.gov Maintains principal responsibility for legislative oversight of drug safety, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Senate Finance Committee www.finance.senate.gov Has jurisdiction over Medicaid. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee www.help.senate.gov Handles most issues relating to public health, medical research, and individuals with disabilities. Other resources: U.S. House of Representatives: www.house.gov U.S. Senate: www.senate.gov 28 401 Wythe Street Alexandria, VA 22314 703-684-1355 6803 West 64th Street Overland Park, KS 66202 913-262-1436 W W W.CHILDREN SHOS P I TA L S .ORG