by Citizens Commission on Human Rights International

URGENT ACTION ALERT

On November 30th, the House passed HR 34, a 996-page bill, known as the 21st Century Cures Act. They are now rushing to get it introduced and passed by the Senate on Monday, December 5th, at 5:30 EST. This bill must be defeated because it contains some very dangerous provisions relating to psychiatric treatments.  This is an urgent call to action as we must let our Senators know that they need to oppose it.

TALKING POINTS ON WHY THIS BILL MUST BE OPPOSED:

• It drastically broadens the criteria for who qualifies for forced psychiatric treatment.  For example, if you are labeled mentally ill, you can be court-ordered for psychiatric treatment just because you are “substantially unlikely to voluntarily participate in treatment.”  All states already have their own laws regarding involuntary treatment and so there is no need for Federal legislation, especially with such dangerously broad language.
• It undermines FDA regulations that are essential for making sure medical and drug research is conducted ethically, scientifically and safely.  Meaning it could cost lives.
• Additionally, this 996-page bill is being fast-tracked through as it is being introduced with no time for the Senators to fully study and understand the broad implications of it.

If you live in the United States, we need you to do the following, very simple actions-it will take you less than 10 minutes:

1.    Find your Senators (you have TWO) at the end of this e-mail. They are listed alphabetically by state.

2.    Call the listed numbers and, using any or all of the above talking points, tell them you want to urge the Senator to vote NO on HR 34.  Note: Calls are the most effective way to make your voice heard.

3.    Click on the contact link for each of your TWO senators. This brings you to a form to fill out which you follow the steps to email your message that you want them to vote NO on HR 34.

4.    Forward this e-mail to ALL family members, friends, or colleagues that live in the United States and urge them to do the same.
Please make your calls and send your e-mails right away, then e-mail us back to let us know you have done so.

Sincerely,
Carla Moxon
Director of Public Activities
CCHR International
www.cchrint.org
800-869-2247

Statement from Educate. Advocate. Regarding Special Needs Concerns

Some of the problems with the 21st Century Cures Act – There are many problems with this bill that specifically hurt the disability and special needs community.

Provisions for home care providers create big brother mechanisms in (IHSS) In Home Supportive Services with the creation of the electronic visit verification system

(5) In this subsection:

“(A) The term ‘electronic visit verification system’ means, with respect to personal care services or home health care services, a system under which visits conducted as part of such services are electronically verified with respect to—

“(i) the type of service performed;

“(ii) the individual receiving the service;

“(iii) the date of the service;

“(iv) the location of service delivery;

“(v) the individual providing the service; and

“(vi) the time the service begins and ends.

Makes it easier for electric shock “therapy” fast tracked as a cure for autism as well and other conditions

…”lobbyists are pushing for a Senate vote this coming week on a bill called “The 21st Century Cures Act” – or HR 34 in its newly “amended” form. The law calls for skipping scientifically sound safety testing of new medical devices in the guise of helping desperate cases, but it would result in harmful and potentially deadly new gadgets being rolled out for use on the general population.

If passed and signed into law, ECT shock machines could become as commonly available and used as electric wheelchairs.” Citizens Commission on Human Rights Florida http://www.cchrflorida.org/something-worse-than-electroshock-therapy/

Further commentary on ECT and the 21st Century Cures Act from CCHC Florida http://www.cchrflorida.org/21st-century-cures-act-hidden-dangers/

Huntington Post in their article Washington’s Horrible Mental Health Legislation states, “included in the 21st Century Cures Act (Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act) hurts rather than helps

According to the HealthAffairs org article The Current 21st Century Cures Legislation is Still a Bad Deal for Patients, “Fast tracking drugs and products to the market as the 21st Century Cures Act allows hurts rather than helps …”we believe the bill’s potential benefits and modestly enhanced funding for scientific advancement are far outweighed by the increased risk of patient harm, and added pressure on the FDA to rush new products to market without adequate evidence. The current 21st Century Cures Act would not drive innovation. Instead, it represents a poor deal for patients.”

Learn more about Educate. Advocate.

LIST OF U.S. SENATORS, IN ORDER BY STATE:

Murkowski, Lisa – (R – AK)
709 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6665
Contact: www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Sullivan, Daniel – (R – AK)
702 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3004
Contact: www.sullivan.senate.gov/contact/email

Sessions, Jeff – (R – AL)
326 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4124
Contact: www.sessions.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-jeff

Shelby, Richard C. – (R – AL)
304 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5744
Contact: www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/emailsenatorshelby

Boozman, John – (R – AR)</d
141 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510(202) 224-4843
Contact: www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Cotton, Tom – (R – AR)
124 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2353
Contact: www.cotton.senate.gov/?p=contact

Flake, Jeff – (R – AZ)
413 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4521
Contact: www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-jeff

McCain, John – (R – AZ)
218 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2235
Contact: www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form

Boxer, Barbara – (D – CA)
112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3553
Contact: www.boxer.senate.gov/?p=shareyourviews

Feinstein, Dianne – (D – CA
331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3841
Contact: www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me

Bennet, Michael F. – (D – CO)
261 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5852
Contact: www.bennet.senate.gov/?p=contact

Gardner, Cory – (R – CO)
354 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5941
Contact: www.gardner.senate.gov/contact-cory/email-cory

Blumenthal, Richard – (D – CT)
706 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2823
Contact: www.blumenthal.senate.gov/contact/

Murphy, Christopher – (D – CT)
136 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4041
Contact: www.murphy.senate.gov/contact

Carper, Thomas R. – (D – DE)
513 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2441
Contact: www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-senator-carper

Coons, Christopher A. – (D – DE
127A Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5042
Contact: www.coons.senate.gov/contact

Nelson, Bill – (D – FL)
716 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5274
Contact: www.billnelson.senate.gov/contact-bill

Rubio, Marco – (R – FL)
284 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3041
Contact: www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Isakson, Johnny – (R – GA)
131 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3643
Contact: www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me

Perdue, David – (R – GA)
383 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3521
Contact: www.perdue.senate.gov/connect/email

Hirono, Mazie K. – (D – HI)
330 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6361
Contact: www.hirono.senate.gov/contact

Schatz, Brian – (D – HI
722 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3934
Contact: www.schatz.senate.gov/contact

Ernst, Joni – (R – IA)
111 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3254
Contact: www.ernst.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Grassley, Chuck – (R – IA)
135 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3744
Contact: www.grassley.senate.gov/contact

Crapo, Mike – (R – ID)
239 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6142
Contact: www.crapo.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm

Risch, James E. – (R – ID)
483 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2752
Contact: www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email

Durbin, Richard J. – (D – IL)
711 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2152
Contact: www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/

Kirk, Mark – (R – IL)
524 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2854
Contact: www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=contact

Coats, Daniel – (R – IN)
493 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5623
Contact: www.coats.senate.gov/contact/

Donnelly, Joe – (D – IN)
720 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4814
Contact: www.donnelly.senate.gov/contact/email-joe

Moran, Jerry – (R – KS)
521 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6521
Contact: www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-jerry

Roberts, Pat – (R – KS)
109 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4774
Contact: www.roberts.senate.gov/public/?p=EmailPat

McConnell, Mitch – (R – KY
317 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2541
Contact: www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=contact

Paul, Rand – (R – KY)
167 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4343
Contact: www.paul.senate.gov/connect/email-rand

Cassidy, Bill – (R – LA)
703 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5824
Contact: www.cassidy.senate.gov/contact

Vitter, David – (R – LA)
516 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4623
Contact: www.vitter.senate.gov/contact

Markey, Edward J. – (D – MA)
255 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2742
Contact: www.markey.senate.gov/contact

Warren, Elizabeth – (D – MA
317 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4543
Contact: www.warren.senate.gov/?p=email_senator

Cardin, Benjamin L. – (D – MD)
509 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4524
Contact: www.cardin.senate.gov/contact/

Mikulski, Barbara A. – (D – MD)
503 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4654
Contact: www.mikulski.senate.gov/contact/

Collins, Susan M. – (R – ME)
413 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2523
Contact: www.collins.senate.gov/contact

King, Angus S., Jr. – (I – ME)
133 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5344
Contact: www.king.senate.gov/contact

Peters, Gary C. – (D – MI)
724 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6221
Contact: www.peters.senate.gov/contact/email-gary

Stabenow, Debbie – (D – MI)
731 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4822
Contact: www.stabenow.senate.gov/?p=contact

Franken, Al – (D – MN)
309 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5641
Contact: www.franken.senate.gov/?p=contact

Klobuchar, Amy – (D – MN)
302 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3244
Contact: www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/contact-amy

Blunt, Roy – (R – MO
260 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5721
Contact: www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-roy

McCaskill, Claire – (D – MO)
730 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6154
Contact: www.mccaskill.senate.gov/contact

Cochran, Thad – (R – MS)
113 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5054
Contact: www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me

Wicker, Roger F. – (R – MS)
555 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6253
Contact: www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Daines, Steve – (R – MT)
320 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2651
Contact: www.daines.senate.gov/connect/email-steve

Tester, Jon – (D – MT)
311 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2644
Contact: www.tester.senate.gov/?p=email_senator

Burr, Richard – (R – NC)
217 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3154
Contact: www.burr.senate.gov/contact/email

Tillis, Thom – (R – NC)
>185 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6342
Contact: www.tillis.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me

Heitkamp, Heidi – (D – ND
110 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2043
Contact: www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Hoeven, John – (R – ND)
338 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2551
Contact: www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-the-senator

Fischer, Deb – (R – NE)
454 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6551
Contact: www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Sasse, Ben – (R – NE)
386A Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4224
Contact: www.sasse.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-ben

Ayotte, Kelly – (R – NH
144 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3324
Contact: www.ayotte.senate.gov/?p=contact

Shaheen, Jeanne – (D – NH)
506 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2841
Contact: www.shaheen.senate.gov/contact/

Booker, Cory A. – (D – NJ)
359 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3224
Contact: www.booker.senate.gov/?p=contact

Menendez, Robert – (D – NJ)
528 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4744
Contact: www.menendez.senate.gov/contact

Heinrich, Martin – (D – NM)
303 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5521
Contact: www.heinrich.senate.gov/contact

Udall, Tom – (D – NM)
531 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6621
Contact: www.tomudall.senate.gov/?p=contact

Heller, Dean – (R – NV)
324 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6244
Contact: www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form

Reid, Harry – (D – NV)
522 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3542
Contact: www.reid.senate.gov/contact

Gillibrand, Kirsten E. – (D – NY)
478 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4451
Contact: www.gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/

Schumer, Charles E. – (D – NY)
322 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6542
Contact: www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/email-chuck

Brown, Sherrod – (D – OH)
713 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2315
Contact: www.brown.senate.gov/contact/

Portman, Rob – (R – OH)
448 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3353
Contact: www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact?p=contact…

Inhofe, James M. – (R – OK)
205 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4721
Contact: www.inhofe.senate.gov/contact

Lankford, James – (R – OK)
316 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5754
Contact: www.lankford.senate.gov/contact/email0

Merkley, Jeff – (D – OR)
313 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3753
Contact: www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/

Wyden, Ron – (D – OR)
221 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5244
Contact: www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/

Casey, Robert P., Jr. – (D – PA)
393 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6324
Contact: www.casey.senate.gov/contact/

Toomey, Patrick J. – (R – PA)
248 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4254
Contact: www.toomey.senate.gov/?p=contact

Reed, Jack – (D – RI)
728 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4642
Contact: www.reed.senate.gov/contact/

Whitehouse, Sheldon – (D – RI
530 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2921
Contact: www.whitehouse.senate.gov/contact/

Graham, Lindsey – (R – SC)
290 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5972
Contact: www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-senator-gr…

Scott, Tim – (R – SC)
520 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6121
Contact: www.scott.senate.gov/contact/email-me

Rounds, Mike – (R – SD)
502 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5842
Contact: www.rounds.senate.gov/contact/email-mike

Thune, John – (R – SD)
511 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2321
Contact: www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Alexander, Lamar – (R – TN)
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4944
Contact: www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email

Corker, Bob – (R – TN)
425 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3344
Contact: www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/emailme

Cornyn, John – (R – TX)
517 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2934
Contact: www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact

Cruz, Ted – (R – TX)
404 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5922
Contact: www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=email_senator

Hatch, Orrin G. – (R – UT)
104 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5251
Contact: www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact?p=Email-Orrin

Lee, Mike – (R – UT)
361A Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5444
Contact: www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

Kaine, Tim – (D – VA)
231 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4024
Contact: www.kaine.senate.gov/contact

Warner, Mark R. – (D – VA)
475 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2023
Contact: www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contact

Leahy, Patrick J. – (D – VT)
437 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4242
Contact: www.leahy.senate.gov/contact/

Sanders, Bernard – (I – VT)
332 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5141
Contact: www.sanders.senate.gov/contact/

Cantwell, Maria – (D – WA)
511 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3441
Contact: www.cantwell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-maria

Murray, Patty – (D – WA)
154 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2621
Contact: www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme

Baldwin, Tammy – (D – WI)
717 Hart Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5653
Contact: www.baldwin.senate.gov/feedback

Johnson, Ron – (R – WI)
328 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5323
Contact: www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-the-sena…

Capito, Shelley Moore – (R – WV)
172 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-6472
Contact: www.capito.senate.gov/contact/contact-shelley

Manchin, Joe, III – (D – WV)
306 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3954
Contact: www.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form