Reminder! Act Today!

IMMEDIATE ACTION ALERT: EMAIL OR SEND A LETTER TO SENATOR SANBORN'S COMMITTEE MEMBERS TODAY!

Senator Sanborn has agreed to do a whip count of his committee where the autism insurance legislation bills currently are and has indicated his willingness to consider holding a hearing if his committee is agreeable.
This is HUGE news! The Senate will be back in session for only one day this week, so we need your letters and emails to be at their office when they return on Thursday.

Please do NOT CALL THEM! This time, we want the communication to be done through emails and letters. You don't need to be a constituent either. Please contact each and every one of the seven members.

The contact info for the committee members is listed below, as well as a sample letter. Please personalize the letter with your own comments and personal story, but also please keep the letter extremely respectful and positive without any accusatory or demanding overtones.

Thank you!


Contact Information

All mailing addresses for the Senators on the Economic Development and Regulatory Reform Committee are as follows:

Senator (Last Name)
Post Office Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536

Alan Sanborn (Chair)
SenASanborn@senate.michigan.gov

Randy Richardville (Vice Chair)
SenRRichardville@senate.michigan.gov

Jason Allen
SenJAllen@senate.michigan.gov

Judson Gilbert
SenJGilbert@senate.michigan.gov

Samuel Buzz Thomas (Co-introduced the Senate legislation)
SenBThomas@senate.michigan.gov

Tupac Hunter (Co-introduced the Senate legislation)
SenTAHunter@senate.michigan.gov

Gilda Jacobs
SenGJacobs@senate.michigan.gov


Sample Letter

Dec. 11, 2009

Dear Senator ___________,

I would like you to consider my request for a hearing on Senate Bills 359 and 360, which will provide insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
As a (parent/grandparent/teacher/therapist/etc.) of a child who has a diagnosis of autism, I have witnessed first-hand the devastating emotional and financial impact of this disorder on a family.
On behalf of the 14,000 children in the state of Michigan who are currently diagnosed with autism, and the many more to come in the years ahead based on the prevalence rate of 1 in 91 recently released by the CDC, I humbly request that a hearing be taken up on these bills so that the issues can be heard. A hearing will be able to show not only the immeasurable difference this legislation could make in the lives of Michigan families affected by autism, but also the enormous cost savings to society overall.
On behalf of the 14,000 Michigan children who need you to speak for them, I appreciate your consideration of a hearing on these very important bills.

Sincerely,

(Your name)
(City, Michigan)
(Phone number)