Caring for Military Kids with Autism Act

[To read the article in its entirety, go to TIME.com]

As the Armed Services Committees debate the language of the FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), these are the members we need to contact to remind them of the critical importance of our amendment for ABA autism treatments.

U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services  (SASC)

Phone: 202-224-3871

On May 17, the House approved the Larson Amendment (CMKAA) via unanimous consent as part of the FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and on November 29, the Senate version called the Gillibrand Autism Amendment to the NDAA was also approved.

Our legislation is now awaiting approval in conference committee with members of both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees.  There, the nature and language of each version of the bill is either rectified and sent to The President for signature, or the amendment is rejected and the NDAA moves on without the care we need for our children with autism included.

The House version had 70 bipartisan cosponsors.

The measure was approved 66/29 in Senate.

Here’s how our Senators voted:

ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEES

HOLD OUR FATE IN THEIR HANDS

Friends,

I have personally contacted every office of every HASC and SASC Member to urge them to pass the NDAA on to President Obama with our autism legislation intact.  I am sharing their email addresses with you to do the same.  With one personal note, you can group email with one click and help change the world.  Just copy and paste the addresses into your email message and tell them – it’s personal.

HASC Chiefs of Staff and Legislative Directors:

Adam Howard <Adam.Howard@mail.house.gov>; Adrienne Elrod <Adrienne.Elrod@mail.house.gov>; Andrew Lattanner <Andrew.Lattanner@mail.house.gov>; Angela Kouters <Angela.Kouters@mail.house.gov>; Arthur Sidney <Arthur.Sidney@mail.house.gov>; Ashley Shillingsburg <Ashley.Shillingsburg@mail.house.gov>; Ben Schultz <Ben.Schultz@mail.house.gov>; Betsy Hawkings <Betsy.Hawkings@mail.house.gov>; Blair Milligan <Blair.Milligan@mail.house.gov>; Bobby Cornett <Bobby.Cornett@mail.house.gov>; Brad Gentile <Brad.Gentile@mail.house.gov>; Brad Katz <Brad.Katz@mail.house.gov>; Brian Crawford <Brian.Crawford@mail.house.gov>; Brooke Bennett <Brooke.Bennett@mail.house.gov>; Casey Street <Casey.Street@mail.house.gov>; Chic Dambach <Chic.Dambach@mail.house.gov>; Chris Austin <Chris.Austin@mail.house.gov>; Chris Connelly <Chris.Connelly@mail.house.gov>; Chris Kelley <Chris.Kelley@mail.house.gov>; Chris Perry <Chris.Perry@mail.house.gov>; Chris Phelen <Chris.Phelen@mail.house.gov>; Christopher Raymond <Christopher.Raymond@mail.house.gov>; Chuck Cogar <Chuck.Cogar@mail.house.gov>; Claire Benjamin <Claire.Benjamin@mail.house.gov>; Clayton Hall <Clayton.Hall@mail.house.gov>; Cookab Hashemi <Cookab.Hashemi@mail.house.gov>; Courtney Temple <Courtney.Temple@mail.house.gov>; Dan Burgess <Dan.Burgess@mail.house.gov>; Dan McFaul <Dan.McFaul@mail.house.gov>; Dan Ziegler <Dan.Ziegler@mail.house.gov>; Dana Gartzke <Dana.Gartzke@mail.house.gov>; David Bond <David.Bond@mail.house.gov>; Dean Mitchell <Dean.Mitchell@mail.house.gov>; Deborah Burrell <Deborah.Burrell@mail.house.gov>; Dee Gilmore <Dee.Gilmore@mail.house.gov>; Diane Cihota <Diane.Cihota@mail.house.gov>; Eduardo Lerma <Eduardo.Lerma@mail.house.gov>; Emily Mueller <Emily.Mueller@mail.house.gov>; Eric Bohl <Eric.Bohl@mail.house.gov>; Eric Dell <Eric.Dell@mail.house.gov>; Eric Witee <Eric.Witee@mail.house.gov>; Erin Ryan <Erin.Ryan@mail.house.gov>; Fran Tagmire <Fran.Tagmire@mail.house.gov>; Glen Downs <Glen.Downs@mail.house.gov>; Greg Facchano <Greg.Facchano@mail.house.gov>; Jacque Ponder <Jacque.Ponder@mail.house.gov>; Jamie Boone-Biondi <Jamie.BooneBiondi@mail.house.gov>; Jamie Miller <Jamie.Miller@mail.house.gov>; Jason Lumia <Jason.Lumia@mail.house.gov>; Jean Hinz <Jean.Hinz@mail.house.gov>; Jennifer Cox <Jennifer.Cox@mail.house.gov>; Jennifer Warren <Jennifer.Warren@mail.house.gov>; Jesse Connolly <Jesse.Connolly@mail.house.gov>; Jessica Moore <Jessica.Moore@mail.house.gov>; Jessica Robertson <Jessica.Robertson@mail.house.gov>; Jimmy Thomas <Jimmy.Thomas@mail.house.gov>; Joby Young <Joby.Young@mail.house.gov>; Joe Heaton <Joe.Heaton@mail.house.gov>; John Blair <John.Blair@mail.house.gov>; John Bressler <John.Bressler@mail.house.gov>; John Connell <John.Connell@mail.house.gov>; John Thomas <John.Thomas@mail.house.gov>; John Whitt <John.Whitt@mail.house.gov>; Jonathan Blyth <Jonathan.Blyth@mail.house.gov>; Jonathan Pawlow <Jonathan.Pawlow@mail.house.gov>; Josh Bowlen <Josh.Bowlen@mail.house.gov>; Josh Grodin <Josh.Grodin@mail.house.gov>; Josh Martin <Josh.Martin@mail.house.gov>; Justin Johnson <Justin.Johnson@mail.house.gov>; Katie Enos <Katie.Enos@mail.house.gov>; Kimberly Johnston <Kimberly.Johnston@mail.house.gov>; Kristin Nicholson <Kristin.Nicholson@mail.house.gov>; Lauren Alfred <Lauren.Alfred@mail.house.gov>; Lauren Ellis <Lauren.Ellis@mail.house.gov>; Leanne Powell <Leanne.Powell@mail.house.gov>; Lisa Quigley <Lisa.Quigley@mail.house.gov>; Lisa Sherman <Lisa.Sherman@mail.house.gov>; Luis Torres <Luis.Torres@mail.house.gov>; Marc Berkman <Marc.Berkman@mail.house.gov>; Marianne Myers <Marianne.Myers@mail.house.gov>; Mark Pettitt <Mark.Pettitt@mail.house.gov>; Marshall Macomber <Marshall.Macomber@mail.house.gov>; Mary Annie Harper <MaryAnnie.Harper@mail.house.gov>; Mary Springer <Mary.Springer@mail.house.gov>; Matt Mazonkey <Matt.Mazonkey@mail.house.gov>; Matthew Herrmann <Matthew.Herrmann@mail.house.gov>; Meagan Linn <Meagan.Linn@mail.house.gov>; Melissa Murphy <Melissa.Murphy@mail.house.gov>; Michael Seeds <Michael.Seeds@mail.house.gov>; Neil McKiernan <Neil.McKiernan@mail.house.gov>; Nell Maceda <Nell.Maceda@mail.house.gov>; Noel Holmes <Noel.Holmes@mail.house.gov>; Paul Blazano <Paul.Blazano@mail.house.gov>; Randy Kutz <Randy.Kutz@mail.house.gov>; Robert Frederick <Robert.Frederick@mail.house.gov>; Rod Tanonaka <Rod.Tanonaka@mail.house.gov>; Ron Grimes <Ron.Grimes@mail.house.gov>; Ryan Keating <Ryan.Keating@mail.house.gov>; Sallie Taylor <Sallie.Taylor@mail.house.gov>; Sarah Christopherson <Sarah.Christopherson@mail.house.gov>; Sarah Seitz <Sarah.Seitz@mail.house.gov>; Scott Goldstein <Scott.Goldstein@mail.house.gov>; Scott Graves <Scott.Graves@mail.house.gov>; Scott Miller <Scott.Miller@mail.house.gov>; Sean Deverey <Sean.Deverey@mail.house.gov>; Shana Chandler <Shana.Chandler@mail.house.gov>; Stacy Barton <Stacy.Barton@mail.house.gov>; Stan White <Stan.White@mail.house.gov>; Stephen Boyd <Stephen.Boyd@mail.house.gov>; Stephen Davis <Stephen.Davis@mail.house.gov>; Stephen Martinko <Stephen.Martinko@mail.house.gov>; Steve Haro <Steve.Haro@mail.house.gov>; Steve Stallmer <Steve.Stallmer@mail.house.gov>; Terra Sabag <Terra.Sabag@mail.house.gov>; Todd Adams <Todd.Adams@mail.house.gov>; Vicki Middleton <Vicki.Middleton@mail.house.gov>; Vince Erfe <Vince.Erfe@mail.house.gov>; Whitney Verett <Whitney.Verett@mail.house.gov>; Yelena Vaynberg Yelena.Vaynberg@mail.house.gov

SASC Chiefs of Staff and Legislative Directors:

(Beth_Jafari@cornyn.senate.gov); (Bob.Cochran@mail.house.gov); (Bob_Foster@wicker.senate.gov); (Brian_Rogers@mccain.senate.gov); (Brooke_Jamison@gillibrand.senate.gov); (Charlie_Harman@chambliss.senate.gov); (christopher_griffin@lieberman.senate.gov); (David_Bonine@webb.senate.gov); (David_lyles@levin.senate.gov); (David_Ramseur@begich.senate.gov); (Elyse_Wasch@reed.senate.gov); (Jack_Danielson@levin.senate.gov); (Joan_Ohashi@akaka.senate.gov); (Joe_Donoghue@mccain.senate.gov); (John_Bonsell@inhofe.senate.gov); (John_Easton@ayotte.senate.gov); (Julie_Dwyer@mccaskill.senate.gov); (Kyle_Ruckert@vitter.senate.gov); (Laurie_Rubiner@blumenthal.senate.gov); (Mara_Boggs@manchin.senate.gov); (Marshall_Wittmann@lieberman.senate.gov); (Mary_Dietrich@collins.senate.gov); (Maura_Keefe@shaheen.senate.gov); (Michael_Sozan@markudall.senate.gov); (Mike_Harney@hagan.senate.gov); (Neil_Campbell@reed.senate.gov); (Nu_Wexler@blumenthal.senate.gov); (Paul_Reagan@webb.senate.gov); (Rebecca_Tallent@mccain.senate.gov); (Richard_Perry@lgraham.senate.gov); (Rick_Dearborn@sessions.senate.gov); (Rob_Lehman@portman.senate.gov); (Ryan_Jackson@inhofe.senate.gov); (Stephen_Miller@sessions.senate.gov); (Tim_Becker@bennelson.senate.gov); (Vanessa_Sinders@scottbrown.senate.gov)

Keep your message short, clear and to the point. Be respectful and honest. Your voice matters!  Tell them to pass the NDAA with the Larson/Gillibrand autism amendment intact.  (You can read a portion of my letter below.)

Thank you,

Rachel

Mrs. Rachel E. Kenyon

Wife to Command Sergeant Major William W. Kenyon, 1BN 102IN (MTN) CTARNG

Mother of two beautiful babes – one with autism.

“….  I thank those of you who have offered your support and I beg those of you who are hesitant to accept this legislation to look again. Look at our bravest families.  Look at the thousands of names and stories our citizens have lent to this cause.  They represent only a small fraction of our military families in crisis.  They speak for the thousands who are simply unable to fight for this while fighting every day for our country and for their own children with autism who need care.

I contact you today because this fight is so very personal for so many of us
serving our country each day. Not only do I want my husband to feel that his
more than 26 years of service warrant the medical care our daughter with autism
needs, but I want my daughter to have the security of being able to access the
tools that can give her a richer, more meaningful life…”