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Advocacy Alert: 09/05/2006

Take Action!

CFS Advisory Committee Charter Renewed
Thank Secretary Leavitt and ask him to act on recommendations

We are delighted to announce that the CFS Advisory Committee has just been renewed for two years, authorized by Secretary of Health Mike Leavitt and effective today, September 5, 2006. The CFS Advisory Committee is an important forum for the discussion of health policy as it relates to chronic fatigue syndrome. It brings together 11 individuals appointed by the Secretary of Health with representatives from several agencies of the federal government. Such disease-specific committees are fairly rare and this one has been important to the ongoing coordination of federal research and education efforts, as well as providing CFIDS advocates with the opportunity to provide input to decisions that affect them. Thanks to all the advocates – including Lobby Day participants, grassroots advocates and 41 members of Congress – who wrote to Secretary Leavitt asking him to renew the charter.

Thank Secretary Leavitt for continuing this important committee and ask him to take action on the Committee's past recommendations. Just follow the "Take Action" prompts to quickly and easily add your message to fellow advocates'.

An October 16, 2006 meeting of the CFSAC is being planned and will be formally announced soon. For more information, visit the committee’s web site at http://www.hhs.gov/advcomcfs/index.html. Background information about the committee and links to reports on recent meetings, including the last one held on July 17, 2006, can be found at http://www.cfids.org/advocacy/CFSAC.asp. We’ve recently updated the entire advocacy section of the Association’s web site, so please visit and return often for new features!