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Alliance for Disability
Sport and Recreation TO: Alliance Member
Constituents The only federal program that makes grants to establish local adaptive recreation programs has been eliminated in the President's budget. Please call or e-mail your Member of Congress to ask them to sign on to the Ros-Lehtinen-Meek letter of support for reinstating the program funding. STATUS: The Recreation Program has been funded for the past 18 years. This year the White House asked Congress to eliminate the program. We think we can save the program and ensure funding for the coming year. Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Carrie Meek (D-FL) have asked other Members of the House of Representatives to join them in signing a letter to the appropriate subcommittee recommending that the program be saved and funding reinstated. The more Members of Congress who agree to sign this letter, the more powerful it will be in moving the Appropriations Subcommittee to reinstate the funding. Would you be willing to ask your Member of Congress to sign on to the Ros-Lehtinen-Meek letter? ACTION REQUESTED: We believe that most Members of the House will be willing to sign the letter recommending that the recreation program be saved. But they need to hear from you. Your Congressional Representative needs to know that families and advocates in their districts see the need for the federal Recreation Program and that you are aware of their position on the funding request. To reach your individual Representatives' offices by phone, you may contact the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121. Once you are in the right office, ask the receptionist to speak to the education legislative assistant. You can make the following points in your conversation. - My name is _________ and I live/work in __________. (Provide some information about yourself and why you are familiar with or understand the need for the program.) - I am calling to ask for your help. - The federal program that funds local recreation programs for people with disabilities was eliminated in the President's budget. - There is a letter circulating in the House of Representatives that will go to the Appropriations Committee recommending that the program be funded. - I hope Representative _______ would be willing to sign on to that letter. Our community here in the district would really appreciate his/her support. - This program is far too important to be eliminated from next year's budget. - The letter is being circulated by Representatives Ros-Lehtinen and Meek. - You can contact
their staff for more information - Thank you for taking my call. I appreciate your time and work on behalf of this program. May I call you back in a few days to see what the Representative has decided? Thank you! Your phone call or e-mail can make all the difference in getting the attention of decision-makers in Washington. If you need additional information or would like to talk through the request, please contact: Ann D. Huston, MPA, CTRS Executive Director, American Therapeutic Recreation Association, 1414 Prince Street, Suite 204, Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 683-9420 or Ann Cody, Alliance for Disability Sport & Recreation (202) 312-7419 aecody@sagamoreassociates.com BACKGROUND: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
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