To:      All C-ACT members
From:    The CFIDS Association of America
Date:    April 28, 1997
Re:      CFIDS/CFS/M.E. Awareness Day, May 12, 1997

                          What Can I Do?

Make your government representatives aware. If you don't know who they are
or how to contact them, request the information from your local voter
registration office (you can find the number in your phone book) or the
Capitol switchboard at 202/224-3121.

* Write a letter. A suggested letter is included below. Use it as is or
personalize it with your own information. We have been advised that
original letters have more impact than pre-printed form letters.
Incorporate the enclosed suggested legislation language into your letter or
include the sheet as an enclosure with your letter.
C-ACT Note: One letter to an elected official represents 400 others that
support your issue.

* If writing is difficult, ask someone to write the letter for you or
dictate a letter that you can then sign.

* Try to mail your letters now or at least by May 8, 1997.

* Make a phone call. Call the office of your U.S. Senators or
Representative and ask to speak to the Legislative Aide. Ask that your
Senators or Representative support increased funding for CFIDS research.
C-ACT Note: One phone call to an elected official represents 150 others
that support your issue.

Suggested Letter:

      (For Senators)  

The Honorable [Full Name]
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510                                            

     (OR for Representatives)   

The Honorable [Full Name]
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Senator [Last Name]:                               
(OR Dear Representative [Last Name]:

        I ask that you recognize the designation of May 12, 1997 as
International CFIDS Awareness Day. I, along with hundreds of thousands of
other Americans, have chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome
(CFIDS), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). CFIDS is a
devastating illness. Scientists have learned that it affects the immune
system, the endocrine system and the brain, but its cause remains unknown
and no cure has been found. 

        I can no longer work due to the pain and cognitive problems
resulting from CFIDS. Please help continue the search for answers that
will help me and others with CFIDS become productive citizens once again.
Please support the requests of The CFIDS Association of America. 

Sincerely,

[Sign your name and include your address.]

[Enclose the suggested legislation language.]

Suggested Telephone Call Script:

Hello. My name is [Your Name] and I live in [City, State]. I have chronic
fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome (CFIDS) and I'm calling because
today is International CFIDS Awareness Day. Currently the cause of CFIDS is
unknown and there is no cure. I request that Mr./Ms. [Name of Senator or
Representative] help to change this by supporting increased funding for
CFIDS research. Thank you for sharing this message with [him or her].

        Please support legislation that will increase attention to and the
level of money spent on the study of CFIDS by our national public health
agencies, specifically: 

* Reauthorization of the National Institutes of Health to continue its
critical support for CFIDS research;

* Direction to the Social Security Administration to identify and correct
barriers to disability benefits that exist for persons with CFIDS;

* An increase of $10 million at the National Institutes of Health, most of
which would be directed to extramural grants focused on promising areas of
biomedical research into CFIDS; and

* An increase of $5 million at the Centers for Disease Control to expand
surveillance projects concerning CFIDS.

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