[BobbyB]

Lifespan Respite Care Act Message List

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Hey group!! Here is some very good news. I hope that the National
ALS Registry makes it too.

We are excited to let you know that the United States House of
Representatives and the United States Senate have passed the Lifespan
Respite Care Act (HR 3248). The House passed the legislation on
Wednesday, while the Senate passed the bill earlier this afternoon.
President Bush is expected to sign the Lifespan Respite Care Act into
law as early as next week.

This is a tremendous victory for people with ALS and their families.
The bill authorizes $289 million over five years for respite care
programs across the country and will help people with ALS and their
families access much needed respite services. Importantly, because
the funding is provided to the states, ALSA Chapters may be eligible
for state respite care grants that become available as a result of
the increased funding.

The ALS Association has strongly supported the Lifespan Respite Care
Act since it was first introduced in Congress more than four years
ago by Reps. Michael Ferguson (R-NJ) and Jim Langevin (D-RI) and
Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and John Warner (R-VA). The bill has
been a focus of our efforts at National ALS Advocacy Day and was the
subject of a breakout session at the advocacy conference in 2005. In
addition to Advocacy Day, ALSA has helped promote the legislation as
an active member of the National Respite Coalition, via the Advocacy
Action Center of our website and at Walk to D'feet events held across
the country. In fact, ALSA advocates and Chapters sent thousands of
letters to Members of Congress urging them to pass this vital
legislation. It is clear that those efforts have made a difference!

Thank you to everyone for their hard work in support of the Lifespan
Respite Care Act over the past several years. This is another
victory for people with ALS and their families.

If you have any questions or would like additional information about
the Lifespan Respite Care Act, please contact Patrick Fritz at
pfritz@... or toll free at 1-877-444-ALSA.