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eCommunities2006 Kids Speak Up
Senator Snowe Receives Inaugural Distinguished Leadership Award
Kids Speak Up! participant "How are you? Want to give me a hug?" Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) queried young constituent Lynzi Rideout, who had returned to Capitol Hill, where she had asked the Senator for her support of epilepsy programs and funding last year. The embrace was symbolic of the Senator's leadership, championing legislation to support people with epilepsy. Lynzi, a charming girl in a flowered dress with brand new pink patent sandals, presented Senator Snowe with the newly-minted Distinguished Leadership Award, in recognition of her unflagging support of people with epilepsy. She chatted with the Senator, then settled at a nearby table to write and draw her thank you note, leaving her parents, Epilepsy Foundation President and CEO Eric Hargis and key Government Affairs staff to discuss legislative priorities. Emily Rideout, a teacher, spoke movingly about the need for closer and better medical facilities, improved access to affordable epilepsy medications and better education programs and facilities. She talked about the family's six hour drives to Boston to visit the neurologist, the negative financial impact the new Medicare Part D has had on her uncle, who uses medications to control his epilepsy, and about a young friend with epilepsy who cannot find employment in rural Maine since she can't drive and no public transportation exists. Her emotional and moving stories caused Lynzi to reach over and pat Emily's hand saying, "it's okay, Mama." Sandy Finucane, Epilepsy Foundation Government Affairs Vice President, and Julie Yannes, Director of Federal Relations, focused their discussion on funding for epilepsy and other public health programs, restored to the Fiscal Year 2007 Budget by a Senate Amendment supported by Senator Snowe, and issues regarding the implementation of the new Medicare Part D formulary. The House of Representatives is considering the Budget Bill this week. Snowe's staff, when asked if there were anything the Foundation could do for the Senator, replied, "deliver the House." Hargis spoke of the 300 families from Kids Speak Up! and the Public Policy Institute. Families will be meeting with Members of Congress all day Thursday, and Yannes added that the Foundation and other affiliated organizations are doing everything possible to underscore the importance of program funding. "The Senator's leadership to ensure [programs that support] health and healthy children is a bipartisan issue, is very important, and her leadership is very much valued by our constituents," said Hargis.
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