Epilepsy Advocates From New York State Receive Warm Senate Welcome

by Catherine Kane
Special to EpilepsyUSA

Washington, D.C., April 7, 2005 -- A talented and articulate group of kids and parents from three Epilepsy Foundation affiliate offices in New York heard the perfect message from Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), "You have me in your corner one hundred percent."

Posing for photos with the senator in the Capitol Caucus Room, the awed teenagers thanked Schumer for his support of increased funding for epilepsy programs and research and for co-authoring - with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) - the Dear Colleague letter that groups from around the country had carried to their senators throughout the day-long series of visits for the Epilepsy Foundation's Public Policy Institute and Kids Speak Up! program.

Earlier in the day, the 19 advocate-strong group from New York met with Clinton to personally thank her and have their photo taken. She was gracious and warm in her talk with the delegation, emphasizing her goal to ensure good health care that encompasses all Americans. Clinton told the group she supports increased program and research funding and, along with Schumer, voted in support of the Smith-Bingaman Amendment that eliminated Medicaid cuts in the Fiscal Year 2006 Appropriations Bill.

The delegation presented both senators with mementos including a mousepad with pictures of their active teen group, a red and blue epilepsy awareness bracelet and the purple ribbon pin that 16-year-old Jennie Solomkin had created as a fundraiser for local epilepsy programs.

Janine Rose, mother of Claire, a working 16-year-old actress, said she "lobbied hard" for as many parents and teens as possible to make the trip to Washington, D.C. And the strength - both in numbers and in skilled advocates - was a testament both to the commitment their representatives show to supporting issues that are important to families affected by epilepsy and to the very real need for more people to lift their voices to ensure that epilepsy-related issues receive priority consideration in Congress.