Our trip to DC went pretty well. It brought home the fact that I didn’t pay much attention in my government classes! I am going to do a crash course on basic government, the House, the Senate, and appropriations.
When we left I kinda knew we weren’t going to ’speak to the Senate’ ala Dee Snyder and the PMRC hearings… but I still hoped something like that would transpire. It didn’t. It was still exciting to have ‘tea’ (okay, it was just coffee) with a Texas Senator, then run from building to building in the tunnels of DC to meet with our constituents. Everyone we met with seemed open to listening to our story and why we need them to support specific appropriations (funding) — through the Department of Defense (who knew?!?!) and Labor, Health and Human Services to further research and trials for childhood cancers. We also asked them to support funding for the Caroline Pryce Walker Act that was passed unanimously for childhood cancer research as well as support for the childhood cancer research caucus.
At first Mike and I were very emotional, then by the end of the day we were like, “Look, here’s our story, yes, the numbers aren’t in our favor but you can’t deny the human factor, and that kids with cancer are being left out of NCI and NHI research and funding. It’s unfair, and you can change it.” Some Legislative Director’s and Assistant’s seemed excited about our story but when we left Mike and I wondered if we really made an impact. As we left one office to meet the next representative we were stopped in the hall by an assistant to let us know they had already heard from two or three of the people we already met with and wanted more information about our appropriations! That was really cool to hear something within minutes. Now we wait and see what happens next….
We came home Wednesday and in the morning we are off to Costa Rica for a few days — with 40 of our closest friends. We leave tomorrow — early — and you know I’m not a morning person — so I better get going. I hope to update more while we are on our trip.
