Congressional Briefing A Great Success…. Standing Room Only!
September 25, 2008
The Capitol Hill Lyme disease briefing yesterday was an enormous success by all accounts. More than 100 people attended the briefing, of which at least 80 represented offices of senators and representatives. Many put aside their lunch to take notes.
Stephanie Spar, speaking for founding sponsor Turn the Corner, began the briefing with an excellent message of urgency. During the special 25-minute montage of Under Our Skin, which director Andy Abrahams Wilson specially prepared for this briefing, the audience was stone silent, transfixed on the message. The audience broke into spontaneous applause at its conclusion.
Pam Weintraub, author of Cure Unknown, delivered a compelling presentation about her six year quest to unravel the mysteries of Lyme disease research and treatment, urging the audience to avoid becoming trapped in the extremes of either side but to seek the truth from the vast majority of the medical community still seeking to discover effective treatment for late-stage Lyme and tick-borne disease. Two local doctors, Dr. Sam Shor and Dr. Robert Mozayeni, gave effective medical science presentations on the research they are doing coming out of their practices.
NatCapLyme board members delivered books, DVDs, and constituent letters to congressmen’s offices following the briefing. The entire Lyme community across the country was heard in this unprecedented effort to bring their message to Congress. A screening of the full film, Under Our Skin, was attended by a crowd estimated at around 300 at the Avalon theater in Northwest Washington, DC.
The goal of the briefing was to provide education and increase awareness in Congress of the growing epidemic and suggest the need to establish a new Congressional record. The message yesterday conveyed the need for complete research encompassing the full spectrum of the medical community to be considered and its intent to continue congressional oversight until the disease is conquered.
Press Coverage:
WJLA ABC NEWS 7:
Congress Asked To Take a Closer Look at Lyme Disease ABC 7 News
SEATTLE KING TV:
http://www.king5.com/video/healthlink-index.html?nvid=286048&she=1
SEATTLE KIRO TV:
http://www.kirotv.com/video/17556948/?taf=sea
REPORTERS NOTEBOOK:
http://blog.kennebunkpost.com/2008/09/25/reporters-notebook-the-dark-side-of-lyme-disease-detection-sept-26-2008.aspx
FOX NEWS NETWORK:
New effort to put the national spotlight on Lyme Disease
More than 400 people have reserved tickets to attend the “sold out” free screening of Under Our Skin at the Avalon Theater in NW Washington, DC tonight.
