Call or fax the following NJ Senators today

[Guest guest]

URGENT ** ACTION ALERT ** NEW YEAR’S EVE

TAKE ACTION TODAY! THANKS.

Sorry

for holiday intrusion. We understand that the holidays are a difficult

time to ask you to take action, but we are faced with a situation where

we must act now to prevent a dangerous setback for the

Lyme community. TO: Everyone across the country

FROM: Lyme Disease Association, Time for Lyme, and CALDA

DATE: December 31, 2009

WHEN: On January 4, 2010, the NJ Senate Health Committee intends to go forward

with resolution SR 133, which puts Lyme disease, a specific disease with known

etiology, in with autoimmune disorders of no known etiology, such as chronic

fatigue, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical sensitivity & Gulf War Syndrome.

The

proposed resolution for an autoimmune treatment and research centeris

the result of a behind the scenes effort initiated by a handful of

people in the chronic fatigue community. Their plans to lump

Lymedisease in with CFS and disorders of unknown origin has the potential of

redirecting current and future funding away from

finding a cure for those with active spirochetal and other tick borne

infections. Lyme patients and organizations across the country have

worked

hard over the years to establish, support and promote treatment

protocols that will address active tick borne infections. Lyme disease

patients will not benefit from a merger with autoimmune disorders, and

in fact, could suffer a tremendous set-back if this were to occur.

WHAT: Call or fax the following NJ Senators today. Tell

them

you do NOT want Lyme disease in a center with disorders of unknown

origin. Tell them the ONLY solution is to remove the words “Lyme

disease†from the resolution. Leave your name and contact info.

Senate Health Committee FAX PHONE

, Diane B. 609-239-2673 (609)239-2800

Baroni, Bill 609-631-0324 (609)631-9988

Gordon, M. 201-703-8127 (201)703-9779

Kean, Jr., H. 908-232-3345 (908)232-3673

Redd, Dana L. 856-225-9369 (856)225-9068

Rice, L. 973-371-6738 (973)371-5665

Singer, W. 732-901-0587 (732)901-0702

Whelan, Jim 609-383-1497 (609)383-1388

Vitale, ph F. 732-855-7558 (732)855-7441

Weinberg, Loretta 201-928-0406 (201) 928-0100

BACKGROUND:

For those who need background information on the issue: In a

clandestine behind the scenes movement, the chronic fatigue community

worked to get the introduction and passage of a resolution in the NJ

Assembly in May of this year and although they included Lyme disease as one

of the autoimmune disorders having an unknown origin, they did not

consult with or inform Lyme patients or the Lyme Community of their

plans. The resolution calls for the establishment of a neuroendocrine

immune (NEI-a term coined apparently specifically by these advocates)

treatment and research center in New Jersey after their plans to have

one in Florida were abandoned. The chronic fatigue advocates were

joined by a few Lyme patients who met in NJ to quietly have this

passed.

One CFS advocate associated with the UMDNJ promoted his

personal agenda for a center with what appeared to be the backing of

the University of Medicine & Dentistry (UMDNJ). After we

investigated, we found that not only did he not speak for UMDNJ, the

UMDNJ is not supporting this resolution nor the creation of the center.

The NEI advocates also stated the proposed center had the backing of the CDC &

NIH.

We checked with these government agencies and the Lyme program officers

knew nothing about their plans for a NJ center or their plans to

establish additional autoimmune centers in other areas of the country

with the same mission.

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