Attendance at Rep. Maloney's Autism-Vaccine Meeting
SIGN IN SHEET AT MALONEY BRIEFING (Subject to updates)
Zach Wamp (R-TN) - Attended in person, plus staffer
John Barrow (D-GA) – Attended in person, plus staffer
The following Representatives sent staff members (Note: Rep Maloney, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, was at a hearing with the US Treasury Secretary on the economic crisis).
Carolyn Maloney (D-N) (3 staffers attended)
Gene Green (D-TX)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Nick Rahall (D-WV)
David Wu (D-OR)
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
Jackie Speier (D-CA)
Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)
Louie Gohmert (R-TX)
Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
Henry Waxman (D-CA) (2 staffers attended)
Robert Brady (D-PA)
Charlie Dent (R-PA)
Earl Pomeroy (D-ND)
Pete Sessions (R-TX)
John McHugh (R-NY)
Steven Rothman (D-NJ)
Dave Weldon (R-FL)
John Kline (R-MN)
Charlie Wilson (D-OH)
Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-SD)
Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
Barbara Lee (D-CA)
John Murtha (D-PA)
Todd Russell Platts (R-PA)
Adam Putnam (R-FL)
Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Robert Wexler (D-FL)
Frank Wolf (R-VA)
Jim Langevin (D-RI)
John Tanner (D-TN)
Robert Cramer (D-AL)
Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
Gresham Barrett (R-SC)
Mark Castle (R-DE) (2 staffers attended)
Jo Bonner (R-AL)
David Price (D-NC)
Mark Udall (D-CO)
Christopher Shays (R-CT)
Loretta Sanchez (D-CA)
Dave Loebsack (D-IA)
Silvestre Reyes (D-TX)
Nathan Deal (R-GA)
Joe Wilson (R-SC)
Jerry McNerney (D-CA)
Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Brad Miller (D-NC)
Ed Whitfield (R-KY)
Michelle Bachman (R-MN)
Tim Walz (D-MN)
Chip Pickering (R-MS)
Nita Lowey (D-NY)
Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL)
John Tierney (D-MA)
James Moran (D-VA)
Bill Shuster (R-PA) (3 staffers attended?)
Rep. Price (David or Tom? Need to clarify)
The Following Senators Sent Staff Members:
Russ Feingold – (D-WI)
Orrin Hatch – (R-UT) (2 staffers attended)
Lindsay Graham – (R-SC)
Olympia Snowe – (R-ME)
Frank Lautenberg – (D-NJ)
Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Tim Johnson (D-SD)
Barack Obama (D-IL)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Richard Durbin (D-IL)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
John Kerrey (D-MA)
Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX)
Byron Dorgan – (D-ND)
Richard Burr (R-NC)
Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Ted Kennedy (D-MA)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Gordon Smith (R-OR)
Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Robert Byrd (D-WV)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
House: 60
Senate: 30
DEM: 51
REP: 38
IND: 1
ALSO
American Academy of Pediatrics (2 people)
American Medical Association
CDC (2 People)
FDA
Autism Speaks
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)
American Scientific Laboratories
Office of Florida Governor Charlie Crist
US News Magazine reporter
Age of Autism (Dan Olmsted)
General Public (23 people)
I just looked at the senate side attendance.
If McCain is so good for our community, why didn't he bother to send a staffer -- or why didn't his office pay enough attention to send a staffer?
At least Obama's office showed.
Actions speak louder than words!
Posted by: Katherine | September 27, 2008 at 08:53 AM
I could not be more pleased with Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN) who attended in person (on the front roll, far right, in the David Kirby Pic). Zach is a really good guy. I met with him about a year and a half ago, he told me then he was very concerned about this issue, also told me "you know me, I'm not afraid to stand up to anyone". Emily in his office told me he would be there but he went beyond my expectations and brought his medical staff.
There is some talk about Congressman Zach Wamp running for Governor of Tennessee, I hope he does.
Still trying to think up a really good way to thank him.
Posted by: Jeff Ransom | September 25, 2008 at 10:22 PM
"As I have mentioned before, I have sensed a change in attitude towards our community and our concerns in the last year. For a long time, staff would avoid talking to parents and rush out of this sort of presentation. . Yesterday, they were engaged, smiling, sympathetic and most stayed for the entire briefing."
Bobbie:
Thanks so much for being there in person.
Your insight is valuable to hear because I *KNOW* how tirelessly you have been working on this issue for YEARS in DC!!
I think this whole "campaign" has highlighted the fact there really *is* power in numbers and I think AoA did an OUTSTANDING job in getting the community *engaged* in this vital and productive process.
Kudos to Mark, DK, JB, Dan, Kim, Anne and Kent for AoA's success in being a constructive voice for our community!
YOU GUYS ROCK!
Kelli
Posted by: Kelli Ann Davis | September 25, 2008 at 01:42 PM
Wanted to offer my impressions of yesterday's briefing.
First, David and Mark's presentations were terrific... as they always are.
I was very, very impressed with staff attendance at the briefing and the attention they paid to the speakers. It was standing room only and actually exceeded my expectations given the current financial crisis going on.
I observed a lot of notes being taken. A staffer from Sen. Lautenburg's office was next to me and had five pages of notes.
As I have mentioned before, I have sensed a change in attitude towards our community and our concerns in the last year. For a long time, staff would avoid talking to parents and rush out of this sort of presentation. . Yesterday, they were engaged, smiling, sympathetic and most stayed for the entire briefing.
I had the opportunity to talk to several staffers after the presentation and everyone one of them said this was a very important issue to their bosses and they appreciated the information that was presented.
All of you are to be credited for making our children an important issue to your representatives.
If you haven't already, I want to encourage everyone to contact Congresswoman Maloney's office and thank her for making this briefing possible. If your representative sent a staffer, please call that office and thank them too. If you are able to get the name of the staffer who attended, send them an email and personally thank them.
Let's keep these offices engaged.
Bobbie
Posted by: Bobbie Manning | September 25, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Excellent job everyone! ...36 states were represented by congressional offices yesterday!
Posted by: bek | September 25, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Both my senators Kennedy and Kerry were represented and I also contacted Obama and he was represented. AWESOME!!! I'm very pleased and will send thank you letters.
Posted by: Allison | September 25, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Well, well, I just couldn't be more proud of my Congressman John Barrow today! I asked him to to in honor of my son's 8th birthday (and the 8th anniversary of his first mercury-ladened shot) which was yesterday. He is not happy with his score of B on autismfacts.com, so I hope you guys (if you're reading this) bump him up to an "A" ASAP! Yeah, John!
Posted by: kim | September 25, 2008 at 09:23 AM
I just knew John Barrow from Ga would attend. I don't live in Ga, but right across the river from part of his district and i have met him in person and I have so much respect for him. He has a nephew with autism and is so aware of our problems. People in ga are lucky to hve him. And of course, he is running for re-election in ga 12th district.
maurine Meleck
SC
Posted by: Maurine Meleck | September 25, 2008 at 09:12 AM
Do you know if any people were turned away because not enough room? Or maybe were a tad late and missed the sign-in sheet.
I have personal friend in one office who earlier that day said, "to be honest this issue is starting to scare the hell out of me." He couldn't go but I was sure he was sending someone, but they aren't on the list.
Posted by: Jack | September 25, 2008 at 09:02 AM
Just noticed the *subject to updates* clause.
Could you put that in red or something?
I'll wait to contact my Senators and see if maybe they did have someone there.
Thanks
Posted by: Andrea | September 25, 2008 at 08:45 AM
Thank you so much. This is so helpful. I now know to thank my House member for sending a staffer as they said they would. And, to question my senators why they didn't attend themselves, as they said they would, or didn't even bother to send a staffer.
A couple of questions:
Will someone be writing up some type of summary? Perceptions of the meeting, questions asked by the attendees? Things of that nature?
Also, for those who said they would attend and did not- do we have, or could we have some kind of coordinated follow up plan? We need to get these people engaged in our issue.
Finally, so nice that the CDC and AAP sent people whether they were invited or not. It turns my stomach to think "they" appear only to be keeping tabs on what "we" are doing, and not addressing our crisis head on as they should be. No shows for Greeen Our Vaccines rally, but attended this briefing to strategize there next attack.
Posted by: Andrea | September 25, 2008 at 08:28 AM