Public Policy

ACRP, APPI Launch Grassroots Campaign to Honor Patient Participants in Clinical Trials

ACRP and APPI have launched a campaign to support a federal effort to honor patient participants in clinical trials. The effort is embodied in U.S. House of Representatives Resolution 248, introduced by Congressman Rick Boucher, which encourages public recognition of clinical trial participants and focuses on the importance of educating the public on the many facets of clinical research in the advancement of medicine and what is entailed in study participation. ACRP and APPI staff has met with Congressman Boucher’s office to offer support for the resolution and to offer ACRP and APPI members’ help in contacting their own U.S. Representatives to urge them to cosponsor the resolution.

Help recognize the contributions of the millions of men, women and children who participate in nearly 80,000 clinical trials in the United Stated every year. Do your part by urging your Congressional Representative to take action by co-sponsoring Resolution 248. Here’s how:

1. Visit the U.S. House of Representatives website at www.house.gov and click on “Write your Representative” in the upper left section.
2. Enter the requested information, including your ZIP+4 code, and click “Contact  My Representative.”  
3. When prompted, please write a message. We have provided you a template to use here. Don't forget to personalize this message to create more impact.
4. Once your email is sent, please provide a copy of the text and your representative’s name to ACRP staff at kate@acrpnet.org so we may follow up with the contact.

Should you have any questions regarding this campaign, please contact Katherine L. Madigan, MHSA, director of ACRP Government Affairs and managing director of APPI.

Congressional Update

One of ACRP’s efforts in 2008 has been to grow support for a resolution in the United States House of Representatives which would honor the contributions of patients who participate in clinical trials.  The measure, House Resolution 248, was introduced by Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) in March 2007 and had just two cosponsors and additional cosponsors were needed to move the resolution forward.  To that end, ACRP’s Director of Government Affairs Katherine Madigan met with representatives of Congressman Boucher’s office last December to offer support for the resolution and to offer the Academy’s help in contacting their own U.S. Representatives to urge them to cosponsor the resolution.  The ACRP/APPI cosponsorship campaign started in February 2008 and, along with actions by Rep. Boucher’s staff has already had some positive results.  As of April 10, the resolution now has nine cosponsors and interest is growing. 

However, additional cosponsors are still needed to get the measure out of the House Energy & Commerce Committee and to a vote prior to the end of the 110th Congress.  A recent discussion with Rep. Boucher’s staff revealed that the Members of the House Energy & Commerce Committee are especially needed on the resolution.  All ACRP and APPI members who are interested in supporting the resolution should contact their Member of Congress today.  For more information on how to support this effort, please visit http://acrpnet.org/MainMenuCategory/PublicPolicy.aspx to receive materials related to contacting your Representative. We will continue to monitor the resolution and will advise of any new developments in this newsletter. 

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• Congressional Update
• Bills to Watch
• FDA Update
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