Sign on by Saturday, October 5, at 5 PM EST

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Dear Friends,

We are all very frustrated, for many reasons, about the government shutdown.  In this letter we focus mainly on health issues - we wanted to keep it short and to the point.  Please sign on.  We are accepting individuals and organizations.

Individuals: send your name and City, State to Katherine Lambertson (Example: Sharon F. Terry, Chevy Chase, MD)
Organizations: simply send your name to Katherine Lambertson (Example: Genetic Alliance)

Thanks!  Even if you have signed another letter, please sign this one as well!  They have got to come to their senses, and need to hear from us!

Sharon F. Terry, President & CEO
Genetic Alliance 

 
Dear Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Boehner, Minority Leader McConnell, and Minority Leader Pelosi,
 
We represent millions of Americans who are personally affected by the government shut down, and the disappearance of many of the services on which they count. Individuals and families in our community are living with chronic and acute diseases, rare and common conditions.  Safeguarding the health of our nation is a team effort across many government agencies and their private sector partners. Each day the government is shut down increases suffering:

• A 10-year-old boy battles leukemia, and hoped to enter a clinical trial at the NIH tomorrow;
• A family trying to navigate care for the patriarch, in the end stages of Alzheimer’s disease, is waiting for Medicaid to approve his placement in a skilled nursing center;
• A young scientist has amazing evidence that she is on the brink of a breakthrough for a genetic disease, and is supposed to receive NIH funding this month. 

All of these people are hurt by the actions of the Congress.
 
We are aware that you are struggling as well; fighting for the best interests of your constituents. We ask that you work to reach compromise without holding families hostage to your agenda. Please reopen the government and make certain that these people and millions more don’t suffer. 
 
Sincerely,
 
[Your organization and/or name here]