Can You Spare 5 Minutes for Blood Cancer Awareness Month?
IMF is asking every advocate to spend 5 minutes to write their U.S. Representative and urge him or her to co-sponsor H. Res. 1433. This resolution recognizes September 2010 as Blood Cancer Awareness Month and highlights the impact blood cancers have in the United States each year and encourages greater support for blood cancer research and education.

In order for the legislation to be considered by the House of Representatives, 100 Members of Congress must first co-sponsor the resolution. Currently, 41 more signatures are needed to meet this goal! It will take just minutes to contact your Representative and help ensure that this important resolution is introduced. Please visit the Advocacy Action Center at www.advocacy.myeloma.org to write your U.S. Representative and urge him or her to support Blood Cancer Awareness Month by co-sponsoring H. Res. 1433.

 Senate Schedule for Remainder of 2010
After the August recess, the Senate will return September 13th for a brief pre-election session scheduled to end on October 8th. Legislation on small-business tax and lending legislation (H.R. 5297), a defense authorization bill (S. 3280) and an assortment of energy proposals, such as the elimination of a cap on oil companies' liability in the event of a major oil spill will be considered when the Senate returns from the recess period. Additionally, the Senate will also debate tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 that are set to expire at the end of the year.

The Senate will reconvene after the midterm elections for a lame-duck session beginning on November 15th. The session is expected to last one week. After a week break for Thanksgiving, the Senate will reconvene on November 29th. This post-election work period will deal with potential recommendations from the deficit reduction commission set up by President Obama as this commission may deliver a package of budget proposals to Congress in December. The Senate Appropriations bills for fiscal year (FY) 2011 will also be considered during the lame duck session.

A target date for adjournment of the lame-duck session has not been set.

Are You a Member of the Myeloma Action Network?
Want to stay informed about IMF's advocacy activities? All you need to do is to join the Myeloma Action Network at www.advocacy.myeloma.org and you will automatically receive e-mail advocacy alerts from the IMF.  To learn more about health care reform and other important advocacy issues that impact the myeloma community, please visit the IMF advocacy page at www.myeloma.org.