Advocacy

This is my special section where I let my passion loose for clean healthy air, lung health and food allergy issues!  I advocate whole heartedly  and will keep you updated and what is going on and most importantly, share how YOU can participate.  YOU are the most important element of any change that will make a difference.  Don’t forget:  #EPISavesLives
Note: I will do my best to keep this page updated, but always reach out to local leaders or your own representatives to stay up on the latest news.

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Every single one of us is needed! We can make a difference by sending a short email, to testifying at a hearing or simply attending a meeting. Kids can help too by sending a letter or making a drawing.

Well, I’m behind here! There are many good things taking place right now and I will update this area soon.

2018 – There have been so many great things taking place that I just can’t keep up. What a great problem to have! To stay up-to-date, please follow these links from our leading national food allergy organizations:

2015-2016

Hot Advocacy topics!!

Airline Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act (S.1972) – Introduced on August 5th, 2015

This bill is bi-partisan (both parties in support)!  Your letter writing is needed!

Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) have introduced S. 1972, the Airline Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act of 2015, which is intended to improve food allergy accommodations among airlines. Current co-sponsors include Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Mark Warner (D-VA). We need you to encourage your own U.S. Senators to sign on as co-sponsors of this unprecedented legislation. Consider a visit to the Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) Advocacy Action Center for letter writing information.

Tools for advocating…

Airline Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act (S.1972) Bill Text Only

Allergist Calls for Change After Saving Girl’s Life During Inflight Reaction – article from Allergic Living Magazine paints an important picture of what takes place when things go wrong thousands of feet above the ground.  Good piece to share with legislators when are talking about why this kind of legislation is important.

Current co-sponsors (as of Sept 1, 2015)…

Illinois Residents: Thank Senator Kirk

New Hampshire Residents: Thank Senator Shaheen

Maryland Residents: Thank Senator Cardin

Virginia Residents: Thank Senator Warner

School Access to Emergency Epinephrine is hot!  Many states have some sort of laws or regulation authorizing or mandating schools to maintain specified doses of stock epinephrine for use on the diagnosed or undiagnosed students who are believed to be experiencing a life threatening allergic reaction.  To be honest, the gold, (for me) is mandated stock epinephrine for all public and private schools.  But, until I’m made queen, the reality is that access is key to saving lives and sometimes we have to take small steps.  Such as authorized stocking of epinephrine.  Then, after schools are authorized, the next step is to secure a mandate.  Patience is a virtue, right?

Entity Law impacts all of us–especially when we travel!  The next natural step to keeping citizens safe with life threatening allergies (insect bites, food, medications, latex, etc.) is to allow entities the ability to stock and administer life saving epinephrine when needed.  These entities, such as sports arenas, movie theaters, churches or even restaurants will need to be trained and certified.  In America, AED’s are found in airports and many locations.  Many of us hope to see the same with stock epinephrine.

What’s happening across the country….

• ARKANSAS: March 31, 2015, SB394 is on it’s way to their Governor to be signed.  NICE WORK!
• NEVADA: February 25th, 2015, The state of Nevada Assembly Health and Human Services Committee heard AB158 (SAVE ACT- Safe Access to Vital Epinephrine–this is our unofficial name). This bill will allow an ENTITY to stock and administer epinephrine with specific requirements.  Here is the link to the hearing: HHS AB158 Hearing

Thank you to Dr. Spogen, Kacey Larson, Leila Moassessi and Michael Hackett for their testimony, time and energy!

• KENTUCKY: HB139 was just passed!! BRAVO KENTUCKY!  This is also an entity bill that will allow an entity to stock and administer epinephrine during an anaphylactic emergency.
• MINNESOTA: HF1604 was just introduced in the House! The all important first step was just taken and we promise to cheer on Nona Narvaez and those awesome Minnesota advocates!
• MISSOURI: Good job advocates as SB26 moves through your house after passing through the Senate!  SB26 is an entity bill that will establishes the requirements to be met for an entity to stock and administer epinephrine.
• UTAH: Congratulations Michelle Fogg the the Utah Advocates!  Their Entity bill, SB147 Epinephrine Auto-injector Expansion just passed the Senate and is on its way to the Governor Herbert!
• WASHINGTON: Congratulations to Kelly Morgan, a Seatle, Washington Food Allergy Support Group Leader and advocate extraordinaire for her work to help local governments find solutions to do a better job protecting those with life threatening food allergies.  Read this short news article for details: “King County Drops EpiPen Allergy Treatment for Cheaper Kit with Same Drug”.

Allergy and Anaphylaxis Related items in the State of Nevada: Winter 2014

Washoe County School District has produced a document detailing the administration of Stock Epinephrine in their school District.  This document, Epinephrine Administration on Washoe County School Campuses is very thorough and details how SB453 is being carried out.
Stock Epinephrine Mandated in Nevada Schools! This bill was signed into law in June of 2103. Below are updates to our process. I have left these up for your review in the event you too are in the process of changing law.

Success!  SB453 Epinephrine in Nevada Schools was signed into law on Monday, June 3, 2013

 Advocates with Nevada Governor Sandoval

Links:
SB453 as enrolled
Advocating for Epinephrine in Nevada: Emails
Advocating for Epinephrine in Nevada: Wahoo!
Advocating for Epinephrine in Nevada: Workgroup
Advocating for Epinephrine in Nevada: Define
Legislators Who Take Food Allergies Seriously
Advocating for Epinephrine in Nevada: Champions
Exciting News:  We have a Bill Number in Nevada

Monday, June 3, 2013

Governor Sandoval will sign SB453 Epinephrine in Nevada Schools into Law!!!! Success!  SB453 was passed through unanimously through both the Senate and Assembly!

Friday, May 24, 2013

SB453 Epinephrine in NV schools has been rolled six times in the General Assembly Floor Session…today might be the day our bill will be voted upon.
Wednesday, May 15,2013
Do pass in the Nevada Assembly Health and Human Services Committee!!!  Please send your thank you emails to each committee member!  By Friday, we will start emailing our own personal Assemblyman or woman asking for them to vote for SB453 on the General Assembly floor which should take place early next week!

Wednesday, May 9, 2013

Success! Today’s Assembly Health and Human Services committee hearing went very well.  I felt our testimony line up was strong and Dr. Maria Reyes, truly saved the day with her intellect, knowledge of the bill, and ability to explain some of the medical aspects of epinephrine.  This committee will hopefully pass this bill on to the General Assembly floor to be voted upon.  There was no opposition, good questions raised and it seemed as if most of the committee was in support of  the bill.  Stay tuned!

Sunday, May 5, 2013

We have our Assembly Health and Human Services Committee Meeting this Wednesday, May 8th, 2013 at 1:30pm!  Please attend if possible-we need to pack the room to show our support! Wear light blue if possible!  We want to look bright and cheery!
Also, it is very important to email our Assembly Health and Human Services Committee members and ask them to support SB453 Epinephrine in Nevada Schools!

Please use this email list to contact members before May 8th, 2013:

Marilyn Dondero Loop, Chair
Marilyn.DonderoLoop@asm.state.nv.us

Ellen Spiegel, Vice Chair
Ellen.Spiegel@asm.state.nv.us

Teresa Benitez-Thompson
Teresa.BenitezThompson@asm.state.nv.us

Joseph M. Hogan
Joe.Hogan@asm.state.nv.us

Andrew Martin
Andrew.Martin@asm.state.nv.us

Peggy Pierce
Peggy.Pierce@asm.state.nv.us

Andy Eisen
Andy.Eisen@asm.state.nv.us

Michael Sprinkle
Mike.Sprinkle@asm.state.nv.us

Tyrone Thompson
Tyrone.Thompson@asm.state.nv.us

Wesley Duncan
Wesley.Duncan@asm.state.nv.us

Michele Fiore
Michele.Fiore@asm.state.nv.us

John Hambrick
John.Hambrick@asm.state.nv.us

Pat Hickey
Pat.Hickey@asm.state.nv.us

James Oscarson
James.Oscarson@asm.state.nv.us

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013…

I set up a facebook page to keep everyone updated on this bill, check it out and share with friends:
Epinephrine in Nevada Schools SB453 facebook page

Monday, April 22nd, 2013…

SB453 Epinephrine in Nevada Schools passed in the Nevada State Senate with 21 Yay votes and Zero Nays!  Terrific news!
Thank you to Senator Ben Kieckhefer,  Senator Justin Jones, and Senator Pat Spearman for standing up to support and speak about the need for epinephrine in schools.  Of course, thank you to Senator Smith for being our hero.

Please stay tuned for our next action needed as this bill travels to the Nevada State Assembly.  We celebrate this victory!

Thursday, April 11th, 2013…

SB453 Epinephrine in Nevada Schools passes through the Nevada Senate Health and Human Services Committee!
Yahoo!  Plotting on planning our next steps as the bill moves onto the Finance committee.
Your three minutes will make a difference:  Submit your support for SB453 via the SHARE YOUR OPINIONS Legislative poll.  Please submit your FOR SB453.  There is a comment field that you can enter your comments as well.

Monday, April 1st, 2013…

Call to action:  Email folks on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and urge them to support SB453.   Below are the details on how you can help.

How you can make a difference within a few minutes
(and before this Thursday, April 4th, when we have our first hearing):

Please email the five Senators (emails provided below),  who comprise the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and let them know that Nevada’s children need to access to life saving epinephrine in the event of an allergic reaction. Reactions can become life threatening within mere minutes and when a child can’t breathe the wait for an ambulance can be too long, especially in our more rural areas in the state.  In Reno, the average REMSA response time is 8 minutes and 36 second.  Imagine your child not breathing for 8 minutes, what could be the outcome for success?  I can’t even begin to wrap my brain around this thought.

If possible, tell our Senators why this bill will make a difference or what it means to you.  My daughter said that she is worried for her classmate who does  NOT carry epinephrine.  She scared of what could take place if her has a reaction. I worry for my children that if their Epi Pens are not given correctly or they require a second dose, I need the peace of mind that they have back up on site.
Just a few sentences are needed.  Legislators have very, very little time these days for reading!

For your reference, here is the link to the full  bill SB453, so you can read it:

https://nelis.leg.state.nv.us/77th2013/App#/77th2013/Bill/Text/SB453

Senator Justin
JonesJustin.Jones@sen.state.nv.us

Senator Debbie Smith
Debbie.Smith@sen.state.nv.us

Senator Tick Segerblom
tsegerblom@sen.state.nv.us

Senator Joe Hardy
Joe.Hardy@sen.state.nv.us

Senator Ben Kieckhefer
Ben.Kieckhefer@sen.state.nv.us

Please forward this to two or three others and ask them to let our Senate Health and Human Services Committee know that Nevadans want and need SB453.

Thank you for saving the life a child!

Please Note: As always, consult with your physician before you make changes to the management of any health condition. Gratefulfoodie does not endorse any of the businesses or organizations listed and has not received payment to list these resources.  My goal is to help you find tools that might make life easier.

Gratefulfoodie
Speaker | Food Allergy Industry Consultant