More than 300 Advocates Expected to Rally with Leading Lawmakers to Urge Federal Government to Fix the Funding Failure for Chronic Viral Hepatitis

Washington, DC—On behalf of more than 5 million Americans who are estimated to be infected with chronic viral hepatitis B or C, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable is bringing more than 300 advocates to Capitol Hill to rally May 19th with five leading lawmakers to urge Congress to fix the federal government’s funding failure for state-based chronic viral hepatitis screening and prevention programs.

Earlier this year, the Institute of Medicine released a landmark report blasting the federal government for its failure to respond to the chronic viral hepatitis crisis.  While a bipartisan coalition has come together in Congress to address this crisis, the Administration’s meager response in its 2011 budget proposal means that more people will needlessly suffer in the coming year, particularly minority populations.

The NVHR rally is designed to keep the pressure on until Congress and the Administration act on HR 3974, “The Viral Hepatitis & Liver Cancer Control & Prevention Act.”

NVHR Chair Lorren Sandt; Representatives Hank Johnson, Mike Honda, Charles Dent, Anh ‘Joseph’ Cao and Bill Cassidy to Participate in Capitol Hill Rally

Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Noon – 2 p.m.
Upper Senate Park on Capitol Hill Grounds (Due North of US Senate)

WHO:

Ms. Lorren Sandt, Chair, National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable
Mr. Chris Taylor, World Hepatitis Day, North American Representative, & Viral Hepatitis Program Director, National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors
Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Georgia who recently completed treatment for hepatitis C
Rep. Mike Honda, D-California and lead sponsor of HR 3974, “The Viral Hepatitis and Liver Cancer Control and Prevention Act,”
Rep. Charles Dent, R-Pennsylvania and lead Republican co-sponsor of HR 3974
Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao, R-Louisiana, Co-sponsor of HR 3974
Rep. Bill Cassidy, M.D., R-Louisiana, Co-sponsor of HR 3974 and a Hepatologist

WHAT:           Capitol Hill Rally Featuring More than 300 Advocates & Five Members of Congress

WHEN:           12:00 – 2:00 pm, Wednesday, May 19, 2010

WHERE:        Upper Senate Park, Rally Area #2, Due North of US Senate (see map below)