Many of you have been closely following the move to extend and expand the Conrad State 20 J-1 physician waiver program. We at Siskind, Susser, Haas & Devine firmly believe in the program and are encouraging our readers to help in the fight to save the program. That is why we are pleased to help the National Health Care Access Coalition, an organization that is actively lobbying in favor of extending the program. Please read the letter below and consider writing a letter to your Senator regarding saving the program.
Regards,
Greg Siskind
Final Call for Help on S. 2674 –Reauthorization of the Conrad-20 Program
Please take a few minutes to send the following letter, or a similar letter with individual circumstances, to your Senators. Make sure you fax the letter! If you run out of time, even a phone call will help. We are in the final days of the 107th Congress. Barring a lame-duck session, Congress will be out of town in early October. We want to make sure that Congress finishes action on the Conrad 20 Program before they adjourn for the year.
As you recall, the House overwhelmingly passed H.R. 4858, a bill to reauthorize the Conrad 20 program until June 2004. The Senate introduced a companion bill, S. 2674, which was referred to the Judiciary Committee. The Judiciary Committee has no objection to taking the bill to the Floor for final passage. S. 2674 reauthorizes the Program indefinitely. Informally, interested House and Senate Members have agreed to a four-year reauthorization. The Conrad-20 Program expired last May, so it is very important that the Program be reauthorized this year. Once the Senate acts on S. 2674, the House can quickly agree to its final passage and send the bill on to the President for signature. We are confident the President will sign this measure.
Although we may have preferred a more expansive Program, at this time of heightened concern for national security and immigration, it is reassuring to know that there is bipartisan support for reauthorization of the Conrad 20 Program. Members recognize the importance of bringing well-qualified, highly trained foreign physicians to medically underserved areas. Without these physicians, many communities would suffer.
Thanks again for all your help this past year –and hopefully this last push will put us over the finish line.
Joan M. Bondareff
Lobbyist for the National Health Care Access Coalition
(703) 683-4222 (tel.)
(703) 683-0645 (fax) [If you have a minute, please fax me a cy of the signed letter]
email: jbondareff@erols.com
Attachment: Suggested Draft Letter
Dear Senator_______:
I urge you to take final action to bring S. 2674 to the Floor and vote on final passage before the Congress adjourns for the year. S. 2674 is an important measure to me and my community because it would ensure that highly trained, well-qualified physicians will be able to work in areas which are, unfortunately, medically underserved.
S. 2674 has bipartisan support; the companion bill, H.R 4858, has already passed the House of Representatives in overwhelming numbers. S. 2674 will reauthorize the popular Conrad State 20 Program and modestly increase the allocation of physicians to each State to 30. It allows the States to make their own decisions on where physicians are needed.
S. 2674 continues all the important protections of making sure that only highly qualified and well-trained physicians, with the requisite security clearances, are allowed to work under this Program.
My State and community have benefited greatly from the Conrad 20 Program and I urge its immediate passage by the Senate.
Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Signature
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