Help Resolve Get Senate Sponsors for Family-Building Bill

One of the big efforts of Resolve’s Advocacy Day was that an actual bill was introduced into Senate by Senator Gillibrand of NY. The bill needs our support to get co-sponsors.

Here’s the deal:

A bill to create a tax credit for the out-of-pocket costs associated with infertility medical treatment has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY). Aptly named the Family Act of 2011, S 965, this bill will potentially help thousands of people seek medical treatment that otherwise would be out of reach for them.

Please go here and click on this link to contact your Senator and ask for support. It’s an easy form to fill out. You can add your own personal message.

Here’s what I chose to say:

I am part of the 1 in 8 people in America dealing with infertility. My husband and I are proud Americans who only wanted to be able to raise the next generation of involved, caring citizens. Instead, we were diagnosed with infertility and spent two and a half years and tens of thousands of dollars until we were lucky enough to have our miracle twins via IVF. We were fortunate enough to have the favorable insurance and family financial resources available to pursue treatments, but so many wonderful people I know who would be incredible parents of wonderful citizens can’t because of a lack of financial resources.

America is about equal opportunities for all, and I think building the next generation of citizens should be a priority for this country. Infertility affects so many and it is a disease, according to WHO.

The Family Act would help so many deserving people who would love to pursue their dreams of creating their own families, but can’t because of a lack of funds. I hope that you consider this Bill a priority. So many of your constituents are suffering from this silent disease. It would mean so much to us all for this support.

Very Sincerely Yours,

Jjiraffe

I hope you have the opportunity to sign this form. If you do, can you do me a favor and just write in the comments whether you did so I can keep track?

Thanks so much! Go us!

Day 26: Infertility is a Many-Headed Beast

I have read a number of blogs this ICLW, and just like last month, I am humbled and awed by the heroines and (heroes) slogging their way through the nasty, evil swamp that is infertility. Each one of you is hacking your own fearless path out, and the way each of you handle your battle wounds is unique. You are all so amazing, brave, hopeful, righteously angry, stubborn and beautiful.

At the same time, reading the blogs is crazy-making. We all have the same foe, yet there’s no silver bullet to defeat it. I flippantly suggested that educating boys at a young age about peak fertility years was one solution, but this is only a small pebble against a malevolent force that threatens many, whether they are young or old, male or female, conservative or liberal, rich or poor, single or married.

There is one stolid maiden who might be powerful enough to defeat this many-headed beast if we all gather behind her, feed her, equip her, support her, cheer her and raise the battle standard behind her. She, of course, is RESOLVE. She is still David in the battle versus Goliath, but we all know how that story ended?

So I am going to visit her, maybe join one of her campaigns. Together, maybe we (and our children) can all live happily ever after?