When was the last time you thought to contact Congress about the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA)?
With so much on your to-do lists these days—and all of the wins we’ve seen with ELSA so far this year—it’s easy to overlook the power of using a single voice.
There’s no doubt that our collective efforts to pass ELSA have gotten us this far. I’m immensely grateful that ELSA advocates have shown up in so many ways to make incredible progress:
- The bill was reintroduced in the 117th Congress in March.
- More than 290 out of 435 House members have signed on as co-sponsors, giving us a supermajority!
- 38 out of 100 Senators have signed on as co-sponsors (29 short of a supermajority).
With your continued support and your commitment to contact Congress, we haven’t bitten off more than we can chew. A new, strong push can get us to the finish line in the 117th Congress!
Of course, the NFED community understands the everyday importance of having access to medical care that’s covered by insurance. We’ve seen the quality of life and confidence that come with a simple smile. And whether a child is born without teeth, with a cleft palate, or has other craniofacial challenges, families across the country know that procedures to address congenital anomalies are essential—not cosmetic.
Congress needs to hear it.
Contact Congress Today
The work we need to do from here on out amounts to small steps that we can all take together — and we need your help right now.
- If your legislators are co-sponsoring ELSA, please contact them and ask them to move the bill through Congress. You can also ask them to call the bill leads and offer to help.
- If your legislators are NOT yet co-sponsoring ELSA, please contact them or schedule a meeting with them and ask them to do so. Your friends and family can do the same!
Let’s stay ready to make ELSA happen in the 117th Congress. We have a little more than a year to make it a reality, and I know that we can do it.
Your advocate,
Mary Fete
Executive Director
Spread the Word
As you find and contact your senators and representative, don’t forget to ask others to do the same. Here’s a graphic you can use on social media, in emails and anywhere else!
Find More Advocacy Resources
Whether you’re getting ready to contact Congress for the first time or looking for a fresh approach in your message, here are some helpful places to look for inspiration and ideas:
- Letter Samples, Shareable Materials & More
- Meeting Your Legislators Close to Home
- 10 ELSA Advocacy Tips
- How to Tell Your Advocacy Story
- Read ideas from other advocates in the ELSA Facebook Group