Hello loyal readers and new friends! I greet you with great news from the Arthritis Foundation:

The unbelievable and miraculous has occurred – we have just gotten word that the US House of Representatives has scheduled a vote expected tomorrow, Thursday on the House floor on HR 1283, the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act. Thanks to all of you for your hard work these past 5 years, but your work is not yet done. We need to make sure that if a recorded vote is requested and taken on this bill that 2/3 of the Members of the US House of Representatives vote YES. Being a co-sponsor of the arthritis bill does not guarantee a Member of Congress will vote YES when it reaches the floor, nor does a non-co-sponsor indicate he or she will vote against it. For those of you with Members of Congress who have not co-sponsored but have indicated they would vote yes when it reaches the House floor, now is their chance to support the bill.

PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THURSDAY MORNING OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND ASK THEM TO VOTE YES ON HR 1283, the Arthritis Act. Offices will be open from 8:30 am- 6:00 PM EST. We need all of you to please call the Capitol switchboard at (202-225-3121) or call your Member directly and ask him/her to VOTE YES tomorrow on the Arthritis bill, HR 1283.

This is truly exciting news and we will keep you informed as the day progresses.

This link will prompt you for your zip code so you can easily determine who your representative is. You’ll also receive contact info for your rep. I’ll be calling first thing in the morning! Who’s with me?! Let’s DO this!

For more information on the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act, click here.