When Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins return to Washington, D.C., after the November election for a “lame duck” session, they will have a final opportunity to complete work and pass the Arthritis Prevention, Control and Cure Act (H.R. 1283). This bill was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives and is awaiting action by the Senate where it has bipartisan support from 55 senators.

The bill expands federal and state public health programs to help the growing number of people with arthritis, which will reduce the health care costs from arthritis. It also authorizes federal programs to tackle the country’s critical shortage of pediatric rheumatologists.

On behalf of the 46 million adults and 300,000 children with arthritis in the U.S., including 335,000 adults and 1,100 children in Maine, I urge Sens. Snowe and Collins to ensure that this bill passes the Senate in November and becomes public law.

Robin D. Spencer-Laurie

Arthritis Foundation

Ambassador

Hampden