Until a cure is found, the Mid America Chapter and MS activists are currently pursuing:
- Health care reform
- Improved community resources
- Disability rights
- Long-term care resources
- Access to quality health care services
- Increased funding for MS research
- Accessible, affordable health insurance
- Accessible, affordable transportation
- Preserving healthcare privacy
- Increased awareness of multiple sclerosis among legislators
Federal Issues
In Washington, DC, we are working toward positive legislative change. Read about our priority MS issues.
View our our current action items and sign up for action alerts.
Read the National Health Care Reform Principles. These principles help guide our role in the national health care reform debate and determine the Society’s policy priorities.
State Issues
KANSAS
HB 2336 Employment First Bill: The Mid America Chapter supports HB 2336 Employment bill. It has passed the House and we need it to pass the Senate Ways & Means Committee. House Bill 2336, the Employment First legislation, passed the House with no Nay votes. It is currently in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The Senate Ways and Means Committee held hearings on an identical Bill, Senate Bill 205, this year. Here is a memo explaining the proposed amendments we have to House Bill 2336 that address concerns some of the Senate Committee had on the bill and a request to return the oversight commission to the House Bill. The House Committee removed the commission.
MISSOURI
MS specialty license plate: Sen. Schmitt and Rep. Jay Wasson introduced legislation—SB 812 and HB 1637—in 2010 that would create an MS Awareness license plate in the state of Missouri! The National MS Society is continuing to work on the license plate outside of session.
Capitol building accessibility: Every year, MS activists visit their legislators at the capitol. However, some offices are inaccessible to people with mobility impairments. This is why the National MS Society worked with a sponsor in the state senate to introduce legislation that would indicate which offices in the building are accessible on the Web and in print materials. Secondly, the bill would create a set of designated offices within the capitol building that legislators can reserve when meeting constituents with mobility impairments. Every citizen should have access to his or her legislators, and this bill will help ensure that this notion holds true within the Missouri state capitol building. Also of note: this bill would have provided access with no added cost to the state. While the bill did not become law in 2010, MS Activists will be bringing this issue to the capitol again in 2011!
Bike safety: Rep. Sater introduced HB 1250, a bicycle safety bill. This bill specified that when a vehicle passes a cyclist, it must do so at a distance of at least three feet—essentially, an arm’s length. With approximately 8,000 riders participating in 2009 Bike MS events in the state of Missouri, the National MS Society applauded this effort as a way to support and keep safe those who do so much for the cause. While some Bike MS participants ride for the pure enjoyment of the sport, each one rides for those who cannot.
Home Accessibility: The Residential Dwelling Accessibility Tax Credit is an annual
$100,000 appropriation that allows people to stay in their homes. In the current fiscal
climate, tax credits are an attractive choice for shoring up the state’s funds. The National MS Society and its activists successfully advocated in coalition with other organizations to keep this tax credit from the chopping block.