How RheumPAC Works
The RheumPAC committee works closely with the ACR Governmental Affairs Committee, and the lobbying firm Patton Boggs to review issues affecting rheumatology and set priorities among them, focusing on the top four or five issues, says Dr. Bryant. (See “RheumPAC Committee” for a list of the committee members.)
RheumPAC is strictly nonpartisan—just like arthritis. Decisions to sponsor legislators are based largely on whether a member has sponsored or cosponsored legislation of importance to rheumatology, and whether a member sits on a key committee or holds a leadership position in the House or Senate, says Dr. Bryant. Furthermore, because RheumPAC is a federal PAC, by law it may only donate to federal legislators, not state or local candidates. Members of the ACR and the ARHP can suggest legislators for support via a link on the RheumPAC page of the ACR Web site.
As per federal law, RheumPAC uses contributions from ACR members to contribute directly to campaigns, says Dr. Bryant. The ACR covers only the cost of administration, and cannot endow the PAC.
Besides deciding how to use RheumPAC’s funds, the nine members of the PAC committee attend fundraisers for candidates, which are frequently small events that afford committee members time to discuss rheumatology issues directly with legislators and their staffs. They also participate in several lobbying sessions on Capitol Hill each year that are attended by other physicians, rheumatology health professionals, and, often, patients. Recently Dr. Iversen described a fairly typical lobbying experience.
Lobbying in Action
Accompanied by a rheumatologist, a nurse, and a young woman with juvenile arthritis (JA), Dr. Iversen recently visited with congressional staff. In this particular case, the legislative assistant was not convinced by the rheumatologist’s analysis, despite the latter’s articulate advocacy, says Dr. Iversen. Patients, those whom rheumatologists and health professionals are trained to treat, have a great impact in advocacy. They can pull at the heartstrings. The young woman shared her story. It began one morning when, at age four, the girl woke up with severe pain in her legs, unable to stand. She was hospitalized and underwent bilateral hip aspirations. This was followed by similar episodes in her knees and ankles, and the JA diagnosis.
The young woman then recounted the difficulties of attending public school. “The stories continued,” says Dr. Iversen, “each more heart wrenching than the previous one. At a break in her captivating story, I looked from the young girl to the legislative assistant and noticed that the man was enthralled with her. He began asking her pointed questions about what had motivated her to come to Washington, D.C. She said she thought she could help others with arthritis. When the meeting adjourned, the legislative assistant promised to discuss the Arthritis Prevention, Control, and Cure Act with his congressman. Within a week, the congressman had cosponsored the bill.”
