It’s been several months since Kevin and I provided an update on the status of the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA).
We have just received news from our Senate bill leads, Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), and our new House leads, Congresswoman Kim Schrier (D-WA-08) and Congressman Neal Dunn (R-FL-02), that ELSA’s reintroduction is imminent!
We need all members and advocates to reach out to your federal legislators immediately and ask them to sign on as Original Cosponsors of the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA).
Let them know that ELSA will be reintroduced momentarily and that time is of the essence. Please follow the steps below.
- If you have met with your legislators and/or their staff during a previous advocacy or Hill Day event, please reach out directly to the email you received. If you need this contact from a past NFED event, please reach out to becky@nfed.org for help.
- All other advocates please use our easy-to-use webtool to reach out to your (2) Senators and (1) Representative. Take Action Now!
- Share our advocacy card with your family, friends and networks. Explain the importance of ELSA and ask them to join our cause to get this legislation passed. Remember every email or phone call matters! Anyone can advocate for ELSA.
- If an office indicates that they are willing to become an Original Cosponsor, please email becky@nfed.org and kevin.g.koser@gmail.com with an update to ensure the legislator(s) are correctly added to the bill before reintroduction.
- If an office has questions in regards to the current text of ELSA or further questions on the tentative reintroduction plans for ELSA, please have them connect with Senator Baldwin/Ernst or Representative Schrier/Dunn offices. They will be able to further educate and provide more detailed information.
We only have a few days to collect a list of Original Cosponsors. It’s imperative that you take action now!
The NFED will send out an announcement as we receive further details about ELSA’s upcoming reintroduction. Whether you have reached out 1 or 100 times to connect with your legislators, every email counts and we need to garner as many Original Cosponsors as possible in a short amount of time to show that ELSA continues to have strong bipartisan, bicameral support.
Passing this legislation will make history and have a lasting impact on an underserved community. We are forever grateful for your persistent advocacy and dedication to ensure ELSA becomes law.
Becky M. Abbott & Kevin Koser
NFED Family Advocacy Co-Chairs
P.S. We want to welcome our new House bill leads Congresswoman Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), and Congressman Neal Dunn (R-FL-02). Thank you for your support and dedication to see ELSA pass in the 119th Congress!
