Thursday, February 26, 2009

Prevent Blindness America Eyes on Capitol Hill Event

Prevent Blindness America's (PBA) 2009 Eyes on Capitol Hill event is less than 1 week away. On March 4, nearly 100 vision advocates will go to Capitol Hill to meet with Members of Congress and Congressional staff to discuss vision health issues and share their personal stories. Specifically, advocates will ask for federal funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Vision Health Initiative; support for the Maternal and Child Health Bureau's efforts to develop and report on nation-wide implementation of a state Title V core performance measure related to vision screening; and, finally, advocates will ask their Members of Congress to join the Congressional Vision Caucus.

PBA is pleased to bring our vision advocates to Washington, D.C. and grateful for the dedication and commitment to good vision health for all Americans.

Prevent Blindness America has published its full legislative agenda for the 111th Congress: http://www.preventblindness.net/advocacy_library.


Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Prevent Blindness America Selects Delegates for Fourth Annual Eyes on Capitol Hill National Event

More than 70 participants from across the country will meet with congressional and senate members and their staff on March 4 to discuss vision care issues. Read about some of our local delegates.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Congressional Vision Caucus

The Congressional Vision Caucus (CVC) is a bi-partisan, bicameral group of Members of Congress dedicated to strengthening and stimulating a national dialogue and policy on vision-related prevention, problems and disabilities. On March 3, 2009, Prevent Blindness America (PBA) will join our vision partners in hosting a Congressional Vision Caucus reception, the first CVC event for the 111th Congress. We are pleased to invite members of the Congressional Vision Caucus, their staff members and PBA's 2009 Eyes on Capitol Hill advocates to attend this reception.

Fore more information about the Congressional Vision Caucus, please visit:
http://www.house.gov/green/cvc/index.shtml

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Oregon State Legislature Considers Vision Screening Legislation

On Monday, January 26, 2009, Donna Dengel, Prevent Blindness America Northwest Region Director, gave testimony before the Oregon State Legislature’s House Education Committee. The Committee was considering HB 2060, a bill to direct the Department of Education to conduct a study and develop a model program for the purposes of providing vision screening to public school students. Oregon law requires vision screening for school children but does not dictate a standardized practice for providing these screenings. HB 2060 would seek to develop a model program for screening in schools throughout Oregon. Vision screenings conducted by properly trained individuals can identify vision problems in children in order for the condition to be treated and to prevent vision loss. Prevent Blindness America firmly believes that vision screening is a cost-effective, efficient means to assure that all children receive the eye care necessary for the health of their vision and their academic success. For more information on children's vision screenings, go to:
http://www.preventblindness.org/vision_screening/childrens_vision_screening.html

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

SCHIP Expansion Vote Today

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to approve HR 2, a bill to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and extend coverage to an additional 4.1 million uninsured children. The bill provides an additional $32.8 billion to SCHIP over the next four and a half years. The House passed the SCHIP bill on January 14, 2009. The Senate amended the bill and passed the version considered today on January 29, 2009. The House is expected to deliver the bill to President Obama for signature later today. The full text of HR 2 and a summary status may be found on the Library of Congress website: thomas.loc.gov.