Advocacy
Writing, emailing, or calling local officials can be a great way to advocate for yourself or someone you know. Below you will find some resources including websites to find your local representatives, relevant bills and propositions, and call/email templates.
Image from the Long Covid Moonshot Website
Long Covid Moonshot Bill
The Long Covid Moonshot Bill is a bill introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders that would provide desperately needed funding to monitor, research, and develop treatments for people suffering from the effects of Long Covid. If you want to participate in advocating for those affected, you can call or email your representatives and ask them to support the Long Covid Moonshot, or Write Your Legislators via the Moonshot website. You can read more specifics about the bill here: https://www.sanders.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/8.2.2024-Long-COVID-Research-Moonshot-One-Pager.pdf
Identifying your Public Officials
Find your elected officials: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Find your congress members: https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
Other Legislation to Know
Treat Long COVID Act (H.R.3258): https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/3258
Applying for Disability Benefits due to ME/CFS:
https://www.cdc.gov/me-cfs/disability/index.html
https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/rulings/di/01/SSR2014-01-di-01.html
Emailing your Public Officials
How to email: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials-email
What to write: https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives
Sample Letter: https://kidgovernor.org/student-action-resource-center/writing-to-your-elected-officials
Legislation
Long COVID Support Act (S.2560): https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2560/text
Applying for a 504 plan due to Long Covid: https://www.ed.gov/sites/ed/files/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/ocr-factsheet-504-20210726.pdf
Calling your Public Officials
Guide to calling your official: https://www.ucop.edu/federal-governmental-relations/_files/Advocacy/Federal-Research/guide_to_calling_your_legislators.pdf
Sample scripts: https://autisticadvocacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/fact-sheet-how-to-call-your-elected-officials.pdf
Legislation
Summary of Current Policy: https://documents.ncsl.org/wwwncsl/Labor/Long-COVID-Disability-Accommodations-Workplace.pdf