Activists in Philadelphia, April 2009

Materials to support the effort to lift the federal ban are:

Basic citizen lobbying packet Complete 8 page print-out includes one page basic fact sheet on federal ban; syringe exchange medical & scientific supporters; the science behind syringe exchange, and recent press on the need to lift the federal ban. Print out, put in a folder along with a letter and contact information for all meeting participants, and leave at your legislator's office.

Letter from Rep Serrano on CAHP Act January 2009 dear colleague letter from Rep Serrano seeking co-sponsors

Sign-on letter to President Obama asking him to call upon Congress to lift the federal funding ban on syringe exchange (February 2009)

"Dear Colleague" letter This letter circulated by Rep Cummings (MD-D) and Rep Castle (DE-R) received 55 sign-ons from Members of Congress asking House leadership to lift the ban and was delivered June 18, 2008.

Organizational Sign-on letter in support of the Serrano bill to lift the federal ban (the CAHP Act)

Materials for your own use:

• Federal ban talking points - For your own use when conducting meetings
• Talking with Your Legislator- Helpful tips for setting up and conducting meetings from Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest. 
• Fedban talking points for fiscal conservatives - Created by Drug Policy Alliance
• HR 179 co-sponsors as of May 11, 2009

Other materials to consider including in your packet

• Science-based literature on SEP's from 1996-2007 - Excellent 7 page lit review compiled by Joanna Berton Martinez
• Fact sheet on Federal Ban - A dense all-in-one double-sided fact sheet
• Fact sheet on hepatitis C and syringe exchange
• Congressional Leaders Confront ONDCP on  needle exchange misinformation: this letter from Henry Waxman and Barbara Lee has extensive citations of the scientific evidence that supports syringe exchange, and was circulated to all of Congress following press reports on our 2/7/08 call to Congress.
• Religious Organizations that support syringe exchange Compiled by Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative
  
• amfAR fact Sheet: The Effectiveness of Harm Reduction in Preventing the Transmission of HIV/AIDS 
• A sign-on letter for Black AIDS Awareness Day 2/7/08 to Congress
• List of US Organizations in Support of Syringe Exchange Programs (updated April 2009)