Dear Friend of Trails,
Your immediate action is needed to ensure proper health care benefits for trail enthusiasts everywhere!
U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) recently introduced S. 616 and Representative Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Representative Bart Stupak (D-MI) introduced H.R. 1076: "The HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act.”
This legislation addresses a loophole caused by a Department of Health and Human Services' rule making it possible for health care benefits to be denied to those who are injured while participating in recreational trail activities. Identical legislation passed the full Senate in the 108th Congress and obtained 177 bipartisan cosponsors in the House.
S. 616 and H.R. 1076 aim at ending health care discrimination for individuals participating in legal transportation and recreational activities— activities like horseback riding, motorcycling, snowmobiling, skiing, and all-terrain vehicle riding— since these activities are listed as ‘risky.’ We think everyone should get behind this bill, even though it doesn’t specify some types of trail users. If this is allowed to continue, it could have more far-reaching effects.
We are urging all trail enthusiasts to notify their Senators and Representatives to ask them to co-sponsor and support this bill.
You can TAKE ACTION now by making an appointment with your Congress member while they are at home on recess or by calling, emailing, or writing them.
To locate your Member online or to find their District Offices:
U.S. House of Representatives:
www.house.gov
U.S. Senate:
www.senate.gov
To call your Member of Congress:
US Capitol Switchboard
(202) 224-3121
Library of Congress:
http://thomas.loc.gov
Comprehensive information about Congress, including legislation.
Visit the American Trails website at
www.AmericanTrails.org for updates.
Help get this important legislation passed and protect the rights of trail enthusiasts everywhere! This bipartisan legislation will offer outdoor recreation lovers the protection they deserve.
Please forward this message to your friends. Thank you for your help!
Sincerely,
Pam Gluck, Executive Director
American Trails
pam_gluck@americantrails.org
http://www.AmericanTrails.org
P.S. Have you taken action yet to protect Transportation Enhancements, the nation’s largest funding source for trails, walking and bicycling? Visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s website where you can find projects funded near you and view a chart showing how your State was affected during the 2006 rescission. You can also easily write to your Governor on the RTC website. Click here.
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