Dear Colleagues,
Below this message is an editable letter we all can send to our US Reps and Senators to try to ramp up ventilator production right now. This isn't about politics on the right or left - it's about America. Please forward widely to colleagues, friends, family, twitter, facebook, instagram, reddit, youtube, tumblr, and whatever else you use!
The most reliable evidence from the best scientists and medical professionals says that the United States is about to have more cases of the coronavirus than any other country in the world. Scientists have concluded that in order to make sure that the number of coronavirus infections does not overwhelm our hospitals, we have to get Washington to act now. Congress can get President Trump to invoke a law called the Defense Protection Act so that we can make more life-saving ventilators that will help the most severely affected Americans fight it effectively, but we have to get Congress to act now.
Will you send an email to your congressperson and your senators right now?
Here are links to an editable version of the letter that you can cut and paste and email to your representatives. The text of the letter is also pasted below. Be sure to edit yours to add the appropriate:
Cut and paste from google docs
Cut and paste or print from MS Word
Here is a link to find your senators:
https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?OrderBy=state&Sort=ASC
Here is a link to find your congress person: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
THE LETTER:
The Honorable (full name)
United States House of Representatives Washington, D. C. 20515
The Honorable (full name) United States Senate Washington, D. C. 20510
Dear Congressman/woman Senator X,
I am writing to ask you to tell President Trump to invoke the Defense Protection Act to increase domestic ventilator production. The COVID-19 pandemic requires a strong response from the federal government to serve the people of (your district/state). From local businesses to state government, <our state> is working hard to help, but states can't do it on their own. All the evidence suggests that making more ventilators now is one of the best things we can do to minimize the number of people that will be killed by COVID-19.
Recent estimates suggest that the number of people in our community that will be infected by the virus will skyrocket over the next few weeks. As you well know, we need to prepare now so that our hospitals are not overrun with the most critical cases, forcing doctors to make life and death decisions about who can get the best care. My neighbors and I are scared about what things might come to if we are not bold right now.
This is America. When the going gets tough, we act. I know that a public statement from you asking the president to move forward on the Defense Protection Act would do a great deal of good for your constituents, who may very well have you to thank for making it out of this pandemic alive.
Thank you for your service to our country and for your action at this most critical of times.
Sincerely,
XXXXX
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Percival Matthews
Madison WI
608-263-3600
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