"We are currently working with the bill's chief sponsor, Congressman Lane Evans (D-Ill), and the committee staff to determine a suitable witness list," said Paul Kelly, the ACA's assistant director of government relations. "In fact," Mr. Kelly noted, "the ACA hosted a meeting with ICA this very morning (March 20) to help coordinate the preparation of pro-chiropractic testimony for the hearing."
The exciting news for chiropractic came when Richard Miller, ACA's director of government relations, told Dynamic Chiropractic that Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC), sponsor of the Senate's version of H.R. 608, will appear before the subcommittee as a witness in support of the legislation.
Mr. Miller said it was a bit unusual for a Senator to testify before a House committee in support of a bill and clearly reflected Senator Thurmond's deep support for the proposal.
"Thurmond is well respected by the Pentagon establishment," Mr. Miller observed, "and this should help send a signal to DOD that he and others in the Congress are serious in their support for this initiative."
There are currently 72 House co-sponsors of H.R. 608: 51 Democrats; 20 Republicans; and one independent. A majority (9) of the 16 member subcommittee are co-sponsors of H.R. 608: Barbara Boxer (D-CA); Albert Bustamente (D-TX); Gary Franks (R-CT); Dennis Hertel (D-MI); George Hochbrueckner (D-NY); Martin Lancaster (D-NC); Owen Pickett (D-VA); Arthur Ravenel Jr. (R-SC); and Ike Skelton (D-MO).
The "grassroots efforts of the profession are really paying off," said Mr. Miller. The tremendous House support of H.R. 608 is a tribute to every single individual who has let their representatives in Washington know that there is no justification to continue the discrimination against chiropractic in the military.
Now it's time the pontentates of the Pentagon and the Bush administration get the message.
Steve Kelly
Assistant Editor