AGA leaders from across the U.S. took to Capitol Hill last Friday as part of AGA’s annual Advocacy Day to advocate for our profession. The event had 40 AGA members in attendance from 17 states. Members met with 54 congressional offices to educate and ask for their support of the Safe Step Act (HR2279), the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act (HR1570/S668), the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (HR3107), and increasing NIH funding for FY 2020.
In preparation for Advocacy Day, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-MO, and Rep. Jim McGovern, D-MA, met with participants to discuss the political landscape on Capitol Hill and to discuss some of the timely legislative issues impacting physicians, patients and practices. Blunt, who is the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, discussed the importance of ensuring NIH has long-term, sustainable funding. McGovern spoke about his work as the founder of the Food as Medicine Working Group and his passion for nutrition education. Both Blunt and McGovern stressed the importance of grassroots advocacy and using your expertise as physicians and researchers to educate your legislators.
Unable to attend the in-person event? You can still engage with your lawmakers. Use AGA’s fast and easy online advocacy tool to send letters to your members of Congress and CMS about the policy issues highlighted during Advocacy Day.
A special thanks to all the 2019 Advocacy Day participants. You’re continued leadership and engagement in AGA’s advocacy efforts ensures our profession remains strong and well represented on Capitol Hill and locally.
| Aline Charabaty Pishvaian, MD | Folasade Popoola May, MD, PhD, MPhil | Nicole Tsein Shen, MD |
| Amit Patel, MD | Ibironke Oduyebo, MD | Otis Stephen, MD, AGAF |
| Animesh Jain, MD | Jennifer Maratt, MD | Peter Kaufman, MD, AGAF |
| Anisa Shaker, MD | Jill May Hoffman, PhD | Peter Liang, MD, MPH |
| Anne Finefrock Peery, MD | Joel Judah, MD, AGAF | Raj Shah, MD |
| Aylin Tansel, MD, MPH | Kim Barrett, PhD, AGAF | Ranjan Mascarenhas, MBBS, MD |
| Benjamin Lee Cohen, MD | Lena Brice Palmer, MD MSCR | Rebecca Matro, MD |
| Bertha Toriz, MD | Lisa Gangarosa, MD, AGAF | Robert Brown, Jr., MD, MPH, AGAF |
| Chioma Antonia Ihunnah Anjou, MD, MPH | Maged Rizk, MD | Sadeea Qureshi Abbasi, MD, PhD |
| Cynthia Yoshida, MD, AGAF | Mayra Janet Sanchez, MD | Sarah Streett, MD, AGAF |
| Dale Bachwich, MD | Michael Camilleri, MD, AGAF | |
| David Asher Leiman, MD, MSHP | Miguel Malespin, MD |
AGA advocacy support
AGA staff is here to support your advocacy needs. Ready to learn more about AGA’s Congressional Advocates Program, how to connect with your legislators or advocate for your profession locally? Contact Jonathan Sollish, AGA’s senior public policy coordinator at [email protected] or visit gastro.org/advocacy for more information.
See pictures of members in action on Instagram and Facebook. Follow stories from Advocacy Day on Twitter with #AGAadvocacy.
