Prevent Blindness to Hold 10th Annual Eyes on Capitol Hill Event
Delegates from Across the Country to Come Together to Advocate on the Importance of Eye Health Programs, Funding
CHICAGO (May 27, 2015)–Prevent Blindness will be holding its 10th annual “Eyes on Capitol Hill” program on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, in Washington, D.C. The program provides citizens from across the United States the opportunity to meet with congressional and senate members, and their staff to discuss vision care issues.
More than 100 years ago, Prevent Blindness was founded as a group dedicated to giving the American public a voice. Today, the Eyes on Capitol Hill program is designed to give those who have been affected by eye and vision problems a chance to share their stories with the nation’s leaders. In addition to educating their members of Congress on eye diseases and eye safety, the delegation will ask that more be done in the way of prevention, early detection, and research.
“By speaking with their own constituents, who can share first-hand experience on the impact that vision issues have on their lives and within their communities, we hope to educate our policymakers on the importance of programs and program funding that help to save sight,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness.
The Eyes on Capitol Hill meetings have been scheduled to specifically ask elected officials to:
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- Provide $1,000,000 in FY 2016 to maintain the Vision Health Initiative at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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- Provide at least $3,294,000 for the Glaucoma Project at CDC.
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- Support the Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s (MCHB) National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health (the Center) in developing a public health infrastructure to promote and ensure a continuum of vision and eye health care for children.
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- Provide $730 million in FY2016 funding for the National Eye Institute at the National Institutes of Health.
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- Cosponsor H.R. 1312/S. 898, the National Health Service Corps Improvement Act, to increase access to eye care in underserved areas.
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- Join the Congressional Vision Caucus (CVC).
The following day, June 17, all Eyes on Capitol Hill delegates will attend the fourth annual Focus on Eye Health National Summit at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The Summit will include a variety of presentations related to this year’s theme, “Game Changers in Vision,” featuring efforts and advances that are expected to significantly change how we think about and deliver eye care into the future.
For more information on the Summit, Prevent Blindness and its advocacy initiatives, please call (800) 331-2020.
Download a copy of the Eyes on Capitol Hill press release.
