Virginia Alert

CNHPVA
Certified Natural Health Professionals of Virginia

FEB 6, 2009

I want to personally thank all of you who called, e-mailed, faxed
letters, and visited the delegate to ask them to support HB1744
Natural Health providers' bill. Your effort didn't go unnoticed. I
also want to thank all of you who showed up at the January 26th
subcommittee meeting. Our numbers spoke louder than words and
contributed greatly to HB1744 not being killed outright in the
subcommittee. Even though the outcome was a great disappointment to all, we are making inroads. Now is the time to maximize that momentum and press forward to working on passing of our bill next year.

As most of you know HB1744 Natural Health Care Providers bill (Health Freedom Bill) has been tabled by the Health, Welfare and Institutions committee. What exactly does this mean for us? Over the last few weeks, I have been talking with Delegate Pogge and others to decide what action we can take with a tabled bill. We have decided that for the present time we should not do anything with it, not because we don't want it passed, but the likelihood of passing it this year is slim. We just don't have enough support.
So, here is what we need to do in preparation for next year.

1. Form local constituent groups for each of the delegates and
senators to educate them about the need for a Health Freedom Bill.

2. Arrange for your group to meet face to face with your
delegate and senator to let them know your concerns to pass a Health Freedom Bill in the 2010 legislative session and build a relationship with them over this next year. It's an election year for delegates so helping them with their campaign could put you in a position of favor. If they know you personally they are more willing to help you out.

3. Arrange a meeting with local supervisors/city council, mayor
etc to educate them of the need for a Health Freedom Bill and ask
them to contact the delegates and senator that serve their district.
Your local officials know these delegates and senators and have
influence.

4. Talk with other groups or individuals that may have an
interest in our cause; Home school groups, holistic minded groups,
your clients.

I am willing to help educate and train the leaders of the constituent
groups so they in turn can educate and motivate their groups. I am
also willing to go with you when you speak with your representatives.
Our message to our officials must unified, so team work is a must. If
we are going to be successful we will need many leaders to reach each of the 100 delegates and 40 senators. If you are interested in being a team leader please contact me, let's move forward together.

Sharon E. Hrichak, ND, CTN for
Virginians for Health Freedom, a project of
Virginia Chapter of Certified Natural Health Professionals
P.O. Box 316
Chesterfield, VA 23832-0005
Web Site: www.cnhpva.org

Sharon's Phone Number: 757-898-1443
Sharon's E-Mail Address: shrichaknd@cox.net

JANUARY 29, 2009

HB 1820, the Naturopath Licensure bill, will be heard by the House Health sub-committee at their next meeting on Monday, February 2, 2009 at 5 p.m. in the 4th Floor WEST conference room in the General Assembly Building.
 
On the surface, you may think this bill proposes to license only those who call themselves naturopathic doctors. However, the definition of the practice of naturopathy contained in the bill is extremely broad and covers the practice of all of natural health. This is a bad bill for Virginia and a bad bill for the natural health field.
 
Please plan to attend the sub-committee meeting on February 2 to show your opposition to this bill.  The General Assembly Building is located at 910 Capitol Square, Richmond, VA 23219, which is at the corner of 9th and Broad Streets. Please use this link to the General Assembly website if you need additional information on the location of the building, parking, etc.: 
Visiting During the Session   or copy and paste this address in your web browser:
http://legis.state.va.us/1_vis_guide/visit_during.html
 
Please continue to collect and fax or e-mail opposition to this bill to all members of the House Health, Welfare and Institutions Committee. The simplest way to do this is to use the facility available at the HealthKeepers Alliance website www.healthkeepersalliance.org.

You will need an e-mail address if you are faxing or e-mailing for customers or clients through the HealthKeepers Alliance facility. For those who wish to collect and fax a paper letter, we have attached a sample letter for your convenience.
 
Also, please telephone the members of the Health sub-committee to voice your opposition to this bill. The names, phone and fax numbers and e-mail addresses of the members of the Health, Welfare and Institutions committee are listed below. The sub-committee members are marked with an asterisk (*) in the list below.
 
If you live in the district of one of the members of the sub-committee or the full committee, please consider visiting your delegate in person to express your opposition to this bill.
 
Please help us in opposing this bill.
 
The Board of the Virginia Chapter of
Certified Natural Health Professionals
P.O. Box 316
Chesterfield, VA  23832-0005
Website: www.cnhpva.org

 
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE HEALTH, WELFARE AND INSTITUTIONS COMMITTEE
 

Name
 Capitol Phone
 Capitol Fax
 E-mail
 
Amundson, Kristen J.
 (804) 698-1044
 (804) 698-6744
 DelKAmundson@house.state.va.us
 
*Armstrong, Ward L.
 (804) 698-1010
 (804) 698-6710
 DelWArmstrong@house.state.va.us
 
Athey, Clifford L., Jr.
 (804) 698-1018
 (804) 698-6718
 DelCAthey@house.state.va.us
 
BaCote, Mamye E.
 (804) 698-1095
 (804) 698-6795
 DelMBaCote@house.virginia.gov
 
Bell, Robert B.
 (804) 698-1058
 (804) 698-6758
 DelRBell@house.state.va.us
 
Crockett-Stark, Anne B.
 (804) 698-1006
 (804) 698-6706
 DelACrockett-Stark@house.state.va.us
 
Ebbin, Adam P.
 (804) 698-1049
 (804) 698-6749
 DelAEbbin@house.state.va.us
 
Englin, David L.
 (804) 698-1045
 (804) 698-6745
 DelDEnglin@house.state.va.us
 
*Frederick, Jeffrey M.
 (804) 698-1052
 (804) 698-6752
 DelJFrederick@house.state.va.us
 
Hamilton, Phillip A. (Chair)
 (804) 698-1093
 (804) 698-6793
 DelPHamilton@house.state.va.us
 
*Howell, Algie T., Jr.
 (804) 698-1090
 (804) 698-6790
 DelAHowell@house.state.va.us
 
Massie, James P. (Jimmie), III
 (804) 698-1072
 (804) 698-6772
 DelJMassie@house.state.va.us
 
Merricks, Donald W.
 (804) 698-1016
 (804) 698-6716
 DelDMerricks@house.state.va.us
 
Morrissey, Joseph D.
 (804) 698-1074
 (804) 698-6774
 DelJMorrissey@house.state.va.us
 
Nixon, Samuel A., Jr. (Vice Chair)
 (804) 698-1027
 (804) 698-6727
 DelSNixon@house.state.va.us
 
*Nutter, David A.
 (804) 698-1007
 (804) 698-6707
 DelDNutter@house.state.va.us
 
*O'Bannon, John M., III
 (804) 698-1073
 (804) 698-6773
 DelJOBannon@house.state.va.us
 
Orrock, Robert D., Sr.
 (804) 698-1054
 (804) 698-6754
 DelBOrrock@house.state.va.us
 
*Peace, Christopher Kilian
 (804) 698-1097
 (804) 698-6797
 DelCPeace@house.state.va.us
 
Pogge, Brenda L.
 (804) 698-1096
 (804) 698-6796
 DelBPogge@house.state.va.us
 
Sickles, Mark D.
 (804) 698-1043
 (804) 698-6743
 DelMSickles@house.state.va.us
 
*Spruill, Lionell, Sr.
 (804) 698-1077
 (804) 698-6777
 DelLSpruill@house.state.va.us
 

* Denotes members of the Health Sub-committee

General Fax Number
(Will be sorted and delivered to the appropriate delegates):
(804) 786-6310
 

*****ALERT JAN. 27 2009****

Unfortunately the Health Freedom bill was tabled today, which means it is dead for this year, but can be introduced next year.

The Naturopathic Physician bill HB1820 will be heard
Monday, February 2nd at 5:00 p.m.

*****ALERT JAN. 20 2009****

Monday, January 26th at 5 pm on the 4th floor in the West Conference room our HB1744 will be presented to the subcommittee. We need people to attend this meeting to show our support. If the sub-committee votes favorably then the bill will be presented to the entire committee on Tuesday, January 27th at 8:30 am in House room D of the General Assembly Building and we will need supporters to show up for that meeting as well.

It is possible that the HB1820 Naturopathic Licensure bill will be
presented on the 26th as well, so we can be there to show our opposition.

To make us more visible I am making yellow SUPPORT HB1744 cards for us to wear and pink OPPOSE HB1820. We can gather 1/2 hour prior to the meetings in the hallway outside of each room. You will recognize us by our yellow cards.

Keep on sending faxes to the delegates through the www.healthkeepersalliance.org website, it's important that we continue to let our delegates know of the large public support for HB1744 and opposition for HB1820.

*****ALERT JAN. 17. 2009*****

The Virginia health freedom bill, HB1744, is on the agenda for the House Health sub-committee meeting on Monday, January 19, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. 


Anyone still holding signed 'Support HB1744' letters needs to get them faxed or e-mailed to at least the members of the Health sub-committee before noon on Monday, January 19, 2009. The members of the sub-committee are:

General Fax Number for all House of Delegate Legislators: 804-786-6310

If you personally have not yet contacted these legislators to express your support of HB1744 we ask that you please do so immediately. You may do this via telephone, fax, or e-mail. The quickest and easiest way to accomplish this is to:

go to the HealthKeepers Alliance Web site at www.healthkeepersalliance.org
click on the 'TAKE ACTION' blue box
on the map of the United States, click on the state of Virginia
click on the 'SUPPORT VA Health Freedom Bill' blue box
Click on the 'STEP THREE Click Here To Take Action' blue box
Scroll down to the middle of the screen and enter your first and last name, your e-mail address, your street address, city, state and zip code where you are registered to vote
To send an Email, click in the box beside 'Send an Email'
To send a Fax, click in the box beside 'Send a Fax'
Click the 'Send My Message' box at the bottom of the screen

Your letter in support of HB1744 will be sent to all members of the House Health, Welfare and Institutions committee, which includes the above list of members of the Health sub-committee.

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While you are visiting the HealthKeepers Alliance website, we ask that you also express your opposition to HB1820, the naturopathic doctor licensure bill. Please understand that although the title of this bill references naturopathy, its language and provisions reach far beyond just those who have a doctor of naturopathy degree and are engaged in an ND practice. If passed, it will have an ADVERSE EFFECT ON ALL OF NATURAL HEALTH IN VIRGINIA. To express your opposition, just follow the instructions above but click on the ‘KILL VA NP Licensure Bill’ blue box.  Your letter in opposition to HB1820 will be sent to all members of the House Health, Welfare and Institutions committee and to Delegate Terry Kilgore, the sponsor of the bill.

 Together we are making a difference in the lives and health of our fellow Virginians. Please continue to do your part.

 The Board of the Virginia Chapter of Certified Natural Health Professionals

P.O. Box 316

Chesterfield, VA  23832-0005

January 14, 2009

Virginia has 2 bills that were recently introduced

One is a Health Freedom bill that they are in support of (HB1744)

The other bill is a monopolistic Naturopathic Physician bill that they oppose (HB1820)

They need help in calling, emailing, faxing letters to legislators regarding these 2 bills.

Please go to their website for more information: http://www.cnhpva.org/