American Academy of Audiology Board Visits Capitol Hill - PAC Breakfast for Rep. Walsh

On Thursday, July 13th, the American Academy of Audiology's Board of Directors visited Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers to advocate on behalf of audiology. The morning began with a fundraising breakfast for Representative Jim Walsh (NY-25th), a true champion of hearing health issues. Rep. Walsh is well known to audiologists as the legislator responsible for passing the universal infant hearing screening bill. Rep. Walsh is currently the chair of the Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations and is considered a frontrunner for the Chairmanship of the full committee in the next Congress. This breakfast event to honor Rep. Walsh was made possible through the Academy's Political Action Committee (PAC), and is a prime example of how funds raised by the PAC enable the Academy to support leaders in Congress that have taken the lead on audiology issues. The breakfast provided a unique opportunity for the Academy Board Members to sit down with Rep. Walsh and thank him for his continued support for Direct Access legislation (H.R. 415) and for his sponsorship of the EHDI Reauthorization legislation (H.R. 5250). Nicole Henning and Melissa Clark represented the Academy of Dispensing Audiologists at the PAC breakfast. The event provided an informal forum to discuss the future of audiology and our role in providing hearing health services to the nation's hearing impaired population.

Following the breakfast meeting with Rep. Walsh, the members of the Board of Directors participated in an extensive campaign, which included 25 scheduled meetings with their respective Senators and Representatives and other congressional leaders, seeking additional support for audiology services. The Hill visits provided powerful opportunities for the Board members to speak out, as both constituents and audiologists, with many of the meetings yielding positive feedback regarding support for Direct Access and the EHDI legislation.

As a result of a Board Member's visit to his office, Congressman Al Wynn (MD- 4th) signed on to H.R. 415 as the 54th cosponsor on the bill. As demonstrated by success of the Board members' Hill visits, it is imperative for audiologists to speak out as both constituents and professionals to ensure that the issues are making it to the desks of their elected officials!

For more information, visit www.audiology.org