Urge Your Representative to Support the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2009 (H.R. 1246)

Take action now! Contact your member of Congress and ask him or her to co-sponsor the newly introduced Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act of 2009.

Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) along with Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH) introduced this important legislation calling for the reauthorization of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs over the next five years. When the legislation was first approved in 2000, 44 percent of newborns were screened for hearing loss. Since the successful implementation of EHDI programs, this number has increased to 98 percent of all newborns being screened each year. To ensure the continued success of EHDI programs, the reauthorization of this bill addresses necessary improvements to the original legislation. Key areas of improvement include: connecting screening programs to pediatric audiology services, appropriate early intervention programs, and family support activities.

Encourage your member of Congress to support this legislation to make certain that every child who is screened that has a hearing problem gets access to the appropriate diagnosis and intervention programs needed to succeed. A Senate companion to this bill is expected in the coming weeks.

We anticipate that this legislation will move through the House Committee process fairly rapidly, so continue to check the AAA Web site for additional updates.

Questions? Contact Melissa Sinden, (202-544-9335) AAA's Senior Director of Government Relations.