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Issues and Priorities
March of Dimes public affairs efforts focus on national and state policies and programs that relate to our mission - improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. We are also involved in issues that affect non-profit organizations.
Advocacy Network
The Advocacy Network is made up of volunteers and staff who promote the March of Dimes mission agenda in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia by contacting governors, mayors and state legislators in response to Chapter action alerts.

Since the nation's capital is in this Chapter, our volunteers also visit Capitol Hill to address national legislation. One of our long-time volunteers, Kathy Paz-Mingledorf of Springfield, Va., was our strongest advocate for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).  In February 2009, President Barack Obama signed legislation that expanded the program (Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2009).

For the past two years, Kathy has testified on Capitol Hill, given local and national media interviews and spoken at press conferences on behalf of SCHIP.  To read a recent story about Kathy ("Speaking for SCHIP: Springfield Mother Testifies on Capitol Hill for Health Insurance Bill for Children," Springfield Connection, Feb. 19, 2009), click here.

Kathy and another Chapter volunteer, Jill Wood, are two of three March of Dimes volunteers named "Champions of Change" on our National Web site.  To read about the work of these advocacy volunteers, click here.

If you are interested in becoming a public affairs volunteer, or being part of the Advocacy Network, please contact Dona Dei at (703) 824-0111, ext. 14, or Anne Eder at (410) 752-8073.


Lobby Day
Each year the Maryland-National Capital Area Chapter organizes lobby days to give staff and volunteers the opportunity to visit local legislators and tell our elected representatives about issues important to mothers and babies.  The chapter conducts annual lobby days in Annapolis, Md.; Richmond, Va.; and Washington, D.C.

Each Lobby Day includes a briefing by the chapter's legislative consultant, legislator office visits and a debriefing.  In 2010, the Maryland Lobby Day was January 20; in Virginia, Lobby Day was February 3.  For more information, please contact the appropriate person listed below.

Maryland Lobby Day
Contact: Anne Eder at aeder@marchofdimes.com or Dona Dei at ddei@marchofdimes.com.

Virginia Lobby Day
Contact: Dona Dei at ddei@marchofdimes.com or Sara Long at slong@marchofdimes.com.

Washington, D.C., Lobby Day
2010 date to be determined
Contact: Dona Dei at ddei@marchofdimes.com

If you wish to focus your advocacy efforts on national issues, please visit our Advocacy Action Center.  This site will keep you informed on issues facing Congress today and give you tools to help spread the word on key issues.  You can also sign up to receive legislative updates and alerts.

Join the March of Dimes advocacy network.