A fighter for Health Care reform dies on August 25, 2009

Senator Ted Kennedy passed away on August 25, 2009, after a battle with brain cancer. We have lost a statesman and an individual who was a heck of an advocate for the poor, for the disabled, for women's rights and the number one proponent for health care reform. He will be missed. He represented one of the last bastions in the senate of the Kennedy legacy. May he rest in peace.May G-d bless his soul.

Update from P.A.N.D.O.R.A.'s newsletter: "We mourn the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy late last night (August 25, 2009). Many in our community are not aware that it was Senator Ted Kennedy and Representative Henry Waxman that brought CFS advocacy issues in the forefront through a congressional mandate in 1993. The establishment of the peer review process for CFS and the establishment of the CFSAC, came about from legislation introduced in 1993 by Senator Kennedy and by Rep. Waxman. We owe Senator Ted Kennedy (as well as Rep. Waxman too) an enormous gratitude and we mourn the loss of one of our strongest advocates. A few years ago,while visiting the Capitol, I met with Rep. Patrick Kennedy and we discussed the special commitment of his father and his as well, towards the neuroendocrineimmune community of suffering, specially on CFS-ME.

Historical Background of the CFS Recurring Special
Emphasis Panel 103rdCongress (1993-1995)
H.R.4
Title: To amend the Public Health Service Act to revise
and extend the programs of the National Institutes of
Health, and for other purposes. [National
Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993]
Sponsor: Rep. Waxman, Henry A. [CA-29]
(introduced 1/5/1993) S.1
Title: A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to
revise and extend the programs of the National
Institutes of Health, and for other purposes. [National
Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993]
Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [MA]
(introduced 1/21/1993)
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Sec.902. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
(b) EXTRAMURAL STUDY SECTION-Not later than 6
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish
an extramural study section for chronic fatigue
syndrome research.
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6/10/1993 Became Public Law No: 103-43.

Click here for the presentation of September 17, 2007 of the NIH peer review process of the Center for Scientific Review (CSR)."