Becky Grossklaus

By Allan Rappoport
HDSA-San Diego Advocacy Committee

Because of Becky Grossklaus of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, we now have the critical support of Congressman Ron Kind (D-Wisc.), who is a member of the majority on the House Ways and Means Committee. Mr. Kind also serves on the Ways and Means Health Sub-Committee.

The process required for a bill to become law contains many complex and time consuming hurdles. Mr. Kind’s support of H.R. 678 is a huge step in that process because the Ways and Means Committee determines which bills go to the floor – that is, to the full House – to be voted upon. Bills such as ours generally are not considered by Ways and Means until they are favorably considered and reported out by the Health Sub-Committee.

Mr. Kind is very respected, so we are honored to have his support! Only after favorable consideration by the full Ways and Means Committee will H.R. 678 ever be sent to the floor of the House for a vote. We need many more co-sponsors from throughout the country to gain the critical mass needed by our supporters to move the bill to a successful floor vote.

HDSA supporters who think that they do not have the contacts needed to help gain co-sponsors for H.R. 678 should be encouraged by the serendipitous process that acquired Mr. Kind as a valuable and special co-sponsor.

Congressman Kind became a supporter of H.R. 678 because Becky too was wishing that she could do something to help the HD community – and suddenly found herself in the right place at the right time.

But of even more importance is that she made the leap of faith and courageously tried something that she had never done before.

A little background might help you understand. Becky’s father was adopted and he was unaware that he had HD when he finally was diagnosed at age 70. He passed away at age 82 of complications from HD. Before Becky had learned of HD in her family, she had married and had children and grandchildren.

Becky previously could not be considered an HD activist but she did know Congressman Kind. Her husband is prominent in the community and is the very successful President/CEO of a highly regarded company. They have hosted fundraisers on behalf of Mr. Kind in their home and in fact had hosted one just a day before Becky was contacted.

PLEASE do not stop reading now because you might think that you do not have that type of connection. You can help!

Now how did HDSA find Becky? Or, how could you find your Becky? Simple! One of the San Diego HDSA Advocacy Committee members and his wife were planning a trip to the Eau Claire area to visit their daughter’s family. He e-mailed his daughter, who coincidentally happens to work for Becky’s husband’s company, and suggested that the daughter ask around to learn if anyone could gain access for him to either Mr. Kind or the staff during his visit. She could not think of anyone but told her boss about HDSA and her dad’s request.

The boss suggested that she speak with the President/CEO’s executive assistant. His daughter did not know Becky at all and only knew of Becky’s husband through his employee-oriented management style.

Soon a very surprised daughter received a message containing Becky’s phone number and e-mail address and telling her to have her dad contact Becky directly. Her dad and Becky spoke by phone a few times. Becky called Mr. Kind, and then they met with him a few days later.

And in another few days Mr. Kind personally called Becky to emphatically state, “H.R. 678 is long past due and I will contact Congressman Filner’s office to become a co-sponsor.”

Someone once wrote that you are never more than a few calls away from the contact that can get you what you need. Start with a call to anyone and keep on calling until you find your Becky.

And THANK YOU, Becky Grossklaus, for making the last call in this case that brought us a great co-sponsor!

(For background on H.R. 678, please click here.)