Your Congress-Your Health

Your Congress–Your Health is an initiative launched by Research!America, the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation and partner organizations to inform the public of their elected officials’ views on health and research. The initiative aims to create a dialogue on health and research issues between the United States Congress and its citizenry through a web-based resource.

In March 2007, PARADE magazine asked its readers what health-related questions they would like to ask Congress. Based on reader response, a 15-question survey was created and sent to every member of Congress in May 2007. Some of the issues addressed in the survey were funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American health care system, health care coverage, electronic health records, stem cell research and global competitiveness in innovation. A similar questionnaire was used in a national public opinion poll.

As of May 2008, roughly one-fourth of Congress has responded to the survey and their results are posted on the Your Congress–Your Health website. Visitors to the website can view their elected officials’ responses to the questionnaire, view the results of the public opinion poll, or take the survey themselves. Users may also send messages to their members of Congress to thank them for participating or encourage them to participate.

See also

  • Your Candidates-Your Health