When I first got elected I was told it takes about three years to pass a bill in Jefferson City. While that's not always the case (I've passed over a dozen bills during my first two years down here), I hope the rule of thumb is true for my HPV legislation.
Tuesday morning I will present SB104 to the Health, Mental Health, Seniors & Families Committee. This is the third year in a row I have introduced this legislation, which would provide information about the HPV vaccine to parents of girls entering the 5th grade.
For the last two years I've successfully passed the bill out of the Senate, only to watch it fizzle out in the House. I'm hoping that an early committee hearing, coupled with a change in House leadership, will help the bill's chances this year.
HPV can be sexually transmitted and if left untreated can cause many health problems, from cervical cancer to genital warts. HPV infections can persist for many years and are common in both men and women. Approximately 80% of the adult population has a strain of HPV.
HPV is a known cause of cervical cancer and it is thought that the vaccine, coupled with regular pap tests, could virtually eliminate the cancer in a generation. Cervical cancer claims the lives of an estimated 3,700 American women every year and is the second most common cancer in women.
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Playing devil's advocate here: How do you respond to critics who may say that your pushing this legislation because you work for a law firm that makes a fortune defending Big Pharma?
(And cervical cancer is not the 2nd most common cancer in women - it might be of women in a particular age range, like under 35. The most common cancers in women are breast, lung and colon.)
Also your big firm is a very large financial supporter of LGBT groups in Kansas City. How do you respond to critics who may say that you push non-discrimination legislation because you work for a law firm that supports non-discrimination?
Also, your firm with the ACLU helped defend the KKK. How do you respond to critics who may say that you may support pro-First Amendment legislation because you work for a law firm that supports the first amendment?
Lastly, thank you for submitting a pro-womens' health bill. I'm guessing it doesn't matter to you that the primary manufacturers of the HPV vaccine is not be your client since you're the Director of Pro Bono services at your firm. I'd like to think you have submitted this bill because you care about womens' health.
ummm...hehe...how do you respond to critics who say that 'Law firm' is in english...and YOUR BILL is in english?
Seriously, let's cure cancer!
One of your biggest fans across the boarder to the west and about a hundred miles in is rooting for you to win this time 'round.
:-)
http://kansasjackass.blogspot.com
If we could just find a way to take SEX out of the equation. They actually don't know for sure what causes HPV. There have been cases in women (admittedly not many) where they were pretty confident the woman had not had sex.
This is a cancer preventer, not a sluttiness green light. I can't for the life of me figure out why people are confused about that. I mean, it is certainly easy enough to give a 5th grader a vaccine and tell her it helps prevent cervical cancer without saying it prevents you from getting one of a whole myriad of STDs. Since it doesn't prevent any of the far more serious STDs I don't think that part is even worth mentioning.
Give em hell Jolie, but you're fighting a battle of stupid religion people and therefore the best you can probably hope for is a few more people will hear you and vaccinate their daughters without the legislation.
My Aunt passed over five years ago from cervical cancer. I wish this vaccination had been available to her when she was growing up. I am glad that it is available now for my Aunts daughter, so that hopefully her children will not suffer the same fate, and become motherless at eight. Thanks for fighting the good fight! We need more like you in Jeff City & DC.
I commend the Senator for the HPV bill because there are few enough prevention strategies in place to support public health measures. Just because the HPV vaccine doesn't prevent common or serious forms of STDs is no reason to throw the baby out wth the bathwater. This time it is not about supporting Big Pharma but making a prevention measure available. And just because "They actually don't know for sure what causes HPV," is not good enough. There are plenty of cases of first heart attacks in which the consumer did not have any of the typical "warning" signs we are familiar with, but we don't tell others to "not take your cholesterol meds," or "don't worry about exercsing regularly or taking blood pressure meds to moderate your blood pressure," because some of those who get heart disease do exercise regularly, have good blood pressure and cholesterol control. Health and preventon measure to prevent disease are complex and every little bit helps.
Information is good so long as it is balanced. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msoyRYSoSJk&o=1672350&u=53111945&l=1608440&g=6810
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