EDC visits EVERY office in the House and Senate in 2003 The EDC achieved a new goal in July when volunteers, interns, and the executive director visited every office in the U.S. Capitol, all 540 of them. The visits were not lobby visits, but rather an informal opportunity to connect with staffers. In each office, EDC representatives delivered an invitation to the July 15 Congressional Briefing, a copy of the EDC policy recommendations for Congress, and an EDC business card. In some offices, we also hand delivered fact sheets about pending legislation. EDC representatives also used the visits to collect the names and business cards of legislative aides in order to update our Congressional contact lists. EDC Receives $5,000 in Memory of Wai-Kwan Ho Gee An unexpected check for $5,000 goes a long way for a small organization such as the Eating Disorders Coalition.  When a new EDC board member was asked about which charity she would like part of her late mother's estate to benefit, Mary Gee answered, "the EDC." "I thought the gift would be $50," Gee said. Instead, Gee's sister Helen wrote a check for $5,000. The check has arrived at the slowest part of the budget year for the small organization. EDC Executive Director Marc Lerro said the group would use the money to support its summer activities on Capitol Hill, including the EDC's next Congressional Briefing. The theme of the briefing is "Eating Disorders and Treatment Options." Mary Gee said it was an appropriate way to honor her mother.

EDC Welcomes Three New Member Organizations 2003 - The Eating Disorders Coalition proudly announces the addition of three new member organizations. The new groups are the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, The Body Positive, and the Center for Eating Disorder Recovery (CEDaR). EDC Executive Director Marc Lerro said, "Each brings its own strengths to our national awareness campaign. And each of them offers unique programs in their communities. By joining the EDC, they will have more of a role in helping us communicate with federal policy makers." The new members offer eating disorder programs in South Florida, Northern California, and New York, which will help the EDC in making appointments with elected officials from those states. For a complete list of EDC member organizations, click on the Members button. Gail R. Schoenbach / F.R.E.E.D Foundation Donates $5,000 The Gail R Schoenbach / F.R.E.E.D. Foundation raised $5,000 for the Eating Disorders Coalition at a golf tournament on September 18 in Watchung, New Jersey. The first-time tournament also raised funds for the Renfrew Center. Executive Director Gail R. Schoenbach has worked with the EDC throughout 2003, appearing on Capitol Hill for Congressional briefings and to lobby members of Congress. Schoenbach's foundation joined the Coalition in early 2003 with an initial membership of $500 and a promise that "there would be more to come." "Gail is a tireless advocate, an incredible dynamo, and we're lucky to have her on our side," says EDC Executive Director Marc Lerro. "She's ALWAYS there for us, literally in the faces of elected officials, telling about her own struggle with bulimia and about how treatment is out of reach for the people who need it."  Gail R Schoenbach / F.R.E.E.D. Foundation A non-profit organization For the Recovery and Elimination of Eating Disorders 18 Chestnut Hill Warren NJ 07059 908-756-9260, FAX 908-756-9261 E-mail: GailSFreedFDN at America Online

Unprecedented Federal Victory for Eating Disorders!  U.S. Senate includes eating disorders initiatives in obesity bill. Major new federal obesity legislation, the IMPACT bill (S. 1172), now incorporates concrete language and support for addressing eating disorders, thanks to the work of the Eating Disorders Coalition for Policy, Research, and Action (EDC). U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, MD (R-TN) and Senators Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced the IMPACT bill June 3, 2003. EDC Policy Director Dr. Jeanine Cogan says, "After months of working with the Senate, the legislation’s sponsors moved from a bill that originally approached obesity in a vacuum to one that mentions eating disorders everywhere that obesity is mentioned. “By including eating disorder language in this bill, Congress recognizes eating disorders as an important health priority. This is unprecedented in Congress and a huge victory for people victimized by eating disorders." The bill would offer grants for the training of health professionals as well as conducting programs that promote healthy eating and exercise to prevent of eating disorders and obesity. Incorporating eating disorders education in an obesity bill provides the public with a balanced message and realistic approach toward health. Here are excerpts from Senator Clinton’s floor speech supporting the bill: "While it is so important to fight the obesity epidemic, we should not inadvertently send the wrong message by telling our children and adults simply to eat less and exercise,  Senator Clinton said. “Unfortunately, many adolescents misinterpret this as a message that they should eat to achieve the body of a runway model. Anorexia and bulimia are increasingly common among our nation's youth. "While it is important to prevent diabetes and heart disease that may result from obesity, eating disorders also have their own very serious consequences. Anorexia nervosa, which will affect 3.7 percent of American women sometime in their lifetime, leads to heart failure, kidney failure, and osteoporosis. In fact, a young woman [with anorexia] is 12 times more likely to die than other women her age without anorexia." The bill is a priority for Majority Leader Frist and is expected to move through the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee quickly.