Congressman Jim Ramstad
 WASHINGTON
July 4, 2007 - Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN) will receive the Eating Disorders Coalition
Award for Policy at an August 15 reception in Wayzata, Minn. The award will be
presented in recognition of the congressman's energetic work on behalf of
eating disorders research, treatment, and prevention.
"Congressman
Ramstad stands with everyone who has suffered from a mental illness or
addiction," says EDC Board President Kitty Westin of Chaska, Minn. "He is a
beacon of hope and optimism that tomorrow can and will be better for
millions of Americans who are now shut out from access to treatment. We
honor him for his years of personal and professional dedication."
Westin's daughter, Anna, died in 2000 after
battling an eating disorder. Kitty Westin helped found the Eating Disorders
Coalition in 2001 in order to bring national attention to eating disorders
by working with Congress, the federal government, the media, and others.
Congressman
Ramstad
and his staff have led the effort in Congress to pass a new mental health
parity bill that would ensure coverage for 9 million Americans who suffer
from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and eating disorders not
otherwise specified.
Congressman Patrick Kennedy
 WASHINGTON
April 18, 2007 - Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) will receive the Eating Disorders Coalition
Award for Policy at a May 1 reception at the US Capitol. The award will be
presented in recognition of the congressman's energetic work on behalf of
eating disorders research, treatment, and prevention.
"Congressman
Kennedy has been a tireless advocate for all those who suffer from eating
disorders and their families and friends," says EDC Board President Kitty
Westin. "He has raised awareness of eating disorders during a national
speaking tour on mental health parity. He's sponsored congressional
briefings on the topic and has worked with us to introduce comprehensive
eating disorder legislation
that will provide federal funding for a variety of programs nationwide.
We couldn't ask for a better ally than Rep. Kennedy."
Kennedy and his
staff have also worked with federal officials to learn more about the number
of Americans who suffer from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and
eating disorders not otherwise specified.
EDC Award for Public Policy
Representative Jim Ramstad (R-MN), 2007
Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), 2007
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), 2005
Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), 2005
Senator Paul Wellstone and Family, 2004, posthumous
Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL), 2003
Representative Ted Strickland (D-OH), 2003
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), 2002
Representative John Porter (R-IL), 2001
Representative Pat Schroeder (D-CO), 2001
Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY), 2001
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), 2001 |
