La Fundación Americana del Hígado honra al congresista Jim Costa (demócrata por California) y al congresista Don Bacon (republicano por Nebraska) con los Premios al Campeón del Congreso en su Cumbre de Defensa de la Vida del Hígado en Washington, D.C.
Fundación Americana del Hígado (ALF) Liver Life Advocacy Summit was held in Washington, D.C. on April 21st y séptimand y reunió a pacientes, cuidadores y familias de costa a costa para defender Prioridades legislativas para la salud del hígado and help the 100 million Americans affected by liver disease. During the Summit, ALF recognized Congressman Jim Costa (D-CA) and Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) with the foundation’s Congressional Champion Award for their continued commitment and support of policies that help patients and families affected by liver disease.
"ALF is grateful for the continued support of Congressman Costa and Congressman Bacon as we bring heightened awareness to Capitol Hill regarding legislative policies that help liver disease patients and their families,” said Lorraine Stiehl, CEO, American Liver Foundation (ALF) and caregiver to a transplant recipient. “It was an honor having both Congressman Costa and Congressman Bacon attend our evening dinner and celebration to recognize their critical work on behalf of liver patients everywhere.”
Congressman Costa (D-CA) currently serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and was honored with ALF’s prestigious Premio al Campeón del Congreso forhis dedication to helping children by introducing the Ley Ian Kalvinskas de detección y cribado precoz del cáncer de hígado pediátrico. This legislation directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study efforts to improve early detection and treatment of pediatric liver tumors, trends in pediatric liver-transplant wait-list mortality, and the cost effectiveness of adding simple tools. It also establishes a national education initiative to provide families with plain language information on early warning signs as well as options and safety of living liver donation. Adrian and Susan Kalvinskas, parents of the late Ian Kalvinskas, presented the award to Congressman Costa who gave an emotional and heartfelt speech. Learn more about Ian’s story in este video and join us in supporting this important legislation at https://alf.social/livercanceract.
Congressman Bacon (R-NE) currently serves on the House Agriculture Committee and the House Armed Services Committee as Chairman of the Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation subcommittee and was also honored with ALF’s prestigious Premio al Campeón del Congreso for his long-standing commitment to advancing living donor transplantation and protecting liver donors through the reintroduction of the Living Donor Protection Act. This legislation ensures living donors do not face discrimination from insurance companies. The bill also specifies that recovery from organ-donation surgery constitutes a serious health condition that entitles eligible employees to job-protected medical leave. Congressman Bacon shared a heartfelt tribute to those in his life who have been given a second chance at life thanks to living donation.
During the Liver Life Advocacy Summit, ALF also recognized Ruthanne Leishman with the Transplant Innovator Award for her tireless work to help ALF establish our Red de donantes vivos. Additionally, two ALF advocates – Evelyn Rivera and Manny Martinez – were acknowledged for their outstanding commitment to advancing liver health.
La diferencia de ALLMAND LAW FIRM, PLLC Premio al Defensor de la Vida del Hígado was presented to New Mexico resident and ALF advocate Evelyn Rivera for her unwavering commitment to advancing liver health. As a dedicated participant of ALF’s Lend Your Voice campaign, Evelyn has driven meaningful change at both the federal and state levels championing patient access in New Mexico and beyond. She has demonstrated extraordinary resilience as a liver cancer survivor who has undergone two liver transplants – first in 2011 and again in 2015. Earlier this year, she served as the featured speaker at ALF’s Liver Cancer Briefing in Washington, D.C. where she brought the patient voice directly to policymakers. She’s a compassionate peer mentor and devoted leader always willing to use her voice to advocate on behalf of liver patients.
Liver Life Advocate and California resident Manny Martinez was presented with ALF’s Rising Advocate Award for his willingness to share his personal story and his hard work as an ALF Lend Your Voice participant who sent over 30 letters to Congress on behalf of liver patients. Manny is passionate about reaching out to the Hispanic community to raise awareness about enfermedad hepática esteatótica asociada a disfunción metabólica (MASLD) and he encourages everyone to get screened. He leads by example and is always willing to step in and lend a hand with genuine commitment to others.
Washington state resident Ruthanne Leishman has been a passionate advocate for living donor liver transplant for decades both personally on behalf of her late sister and professionally. She played an instrumental role in helping ALF create the first-ever Living Donor Network which connects individuals who wish to donate part of their liver with transplant centers nationwide to help children and adults in need. ALF is proud to recognize her with the Transplant Innovator Award.
Durante la Cumbre de Defensa de la Vida Hepática, los defensores se reunieron con sus funcionarios electos en el Capitolio e instaron al Congreso a implementar la iniciativa ALF. prioridades legislativas:
- Apoye a los donantes vivos: Impulsar la Ley de Protección de Donantes Vivos y la Ley de Ampliación del Apoyo a los Donantes de Órganos Vivos para proteger a los donantes y reducir las barreras financieras.
- Garantizar el acceso de los pacientes: Aprueben la Ley Safe Step, la Ley para el Tratamiento y la Reducción de la Obesidad y la Ley de Copagos HELP para mejorar el acceso y la asequibilidad.
- Cribado pediátrico: Promover la Ley Ian Kalvinskas de Detección Temprana y Cribado del Cáncer de Hígado Pediátrico para un diagnóstico más precoz.
- Center for Disease Control Efforts: Strengthen liver disease surveillance and prevention
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Ruthanne, Manny and Evelyn for their incredible work on behalf of liver patients and their families. And I’m so proud of all of our outstanding Liver Life Advocates who joined us for our advocacy summit to share their personal liver disease journey and make a difference in the lives of those living with liver disease,” added Ms. Stiehl.
Tome medidas para la enfermedad hepática convirtiéndose en un Defensor de la vida del hígado. Obtenga más información en liverfoundation.org/advocacy.
Acerca de la American Liver Foundation
La American Liver Foundation (ALF) es una comunidad nacional de pacientes, cuidadores y profesionales médicos dedicada a ayudar a las personas a mejorar su salud hepática. Brindamos orientación y recursos vitales, y somos un referente para los 100 millones de estadounidenses afectados por enfermedades hepáticas. Abogamos por los pacientes y sus familias, financiamos la investigación médica y educamos al público sobre el bienestar hepático y la prevención de enfermedades. Unimos a las personas a través de nuestros programas y eventos educativos y creamos una red de apoyo que perdura toda la vida. ALF es la organización más grande centrada en todas las enfermedades hepáticas y la voz de confianza para los pacientes y las familias que viven con enfermedades hepáticas. Celebramos 50 años de impacto y lideramos los próximos 50 años. Para obtener más información, visite www.liverfoundation.org o llame al: 1.800.GO.LIVER (800-465-4837).