Friday, September 22, 2006
Congressmen Receive 2006 Brighter Vision Award

For Immediate Release: September 18, 2006
Contact: Vicki Govro (703)731-4211

Washington, D.C.- The Seniors Coalition and AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration) Alliance International are recognizing key congressional leaders who have worked to support both research and access to treatment options for vision impairments suffered by seniors as part of the international observance of AMD week. The 2006 Brighter Vision Award is being given in recognition of the firm commitment and leadership demonstrated by these representatives in securing a brighter future for those suffering from visual impairments.

AMD is a degenerative, retinal eye disease that causes loss of central vision, leaving only peripheral, or side, vision in tact. Early detection is the key so that options for treatment, rehabilitation and support services can be administered early enough to make the greatest impact. AMD is the leading cause of legal blindness for people over the age of 55 in the Western world.

Flora “Grandma” Green, spokeswoman for The Seniors Coalition and an AMD sufferer herself, said, “There is currently no cure for AMD, but early detection means the treatments will have a stronger impact in slowing the progression. By helping to get the word out about AMD, these congressmen will help seniors retain their vision and independence. I commend them for their efforts.”

AMD Week is internationally observed September 18- September 22 this year. Activities, designed to generate a wider awareness of AMD are taking place throughout the world, targeting seniors and governments alike.

Recipients of the 2006 Brighter Vision Award are:
Alabama
District 1: Congressman Jo Bonner
District 7: Congressman Artur Davis

Arizona
District 7: Congressman Raul Grijalva

Arkansas
District 2: Congressman Vic Snyder

California
District 2: Congressman Wally Herger
District 4: Congressman John T. Doolittle
District 11: Congressman Richard Pombo
District 14: Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
District 22: Congresswoman Lois Capps
District 30: Congressman Henry Waxman

Colorado
District 6: Congressman Tom Tancredo

Florida
District 2: Congressman Allen Boyd
District 9: Congressman Michael Bilirakis
District 11: Congressman Jim Davis
District 14: Congressman Connie Mack
District 16: Congressman Mark Foley
District 18: Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
District 24: Congressman Tom Feeney

Georgia
District 1: Congressman Jack Kingston
District 2: Congressman Sanford Bishop
District 3: Congressman Jim Marshall
District 5: Congressman John Lewis
District 11: Congressman Phil Gingrey
District 12: Congressman John Barrow
District 13: Congressman David Scott

Idaho
District 2: Congressman Mike Simpson

Illinois
District 1: Congressman Bobby L. Rush
District 3: Congressman Daniel Lipinski
District 5: Congressman Rahm Emanuel
District 7: Congressman Danny Davis
District 9: Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky
District 10: Congressman Steven Kirk
District 18: Congressman Ray LaHood

Indiana
District 5: Congressman Dan Burton
District 7: Congresswoman Julia Carson

Iowa
District 3: Congressman Leonard Boswell
District 4: Congressman Tom Latham

Kentucky
District 6: Congressman Ben Chandler

Louisiana
District 6: Congressman Richard Baker

Maine
District 1: Congressman Tom Allen

Maryland
District 7: Congressman Elijah E. Cummings
District 8: Congressman Chris Van Hollen

Massachusetts
District 1: Congressman John Olver
District 7: Congressman Ed Markey
District 8: Congressman Michael Capuano

Minnesota
District 7: Congressman Collin Peterson

Nevada
District 2: Congressman Lee Terry

New Jersey
District 4: Congressman Chris Smith
District 6: Congressman Frank Pallone
District 8: Congressman Bill Pascrell
District 9: Congressman Steven Rothman
District 10: Congressman Donald Payne

New York
District 2: Congressman Steve Israel
District 7: Congressman Joseph Crowley
District 10: Congressman Edolphus Towns
District 14: Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
District 15: Congressman Charles Rangel
District 17: Congressman Eliot Engel
District 18: Congresswoman Nita Lowey
District 22: Congressman Maurice Hinchey
District 27: Congressman Brian Higgins
District 28: Congresswoman Louise Slaughter

North Carolina
District 2: Congressman Bob Etheridge
District 4: Congressman David Price
District 7: Congressman Michael McIntyre
District 13: Congressman Brad Miller

North Dakota
District At Large: Congressman Earl Pomeroy

Ohio
District 3: Congressman Michael R. Turner
District 5: Congressman Paul Gillmor
District 6: Congressman Ted Strickland
District 9: Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur
District 12: Congressman Patrick Tiberi
District 15: Congresswoman Deborah Pryce
District 18: Congressman Bob Ney

Oklahoma
District 3: Congressman Frank Lucas

Oregon
District 4: Congressman Peter DeFazio
District 5: Congresswoman Darlene Hooley

Pennsylvania
District 9: Congressman Bill Shuster
District 8: Congressman Michael G. Fitzpatrick

South Dakota
District At Large: Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth

Tennessee
District 2: Congressman John Duncan
District 4: Congressman Lincoln Davis
District: 5 Congressman Jim Cooper

Texas
District 15: Congressman Ruben Hinojosa
District 16: Congressman Silvestre Reyes
District 18: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee
District 25: Congressman Lloyd Doggett
District 27: Congressman Solomon Ortiz
District 29: Congressman Gene Green

The Seniors Coalition is the nation’s leading free-market senior education and advocacy organization with a membership of more than 4 million seniors. It is a non-partisan, non-profit 501c(4) organization. Grandma Green is the national spokeswoman for the Seniors Coalition.

The Seniors Coalition is a proud member of AMD Alliance International.