The foreskin is not a birth defect. Circumcision is a permanent amputation of normal, healthy, sensitive tissue that serves important physiological functions and without which normal sexual performance and sensation can be impaired. During the 19th century, circumcision was promoted as an effective remedy for a host of ailments including but not limited to rheumatism, epilepsy, asthma, skin cancer, insanity, and venereal disease. But it was as a remedy for "masturbatory insanity" which was believed to result from masturbation or "self-abuse" that circumcision was most widely promoted by its supporters during the 19th century. These are the historical and pseudo-scientific roots of routine infant male circumcision as it is practiced in the U.S. today. Yet this petition is not about banning circumcision. It is about banning forced circumcision. It is about ending the practice of denying men the right to choose for themselves whether to be circumcised. There is no right more basic nor more important than the right to control one's own body. Forced infant circumcision violates that right. It is a human-rights violation because it deprives infants, boys and men of the right to determine what is done to their bodies. The campaign to end involuntary circumcision, like its sister campaign to eradicate female genital mutilation, is based on the simple idea that each individual, regardless of sex, has an innate right to control his or her own body. Thus, the effort to ban routine infant male circumcision is part of a greater human-rights struggle in the broadest sense. It is a crucial part of the effort to create a world in which all people's rights - infants, girls, boys, women, men, and intersex individuals - are respected.

Infant male circumcision has deprived millions of boys and men of their right of bodily integrity. It is a permanent amputation of normal, healthy tissue that serves important physiological functions and without which normal sexual function and sensation are impaired.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that teens start school no earlier than 8:30 AM. Schools that have met this standard are already enjoying the benefits of decreased rates of teen car accidents, substance abuse, obesity, depression, and anxiety – and better academic performance. All Massachusetts schools could enjoy similar success. Statewide support in the form of legislation will help Massachusetts communities mobilize to meet the goal of healthier school start times – and will help coordinate across-town scheduling for academic, athletic, and other competitions and events, which otherwise can be a logistical roadblock. Statewide legislation also avoids the barriers inherent in a piecemeal town-by-town effort, to ensure that the health and well being of our children remains paramount.

Having been personally affected by the impact of addiction through several family members, I see an immediate need for legislation to be passed. Not enough is being done to help addicts have a chance at a new life through proper long term recovery services.

I have chronic Lyme disease because my primary care doctor misidentified a tick on me, removed it, then refused a to allow testing for Lyme disease. I have been forced, due to the controversy over chronic Lyme disease, to face ridicule, disbelief, discrimination, inhumane treatment, loss of family, friends, and financial resources. The CDC and IDSA must recognize chronic Lyme disease and insurance companies must pay.

Even House Republicans now see the need for legislation to accept our tax money and provide health coverage for all Kansans. This will also create jobs. They can do it this session. We must INSIST that they do! Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence said, “I just think that we’re well past the time that we should be looking at how we develop a Kansas solution.” Rep. Jim Ward, D-Wichita (HB 2045) has been working tirelessly for this since last year. Now is the time! They have the power, now they just need the will. We can make sure they Expand Medicaid!

My oldest child, Nicholas Rossini, age 22, agreed to go to treatment in July 2014, after we had a family intervention. We spent two weeks of fighting with insurance company to keep him in treatment, but they ultimately denied coverage for further treatment. Nicholas would have stayed a year if he was not forced to leave based upon the insurance denial. He was so tired of living that way! Immediately preceding his untimely death, he got a job, got engaged and started a family. He was so happy! All seemed well until he got laid off in November. He became depressed, relapsed and died, January 4, 2015 from a heroin overdose. His child is due to be born July 5, 2015. My grandchild will never know his father. In addition to Nicholas, I have two other children. My son Anthony, 20, is a student at The University of Maine and my daughter Jessica is a sixth grader. Our family has been torn apart and we are all completely heartbroken. Every day in this country 119 people die from drug overdose, and another 6,748 are treated in emergency rooms. That averages out to an overdose related hospitalization every 13 seconds and an overdose death every 13 minutes. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, outstripping traffic fatalities or gun homicides. And every year it gets worse. In addition to the terrible human toll, substance abuse costs the U.S. economy over $600 billion annually. Effective treatment can dramatically reduce these costs. According to several conservative estimates, every dollar invested in addiction treatment programs yields a return of between $4 and $7 in reduced drug-related crime, criminal justice costs, and theft. When savings related to healthcare are included, total savings can exceed costs by a ratio of 12 to 1. Major savings to the individual and to society also stem from fewer interpersonal conflicts; greater workplace productivity; and fewer drug-related accidents, including overdoses and deaths. My son Nicholas Rossini agreed to receive treatment for his addiction and after only a few short weeks in treatment his insurance company denied coverage for further treatment! Nicholas paid the ultimate price with his life base on this insurance denial. The Affordable Care Act must be amended to provide for a minimum of Ninety (90) days inpatient drug or alcohol treatment up to a maximum of One Hundred Eighty (180) days per year at a facility certified to provide such care by the Secretary of Health of the state in which it is located. Research tells us that effective inpatient treatment leads to long term sobriety and fewer relapses. In too many cases, the treatment was insufficient and, therefore, ineffective. The relapse rate for people suffering from addiction who have undergone only short-term detox is between 40 and 90 percent, and often ends with deadly consequences. I created this Petition in order to request the assistance of The Georgia State House, The Georgia State Senate, Governor Nathan Deal, The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama to engage in real and immediate action to fight and save the lives of people of our great nation who are battling this disease. This is an epidemic and one of the largest in history. It is my hope to use this to develop new programs with better long term success rates so that no other mother or family has to endure the heartache and grief that I experience daily since my son died. For these reasons, I respectfully request that you sponsor and enact the Proposed Amendments to the Affordable Care Act.

Addiction can happen to anyone. We need to speak up. No more silence. Its time for New Hampshire to step up and make a difference.

Outrageous taxes are causing medical cannabis patients to be unable to afford their medicine of choice. Past and current proposed legislation have called for additional taxes which further separate patients from their necessary medicine. This trend remains detrimental to the health and well-being of medical cannabis patients. Medicine should never be taxed.

WE THE PEOPLE need to stand and fight together to stop the number of people dying from heroin overdoses. Heroin is killing people in staggering numbers in Massachusetts. More often than not, it is killing our younger generation, daily. We are losing the youth of our nation. I have been personally affected by this epidemic, as I lost my best friend, Jason Erickson, and many other close friends throughout 2014. I have watched my friends; family members and others within the community lose young kids and adults to this epidemic. We lost count of the funerals that took place in our town of Billerica, MA in 2014, and there have been hundreds more throughout the Commonwealth in the last year. This is on average 3-4 deaths per day within the Commonwealth. One is too many! As a result, I have made it a personal mission to act and make a difference. I submitted the following to the Governor's office, AGO, Senate and House in January 2015: Proposed Bill: Amendment to Senate Bill 2341, otherwise known as MGL Ch. 258 of the ACTS of 2014; an amendment in order to move up the effective date under Section 45 of the Senate Bill No. 2341, from October 1, 2015 to be effective immediately. This Bill relates to Sections 9 and 19 to 27, inclusive; so that no one can be refused treatment and all people who are willing to work on their sobriety can get the help they desperately need. UPDATE: The author of the above amendment and cofounder of Heroin is Killing My Town, Dina Favreau, is following this legislation very closely. Currently, there is no change in the effective date of October 1, 2015 being moved up at this time. (7/29/15) Proposed Bill: Amendment to Senate Bill 2341 otherwise known as MGL Ch. 258 of the ACTS of 2014; An amendment to Senate Bill No.: 2341, Sections 9, 21, 23, 25 and 27, inclusive, is hereby amended by striking out, the words “for up to a total of 14 days” in a detox treatment facility and inserting in place thereof the following words: - “a total of 30 days,” so that we can start to effectively treat this disease and implement better relapse prevention practices. UPDATE: The author of the above amendment and cofounder of Heroin is Killing My Town, Dina Favreau, is following this legislation very closely. Currently, this amendment has progressed to the Senate Ways and Means Committee under Senate Bill 1502 and is pending their review for financing. This bill was reported favorably with a 22-0 vote in both the House and Senate. (06/12/16) Proposed Bill: An Amendment to MGL Ch.123, Sec. 35; An amendment to insert Section 35A which provides for a mandatory 30 day involuntary commitment to a detox treatment facility, for any person whose life is saved from an opiate overdose with the use of Narcan when administered by emergency first responders or Trauma Response (ER) hospital personnel. “The OD30 Law.” UPDATE: The coauthor of the above amendment (OD30 Law) and cofounder of Heroin is Killing My Town, Dina Favreau, is following this legislation very closely. Currently, a lesser version (3 hour hold) of this amendment has been assigned to House Bill 1824, Sponsored by Congressman Tim Whelan and is pending Joint Mental Health and Substance Abuse Committee at 25% progression. We (Dina and I) created this Petition in order to request the assistance of the Governor, the AGO and Congress to engage in real and immediate action to fight and save the lives of people within the Commonwealth who are battling this disease. This is an epidemic and one of the largest in history. It is our hope to use this to develop new programs with better long term success rates. Research tells us that effective inpatient treatment leads to long term sobriety and fewer relapses. In too many cases, the treatment was insufficient and, therefore, ineffective. The relapse rate for people suffering from addiction who have undergone only short-term detox (less than 30 days) is between 40 and 90 percent within the first 30 days after entering into a detox program, often with deadly consequences. For these reasons, we respectfully request that you enactment of the Proposed Amendments submitted to your offices in January 2015. Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/heroiniskillingmytown

This epidemic can no longer be ignored. I have seen what Heroin can do to our children personally. My son has been struggling with addiction for 14 years. There are several drugs that have been developed to help this crisis, however the government will not fund enough money for more clinical trials. These are very promising drugs that can save our children and give them back there chance at life. We cannot ignore the huge pink elephant in the room any longer. WE NEED FUNDING NOW!

As a health care provider, I have witnessed the abuses of prescription drugs. I believe marijuana is a safer alternative to most prescription drugs. I would love to see decriminalization of this drug, and see it help contribute to PA's economy.