March 9, 2009

Michael S. Steele
Chairman
Republican National Committee
310 First Street
Washington, D. C. 20003

Dear Chairman Steele:

I am writing on behalf of the 2 million people with limb loss in the United States to express shock, appall and disappointment with your statement "We [the RNC] need to uptick our image with everyone, including one-armed midgets," which you made during a recent media blitz. It is unthinking, brash statements such as this that disillusion and dishearten people about the new Republican Party.

Each year in America, an estimated 185,000 people lose a limb. While the majority of limb loss is due to complications of the vascular system (of or pertaining to the blood vessels), especially from diabetes, about 70 percent of upper-limb amputations are due to trauma-related injuries. In fact, around 750 children lose a limb to a lawn mower accident every summer.

Your comment is especially hurtful because it comes at a time when we are fighting for fair insurance coverage for prosthetic arms and legs. Insurance companies are unrealistically limiting reimbursement of prosthetic arms and legs or summarily electing not to cover them at all. Arms and legs are not luxury items. Mobility is a serious issue for amputees who want to keep their jobs, take care of their families, and live healthy, active lives.

Mr. Steele, we respectfully request that you respond to us so we can provide your response to our constituents who are interested in seeing if the Republication National Committee understands the challenges they live with every day.

Respectfully,

Kendra Calhoun
President & CEO