(Congressman or Congresswoman) ______________________________

I am writing to encourage you to become a member of the House of Representatives Forensic Science Caucus.  The Forensic Science Caucus was created as a bipartisan organization by Congressman Guest (R-MS) and Congressman Cleaver (D-MO)  to educate Members of Congress on matters critical to the criminal justice system that pertain to forensic sciences and to advocate internally for legislation that would ensure the science’s continuous advancement and support, wide availability to investigators and litigants, and compliance with the highest standards of quality assurance.  The Caucus will provide detailed briefings on subjects that are timely to the community and require attention such as the forensic pathologists workforce shortage.  Please see the attached invitation from the co-chairs.

I am also writing to encourage you to sign on to H.R. 8069, the Strengthening the Medical Examiner and Coroner System Act of 2024.  H.R. 8069 and S.928 are pieces of legislation pending in the Congress which will:

• provide payment to individuals selected by such entity for a forensic pathology fellowship for salary, fringe benefits, related supply expenses, and other educational expenses of such individuals
• provide training for medicolegal death investigators, including paying for the costs of continuing education for medicolegal death investigators for purposes of such individuals—
  • becoming certified by the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigation (or another accredited certifying organization); and maintaining such certification; or to assist eligible entities in providing the education and training to individuals employed by such entities necessary and in obtaining accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education for forensic pathology fellowships.

Both of these items are of vital importance to the state/city/county of ________________ that you represent in Congress.  We appreciate your support of forensic science and would encourage you to contact Beth Lavach bethlavach@elsandassociates.com, Government Relations Director for the Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations if you have any questions on these requests.  CFSO represents and advocates for forensic science service providers and forensic science professionals in Washington D.C. 

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