The chiropractic profession has complained for years that the U.S. federal government was "confused" over what chiropractic was really about. Members of Congress have been reluctant to support chiropractic legislation because of conflicting messages from various organizations. The profession lacked a clearly defined identity and mission.

That situation may soon come to an end if the profession can rally support for a Congressional resolution which presents, once and for all, a definition of chiropractic which all major organizations agree upon.

At the request of the World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA), the resolution -- formally known as Concurrent Resolution 46 -- was introduced into the House of Representatives by Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-Ill.).

The wording was discussed in detail during February's historic meeting between the WCA, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), the Federation of Straight Chiropractors and Organizations (FSCO), International Chiropractors Association, and the Congress of Chiropractic State Organizations (COCSA). All groups expressed satisfaction with the final wording.

ICA Vice President Maxine McMullen, D.C., joined Dr. D.D. Humber in supporting the resolution and wished the WCA "much success...for your legislative efforts as you seek to ensure that many more Americans have the opportunity to benefit from subluxation correction." Drs. Humber and McMullen are current candidates for ICA president and vice president, respectively.

Richard Plummer, D.C., president of the FSCO, noted: "This cooperative effort could not have been demonstrated more profoundly then with the invitation for the Federation of Straight Chiropractors and Organizations (FSCO) to participate in helping create the language in the Concurrent Resolution that was introduced to the United States Congress during the first week in March."

He added: "The inclusion of vertebral subluxations as the criteria for determining the appropriateness of chiropractic care, with no other clinical condition required, is historical and reason to celebrate. The cooperative spirit of all the organizations involved in this achievement shows we can work together as long as we keep the lines of communications open... I appreciate the tireless efforts to see chiropractic take its rightful place in our society. I look forward to future opportunities for the WCA, ACA, ICA and FSCO to work together towards unified action."

ACA representatives said they supported the spirit of resolution and voiced no objections to the wording, but said that the organization's focus right now was on the HCFA lawsuit and therefore it could not take a leadership role in ensuring that the resolution is passed.

"We are extremely gratified that all of these major chiropractic organizations were able to agree on this fundamental statement about chiropractic," stated Terry A. Rondberg, D.C., president of the WCA. "Working with our lobbyist in Washington, we hope to generate enough support for this resolution to send it sailing through both the House and the Senate."

He emphasized, however, that it would take a concerted effort from all doctors of chiropractic to make sure the resolution passes.

"For years, members of Congress have shied away from chiropractic bills because they were afraid they'd alienate one faction or the other," Dr. Rondberg explained. "We have to let them know that we all support this bill and that co-sponsoring it and voting for it will win them the approval of the entire profession."

At this time, doctors are being asked to contact their state's members of the U.S. House of Representatives and ask them to co-sponsor House Concurrent Resolution 46.

According to Jim Albertine, the WCA's Washington lobbyist, "All that's needed is a simply worded letter stating that, as a chiropractor, you feel it is important for the Congress to make a clear and unequivocal statement concerning the role of chiropractic in the American health care system. Tell them that you want them to support, as a co-sponsor, House Concurrent Resolution 46."

The WCA will also prepare postcards which can be addressed and mailed to House members by chiropractic patients and supporters. The postcards will be available to doctors in packets of 100 each from the WCA. Doctors can place them, with an explanatory flyer (supplied by the WCA) in their waiting rooms or local businesses.

"This is essentially a numbers game," admitted Rondberg. "We have to show members of Congress that this bill has tremendous support from patients and doctors around the country. We need them to face an avalanche of letters and postcards all saying they want this resolution to pass."

He suggested doctors pre-address and stamp the postcards, ask each patient to sign one at every visit, and mail them for the patients. Most Washington activists say that it is perfectly acceptable for people to send more than one letter or postcard on a single issue. Therefore, the patients should be encouraged to sign a postcard each time they come into the office. Doctors and staff members should send at least one each month until the resolution passes. The more representatives who sign on as co-sponsors, the more likely the resolution is to be approved by the House as a whole. After it is approved by the House, it will go through the same process in the Senate.

"I realize this is an added task to perform in an already busy office," Rondberg said. "But the impact of this resolution can be tremendous. We can finally have a statement by the federal government acknowledging that chiropractic is important to this nation's health care and that it should be a available to every federal employee."