The disability community has been working for decades to ban the use of electric shock torture at the Judge Rotenberg Center. What we need now is for Congress to ban this practice, and they have the power to do that through FDA-related bills. The House has passed their version, but the Senate still needs to act.

The Judge Rotenberg Center is lobbying to remove the ban from the bill — so we have to work just as hard to keep it in. Call your Senators and ask them to pass their version of the bill, the FDA Safety and Landmark Advancements Act, with the amendment banning electric shocks for behavior modification included.

Make sure your voice is heard and learn more in the email below:



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Autistic Self Advocacy Network < [email protected] [[email protected]] >
Date: Tues, Jun 28, 2022
Subject: Action Alert: We’re still speaking up to #StopTheShock

Congress has the power to #StopTheShock and end electric shock torture at the Judge Rotenberg Center. But there is a real danger that they will give in to the demands of the JRC’s lobbyists. Your Senators need to hear from you today!

Congress now has a chance to ban electric skin shock through FDA-related bills. The House has passed its version, and now it’s time for the Senate to act. The FDA Amendments Act (House version) or FDASLA (Senate version) reauthorizes FDA user fees, which are payments from drug and medical device manufacturers to the FDA that help cover the costs of drug and device regulations. The House’s version of this bill contains language banning the use of electric shocks as a method of behavioral control. The Senate HELP Committee added an amendment to the FDASLA Act which bans the use of electric shocks as a method of behavioral control, and that amended bill has passed the committee with bipartisan support. We’re another step closer to stopping the shock!

Now, the Senate bill needs to pass – and that’s where you come in. Call your two Senators [[link removed]] . Ask them to pass their version of the bill, the FDA Safety and Landmark Advancements Act, with the amendment banning electric shocks for behavior modification included.

You can use our script:

My name is [your full name] , and I am from [your city] . I am a constituent of Senator [NAME] . I’m calling to ask Senator [NAME] to vote to pass the FDASLA Act with the language included which bans the use of electric shock for behavior modification. Only one institution in the country still uses electric shocks this way, and the UN found the practice to be torture in 2013. The FDA banned this use of electric shocks in 2020, but the DC Circuit Court overturned the ban on a technicality. The Senate has the power to stop electric shock torture through the FDASLA Act which now includes a proposed ban. Can I count on the Senator to vote yes on the current FDASLA?

Once you’ve called your Senators, keep up the pressure! You can also email or tweet at your Senators and let them know we expect them to #StopTheShock.

Want to make a call, but unable to speak on a phone call due to a disability? Our Proxy Calling system is open! [[link removed]] Want to help someone else make a call? Consider signing up [[link removed]] to be a proxy caller. Have call anxiety, or wondering what to expect from a call to your elected officials? Check out this guide to making a call to your members of Congress. [[link removed]]


Thank you for pushing for change by lending your voice to this critical campaign. When we take a stand against torture, every voice matters!


Autistic Self Advocacy Network
PO Box 66122
Washington, DC 20035
United States
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