Irish-founded sepsis campaign welcomes new US Senate co-sponsor

END SEPSIS, The Legacy of Rory Staunton announced that the Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, from Alaska, has signed on to co-sponsor the Sepsis Act S.1929. This development follows sustained grassroots pressure and moves the bill closer to building the bipartisan support its backers say is essential.

The advocacy group, END SEPSIS credited the progress to tireless campaigning by Sepsis Families United and noted that the new co-sponsor joins an expanding list of senators already backing the measure including Susan Collins, Chuck Schumer, Amy Klobuchar, and Andy Kim. The organisation says the SEPSIS Act would strengthen national efforts to prevent, detect, and treat sepsis and that Murkowski’s role on key Senate committees makes her support particularly significant.

END SEPSIS, The Legacy of Rory Staunton was founded in 2012 by Irish parents Ciaran and Orlaith Staunton after the preventable death of their 12-year-old son, Rory, from undiagnosed sepsis in New York.

3

Senator Lisa Murkowski.

Determined that no other family would experience the same loss, the Stauntons launched a national campaign to raise awareness of sepsis and push for stronger medical protocols, helping secure “Rory’s Regulations” in New York in 2013, which require hospitals to rapidly identify and treat the condition.

Since then, the organization has become one of the leading sepsis advocacy groups in the United States, promoting public education, influencing health policy, and supporting families affected by the life-threatening infection. 

Orlaith Staunton the executive director of END SEPSIS praised their most recent achievement while urging supporters to redouble outreach to other senators and their staff to secure additional co-sponsors. The group closed its statement with a direct call to action asking the public to contact lawmakers to help move S.1929 across the finish line.

3

Ciaran Staunton, Chuck Schumer, and Orlaith Staunton.

END SEPSIS released the following statement:

"We are proud to share exciting news: Senator Lisa Murkowski  (R-AK) has signed on to co-sponsor the SEPSIS Act (S. 1929)!

"Senator Murkowski’s support represents a major advancement for our legislation. This progress is the direct result of sustained advocacy by Sepsis Families United, our grassroots community dedicated to elevating the voices of families impacted by sepsis.

"As a senior member of both the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Senator Murkowski is an invaluable ally as we continue advancing this critical, lifesaving legislation.

"Senator Murkowski now joins a growing bipartisan group of Senate co-sponsors, including, Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Minority Leader, Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Andy Kim (D-NJ).

"So many of you have stood with END SEPSIS these past months on Capitol Hill, meeting with Senators and their staff and continuing the momentum with persistent follow-up emails and phone calls. Your dedication and determination are truly paying off.

"'We are delighted to have Senator Murkowski sign on as co-sponsor to this life-saving legislation, S.1929. Our hard work is paying off; however, we must now intensify our efforts to get more Senators on board,' said Orlaith Staunton, Executive Director of END SEPSIS.

"We need your help to pass S.1929, our  Lifesaving Sepsis Act, in the United States Senate!"