1||Although Democrats and Stephen Colbert took heat for his recent stint testifying to Congress, Washington’s love affair with celebrities — and the causes near and dear to their hearts — goes back far longer than that.
For instance, Michael J Fox testified in 2002 about the need for Congress to fund more research into Parkinson’s disease||Chris Corder/Newscom&&
2||Actress and Operation Smile International Youth Ambassador Jessica Simpson spoke at a news conference on Capitol Hill in March 2006 to discuss the charity — a private, not-for-profit, volunteer medical services organization providing free reconstructive surgery and healthcare to children around the world suffering with facial deformities. Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., left, and Operation Smile CEO and Co-founder, Dr. Bill Magee, also attended.||Tom Williams/Roll Call Photos/Newscom&&
3||John Travolta testified in 1997 about the difficulties faced by Scientologists in Germany, where the organization is considered a cult.||C-SPAN&&
4||Lars Ulrich, drummer and co-founder of Metallica, and Roger McGuinn, member and co-founder of The Birds, testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the future of digital music in August 2000.||Douglas Graham/Roll Call/Newscom&&
5||Mary Tyler Moore, Sugar Ray Leonard and Nick Jonas of the Jonas Brothers testified before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee about Type 1 Diabetes research in June 2009.||Fabiano/SIPA/Newscom&&
6||Christopher Reeve was greeted by then-Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-NE) during an appearance on Capitol Hill to ask Congress to increase funding for spinal cord injury research in May 1996.||Ken Cedeno/Newscom&&
7||Sheryl Crow testified in May 2008 about the need for more funding for breast cancer research.||C-SPAN&&
8||Elmo from “Sesame Street” testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education to ask for $2 million in federal funds for music instruction in schools.||Tom Williams/Roll Call/Newscom&&
9||Then-“Price Is Right” host Bob Barker spoke at a Capitol Hill press conference in June 2000 in support of a bill that would hamper the use of elephants in shows.||Joel Rennich/Newscom&&
10||Former L.A. Dodgers manager Tommy LaSorda testified to Congress in July 1998 about a proposed constitutional amendment to ban flag burning.||C-SPAN&&
11||Muhammad Ali testified at a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services hearing on May 22, 2002 about the need to fund more research into Parkinson’s disease.||Chris Corder/Newscom&&
12||Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys testified before the Senate Environment & Public Works clean air subcommittee in June 2002 to urge lawmakers to crack down on coal mining pollution.||Michael Springer/ZUMA Press/Newscom&&
13||Isaac Hayes testified about the problems faced by Scientologists in Germany in September 1997.||C-SPAN&&
14||Fran Drescher testified in 2005 to increase the awareness of gynecologic cancers.||Tyrone Turner/Black Star/Newscom&&
15||Actor Dennis Quaid testified to Congress in Mary 2008 for the right to sue drug makers protected by the FDA, after his twins were given a near-fatal dose of a blood thinning drug.||cbsnews.com&&
16||Sir Elton John testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions to encourage Congress to increase funding for AIDS research in April 2002.||Chris Corder/Newscom&&
17||The St. Louis Cardinals’ Mark McGwire, the Baltimore Orioles’ Rafael Palmeiro, and Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling testified before the House Government Reform Committee in March 2005 about the use of steroids in baseball.||Robert Trippett/PSG/Newscom&&
18||Stephen Colbert testified in September 2010 before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law on migrant farm workers.||Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI/Newscom&&
19||Frank Zappa testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on the “Contents of Music and the Lyrics of Records” in September 1985.||C-SPAN&&
20||Dee Snider also testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on the “Contents of Music and the Lyrics of Records” in September 1985.||C-SPAN&&
