Reddit mentions of The Waxman Report: How Congress Really Works

I can actually help you out.

In an autobiography of the Representative Henry Waxman, Waxman details out how he and congress brought the Orphan Drug Act of 1983 into fruition.

Basically what happened is he got a call from one of his constituents; a mother who was saying that a medicine for her child was only available in Canada. Her kid had a rare disease that had a cure/medicine but pharmaceutical companies wouldn't produce it because of how rare the disease was and how it wasn't cost effective. After several media campaigns and political maneuvering, involving fucking around with Reagan, the Orphan Drug Act was passed and it is estimated to have improved/ saved the lives of millions of americans.

Essentially, this massively beneficial legislation came to being because a mom brought up the issue to her congressperson.

Edit: Spelling

Edit2: http://www.amazon.com/The-Waxman-Report-Congress-Really/dp/B005GNM5BI the book is here