Non-profit wellness advocacy group Wellness Warrior is launching Policywell.com, an internet tool now in development that will hold congress accountable for votes on national wellness policies.

The company has teamed up with the crowd-funding website barnraiser, and has raised 28 per cent of the US$20,000 (€17,852, £14,986) necessary to finish website development; the fundraising effort needs to reach its goal by 18 August.

Wellness Warrior chose Barnraiser because of the platform’s dedication to health and wellness, said executive director Damon Cory-Watson.

While congressional voting records and bills are public information, Cory-Watson said what’s missing is a way for the average American to quickly survey every wellness bill in Congress, and every representative’s records.

“PolicyWell was initiated at the request of spa and wellness industry leaders who want to see a more inclusive approach when it comes to a national agenda,” said Cory-Watson. “They want to be up-to- date on national wellness issues, and will soon be able to track bills closely via PolicyWell in order to share information with their customers, and even inspire them to take action via letter writing and petitions.”

PolicyWell will identify which legislators are working for (or against) health and wellness; track the progress (or lack of progress) on key bills; rank all politicians by their commitment to wellness; help the public stay informed about the issues that concern them the most; support legislation that puts health first; and connect users with other like-minded Americans who prioritise health and wellness.

Although other vote and donation-tracking web tools exist to shine their lights on Congressional action, PolicyWell is the first to focus on wellness issues.

The initiative has already received support from many spa and wellness industry companies, including Budhagirl, Yuzen, Aromaflage, Jane Iredale, Jurlique, Canyon Ranch, Osea, Coola, Sparitual, Rancho la Puerta, Beauty Heroes, Green Spa Network, 21 Drops, Universal Companies, Ecovessel, Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary, The Rona Report, and Dazzle Dry nail laquer.

To read more about the initiative and see its progress, click here.