Action, News and Events, RVUSA News and Updates

Weekly Action Update – July 18, 2017

 , , , , ,

Tonight, we learned that two more senators have pulled their support for the health-care bill, meaning Mitch McConnell does not have the votes needed to pass the new bill. 

Behind the strength and consistency of your advocacy, the healthcare bill likely will not be up for a vote anytime in the near future. Thank you to everyone who took action and raised your voice in support of common sense healthcare legislation! 

As the Senate works to develop another version of the bill, we encourage you to shift your focus to other key issues that require all of our voices. We will continue to keep you informed if urgent action is needed, and we thank you for your efforts!

Ways to take action this week:
Understand what’s at stake with Net Neutrality

The FCC is getting ready to make a decision about the future of Net Neutrality. Want to know what Net Neutrality is and why it matters? Click here to learn more. 

Action, Healthcare, RVUSA Priority Issues

July 4th Recess – Take Action!

 , , ,

From CPR – Center for Public Representation:

Your incredible advocacy is working!  This week, the Senate Majority Leadership delayed the vote on the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA).  But we can’t sit back – we need to UP our advocacy!  WE HAVE NEXT WEEK TO #KillTheBill and #SaveMedicaid. 

Your Senators will be home for the 4th of July recess next week. We need to ensure that your Senators hear about how bad the bill would be for people with disabilities all recess long! More about the bill here and here. This toolkit details how you can turn up the heat and make sure that your Senators feel the pressure to vote NO to any bill that cuts or caps Medicaid!

Educational Resources and Tools

Learn about CREW – Fighting the Influence of Money in our Political System

 , , ,

CREW uses aggressive legal action, in-depth research, and bold communications to reduce the influence of money in politics and help foster a government that is ethical and accountable. We highlight abuses, change behavior, and lay the groundwork for new policies and approaches that encourage public officials to work for the benefit of the people, not powerful interests.

Click here to learn more…

Action, Healthcare

Urgent: Action Update on Healthcare

 

 

Today the Senate released their version of the American Healthcare Act. Like the House version of the bill, it severely cuts Medicaid funding, increases health costs for many, scales back coverage for pre-existing conditions, and eliminates Planned Parenthood funding. The bill was written without any public input, and we should expect that pattern to continue as the Senate prepares to vote before the July 4th recess.

This is a rough timeline of what we can expect between now and July 1 for the proposed bill.

Here are key action to take between now and July 1

1) Click here to submit an amendment to the bill. Any Senator who wants can introduce an amendment to the bill. Each amendment must be read on the Senate floor and then voted upon. This process takes time and could potentially delay the vote until we have enough assurance that there are enough Senators who will vote against the bill.
2) Find out where senators stand on the bill and contact those on the fence. Urge them to vote no and explain how the proposed bill would affect you, your family, and your friends. If you are represented by a Democratic senator, urge them to introduce amendments. Click here for
3) Share this state-by-state toolkit with friends and family who live in key states.Senators from Alaska, Maine, West Virginia, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Arkansas have expressed concerns over the bill. Now is the time to increase outreach to these elected officials so they know their constituents share these concerns.
4) Come to an evening of Healthcare Advocacy on Tuesday, June 27 at 7pm. Join us at Turn of the Corkscrew in Rockville Centre to get updated on the latest news, write to Senators, and learn more about a new RaisingVoices Health Care Committee initiative to collect first-person stories about health insurance and how you and your family may be affected. RSVP to jill76@gmail.com

Thank you for raising your voice!

Action, News and Events, RVUSA News and Updates

Weekly Action Update – June 19, 2017

 , ,

Action Update – June 19, 2017

The shooting in Alexandria last week was a stark reminder that rhetoric does not exist in a vacuum. Words can influence actions. As debates on contentious issues continue daily, we want to thank RaisingVoicesUSA members for being committed to finding common ground and to taking positive, purposeful, and informed action in support of our shared values.

The next two weeks are pivotal weeks for healthcare advocacy. The Senate continues to work behind closed doors and there has been no opportunity for public debate or feedback about their proposed healthcare plan. Even members of the Republican Party have expressed frustration about the secrecy of the process.

We must all advocate in support of a compassionate, common-sense healthcare bill that does not put our most vulnerable citizens at risk.

Ways to take action this week:

Make daily calls about healthcare

Healthcare is our number one priority for the week. The Senate is pushing to pass their version of the American Healthcare Act by July 4, with no public input. Indivisible has daily scripts you can use to contact your elected official, and we urge you to do so every day. Public pressure can affect the course of this bill and the future of healthcare in the United States. Click here to access daily call scripts and other resources, and please share this resource with friends and family.

Take a deep breath, and find common ground

We know that raising your voice is hard work and that in the midst of our daily advocacy, it can be hard to find time and space to connect with people who don’t share your perspective. But doing so can help foster a deeper understanding and can help bridge seemingly insurmountable divides. How can we start? Last week, faith leaders from around the world and across multiple religions offered up an appeal for people to make friends with someone from a different religion. Each leader spoke about their own experience connecting with someone from a different faith and how it enriched their own practice while shattering stereotypes. This summer, we encourage you to try finding common ground in uncommon places – whether that’s befriending someone of a different faith, a different political party, or even a sports fan who roots for your arch rival. Our own advocacy can only be strengthened by connecting with as many people as possible, and we are enriched personally by our understanding and appreciation of myriad perspectives.

Action, News and Events, RVUSA News and Updates

Weekly Action Update – June 13, 2017

 , , , ,

From now until the summer Congressional recess, healthcare will take center stage. The House version of the bill was widely discussed, with details from the final bill revealed to the public well in advance of the final vote. In contrast, the Senate has been working behind the scenes to shape a bill that will strip healthcare from millions of Americans and leave our most vulnerable citizens at risk. Now is the time to increase our advocacy efforts.

Thanks to everyone who attended our meeting last week! While we will not reconvene in a general meeting until September, we will continue to send weekly emails and inform you of smaller local events hosted by RaisingVoices committees. 

We are excited about the future of RaisingVoicesUSA and are grateful to each and every one of you for your involvement and commitment to advocacy and action. 

Ways to take action this week:

Participate in the national call-in day for healthcare

The Senate is trying to pass their version of a healthcare bill with no public input. You can explore what the American Healthcare Act would mean for your state here. The good news is that public input and pressure have the power to sway senators. Wednesday, June 14 is a national call-in day for healthcare. Click here for scripts that detail what to say to your elected official about the future of healthcare in our country.

Catch up on our meeting minutes

At our final meeting before the summer break, we shared an update on RaisingVoicesUSA at our six-month mark, including a path forward for the group. We also heard from Joann Smith, the President & CEO of Planned Parenthood Nassau County. Click here to read through our minutes and to review Joann’s informative and inspiring presentation.

Advocate for transgender rights

In New York State, the proposed Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA) would make it illegal to discriminate against people because of their gender identity or expression. Nineteen other states currently have gender identity and gender expression written into their anti-discrimination and hate crime legislation, but for six years, the New York State Assembly has passed GENDA only to see it defeated by the State Senate. Most recently, GENDA failed in a New York State Senate committee, and the fear is that it will not come up for a vote again until 2019. Click here to find your senator’s contact information and tell them to make passing GENDA a priority of this legislative session.

Action, News and Events, RVUSA News and Updates

Action Items for This Week

 , , , , , ,

The administration’s new infrastructure plan sells our roads and airways to billionaires but puts tolls on working families. Call on Congress to reject it: 855-411-0302

 

Tell your rep to support HJ Res 102, which would prevent the administration’s $110 billion weapons gift to Saudi Arabia. 844-241-1141