Hello,

The House Rules committee did approve the rule to govern debate last night, so as of 8:37 am ET, it looks that we are starting debate later this morning and heading to a floor vote sometime later today. 

This is not over until it passes or fails, so please continue to make any last pushes you can with calls, emails, tweets etc. 

Thanks for all the effort from everyone to protect healthcare for people with disabilities! 

Cindy

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On May 3, 2017, at 9:21 PM, Cindy Smith <xxxxxx@nacdd.org> wrote:

I just got this list of members to specifically focus on reaching out to with limited time, although everyone needs their phones to continue to ring!

Fitzpatrick
Stefanik
Mast 
Curbelo 
Diaz Balart
Roskam
Bost 
Hultgren

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On May 3, 2017, at 8:34 PM, Cindy Smith <xxxxxx@nacdd.org> wrote:

Hello,

This is a very very fluid situation as you all know, but what I am hearing right now is that House Republican Leadership may have the Rules Committee take up the AHCA tonight, with floor debate likely to begin tomorrow at 10am.  This could change over night. Will send another update when I learn more on timing.

My understanding from coalition colleagues is that the rule to govern the floor debate will include four amendments--an amendment in the nature of a substitute, Schweikert/Palmer (this one is new to me, looking into it and trying to get more information), MacArthur and Upton/Long.  They will also have a separate vote on a McSally proposal to close the Member exemption.  

This is obviously a fluid situation and other changes in substance and timing are possible, but there are strong indications that we are looking at a vote tomorrow—possibly by mid-day. 


It is unclear how much time they will allot to debating the ACHA, but it sounds like there will be an hour of debate.  


As we get more information, I will pass it along, but please consider the following actions:


1.      Continue to contact all House members, particularly those moderate Republicans and others who have said no or are undecided - on the phone, social media, and other communications channels.  


2.      Consider preparing a statement, tweets, etc, that your Council can issue as soon as the vote occurs. I will prepare one for NACDD, and see if our DD partners want to do it jointly again. I will share once it is finalized. 


Regardless of the result, it is extremely important for a large chorus of statements be issued quickly about how harmful the ACHA is for millions of people who stand to lose critical coverage and protections including people with disabilities and pre-existing conditions.


Thanks you everyone for all of your tremendous efforts with alerts, calls and other actions these last few weeks! Will keep you updated as I learn more of the status of the possible vote.


As always, happy to answer questions.


Regards,

Cindy


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