Everyone-

 

Our advocacy is having an impact, and we need to keep it up!  Our strong message to #SaveMedicaid -- combined with a devastating CBO score that showed 22 million people losing insurance plus $772 billion in Medicaid cuts -- has caused some Senators serious pause.  Here is the latest rundown of Senators' public reactions, including Senator Collins' saying she won't vote to bring the bill to the floor for a vote.  We cannot let up until this vote fails! Negotiations continue to pass the bill and get the votes.

 

Please continue to have people with disabilities participating in state events; joining the DC events on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; ringing Senators' phone lines off the hooks; and engaging in ongoing social media. 

High Level Actions to Continue:

1) Calls, emails, visits—make sure they continue—in state and in DC; it is important to have a strong sense of presence in offices. Some offices are reporting their calls are down from when the House bill was being debated. The goal is to fill voice mail boxes, flood the offices with calls from in state, and do drop-by visits, especially in state offices, but also DC if possible. The more the better.

2) Continue to get your stories out to the Senator offices, but also through op-eds, newsletters, and letters-to-the-editor—everyone needs to hear a story of how Medicaid cuts will harm children, families, adults with disabilities, service providers, schools, communities, state budgets, and workplaces. Without Medicaid, all of our institutions and every family in America will suffer.

3) A strong disability presence across the country at offices and in DC at the Capitol events today, tomorrow, and Thursday. Presence makes a difference. We need to show the country that disabilities is part—a KEY part of this effort. 

 

Local Events
Keep planning and joining state events. CPR/CCD are trying to keep them updated on this google document and the protectourmedicaid.org website.  There were several disability-led actions yesterday -- in GA, TX, IN, and PA -- and numerous more coming over the next couple days. 

 

DC Events

-          Today at 1:00 pm: Senate Democrats will assemble on the Senate steps of the U.S. Capitol to highlight how the Senate Trumpcare bill would be devastating to their constituents. Live Stream here.

-          Tuesday 2-7 PM, Area 9 on the Capitol map, the lawn across from the Supreme Court on the northeast side of the Capitol. Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1967200510162386/

-          Wednesday 8 AM - 2 PM, Area 10 on the Capitol map, the lawn across from the Library of Congress on the northwest side of the Capitol. Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1400275283384956

#SaveMedicaid Save Lives Memorial

Wednesday, June, 28 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. U.S. Capitol Building (Between the House steps and Library of Congress)

 

-          Here's how you can join in:

o   Share the story of a loved one you know who relies on Medicaid to stay healthy

o   Add your name or the name of a loved one to our Medicaid Memorial banner

o   Share photos and messages on social media using #SaveMedicaid

o   Tweet at your members of Congress using #SaveMedicaid

o   Share this Facebook event on your feed

-          Wednesday 5-7 PM, Area 10, Linking Together to Save our Care. Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1941100992803532/

-          Thursday 4 - 7? PM, Area 10 on the Capitol map, the lawn across from the Library of Congress on the northwest side of the Capitol. End time is dependent on the timing of the Senate vote. We will try to keep the crowd there till the vote is over, or cancelled. Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/446773975702395

-          Friday: We’re in the process of getting a permit for the whole day in case the Senate postpones their vote. If that happens, we’ll try for another rapid response rally during the vote.

Accessibility:  Alison Barkoff has been in touch with the people coordinating the People's Filibuster events to confirm accessibility.  There will be interpreters tomorrow and Thursday, likely also today (they were still working on finalizing).  They will have a space in the front with chairs for people who cannot stand.  And this is the information for anyone coming with buses who might need assistance.  If there are other issues, please email me and I can try to coordinate.

Bus Drop Off: Here is information about drop off from the Capitol police: The bus drop off area is at the traffic circle known as Garfield Circle located at the intersection of Maryland Ave and 1st Street, SW. There the Capitol Visitors Services offers assistance shuttles for those who need assistance to the East Front the of the US Capitol Complex. This is a service that is offered to all visitors to the US Capitol

Resources

 

·         CCD Statement on the CBO:  Here is the statement that we at CCD sent to the Hill this morning in response to the CBO.  Please feel free to use the statement itself or the content in any way in your advocacy.

 

·         A state-by-state report from the Center for American Progress on coverage loss under Senate Trumpcare.

 

·         Two posts from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities on yesterday’s CBO report on Senate Trumpcare: One focuses on key findings in the CBO report, and the other highlights how the CBO report showed that Senate Trumpcare would raise premiums, deductibles, or both for most marketplace consumers.