Unbelievably, details are surfacing about a plan proposed by Senator Toomey (R-PA) and some of his colleagues on the Congressional “Super Committee” that would actually REDUCE tax rates for millionaires while cutting essential services for children, youth, and the elderly.  In fact, Senator Toomey’s proposal would cut estate taxes for the very wealthy by $1 million dollars a piece below 2009 levels for the wealthiest one-quarter of 1 percent of Americans; and RAISE taxes for people with incomes of less than $200,000. [1]

What!? That’s just plain backwards.

It’s time for America’s 99 percent to weigh in!  Can’t march on Washington today?  No problem!

*Call a Senator on the Super Committee now by using this phone number: 888-892-2110. It’s fast and easy!  Our system will connect you directly to Capitol Hill!

When you are connected to the office of a Super Committee member you can say something like this:

“My name is X and I live in X city.  I’m calling today because I want to make sure that the Super Committee does not cut important services for children and families, while giving tax cuts for corporations and the very wealthy.”

[If you are particularly concerned about a certain program like Medicaid, HeadStart, K-12 education, Pell Grants, WIC, Social Security or Medicare, you can add that to your comment - e.g. I'm particularly concerned about [X program] which is very important to my family.]

(We’ll repeat these ideas to you on the phone right before you are connected.)

They won’t ask you any hard questions, I promise!  But it makes a big impression on members of Congress that people care enough about an issue to call them and they’ll record that you called and why you called.

And this is a critical time to weigh in.  The “Super Committee” is charged with coming up with a proposal by November 23rd (just 7 days from now!) to reduce the deficit by at least 1.2 trillion dollars.  And in these final days, the twelve members of the Super Committee will be trying to understand what the American people care about most.  So making calls to legislators is the most powerful thing you can do.

Right now, decisions are being made that could fundamentally change the direction of our country for years to come.  Your calls will send a clear message that Americans want to reduce our deficit by finally closing tax loopholes for corporations and wealthy individuals and cutting wasteful defense spending, rather than by cutting essential programs for children and families like Head Start, K-12 education, Pell Grants, Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security.

Call this number now 888-892-2110 to let your Senators know that any deficit reduction solutions that does not close tax loopholes for the wealthy and corporations is not acceptable to America’s families!

Thanks so much for standing up for the 99%!

P.S.  Want more inside info on what’s happening with the Super Committee and why we need to weigh in with Congress?  You are officially invited to an emergency update call with Senator Al Franken today, November 16th at 4 p.m. EST.  Register here to join by phone or by computer: https://chn.peachnewmedia.com/store/seminar/seminar.php?seminar=10021

When you register, you will receive instructions for connecting by phone and/or computer. There will be some slides accompanying this update online, and if you want to ask questions and download materials, you will need to do it by computer. But you will be able to follow everything on this 20-minute call by phone, if that’s more convenient for you.  This update call/webinar is off the record; it is not intended for the press.

[1] Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3612

“My husband just lost his job and therefore we lost all of our health insurance about a month ago. … We have 2 young children – one is 8 years old and the other is 20 months old. We have very little savings and also had to claim bankruptcy a couple of years ago after years of under employment. We are very worried where we are going to be in a few months financially as we were just catching up on our bills and now are on this employment roller coaster again.” – Helen, a MomsRising member from Idaho

“One of my best friends was threatened with layoffs for two years due to outsourcing. Yesterday, she got laid off. Her severance package includes medical through April, but her husband just suffered a stroke and is going to need extensive rehabilitation. What happens if she can’t find another job before April?  My boyfriend has an advanced degree and marketable skills, but he’s facing a layoff in spring 2012 and is worried he won’t find another job. For my part, I’m working two part-time jobs and still just scraping by. I send resumes and don’t get responses; I get interviews and don’t get called back. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! Why are we shutting up and accepting this as inevitable?” --  a MomsRising member from Ohio

Why indeed! Our nation is facing grave challenges and we need to roll up our sleeves and work together to find a path forward.

It’s been over two weeks since President Obama proposed the American Jobs Act — a plan made up of ideas that both parties have endorsed in the past and should be able to get behind now.  But Congress has yet to take any action on the bill. Take a moment now to remind Congress that families across the country need them to act quickly to rebuild our economy.

*Tell Congress not to let politics get in the way of creating jobs in our nation and urge them to act to pass the American Jobs Act now! Click here: http://action.momsrising.org/letter/AmericanJobsAct/

What does the American Jobs Act do to help our nation?

The American Jobs Act will:

* Modernize at least 35,000 public schools across the country, supporting new science labs, internet- ready classrooms and school renovations in both rural and urban communities, putting hundreds of thousands of Americans back to work.

* Make immediate investments in infrastructure, modernizing our roads, railways and airports, and includes money for outreach and training to ensure that women are among those given the opportunity to apply for and get construction and infrastructure jobs that can help them climb back up the economic ladder.

* Eliminate payroll taxes for firms that increase their payroll by hiring workers or increasing wages, creating an incentive for businesses to hire more workers.

*Prevent up to 280,000 teacher layoffs, and keep first responders including firefighters and police officers on the job.

* Extend emergency unemployment benefits and prohibit employers from discriminating against unemployed workers when hiring, so that people who are desperately looking for jobs don’t fall even further behind. (1)

There are currently 25 million Americans who want to work, but can’t find full time jobs.(2)  While many in Congress talk about the impact of spending on our deficit, less often mentioned is the fact that the deficit increases as more Americans are without work and therefore earn and spend less, resulting in less income and sales taxes.  Moreover, the cost of the bill will be offset by other proposed deficit reduction measures.

Tell Congress one key strategy to reducing our deficit is to get more Americans back to work. It’s time to act to create jobs for families struggling with unemployment and underemployment! Click here: http://action.momsrising.org/letter/AmericanJobsAct/

Our nation didn’t become strong by putting children and families last. Together we can create a bright future for our children.

Thank you!

–Donna, Kristin, Claire, and the MomsRising Team

P.S.  Last week we asked MomsRising members to share how the recession has impacted their families and we heard from moms and dads from across the country struggling to keep their families afloat in this tough time, including Helen and the Ohio member who shared their experiences above.  Please share your experience of how your family and friends have been impacted by the recession and we’ll be sure to also share these stories with Congress: http://www.momsrising.org/member_stories/topic/has-your-family-been-impacted-by-the-recession/

P.P.S.  Have questions on finding affordable health care coverage for your kids or your aging parents? @MomsRising.org and @FamiliesUSA are co-hosting a Facebook chat next Thursday, Sept. 29 at 11 AM PST/ 2 PM EST to answer your questions on finding affordable coverage for your family. Feel free to leave your questions at this blogpost, which we’re checking regularly: http://www.momsrising.org/blog/how-do-you-find-affordable-health-care-for-your-kids-and-parents-find-out-here/

(1) For more information about the American Jobs Act, see http://www.whitehouse.gov/jobsact#sub3-tab

(2) Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, National Public Radio

Sometimes when I open the newspaper, I feel like throwing it right back out to the curb.  (No disrespect intended to the curb.) Last week, for example, there was the terrible new census data report that nearly one in six Americans is living in poverty, and one in four babies born in America right now goes home to a family living in poverty.(1)
This is a national emergency!

And yet, we’re hearing the same old mantra from Congress. On Thursday, Speaker Boehner reiterated that Congress should reduce our nation’s deficit solely by cutting spending on family economic security programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security thereby ruling out any alternative solutions like raising taxes on millionaires and billionaires or closing tax loopholes for big corporations.(2)

We must tell Speaker Boehner, the Super Committee members, and all of Congress that America’s families are getting fed up.  Deficit solutions must create jobs, protect vital programs for children and families, cut wasteful defense spending, and make millionaires and corporations pay their fair share in taxes!

P.S. If you or your family has been impacted by the recession, please share your experience here:  http://www.momsrising.org/member_stories/topic/has-your-family-been-impacted-by-the-recession/
(1) “Nearly one in six in poverty in the U.S.; children hit hard, Census says,” Washington Post, Michael A. Fletcher, Sept. 13, 2011;

“To Grow the Economy, We Must Pay Attention to Child Poverty,” Huffington Post, Danielle Ewen, Sept. 13, 2011;

Statement: President, Robert Greenstein, President, on Census’ 2010 Poverty, Income and Health Insurance Data, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Sept. 13, 2011

(2) “Boehner says no new taxes for debt panel,” Washington Post, Paul Kane and Rosalind Helderman, Sept. 15, 2011

(3) http://action.momsrising.org/go/1245?akid=2948.86216.Ga6EuS&t=18;

“Question for Tonight’s GOP Debate: Why Do Corporations Making Record Profits Need Another Tax Break?” Think Progress, Pat Garofalo, Sept. 7, 2011

(4) Poll: Cutting Medicaid is the least popular option for deficit reduction, Think Progress, Igor Volsky, Sept. 14, 2011

(5) “Your Voice Makes a Difference in Putting America Back to Work,” MomsRising blog, Jon Carson, Sept. 8, 2011

Clean air for my children to breathe at recess?  That’s where I get stumped.

That’s not the kind of thing that any mom, despite our numerous superpowers, can do alone. And that’s why I was dismayed to hear that last week President Obama pulled back proposed smog standards that would have reduced air pollution. (1)

Tell President Obama and Congress that pollution weakens our economy and puts our children at risk.

http://action.momsrising.org/letter/cleanair/

Children are the most vulnerable to air pollution because their bodies are still growing and they tend to run around more outside — often in the afternoons when smog pollution is at its peak.  According to the American Lung Association, roughly half of the people in the U.S. live in communities where the air is unhealthy to breathe, including 37 million children. (1)

New smog standards would have helped. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson has said the ozone rules would save as much as $100 billion in health costs and prevent as many as 12,000 premature deaths from heart and lung complications. (2)

And as Nobel Economic Laureate Paul Krugman noted, investments in pollution reduction technologies and practices create jobs.  Similarly, a report from the University of Massachusetts estimates that enforcement of the mercury and cross state pollution rules would create 1.5 million jobs. (3)

Tell the President and Congress that a healthy economy requires clean air and healthy people!  Letting polluters off the hook won’t save lives, won’t create jobs, and won’t fuel innovation.  It will only endanger the health and lives of children and seniors!

http://action.momsrising.org/letter/cleanair/

Why make noise about this now after the decision has been made?  Because the ozone standard is just one of several air-quality rules that are under attack in Congress. (4)  Moreover, efforts to weaken the EPA and the Clean Air Act are gaining momentum and are emerging as a key issues in the presidential election.  We want to make sure parent voices–not just corporate lobbyists–are heard on this issue as decisions are being made.

It’s time for moms and dads to speak up for a clean environment for our children and families!

Thank you for your work on behalf of America’s children and families.

-Donna, Kristin, Claire, and the MomsRising Team

P.S.  Share your thoughts here about why clean air is important for your family. We’ll deliver your thoughts to the President and Congress.

(1) http://www.stateoftheair.org/2011/health-risks/health-risks-childrens.html, http://www.stateoftheair.org/2011/key-findings/

(2) http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre7816vg-us-usa-obama-epa-health/

(3) http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/09/blocking_safeguards.html

(4) http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/obama-pulls-back-proposed-smog-standards-in-victory-for-business/2011/09/02/gIQAisTiwJ_story.html

“LET ME DRIVE THE BUS!!!”

Because after that whole crazy ride, we have arrived at a debt ceiling deal that does not come close to reflecting the priorities of America’s families.

Unfortunately, the ride isn’t over yet.

The debt deal provides that a new Congressional super committee will be appointed by Congress to propose additional deficit reduction measures, including cuts to programs, over the next ten years.  It’s critically important that there are “good drivers” on the soon-to-be-formed super committee who put the needs of working families first.

*Urge Congress to appoint legislators to serve on the super committee who will stand up for families on Main Street, not just bankers on Wall Street — and, while you’re at it, tell Congress what you’d do if you were in the driver’s seat:

http://action.momsrising.org/sign/drivebus4/

Why should we weigh in with Congress about the debt deal now?

• Because the debate about our nation’s economic policy is far from over and the public response to this debt deal will define how Congress addresses our nation’s economic problems in the coming months and years.  Moreover, the debt deal provides that a new Congressional ”super committee” will be appointed by Congress to propose additional deficit reduction measures, including cuts to programs, over the next ten years.  We need to make sure this committee puts the interests of families on Main Street first. [1]

• And because your voices make a difference!  The bright spot in the debt ceiling deal is that MomsRising members helped to secure a provision in the debt ceiling agreement that protects Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security in the event of automatic cuts to the budget.  Officials at the White House personally told us that the more than 100,000 letters you sent to Congress in support of Medicaid, along with the hundreds of personal stories MomsRising members shared with Congress, the media, and the White House, and so much more, demonstrated to the people sitting around the negotiating table that there are many voters who care deeply about Medicaid.

So this is no time to let up on the fight.  We need to be creating paths to the middle class, not dismantling the middle class one American family at a time.

*Don’t forget to urge Congress to appoint legislators to serve on the super committee who will stand up for families on Main Street, not just bankers on Wall Street — and, while you’re at it, tell Congress what you’d do if you were in the driver’s seat!

http://action.momsrising.org/sign/drivebus4/

Together, we’ll stand up for good jobs and fair economic policies that give us, and our children, all a shot at the American dream.  Please also take a moment now to forward this email to friends and family–and post on Facebook–so they too can help “drive the bus.”

Thank you for everything you do for America’s families.

P.S.  And welcome back Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords!

[1] http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jul/27/news/la-pn-boehner-reid-debt-20110727

It’s national torture. And unfortunately, it’s not a game. A default would have devastating consequences for children, families, and communities.

This madness has got to stop.

*Sign on to a letter now to tell your members of Congress to stop the madness and do right by our country:

http://action.momsrising.org/letter/SolveDefaultCrisis/

By signing on above, you’ll be part of a growing movement urging our national leaders to take immediate action to resolve this crisis with a balanced approach. Together, we can stop the bullies in Congress who are doing everything they can to protect tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations while they are driving us closer and closer to economic catastrophe simply to score political points.

It’s un-American to play political football with our nation’s children and our elderly. And this has got to stop.

Question: Why can’t we just tune this nightmare out? Answer: Because the outcome of this debate will define the economic future of our nation’s children and our aging parents.

What’s happening now?

Negotiations between President Obama and Congress have ground to a halt and Senate Majority Leader Reid and House Speaker Boehner have introduced competing plans in Congress to resolve the debt ceiling crisis. Neither one of these proposals currently has enough support to pass Congress and both are likely to change.

As Speaker Boehner’s plan failed to win the support of the extremists in his party, it is likely that his next proposal will contain even more devastating cuts to programs like Head Start, K-12 education, Pell Grants, Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security, without asking big corporations and millionaires to pay a single dollar to resolve this problem. (1)

The plans to resolve this crisis are changing daily, so this is a critical time for our nation’s families to weigh in.

*Sign on to a letter now to tell your members of Congress to stop the madness and do right by our country:

http://action.momsrising.org/letter/SolveDefaultCrisis/

You can be sure that the pin-striped corporate lobbyists will vigorously represent the interests of big corporations and the very wealthy until the bitter end of this debate, so we need to make sure our voices are heard!

Thank you for standing up for America’s families!

1) For more information on Speaker Boehner’s current proposal see: Statement by Robert Greenstein, President of the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, on House Speaker Boehner’s New Budget Proposal

We talked about how concerned parents are about  the chemicals that our children are exposed to every day. And we  delivered over 73,000 signatures on a petition asking the President to make chemical policy reform part of his cancer prevention plan.

Then I told Jon Carson, Nancy Sutley and other White House officials about the tens of thousands of petitions and letters MomsRising members have sent to the President and Congress asking for stronger regulation of toxic chemicals.  I noted that MomsRising has received hundreds of passionate letters from concerned parents about toxics and I read them this letter from a MomsRising member, Lisa from California, which eloquently explains why we need better chemical reform:

“I want comprehensive chemical reform because I am not a chemist. I want to make sure that the products I buy for my son and daughter are safe and healthy. I don’t want endocrine disrupters leeching into our food, poisoning our garden, in our cups and our toys. I shouldn’t have to be on the alert for BPA, PVC, phenols and parabens in our products, but right now I have to be. I want to assume that stuff I buy is safe. Please help me to do that.”

This inspired a lively conversation about how to move toxic substances reform and chemicals work more broadly.  Jon Carson and Nancy Sutley of the White House emphasized the critical importance of the grassroots in moving this reform forward.  They emphasized how committed the President is to chemicals policy reform. We finished up by discussing how to move this agenda forward– together.

This March 23rd is the Anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, and boy, is this legislation suffering from major commitment issues from its opponents!

Corporate lobbyists and lawyers, and even some state and federal legislators, are doing everything they can to stop health care reform before it even gets a chance to go into full effect.

You can help turn this around. Legislators and the public need to hear what’s at stake for America’s families if we don’t keep moving forward to fix our broken health care system! Take a moment now to share your health care experiences. Can you now sleep better at night knowing that your child won’t be excluded due to pre-existing conditions; has your young adult child been able to remain on your family coverage; or, do you work for or own a small business that has been able to take advantage of health insurance tax credits? Are you anxiously awaiting 2014 when adults can no longer be excluded from coverage because of pre-existing conditions?

Do tell! http://www.momsrising.org/submit/mrstory/healthcare

From the stories we’ve received thus far from every state in the nation, we know that the Affordable Care Act is already making a critical difference in the lives of families, but we also know that many other families are desperately hanging on till 2014 when all the provisions of health care reform will go into effect.

Sharing your experiences will make a difference in keeping health care moving forward. Too many elected leaders are stuck inside Washington D.C. and forget about what’s happening with real people. Sharing your experiences brings a needed dose of reality to our nation’s capitol and helps leaders remember that they must answer to their constituents.

With that in mind, we’re bringing your stories to legislators and the public. Already, MomsRising members have shared their stories with President Obama, the Secretary of Health and Human Services Sebelius, the First Lady, leaders of Congress, and been featured on news reports by ABC World News Tonight, NPR, CNN, the PBS Newshour, and in many local papers where members have submitted their stories as letters to the editor. Our stories are powerful!

Take, for example, this story from Mari, a MomsRising member from Nevada, which powerfully demonstrates why moving forward with health care reform is critical:

After my daughter went into remission for cancer, her insurance company was trying to drop her. They said they would only continue coverage if she were in school full-time. It was impossible for her to be in school full-time when she was still suffering the effects of chemo. Now that the reform is in place, we no longer have to battle the insurance company to keep her on the rolls.

I, myself, have a pre-existing condition for which I could not be covered. Once the expanded Medicaid goes into effect in 2014, I will have affordable coverage. It gives me peace of mind knowing I will not have to scramble to pay my costs forever. I just have to ride it out a little longer. I hope this isn’t taken away from me. It’s the 1st grain of hope I’ve had in awhile that I will not die an early death from lack of treatment.

While key provisions of health care reform have already been implemented that vastly improve consumer protections, like ending pre-existing conditions for kids and making it illegal to drop people from coverage when they get sick, many key provisions of healthcare like providing subsidies for low and middle income families to buy health care coverage, expanding the numbers of people eligible for Medicaid, and ending pre-existing condition exclusions for adults have not gone into effect yet.

We need to make sure that state and federal legislators and the public know what is at stake for our families. A recent study shows that the best way to build public support for health care reform is to share a story of a real person who has been helped by the Affordable Care Act with a fact or two about health care reform.[1]

The more experiences we put on the map, the more effective we’ll all be. Can you share yours? Even if you experience isn’t dramatic, it will be particularly powerful for others in your community.

Here are some questions to help you get started:

• Did you recently obtain coverage for a child with a pre-existing condition?
• Are you a small business owner who will benefit from the new health insurance tax credits?
• Are you a senior who received a $250 rebate check to make it easier to purchase prescription drugs?
• Will your older child now be able to stay on your health insurance plan?
• Have you ever had your care rescinded after you got sick–and now you can sleep better at night knowing this won’t be allowed to happen again?
• Are you happy that your plan now can not have a lifetime limit or annual limit on the care it will provide?
• Are you or someone you know enrolled in the new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan?

If you have had any of these experiences, or any others that show how health reform has helped your family, or will soon help your family, please share them here: http://www.momsrising.org/submit/mrstory/healthcare

And please forward this email on to friends and family who may also may be willing to share their experiences.

We’ll continue to make sure your stories are heard and that we build support for moving forward on America’s health care!

Thanks so much for your support of America’s families!

P.S. Check out this book of highlights of member stories we’ve already compiled! We’ll keep updating our collection of stories as new ones come in.

[1] Herndon Alliance

These days you hear a lot of members of Congress saying, “Governments need to budget like families do.”  I couldn’t agree more.  Every family I know budgets by putting the health, safety, and future of their children first.  But what gets me is that some of the same members of Congress who advocate for budgeting like families are–at the same time!–doing the opposite by putting critical programs for children’s health and education on the chopping block.

Just last week the House of Representatives unveiled their new spending plan for the rest of fiscal year 2011.  This proposed budget puts our kids last with drastic cuts to programs that are critical for families and our long term economic health.  And, the House is expected to vote on these cuts THIS WEEK.  Time is tight!

*Take a moment now to tell Congress to get their priorities straightened out:  Urge them to start budgeting like real families do–by putting kids first! http://action.momsrising.org/letter/budget_cuts_2012_V2

What’s happening?

You’re likely hearing a lot about proposed federal budgets in the news lately, and believe me, it can be confusing.  That’s because the President just released his budget proposal for FY 2012 on Monday.  And last week, the House of Representatives unveiled their spending plan for the rest of fiscal year 2011.  This proposed House plan for the rest of fiscal year 2011 would:

• Cut prenatal care and nutrition assistance for pregnant women, infants, and children,
• Strip more than a billion dollars from Head Start and child care assistance, leaving an estimated 368,000 children without early learning support,
• And drastically reduce funding for community health centers.

These cuts would be devastating for our nation’s children who are already struggling in our economic downturn.  More than one in five of our nation’s children lives in poverty, one in four children is at risk of hunger, and the U.S. recently sunk to 30th place among industrialized nations in a ranking of infant mortality rates.

Balancing the budget on the backs of our children hurts us all in the long-run.

Indeed, scientific research and leading economists have said for years that investing in children is one of the smartest investments we can make. Dr. James Heckman, Nobel Laureate economist, has found that the return on investments in early care and education can run from 10-18 percent.  As Dr. Heckman said in his letter to the National Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Reform, “Budget deficits are created by unwise spending. Budget deficits are solved by wiser spending informed by data and decision-making highly attuned to achieving greater value on investments.”  And among Dr. Heckman’s top fiscal recommendations for our current deficit crisis? Investments in and expansion to proven early childhood programs.

The facts are clear.  Proven programs like Head Start save future dollars in education, juvenile and criminal justice system costs and increase the future output and contributions to our nation by the youngest and most vulnerable among us today.

The House is expected to vote on these cuts by the end of this week and then negotiations will shift to the Senate.  We must tell our members of Congress now that investing in our kids is fiscally sound policy!

*Don’t forget to take a moment now to tell Congress to stop playing politics with our kids: Urge them to stop harmful cuts to proven programs that invest in children and our families’ health! http://action.momsrising.org/letter/budget_cuts_2012_V2/

Please share this post with friends and family by clicking on the “Share the Knowledge!” buttons below.  We must all stand up and demand a better future for our kids!

Thank you for your support of America’s families!

P.S.  Thanks to First Focus for their help with this message!  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bruce-lesley/deficit-reduction-how-abo_b_812175.html

That’s why we’re bringing the voices of MomsRising members to a national audience.

Voices like Kris Cambra, a Massachusetts MomsRising member, who the night of the vote to repeal health reform told ABC World News Tonight why as the mother of a four-year-old son with a heart condition she absolutely supports the Affordable Care Act. [1]

And Julie Walters, a California MomsRising member, who told the PBS Newshour a few weeks ago that without the Affordable Care Act, her two-year-old daughter Violet, who has a rare form of epilepsy, would likely hit her lifetime limits for insurance coverage by age four. [2]

And Dawn Josephson, a Florida MomsRising member, who spoke with HHS Secretary Sebelius on a call that was covered by CNN, ABC, and NPR about how critical it is that her son Wesley’s eye condition is finally covered by her insurance because of the elimination of pre-existing conditions for children this year by the Affordable Care Act. [3]

That’s right. Your voices, the voices of real moms, dads, and grandparents, are breaking through the din of the cable news networks!

*Help us continue to bring your genuine and wise voices to the forefront of the conversation about our children’s future. Please donate to our health care campaign today!

https://action.momsrising.org/donate/health_care_voices_fundraiser/

This is a critical time to educate the public about the Affordable Care Act, which passed on March 23, 2010 and is already helping by stopping the practice of dropping people from coverage when they get sick, and ending pre-existing condition exclusions for children.

Even though Senate Majority Leader Reid has pledged not to take up the repeal vote in the Senate, we know that the forces in opposition to health care reform will not be that easily stopped. Though some very important provisions of health reform have already gone into the effect, the bulk of the provisions that will vastly expand coverage and consumer protections will not go into effect until 2014. Opponents of health care reform have pledged to dismantle and slow down the implementation as much as they can between now and then. Only building public support for and knowledge about the Affordable Care Act will stop them.

That’s why we’re hard at work bringing the voices of mothers forward to leaders, to the media, and across the country. As part of that effort, we’re collecting stories from our members from all over the nation about how the Affordable Care Act is already helping families. Nearly one thousand of our members have already answered the call and shared their personal stories. We need your support to make sure these moving accounts are heard directly by every member of Congress in the nation, as well as through media coverage, through social media actions including video and blogs, and by bringing real moms and dads to DC to share their stories.

Please help us out get these stories heard by donating to our health care campaign now. Any amount will help!

https://action.momsrising.org/donate/health_care_voices_fundraiser/

These stories are amazing and are from every state in the nation!

Our nation is ready for some common sense solutions to the challenges facing our families. Our nation is ready and waiting for our voices.

It’s our turn now to be heard. That’s our story. And we’re sticking with it.

[1] http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/republicans-health-care-debate-votes-repeal-senate-obama-democrates-politics-12668381

[2] http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec10/healthcare_12-28.html

[3] http://articles.cnn.com/2011-01-18/politics/health.care.study_1_comprehensive-health-coverage-uninsured-people-sebelius?_s=PM:POLITICS

[3] http://abcnewsradioonline.com/politics-news/hhs-sec-sebelius-gop-effort-to-repeal-health-care-an-opportu.html

[3] http://www.npr.org/2011/01/18/133029190/White-House-Rallies-Support-For-Health-Law