{"id":17738,"date":"2017-09-19T14:52:37","date_gmt":"2017-09-19T18:52:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/?p=17738"},"modified":"2017-09-22T14:09:42","modified_gmt":"2017-09-22T18:09:42","slug":"affordable-care-act-aca-still-threat-senate-immediate-action-needed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uusj.net\/wp1\/affordable-care-act-aca-still-threat-senate-immediate-action-needed\/","title":{"rendered":"Affordable Care Act (ACA) STILL Under Threat from the Senate – Immediate Action Needed"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nA proposal to repeal and replace the ACA (a.k.a. Obamacare) is moving quickly through the Senate. If passed, it would be a disaster for millions of Americans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We believe our nation\u2019s leaders have a moral obligation to work in a bipartisan and transparent manner to develop a national healthcare system that is affordable, accessible to everyone, and promotes quality. We must stop this indefensible bill that is being rushed through the Senate during the last few days of September.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Page Contents <\/strong>(click on a title to go to that section):<\/strong><\/span>
\n —\u00a0Action Needed: 4 Things You Can Do Now<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

* Call, email, tweet\u00a0your senators
\n* Ask your family and friends, especially in key states,to contact their senators
\n* Ask your minister to sign on to an interfaith letter in opposition to the Graham-Cassidy bill<\/a><\/strong><\/span>
\n* Spread the word through social media<\/span><\/h5>\n

—\u00a0What’s Happening<\/a>
\n —\u00a0What Would the Proposed Graham-Cassidy Bill Do?<\/a>
\n —\u00a0Talking Points<\/a><\/span>
\n —\u00a0Our UU Spiritual Grounding<\/a><\/span>
\n —\u00a0Background, Resources and Relevant News Media Coverage Links<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Updated as of 2017-09-22<\/h6>\n

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Action Needed: 4 Things You Can Do Now<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

1 – Contact both of your senators. Call, write or do both! <\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Senate leaders want to schedule a vote on September 27. Tell your senators\u00a0to vote NO on the Graham-Cassidy bill. If they do not support the bill, ask them to speak out in opposition to the bill. No Democrats are in support of the bill. <\/b><\/p>\n

Capitol Switchboard – 202-224-3121<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Our partner, NETWORK, provides this hotline to the Senate – 1-888-738-3058<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Write a letter<\/b> and send it via email to the healthcare staff in both of your Senators\u2019 offices. Click here<\/a><\/strong><\/span> to find staff names and email addresses. Click here<\/a><\/strong><\/span> for talking points.<\/span><\/p>\n

Suggested message:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHi, my name is [NAME] and I am a constituent from [CITY\/TOWN]. As a person of faith, I\u2019m calling to urge you to oppose the Graham-Cassidy proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This would affect one sixth of the nation\u2019s economy and is being rushed through in a matter of days. We need bipartisan fixes to expand healthcare coverage, not actions that take it away. I oppose any efforts to cut or cap Medicaid. No one should lose coverage as a result of any healthcare law replacement. We need affordable, accessible and quality healthcare for all. Please protect the human dignity of millions of Americans who would lose coverage and state your opposition to the Graham-Cassidy proposal. Where does the Senator stand on this issue?\u201d <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

*Add your personal story!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet your senators<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>and use the hashtags #SaveMedicaid, #NoCutsNoCaps, #ProtectOurCare, #ADAPTandRESIST, #KeepAmericaCovered, and\/or #CoverageMatters.<\/span><\/p>\n

2 – Ask your friends and family members\u00a0to call or email their senators, especially if they are in one of the states below. Send them the link to this page –<\/b>http:\/\/bit.ly\/2xPEEid.\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

(Communications to senators from states in bold<\/strong><\/span> are especially important.)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/b>Alaska<\/strong><\/span>, Arizona<\/strong><\/span>, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine<\/strong><\/span>, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio<\/strong><\/span>, South Dakota, Tennessee<\/strong><\/span>, West Virginia<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3 – Ask your minister to sign on to the\u00a0Interfaith Healthcare Coalition Sign-On Letter in Opposition to Graham\u2013Cassidy.<\/strong> <\/span><\/h4>\n

National, regional and local religious leaders and UU organizations are welcome to add their names. Click here<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0to read the letter and add a signature. Deadline: Sunday, September 24, 2017<\/span><\/p>\n

4 – Spread the Word<\/b><\/span><\/h4>\n

Post messages to social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and link to this page – http:\/\/bit.ly\/2xPEEid.<\/p>\n

Go to the Top<\/a>
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What\u2019s Happening?<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

A proposal to repeal and replace the ACA (Obamacare) is moving quickly through the Senate. Sponsored by Senators Lindsey Graham (SC) and Bill Cassidy (LA), this bill is being pushed and rushed through without thorough consideration in order to meet a September 30 procedural deadline, when the budget reconciliation rules expire. Under these rules, this bill could be passed by a simple majority, instead of the 60 votes typically required for major legislation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Analysts warn that compared to its predecessors, Graham-Cassidy would increase the ranks of America\u2019s medically uninsured more \u2014 by millions of people (some estimates are as many as 32 million people) \u2014 cost state governments billions more and pave the way for the elimination of all protection for those with pre-existing medical conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Tuesday, September 19, a bipartisan group of ten governors signed a letter<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to Senate leaders urging them\u00a0not to consider the Graham-Cassidy proposal, and to \u201crenew support for bipartisan efforts to make health care more available and affordable for all Americans.\u201d Among the governors are 5 Democrats, 4 Republicans and one independent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Go to the Top<\/a>
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What Would the Proposed Graham-Cassidy Bill Do?<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n