Message from Senators about Government Shut down
Dear colleague,
Thank you for signing on to the letter we circulated in August and September urging senators to take strong stand against partisan rescissions. I’m writing to provide an update.
Senate Democrats are under increasing pressure to cave to Trump and Congressional Republicans and pass the partisan continuing resolution without any meaningful protections for people, health, and the environment. This would be a major mistake and further bolster Trump’s power.
When the shutdown ends and who blinks first will largely come down to who the public is blaming for the shutdown and the significant impacts that come with it. Democratic leadership -for the most part - has not clearly and consistently communicated why this shutdown is Trump’s doing. It’s critical that we get messages out to our membership, volunteers, friends, and family about what’s at stake and why Trump and Congressional Republicans are to blame.
When the shutdown started, we released a piece outlining the reasons why this is the Trump shutdown. Please consider sharing this piece and/or using the arguments in it for your own messaging. Trump and Congressional Republicans are basically telling millions of Americans to starve so Trump can have the power to ignore congress on spending issues and unilaterally ignore and cut funding for popular programs he doesn’t like. This is wrong and must be stopped.
The No Kings protests showed overwhelming opposition to Trump’s authoritarian agenda. The fight over government funding and the ability of Trump to slash agreed to funding through the rescissions process is one of the key ways that Trump is attempting to act like a monarch. Please consider sharing this piece on No Kings or using arguments from it.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Trump has refused to use emergency funds to allow food assistance to continue as SNAP runs out and WIC runs out putting the health of millions of young children, families, elders and disabled people in jeopardy.
Finally, the No Kings Alliance is organizing a mutual aid emergency response call tomorrow at 11am eastern. You can register for it here.
Trump is threatening to starve millions of Americans in order to further consolidate his power. He and congressional Republicans (including the hundreds of Republican House members who have been on a paid vacation since September) are to blame. It's so important that we get this message out clearly to as many people as possible - and continue to drive calls into Congress making these points.
Onward together,
Mark
Mark Schlosberg
Food & Water Watch
Older Adult Social Isolation & Loneliness Awareness CampaigN
May 1st to June 30th!
Dear LAACHA Partner,
We are reaching out to request your support for the promotion of our 2024 Older Adult Social Isolation and Loneliness Awareness Campaign, organized by the LA County Aging & Disabilities Department, LA County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles Alliance for Community Health & Aging (LAACHA), Los Angeles Social Isolation Impact Coalition (LASIIC) and 211 LA. The campaign sheds light on the impact of social isolation on older adult health and well-being, particularly among older adults with disabilities.
Let's come together to foster strong connections within our LA County community!
Let’s reach out, connect, and make a difference today.
Call 2-1-1 or visit 211la.org for resources to combat social isolation.
Signatures for ballot measure A - fund affordable Housing LA
ACP Extension Act Discharge Petition Toolkit
Long Beach Gray Panthers - Supporting Education
The possible ending of the ACP is a crime against all low income families and older adults, disabled individuals and rural communities. This program of the Federal government has enabled 23 million families and individuals to obtain affordable internet service no matter where they live. To disenfranchise these groups is to expand not reduce the digital divide and increase disparities in access to knowledge and services. The Long Beach Gray Panthers, encourages Congress to pass HR 6929 by Yvette Clark, The Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Starting on April 18, members of the House can go to the floor and sign the discharge petition (H. Res. 1119) that Rep. Yvette Clarke (D–New York) put forth in support of H.R. 6929, the Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024. If the discharge petition gets 218 signatures, the House will be forced to consider this incredibly popular bipartisan bill.
Your organization signed a letter, released Mon., April 15, calling on members of the House to sign the discharge petition. Thanks to your support, we were able to gather 271 signers! Thank you! In order to put maximum pressure on House leadership, there are additional steps you can take, including sending the letter to your House delegation and sharing it on social media.
To that end, we've put together a toolkit which includes the final text of the letter, sample social media content, a sample email, the contact information for every member's Legislative Director and more.
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Thank you for continuing to raise your voice in support of this critical and popular program!
Best,
Heather
--
Heather Franklin (she/her)Internet Campaign Director
Free Press/Free Press Actionwww.freepress.net202.556.3516 | Eastern Time Zone
Fight for your rights to connect and communicate
No fourth stimulus check
There is no fourth stimulus check on the way for Seniors. Please be advised that any notices you come across that say otherwises are scams!! Please read the following article for more information. Link to article
Important information regarding calcare
CalCare - California Guaranteed Health Care for All
A new CalCare bill was officially reintroduced in the California State Assembly last week!
Assembly member Ash Kalra (D-San José), with the crucial backing of the California Nurses Association (CNA), introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 2200 to establish a single-payer health care system that will guarantee care for every Californian.
The California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act, or CalCare, will ensure that all Californians have health care as a right. By streamlining payments and lowering per-capita health care spending, CalCare guarantees quality health care, including long-term care, without creating barriers to care or out-of-pocket costs.
This is a MAJOR step forward for health care justice – now, it’s on us to spread the word and get to work to build the support needed to pass this bill into law! To start, there are three quick things we need you to do today:
First, watch and share our video announcing the reintroduction of CalCare here →
The more momentum we build for CalCare in this crucial moment, the greater our chances at getting it over the finish line before the end of this legislative session.
Thank you so much for being in this fight with us! We’ll have more ways to get involved and further grow our movement for CalCare soon.
In solidarity,
Nurses’ Campaign to Win CalCare
Housing is a human right
The Brief
Where Will I live?
AIDS Healthcare Foundation, our parent organization, recently released a video in which rent-burdened Californians ask Gov. Gavin Newsom, "Where will I live?" It makes the point that the rent is too damn high in California, and people need immediate help through rent control. Here's the video that you can share on social media.
We Need to Carry Out the 3 P's
Housing Is A Human Right has always advocated for a multi-pronged strategy to address the housing affordability crisis. It's called the "3 Ps": Protect tenants through rent control, Preserve existing affordable housing, and Produce new affordable housing. The 3 Ps work. Please like and repost our post to spread the word.
Support the Justice for Renters Act
In 2024, a grassroots coalition will be fighting to expand rent control in California through the Justice for Renters Act. You can help us by signing up for our newsletter -- and you can volunteer. Big Real Estate will do everything it can to stop us, so we need your help. Thank you!
About
Housing Is A Human Right is the housing advocacy division of AIDS Healthcare Foundation — the world’s largest HIV/AIDS medical-care nonprofit, serving more than 1.6 million patients in 45 countries. Throughout the U.S., AHF clients have been negatively impacted by rising housing costs and gentrification, which threaten their health. HHR advocates for the "3 Ps": protect tenants, preserve existing affordable housing, and produce new affordable housing.
To learn more about AHF's history, go to the AHF Timeline. Watch the short documentary "The People's Hope" about AHF's life-saving work in South Africa.
PSA On new address change Policy from the USPS
Please read this article regarding a new policy from the United States Postal Service. The new policy has to do with individuals who have submitted change of address forms. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your local post office for more information.
Thank you to everyone from long beach gives!
THANK YOU to everyone who attended the Long Beach City Council presentation last night!
It was great to see so many nonprofits celebrating the sector and the city together with our elected officials!!! To view photos from Tuesday's event, visit the album on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=longbeachgives&set=a.638289808493911
Justice In Aging | In Review
California Receives Approval to Eliminate Medicaid Asset Limit
Medicaid coverage is critical for low-income older adults because it provides access to services such as long-term care, oral health, transportation and other needed services that Medicare doesn’t cover. However, in California, as in most states, older adults must deeply impoverish themselves by “spending down” most of their assets in order to access coverage from Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. After years of advocacy by Justice in Aging and others, California is poised to become the first state to completely eliminate its asset limit for all the state’s Medicaid programs following recent approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Beginning on January 1, 2024, income-eligible individuals will be able to access the Aged and Disabled program, Medicare Savings Programs, and Long-Term Care programs regardless of assets. This change is a result of legislation Justice in Aging and the Western Center on Law & Poverty sponsored in 2021. To learn more about this change and our broader advocacy to expand Medicaid eligibility for older adults, see our issue brief, Expanding Health Care Affordability for Older Adults and People with Disabilities: A Guide for State Medicaid Advocates and FAQ on the Asset Elimination.
Celebrating 10 Years with the Racial Justice Institute
The seeds for Justice in Aging’s Strategic Initiative to Advance Equity in Aging were planted at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law’s Racial Justice Institute (RJI) in 2019 when Justice in Aging’s Managing Director of Equity Advocacy Denny Chan and Deputy Director Jennifer Goldberg attended the Institute’s training program for legal services organizations to advance race equity in their practices. In July, several staff members from Justice in Aging attended the Shriver Center for Poverty Law’s 10th anniversary RJI convening with anti-poverty and race equity advocates from across the country. The event took place in Chicago at Loyola University School of Law. Denny and Jennifer attended the 10th anniversary celebration as alumni with Staff Attorneys from our Equity Advocacy Team, Archie Roundtree Jr. and Sahar Takshi.
Denny had this to say about this 10-year milestone: “Our work to advance equity for older adults could not be possible without the tools and partnership from the Shriver Center’s Racial Justice Institute. Our experience led us to new strategies in our advocacy, including our own program with the National Center on Law and Elder Rights to support legal services organizations working with marginalized older adults.”
Justice in Aging Joins the SCAN Foundation at Health Equity Summit
Justice in Aging’s Executive Director Kevin Prindiville and Managing Director of Equity Advocacy Denny Chan attended the SCAN Foundation’s recent Health Equity Summit in Burbank, California. The Summit brought together leaders working at the intersection of aging, disability, racial equity, and social justice to seek targeted policy solutions to reduce health inequities in communities across California. Denny moderated a panel featuring older adults who shared stories from their own lives and experiences to inspire and educate advocates on the changes that would be most impactful in their lives. Both Kevin and Denny serve on the Summit’s steering committee. A recording of the Summit is now available.
