MomsRising

Advocacy Email Sequencing - For Your Educational Pleasure

A message for NYC's Leaders

Today, the Paid Sick Time Act is being re-introduced in the NYC Council.

Tell the city's leaders to make paid sick days a priority!

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Take Action

Dear Charles,

It was an inspiring moment last fall when Gloria Steinem stood on the steps of city hall, demanding a paid sick days law to support women across the city.

Today, the bill that Gloria was fighting for will be re-introduced in the New York City Council. That's right. With your help we can bring paid sick days to New Yorkers this year -- but we have to make sure our city's leadership knows that this issue matters to women and families.

Tell Mayor Bloomberg and Council Speaker Quinn that the paid sick days bill must be a top priority this year! http://action.momsrising.org/go/NY_PSD_3/44?akid=1828.1594960.OFbjgw&t=4

Why are paid sick days so important for New York?
Over one million workers in New York City do not have one single paid sick day. A disproportionate number of these workers have a high level of interaction with the public, including those who handle and serve our food. The H1N1 virus outbreak in the United States and around the globe clearly highlights the crucial nature of this legislation.

When someone can't afford to miss pay or risk losing their job, they end up going to work or sending a child to school sick and ultimately put us all at risk. Allowing workers with contagious diseases to avoid unnecessary contact with co-workers and customers is a fundamental public health measure. Our laws are clearly out of sync with responsible public health practices.

Our current sick days policy (or lack thereof) isn't safe, and it's time to make a change.

And, it's especially important to make these changes for women. In her speech, Gloria explained why: "The fact is that women need [access to paid sick days] more than anyone else. Women still have so much more family responsibility than men... The increased responsibilities for caregiving that women carry mean that women are more likely to be at risk for punishment and termination under bad policies and practices."

Tell the city's leaders to make paid sick days a priority today! http://action.momsrising.org/go/NY_PSD_3/44?akid=1828.1594960.OFbjgw&t=6

Thank you,
--Katie, Julia, and the MomsRising.org Team

P.S. For more information about this campaign and how to get involved, please visit www.abetterbalance.org

Storming the Capitol for healthcare reform!

MomsRising is working the halls of Congress to promote healthcare reform.

We need you to back us up on the phone today!

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Take Action

Dear Charles,

The imminent vote on health reform is going to be incredibly close. We've got to pump up the volume to help make sure it passes. That's right: It's time to make sure our voices are heard once again by Congress that healthcare reform is critically important to our nation's families in order to counter corporate lobbyists who are out in full force.

That's why we're making a big ruckus on-the-ground at the Capitol this week--and that's why we need your help with some on-the-phone from your home back up.   

All this week MomsRising members are delivering Diaper-O-Grams, diapers cutely decorated with member messages to Congress, from MomsRising members who think the insurance industry's practices stink!

We kicked off this exciting week of action at a terrific event with Speaker Pelosi (pictured here) where MomsRising Healthcare Campaign Director, Donna Norton, flanked by dozens of MomsRising members and their adorable and vocal babies and children, spoke in support of healthcare reform. 

Let's keep the MOMentum going! Can you back us up by calling your members of Congress now? Online, on-the-phone, and on-the-ground, we need to make sure Congress knows that America's families are ready for a change NOW!

Click here to get the exact right phone number to your House Representative:

http://action.momsrising.org/go/12?akid=1809.1594960.N8yN48&t=4

Here's a sample of what you can say when you call: "Hello. I'm a constituent and a member of MomsRising. Healthcare reform is critically important for our nation's families and I urge you to pass healthcare reform as soon as possible. Thank you."

Why the Diaper-O-Grams? What stinks? Health insurance rate hikes of up to 39 percent are now happening around the country. And the five biggest insurance companies earned 56% more in profits last year, while covering 2.7 million fewer people. [1]

Some are saying we should just hang tight in this stinky situation. But what's the cost of doing nothing? A recent article in the New York Times documents the unbearable costs that will accrue if we fail to take action to fix our broken healthcare system:

* Without a change, 275,000 people will die prematurely over the next 10 years because they do not have insurance
* Without a change, the typical price of family coverage is expected to almost double from $13,000 to $24,000 a year by 2020
* And, without a change, the number of uninsured people is predicted to increase from about 49 million today to between 57 and 66 million by 2019. [2]

Together, we'll remind Congress that when you catch a whiff of something bad, ignoring the smell isn't going to make the mess go away. These costs are too much to bear, are expected to get worse without action--and are avoidable if we act now to pass meaningful healthcare reform and rein in health insurance companies.

Help us tell Congress it is indeed time for a change! Call your legislators now: http://action.momsrising.org/go/12?akid=1809.1594960.N8yN48&t=6

Please forward this email on to friends, family, parent groups, soccer/basketball lists, and more so the number of real people who are demanding that Congress rein in the abuses of health insurance companies can't be ignored.

Together we are a powerful voice for America's families.

-- Kristin, Donna, Julia, Molly, Ashley, Anita, and the MomsRising.org Team

P.S. Check out this great video from the press conference on Monday, where Donna tells the story of a MomsRising member struggling with her lack of healthcare coverage.

P.P.S. If you haven't signed the petition yet, click here.

[1] Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer: Our Broken Health Insurance System, Health insurers take heat for rise in profits

[2] The Cost of Doing Nothing on Health Care

71% of US supports food for kids, will Congress?

 


Congress has got to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act every 5 years.   We need to make sure the  Act doesn't expire when families need it most!

Contact Congress today!

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Take Action

Dear Charles,

Nearly 17 million U.S. children (almost 1 out of every 4 children) faced hunger at some point last year.[1]

That is a staggering statistic. But for MomsRising member Yvonne, it's much more personal:

"My sister, the mother of 2 preschoolers, has track marks up and down her arms. Last July both she and her husband lost their jobs. Although they applied for every job they saw, she didn't find a job until late November--and then only a part-time one. My brother-in-law still hasn't found one. The track marks? My sister, my wonderful sister, gives plasma several times a week, earning $25 each time, in order to feed her family."

We can't let families like Yvonne's face this recession alone.

Will you help by asking Congress and the President to make the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act a top priority today? http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1018

The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act provides funding to ensure that low-income children have access to healthy and nutritious foods. It funds programs like the National School Lunch Program, which guarantees millions of low-income children a healthy lunch during their school day, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) which provides access to nutritious foods to low-income pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children. In today's economy more and more families rely on school lunches and WIC as their only source of nutritious food.[2]

By law, Congress has got to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act every 5 years.   We need to make sure the Child Nutrition Act doesn't expire when families need it most!

Families across this country depend on the Child Nutrition Act programs. A whopping 71 percent of Americans even support increasing funding for the Child Nutrition Act by $1 billion.[3] So now we've got to make sure Congress and the President act quickly to secure the funds needed so these key programs will reach millions of children and families in time for the 2010-2011 school year.

Please take a moment to remind Congress and the President that families like Yvonne's are depending on them:
http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1018

Please also forward this email and link along to friends and family too. Together we can make sure Congress doesn't forget about our country's littlest residents.

Together, we are a powerful voice for women, children, and families!

- Sarah, Kristin, Donna, Joan, Mary, Ariana, Katie, Anita, and the MomsRising Team


P.S. Thanks to the National Women's Law Center LINK and the Center for Science in the Public Interest LINK for all they do for families across this country.

P.P.S Want to find out more about hunger in America? Check out the USDA's data on food security: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/FoodSecurity/


[1] United States Department of Agriculture, http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/FoodSecurity/

[2] "Federal Child nutrition Programs are important to rural Households" Carsey Institute, University of New Hampshire www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/publications/IB_Wauchop_Nutrition.pdf

[3] http://www.schoolmealsmatter.org/act/survey.php.

Something is stinky in healthcare!

This week, insurance companies are meeting in Washington, D.C. for their annual conference, and they'll be lobbying Congress in full force.

Make your voice heard, too! Tell Congress that America's families need a change.

take action
Take Action

Dear Charles,

Any mom or dad who's ever had a kid in diapers knows that if you catch a whiff of something bad, ignoring the smell isn't going to make that mess go away. And so it also goes for our broken healthcare system.

What stinks? Health insurance rate hikes of up to 39 percent are now happening around the country.  And the five biggest insurance companies earned 56% more in profits last year, while covering 2.7 million fewer people.[1]

This week insurance companies are meeting in Washington D.C. for their annual conference and no doubt, they plan to be out in force lobbying Congress against health reform.

Don't let the insurance industry be the only voice heard on healthcare in DC! Make your voice heard telling Congress that when something so clearly stinks, a change is needed!

*Take a second now to sign this petition telling Congress that health insurance company practices of dropping coverage while raising costs stink--and that America's families need a change!

http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1019

We'll deliver your petitions to leaders and key swing members of Congress early next week, along with baby diapers decorated with messages calling for an end to the stinky practices of health insurance companies.

Please forward this petition on to friends, family, parent groups, soccer/basketball lists, and more so that we build a huge list of real people who are demanding that Congress rein in the abuses of health insurance companies.

Some are saying we should just hang tight in this stinky situation. But what's the cost of doing nothing? A recent article in the New York Times documents the unbearable costs that will accrue if we fail to take action to fix our broken healthcare system:

* Without a change, 275,000 people will die prematurely over the next 10 years because they do not have insurance
* Without a change, the typical price of family coverage is expected to almost double from $13,000 to $24,000 a year by 2020
* And, without a change, the number of uninsured people is predicted to increase from about 49 million today to between 57 and 66 million by 2019.[2]

These costs are too much to bear--and are avoidable if we act now to pass meaningful healthcare reform and rein in health insurance companies! It is indeed time for a change!

Please sign our petition today telling Congress that health insurance company practices of dropping coverage while raising costs stink--and forward it to as many people as you can so it's a call for action that Congress can not ignore! The next two weeks are likely to determine whether we finally achieve health reform that provides our families with secure and affordable healthcare.

http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1019

Thanks for your work on behalf of America's families!

--Donna, Julia, Ashley, Anita, Kristin, and the MomsRising Team

P.S. Have an extra diaper or two on hand? Or have a friend who can give you one? Help us send a visual message to Congress that they can't ignore by decorating a diaper, and then sending it our way so we can deliver it to Congress along with the petition (Instructions below). Decorate the diaper with messages like:

"Health insurance rate hikes of up to 39% stink! America's families need a change!"
-- or --
"56% increases in profits for health insurers last year stink! America's families need a change!"
-- or--
"MomsRising, we're changing more than diapers - get health reform done now for America's families!"

And please send those decorated diapers quick to MomsRising, P.O. Box 71083, Chevy Chase, MD 20813 so they arrive here by Monday, March 14th if possible. (But if they arrive later than that we can still use them for other upcoming actions.)

[1] http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/insuranceprospers/index.html, http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/11/business/la-fi-health-profits12-2010feb12

[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/weekinreview/28abelson.html?scp=1&sq=cost%20of%20doing%20nothing&st=cse

March 4th

Parents across the country are strugging to find and afford childare.  But today we can change that.

March forth (with one email) and join thosands of families today to support quality early learning.

take action
Take Action

Dear Charles,

  "My husband and I have to work opposite shifts because child care is unaffordable. He works from 6am to 2:30pm, and I have to meet my husband at his job to drop off our son so that I can be to work by 3:00pm. I miss out on putting my son to bed." - Kristina, MomsRising Member

  Unfortunately, Kristina's story is not unique. In today's economy, we hear story after story of parents struggling to find and afford quality child care and preschool.
 
Today we have a chance to do something about it.
 
Will you contact your Congressperson today to urge them to help keep families working and young children learning? http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1013

Congress is working on the budget right now, so hearing from you in this moment could make a big difference.

You see, the President's proposed budget includes significant new investments in programs that help families access affordable, high-quality child care, and early education programs. So now we need to make sure Congress knows that the proposed increased investments in the President's budget are critical for families.

  By contacting your Congressperson today, March 4th, you'll be part of thousands of families joining together to "March Forth" on March 4th in support of increased funding for child care, Head Start, and child nutrition. With all of our voices descending on Congress for one day we can work together to keep families earning and children learning.  Together we can remind Congress of the importance of these programs for children, parents and our economic recovery.

*After you take action via the above link, take a moment to also forward this email to friends and family so we can have as many people "Marching Forth" as possible on March 4th.

  Why does early care and education matter?

  Research shows that the best way to improve educational success is to invest in our littlest learners. In fact, studies show that quality early education and preschool opportunities for at-risk 3- and 4-year-olds is the best way to prevent the achievement gap. [1] Quality early learning opportunities also save us tax dollars in the long run -- it costs a heck of a lot to fix the problems created when kids don't get the early education they need. Every $1 invested in early learning will later return $7 to our society by reducing the need for remedial education, welfare, and criminal justice services. [2]

  Unfortunately, quality, affordable child care isn't available for most families.  As another MomsRising Member, Leah writes: "Quality child care is difficult to find. Affordable quality child care is non-existent. And it's almost impossible to run a household on one income these days. No matter which way we slice it, we are barely making it."

  What does the proposed budget do for early care and education?

  Well, it goes a long way to help families like Kristina's and Leah's with key initiatives like:

  • $1.6 billion increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG).  This would be the largest increase in funding for the program in more than 20 years. CCDBG directly helps families afford quality childcare
  • $989 million increase for Head Start and Early Head Start helps ensure that low-income and at-risk children have access to quality early learning opportunities
  • The reauthorization of key programs like Child and Adult Care Food Program, which would ensure that millions more children across our country have access to healthy foods.

 
Together we can make the proposed budget a reality and help families across the country keep working and keep kids learning.  Contact your Congressperson with one click today!

http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1013

  And please don't forget to also pass this link along by forwarding this email to your friends and family.  If we all speak up today, we can change the future for families tomorrow.

  Together, we are a powerful voice for women, children, and families!

--Sarah, Kristin, Donna and the whole MomsRising.org team

  P.S. For a detailed look at the President's budget proposal for FY 2011 go to: http://www.nwlc.org/details.cfm?id=3802&section=childcare

  P.P.S. A big thanks to the National Women's Law Center for their work on this issue

  [1] League of Education Voters http://www.educationvoters.org/tag/early-learning/

  [2] Pre-k now. The benefits of high-quality pre-k. http://preknow.Com/community/factsheets/benefits.Cfm
 

15 million U.S. kids are left alone.

From: email@mail.democracyinaction.org [mailto:email@mail.democracyinaction.org] On Behalf Of Sarah, MomsRising.org
Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 1:15 PM

Every afternoon 15 million U.S. children are left alone after school. And now there's even more proposed cuts to afterschool programs.

Tell Congress to stand up for Afterschool!

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Take Action

Dear Charles,

Every afternoon 15 million U.S. children, more than a ΒΌ of our kids, are left alone after school. [1]

This huge and heartbreaking number isn't because of parent neglect, it reflects a simple fact: Afterschool programs are unavailable or too expensive for millions of families across this country.

In fact, studies show that 18 million U.S. parents would enroll their kids in an afterschool program if one were simply available. [2]

Unfortunately, we're now in danger of losing the limited afterschool programs we currently have.

The President just released his proposed budget and it does a lot of things right, but it cuts more than 13,000 kids out of safe and educational afterschool programs. [3]

Congress is debating our national budget right now. So it's up to our Representatives to get America back to work and keep our children safe and learning by protecting afterschool programs.

Will you take a moment to tell your Representative that you are a part of the 83% of American parents who support public funding for afterschool programs?

http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1008

The proposed budget cuts $13 million out of the 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) before school, afterschool and summer programs. [4] CCLC programs focus on academic achievement, enrichment, and family literacy for thousands of elementary, middle and high school students in high poverty or low performing schools. [5]

These cuts couldn't come at a worse time. In today's economy more moms are returning to work and more parents are working two jobs to make ends meet. [6] So more kids need a safe and enriching place to spend the afterschool hours. Unfortunately, quality afterschool programs are hard to find. The hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are the peak hours for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex. [7] That's why afterschool programs are so important to American famlies.

Here's the link to tell your Representative to speak out for afterschool:
http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1008

And please pass this link along.  Together we can be a voice for the 15 million children with no place to go after school.

Together, we are a powerful voice for women, children, and families!

--Sarah, Kristin, Donna, Joan and the whole MomsRising.org team

P.S. Big thanks to the Afterschool Alliance for all the work they do on this issue: http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/

P.P.S. Want to see how the proposed afterschool cuts impact your state?  Check out this state-by-state chart: http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/documents/Policy%20and%20Action/Currentvs13MdecreaseDOE2_1_10.pdf

[1] "America After 3pm" Afterschool Alliance 2009: http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM.cfm

[2] "America After 3pm" Afterschool Alliance 2009: http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM.cfm

[3] Afterschool Alliance http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/documents/Policy%20and%20Action/Currentvs13MdecreaseDOE2_1_10.pdf

[4] Afterschool Alliance http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/policyFedNewsArchive.cfm

[5] Department of Education http://www2.ed.gov/programs/21stcclc/index.html

[6]"In Downturn's Wake, Women Hold Half of U.S. Jobs" Wall Street Journal, Nov 12, 2009 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125797318108844061.html

Last Chance: We Must Rescue Healthcare Reform!

Just one day left, and we're almost there. Help MomsRising raise $10,000 dollars in 7 days to turbo-charge our campaign for healthcare reform.

Donate Today!

 take action
Take Action

Dear Charles,

No excuses.  No more politics. The dust has settled from the bipartisan healthcare summit and we need to make sure that Congress hears loud and clear from America's families that we can't wait any longer to fix our broken healthcare system. 
 
On Tuesday we set an ambitious goal of raising $10,000 in seven days to turbo-charge our healthcare campaign, and with just one day left, we're almost there.

So far, we've raised more than $7,500. Will you help us make it across the finish line with a donation of $5 or more TODAY?

https://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/t/9255/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=4946

We're  outraged that in the last year health insurance companies earned 56% more in profits and covered 2.7 million fewer people.[1] And, healthcare insurance rate hikes of up to 39 percent are now happening across the country![2] So we have developed a plan to make sure Congress represents us, the families of America, not insurance companies.

What's the plan? 

Last week, people across America sent over a million messages to Congress telling them to get down to business and pass real healthcare reform. If we reach our fundraising goal, we will be able to build on this momentum by circulating a massive nationwide petition that calls on Congress to stand up for families, not health insurance lobbyists, and get healthcare reform done. And we'll make sure Congress can't ignore us by donning our MomsRising supermom t-shirts and personally delivering these petitions.

We need to raise a total of $10,000 by TODAY to turbo-charge our campaign for healthcare reform in a way that no member of Congress will be able to ignore.

Congress needs to hear that we can't wait any longer. We need healthcare reform now. It's time to get it done.

But we need your help. This campaign for healthcare reform has taken longer than we had hoped and we can't keep up the fight without your continued support. Can you help out now by donating $5 or more?

https://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/t/9255/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=4946

Now is the time to give it all we've got. We are so close to finally passing real healthcare reform, and we may not have another chance like this in our lifetimes. Please donate now and join us to fight for our children's future.


Thank you for the heroism you show every day!

--Donna, Ashley, Anita, Julia, Molly, Ariana, Kristin, and the MomsRising Team

[1] http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/11/business/la-fi-health-profits12-2010feb12

[2] http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/insuranceprospers/index.html

 

CRITICAL CONDITION: Supermoms Must Rescue Healthcare Reform!

We're already halfway to our goal. Help MomsRising raise $10,000 dollars this week to turbo-charge our campaign for healthcare reform.

Donate Today!

 take action
Take Action

Dear Charles,

Right now President Obama and a bi-partisan group of Congressional leaders are in a high stakes nationally televised meeting on healthcare reform. This summit is President Obama's attempt to jumpstart health reform that is stalled in Congress.

We're  outraged that in the last year health insurance companies earned 56% more in profits and covered 2.7 million fewer people.[1] And, healthcare insurance rate hikes of up to 39 percent are now happening across the country![2]

It's time for American families to come together to state the obvious. Congress represents us, the families of America, not insurance companies. They must take action to pass health reform now before more families lose their access to healthcare and are priced out of getting the care they need.

The days following the summit will make or break healthcare reform. That's why we set a goal of raising $10,000 dollars this week, and we're already halfway there.

Can you help us out by donating $5 or more today? https://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/t/9255/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=4946

What's the plan? MomsRising members will work in unison with other national organizations to amplify the drumbeat of emails and calls to Congress in the coming weeks, reminding them that America's families need reform now.

We're already off to an amazing start. Just yesterday people across America sent over a MILLION messages to Congress telling them to get down to business and pass real healthcare reform. In the next few days we'll build on this momentum by circulating a massive nationwide petition that calls on Congress to stand up for families, not health insurance lobbyists, and get healthcare reform done. And we'll make sure Congress can't ignore us by donning our MomsRising supermom t-shirts and personally delivering these petitions.

We need to raise a total of $10,000 to turbo-charge our campaign for healthcare reform in a way that no member of Congress will be able to ignore.

Congress needs to hear that we can't wait any longer. We need healthcare reform now. No excuses. No more politics. It's time to get it done.

But we need your help. This campaign for healthcare reform has taken longer than we had hoped and we can't keep up the fight without your continued support. Can you help out now by donating $5 or more?

https://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/t/9255/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=4946

Now is the time to give it all we've got. We are so close to finally passing real healthcare reform which stops unfair insurance practices that deny people coverage who have pre-existing conditions and raises rates or drops people just when they get sick. We have fought too hard and too long to let the insurance companies win another battle and continue to line their pockets at the expense of America's families and our children's health. Help push this win over the finish line. We may not have another chance like this for many years to come. Please donate now and join us to fight for our children's future.

Thank you for the heroism you show every day!

--Donna, Ashley, Anita, Julia, Molly, Ariana, Kristin, and the MomsRising Team

[1] http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/11/business/la-fi-health-profits12-2010feb12

[2] http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/insuranceprospers/index.html

Unemployment reaches Great Depression levels for some!

 

Make sure that millions of our most vulnerable families have access to unemployment insurance benefits.

Tell Congress to extend the unemployment insurance extension until the end of 2010!

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Take Action

Dear Charles,

All families are not created equal. At least not in this recession.

A recent study shows that rates of unemployment among the lowest income families are 30.8 percent, while the highest income families have an unemployment rate of only 3.2 percent.[1] For our most vulnerable families, these unemployment rates rival those during the Great Depression.

And adding to the crisis, if Congress does not take action to extend unemployment benefits this week, state unemployment insurance offices will need to start eliminating benefits in March for millions of these Americans.

Tell Congress, its first order of business this week must be to extend the unemployment insurance extension until the end of 2010.

http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1001

Unemployment insurance is a lifeline for millions of families most in need and supports economic recovery for us all. Without unemployment insurance, more homes will be lost to foreclosure, bringing down the value of all homes, less money will flow through communities, and families in need will have to find other public supports. This downward cycle hampers the economic recovery that will bring jobs and economic security to all of us.

Tell Congress to act now to make sure that millions of our most vulnerable families have access to unemployment insurance benefits that will keep them in their homes and able to continue looking for work and caring for their children.

http://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1001

And please forward this message to your friends and family so they can take action too.

Thank you for your work on behalf of America's families!

-- Donna, Sarah, Molly, Kristin, and the whole MomsRising.org team

[1]  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/opinion/09herbert.html, http://www.clms.neu.edu/publication/

No Excuses. No more politics.

No excuses. No more politics. It's time to get healthcare reform done.

Help MomsRising raise $10,000 dollars this week to turbo-charge our campaign for healthcare reform.

Donate Today!

 take action
Take Action

Dear Charles,

We're used to hearing about dastardly deeds by health insurance companies, but last week's news rocked us on our heels. The Los Angeles Times reported that the five biggest health insurance companies earned 56% more in profits last year and covered 2.7 million fewer people in 2009.[1]

Are these profits being passed on to customers in the form of lower rates? Heck no. Healthcare insurance rate hikes of up to 39 percent are now happening across the country![2]

It's time for us to put a stop to this greed and state the obvious. Congress represents us, the families of America, not insurance companies. They must take action to pass health reform now before more families lose their access to healthcare and are priced out of getting the care they need.

The coming weeks will make or break healthcare reform. We need to raise $10,000 dollars this week to turbo-charge our campaign for healthcare reform in a way that no member of Congress will be able to ignore.

Can you help us out by donating $5 or more today? https://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/t/9255/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=4946

What's the plan? MomsRising members will work in unison with other national organizations to amplify the drumbeat of emails and calls to Congress in the coming weeks, reminding them that America's families need reform now. We'll circulate a massive nationwide petition that calls on Congress to stand up for families, not health insurance lobbyists, and get healthcare reform done. And we'll make sure Congress can't ignore us by donning our MomsRising supermom t-shirts and personally delivering these petitions. (There's nothing like TV images of fed up moms to make elected officials nervous.)

Congress needs to hear that we can't wait any longer. We need healthcare reform now. No excuses. No more politics. It's time to get it done.

But we need your help. This campaign for healthcare reform has taken longer than we had hoped and we can't keep up the fight without your continued support. Can you help out now by donating $5 or more?

https://momsrising.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/t/9255/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=4946

Now is the time to give it all we've got. We are so close to finally passing real healthcare reform which stops unfair insurance practices that deny people coverage who have pre-existing conditions and raises rates or drops people just when they get sick. We have fought too hard and too long to let the insurance companies win another battle and continue to line their pockets at the expense of America's families and our children's health. Help push this win over the finish line. We may not have another chance like this for many years to come. Please donate now and join us to fight for our children's future.


Thank you for the heroism you show every day!

--Donna, Ashley, Anita, Julia, Molly, Kristin, and the MomsRising Team

[1] http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/11/business/la-fi-health-profits12-2010feb12

[2] http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/insuranceprospers/index.html