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Take Action Now! Help Protect and Preserve the Medicaid Program for People with Epilepsy
One of the most important public policy votes that will affect people with epilepsy and other disabilities, their families, and the poorest, most vulnerable Americans is scheduled to take place on February 1, 2006. The U.S. House of Representatives must vote again on the Budget Reconciliation Conference Report, which includes almost $40 billion in cuts over five years to programs that provide needed services and protections such as Medicaid, welfare, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and others.
You may recall that the House already approved this conference report by a 212-206 vote that occurred at 6:00 a.m. on December 19, 2005. It is important to note that the Representatives only had about 4 hours in the middle of the night to review this 700-plus page bill. When the Senate voted on the same report on December 21, 2005, they amended the bill thus making it necessary for the House to vote on the bill again.
The revote is currently scheduled for February 1, 2006, one day after the Congress returns from recess. It is very rare for a reconciliation bill to be sent back for a second vote and gives the health and disability communities, amongst others, a wonderful opportunity to ask House members to change their minds and vote AGAINST this bill which will hurt Medicaid beneficiaries.
Your help is needed and we must act quickly!
Call Your House Member Now!
A toll free number has once again been made available for your use by the American Friends Service Committee. The number is 1-800-426-8073. Call each member of the House of Representatives of your state or use the attached target list. It doesn't hurt to call all House Members to urge their NO vote.
See What's at Stake for a targeted list of House members.
The message:
Please vote NO on the Budget Reconciliation conference report. This bill will cut programs and services needed by people with disabilities, chronic health conditions and those with low incomes.
Join Local Activities
Activities are happening at the national and local levels. A coordinated effort to stop this bill has been organized by a group called the Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities (ECAP) http://www.actnow.org. This group is coordinating visits to key voters on Capitol Hill as well as activities at the local level. Religious groups, unions, student groups and disability groups are coming together to attend vigils in front of Representative's district offices and holding Town Hall meetings to ask Representatives how they plan to vote and to explain how their vote will impact the lives of people in their communities. Stay alert for these activities! If you would like the phone number of the local coordinator for these activities, please contact the Epilepsy Foundation's Government Affairs office.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Help Save Medicaid from FY 2006 Budget Cuts
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
One of the most important public policy votes that will affect people with epilepsy and other disabilities, their families, and the poorest, most vulnerable Americans is scheduled to take place on February 1, 2006. I urge you to vote NO on the Budget Reconciliation Conference Report, which includes almost $40 billion in cuts over five years to programs that provide needed services and protections such as Medicaid, welfare, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and others.
The provisions of this bill will hurt Medicaid beneficiaries, who are among your poorest and most vulnerable constituents.
There are a number of troubling provisions in this bill that will make it harder for people on welfare to care for their kids with disabilities, for students to get needed loans for school, and for people to be able to give money to the charities they support. The provision in the bill that is most damaging, however, is Section 6086, entitled "Expand Access to Home and Community-Based Services for the Elderly and Disabled." While this title sounds good, the provision would actually do more harm than good and be a step backward in the effort to provide community services to people with disabilities.
Protecting and preserving Medicaid is a top priority for me and my family. We join the Emergency Campaign for America?s Priorities (ECAP) and the Epilepsy Foundation in asking that you vote NO on the Budget Reconciliation conference report.
Sincerely,
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