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_________________________________________________________________ACTIONET
July 22, 2009
Action Alert!
Health
Care Reform NOW!
Dear Friends -
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry
in Pennsylvania is a member
of the Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN). PHAN
is deeply involved in health care reform in
Harrisburg and Washington, D.C.
As Congress has now turned its
focus on health reform, we need to mobilize folks to
contact their local Member of Congress to voice concern
and to encourage them to support the reform effort.
We need to mobilize phone calls to Members of
Congress to advocate for reform now.
The ELCA Social Statement Caring
for Health: Our Shared Endeavor" states "[i]mproving
access to health care and finding adequate support for
public health and preventive, acute, and long-term care
services for all are critical advocacy challenges. They
require thoughtful deliberation and bold, continuing
advocacy by Christian citizens and all expressions of
this church."
Berry Friesen, PHAN's public
affairs director, provided this update in PHAN's request
for Pennsylvanians to contact their Member of Congress:
"House leaders introduced their bill earlier
this week (H.R. 3200). It will be reported out of
Committee in a few days and then voted on the House
floor during the last week of July.
"HR 3200 would provide health coverage
to all legally resident Americans, either through their
place of employment or through direct purchase. The
coverage would be affordable because sliding scale
subsidies would be available to people in the lower half
of the income scale. Private health insurance would be
expanded but unfair insurance company practices would
end. And the bill would bring medical care costs under
control.
It would be an important step forward.
Click here for
a more complete explanation for our support of HR 3200.
"Pennsylvania's
congressional delegation includes moderate Republican
and Democratic members who are generally supportive of
health reform but who have not yet taken a position on
HR 3200. Spurred on by talk radio and the attack ads on
television, they are getting lots of calls from
organized opponents of reform.
"They are much more likely to resist this pressure if
they hear from people who support reform. Can you help
mobilize calls into these members' offices in support of
HR 3200?
"In
brief, this involves contacting people by email or
telephone, explaining your purpose, and asking them to
call the district office of their member of Congress
during the week of July 20th. Here is a script:
1.
State your name and address
2.
Express your appreciation for the Representative's
support for health care reform in the past.
3.
Ask the Representative to vote for HR 3200. It is
important to pass this bill before the August recess.
And
here is contact information for these key members of Pennsylvania's
delegation:
Rep.
Jason Altmire
(Aliquippa) 724-378-0928;
Rep.
Tim Murphy
(Pittsburgh)
412-344-5583;
Rep.
Kathy Dahlkemper
(Erie)
814-456-2018;
Rep.
Tim Holden
(Harrisburg)
717-234-5904;
Rep.
Todd Platts
(York) 717-600-1919;
Rep.
Charlie Dent
(Bethlehem)
610-861-9734;
Rep.
Paul Kanjorski
(Wilkes-Barre)
(570) 825-2200;
Rep.
Chris Carney
(Clarks Summit) 570-585-9988;
Rep.
Pat Murphy
(Doylestown) 215-348-1194.
Thank you!!"
In Christ,
Amy
E. Reumann,
Director
Lutheran Advocacy Ministry
in Pennsylvania
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