URGENT: SAVE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
#ProtectOurCare
We won the battle to defeat the Graham-Cassidy ACA repeal and now we must address other healthcare needs. We need Congress to work together to improve our healthcare, not take it away.
Yesterday we called about reauthorizing CHIP before its funding runs out on September 30th. Without timely re-authorization the healthcare of 9 million children will be put at risk.
Congress also needs to fund another critical part of our health care system – Community Health Centers (CHC). The $3.6 billion Community Health Center Fund will sunset on September 30 if it’s not renewed, despite having strong bi-partisan support (http://bit.ly/2k2CLbQ), CHCs were put at risk when Senate GOP leaders chewed up precious days trying to pass the Graham-Cassidy bill.
CHCs are the backbone of care for low-income and homeless people. They provide primary care, counseling, dentistry, and more, whether or not patients can pay http://bit.ly/2k2YtMR.
• More than 350,000 Oregonians receive their care from CHCs
• Oregon CHCs employ 4,000 people http://bit.ly/2wWHK3R
• Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio and 108 other Representatives have co-sponsored legislation funding CHC—Where’s Walden!?
Congress must act now so that our most vulnerable citizens see no break in their health care.
Reauthorize CHIP and fund Community Health Centers!
**ACTION 1: CALL SENATORS WYDEN AND MERKLEY**
(or leave a voice mail after hours)
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon, [zip code]. I am so relieved that “Repeal and Replace” is dead, at least for now. Thank you so much for all that you have done. Now it is time for the Senate to get back to work and quickly reauthorize CHIP and renew funding for the Community Health Center Fund. Thank you.”
**ACTION 2: CALL CONGRESSMAN WALDEN**
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon, [zip code]. I am relieved that, at least for now, “Repeal and Replace” is dead. I am extremely disappointed that you led the charge to take healthcare away from millions of Americans. I will remember that in November.
Now, you and your GOP colleagues in Congress must put people before party, quickly reauthorizing CHIP and renewing funding for the Community Health Center Fund. Our health and your integrity depend on it. Thank you“
SENATOR MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
CONGRESSMAN WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
http://www.pbs.org/…/funding-hangs-limbo-nations-1400-comm…/
