Speak Up for Health Reform Done Right

Don't stand by and watch. Take action today.

For the first time in US history, health reform that moves us closer to universal insurance coverage has a chance of passing at the national level. If you’ve been watching or reading the political buzz, you’ll notice that there are efforts underway to derail this process – to prevent reform from moving out of committees to passage in the Senate and House. YOU can make a difference during this August recess.

» Take action now
We've partnered with our friends at Onward Oregon so that you can quickly send a message to your U.S. Senators and Representative no matter which state you live in.

Your congressional delegation – representative and senators – need to hear from you that you’re ready for reform. They need to hear voices that will drown out the disruptive tactics that are taking place today. And those disruptive voices have only one agenda – keep change from happening. They have nothing to add in terms of substantive ideas; they just want to make legislators believe their constituents like things the way they are. If you don’t step up, the only message they’ll carry back to D.C. is that people in their district are afraid of change. And we know better.

» Let Congress know that you want real health reform

There are three things you can do to make your voice heard, and we can’t stress enough how much your senator and representative need to hear from you today. You can:

1) Attend a local congressional town hall in your area. August recess is the time when your Congressman and Senators are ‘in district,’ meaning it’s a time for them to hear from you – up close and personal. And when you go to the town hall, speak up. Tell them what you think, ask questions. We have published national health reform talking points and, for those of you in Oregon, a continually updated page listing town hall meetings in Oregon. If you live in another state, please contact the office of your Senators and Representative.

2) Whether you can make it to a town hall or not, call your senators and representative and tell them you want a bill that passes this fall, and tell them what you want in the bill. You can simply say, "I support the overhaul of our health care system so that it is focused on health while lowering cost. An efficently run public insurance option is critical so that Americans feel they have a choice of how to purchase health insurance, but we must also transform the way care is delivered so that we do a better job of preventing and managing illness." (Your two senators serve your entire state. Whatever state you live in, you can find your elected officlals at OnwardOregon.org/find). Here is Oregon's Congressional delegation:

• Senator Ron Wyden: D.C. (202) 224-5244, Portland (503) 326-7525, Eugene (541) 431-0229, LaGrande (541) 962-7691, Medford (541) 858-5122 Bend (541) 330-9142, Salem (503) 589-4555, wyden.senate.gov
• Senator Jeff Merkley: D.C. (202) 224-3753, Portland (503) 326-3386, Eugene (541) 465-6750, Medford (541) 608-9102 Bend (541) 318-1298, Salem (503) 362-8102, merkley.senate.gov
• Rep. Greg Walden: D.C. 202-225-6730, LaGrande 541-624-2400, Medford 541-776-4646 Bend 541-389-4408, walden.house.gov
• Rep. Kurt Schrader: D.C. (202) 225-5711, Salem toll free: 1-877-301-Kurt (5878), Oregon City (503) 557-1324, schrader.house.gov
• Rep. Peter DeFazio: D.C. (202) 225-6416, Eugene (541) 465-6732 , Coos Bay (541) 269-2609, Roseburg (541) 440-3523, defazio.house.gov
• Rep. David Wu: D.C. (202) 225-0855, Portland (503) 326-2901, www.house.gov/wu/
• Rep. Earl Blumenaur: D.C.(202) 225-4811, Portland (503) 231-2300, blumenauer.house.gov

Even if you do both 1 and 2 above, please also do number three!

3) Let Congress know that you want real health reform
To quickly send a message to Congress, follow this link (works for residents of any state).