From the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) Weekly Advocacy Monitor, September 28, 2011
Last Wednesday was an historic day for the NCIL community! The My Medicaid Matters Rally was a huge success. Over 2000 advocates occupied the front lawn of the United States Capitol to tell Congress and the world what Medicaid means to them and to living an independent life.
Ninety five organizations sponsored the event with publicity, by sending members to the rally, and by flooding the phones with calls! Rallies were held in communities across the nation, including San Francisco, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Missoula, MT; Billings, MT; Great Falls, MT; Glendive, MT; Columbus, OH; Cincinnati, OH; Cleveland, OH; Parsons, KS; Chicago, IL; and Austin, TX.
The message was loud and clear that Medicaid supports:
The day started with a hearing in the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Healthcare to discuss Medicaid fraud. The Rayburn Building hearing room was full of My Medicaid Matters advocates who came to the hearing before the rally. They were there to show our leaders that we are going to be in the hallways, at the hearings, and visiting their offices as much as needed to stop this attack on entitlement funds.
Outside on the Mall in front of the Capitol, the rally started at 12pm! It was an amazing sight to see so many people come out and tell their elected leaders that Medicaid must not be eliminated and that they expect them to fight for their rights! On stage there was music, speeches from our congressional representatives, and people from our community telling personal stories.
Representatives from seven different states made statements. Senators Tom Harkin (D- IA) and Bernard Sanders (I – VT) both told the crowd that they will fight for us - but they need our help to stop the Joint Committee. Representatives Jim Langevin (D-RI; Co-chair of the Disability Caucus), Danny Davis (D-IL; Minority Leader of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Healthcare), Dennis Kucinich (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) also fired up the crowd and let them know that they will fight for us!
Colleen Starkloff, longtime NCIL member and wife of the late Max Starkloff, introduced her Representative, William Lacy Clay (D-MO) who promised to be a part of the solution and assist with our goal of independent living for all.
Jan Derry, Executive Director of Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living read the press statement that her Senator, John D. Rockefeller (D-WV), released that morning. He discussed the importance of keeping our voices strong and letting the Super Committee know that Medicaid funds are the lifeline for people with disabilities. David Berns of the Department of Human Services for the District of Columbia brought Mayor Vince Gray’s message to the crowd. Julie Hamos, Director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services for Illinois, came that morning to testify at the hearing about the importance of Medicaid to families and then joined us for the rally to give her support for the cause.
There were personal stories from Illinois SEIU personal care givers, military members, and people with disabilities. They told the crowd about how Medicaid provides them and their families with the necessary services and resources to be an active part of the community and that our congressional leaders must find a way to keep these entitlement funds as part of the budget.
The NCIL policy staff worked behind the stage to present a well organized and fully informative program, while other NCIL staff members where in the crowd and assisting with other needs for the day. After the rally, the 2000 advocates went on to visit their representatives and continued the fight for Medicaid in the hallways of Congress.
We would like to thank the entire NCIL community for all of its hard work on this most important event! There will be follow-up to thank congressional members for attending and continued advocacy efforts on the Hill working with the Joint Select Committee. Pictures from the rally are available at the NCIL Facebook page.