CRC Advocacy

CURRENT ACTION ALERTS:

The Missouri Legislative Session starts on January 9, 2008.  Please check back for information on bills related to our mission of tikkun olam!

RECENT ACTION ALERTS:

October 25, 2007

Vote on compromise SCHIP Bill scheduled for TODAY in the U.S. House of Representatives

Bipartisan negotiators have quickly reached a compromise on revised SCHIP legislation (CHIPRA), and a vote in the House is expected by mid-day today. The new legislation will still allow 10 million children to be covered by SCHIP, and still invests $35 billion over 5 years to provide health insurance for uninsured children. It is a very good compromise.

TARGET: REPRESENTATIVE SAM GRAVES. Congressman Sam Graves signed a letter asking for certain changes to be included in the compromise. The revised CHIPRA bill addresses these concerns. They include:

• Limiting eligibility to 300% of FPL (This would have no impact on Missouri, whose income eligibility is 300% of FPL)
• More rapid elimination of childless adult coverage with SCHIP funds (Again, this would have no impact on Missouri, since we do not cover childless adults under our SCHIP program)
• New crowd out requirements to prevent families from dropping private insurance to enroll their children in SCHIP (Missouri already has crowd out provisions in place, but this could require some policy change)
• Improved targeting to poor children
• Concrete changes to assure no SCHIP dollars will be spent on undocumented immigrants (These children have never been eligible for SCHIP)

PLEASE CALL REPRESENTATIVE GRAVES IMMEDIATELY, EVEN IF HE IS NOT YOUR CONGRESSPERSON. HIS VOTE WILL AFFECT CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THROUGOUT THE COUNTRY.

Call 1-800-828-0498 and ask to speak to Congressman Graves' office.  Tell him that the concerns he voiced about supporting SCHIP have been addressed in the compromise bill. Urge him to "Please vote YES on the revised SCHIP (pronounced ess-chip) bill."

October 25, 2007

Crucial Time for Peace in Darfur

Darfur peace talks are scheduled to begin this weekend in Libya, but the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate. Violence has escalated in recent weeks, engulfing civilians and peacekeeping forces alike.

Recent attacks on the under-resourced A.U. peacekeeping force and on civilian targets show how urgently additional security is needed. President Bush and Secretary-General Ban must move swiftly to shore up international commitments to the hybrid A.U.-U.N. peacekeeping mission, make progress on peace talks, and secure an immediate ceasefire so civilians are protected today and can go home tomorrow.

Now is the time for world leaders to stand up and deliver on their commitments to bring an end to this crisis.  The people of Darfur need both increased security and a political solution in order to end this crisis. A lack of progress on either front will dash hopes for a lasting peace in Darfur.

Click here to send an e-mail to President Bush and UN Secretary-General Ban, reminding them to do all they can to ensure progress towards security and political reconciliation in Darfur.

October 4, 2007

Act To Protect the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

October 18: The U.S. House of Representatives failed to override President Bush's shortsighted veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which provides health insurance to children who otherwise have no form of health coverage.  Advocates of children's health care have vowed to continue the fight to secure health care for children.

Missouri representatives who voted for the SCHIP bill are: Rep. Russ Carnahan, Rep. Ike Skelton, Rep. William "Lacy" Clay, Jr., Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.

Missouri representatives who voted against the SCHIP bill are: Rep. Todd Akin, Rep. Sam Graves, Rep. Roy Blunt, and Rep. Kenny Hulshof.

October 4, 2007

Support Equal Rights for LGBT Individuals

LGBT rights organizations continue to encourage Congress to pass a version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that is fully inclusive of the entire LGBT community. For more information and to take action, visit www.passendanow.org.

August 30, 2007:Help Prevent Discrimination against LGBT individuals in St. Louis County!

We are sorry to report that this initiative in St. Louis County did not pass, despite testimony given by Rabbi Talve and other CRC members. Members of the community working to protect the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are encouraging people to support ENDA, a federal bill which would protect LGBT individuals from discrimination in the workplace.

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Advocacy at CRC

CRC encourages its members to take an active role in advocating for important social justice issues that reflect our mission and core values of Tikkun Olam, the repair of the world.

While the congregation cannot speak for all its members on all issues, our members can make their own voices heard on the important issues of the day. 

Most recently, CRC has been involved in working on the following issues:

• Increasing access to healthcare for all and opposing the Medicaid cuts
• Protecting reproductive rights, reproductive healthcare, and sexuality education
• Supporting stem cell research, with the promise of treating and curing diseases that affect millions of Americans
• Advocating for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, including opposing discriminatory marriage bans and supporting proactive anti-discrimination and anti-hate crime measures
• Working for economic justice for all Missourians, including supporting a statewide initiative to increase the minimum wage

CRC is working on a plan to expand our advocacy work in the near future.  To get involved or learn more, please contact Jennifer Bersdale, Director of Advocacy and Communications, at (314) 361-1564 ext. 116 or jennifer@centralreform.org.

Please check back soon for more information about CRC's advocacy work!