holliswein's blog

Congress returns next week after theirJuly 4th recess. The healthcare debate will once again heat up with increased pressure to repeal the ACA. The healthcare of millions of people hang in the balance. The fight is not over.

Do you know anyone who has cancer? 

If the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) plan passes, a life threatening illness or a chronic condition, like cancer, can lead to financial ruin. Cancer is the costliest disease to treat - even with insurance. 

Everyone will feel the pain of the GOP's healthcare plan regardless of where they live and their economic level. But women will feel the burden even more.

The plan eliminates Medicaid funding for Planned Parenthood. Women who count on Planned Parenthood clinics for well visits, maternity care, cancer screenings, birth control, pap smears, or breast exams will be left with no where to go. This will impact more than 1 million women of all ages, especially those in rural areas whose only clinic is Planned Parenthood. 

This week Congress showed rare bipartisan support after the shooting in Alexandria, VA critically injured Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA). They also came together in 2011 after former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-AZ) was critically injured in a shooting. Ironically, at that time  Scalise paid tribute to Gifford, praising her "kindness and decency." 

James Comey's hearing was a highly anticipated event. It seemed like everyone this week was talking about "the Comey hearings." There were even Comey watch parties across the country.

Comey showed himself to be a dedicated public servant, committed to the serious responsibilities of his job regardless of politics. He was put in a compromising position with the President. It all seemed straightforward. Then charges started flying; Trump supporters started calling people liars. Once again we were left wondering how the world could look so different from the same vantage point.

Today is National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Today would have been Hadiya Pendelton's 18th birthday. She was shot in the back and killed while she stood with friends three years ago in Chicago. Hadiya, an honor student, had just finished her final exams. She full of life and promise with bright dreams of her future - similar to our children. 

President Donald Trump's budget, which was released this week, is a mess of cuts that directly impact women and their families. This budget has been called "the worst budget for women and women's health in a generation." 

There has been a great deal of discussion surrounding President Donald Trump's first-time ever visit to Israel. Controversy already surrounded the trip before it was revealed this week that he breached security by sharing secret intelligence material, supplied by Israel, to the Russians. 

Israel and the U.S. historically have had close cooperations in the areas of security. It remains to be seen what impact this will have on future efforts, as well as our intelligence efforts with other allies. 

Confess ions of A Political Newbie
 
About 11 p.m. on election night, as red state after red state covered the t.v. screen, a wave of anxiety spread over me. My daughters looked at me and mirrored my disbelief. "But Mom, you said she (Hillary) was going to win..." 

JAC members just returned from a trip to Washington, D.C. We met with over 60  Representatives and Senators,  both in their offices on Capitol Hill and at special events we hosted, while advocating for our issues. It was an empowering and motivating few days. We hosted six freshman JAC-supported House members for breakfast, such as Reps.