Current Actions

Support a Strong Public Healthcare Option!
AB-1242 The Human Right to Water Bill

Take Action for Federal Health Care Reform TODAY!

“This is it, folks. The concrete is being mixed and about to be poured. And after it's poured and hardens, universal health care will be with us for years to come in whatever form it now takes. Let your representative and senators know you want a public option without conditions or triggers. Don't wait until the concrete hardens and we've lost this battle.” - Robert Reich

Health care reform is front and center on the national policy table with a July 2009 deadline.

The UULM is mobilizing with a powerful communities-of-faith voice for health care reform.

Join us supporting a robust Public Coverage Option.

Actions You Can Do!

1. Call your US Legislators Today!


2. Gather Letters and Signatures
   


3. Legislative Visits in June and July
   


4. A Rapid Response Network in Your Congregation


5. Learn More - Be Informed

Call Your U.S. Legislators for Federal Healthcare Reform

UULM is building faithful support for a robust public coverage option within the emerging plans for federal healthcare reform. Take action today by contacting your U.S. legislators and urging support for a strong public coverage option without conditions or triggers. We particularly need calls from constituents of Reps. Costa (District 20) and Cardoza (District 18).

Visit www.vote-smart.org to find your U.S. legislators. Print out legislator info so that your congregation can make calls during coffee hour!

Gather Letters and Signatures Urging Senator Feinstein to Support
for Strong Public Health Coverage

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein will play a key role in determining federal health care reform. We need you to gather signatures from your congregation and community urging her to support a strong public coverage option with no conditions and no triggers.

Circulate a UU Voices for Healthcare petition at coffee hour this Sunday! Better yet, collect handwritten individual letters/stories to send to her offices.

Hold that date: Healthcare for America Now (HCAN) and ACORN are hosting canvass events on Saturday, June 20th to gather signatures as well. On Thursday, June 25th HCAN is hosting events statewide to raise awareness about the public coverage option. Check back for more information.

Legislative Visits in June and July

People of faith are needed statewide for face-to-face advocacy with federal legislators. Contact Lee Helena Lawrence of the UULM Action Network if you can participate, and we’ll provide the support and talking points you need. Congratulations to our UU clergy, seminarians and lay leaders who have recently visited the offices of House Speaker Pelosi, Representative Thompson, and Senator Feinstein!

Set up a Rapid Response Network in your congregation

This June and July, calls, faxes and letters will be needed on short notice to support healthcare legislation consistent with our UU values, and to oppose legislation that undermines these values.

Circulate a Rapid Response Network sign-up sheet at coffee hour this Sunday!

Be sure to join our new listserv for UULM Action Network Healthcare Activists to receive up-to-date action alerts.

Public Healthcare Resources:

Radio Interview with UULM and others on "Living Room"
June 19, 2009 KPFA

Click to listen (or download). Start scrollbar at 00:08:15

Healthcare for America Website (Lots of information and updates)

Center for Policy Analysis

Robert Reich on the "Public Healthcare Option" - June 5, 2009

The Human Right to Water:
AB 1242 (Ruskin) Passes CA State Assembly 54-25!

This is the first bill to be co-sponsored by the UULM Action Network and the UU Service Committee! It is the first legislation of its kind in the country.

AB-1242 (Ruskin-Jones) the Human Right to Water Act, was passed by Assembly on a 54 to 25 vote, with one abstention. This is the first bill that the UU Legislative Ministry Action Network and the UUSC have co-sponsored. Other great organizations in the lead on this bill include the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, Urban Semillas, Food and Water Watch and Alliance for Democracy. California teachers and nurses have also joined in to show their support.

Click here to see how your legislator voted.

Next AB1242 will be heard before the Senate Natural Resources Committee, where Senator Fran Pavley, well known for authoring ground breaking climate change legislation is Chair.

AB 1242 establishes a right to water for basic human needs, as a policy of the state of California.

"It is hereby declared to be the established policy of the state that every human being has the right to clean, affordable, and accessible water on an equitable basis, that is adequate for the health and well-being of the individual and family."
AB-1242 Text (This updated text will be officially posted early May.)

For those tabling on behalf of the Human Right to Water -or those interested in graphics, fact sheets, and more material CLICK HERE.

Learn More:

Read stories of communities who are harmed by the lack of safe affordable drinking water here in California. Stories provided by the Community Water Center.

Informative Bill Analysis prepared for Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee.

AB 1242 Fact Sheet

Write a Letter: Support AB 1242 Human Right to Water

Write a letter or use our sample letter to show your support for AB 1242!
Fax a copy of your letter to the UULM office at (916) 441-0015.