Learn More About the “Sick of It!” Campaign Here.
This week, Representative Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), storytellers, and advocates joined Protect Our Care to continue “GOP Hot Seat Summer,” the latest phase of the “Sick of It! Fix Health Care Now” campaign. Protect Our Care held empty chair town halls and press events in New York, Virginia, Wisconsin, and North Carolina, where speakers demanded action from lawmakers and called for commonsense solutions to lower costs, lower barriers to care, and fix our broken health care system.
“Sick of It! Fix Health Care Now” is our largest grassroots campaign to date, giving voice to the millions of Americans rightfully sick of Trump and Republicans wrecking our health care system to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations. As Republicans in Congress try to dodge their constituents during August recess, Protect Our Care is bringing the fight right to Republican lawmakers’ doorsteps by holding empty-chair town halls, organizing petition drop-offs, hosting accountability events, and highlighting stories from Americans harmed by Republicans’ catastrophic health care cuts. This is only the beginning. In the fall, Protect Our Care will hit the road with a nationwide bus tour, making nearly 40 stops across 14 states.
New York
Tuesday, August 25 – State Report Release Event with Assemblymember Dana Levenberg and Health Care Advocates: Assemblymember Dana Levenberg joined Protect Our Care New York to discuss a new report laying bare the damage being done across New York after Republican Congress members and Donald Trump slashed more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations. “New Yorkers depend on reliable access to health care, and when that access is threatened, our neighbors, friends, and families are left vulnerable,” said Assemblymember Dana Levenberg. “The Trump Administration and its Republican allies in Congress are forcing families to pay more while making it harder to access the care they need, all to give tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans. We are already seeing the consequences here in New York, from people losing Medicaid and ACA coverage to hospitals struggling to keep essential services open. The health and well-being of our constituents should never be a political issue. It is up to us to amplify the voices of those affected, reverse these devastating Medicaid cuts, and restore the ACA tax credits to make health care more affordable and accessible for every New Yorker.”
- Fingerlakes1: New York State health coverage losses under political spotlight
Virginia
Friday, August 21 – State Report Release Event with Virginia Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources Lauryn Walker and Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan: Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources Lauryn Walker on Friday joined Protect Our Care Virginia to discuss new state data and the latest state response to the devastating federal healthcare cuts passed last year in the Big Ugly Law. “The Spanberger administration is committed to doing everything we can to ensure that eligible Virginians remain covered, despite the new federal requirements and hurdles created by H.R. 1,” said Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources Lauryn Walker. “We’re working closely with partners across the Commonwealth to understand the impact H.R. 1 will have on Virginians and their communities, prepare for what’s ahead, and make sure people have the information and resources they need to navigate these changes.”
- 13NewsNow (Norfolk): McClellan sounds alarm over federal healthcare cuts impacting hundreds of thousands
- WVTF: McClellan: Eligibility changes will only add to existing health insurance struggles
- Blue Virginia: VIDEO: Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA04), VA Deputy HHS Secretary Lauryn Walker Discuss New State Data And Response to GOP Healthcare Cuts
Wednesday, August 26 – Sick of It Accountability Roundtable with Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan and Former Representative Tom Perriello: Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and former Congressman Tom Perriello joined Protect Our Care Virginia to continue the “Sick of It! Fix Health Care Now” campaign, a multi-month effort giving voice to the millions of Americans rightfully sick of Republicans in Congress gutting our health care. “We’re sick of people getting sick and not being able to get the care they need. We’re sick of people getting sick because they cannot access preventive care. We are fighting in Congress to reverse these cuts, and we will continue telling the stories of the patients, providers and communities paying the price,” said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. “A year ago, Republicans accused us of fearmongering. We were simply sharing what patients and providers were telling us. Unfortunately, we were right: Virginians are losing their insurance, providers are closing their doors and rural hospitals remain at risk.” You can watch the event here.
- Cville Right Now/WINA: Representative Jennifer McClellan of Virginia’s 4th District
- CBS19: Healthcare policy takes center stage at Charlottesville event
- Blue Virginia:Video: VA05 Dem Nominee Tom Perriello Says Far-Right Rep. John McGuire (R-VA05) and RFK Jr. “want AI chatbots replacing doctors and denying care until you are about to die”
- WVTF: Sick of It Tour calls on Congress to reverse course and improve access to healthcare
- WAHU: Health care policy event in Charlottesville
- WVIR: Perriello and McClellan discuss health care cuts
Thursday, August 27 – “Cardboard Kiggans” Town Hall with Health Care Advocates and Storytellers: Affordable Virginia and SEIU Virginia State Council joined Protect Our Care Virginia in hosting a town hall featuring a cardboard cut-out of Rep. Jen Kiggans. Because Representative Kiggans does not hold public, in-person town halls and did not respond to the invitation to attend this town hall, the event provided an opportunity for constituents to share their stories with Cardboard Jen Kiggans about how her votes have driven up their costs and ripped away their health care, and allow constituents a forum to demand she vote to lower costs and protect our care. “People deserve to know what their representatives are doing in Washington, and how those decisions affect their lives. Our Congresswoman, Jen Kiggans, has not held a public, in-person town hall where constituents can come together and ask questions about her record. So tonight, we brought the town hall to her,” said Emily Yeatts, Executive Director of Affordable Virginia. “Tonight is about spreading awareness of Congresswoman Kiggans’ voting record, connecting those votes to what people here in Hampton Roads are experiencing – the cost of health care, groceries, energy, basic necessities. Thanks to Congresswoman Kiggans, all of these costs are going up.”
Wisconsin
Thursday, August 26 – Representative Derrick Van Orden Empty Chair Town Hall with Constituents and Health Care Advocates: Protect Our Care Wisconsin provided support for an empty chair town hall holding Representative Derrick Van Orden accountable for the cost his votes in Congress have placed on working families across Western Wisconsin. Van Orden has voted for costly tariffs that are driving up everyday costs, voted to continue the ongoing war in Iran, and backed the Republican Tax Law that showered billionaires and big corporations with tax breaks while gutting Medicaid and food assistance. These votes have left the average American family paying a Republican Price Tag of roughly $3,500 a year — in higher grocery, gas, healthcare, and everyday costs.
North Carolina
Friday, August 28 – State Report Release Event with North Carolina Storytellers: Family health care storytellers Matteson Kitching, Haywood Watson, Lauren Croswell and Cameron Thomas joined Protect Our Care North Carolina to discuss a new report laying bare the damage being done across North Carolina after Republicans and Donald Trump slashed more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations. While the ultra-wealthy rake in even more, working families in North Carolina are footing the bill. People are losing coverage, premiums are skyrocketing, and hospitals are being pushed to the brink. “When you’re a new parent, you don’t get to choose when your baby needs a doctor,” said Matteson Kitching, a Raleigh mother. “You don’t get to schedule when they get sick. You need to know that when you take your child to the pediatrician, you can afford the visit, the medicine, and whatever care comes next. Families shouldn’t have to choose between paying their health insurance premium and paying their rent, groceries, or child care.”