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Greetings,
Today: Nationwide
Faith Call-in Day for Health Care
Toll-free Number:
1-888-797-8717*
With last
week’s passage of the Senate Finance Committee’s
version of health care reform, health care reform will soon move
to the full Senate and House of Representatives. But what reform looks
like depends on who has the ear of our elected
leaders. It is up to us to communicate our Christian
and Lutheran values for reform – if not us, then
who?
Today, faith groups
are joining with other advocates to overwhelm the Capitol
Switchboard with 100,000 calls during a massive nationwide
call-in day. We will raise our voices in hope for
a more compassionate health care future, and we will tell our
elected leaders that we are praying for moral leadership from
Congress and President Obama. We will lift our messages of
hope, compassion, the common good, shared responsibility,
concern for those who are vulnerable, and faithful stewardship
of our abundant health care resources.
Your Five Minutes Makes a
Difference
But we can do that
only if you join us in making your 3 calls: one to each of your
Senators and one to your Representative. Set aside just a few
minutes today to make your voice heard - and ask your family,
friends, and colleagues to make calls as well. Don't assume that your
voice isn't needed - every voice matters at this strategic
moment!
If you are new to
making these calls, just follow the simple steps below and adapt
the sample messages with your own words.
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Tips for a Successful Phone
Call:
1) Dial the
toll-free number 1-888-797-8717.
2) Once you are
connected with the Capitol Switchboard, ask for the offices of
your Senators or Representative by name.
3) Once you are
connected with the office, ask to speak with the health care
staffer.
Sample
Message:
Introduction: Hello, my name is ________________. I am a member of [name
of your congregation/organization] in [city,
state].
Short
message: I am calling Senator/Representative __________ because
I believe it is a moral imperative that we enact health care
reform, and I urge the Senator/Representative to do all he/she
can to make that happen. [If you already know he/she is
supportive, acknowledge that!] Thank you!
Longer
message: If the opportunity presents itself, pick ONE statement
from below and add it to your message, based on what values are
important to you, or what you know about the
Senator's/Representative's views.
I believe
that:
- Health care is a
shared responsibility that is grounded in our common
humanity. I urge
Senator/Representative _________to support legislation that
demonstrates our care for one another, promotes human dignity,
and shows compassion by protecting those who are most
vulnerable.
- Humanity is
sacred. I urge
Senator/Representative __________to support health care
legislation that contributes to our health and wholeness, so
that we can live out our fullest potential as individuals and as
contributing members of society.
- We are blessed
with the abundant resources necessary to meet each other's
needs. I urge
Senator/Representative __________to promote legislation that
demonstrates good stewardship and distributes our health care
resources effectively, efficiently, and
fairly.
Further, I urge the
Senator/Representative to [add a particular policy provision
that is important to you].
Thank
you!
After your calls,
please let us know how it went by emailing robert.francis@elca.org.
Learn More
For Lutheran
resources about health and health care reform, visit our website
at http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Justice/Advocacy/Issues/Health-Policy-and-Global-Disease/Health-Care-Reform.aspx. With any questions or to
share your health care story, contact Robert Francis, Director
for Domestic policy, at robert.francis@elca.org.
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*This toll-free
number was made possible with support from the United Church of
Christ Justice and Witness Ministries and the General Board of
Church and Society of the United Methodist Church in collaboration
with Faithful Reform in Health Care.
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