Medical debt is a mounting crisis in Virginia. Half of adults in the state report having faced medical debt in the past five years. Of those, nearly 30% had more than $1000 in medical debt. This burden is often the result of unavoidable illnesses-nobody chooses to get cancer or suffer a heart attack. Our state legislature can act now to protect Virginia patients from predatory medical debt by passing this bill. Note that the bill has passed the Virginia State House on Wednesday January 29th, and moves on to the Senate!

Days ago, Trump removed a vital layer of oversight by purging over a dozen Senate-confirmed government watchdogs across Defense, State, Transportation, Labor, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Energy, Commerce, Treasury, and Agriculture, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, Small Business Administration, and the Social Security Administration. Trump claims, “It’s a very common thing to do.” It isn’t. What it is, is illegal. But don’t ask us. Ask Senators Adam Schiff and Lindsey Graham, who agree that Trump’s Inspector General (IG) purge violates U.S. law. What they don’t agree on is what comes next — and that’s where you come in. A president can’t illegally dismiss officials designed to hold him to account without repercussions. The Inspector General Act, originally passed in 1978 and updated just two years ago, allows a president to remove an IG. To do it, he has to give Congress 30 days' notice before the removal and explain the rationale for each removal. Neither requirement was satisfied when Trump fired as many as 17 IGs late on Friday, January 24, 2025. The consequences of inaction at this moment could last generations. But together, we can demand justice and safeguard our democracy. Because when Congress acts, a president listens: In 2020, Sen. Chuck Grassley held up Trump nominees when he was angry about another dubious Trump firing of IGs. Decades earlier, when President Reagan summarily fired the IGs, congressional outcry got them reinstated. Members of Congress have a fundamental and legal duty to make sure that Trump follows the law — and the kind of leverage to get these expert civil servants reinstated. People’s lives and safety are on the line and lawmakers must act immediately. 

Since its inception in 2003, PEPFAR has invested over $100 billion in the global HIV/AIDS response, saving 25 million lives, preventing millions of HIV infections and supports grants for PEace Corps volunteers, all while significantly strengthening global health security.

housing insecurity affects everyone, directly or indirectly. It impacts our schools, hospitals, businesses, and local economies. When families can’t afford housing, children’s education suffers, healthcare costs rise, and economic growth stalls. Affordable housing isn’t just about helping those in need—it’s about creating strong, thriving communities for all of us.

Science for the Public Good: An Open Letter to the 119th Congress I am asking you to defend the science and scientists that keep Americans safe. The Trump administration's current agenda promises to eviscerate the protections that Americans count on and support: clean air and water; safe food and medicine; products that won't harm us; and protection from extreme weather and other damaging effects of climate change. Without strong federal science, people will suffer, and historically marginalized communities will continue to bear the burden of these harms. Independent science can inform strong public policy that puts the health, safety and welfare of Americans first. Protecting rigorous and independent science is a common-sense, nonpartisan goal. The reason behind the Trump administration's radical proposals to sideline science and scientists is crystal clear: science stands in the way of polluters and special interests unleashing unprecedented amounts of pollution that would put short-term profits over people, no matter the cost to current and future generations of Americans. The first 100 days of the Trump administration will be absolutely essential for taking action that can save science that saves lives. Science supporters in your district and state are mobilizing to fight back and prevent the politicization of science and firing of scientists who help protect our families and communities. As a constituent and supporter of the Union of Concerned Scientists, I am asking for you to take the First 100 Days Pledge for Science: • First, advocate for efforts at any federal agency to follow and/or implement a scientific integrity policy in their agency.  • Second, oppose the elimination of federal agencies or their staff directly or indirectly including through draconian budget cuts, reclassifying staff, or abruptly moving agency headquarters, all of which are a transparent and explicit effort to decimate scientific expertise and decision-making. • Third, defend the safeguards that protect the health and safety of people across the United States, especially those overburdened by pollution. This includes the nation's bedrock public health and environmental laws—such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act—that are and must continue to be based on the best available independent science. This is a critical time to show the administration that members of Congress of both parties are united in championing the science that helps protect the communities they represent. I am asking for your support.

Imagine you were fleeing violence, or seeking to reunify with your relatives in the United States. You are crossing the border when the US government arrests you. Despite your age, you are treated like a criminal, locked in detention, and separated from your family. Not only must you endure conditions that the federal government itself has found inhumane, but you must also defend yourself in immigration court alone-because the United States does not recognize your right to a lawyer even if you cannot find one. This is the reality that hundreds of thousands of adults and children face each day. It is the result of an immigration system designed to dehumanize and criminalize people, not welcome them with dignity. The US immigration system is an arrest-to-deportation pipeline rooted in racism. Our nation’s immigration laws were created and founded explicitly in racism and xenophobia. The past three decades have been marked by an ever-expanding immigration detention system, and an immigration enforcement regime that criminalizes people of color and funnels people from the criminal legal systems into detention and deportation. As a result, our immigration system serves as a form of “double punishment” for people who pass from one legal system to another, compounding the racial disparities and injustices in both. Just as Black people are more likely than white people to be targeted by police, Black immigrants are also disproportionately vulnerable to immigration enforcement. One-in-Ten Black people living in the United States are also immigrants. 

The Atlantic City Housing Authority Stanley Holmes Village is a humanitarian health and economic development crisis, because it endangers the health and wellness of several hundred children, seniors, and families during blistering cold weather. For example December 23, 2024, it was 12° degrees outside, and these America  families had no heat or hot water on the inside. 

A dangerous attempt to undermine one of our democracy's fundamental safeguards is playing out before our very eyes: Trump is demanding that the Senate forgo its constitutional duty to vet and confirm his nominees for crucial government positions — including Secretary of State, Defense, Education, and more. He’d reportedly implement an unprecedented and brazen use of presidential authority to make it happen: Under a bad-faith reading of Article II of the Constitution, the president could potentially force Congress to adjourn and use his presidential authority to recess-appoint his Cabinet while they’re out. Without Senate scrutiny, there would be no public hearings, no tough questions, and no way to stop dangerous, ill-fitted nominees from leading our federal agencies. The resulting harm could take decades to undo, and we’re not about to let it happen without a fight that starts today. Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and too many of his Republican colleagues seem willing to abdicate their constitutional responsibility, but that’s where constituents like you come in, and remind them to do their job.

Whether it’s allegations of sexual assault, concerns about heavy drinking, lack of experience, extremist ties, or past suggestions that the troops should be deployed against protestors and political opponents, one thing is crystal clear: Hegseth is unfit for the role. The Secretary of Defense oversees the largest and most powerful military in the world – and the bloated, too-powerful Pentagon bureaucracy that comes with it. This role demands, at the very least, a leader who prioritizes people’s well-being, has a willingness to root out corruption, understands the military should be a tool of last resort, and approaches our common security with seriousness and responsibility. We knew that would be a tall order for the incoming president, but Hegseth’s record not only falls embarrassingly short, it makes him a potential threat to the safety and security of millions of people, here at home and around the globe. The good news? Multiple outlets are reporting that Hegseth’s nomination is on the rocks. One senator told Politico, the prospects for his confirmation are "bad and getting worse.”[1] When you speak out to your senators today, your voice can tip the scales to derail his appointment before it even begins.  We cannot allow extremist rhetoric, scandal, and unqualified leadership to take root in the Department of Defense. Urge your Senators to reject Pete Hegseth’s nomination.

As of December 19th, my children will have spent six years in foster care, completely cut off from family connections, parental visits, and phone calls. This has resulted in a profound sense of abandonment and alienation, largely due to the actions of the department. The intention behind this approach seems to be to make them more adoptable, but it only reinforces the feeling that they are unloved and unwanted. This is why I believe Title IV-E federal funding should be repealed; it no longer fulfills its original purpose. Below are the negative failures of title 4E federal funding. I had a generated by AI... I didn't want people to second-guess me or think I didn't have my facts straight.  Title IV-E of the Social Security Act provides federal funding for foster care and adoption assistance programs. While the intent of this funding is to support children in the welfare system and promote family stability, there can be negative results and impacts on families. Here are some potential negative outcomes associated with Title IV-E funding: 1. **Incentivization of Foster Care Placement**: The funding structure may inadvertently incentivize the placement of children into foster care rather than supporting families to stay together. This can lead to unnecessary separations and trauma for children and parents. 2. **Limited Support for Preventive Services**: Title IV-E funding primarily focuses on foster care and adoption assistance, which may result in insufficient resources allocated for preventive services that could help families avoid entering the child welfare system in the first place. 3. **Overburdened Child Welfare System**: Increased funding for foster care can lead to an influx of cases, overwhelming the child welfare system. This can result in inadequate attention and resources for families in crisis, leading to poorer outcomes for children and families. 4. **Disparities in Access to Services**: Families from marginalized communities may face barriers in accessing the benefits of Title IV-E funding. This can exacerbate existing inequalities and lead to disproportionate rates of foster care placements among certain populations. 5. **Stigmatization of Families**: The involvement of child welfare services can carry a stigma, which may discourage families from seeking help. This stigma can lead to isolation and further challenges for families struggling with issues that could be addressed with appropriate support. 6. **Short-Term Focus**: The funding may prioritize immediate placements and financial assistance over long-term solutions that address the root causes of family instability, such as poverty, mental health issues, and substance abuse. 7. **Potential for Mismanagement**: With increased funding, there is a risk of mismanagement or misuse of resources, which can detract from the intended support for families and children. This can lead to a lack of accountability and transparency in how funds are utilized. 8. **Impact on Family Reunification**: The focus on foster care placements may delay or complicate the process of family reunification, as resources may be more readily available for foster care than for services that support reunification efforts. 9. **Emotional and Psychological Effects**: The trauma of entering the foster care system can have lasting emotional and psychological effects on children and their families, which may not be adequately addressed by the services funded under Title

Signing this petition is vital to show Oregon’s leaders that we, as residents, demand bold action to protect our shared values and fundamental rights. As California and Washington take decisive steps to safeguard democracy, reproductive rights, environmental protections, and civil liberties, Oregon must join in solidarity to ensure our state remains a leader in progress, equity, and justice. Your signature amplifies the call for meaningful policies and partnerships that counter federal overreach and defend the rights, safety, and dignity of all Oregonians. Together, we can send a powerful message: Oregon will not stand idly by in the face of threats to our core principles. Make your voice heard—sign today!

Elon Musk’s access to information poses a dangerous and unprecedented threat to national security. One expert said it all: ““It’s bad enough that Musk could be careless with classified data or expose himself to blackmail; it’s even more unsettling to imagine him undermining American security because of poor judgment, political grudges, and unwise foreign associations. Remember, this is a man who had to pay a $20 million fine for blabbing about taking Tesla private and had to agree to have some of his social-media posts overseen by a Tesla lawyer — and that’s not even close to classified information.”” Right now, Musk has incredible influence in the Trump transition, weighing in on its hiring decisions and even being offered a role in determining policy after years of using his platforms to spread misinformation and his immense wealth to help secure Trump's victory — and he’s doing it all while regularly chatting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and bragging about his “‘top-secret’ security clearance.” Federal guidelines outline several major disqualifying factors for security clearance, including three red flags prominently featured in Elon Musk's recent history: illegal drug use, questionable foreign ties, and financial problems. It’s a no brainer that his clearance should be reviewed and revoked immediately. By taking action now to revoke Musk's clearance, the Biden administration can create an immediate and crucial firewall against potential abuse of classified information today. But that’s not all: Once revoked, security clearances become significantly harder to reinstate — meaning we’ll make it harder for him to do his worst from either inside or outside the Trump administration next year. So sign now and tell the president to protect national security immediately by revoking Elon Musk's security clearance!