Planned Parenthood is a necessary public health service in the United States. The organization summarizes it best: "There are over 80,000 women, men and young people in this state who depend on Planned Parenthood each year for basic, preventive health care routine examinations, cancer screenings, contraceptive services, HIV and STI testing and treatment, as well as medically-accurate health education." How can anyone argue with that? Sign this petition and stand with PP.

A rarely discussed National Tragedy is occurring, yet we are silent. The next Commander-in-Chief must address the suicide rate amongst Veterans and include their solution in the Budget. We demand our soldiers fight on distant shores, yet discard them when they return, a disgraceful stain upon our country.

Several of my close friends, some that are combat Veterans, are at risk of losing access to the medicine they rely on. Some in the Montana state government have taken it upon themselves to go against the will of the people and try and stop medical marijuana by any means. Multiple doctors who are brave enough to prescribe medical marijuana to patients are being targeted by the government for legal action. Recently Dr. Ibsen of Helena was targeted and the charges have been dropped, but this has had a detrimental effect. Now, doctors are afraid of being the target of the next "witch hunt" and this has got to stop. Please help me to stand up for voters' and patients' rights.

My friend Paul Nachbar has been in the mental health system for over 20 years and it has destroyed him. He was a very good poet very sensitive and thoughtful. That was his poetry from before he got overwhelmed by his treatment. Now it is very rough and full of anger. Sometimes his poetry comes near to its former self. I have been his friend for about 5 years and he has gone downhill in that time. I am very worried for him.

The ACA is here to stay! That's a good thing because the law has delivered long-awaited patient protections, such as: - Making it illegal for insurance companies to deny people with pre-existing conditions; - Making it possible for people to find affordable coverage if they can’t get it through a job; and - Making sure women aren’t unfairly charged more than men, and have access to important preventive benefits like cancer screenings and birth control. Still, there is more we can do to make our health care system work better for everyone. We can do more to bring down premiums and lower what Americans pay out-of-pocket. We can give people more power against big insurance and drug companies. But we can’t do that until Congress stops wasting time and taxpayer dollars on repealing the health care law.

Anne Arundel County residents suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, seizures, autoimmune diseases, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and other debilitating health conditions should not have to suffer in the darkness. They should not have to travel long distances to procure a medicine that their doctor has deemed effective and beneficial. Anne Arundel County residents should be afforded the right to local access to medicinal marijuana which can improve their way of life. Please sign the petition and tell County Executive Steve Schuh and the other members of the Anne Arundel County Council to be proactive in safely and effectively structuring the County’s medicinal cannabis program.

As a student studying Social Work, I have recently been made aware of the problems that Optum has created within the mental health field. I have witnessed first hand the additional "hoops" individuals, most often children, who qualify for Medicaid now have to jump through in order to receive mental health care, and many times services needed are denied. Along with not providing services to vulnerable populations in need, Optum is not reimbursing providers properly, which could lead to the deterioration of mental health care in Idaho. In order to help those in need and protect mental health care providers, Idaho must not sign another contract with Optum.

The nation’s doctor has issued a rare Call to Action calling on cities and states across the country to invest in ways to make walking and biking safer, more attractive, and easier to use. Less than half of Americans get enough daily physical activity to help ward off chronic health problems like obesity and cancer, but more “active transportation” options can be part of the solution. By issuing this challenge to cities and states, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recognizes that not only is this something more people want, but it’s also something we need. Thank the Surgeon General for his leadership on keeping America healthy.

I am a nurse who works in an allergy clinic. We see thousands of patients in our clinic who are diagnosed with allergies: Food allergies, environmental allergies, medication allergies. We also have patients who are allergic to certain preservatives. These life threatening allergies require the patients to carry epinephrine injectors on them at all times. But, I have seen and personally talked to patients who just can't afford the $300-400 injectors. Making these more affordable for patients, both with and without insurance across the board, would help save lives. This should be a top priority, as people can die from their life-threatening allergies if they just can't afford the life saving medication.

Proposals to force unlimited vaccines on the population without exemption are based on the flawed, unproven and medically impossible belief that vaccinating protects others, and that not vaccinating endangers others. Vaccines are, according the US Supreme Court, "unavoidably unsafe". They have questionable benefits, and very real and documented dangers and risks, which many educated parents feel outweigh the claimed benefits. Parents, not the State, know what is best for their children. Ethical medical practice requires the informed consent of the individual to choose any medical treatment. Forced vaccination also destroys religious freedom, one of the highest values in American culture. Healthcare freedom of choice must be preserved.

Planned Parenthood (PP) has NEVER sold fetal tissue. The tapes were produced by folks who have created similar propaganda on many issues. Only 3% of PP activity is abortion related and NONE (by law) is paid for by government funding. The funding you do provide is for basic health care, pregnancy and STD testing, reproductive education (young adults need facts, not platitudes) and services (birth control prevents abortions). Please vote NO on any bill limiting funding for Planned Parenthood. Thank you.

Cutting back on funding on women's health care services is not right nor fair. We need to take in consideration the reality that when women come to these clinics for help and they are turned away, they have nowhere else to go.