The absences of long-term care coverage in Medicare is one of the biggest, and most tragic omissions in the care it pays for. Without this change in Medicare coverage, long-term care recipients and their immediate families are forced to liquidate everything they ever owned to pay for care, until they are so impoverished that they become eligible for Medicaid. Care facilities currently are notoriously fraught with nightmarish inadequacies, as Medicare's own review process, as well as state level reviews, demonstrates, and this is true throughout the US. Making them dependent upon Medicare for funding will impose accountability on them and result not only in more people who need it getting care but in all patients who need such care getting a high standard of care.

There is a reason the Center for Disease Control made the guidance for Phase 1C of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out to include people aged 16 - 64 years with underlying medical conditions and disabilities, which increase the risk of serious, life-threatening complications and death from COVID-19. However and despite this guidance, in recent weeks thirty states de-prioritized these people in COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the name of efficiency and equity. It is common sense to prioritize vulnerable Americans. In the past twelve months, over half of a million people have died from COVID-19 in the United States. 94% of these were Americans with comorbidities. The guidance is not just that of the Center for Disease Control. An analysis by FAIR Health, in collaboration with the West Health Institute and Johns Hopkins' Marty Makary, found that COVID-19 patients with developmental disorders are the most at risk of dying, followed by those with lung cancer and intellectual disabilities, regardless of age. And now, recent studies from leading immunologists in Boston show mutations are incubated in autoimmune disease patients, creating strains that are sometimes undetectable to testing and impervious to current COVID-19 treatments. Studies from John Hopkins found that people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s can catch the virus. Some develop severe and lasting symptoms, particularly if they have comorbidities or underlying conditions (such as obesity, diabetes, or high blood pressure (hypertension)). Data from one study shows that of more than 3,000 adults ages 18 to 34 who contracted COVID-19 and became sick enough to require hospital care, 21% ended up in intensive care, 10% were placed on a breathing machine, and 2.7% died. The majority of these patients had comorbidities. This in-hospital mortality rate is lower than that reported for older adults with COVID-19, but approximately double that of young adults with acute myocardial infarction. And the data is there in other parts of the world—the United Kingdom recently announced that sixty percent of their COVID-19 deaths were those with disabilities. In Australia, disabled people are five times more likely to die. Unlike the UK and AU, the United States does not collect data the same way it collects data on race or gender identity, meaning the 94% could be a low figure. Unfortunately, the majority of state vaccine rollout plans are based on state data. However, many states do not track numerous underlying conditions and disabilities within their health departments as they do other demographics such as race, age, and gender. But we know now that these are individuals at risk for bad outcomes and death from COVID-19; second to age is an underlying condition and disability such as developmental disabilities. To make matters worse, “disability activists, chronic illness advocates, and people with disabilities and underlying conditions have pointed to three main failures in inequitable vaccine rollouts: eligibility lists that do not include all those who are considered high risk; states that have not prioritized people with disabilities; and websites or vaccination sites that are not accessible, as author Cecilia Nowell wrote in her article "This women-made tool could help get more disabled people vaccinated" in The Lily. We implore the National Governors Association to re-prioritize those in thirty states who are vulnerable and have a disability. We demand vulnerable and disabled people are included in phase 1C of ALL states' vaccine rollouts, that vaccine sign-up and sites are accessible, and that states provide a choice of vaccines to those with conditions or disabilities who require choice due to their unique medical needs. Sign our petition to tell the National Governors Association to stop ignoring the vulnerable and disabled Americans and demand equity in COVID-19 state public health plans. Re-prioritize them for vaccination in the thirty states that have de-prioritized them by including them in Phase 1C. We will update you on our upcoming letter to the National Governors Association that will include this petition and other actions you can take as the campaign develops. Please stay tuned. Sincerely, Vulnerable Advocates Collective https://bit.ly/vacpact The Vulnerable Advocates Collective, or VAC Pact, is a group of activists dedicated to amplifying the voices of the vulnerable people and disabled people erased from the equity conversation. Full Plain Text Petition with Works Cited: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Bma65ujyZAygUQcJ11ZEtHDi1Soh7Wc9_zKJtmT8J4M/edit?usp=sharing

The single most important thing we can do to move our country forward, the thing on which all other progress in the current Senate depends, is to eliminate the filibuster rule. The Democrats can do this if they act in unison. Therefore it is critical to get Joe Manchin and Kristin Sinema, the only Democrats currently in opposition, to feel the weight of popular support and join their fellow Democrats in making this essential change.

It is important to preserve Democracy and free and fair Elections.

Have you heard of the LGTBQ+ “panic” defense, more commonly called the gay “panic” defense? The LGBTQ+ “panic” defense is a legal defense strategy that puts the blame of a violent act on the sexual orientation or gender identity of the victim. When a criminal uses this defense they are stating that the sexual orientation or gender identity of the victim explains and excuses their loss of self control and the violent acts that followed, including murder. This legal strategy is usually used to claim one or more of three defenses: Insanity, stating the victim’s orientation or identity caused the defendant to have a nervous breakdown and lash out violently Provocation, stating that the victim made some kind of non-violent sexual advance which provoked a violent response from the defendant Self-defense, stating that the defendant felt physically threatened because of the victim’s orientation or identity This defense strategy is rooted in homophobia and transphobia and when it is allowed in court it sends a message that the lives of LGBTQ+ people are worth less than other lives. The FBI reported that about 1,736 people were victims of hate crimes in 2019 because of their sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity. The LGBTQ+ “panic” defense was used as recently as 2018 in Texas to mitigate a murder charge. 12 other states have banned this defense from being allowed in court. This defense strategy has been used in Utah. One example is George Moriarty. Moriarty was drinking with Gary Horning and Leon Dyer when they went on a drive up Ogden Canyon. What happened between the men is still unknown. What is known is that Moriarty was beaten in the car and then shoved down a 140ft embankment. He survived and climbed back up to the road where Horning and Dyer then hit him with the car they were driving. Moriarty was found dead the next day. Dyer and Horning used the gay “panic” defense and were convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to up to only 10 years in prison. There is a much longer list of sexual orientation and gender identity-based hate crimes in Utah. To protect the LGBTQ+ community from having crimes against them tried differently in court because of their orientation or identity, we need to ban the use of the LGBTQ+ “panic” defense in Utah. Sign this petition to be sent to the Utah State House and Senate to ban this from ever happening again in Utah courts. Sources: https://lgbtbar.org/programs/advocacy/gay-trans-panic-defense/ https://ucr.fbi.gov/hate-crime/2019/resource-pages/hate-crime-summary https://www.qsaltlake.com/news/2012/10/01/a-history-of-hate-crimes-in-utah/

Voters elected Democrats to the presidency and to a majority in both houses of Congress, expecting Democrats to deliver real relief for the American people and invest in lifting us all up. That includes increasing the minimum wage to $15/hour—an essential and long-overdue measure that would increase quality of life for tens of millions of people currently working for starvation wages. Republicans stand in opposition to a minimum wage increase, as they always do. But Republicans have shown, again and again, they aren't interested in serious governing or helping deliver for the American people. It's time for Democrats to stop waiting for Republicans—and to stop allowing a minority party to set the agenda in Washington. Democrats have been advised by the Senate parliamentarian they can't include a wage increase in the covid relief bill. They fear that Republicans will use the filibuster—the regular tool of obstructionists who used it to support Jim Crow laws enshrining segregation and inequality and block progress ever since—to block a stand-alone bill. It's time for Democrats to recognize that the American people care about our wages, real relief, investment in jobs and our community—and we don't care about antiquated protocols. Democrats: Deliver the wage increase, however you can. Do it now. Americans are relying on you and will support you if you can deliver on this popular, essential, urgent need.

While Whole Foods billionaires' wealth continues to skyrocket, frontline grocery workers are left to grapple with COVID-19 outbreaks in stores throughout the nation. Why? Because Whole Foods doesn’t provide the paid leave employees need to stay safe or care for their families—forcing them to choose between their paycheck and coming to work if they were exposed to the virus, if they are sick but don’t have access to a test, or leaving a loved one who needs care alone at home. Whole Foods can afford to do better. The grocery store chain and its parent company, Amazon, are raking in profits during the pandemic. To slow the spread of the virus among Whole Foods employees and customers, CEO John Mackey needs to immediately institute a permanent comprehensive paid leave policy. That includes guaranteed paid sick time, paid family and medical leave, and paid time off to be vaccinated.

COVID-19 has devastated Arizonans. Arizona's jobless rate is 7.5%—higher than the national average. 239,000 Arizonans fell behind on rent as of February 2021. Over 1 in 3 have trouble covering basic household expenses. Nearly 700,000 are struggling to keep food on the table. We just passed a devastating milestone as a country: 500,000 Americans dead from COVID. Millions more have experienced deep and lasting health effects from getting the infection. Their lives will never be the same. And we’re still feeling the economic consequences of COVID, as we remain on the brink of massive unemployment and eviction crises. The pandemic is far from over. The economic crisis is ongoing. Sen. Sinema must join the vast majority of Democrats—and Americans overall—who are fully supportive of this COVID relief package.

We need a Director of OMB. Stop holding up the nomination and confirm Ms. Tanden as the next director of OMB.

The failure of politicians and energy providers caused immeasurable suffering for millions of Texans in this recent winter storm and resultant power outages. Do not allow energy providers to shift their costs to already suffering Texan consumers by raising rates or charging excess fees. Texans deserve reliable service and should not bear the costs incurred by multimillion dollar companies who prioritized profits over preparedness. Use the rainy day funds to offset costs and provide relief to already suffering Texans.

The American people have a right to a just and honest government officiated by just and honest officials not afraid of the truth.

She has voted against her party many of times and she makes alaskans look weak.