February 22, 2010
The leaders of nine health and liberal activist groups wrote party leaders in both Houses, urging them to use this Thursday's healthcare summit with President Barack Obama to move on health reform as quickly as possible.
January 29, 2010
Rev. Heyward Wiggins speaks at a health reform rally co-sponsored by PICO and Families USA as part of the Families USA Health Action 2010 Conference weekend.
January 26, 2010
On January 25, over 250 people crossed county and state lines to pack the sanctuary of St. Peter, CME Church in Kansas City, KS to urge Congressman Dennis Moore to keep fighting for comprehensive health care reform legislation and stepped up efforts to fight foreclosures and keep families in their homes.
January 22, 2010
“One election half-way across the country has done nothing to change the desperate need of children and families in our community for affordable health care,” says Rev. Rayfield Burns, a PICO leader from Communities Creating Opportunity in Kansas City, MO.
January 08, 2010
On January 13, more than 200 grassroots and organizational leaders from PICO, SEIU, Health Rights Organizing Project, Community Catalyst and Families USA will gather in Washington, D.C. for a Health Care Affordability Summit.
December 18, 2009
As 2009 draws to a close, and we fully engage the inspiration of hope and light, I would like to thank you for your incredible efforts to improve life in our nation this year. Consider what our work together through the PICO network is accomplishing in the United States and around the globe.
November 19, 2009
This morning, shortly before Senate Majority Leader Reid formally announced long-awaited health reform legislation, local pastors and lay leaders from states with Senators that are crucial to the outcome of reform gathered outside the Capitol Building to pray for continued progress on legislation to extend affordable coverage to families.
November 10, 2009
Over the last year, PICO affiliate ACTION Network in Gainesville, Florida, has been working to ensure that residents of east Gainesville continue to have access to the health services they need after its primary community hospital closes.
November 07, 2009
PICO National Network applauds tonight's historic vote in the House of Representatives to pass health reform legislation that will extend coverage to 36 million Americans, ban insurance companies from denying people coverage for pre-existing conditions, and help make health care more affordable to millions of hardworking American families, while also reducing the deficit.
November 02, 2009
160 faith, labor, consumer, public health and patient organizations representing millions of American families in 39 states, sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid urging him to reject a proposal that would increase premiums for low-wage working families, and instead to ensure that Senate legislation makes insurance more affordable for precisely these families who have been hardest-hit by the economic downturn.
October 21, 2009
Clergy are joined by consumer and labor leaders, including SEIU President Andy Stern, in urging Senate to fix legislation that would saddle low-wage workers with high costs.
October 16, 2009
As job losses mount in Florida, the number of children who are uninsured but eligible for Florida's SCHIP program - KidCare - (now at 550,000 statewide) continues to grow. On October 16, faith leaders from the four PICO federations in Florida met with state officials to discuss creative ways to meet the growing need for affordable children's health insurance.
October 05, 2009
Exhibit to visit 7 cities across the country on way to Capitol Hill, collecting over 1,000 portraits and handwritten notes from PICO members who support health reform.
September 16, 2009
Under the banner of Affordable Health Care is a Family Value, national consumer, faith and patient organizations representing tens of millions of families, held a lobby day and rally on Capitol Hill this afternoon pressing Congress to make sure that legislation includes clear affordability protections for families.
September 15, 2009
Washington, DC - With the Senate Finance Committee poised to begin debating health reform legislation, consumer, patient, religious and civil rights organizations that represent tens of millions of Americans released a joint statement calling for strong affordability protections in national health reform.
September 08, 2009
With Congress returning from August recess today, a more complete narrative of what Members of Congress heard from their constituents at home regarding health care reform is emerging.
September 02, 2009
On September 1, 200 Long Beach residents gathered at St. Anthony's Catholic Church Hall, a member of Greater Long Beach Interfaith Community Organization (ICO) to participate in a community forum on health care & immigration reform.
August 19, 2009
An estimated 140,000 of people of faith, including thousands from the PICO network, gathered today for a historical national conference call on health care reform with President Barack Obama and the American faith community.
August 18, 2009
Tens of thousands of people of faith will gather for 40 minutes of health care prayer, learning and action on a historic national conference call with President Barack Obama.
August 12, 2009
On August 11, PICO kicked off its August Congressional recess campaign "40 Days for Health Reform" with a National Day of Action that included 50 prayer vigils and rallies in 18 states and reaching over 100 Members of Congress, as well as a national TV Ad from the faith community.
August 05, 2009
On August 2, community members from Orange County, CA participated in a prayer vigil with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, a Blue Dog Democrat from Santa Ana, to highlight the community's desire and need for comprehensive health care reform this year.
August 03, 2009
PICO affiliate Faith in Action Kern County produced the following video that documents the health care struggles of families in the greater Bakersfield area of California.
July 28, 2009
PICO leaders on Capitol Hill today are declaring that there will be "NO RECESS FOR REFORM," launching a massive push in August to meet with the offices of over 100 Members of Congress and tell them "our families need health care reform this year!"
July 27, 2009
On July 28, PICO, Sojourners, Faith in Public Life and Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good will announce an aggressive in-district lobbying campaign during the August recess, including events at the offices of 100 Members of Congress, town hall meetings on health care reform and the distribution of tens of thousands health care reform guides for people of faith in targeted districts and states.
July 22, 2009
As people who feel the pinch of rising health care costs and eroding coverage, we need the health care debate to stay focused on constructive ideas that keep reform moving forward, not backward. The time is ripe for action.
July 20, 2009
On July 18, volunteer leaders from Peninsula Interfaith Action, a PICO affiliate with 30 member congregations on the San Francisco Peninsula, held a town hall meeting to seek policy changes in health care and immigration.
July 16, 2009
PICO affiliate Metropolitan Interfaith Congregations Acting for Hope (MICAH), a Metrowest Boston interfaith organization, together with the MetroWest Free Medical Program, led a community forum on affordable health care for all at Sudbury United Methodist Church on July 15.
July 10, 2009
PICO, Sojourners & Religous Action Center for Reform Judaism produced Guides to the Health Care Reform Debate for Christian and Jewish clergy and lay leaders to help them participate in the health care debate in a constructive way, based on their values.
July 06, 2009
As a broad cross-section of religious denominations and organizations, we share a common belief that the true success of comprehensive health care reform legislation hinges on whether it protects and improves health care for the nation's lowest-income children and families.
On July 2, over 400 grassroots leaders from PICO affiliate Metro Organizations for People (MOP) in Colorado met with Sen. Michael Bennet to urge him to support health care reform that will make insurance more affordable for families in Colorado.
June 30, 2009
On June 30, PICO released a national letter from 625 clergy from 41 states and 39 religious denominations urging Congressional leaders from both parties to pass legislation this year that makes health care affordable to all families.
June 29, 2009
As Senators head home for Independence Day Recess, local faith leaders from across the country will take to the airwaves with radio ads reminding them that the status quo on health care is “not who we are as a nation” and that “America can do better.”
June 22, 2009
While leaders in the House are showing the courage we need in Washington to stand up for everyday Americans struggling with the high cost of health care, leaders in the Senate are beginning to waver. We need you to call your Members of Congress today!
June 18, 2009
On June 17, 200 PICO youth and adult leaders marched on the California State Capitol to protect Healthy Families - California's SCHIP - and kid's lives.
June 17, 2009
"Health care reform can only succeed if we bring everyone into the health insurance system and provide families with coverage that is affordable. Ultimately, the most important question is whether health coverage is affordable from the perspective and experience of American families."
June 16, 2009
On Monday, June 15, PICO clergy and faith leaders from California, Colorado, New Jersey, Missouri, and Vermont joined members of Community Catalyst in holding a briefing for Congressional staff on Capitol Hill on the need for a strong Affordability Standard in health care reform legislation.
June 14, 2009
On June 13, over 500 people from Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO) turned out for a town hall meeting on health care reform with Congressman George Miller, chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor.
June 10, 2009
Faith leaders from PICO National Network celebrated this week's forward movement in the Senate HELP committee.
June 02, 2009
When Members of Congress return to Washington, DC today they'll be getting an earful from industries with financial interests in the health care reform legislation that Congress is writing this month. One staffer told us she was meeting with 8-10 health care lobbyists a day! In this "David vs. Goliath" moment, we have a secret weapon: there are more of us than them.
May 28, 2009
Last night, over 300 faith leaders from PACT San Jose and other Bay Area PICO affiliates held the first of a series of town hall meetings in California with Members of Congress to build support for health care reform legislation.
May 21, 2009
As Congress takes up health care reform, local faith leaders from across the country today launched a media and grassroots campaign to encourage Members of Congress to move reform forward and make quality health care truly affordable for every American family.
May 14, 2009
"It appears that Sen. Baucus is hearing our call," said Rev. Cory Sparks from PICO. "Making health care more affordable for families needs to be central to fixing health care."
May 05, 2009
In advance of today's highly anticipated Senate Finance Committee Roundtable on Increasing Access to Health Coverage, Community Catalyst and PICO National Network released two issue briefs that explain why the success of health care reform depends on the adoption of a strong, common sense Affordability Standard that limits out-of-pocket health care costs to levels that families at different income levels can afford.
May 01, 2009
After a 3-year campaign to make much needed improvments to KidCare - Florida's State Children's Health Insurance Program - faith leaders from PICO Florida are celebrating unanimous passage last week of state legislation in both the House and Senate. The bill will now be on its way to the Governor for his signature.
April 29, 2009
In less than one week, faith leaders from PICO affiliate Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO) organized three health care forums with County Supervisors and their staff to give the community an opportunity to voice their opinions on harmful cuts to the Basic Healthcare Program.
April 21, 2009
On April 16, 150 people from more than 100 faith communities across Missouri traveled to the state capital with PICO affiliate Communities Creating Opportunity (CCO) for a Faith and Families Summit with state lawmakers.
April 07, 2009
Last week, parents across the country struggling to provide their kids with health insurance had reason to feel encouraged. On April 1, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 took effect. Signed by President Obama on February 4, CHIPRA makes funding available for states to cover an additional 4.1 million children over the next four years - children who otherwise would be uninsured.
March 19, 2009
On March 19, more than 700 members of PICO affiliate Metro Organizations for People (MOP) met with legislative leaders to discuss MOP's "Agenda for Hope," which includes state and federal legislation identified as vitally important to MOP's 33 member congregations, schools, youth and neighborhood associations in metropolitan Denver.
March 12, 2009
Over 275 PICO faith leaders from across the country converged on the U.S. Capital this week with a clear message for the nation's leaders - at this moment of crisis, the American people need them to have faith and courage to make the tough decisions necessary to get our country back on track, including making sure that health care reform happens this year and preventing millions of unnecessary foreclosures by enacting bankruptcy reform.
March 06, 2009
On March 5, Scott Reed had the opportunity to represent the PICO network at the White House Forum on Health Reform and to speak at one of the five breakout sessions that included Members of Congress from both parties, along with executives from employer, labor, insurance, and advocacy organizations involved in health reform.
February 13, 2009
PICO leaders from Congregations Rebuilding Community in Rwanda (CRCR) in Mumeya are preparing to celebrate the opening of the first three rooms of their new Health Center next month.
February 04, 2009
January 31, 2009
PICO applauds Senate vote to extend health coverage to 11 million children.
January 25, 2009
PICO affiliate Metro Organizations for People (MOP) held a day-long health care training for 70 youth and adult leaders who came from 20 congregations and schools located across the Denver metro area.
January 09, 2009
This week, Congressional leaders announced their decision to try to put a children's health bill on the new President's desk when he arrives on January 20th. Wouldn't it be amazing if the first piece of legislation that President Obama signs provides the hope of better health to more than four million uninsured children?
Join people across the country in telling Congress that affordability is key to the success of health reform for Americans. See event listings here.
Congress needs to know that health care reform is a top priority for Americans, and that you want legislation to make insurance affordable for families. Call now.
Dedicate one weekend this fall to pray and teach about health care and its impact on families.
Inspire others to act by posting a health care experience from your congregation, family or neighborhood.
Sign up to receive action alert text messages from PICO. Text "coverallfamilies" to 69866 now or register online.
Religious congregations organized a "40 Days for Health Reform" Campaign over August Congressional recess to ensure that Congress passes health reform legislation this fall.
PICO, Sojourners and the Religious Action Center for Reform Judiams produced guides for Christian & Jewish clergy and congregation members on health care reform and how to participate in way consistent with our values >>
