ACTION: CALL TO SAVE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

From Indivisible Oregon...

**CALL TO ACTION**
Thursday September 28, 2017
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URGENT: SAVE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS
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#ProtectOurCare

We won the battle to defeat the Graham-Cassidy ACA repeal and now we must address other healthcare needs. We need Congress to work together to improve our healthcare, not take it away.

Yesterday we called about reauthorizing CHIP before its funding runs out on September 30th.  Without timely reauthorization the healthcare of 9 million children will be put at risk.

Congress also needs to fund another critical part of our health care system – Community Health Centers (CHC).  The $3.6 billion Community Health Center Fund will sunset on September 30 if it’s not renewed. Despite having strong bi-partisan support (http://bit.ly/2k2CLbQ), CHCs were put at risk when Senate GOP leaders chewed up precious days trying to pass the Graham-Cassidy bill.

CHCs are the backbone of care for low-income and homeless people. They provide primary care, counseling, dentistry, and more, whether or not patients can pay http://bit.ly/2k2YtMR.

• More than 350,000 Oregonians receive their care from CHCs
• Oregon CHCs employ 4,000 people http://bit.ly/2wWHK3R
• Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio and 108 other Representatives have co-sponsored legislation funding CHCs
 
Congress must reauthorize CHIP and fund Community Health Centers. They must act now so that our most vulnerable citizens see no break in their health care.
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**ACTION 1: CALL OUR SENATORS**
(or leave a voice mail after hours)

SAMPLE SCRIPT
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon, [zip code].  I am so relieved that “Repeal and Replace” is dead, at least for now. Thank you so much for all that you have done. Now it is time for the Senate to get back to work and quickly reauthorize CHIP and renew funding for the Community Health Center Fund. Thank you.“
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**ACTION 2: CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE**

“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon, [zip code].  I am so relieved that, at least for now, “Repeal and Replace” is dead.  Now it is time for Congress to get back to work to quickly reauthorize CHIP and renew funding for the Community Health Center Fund. Thank you.“
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**PHONE NUMBERS**

SENATOR MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129

SENATOR WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691

CONGRESSWOMAN SUZANNE BONAMICI [D1]
DC: (202) 225-0855, OR: (503) 469-6010

CONGRESSMAN GREG WALDEN [D2]
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400

CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER [D3]
DC: (202) 225-4811, OR: (503) 231-2300

CONGRESSMAN PETER DEFAZIO [D4]
DC 202-225-6416, Eugene: (541) 465-6732,
Roseburg: (541) 440-3523, Coos Bay (541) 269-2609

CONGRESSMAN KURT SCHRADER [D5]
DC: (202) 225-5711, Salem (503) 588-9100,
Oregon City (503) 557-1324

** After you call, please comment below and briefly share your experience!**

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/funding-hangs-limbo-nations-1400-community-health-center/