The LIFT the BAR Act: What to Expect This Week
|
|
|
Dear Allies,
As we come back from a long Labor Day weekend, we want to thank all of you for your incredibly important contributions over the past year. Without your work, we would not be where we are today. This week, we have an update on the imminent LIFT the BAR Act introduction, plus ways you can get involved! Keep reading for new resources for Child Tax Credit outreach, plus information on CTAN’s #CitizenshipMeans #KidsThrive week of action.
|
|
|
Update on LIFT the BAR Act
The House co-sponsors of the LIFT the BAR Act plan to introduce the legislation THIS Friday (though, of course, subject to change). As a brief reminder, LIFT the BAR restores access to federal assistance programs like Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP, by removing the five-year bar and other barriers that deny critical care and aid to people who are lawfully present. Background about the bill and what it does can be found on the PIF LIFT the BAR Resource Hub.
Have you signed PIF’s letter of support? PIF is circulating a sign on letter for national, state and local organizations to show their support. Sign on today and help show the tremendous support for this critical legislation. Over 460 organizations have already signed, representing 49 states + Washington, DC. Can you help us get to 500+ groups? And if you have a partner in North Dakota--encourage them to sign too! The deadline to sign on is now COB, Thursday, September 9th. SIGN HERE
Is your Member of Congress a co-sponsor? Original Congressional co-sponsors are still needed for the LIFT the BAR Act. Email or call your Member today and encourage them to sign on as soon as possible. You can also use PIF’s Take Action page to send an email directly to their office. Feel free to share that link with friends and family--and encourage them to send an email too.
Tweetstorm and toolkit coming soon. We plan to thank Rep. Jayapal and challenge her colleagues to support the bill, by organizing a Twitter tweetstorm. While the date and time of this event may change if the bill’s introduction timing changes, we are tentatively planning the tweetstorm for Tuesday, September 14, at 2:00pm EDT / 11:00am PDT. We’re also preparing a LIFT the BAR Act toolkit, which will be released when the bill is introduced. It will include a press release on the PIF letter, a sample news pitch, a Twitter “tweetkit,” and other resources to support partners.
|
|
ANPRM Listening Session Next Week
In addition to a 60-day public comment period for the public charge ANPRM, DHS is hosting two virtual listening sessions. The first session is scheduled for next Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 2 pm ET, and it is for the general public. We encourage organizations and individuals who want to speak out to participate next week, please note that you must register by noon ET on Sunday, September 12.
Here is what we know about the listening sessions:
-
Each listening session will be only 90 minutes long, and speakers will enter a code on their phones to queue up for presentations.
-
Speakers must present in English, but real-time translation on the speaker’s end is welcome, and we do not expect DHS will ask questions of presenters.
-
Speakers do not need to identify themselves at all.
|
|
New CBPP Resources for CTC Outreach
Our partners at CBPP have launched a digital toolkit with back-to-school themed content and graphics for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. CBPP have had a packed training schedule recently and have several recordings to share.
|
|
CTAN's #CitizenshipMeans #KidsThrive Week of Action!
Our partners at the Children Thrive Action Network (CTAN) began a week of action today, with each weekday spotlighting a specific aspect of life that would be improved if Congress creates a path to citizenship, including mental health, economic security, and family unity. They’ll share a short video daily at noon ET on social media and related content throughout the day. The videos feature Paola Ramos, Daishi Miguel Tanaka, Senator Alex Padilla, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Claudia from the Immigrant Alliance for Justice and Equity (MS), and Tina Hamdi.
While any day is a great opportunity, the theme for next Monday, September 13 is Access to Benefits, and we encourage PIF partners to join the effort on that day especially. The entire list of themes is:
-
Freedom to Thrive (Wednesday, 9/8)
-
Mental Health (Thursday, 9/9)
-
Educational Outcomes (Friday, 9/10)
-
Access to Benefits (Monday, 9/13)
-
Economic Security (Tuesday, 9/14)
-
Family Unity (Wednesday, 9/15)
CTAN has developed great sample content, and they encourage partners to start each day off with a post lifting up the noon ET video of the day. The PIF ANPRM tweetkit and broader community-facing social toolkit both include samples focused on children in immigrant families, and we encourage you to share or reshare those again on Monday. Whatever content you choose to share, please also include PIF’s #ProtectFamilies hashtag, which makes it easier for partners to find and amplify your post.
|
|
New Report from UnidosUS on Gaps in Access to Health Care for People with DACA
A new report from UnidosUS identifies the current gaps in access to health care for people with DACA. It also urges the Biden administration to extend eligibility for government insurance programs so that people with DACA have access to affordable health care, especially given the urgent health care needs created by the pandemic.
|
|
|
|
In Solidarity,
Eddie Carmona & Renato Rocha, on behalf of the PIF Team
Visit us at https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/
|
|
|
|
