(1)12:00pm, Phila City Council Hearing on Repeal of the Affordable Care Act – Philadelphia City Hall, 1401 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19107 https://www.facebook.com/events/488674124854933/
Please join the Council’s Committee on Public Health and Human Services for this first hearing on the impact the repeal of the ACA could have on the City. The Pennsylvania Health Access Network, Community Legal Services, PASNAP, hospitals, consumers and others will begin the public discussion and propose strategies to prevent this train wreck from happening. All are welcome. Bring your ID to get into City Hall. Meet in the City Council Chamber.
(2)House Bill 610 has been introduced.
This bill will effectively start the school voucher system to be used by children ages 5-17, and starts the defunding process of public schools. Please understand this will NOT benefit those they say it will.
In addition the bill will eliminate the Elementary and Education Act of 1965, which is the nation’s educational law and provides equal opportunity in education. ESSA is a comprehensive program that covers programs for struggling learners, AP classes, ESL classes, classes for minorities such as Native Americans, Rural Education, Education for the Homeless, School Safety (Gun-Free schools), Monitoring and Compliance and Federal Accountability Programs.
The Bill also abolishes the Nutritional Act of 2012 (No Hungry Kids Act) which provides nutritional standards in school breakfast and lunch. For our most vulnerable, this may be the ONLY nutritious food they have in a day.
The bill has no wording whatsoever protecting special needs kids, no mention of IDEA and FAPE.
Some things ESSA does for Children with Disabilities:
- Ensures access to the general education curriculum.
- Ensures access to accommodations on assessments.
- Ensures concepts of Universal Design for Learning
- Includes provisions that require local education agencies to provide evidence-based
interventions in schools with consistently underperforming subgroups. - Requires states in Title I plans to address how they will improve conditions for learning including reducing incidents of bullying and harassment in schools, overuse of discipline practices and reduce the use of aversive behavioral interventions (such as restraints and seclusion).
Please call your representative and ask him/her to vote NO on House Bill 610 (HR 610) introduced by three Republican reps.
(3)Support S. Res 56 (US should maintain refugee acceptance regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender.)
Support H. Res 136- Equality for All Resolution (LGBT)