PathWays PA Policy Blog

The House and Senate are heading home soon to meet with their constituents - you. If there's something on your mind, now is a great time to set up a meeting to discuss it. If you're not sure how to go about setting up a meeting (or what to do once you're there), check out our information below. Decide what you want to meet about: There's so many issues to discuss right now - things like  immigration  and  paid family leave/the FAMILY Act. .... Think about what matters to you, and do a little research to learn more until you feel comfortable talking about it When you are ready, find your member of Congress here , and then ask to speak with the scheduler to set up a meeting. Here's a sample script: "Hi, my name is _________, and I'd like to speak to the scheduler about setting up a meeting with Rep. _______ during the August recess. I'm very interested in talking to the representative about __________. In most cases, you will need to go to the legi...

The immigrant detention crisis is deepening by the day. Children in migrant detention camps describe their situation as dire . In speaking to attorneys, they say: "I'm so hungry that I have woken up in the night with hunger." - 12 year old boy "We are in a metal cage with 20 other teenagers with babies and young children.... It is very cold." - 16 year old girl "The immigration agents separated me from my father right away. I was very frightened and scared. I cried. I have not seen my father again." - 5 year old boy Last week, the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General released a Management Alert titled: " DHS Needs to Address Dangerous Overcrowding and Prolonged Detention of Children and Adults in the Rio Grande Valley. " It notes "urgent issues that require immediate attention," including serious overcrowding, standing room only conditions (where some adults have been held for over a week), Of the 8,0...

Metastatic breast cancer (also known as Stage IV breast cancer) occurs when cancer spreads beyond the breast into other parts of the body, including the bones, liver, and brain. 116 people die each day from metastatic breast cancer in the United States - but, with access to treatment, metastatic patients can go into remission, live longer, and/or have better quality of life. The Metastatic Breast Cancer Access to Care Act would waive a 2 year waiting period for metastatic patients to be eligible for Medicare. It would also waive a 5 month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for those who qualify. Access to healthcare and benefits is key for all those diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. The National Breast Cancer Coalition reports that the Act has been introduced in the House and Senate . Please contact your legislators at 202-224-3121 and ask them to sign on!