Newsletters
August 2021
If the past several weeks have shown us anything, it is that disciplined, relational organizing WORKS. Whether in small towns and rural communities or on zoom calls with legislators and their staff, we are seeing these calls, emails and door knocks making an impact in the conversations we hold and the issues we continue to raise.
Speaking of which, we talk a lot about issues vs ideology. And it is something that is not fully understood in its nuance. But we’ve seen it play out in real life time and time again. Take for example the two stories we share below. Both are moving towards victories but neither easily won nor predictable. And where they share the same legislator (in these cases, Sen. Mike Braun), we find agreement and leadership on one issue (the MAT Act) and quite the opposite on another (Pregnant Worker Accommodation). However our North Star remains the same – it’s about the issues that impact us all, and our unwavering commitment to each other.
Senator Mike Braun Meeting
On July 27, Senator Braun’s Chief of Staff emailed us to share that after meeting with Hoosier Action members last week, the Senator will be co-sponsoring the Mainstream Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act!
The MAT Act will save the lives of thousands of Hoosiers by removing cumbersome, bureaucratic barriers that prevent those who use drugs get the medication they need to live healthy lives. It allows more doctors to be able to prescribe MAT (medically assisted treatment) which is medicine that reduces cravings and is the gold standard of treatment for those who use drugs.
This HUGE win is all because of members like you. This summer, our members have met with the staff of congress people from across the state about the MAT Act, led a day of action that generated over 100 calls and emails into congressional offices, and lined up multiple people to share stories from across Indiana about how MAT has saved their lives.
This victory is only possible because of members like you who worked together across the state from our smallest towns to our biggest cities to fight stigma and demand proven solutions to put more Hoosiers on the path to recovery.
The addiction and overdose crisis ravaged our communities even before the pandemic, and it’s gotten even worse this past year. But, this victory has proven that when we work together across our differences we can win real change.
Representative Trey Hollingsworth Meeting
Hoosier Action members also met with Representative Trey Hollingsworth (R, 9th District) to thank him for his leadership and support of the MAT Act. The representative is a co sponsor on the bill. Hoosier Action member Diane shared a powerful story that led to a strategic conversation with the representative about how we can move other Indiana congresspeople to support the MAT Act.
Pregnant Worker Accommodation Bill
The Moms of Hoosier Action (MOHA) kept up the fight to protect pregnant workers! We met with Senator Young’s office to discuss the Federal Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which went to the US Senate for a committee vote and was APPROVED! We are one major step closer to achieving justice and equality for the pregnant workers who have been horrifically mistreated & pushed off the job for too long.
Labor of Love
Hoosier Action has worked in coalition with other Indiana community organizations and businesses to try to improve the conditions of pregnant workers, and uplift the voices of the workers who have been forced to choose between their paycheck and a healthy pregnancy. Here are the stories of Hoosier Moms and why Pregnancy Workplace Accommodations are vital to a thriving Indiana.
Hoosier moms have been fighting for this at the state level for over 3 years without success at the Indiana Statehouse. Over the last six months MOHA has taken the fight to Congress, making hundreds of calls and meeting with our federal representatives. Women from office cubicles to distribution centers to restaurants all deserve to have safe and healthy pregnancies.
On to the Senate!
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) approved the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act with a vote 19-2 (sadly IN Senator Mike Braun did NOT support pregnant workers). The bill goes to the full Senate for a vote (the House of Representatives passed it in May).
Please continue to make your voices heard in the Senate by contacting Senators Braun and Young. Ask them to PROTECT pregnant workers and new moms!
Hey Hoosiers in New Albany!
How do YOU want the $15 Million coming to be spent?”
Members joined together at Mickey’s in New Albany on July 24. We spoke with neighbors about the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and asked how they thought the money could best benefit New Albany.
Where do you get your news?
Speaking of Breaking News, where do you get yours?
We want to learn more about how Hoosiers learn about what’s going on in their towns, state, and the wider world!
Share where and how you get the news by taking and sharing our five-minute anonymous survey.
JOIN OUR TECH & RESEARCH TEAMS
Do you have experience with app development, technical support, or databases and the desire to improve our state? Join the Hoosier Action Tech Team today! Sign up here and reach out to Nate at tech@hoosieraction.org with any questions.
Hoosier Action Resource Center (HARC) is looking for people to join their Research Team. If you love research, writing, and data analysis, contact Tracey (tracey@hoosieraction.org) to learn more about the Research Team.
You can always find our upcoming events at hoosieraction.org/events!
Medical Debt: Your Rights & Fighting Back –
Q&A with Marshall Allen
August 18, 2021
12:00 – 1:30PM
The Moms of Hoosier Action (MOHA) are hosting a Know your rights on medical debt with Marshal Allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Healthcare System And Win”. (Buy the book here!)
“…this book is filled with practical information on how to prevent overcharging for your health care. [Marshall Allen] summarizes everything in easy-to-read language…As a former insurance industry refugee, even I found new information in this wonderful handbook to avoiding rip-offs by the insurance industry.” ~ Roberta E. Winter (read the review from New York Journal of Books.)
Take Action With Us
Hoosier Action is holding our next Deep Canvass training and phonebank on August 19 and Sept 2 from 6:30pm-8:30pm! Join us to build power and talk to Hoosiers Across the state!
To get involved in the Moms of Hoosier Action (MOHA), join us at an upcoming Coffee Hour in August: Wednesdays from 6:30pm-7:30pm on Zoom! MOHA’s next Chapter Meeting will be September 12th from 3:00pm-5:00pm. These times are for parents to connect, build community, and talk about our future together. Have questions? Reach out to Moms Organizer Eva Bell at eva@hoosieraction.org
Join us!
Hoosier Action is a community organization made-up of members from local chapters and across the state. We work to build an Indiana where regular people have a say in the decisions that affect their lives. We have hundreds of members from South Bend to Seymour and everywhere in between. We run campaigns, hold trainings, and develop local leadership in the areas where we work; changing hearts and minds (and winning!) along the way.
Change both lives and politics in Indiana: become a member of Hoosier Action today!