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When your Senator or Congressman needs to hear our voices on the health insurance reform, Employee Free Choice, or immigration debates.

When our members require support at the workplace, the state capitol, or in the streets.

You can be the first to know by texting 'SEIU' to 787753 (PURPLE) right now, or clicking the link below to sign-up for our new mobile alerts program:

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Two weeks ago, "Tea Party" protesters physically assaulted an SEIU staffer at a health care town hall event in Missouri.

Video of the event had well over 400,000 views on YouTube. And despite the fact the video showed our staffer -- dressed in purple -- on the ground at the start of the clip, Glenn Beck and his tea-bagging friends launched daily attacks on SEIU claiming we perpetrated the violence.

It's time like this that we need immediate coordination, and being a part of our mobile alert list is a critical piece of our rapid response infrastructure.

Text 'SEIU' to 787753 (PURPLE), or click the link to sign-up for mobile alerts right now: http://action.seiu.org/seiumobile

As members of the U.S. House and Senate turn their sights from committee hearings and floor votes in D.C., to barbecues and luncheons back home, SEIU's Change That Works team is ready to ensure they don't forget the promises they made on the campaign trail to fix our broken healthcare system and support hardworking families.

At more than 400 events, from nurse and doctor town halls to large rallies, canvasses and phone banks--wherever members of Congress are, SEIU members will be there as well. From an ambulance tour in Miles City, Mont., to bake sales in North Dakota, we are letting them know that working families need affordable, quality healthcare this year and the Employee Free Choice Act, a check on corporate greed that would allow workers to bargain with their employers for better job security, wages and benefits.

Our message this recess is clear: there are consequences to not changing the status quo -- consequences for families, consequences for our economy and consequences for members of Congress.

Here are just a few highlights from the more than 400 events taking place during the congressional recess:

• Colorado's "Rolling Rallies for Reform" will bring out activists and leaders across the state to highlight the need for healthcare reform in their communities, from Grand Junction to Durango to Glenwood Springs. Each rally will feature local leaders, small business owners, front-line caregivers and hardworking Americans sharing their personal healthcare stories.
  
• Healthcare rally in Indianapolis Aug. 29.
  
• Grassroots activists will participate in each of Senator Grassley's town hall forums in Iowa.
  
• Emails will be sent to Louisiana's congressional delegation with a new personal story each day that underscores the need for quality, affordable healthcare reform.
  
• Montana's Emergency Drive for Healthcare will highlight the need to pass healthcare reform with an ambulance tour across the state that will cover 21 sites in 15 days. The tour will rack up the miles in Miles City; attend a barbecue in Lame Deer; put on street theater in Missoula; and participate in the Relay for Life event in Libby--just to name a few stops.
  
• Rally for change at the state capitol in Lincoln, Neb., on Aug. 19.
  
• Bake Sales for Healthcare across North Dakota will take place July 29-31. During the first week of September, look out for "Losing Sleep Over Healthcare," where leaders and activists hold an evening rally followed by an all-night vigil for the reform needed by the millions of Americans who lose sleep every night over healthcare bills.

• 14,021 one-on-one meetings
  
• 3,827 letters to the editor
  
• 122,145 petition signatures
  
• 93,136 phone calls
  
• 99,814 letters to Members of Congress

With less than 24 hours' notice, Change That Works Tennessee and its coalition partners staged a massive counter-demonstration at a Tea Party in front of Rep. Bart Gordon's office in Rutherford County. Our action turned the 'Tea Party' into a health care reform party.

A mere seven anti-reform "Teabaggers" were overwhelmed as over 60 health care reform supporters converged on the square in downtown Murfreesboro to urge Bart Gordon to support H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act.

"They didn't know what hit them," said Tony Cani, the state director of Change That Works. "Rutherford County is ground zero for conservative politics in Tennessee and we went right into their house and took over their event. I think a couple messages were sent today at this rally. First, the Teabaggers and the other enemies of change are not going to keep going unchallenged in Tennessee. Second, Bart Gordon needs to do the right thing and vote for health care reform because it isn't only conservatives who are watching his vote on H.R. 3200."

Watch footage:

"It was great to see people honking their horns in support of us," said Cecelia Moss of Murfreesboro. "We don't normally see a lot of progressives and pro-health care reform supporters out here being visible, but there were quite a few folks who were working nearby who came over to stand with us. That was very encouraging."

Change That Works would like to thank its coalition partners for spreading the word about the rally, including the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, Health Care for America Now, Organizing for America, and our friends in organized labor.

Remember, the time to pass legislation to provide quality, affordable health care for all is now. If you live in Tennessee, call Rep. Bart Gordon (615-896-1986) and tell him to VOTE YES on H.R. 3200.

Congress have held 79 hearings on health insurance reform in just over two years and Members have held more than 550 health care town halls and public events around the country. This evidence speaks truth to power that, health care reform is something that folks from Tennessee, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana and the rest of the Nation want now.

Why is there talk of a delay?

Why are our Representatives touting special interests over working people?

The Daily News Journal reported this week:

Reps. Bart Gordon of Tennessee, Baron Hill of Indiana, Charlie Melancon of Louisiana and Mike Ross of Arkansas are among the Blue Dog Coalition members raising issue with the cost of the bill.

Have they reviewed the cost of not fixing our current broken system? There is real value in reforming the health care system-- read some of the statistics and future projections Congress could help alleviate with a yes vote on H.R. 3200:

Tennessee: By 2016, projections show that Tennessee families will have to pay close to $19,400 for health care or over 44 percent of median household income. This would represent a 70 percent increase over 2008 levels.

Indiana: 157,816 uninsured adults in Indiana are between the ages of 50 and 64, meaning that more than 12% of Indiana's aging adults lack health insurance.

Louisiana: 969,000 Louisiana adults, 73.1 percent of the uninsured, are employed, but either they cannot afford their employer's health insurance plan, or their employers do not offer coverage.

Arkansas: In 2007, Arkansas's economy lost as much as $1.53 billion because of the poor health and shorter lifespan of the uninsured. That equates to $3,400 per uninsured Arkansas resident. This year, Arkansas faces a $107 million projected state budget deficit. This represents 2.4% of state spending.

Change that Works has mobilized everyday people in Indiana, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee as well as other states to stand with us for health care reform. These activists have personal stories that fuel their fight for health care reform-- for them, it's not about policy or special interests, it's about providing quality, affordable health care for the citizens of this great Nation. We've rallied in the streets to the halls of Congress-- we've stood together as hospital workers; small business owners; families; veterans and everyday folk to say that we want health care now. And no where in this nation, can we afford to wait much longer.

Currently, H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act is up for a vote in the Energy and Commerce committee. We cannot afford to delay this vote because we all know that a delay means killing health care reform. We've waited 60 years for reform-- this has not been a rushed process. Our current health care system is on its last legs and H.R. 3200 is the best chance we've had towards providing quality health care for working American families.

Call toll-free 1-866-339-6321 and let Congress know that H.R. 3200 is the will of the people.

Tennessee Change that Works activists and ordinary Tennesseans have been calling members of Congress to vote yes for HR 3200, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act. Representative Tanner voted against fixing health care this week--and other Tennessee Representatives could follow suit. It's our job to stop that from happening.

Rep. Gordon, will be voting next week in the House Energy and Commerce committee. It's a critical vote, and get this - Rep. Gordon has indicated that he may vote AGAINST it.

Can you take a moment to make a call? We want calls from Congressional District 6 to Rep. Gordon and calls from throughout the state to your Representative. Tennesseans can't wait any longer for health care reform.

Dial toll-free 1-866-339-6321.

We want you to make that call today-- here's a sample script you can use:

Hello, my name is [your first and last name] and I live in your District at [give your home address].

I am calling to urge my Representative to vote "YES" on America's Affordable Health Choices Act, H.R. 3200, that is before his committee.

It provides quality, affordable care for every American and offsets costs with responsible spending cuts and a fairer tax system.

Tennesseans cannot afford to wait another year to fix our broken health care system.

Members of Congress needs to show the political courage to get this done by voting "YES" on H.R. 3200 in committee today.

Place a free call into your Congressional office to win health care reform: 1-866-339-6321. Report back to us on your conversation by emailing calls@tnchange.org.

As a major national newspaper said today, "This bill is worth fighting for." So what are we waiting for? Let's fight! I hope you'll call.

Thanks for speaking out.

Ah the good ole days, when organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce could get away with advocating policies that actually hurt small business owners. The times, they are a changin'.

The issue of health care reform is poised to drive a wedge in the business community, according to a new report released by the Tennessee Small Business Coalition. "American Health Care Reform: Serious Business for Tennessee's Small Business", is the result of an intensive, scientific study done by Vanderbilt University's Peabody College that finds that a solid majority of small business owners across Tennessee support the types of reform in our nation's health care system that President Obama and progressives are proposing.

"This study provides new insight into the opinions of small business owners across Tennessee and shows their preferences for health care reform issues," says Craig Anne Heflinger, professor of human and organizational development at Vanderbilt and a co-author of the report.

• 79% report they are "really struggling" to afford the cost of health coverage.

• 61% believe that reforming health care now is a step to getting the economy back on track

• 73% report everyone should have a choice between quality, affordable public and private plans

• 88% report that it will be a significant challenge in the future to offer health insurance coverage to employees

• 70% want more public oversight of private insurers

• 61% agree that the government should play a stronger role in guaranteeing access to quality, affordable health care.

Chris Link, who co-owns Imagination Branding in Nashville, was recently mentioned by President Obama in a speech to the American Medical Association and is someone who has made the connection about how "pro-business" special interest groups like the U.S. Chamber are not speaking for him. "I notice that many of these [attacks on health care reform] are coming from special interest groups who are looking out for big corporations and insurance companies who are at the root of the problem," Link says. "Over and over again, it seems like big business always likes to hide behind small business owners to get what they want, even when it hurts us. The Vanderbilt report proves that's the case when it comes to health care and I hope small business owners will start speaking up for themselves".

Link has signed on to the Change That Works campaign's Small Business Committee, which is committed to help get small business owners' viewpoints on progressive health care reform out to the public.
Tennessee small business owners can sign on to the pledge here.

After years of bogus solutions posed by "pro-business" politicians, small business owners are now learning that token gestures like tax credits that leave them at the mercy of the current broken system aren't a real solution. Many small business owners believe that real reform will require a stronger role for government in the health care system, including creating a quality public health insurance plan option. This is the plan that President Barack Obama campaigned on, one that the American people support, and a plan which small businesses across Tennessee are accepting of as well, as evidenced by the Vanderbilt report.

It's small businesses that are going to pick the country up out of this recession, but to make that possible, we need to fix America's health care system so we can keep offering critical jobs and important services to our communities.

The Jackson City Council, along with Mayor Jerry Gist, proclaimed June 27th to be "National Health Care Reform Day". The proclamation was the result of a lot of hard work by city councilman Ernest Brooks.
Mr. Brooks, the second-term councilman for District 3, is a passionate supporter of health care reform who feels the sting of the health care crisis in his professional and private life every day. "As an elected official, I see the toll that skyrocketing health care costs is taking on our city budget. And as a parent, I see my own family's health insurance costs continue to go up with no end in sight," Brooks says. "Health care affects all of us and that's why I'm so glad that our city's elected officials stood together on this".

Brooks strongly encourages other local officials to pass similar proclamations and resolutions. "This is just one way to raise awareness that there's a problem and that we have to get involved to fix it. Other ways include making phone calls to your representatives, writing letters to the editor, and getting involved with great organizations like Change That Works who are working hard every day to make sure that every American has quality, affordable health care".

Here is the text of the proclamation:

PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Because of the escalating costs of health care, Councilman Ernest Brooks II and Tennessee Change That Works campaign are joining forces to fight for affordable health care for all Americans; and
WHEREAS, Everyone benefits from healthy communities, where we all have access to affordable, quality health care from a provider of our choice and at a cost we can afford; and
WHEREAS, Health care reform should include a choice of a private insurance plan, including keeping the insurance you have, or a public insurance plan that guarantees affordable coverage; and
WHEREAS, Health care coverage should provide with out-of-pocket costs including premiums, co-pays and deductibles that are based on a family's ability to pay for health care; and
WHEREAS, An enhanced health care plan should ensure equity in health care access, treatment, research and resources to people and communities of color, resulting in the elimination of racial disparities in health outcomes and real improvement in health and life expectancy for all; and
WHEREAS, It is important that large pools are available in order to achieve affordable, quality coverage for the entire population and to share risk fairly; and
WHEREAS, Health care reform should include a choice of doctors, health providers, and public and private plans, without gaps in coverage or access and a delivery system that meets the needs of at-risk populations.

NOW THEREFORE, I, JERRY GIST, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF JACKSON, TENNESSEE, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2009 AS "NATIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM DAY" IN WITNESS WHEREOF I HEREUNTO SET MY HAND AND CAUSE THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF JACKSON, TENNESSEE TO BE AFFIXED THIS 27TH DAY OF JUNE, 2009.

Nashville's Southside Community Church was honored to be the site of Tony Award winning performer, Sarah Jones, "A Right to Care" health-themed show. The daughter of two physicians, Sarah Jones told a Nashville audience of about 170 persons that her multi-ethnic background coupled with her education at the United Nations School, inspired her myriad of characters from her current production. Commissioned by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Ms. Jones varied characters touched upon the many stories that make up our nation's health care crisis and dictate the need for health reform now. Ms. Jones told audience members that she hopes that her characters inspire discussion and anger-- this debate she mused brings the issues to hand that our legislators must address.

Sponsored by the Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus; Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus and presented by the Partnership for Quality Care and the SEIU, Tennesseans were treated to a free performance from a world-renowned progressive performer. Change that Works Tennessee worked for weeks, bringing together a special audience at the Nashville church-- a standing room only audience from all over the state. Team members from Tennessee were especially vested in the fight for health care reform, sighting racial disparity and affordability as issues they want addressed.

Check out Sarah Jones' SEIU Change that Works "Right to Care" tour as she takes her White House and now Nashville performance to Minneapolis next.

Today, the Tennessean published an article "Obama: Health bill good for Tennessee: President says competitive businesses have nothing to fear"

Addressing concerns of insurance companies from middle Tennessee the President said this:

"I don't think that outstanding businesses that are doing good work in Tennessee are going to be disadvantaged; I think they will be advantaged. If they're providing more efficient care, better quality care for a better price, they're going to have more customers, not fewer."

Obama stressed that his major concern was providing health coverage for the 46 million in the US without coverage and the 1.7 million in Tennessee alone. That reform wouldn't harm the concentrated health coverage industries that are providing quality care-- in fact, he expects their business to flourish.

Read the entire Tennessean article here:

On Wednesday, I boarded a plane for the first time in 25 years. I fought back my fear of flying just long enough to fly to Washington to lobby for health care. The flight was more turbulent than I had hoped and since it was a small plane, I felt every shake and shimmy. By the time I landed and grabbed a cab, I was the one shaking and wanted nothing more than to spend the evening relaxing in my hotel room.

But that wasn't what I was there for. I was in D.C. to attend rallies and to meet with my representative - Bart Gordon - to tell him about the problems his constituents were having with health care and health insurance. So, after checking in, I hopped in another cab and headed to meet the rest of my group at the interfaith rally for health care reform. We heard from a number of religious leaders from every faith who encouraged us to believe and to pray, but also to work for change.

Rep. John Conyers gave a very entertaining speech about the need for reform and there were several enjoyable performances by local dance troupes. But my favorite speech was delivered by one of the last ministers to take the stage. I don't remember his name, but he gave a rousing speech exhorting all of us to take action and get health care reform passed. It was truly inspiring and I really felt that he re-energized the crowd. If he could speak to Congress, I bet he could get health care reform passed tomorrow.

This last Wednesday and Thursday I had the privilege of spending time with fellow activists of Change That Works, advocating for meaningful health care reform. I had worked all night the night before and caught the plane that morning at 0930 am. Arrived in DC around noon having not slept in nearly 30 hours at that point. If it wasn't for the fact that I so passionately believe in the need for health care reform, I am sure I would have not been able to find the energy that I did.

I am a registered nurse of eleven years and have come to believe that the health care system as it currently exist is broken. I have been an activist on this issue for the better part of the last two years and feel that as a nurse it is my duty to fix the system. We must have a system that provides access for all, quality care for all and at a reasonable price for all and free to those that otherwise cannot afford it. It is time that a nation as rich as ours steps up and gives all its citizens the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. Without your health, it is not possible to pursue life, liberty, and happiness.

While in DC, I met with my representative Congressman - Jim Cooper. He stated that he is in full support of President Obama and the plan for real health care reform to include the public option. I will hold him to his word!

I also spoke with the chief of staff to Senator Alexander and to a staffer of Senator Corker and found them to be open to the discussion of health care reform. Their positions are different from that of my Congressman, but there is room for some common ground.

I told the stories of patients and friends who have been crushed by the burden of health care costs. I also tried to show how vulnerable the middle class is to financial devastation when a health care crisis develops in their lives. I shared the stories of a friend of mine who had a traumatic brain injury and is now facing bills that are leading his family to financial ruin and how his health coverage and prescription costs are so expensive that he may lose everything he has worked for his entire life. His family will suffer all because our health care system is broken.

I was also a witness and participant in a very spirited rally that featured members of the Senate and Congress that gave their words we would see real reform on health care this year. We should hold them all to that!

We can't miss this opportunity as citizens to get involved in shaping the health care reform debate. I am optimistic that a plan that includes choice, access, and coverage for all will come out of the House and am hopeful that the Senate can achieve the same.

I hope as a registered nurse to see the future of health care improved so that patients are treated as people and not commodities. We as a nation have the opportunity to say that we value life not only in the womb but throughout the span of one's life. We can do this and should do this now as it is long overdue.

This isn't just my first time in Washington D.C., it's my first time flying. At first, I thought flying would be scary, but it was actually pretty exciting. The takeoffs were a little rough, but after getting up there, I was actually looking down at the clouds! I not only flew on one plane, I flew on two planes. My flight from Nashville to Chicago went just fine, but I just barely missed my connection from to Chicago to Washington D.C. which meant that I had to take a later flight from Chicago.

Eventually, I made it to Washington D.C. and the first event that I got to attend was a rally for healthcare at Freedom Plaza. There were a lot of great speakers and performance artists expressing themselves in front of a crowd of hundreds with the U.S. Capitol building visible in the background.

One of the highlights of the rally was a speech by Rep. John Conyers (D-NY). Conyers is a long-time supporter of a single-payer health care system in the U.S. But today, Conyers didn't mention single-payer at all. His focus was on passing President Obama's plan, which focuses on choice and the public option plan. Conyers made some touching comments about how important it is to pass health care reform in 2009 and it surprised a few people sitting next to us that Conyers was so supportive of the public option plan and the President's agenda. Conyers is often referred to as "The Godfather of Universal Health Care", and to hear him speak tonight, it's no wonder.

Got lost on the way to take Trina back to her hotel and ended up catching a ride with a tourist from Sweden. She asked us what we were doing here, and after we told her she got so excited. She said that she had grown up where everyone had health care, and was so shocked by our system here. She had married a man from the United States, and was now living here. She told us so many horror stories she had heard since she has lived here. One of her friends had a rash and had to go to the hospital. She said that she was quite surprised to see the doctor run so many tests on her friend before giving her a simple ointment. She wouldn't even accept the money we tried to give her for the ride. She said "no way will I take money from people that are here to get health care for all passed". The last thing I told her was that I was going to give it all I could, and I meant that from the bottom of my heart.

Tomorrow is the big day - lobby visits with our representatives in Congress. Looking forward to hearing what they have to say about the health care crisis and what they plan on doing about it.

Michele works for Metro Social Services in the Homemaker Services division, where she is responsible for providing in-home services for dozens of Nashville's poor, disabled, and elderly population.

Tennessee State Legislators Rep. Tommie Brown, Rep. Kent Coleman, Sen. Beverly Marrero, (Secretary, General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee), Rep. Jeanne Richardson, (Member, Health and Human Resources Committee; Vice Chair, Subcommittee on Public Health and Family Assistance) and Rep. Johnny Shaw signed onto a letter along with 700 state legislator from every state, to the President, HHS Secretary Sebelius and leaders of Congress, asking them to support key ingredients for real health care reform. Today, a delegation of legislators from around the nation will be on Capitol Hill to meet with the White House and deliver the letter.

State legislators are at the forefront of good health care reform with states like Tennessee's TennCare, a government-operated medical coverage program for residents who are eligible for Medicaid and some uninsured children. CoverTN is an additional state program that covers TN small business owners.

From the letter:

Key priorities for reform are reflected in recent state initiatives and public opinion polls which show that Americans want more choices and options for quality health care. Americans recognize that the private sector alone has proven incapable of creating a high-quality, fair, and accountable health care system that works for all families. Therefore, a key priority for reform is the choice of a public health insurance plan that is available to businesses, individuals, and families.

These are elected officials who have been legislating on health care reform for years, and have a keen understanding of how burdensome our broken health care system is for state budgets and for people's pocketbooks.

Read the entire letter being delivered on the Progressive State Network's website.

President Obama in his health care reform address to the American Medical Association in Chicago, mentioned Becky and Chris Link, two small business owners and Change that Works Tennessee activists:

"Small business owners like Chris and Becky Link in Nashville are also struggling. They've always wanted to do right by the workers at their family-run marketing firm, but have recently had to do the unthinkable and lay off a number of employees - layoffs that could have been deferred, they say, if health care costs weren't so high. Across the country, over one third of small businesses have reduced benefits in recent years and one third have dropped their workers' coverage altogether since the early 90's."

Across the state, family businesses like the Links are being forced to lay off workers to offset the rising cost of health care. Becky and Chris Link support a public option and want a health care insurance safety net for their laid off workers and other persons without affordable coverage for their families.

Take the small business pledge and join concerned Tennessee small business owners to support the President's push for health care for all.

Watch the President's full speech here:

Tennessee Change that Works campaign joined together with President Obama's Organizing for America and Tennesseans from around the state to hold house meetings to discuss what we want health care reform to look like. Meeting in libraries, homes, community centers and coffee shops, Tennesseans from Nashville, Jackson, Hermitage, Hendersonville, Gallatin and Murfreesboro shared their stories about the broken health care system.

Congressman Jim Cooper attended the Organizing for America house meeting at the Tennessee Democratic Party Headquarters in Nashville-- and one of our Change that Works field organizers captured his support of the public option.

In the upcoming weeks, stay tuned to the Tennessee Change that Works website for exciting events in support of health care reform, including the OFA day of action on June 27.