Through broad budget cuts the Trump Administration has eliminated the office  overseeing the Safe to Sleep campaign (formerly the Back to Sleep campaign), an initiative led by the NICHD to decrease infant deaths related to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For over three decades the NICHD has been a leader in research and education on best practices to avoid SIDS. Although information is still available on the NICHD website, the ability to order printed materials is no longer available and the involvement of the NICHD and NIH in preventing infant deaths has been jeopardized. These materials were used by hospitals and organizations all over the country to help educate parents and caregivers about best practices on safe infant sleep and have been credited with drastically decreasing infant mortality rates in America. The research and work completed by the NICHD and NIH through the Safe to Sleep campaign is vital. As a  women's health nurse and mother, I know first hand how important these resources are to new parents and caregivers. By removing the funding for this project, the Trump Administration is putting the lives of some of our most vulnerable individuals at risk. 

  Republicans in Congress are pushing for massive tax breaks for the rich and think we should pay for them by cutting healthcare (and other critical programs) for those who can least afford it. Right now, Medicaid funding is on the chopping block at the federal level, putting 72 million seniors, children, low-income families, pregnant people, people with disabilities, young people newly in the workforce, and people across America at risk of losing healthcare coverage. [1] The thing is, a massive cut to Medicaid like this will not just impact healthcare, but entire state budgets! Medicaid makes up 30 percent of state budgets, meaning cuts to federal support would force Governors in both red and blue states to make impossible choices: slash healthcare for those who need it most or gut other essential programs to fill the gap. [2]    [1] Who does Medicaid cover? How Congress' proposed budget cuts could be felt - NBC [2] Medicaid Financing 101 - NCSL 

Public education is the cornerstone of our democracy. Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) jeopardizes that foundation by transferring decision-making power from an elected body, the State Board of Education, to a politically appointed cabinet position. This shift not only undermines the voice of Ohio's voters but opens the door to decisions being made behind closed doors, with little transparency or accountability. When we allow political influence to outweigh the needs of our children, we risk the future of our schools, our students, and our communities. Education is not a partisan issue, it's a public good that affects every child and every family in Ohio. Why You Should Join the Campaign: 1. Our Children Deserve Better: Every child in Ohio deserves an education system that is driven by the needs of students, not political agendas. Repealing SB 1 will ensure that the voices of parents, teachers, and communities remain at the forefront of education decisions. 2. Restoring Democracy: We all have the right to have a say in how our children are educated. By supporting this campaign, you are standing up for our right to participate in the decision-making process through elected leaders who are accountable to the people. 3. Strengthening Our Communities: Strong, democratic public education systems are key to strong, healthy communities. When our schools thrive, so does Ohio. 4. Making a Real Difference: Your voice matters. By joining this movement, you are taking action that can create tangible change in Ohio's education system. Together, we can repeal SB 1 and restore the people’s power in education decisions. Together, we can protect our public education system and ensure it works for everyone. Join the campaign to repeal SB 1, and help us build an education system that reflects the values of fairness, transparency, and public accountability. Let’s take action for Ohio’s future!

Recently in a town hall with Oklahoma state representatives and senators, it was said that our Medicaid program in Oklahoma is 90% funded federally. With only 10% coming from the state level. With possible cuts to Medicaid funding, it is said that the funding in our state could be decreased to only 60% federal funding. How will our state make up this loss in funding? I urge you to keep your constituents in Oklahoma in mind when working on this budget bill, as hundreds of thousands of people’s health coverage is in jeopardy. 

The U.S. Congress is considering a budget that would supercharge the Trump administration’s ability to scale up its assault on immigrants and further damage our rule of law, hurt our economy, and pay for it by massive cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP, and HeadStart, and other programs for our children and families. Join us in calling on Congress to say NO to a Republican-led budget that fuels human rights abuses and mass detention, paid for by cuts to Medicaid and other programs that lift families and the economy!

This is the current reality for many women in communities across the country: There are currently over two million women, right now, living in maternity care deserts -- counties, often in rural areas, where there are no hospitals or birthing centers that help with pregnancy, and there are no doctors who specialize in pregnancy care -- and 19 million women living in contraception deserts. This means that there are over 21 million women who have little to no access to doctors that could provide contraception, doctors who can answer questions about our health, provide information about abortion services, and are living without reasonable access to health centers that offer the full range of reproductive care methods. Receiving maternity care, prenatal and postnatal treatment, mental health services, contraception, and abortion-care are not just about showing up to the appointment. There’s so much more to consider here: traveling long distances to receive prenatal care or give birth, which increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery; childcare (finding and paying a babysitter); hotel lodging; taking time off work; and having all of this to consider even under emergency situations. The harsh impacts of limited access to maternity care, the closure of maternity wards, strict or prohibited abortion laws, racial and socioeconomic injustices, and the consequences on pregnant women and their babies collectively form a complex and nuanced crisis in our healthcare system that leaves vulnerable populations at high risk. Everyone deserves the right to accessible and high-quality maternity care regardless of their geographic location. We need Congress to address this immediately!

This is the current reality for many women in communities across the country: There are currently over two million women, right now, living in maternity care deserts -- counties, often in rural areas, where there are no hospitals or birthing centers that help with pregnancy, and there are no doctors who specialize in pregnancy care -- and 19 million women living in contraception deserts. This means that there are over 21 million women who have little to no access to doctors that could provide contraception, doctors who can answer questions about our health, provide information about abortion services, and are living without reasonable access to health centers that offer the full range of reproductive care methods. Receiving maternity care, prenatal and postnatal treatment, mental health services, contraception, and abortion-care are not just about showing up to the appointment. There’s so much more to consider here: traveling long distances to receive prenatal care or give birth, which increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery; childcare (finding and paying a babysitter); hotel lodging; taking time off work; and having all of this to consider even under emergency situations. The harsh impacts of limited access to maternity care, the closure of maternity wards, strict or prohibited abortion laws, racial and socioeconomic injustices, and the consequences on pregnant women and their babies collectively form a complex and nuanced crisis in our healthcare system that leaves vulnerable populations at high risk. Everyone deserves the right to accessible and high-quality maternity care regardless of their geographic location. We need Congress to address this immediately!

This is the current reality for many women in communities across the country: There are currently over two million women, right now, living in maternity care deserts -- counties, often in rural areas, where there are no hospitals or birthing centers that help with pregnancy, and there are no doctors who specialize in pregnancy care -- and 19 million women living in contraception deserts. This means that there are over 21 million women who have little to no access to doctors that could provide contraception, doctors who can answer questions about our health, provide information about abortion services, and are living without reasonable access to health centers that offer the full range of reproductive care methods. Receiving maternity care, prenatal and postnatal treatment, mental health services, contraception, and abortion-care are not just about showing up to the appointment. There’s so much more to consider here: traveling long distances to receive prenatal care or give birth, which increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery; childcare (finding and paying a babysitter); hotel lodging; taking time off work; and having all of this to consider even under emergency situations. The harsh impacts of limited access to maternity care, the closure of maternity wards, strict or prohibited abortion laws, racial and socioeconomic injustices, and the consequences on pregnant women and their babies collectively form a complex and nuanced crisis in our healthcare system that leaves vulnerable populations at high risk. Everyone deserves the right to accessible and high-quality maternity care regardless of their geographic location. We need Congress to address this immediately!

This is the current reality for many women in communities across the country: There are currently over two million women, right now, living in maternity care deserts -- counties, often in rural areas, where there are no hospitals or birthing centers that help with pregnancy, and there are no doctors who specialize in pregnancy care -- and 19 million women living in contraception deserts. This means that there are over 21 million women who have little to no access to doctors that could provide contraception, doctors who can answer questions about our health, provide information about abortion services, and are living without reasonable access to health centers that offer the full range of reproductive care methods. Receiving maternity care, prenatal and postnatal treatment, mental health services, contraception, and abortion-care are not just about showing up to the appointment. There’s so much more to consider here: traveling long distances to receive prenatal care or give birth, which increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery; childcare (finding and paying a babysitter); hotel lodging; taking time off work; and having all of this to consider even under emergency situations. The harsh impacts of limited access to maternity care, the closure of maternity wards, strict or prohibited abortion laws, racial and socioeconomic injustices, and the consequences on pregnant women and their babies collectively form a complex and nuanced crisis in our healthcare system that leaves vulnerable populations at high risk. Everyone deserves the right to accessible and high-quality maternity care regardless of their geographic location. We need Congress to address this immediately!

Right now, Congress is pushing us closer and closer to a fiscal cliff with cuts that would cause millions of families to lose access to child care. The dual forces of an already-crumbling child care system from chronic underfunding and a global pandemic have thrust child care further into a state of crisis. Congress took the bold and necessary steps to invest critical funds to stabilize the child care market which saved our system from total collapse during the height of the pandemic. But those funds expire this month - and without continued investment, child care providers, families, and our economy are headed toward a giant cliff. All told, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) stabilization dollars that saved the child care sector from collapse are expiring with projections that 3.2 million children could lose their child care as a result. But help is on the way! The Child Care Stabilization Act was introduced today to provide at least $16 billion per year in emergency child care dollars to address this, while laying the groundwork for the sustained and transformative funding needed to ensure high-quality, affordable child care is accessible for all families.

Book are being banned and challenged in schools across the nation. What books are being pulled? Plain and simple, age-appropriate books about diverse communities, history, and LGBTQ+ families and communities. Books like Black Boy Joy, When Aiden Became a Brother, and the Diary of Anne Frank. Yes. You read those titles right. In fact, according to PEN America, between July and December 2022, instances of individual book bans occurred in 66 school districts in 21 states with Texas, Florida, Missouri, Utah, and South Carolina experiencing the most bans. These coordinated attacks are NOT okay. Well-funded far-right politicians are becoming a censorship machine actively working to ban age-appropriate books, erase honest and accurate American history, and attack students and teachers simply for who they love.

Right now, Congress is pushing us closer and closer to a fiscal cliff with cuts that would cause millions of families to lose access to child care. The dual forces of an already-crumbling child care system from chronic underfunding and a global pandemic have thrust child care further into a state of crisis. Congress took the bold and necessary steps to invest critical funds to stabilize the child care market which saved our system from total collapse during the height of the pandemic. But those funds expire this month - and without continued investment, child care providers, families, and our economy are headed toward a giant cliff. All told, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) stabilization dollars that saved the child care sector from collapse are expiring with projections that 3.2 million children could lose their child care as a result. But help is on the way! The Child Care Stabilization Act was introduced today to provide at least $16 billion per year in emergency child care dollars to address this, while laying the groundwork for the sustained and transformative funding needed to ensure high-quality, affordable child care is accessible for all families.