I have Down syndrome, and it’s illegal for me to put over $2,000 in a savings account without losing my benefits like Medicaid. I’m calling on Congress to pass the ABLE Act to help people like me plan for our futures.

Sign Sara’s Petition

I’m 31 years old, and I happen to have Down syndrome. I have two jobs, and lead an independent life, however, when my mom died suddenly last year, things got a lot harder for me and my family. I want to support myself and save money for my future, but if I save more than $2,000, I’ll lose the benefits I depend on like Medicaid and Social Security.

That’s because of a law that says that people with disabilities like me can’t have more than $2,000 in assets or we risk losing the benefits we need to live. For me, living on my own, that means I can’t even save enough to put down rent and a security deposit on an apartment. This law keeps me dependent on other people, and that’s really scary now that my mom is gone.

But there is a solution: The ABLE Act. The Achieving a Better Life Experience Act is a bill in Congress that would allow people like me to save money for our futures through 529-like accounts that wouldn’t impact our medical care and disability benefits.

I started a petition on Change.org calling on Congress to pass the ABLE Act this year. Will you click here to sign it?

It’s very scary for me to be on my own knowing I’m not allowed to save money in case something goes wrong. I’ve worked so hard to build a life for myself, living on my own and working as a law clerk. It’s horrible to think I could lose everything because I have no security. I dream of living on my own, working one, full-time job, and even taking postsecondary courses to earn a degree.

With an ABLE account, I would not only have security, I could also plan for my future. This bill will not only change my life but has the potential to change the lives of millions of people with and without disabilities.  

Some people think my disability holds me back, but they’re wrong. I’ve learned that I can be independent, even without my mom, as hard as that is. I can hold down a job, and even speak at rallies in Washington, DC. I just need to be allowed to make my own way and plan for my better life. Will you help me make that possible?

Please click here to sign my petition calling on Congress to pass the ABLE Act so that people like me can plan for our futures.

When this bill passes, I’ll be standing next to President Obama when he signs it. And I’ll thank you for making that moment happen.

Thank you,

Sara Wolff Moscow, PA

By  CAP Action War Room

Tens Of Thousands Protest Right-Wing Policies In North Carolina

Although you’re likely to have missed it in the mainstream media, there was a massive progressive protest this Saturday. A number as large as 80,000 to 100,000 progressive activists gathered in Raleigh, North Carolina to participate in the “Moral March on Raleigh,” to protest the extremely conservative agenda of Republican Gov. Pat McCrory and the state legislature.  The event, organized by the state NAACP, featured activists from 32 states marching for a wide variety of issues: reproductive rights to voting rights, health care access, the environment and economic justice — all of which have been the target of the extremist political leadership in the state.

The event gained its momentum from the Moral Monday protests, weekly protests in North Carolina beginning in 2013.  After being bankrolled by Art Pope, a multi-millionaire with close ties to the Koch Brothers, Republicans took over both chambers of the state legislature in 2010. And now this state — which Barack Obama won in 2008 and lost by just 2 points in 2012 — has been passing some of the most aggressively conservative legislation in the country.

Here is Esther Y. Lee with a look at some of these policies:

Since North Carolina Republicans took over both legislative chambers in 2010, legislators have eliminated a host of programs and raised taxes on the bottom 80 percent, repealed a tax credit for 900,000 working families, enforced voter suppression efforts, blocked Medicaid coverage, cut pre-Kindergarten funding, cut federal unemployment benefits, and gave itself the authority to intervene in abortion lawsuits.

Saturday’s protesters marched from Shaw University to the state capital. Take a look at some of the best photos from the day:

BOTTOM LINE: The Moral March On Raleigh is an inspiring demonstration of grassroots progressive activism. Progressives of all stripes are coming together to stand up for what we believe, and are fighting back against the outsized influence of well-heeled financiers taking over government against the will of the people.

Friends,

It has been a busy time since President Obama delivered his State of the Union Address.

Last week, the President visited Buck Lodge Middle School in Adelphi, Maryland, to announce major progress on the ConnectED initiative, which aims to enrich K-12 education for every student in America. Click here or read below to learn more about the ConnectED initiative.

First Lady Michelle Obama also stressed her commitment to promoting equal access to higher education for all students. On Wednesday, she spoke with a group of high school students who were in the process of completing their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) forms at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, VA. Click here or read below to learn more.

Latifa Lyles, Acting Director of the Women’s Bureau at the Department of Labor, also showed her support of President Obama’s recent State of the Union Address, which touched on a core issue of equality for women in the workplace.Dr. Jill Biden, spoke on the critical topic of caring for the caregivers in our society.

Lastly, we are excited to announce a key step that will help protect Native American women from domestic violence. On Thursday, the Attorney General announced that three American Indian tribes will participate in the Department of Justice’s Pilot Project to implement the President’s recent reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). To learn more, click here or read below.

Thank you for all that you do!

White House Council on Women & Girls

Making Progress on ConnectED

On Tuesday, President Obama visited Buck Lodge Middle School in Adelphi, Maryland, to promote his ConnectED Initiative, which aims to enrich K-12 education in America.

“ConnectED empowers teachers with the best technology and the training to make the most of it, and empowers students through individualized learning and rich, digital content.”

In a technologically-drive era, fewer than 30% of America’s schools have the capacity needed to incorporate technology in the education system. The Initiative helps bridge this gap by equipping America’s students with the skills and experiences needed to secure jobs and compete with countries in the future.

The President also announced that private-sector companies—such as Apple, AT&T, and Microsoft—have committed more than $750 million to deliver cutting-edge technologies in the future.

Read more here.

Photo of the Day: First Lady Visit to FAFSA Workshop

First Lady Michelle Obama takes a selfie with Baltimore student Lawrence Lawson’s phone following a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) workshop at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va., Feb. 5, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

On Wednesday, First Lady Michelle Obama visited T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, to meet with students at a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) workshop. She also spent time delivering some encouraging remarks to the students in pursuit of higher education:

“For those of you who might be wondering why the First Lady is here just to watch you fill out a computer form, it’s because completing this form is a critical start to completing your education. And as the president and I will continue to stress over the next several years and beyond to young people throughout this country, completing your education – whether it’s a 2-year or 4-year college, or vocational program – is the single most important thing you can do for your future. That is it. There’s nothing that compares to getting your education.”

“With a good education, you can get a job that pays a decent salary or more. You can provide for your family, which is key. And you can become whatever you dream of becoming, which is the kind of freedom that I want all of you to have. And filling out the FAFSA form is one of the first and most important steps you can take in that journey.”

To read the First Lady’s full remarks, click here.

Support for Today’s Joan Holloways

In his State of the Union address last week, President Obama emphasized a core issue that has affected generations of working women. “A woman deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job. A mother deserves a day off to care for a sick child or sick parent without running into hardship. And you know what, a father does too. It is time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a ‘Mad Men’ episode.”

Latifa Lyles, Acting Director of the Women’s Bureau at the Department of Labor, supported the President’s comment regarding women in the work force, and the overall inadequate support for working families in America.

“Since the 1960s, much has changed for women in the labor force. The number of women and mothers in the workforce has risen dramatically, as has their share of household income. Unfortunately, no matter what their occupation, little has changed in terms of workplace support for those that have babies or sick relatives to care for. While there are laws in place to help protect against pregnancy discrimination, pregnancy and family responsibilities discrimination persists, and working women risk losing their jobs, not getting hired or missing out on promotions due to pregnancy.”

Read more here.

Caring for the Caregivers

Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden host a Wounded Warrior barbecue at the Naval Observatory Residence, Sept. 11, 2013. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

On Wednesday, Dr. Jill Biden delivered opening remarks at an event on the expanding role of caregivers in our society.

“So as the number of caregivers among us continues to increase, we need to find more and effective ways to support caregivers and their efforts. Caregivers face a delicate balance of protecting their loved one’s dignity and independence while making hard choices – such as when to take the car keys or checkbook away or how to help with personal care someone can no longer do for themselves.”

“This is an important conversation that will continue later this spring at the White House Summit on Working Families, co-hosted by the Center for American Progress and the Department of Labor. In the interim, we should all find ways to connect with the experience of caregivers, and think about the steps – big and small – we can take, so that all of our loved ones and their caregivers get the support they deserve.”

Read more here.

Moving Forward to Protect Native American Women: Justice

Department Announces VAWA 2013 Pilot Project for Tribes

The President and his Administration are making it a priority to improve the safety our nation’s tribal communities, especially for Native American women.

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that “46% of Native American women have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.” Last year, Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett highlighted this issue when she visited with tribal criminal justice leaders engaged in ending violence against Native women.

On Thursday, the Attorney General announced that three American Indian tribes – the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation of Oregon, the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, and the Tulalip Tribes of Washington – will participate in the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Pilot Project to implement the President’s recently reauthorized Violence Against Women Act.

“Crimes of domestic violence committed on the reservations of these tribes will be subject to tribal criminal prosecution, regardless of the defendant’s status as an Indian or non-Indian.  The Pilot Projects are vital to delivering justice for Native American women who are victims of domestic violence and to providing a safer and more secure Indian Country.”

“Tribal participation in these Pilot Projects is crucial in building a better criminal justice system, bolstering tribal control and authority, and ultimately saving the lives of Native American women.”

Read more here.

Get Updates

Sunday Stills ISSUE 10

National Geographic

Koch Blocked 

Jason Jones discovers why Iowa yokels won’t embrace the future of small-town attack-ad politics.