Category - Policy & Advocacy

Take Action with ICOY

Take action with ICOY in our advocacy efforts by joining our Quick Response Network (QRN). Members of the QRN learn about different advocacy options on policies that impact children, youth, and families.  

ICOY believes in taking action for policies that impact children, youth, and families on both a state and federal level. By taking part in the QRN, participants will receive timely requests to contact lawmakers with support or opposition on policy issues affecting the lives of children and their families.  

During the legislative session, we rely on the QRN to take timely advocacy steps on important issues that impact children, youth, and families. By receiving updates, participants may be expected to:  

  • Call your Representative or Senator by phone or email with provided talking points 
  • Email your Representative or Senator with provided talking points 
  • File a witness slip, as a proponent or in opposition, on a specific bill 
  • Add organization(s) to a collective voice addressing important federal or state issues that impact children, youth, and families. See below for advocacy opportunities.  

Advocacy Opportunities:

In late April, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed an administrative rule (CMS-9894-P) that would make people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status eligible for health care through the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, or the Children's Health Insurance Program. HHS estimates that the proposed rule would result in extending access to health coverage to nearly 130,000 people who are uninsured today.

A coalition of stakeholders, led by the nonprofit Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF), are organizing a letter to be submitted as a comment on the rule as a part of the formal administrative rulemaking process.

If you are authorized to sign on behalf of your organization, please sign onto the letter to show your support. The deadline to sign-on is Monday, June 20th! Thanks for your time!

The Lifting Immigrant Families Through Benefits Access Restoration (LIFT the BAR Act) will soon be re-introduced in Congress. The legislation would repeal the arbitrary "5 Year Bar" and lower other barriers to health care, food security, and antipoverty programs for millions in immigrant families.

This bill is an effort of the nonprofit Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF). They are organizing an endorsement letter to share out shortly after the bill is officially re-introduced, as a show of support for this landmark legislation.

If you are authorized to sign on behalf of your organization, please sign onto the letter to show your support. Thanks for your time!

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on S.J.Res.18, a joint resolution disapproving of the "Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility" administrative rule, within the next few weeks. This resolution would reverse regulations, introduced by the Biden Administration, barring the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from considering the use of health care, nutrition, or housing programs by lawfully-present immigrants applying for permanent residence (a "green card"). Passage of the resolution would widen racial disparities in health, hunger, and poverty.

While President Biden has committed to veto the resolution, a coalition of stakeholders, led by the nonprofit Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF), feel it is imperative to make our voices heard and express opposition to the resolution. PIF is organizing a letter urging members of the  House of Representatives to oppose all efforts to repeal the Biden Administration's public charge rule.

If you are authorized to sign on behalf of your organization, please sign onto the letter. The deadline to sign-on is Monday, June 5th! Thanks for your time!

Unsure of how to file a witness slip? Follow these steps:

  1. Click on the above buttons.
  2. Fill out your information.
  3. Press next button - this takes you to the Witness Slip page.
  4. Fill out the form with your information. If you do not represent a firm or organization, please write 'self.'
  5. To indicate your position for the bill, please click “Proponent" OR "Opponent."
  6. For testimony - if you are just filing a slip (not testifying in person or submitting oral testimony), choose "Record of Appearance Only".
  7. To submit the slip, click the button "create slip".

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