Today's Daily Action is to call your Senators at 844-241-1141 and tell them whatever is on YOUR mind - after all, these are YOUR elected representatives. Four key points below.
1- It is always a good day to practice using your voice even if there isn't an impending vote. Today, as we head into Independence Day is as good a day as any for your first call to Congress ever, your first call in a long time or your fifth call this week.
2 - Healthcare appears stalled for now. The Senate is breaking for recess and as of this morning, there was no new health care bill or outline of a bill. This is a tactical victory for us - even as we remain vigilant 
3 - We won an important moral victory this week. Here's why: we started this week literally begging our democratically-elected leaders, sometimes tearfully, not to kill us (!) We were told that we were wasting our time because McConnell is wily and we are powerless. The six quotes below are all from Republican Senators who are opposed to the current bill:
"As drafted, this bill will not ensure access to affordable health care in West Virginia, does not do enough to combat the opioid epidemic that is devastating my state, cuts traditional Medicaid too deeply, and harms rural health care providers." - Senator Shelly Moore Capito
"I'm opposed to this bill because I don't think it does the job and would make matters worse in many cases." - Senator Susan Collins
"It’s not an acceptable proposition to have a bill that increases the burden on lower-income citizens and lessons the burden on wealthy citizens." - Senator Bob Corker
“It’s not about getting me to yes. It’s about getting Nevada to yes. … Low-income families, should they have health insurance? The answer is yes.” - Senator Dean Heller
“The Senate healthcare bill missed the mark for Kansans and therefore did not have my support. I am pleased with the decision to delay the vote – now is the time to take a step back and put the full legislative process to work." - Senator Jerry Moran
"The Congress of the United States — whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, in the House or in the Senate — shouldn't we all be working together on the problems that are part and parcel of who we are as Americans? This is not for Republicans to fix or Democrats to fix. This is for us as Americans to fix. So when did we get to the point where we said, 'No. We're not going to talk to Democrats about a fix'? We should be working with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle." - Senator Lisa Murkowski
"I continue to have real concerns about the Medicaid policies in this bill, especially those that impact drug treatment at a time when Ohio is facing an opioid epidemic. For months, I have engaged with my colleagues on solutions that I believe are necessary to ensure that we improve our health care system and better combat this opioid epidemic. Unfortunately, the Senate draft falls short and therefore I cannot support it in its current form." - Senator Rob Portman
Sometimes you just have to tune out your inner cynic, the doomsdayers in your Facebook feed, the naysayers on Twitter, the media pundits on both sides and FIGHT ON for what *appears* to be a hopelessly foolish, naively optimistic cause.
4 - Have a wonderful weekend!
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