***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR FEBRUARY 18 – 22, 2025***
Protect Our Care Releases Ads, Runs Billboards, Hosts 10+ Events With Elected Officials and Advocates
This week, Protect Our Care will host events in more than a dozen states to blast the GOP’s latest budget plan to put billionaires over Americans’ health care. Recent reporting shows congressional Republicans intend to slash Medicaid funding by at least $880 billion and up to $2 trillion to give tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy and big corporations, resulting in millions losing coverage, including children, new moms, seniors, and people with disabilities. Americans across party lines oppose cuts to Medicaid, and new polling finds that a majority of Americans think the government should spend more on health care — not less. Throughout the week, speakers will discuss how these unpopular cuts will hurt families and call on lawmakers to protect access to health care, not take it away.
Protect Our Care is also expanding its “Hands Off Medicaid” campaign to defend Medicaid from devastating cuts with 10 ads, seven billboards, and a mobile billboard in 10 key House districts. This latest investment of nearly $1 million began Saturday, February 15, and will run for two weeks starting as members of Congress return home for recess. Watch Protect Our Care’s ads here, view the billboards here, and watch the New York mobile billboard here.
IN THE STATES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18
VISTA, CALIFORNIA
WHO:
U.S. Representative Mike Levin
Nicole Serrano, Protect Our Care California
Fernando Sañudo, Vista Community Clinic CEO
Patient, Vista Community Clinic
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Press Conference
WHEN: Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 10:15 AM PST // 1:15 PM ET
WHERE: Vista Community Clinic, 1000 Vale Terrace Dr., Vista, CA 92084
ALASKA
WHO:
Bryan Hays, Kenai Caretaker
Edna Beebe, Eek Caretaker
Essie Frank, Fairbanks Caretaker
Kim Anderson, Anchorage Caretaker
Bj Redd Mendez, Wasilla Caretaker
Amber Lee, Protect Our Care Alaska
WHAT: Caretakers Medicaid Defense Virtual Roundtable
WHEN: Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 4:30 PM AKST // 8:30 PM ET
WHERE: Register here (Registration required)
BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA
WHO:
SEIU health care workers and providers
Patient storytellers
Local health care organizations
Labor unions
WHAT: “Hands Off Medi-Cal” Town Hall
WHEN: Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 6 PM PST // 9 PM ET
WHERE: Rasmussen Center, 115 E Roberts Ln, Bakersfield, CA 93308
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19
NEW YORK
WHO:
U.S. Representative Laura Gillen (NY-04)
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Press Conference
WHEN: Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 9:45 AM ET
WHERE: TBA
PENNSYLVANIA
WHO:
Make the Road PA
Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans
PA Stands Up
Pennsylvania State Education Association
Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates
Service Employees International Union
Working Families Party
PA-07 Constituents
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Press Conference
WHEN: Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 12 PM ET
WHERE: Congressman Ryan Mackenzie’s District Office, 1125 S Cedar Crest Blvd Suite 109, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103
NORTH CAROLINA
WHO:
U.S. Representative Deborah Ross (NC-02)
State Rep. Sarah Crawford
Haywood Watson, NC Retired Storyteller
Vanessa Watson, Protect Our Care North Carolina
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Virtual Press Conference
WHEN: Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 1:30 PM ET
WHERE: Register here (Registration required)
MAINE
WHO:
Providers and patient storytellers
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Press Conference
WHEN: Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 2 PM ET
WHERE: TBA
CALIFORNIA
WHO:
SEIU health care workers and providers
Patient storytellers
Local health care organizations
Labor unions
WHAT: “Hands Off Medi-Cal” Town Hall
WHEN: Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 6 PM PST // 9 PM ET
WHERE: Corona City Center, 365 N. Main St. Corona, CA 92880
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20
ARIZONA
WHO:
Dr. Larry DeLuca
Morgan Finkelstein, Protect Our Care Arizona
Patient storytellers
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Press Conference
WHEN: Thursday, February 20, 2025, at TBA
WHERE: TBA
PENNSYLVANIA
WHO:
SEIU Healthcare PA
American Federation of Government Employees
Planned Parenthood PA Advocates
Commonwealth Communications
PA State Education Association
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Press Conference
WHEN: Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 5 PM ET
WHERE: TBA
ALASKA
WHO:
Stand Up Alaska
SEIU 775
AFL-CIO
Mat-Su for Progress
Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates
The Alaska Children’s Center
Progress Alaska
WHAT: Medicaid Event
WHEN: Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 4:30 PM AKST // 8:30 PM ET
WHERE: Petersen Tower, 510 L St, Anchorage, AK 99501
CALIFORNIA
WHO:
SEIU health care workers and providers
Patient storytellers
Local health care organizations
Labor unions
WHAT: “Hands Off Medi-Cal” Town Hall
WHEN: Thursday, February 20, 2025, at 6 PM PST/9 PM ET
WHERE: Clifton C. Miller Community Center, 300 Centennial Way, Tustin, CA 92780
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21
PENNSYLVANIA
WHO:
JJ Abbott, Executive Director of Commonwealth Communications
Pennsylvania Health Access Network (PHAN)
Michael Berman, Protect Our Care Pennsylvania
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Virtual Press Conference
WHEN: Friday, February 21, 2025, at 11 AM ET
WHERE: Register here (Registration required)
WEST VIRGINIA
WHO:
Former West Virginia Senate President and Lt. Gov Jeff Kessler
Sherri McKinney, SEIU 1199
Ellen Allen, WVAHC Executive Director
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Virtual Press Conference
WHEN: Friday, February 21, 2025 at 11:30 AM ET
WHERE: Register here (Registration required)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22
NEW YORK
WHO:
TBA
WHAT: Medicaid Defense Press Conference
WHEN: Saturday, February 22, 2025, at TBA
WHERE: TBA