October 7, 2021
Yesterday ADAPT activist from around the nation went to the Hart Senate Building to meet with Senators Manchin and Sinema. The reason we were wanting to meet with them both is that they are the two people who are holding up the human infrastructure projects in the Build Back Better Jobs bill. We were refused entry into the building because we were told that the building is closed unless you have an appointment.
We have requested meetings for some time now and have been ignored. We communicated this fact to the Capitol police. We also requested that they contact the Senators and ask them to come out. The police refused. The police gave us three warnings in about a period of ten minutes. 16 of us were arrested from the larger group of ADAPTers. We were ticketed and released. Although, that is not always the case when we have been arrested in the past fighting for our freedom for over the past 40 years in ADAPT.
Then we marched through the Capitol Complex to join a coalition of organizations advocating for the Build Back Better Jobs bill. We arrived to the Vigil for HCBS and Community Attendants/Direct Support workers wage increase. The vigil was awesome!
It was attended by National ADAPT and 15 other disability, aging, and caregiver organizations. ADAPTers hung in there from the evening of October 6th through 7PM of the 7th, some even camped out at the Capitol all night. We read the personal stories of people that use HCBS programs and the workers stories. It was also attended by Senator Bob Casey from Pennsylvania and Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington State. Senator Casey took the personal stories orgsnizations collected throughout the Country to use as an advocacy tool on behalf of the human infrastructure projects in the bill. Sometimes it can be very difficult to share our stories but they will be used to change the course of history for the better.
The Build Back Better is a result of all of ours and allied organizations hard work through the years and is an opportunity that only comes along once in a generation. We still have hard work to do to get it passed but everyone should be proud.
Press Coverage
The Care Movement Fights Back Against Cuts to Biden’s Historic Home Care Plan
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: WHY RECIPIENTS AND PROVIDERS OF HOME CARE SAY CONGRESS MUST ACT
Protesters push Congress for home care funding: ‘If we get sick, we leave and no one backs us up’
The mild-mannered senator behind a major liberal push
Uncertainty Surrounds Biden Plan To Boost Disability Services