July 14

What a day! The morning started with the domestic plenary: perspectives on healthcare reform. Julie Barnew, Deputy Director of the Health Policy Program at New America Foundation spoke about bills pending which would create a single payer system in the US. This is colloquially known as Medicare for All, since there would be one payor, the government, but private providers (doctors and hospitals). Their web site is www.newamerica.net

At 10:30 was the campaign review and lobby requests sessions. I was already set with the global lobbying I was going to do, and the atmosphere in the domestic room was much gentler than in the global room so I sat in.

I had a candy bar for lunch because I set up the table for the NGO display for the RESULTS Diversity Task Force. I worked the table from 1 to 2 with Monica Jolles from Durham, NC. I had some great conversations with people about adding people of color and people of low income to our groups in order that they can tell their stories to members of Congress personally.

At 3 p.m. I sat in on a session about going deep with your member of Congress led by Sam Daley-Harris, founder of RESULTS. It had to do with finding compelling stories and telling them effectively in order to develop more than a superficial relationship with your MoC.

At 4 was a fundraising workshop with Gwen Garcelon and Sam, Growing Your Inviting Power. I did a share about my experience with inviting Nancy to join our group, the first of six invitations I'm going to issue on our behalf in the communities of color in Cedar Rapids. It was standing at the podium right next to Sam. I think he noticed me because he was listening to the story I was telling. I found out during the workshop that I'm basically not afraid of asking anybody for anything.

Then it was time for supper, which I had while working on my lobbying presentations for tomorrow. At 7 Jos came down to the Hill Room and we went over strategy for an hour in preparation for our meetings. I'm not nervous. It's not that I don't care; it's just that these members of Congress don't scare me. They're human beings who wanted to come to Washington to make a difference in people's lives. I'm there to help them fulfill their mission by asking for legislation that will make a difference in the lives of people living in poverty and hunger. I hope that's not arrogant, because I don't mean it to be. It all seems quite simple to me.

I miss you all terribly. I wish Iowa were closer to Washington so it was easier for us to get here. I am going to thank Loebsack, Grassley and Harkin for coming to Cedar Rapids during the flooding. I want them to know it meant a lot to us that they would make that trip to let us know they were watching out for us all.