Actions for March 2025 

Phone numbers of representatives (click the Home tab at top to return to the home page)

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer:  (518) 431-4070 or (607) 772-6792 or (202) 224-6542

Senate Majority Leader John Thune:   (202) 224–2321

Senator Elizabeth Warren:  (202) 224-4543 or (413) 788-2690

Senator Ed Markey:  (202) 224-2742 or (413) 785-4610

Jim McGovern:  (413) 341-8700 or (202) 225-6101

Richard Neal:   (413) 785-0325 or (202) 225-5601

Action 1: Protect Free Speech– Demand the release of Mahmoud Khalil

•Mahmoud Khalil is a lawful permanent resident and graduate of Columbia University and was a lead negotiator for the Gaza solidarity encampment at Columbia last year.

•Two men claiming to be ICE agents ambushed him and his pregnant wife at University Housing. He was arrested and is being detained in Louisiana with no official charges. A Federal Judge has temporarily blocked his deportation.

Script: Hi My name is [Name]. I’m calling [Rep/Senator Name] to defend our constitutional right to protest, and demand the immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil. Mahmoud is a lawful permanent resident who has been detained without charges in retaliation for exercising his First Amendment rights. Can you direct me to the Congressman/Senators statement on his arrest?

Action 2a: No Federal Funding Continued Resolution without DOGE guardrails

•The House has passed the GOP continuing resolution with a narrow 217-213 vote. Now it goes to the Senate.

Script: Hi my name is [Name]. I’m calling to demand that Senator [Warren/Markey] vote against any Continuing Resolution that doesn’t include enforceable guardrails for DOGE. Musk and his team of computer hackers have no legal jurisdiction over how our government spends money. Congress must stop them and take back their constitutional power of the purse.

Action 2b: Tell Chuck Schumer to demand caucus vote no on the CR until GOP puts in protections

Call Chuck Schumer  (212) 486-4430 or (202) 224-6542

Script: My name is ____ and I’m calling the Senator in his capacity as Senate Minority Leader. I am a Democratic voter and donor who strongly supports the Senator’s position that the Democratic caucus vote NO on this Continuing Resolution. I agree that Democrats MUST use the leverage they have to protect us. Vote NO until—at the very least—Elon Musk is reined in, Mahmoud Khalil is released, and Social Security is protected. Thank you.

Action 3: Demand that the State Fully Fund HIP!

Script for Governor Healey (617) 725-4005

Hello! My name is ____, I live in ____, and I’m calling to ask you to reverse the cut to the Healthy Incentives Program’s funding.  This funding shortfall will negatively impact the 285 farmers and thousands of low-income households that benefit from HIP every month. $20 is insufficient for low-income households to purchase Massachusetts-grown foods at farmers markets.  Massachusetts should be a leader when it comes to prioritizing the needs of our most vulnerable populations.  Reversing this funding decision would ensure food-insecure families access to locally grown fresh produce, boost our local economy, and support MA farmers and farmers’ markets!  Please support a supplementary budget item to fully fund HIP in FY2025 and ensure that the FY2026 budget fully funds the program as well.  Thank you!

CALL or EMAIL House and Senate leadership:

Ask them to support $7.5 million in a supplemental FY2025 budget for HIP to reverse the cut and, looking ahead, to ensure that HIP is fully funded for FY2026.  

•Speaker of the House Ron Mariano: (617) 722-2500 and Ronald.Mariano@mahouse.gov (if you email, cc: your State Senate and House legislators)

•House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz: (617) 722-2990 and Aaron.M.Michlewitz@mahouse.gov   (if you email, cc: your State Senate and House legislators)

•President of the Senate Karen E. Spilka: (617) 722-1500 and Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov (if you email, cc: your State Senate and House legislators)

•Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael J. Rodrigues: (617) 722-1114 and Michael.Rodrigues@masenate.gov  (if you email, cc: your State Senate and House legislators)

Action 4: Reject Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid to Fund Billionaire Tax Giveaways

Script: Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP]. I’m calling to urge [SEN NAME] to reject the mandatory spending cuts laid out in House Concurrent Resolution as the budget process continues. Congress must pass a budget that actually benefits Americans instead of slashing funds to essential life-saving programs like Medicaid to finance tax breaks for the wealthy.

Action 5: Tell Rep. Neal to speak out about Medicare Advantage fraud

Background:

Each year in April Health and Human and Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services set the rules for Medicare and the insurers who provide these services.  Now is the time to make your concerns heard.  Below are 3 top concerns with Medicare Advantage (MA) that Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s letter addresses.

1.Rein in fraudulent overpayments to MA insurers, which are estimated to range from $88-$140 billion annually! This is money paid into the Medicare Trust fund from every worker's paycheck and needs to be protected from theft.  

2.Ensure that patients on MA receive care as defined by Medicare and equivalent to Traditional Medicare. End long delays, excessive prior authorizations and wrongful denials of care. MA processes focused on profit over care harm patients and consume unnecessary provider resources when patients struggle to schedule and receive timely care.

3.Regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for prior authorization and denials. End or limit provider networks to ensure access to care, especially in rural and low-income areas.

Rep. Richard Neal: (202) 225-5601 or (413) 785-0325

SCRIPT:

Hi, I’m [a constituent of Rep. Neal* (OR) calling Rep. Neal in his capacity as ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee] and my address is ______ .

I am deeply concerned about fraudulent overpayments to Medicare Advantage insurers, which are estimated to range from $88-$140 billion annually! This is money paid into the Medicare Trust fund from every worker's paycheck and needs to be protected from theft.  I strongly urge the Congressman to speak out on the issues and sign Rep Jayapal letter to end the processes of Medicare Advantage insurers that prioritize profit over care and rein in the fraud of Medicare Advantage insurers overbilling the Medicare Trust Fund by billions each year.