All of us who have been pushing for meaningful health care reform on a national level are working at fever pitch these days. From reading the latest policy papers and political commentary to organizing local events, there's plenty of work for everyone, and the pace just keeps accelerating.

But even in the current frenzied atmosphere, next week will stand out. On June 24 and 25, people from around the country will gather in Washington D.C. to tell our members of Congress, and the nation, that health care reform can't wait. I feel honored and privileged to have been invited, along with fellow Quad Cities health care reform activists Alta Price and Bev Strayhall, to participate in the events in D.C., thanks to our Iowa friends at Change That Works.  

On the 24th we’ll arrive in time to take part in an Interfaith Service of Witness and Prayer for Healthcare Reform at Freedom Plaza, followed by a candlelight vigil; early on the 25th we’ll start preparing for lobbying of our Iowa Congressional delegation and a noon rally, followed by more afternoon lobbying and then the late flight home.  It’s going to be an intense 2 days, but we’re all very excited to have this opportunity to be part of a very important push for quality, affordable health care for everyone in this country.

And we won’t be the only Iowans in D.C.  Change That Works will have other Iowa representatives, as will Health Care for America Now and Quad Cities Interfaith (QCI).  Some of the QCI folks will arrive on the 24th after a long, grueling bus ride; having made that trip a few years ago for a different issue, I give them a standing ovation!

Although all of us in D.C. will be working hard for our fellow Iowans, as well as for everyone else in this country, we can’t do the job alone, so I’m asking those of you who will be here next week to take action in support of our efforts.

If you live in Des Moines, you have the opportunity on Thursday, June 25, to attend a National Lobby Day for Health Care Reform, organized by Health Care for America Now, South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO (515-265-1862), and Alliance for Retired Americans (515-262-9571).  The event will be from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the Nollen Plaza in Downtown Des Moines; call one of the phone numbers above for more information.

If you are part of a faith community, or can even gather a group of friends, check out the ideas for “echo events” suggested by Faithful Reform for Health Care, one of the lead organizers for the Interfaith service and vigil on the 24th.  Such a gathering need not be complicated or take a great deal of effort, but it is critical for people of faith to affirm that achieving quality health care for all is a moral imperative.  Of course, if you can let your community know about your action, perhaps with a simple letter of explanation to the editor of your newspaper, that will amplify your voice, but what will be most important to me is knowing that people back home are with us in spirit.

I promise you that all of us from Iowa will do our best in Washington to make you proud!