Arise held our 2024 Legislative Day on Tuesday, April 2. More than 230 supporters joined us in Montgomery to urge their lawmakers to close Alabama’s Medicaid coverage gap, invest in public transportation and fund a summer nutrition program for children. Thank you to everyone who spoke out for a better Alabama for all!

Full video transcript below:

Alabama Arise Action was thrilled to see so many people come out to our 2024 Legislative Day. More than 200 of our members attended to have their voices heard as they took our message of a better Alabama for all to the State House. The day featured a membership briefing where Arise provided updates on our policy priorities, including Medicaid expansion, funding Summer EBT, funding public transportation and supporting workers’ rights. After a news conference featuring representatives from Cover Alabama, which is an Arise-led coalition dedicated to pushing for Medicaid expansion, our members visited their legislators at the State House. We want to again thank everyone for coming and showing how important these issues are to the people of our state.

We’re excited to have more than 200 supporters here with us today at our annual Legislative Day. Give yourselves a round of applause. (*applause*) We’re here today to tell our lawmakers that it’s time to close Alabama’s
Medicaid coverage gap once and for all. (*applause*) This is an investment in Alabama’s future. It will create thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars of economic activity. It would help rural hospitals stay open to serve everyone in their communities. And the most important thing it will do: It will save lives. (*applause*)

Closing the coverage gap is a sensible solution that will result in a healthier Alabama and reduce health care costs associated with pregnancy outcomes. Thank you for investing in healthy moms and strong babies.

And I can tell you that we are in as bad of shape as we’ve ever been. Our hospitals are at risk. It’s something to the order of 80% of our rural hospitals now have operating losses, and so they are in critical shape. It’s time to put politics aside for the well-being of our people. This isn’t about party lines or partisan agendas. It’s about doing what’s right for Alabama. (Yes.) Gov. Ivey, the time for action is now. (*applause*) We can no longer afford to delay or debate. We need concrete steps to close the coverage gap and ensure that every Alabamian has access to the health care that they deserve. Together, we can close the health coverage gap and ensure a healthier, more prosperous future for all Alabamians. Thank you. (*applause*)