Blog
Public policy should make life better for everyone, not just a select few. Throughout the year, Arise tracks a range of state and federal policy proposals and assesses what they would mean for Alabamians who are struggling to make ends meet. Our blog provides quick updates on these proposals and offers tips on what you can do to help build an Alabama where all people have an opportunity to reach their full potential.
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Federal workers are vital to Alabama’s economy
Federal workers help keep our food, workplaces and environment safe. Thousands carry out critical missions like weather forecasting, disaster relief and medical care. Federal employees and their families are our neighbors who live, work and send their children to schools across Alabama. But waves of firings in recent weeks have targeted federal employees who serve [...]
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Maternal health, paid leave are early highlights in Alabama’s 2025 legislative session
Alabama Arise is advocating successfully to advance several good bills early in the Legislature’s 2025 regular session. Our members are speaking out and getting results on maternal health care access, paid parental leave and other issues. The session began Feb. 4 and likely will end in mid-May. Here is an overview of Arise’s advocacy at [...]
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Federal Medicaid, SNAP threats imperil Alabamians
Lawmakers should not hurt people who are struggling to help people who are already doing well. But Congress is considering cuts to health coverage, food assistance and other human services that would do exactly that. These proposals would increase hunger and hardship for hundreds of thousands of Alabamians. The U.S. House last month approved a [...]
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‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’
Mr. Rogers said his mother told him the quote above when things he saw on the news frightened him. We are in scary times, to say the least. Congress is advancing a billionaires-first budget that could gut Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, TANF, public health and school meals. Our president is pushing the boundaries of executive authority [...]
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Make the most of your membership
At Alabama Arise, we work to engage everyday people on policies that impact people with low incomes. Our collective voice is stronger together! We’re in the middle of Alabama’s legislative session, which means your support is fueling our work at a critical time. Will you help us build momentum? Here are a few ideas: Visit [...]
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McKenzie Burton wants to get a cup of coffee with you
Alabama Arise’s supporters and members are used to seeing a handful of friendly faces from the staff regularly. They may see organizers speaking at listening sessions or policy analysts giving TV interviews. But many other staff members are also integral to realizing Arise’s mission. One is someone whose name you may recognize, but not her [...]
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Arise legislative update: Week of March 3, 2025
Arise's Debbie Smith highlights the wonderful turnout at Cover Alabama's advocacy day on Medicaid expansion in Montgomery last week. She also discusses why Arise joined with more than 100 partner groups to oppose federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, and she explains how you can speak out against these harmful cuts as well. Finally, Debbie [...]
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Arise legislative update: Week of Feb. 24, 2025
Arise's David Stout shares some good news from the Alabama State House this week. The Senate and House have passed SB 102 and HB 89, respectively, and sent them to the other chamber for consideration. These bills would ensure that women eligible for Medicaid could get health care earlier in their pregnancies. David also discusses [...]
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Arise legislative update: Week of Feb. 17, 2025
Arise's David Stout brings you the latest after another busy week at the Alabama Legislature. David recaps some good news from last week: Bills increasing access to maternal health care (HB 89) and cracking down on companies that violate child labor laws (SB 22) passed in the House and Senate, respectively. He also shares worse [...]
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Arise legislative update: Week of Feb. 10, 2025
Arise's David Stout recaps a busier-than-usual first week of the 2025 Alabama legislative session, with updates about our progress on issues like paid parental leave, maternal health care and school breakfast for all. He also discusses some harmful new immigration legislation, as well as our ongoing work to close Alabama's health coverage gap through Medicaid [...]