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.
Blog
Building momentum for closing the coverage gap
Alabama Arise and the Cover Alabama coalition have built powerful momentum to expand Medicaid and close the state’s health coverage gap in recent months. Arise held a news conference with our partners at the March of Dimes and Alabama Rural Health Association during our annual Legislative Day in April. The event highlighted how Medicaid expansion [...]
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CHOOSE Act set to undermine funding for Alabama public schools
The Alabama Legislature struck a major blow against public education this session by passing the CHOOSE Act. This law likely will drain hundreds of millions of dollars annually from public schools that have long struggled with underfunding. Alabama Arise testified twice against the bill, but conservative lawmakers moved quickly to enact it. The act – [...]
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Consider Arise in long-term planning
Every year, members like you play a pivotal role in making progress toward our shared vision of an Alabama where everyone has the resources to live happy, productive lives. This year, together, we secured funding for Summer EBT for more than 500,000 children. Last year, we reduced the state grocery tax for every Alabamian. Our [...]
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Maternal health hits home
When Arise members convened at last year’s Annual Meeting to choose our 2024 legislative priorities, you voted to add maternal and infant health to our agenda. Most people didn’t know I was nearly eight weeks pregnant with my first child at the time! As our team studied how we could improve maternal and infant health [...]
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Join us for 2024 Town Hall Tuesdays!
Listening is both a value and process foundational to Arise's approach to shaping and advancing policies that matter most to those marginalized by poverty. Arise depends on what we hear to help guide our work toward a better Alabama. That's why our virtual Town Hall Tuesdays return this year. These events are a chance for [...]
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How Alabama can reduce Black maternal health disparities
As we reflect on the recent observance of Black Maternal Health Week, it is crucial to confront the staggering realities that Black women in Alabama face concerning maternal health care. A closer examination of data and statistics reveals the urgent need for targeted interventions and systemic reforms to address the unacceptable disparities in maternal health [...]
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Arise legislative update: May 13, 2024
Arise's Akiesha Anderson gives a final update on the Alabama Legislature's 2024 regular session, which ended last week. We closed the session with a big advocacy win: Lawmakers approved the funding needed to provide Summer EBT food assistance for more than 500,000 children starting next summer! For more information about what happened this year, please [...]
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Arise legislative update: May 6, 2024
We welcome Arise's LaTrell Clifford Wood to this week's legislative recap to celebrate some good news: The Senate added $10 million to the Education Trust Fund budget for Summer EBT food assistance! Once the House agrees to this change with this modified budget and the governor signs off on it, the funding will start in [...]
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Arise legislative update: April 29, 2024
Arise's Akiesha Anderson provides an update on where things stand in the final days of the Alabama Legislature's 2024 regular session. Unfortunately, we received unfavorable news last week on public transportation funding and legislation that would discourage employers from voluntarily recognizing a union. But we also have good news: Alabama lawmakers heard Medicaid expansion success [...]
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Arise legislative update: April 22, 2024
Arise's Akiesha Anderson brings you up to speed on all that happened last week at the State House plus gets you ready for the upcoming week. As the session is nearing an end, we still have action to take on securing public transportation funding and increasing penalties for child labor violations. We also are trying [...]