EPISODE 8 - NANCY PELOSI WAS HERE | "I HAD AN ABORTION AND I AIN'T SORRY" | WE FANGIRL OVER REP TALARICO'S WHOLE OFFICE | SAVE THE MAMAS

ABORTION! It's okay to say out loud. Special guest Zoraima Palaez from the Texas Freedom Network shares her story with us. Plus, we go heart-eyes for Nancy Pelosi's visit to Austin and fangirl out over Rep. James Talarico's efforts to support "The Whole Student" so our kids can succeed not just in school but in life. Plus, we learn about ways to keep Texas mamas from dying in childbirth. Also... unicorn onesies!

THIS WEEK’S GUEST:

Zoraima Palaez, Outreach and Advocacy Manager for the Texas Freedom Network

https://twitter.com/TFN

SH*T TO DO:

Contact the members of the TX House Human Services Committee to support bills fighting maternal mortality.

Suggested Call Script/Email:

“I’m reaching out to urge the representative to prioritize bills to reduce the high maternal mortality rate in Texas. [Insert any personal information or stories about why you care about this issue]

Last year, Texas’s overall maternal mortality rate was 32.4 for every 100,000 births. The C.D.C. estimates that 60 percent of current maternal deaths in the United States are preventable. Even one needless death of a mother is unacceptable. As a member of the Human Services Committee, please support HB241, HB610, HB 411, HB 744.

Texas Medicaid maternity benefits cover over half of Texas births each year, but coverage ends two months after delivery. These bills would extend the post-partum coverage for a full 12 months, to better address ongoing health conditions and reduce maternal mortality, which have been recommended by Texas’ Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Task Force.”

Human Services Committee

https://house.texas.gov/committees/committee/?committee=C310

Republicans:

Rep. Frank, James

District 69 (Chair)

(512) 463-0534

https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/email/?district=69&session=86

Rep. Clardy, Travis

District 11

(512) 463-0592

https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/email/?district=11&session=86

Rep. Klick, Stephanie

District 91

(512) 463-0599

https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/email/?district=91&session=86

Rep. Miller, Rick

District 26

(512) 463-0710

https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/email/?district=26&session=86

Rep. Noble, Candy

District 89

(512) 463-0186

https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/email/?district=89&session=86

Dems:

Rep. Hinojosa, Gina

District 49 (Vice Chair)

(512) 463-0668

https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/email/?district=49&session=86

Rep. Deshotel, Joe

District 22

(512) 463-0662

https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/email/?district=22&session=86

Rep. Meza, Thresa "Terry"

District 105

(512) 463-0641

https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/email/?district=105&session=86

Rep. Rose, Toni

District 110

(512) 463-0664

https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/email/?district=110&session=86

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LINKS WE MENTIONED:

Hillary Clinton Tweet

https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/1103067043048419329

Pelosi: Texas is ‘ground zero’ in 2020:

https://www.statesman.com/news/20190305/pelosi-texas-is-ground-zero-in-2020

House Speaker Pelosi Says Attempted Voter Purge In Texas Shows Need For Stronger Federal Protections:

https://www.kut.org/post/house-speaker-pelosi-says-attempted-voter-purge-texas-shows-need-stronger-federal-protections

Rep. James Talarico’s education package - The “Whole Student Agenda”:

https://www.facebook.com/RepTalarico/photos/pcb.2325877130797858/2325877080797863/?type=3&theater

Belinda George at Homer Drive Elementary School in Beaumont - “Tucked in Tuesdays.”

Her unicorn onesie!

https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/07/us/iyw-principal-streams-bedtime-stories-trnd/index.html

Poor Maintenance Of Military Housing By Private Contractors Under Review:

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/07/701222680/shoddy-maintenance-of-military-housing-under-scrutiny-by-senate-military-leaders

Military Housing Issues Are Bigger Than Realized, Army Secretary Says: https://www.npr.org/2019/03/07/700998372/military-housing-issues-are-bigger-than-realized-army-secretary-says

Fort Bliss holds town hall meeting on Military Housing issues:

https://www.kvia.com/news/top-stories/fort-bliss-to-hold-town-hall-meeting-on-military-housing-issues/1045218910

Fort Hood soldiers describe abysmal housing conditions:

https://www.statesman.com/news/20190221/fort-hood-soldiers-describe-abysmal-housing-conditions

Texas Tribune/TIME documentary: The American private prison industry, smugglers and cartels are cashing out big on the migration crisis:

https://bit.ly/2EVtB9x

Statistics on teen pregnancy in Texas:

http://txcampaign.org/repeat-teen-birth/

In Texas, abstinence-only programs may contribute to teen pregnancies:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/06/05/530922642/in-texas-abstinence-only-programs-may-contribute-to-teen-pregnancies

The Texas Freedom Network:

https://tfn.org/

The Trust. Respect. Access. Coalition:

https://trustrespectaccess.org/

The Afiya Center:

https://theafiyacenter.org/

The Lilith Fund:

https://www.lilithfund.org/

Black Mamas ATX:

https://www.facebook.com/BlackMamasATX