CAP Policy & Advocacy Update
1. CAP Heads to Salem in Support of Bill Protecting Gender-Affirming Care
CAP’s priority bill this short session, HB 4088, proposes to expand the state’s policy to protect engagement in certain activities relating to reproductive health care and gender-affirming treatment. HB 4088 builds upon past landmark protections championed by CAP through the 2023 passage of HB 2002, which requires health benefit plans in the state to cover reproductive and gender-affirming care.
HB 4088 would broaden protections for already legal reproductive and gender-affirming health care by:
Declaring state policy to protect patients and providers engaged in these legally protected services
Barring cooperation with federal or out-of-state law enforcement related to those services
Updating rules on interstate actions involving protected care
Making certain related records confidential
Shielding direct-entry midwives from discipline when they provide reproductive or gender-affirming care under specified conditions
To learn more about the bill, check out the bill one-pager, and stay tuned for updates as we push these essential healthcare protections through the short session.
2. CAP Staff Raise their Voices at Washington’s Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day
On January 26th, six CAP staff joined the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance for its annual Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day in Olympia, WA. This event provided an opportunity for us to show up in support of the low-income folks living with HIV who we serve out of our Vancouver and Longview offices, strengthen relationships with fellow Southwest Washington service providers and advocates, and strategize about how we can reduce housing barriers in our communities.
3. CAP Staff Champion Food Security in Oregon
CAP staff joined Food for All Oregonians Lobbying day in support of an anti-hunger package which includes:
A one-time payment of $3.5 million to support immigrant and refugee families who lost their SNAP benefits.
$131 million to fully fund SNAP benefits in Oregon.
$25 million directly to the food bank to keep up with growing demand.
Full state funding for free school meals for all students.
We’ll be back at the Oregon State Capital with Oregon Food Bank for Immigrant Justice Day on February 12th.
4. CAP, Basic Rights Oregon, and The Marie Equi Center Host a CMS Comment-Writing Workshop
On January 28th, CAP collaborated with Basic Rights Oregon and The Marie Equi Center to host a workshop on how to safely and securely provide public comment on the Center for Medicare and Medicaid’s proposed rules on gender-affirming care. If you missed that event, no problem! There is still time to provide comment—an easy and meaningful way to take action to prevent gender-affirming care for youth. For more on how to comment, visit Basic Rights Oregon’s comment portal. Share this link with all your friends!
Other Upcoming Advocacy Days We’re Participating In:
PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT
Adie Steckel
Manger of Grants & Public Affairs
e: asteckel@capnw.org
About Cascade AIDS Project
Founded in 1983 and incorporated in 1985 as Cascade AIDS Project, CAP is the oldest and largest community-based provider of HIV services, housing, education and advocacy in Oregon and Southwest Washington. We work to advance equity and access through inclusive health and wellness services for LGBTQ+ people, people affected by HIV, and all those seeking compassionate care. From Prism Health, our primary care and behavioral health clinics, to Our House, our long-term residential care facility for those living with HIV, we are proud to provide comprehensive programs that meet the individual care needs of our community. To learn more about CAP, please visit www.capnw.org.
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