New Deadline on Obamacare Filing

Dear Editor, More than 200,000 families must submit additional information to the government by the end of the day today to verify their immigration or citizenship status. Failure to do so could cut off the coverage they purchased on federal health insurance exchanges. This new deadline is the latest in a series of governmental gaffes over the online application system, identity verification, language access, and enrollment hurdles, and advocates are calling upon the government to keep families from losing coverage while people update their information. Below is a statement from Jenny Rejeske, health policy analyst for the National Immigration Law Center: “Immigrant families overcame many logistical and technological challenges to enroll themselves and their families in affordable health coverage through the federal exchanges. Their actions are good for everyone: when more people have access to health coverage, everybody’s health improves. “But some logistical and technological problems have not yet been fixed, and the federal government has failed to provide adequate notice to people who speak languages other than English or Spanish. Too many people have complied with the requests to submit more information but still are told there are problems. And too many are still unaware of what they need to do to avoid losing their health insurance because of the government’s failure to communicate with them in a language they can understand. “That’s why it’s so befuddling that the government has threatened to stop coverage for so many people when it hasn’t fully fixed its own systems. These actions are irresponsible and harmful, and detract from the central promise of Obamacare. “Immigrant families who received a notice to submit additional information should know that it’s not too late to send in their information. We urge the administration to work with families and advocates to collect the information they need without cutting people out of coverage. However, the government shouldn’t impose such draconian measures upon people who overcame challenge after challenge to enroll, and whom the government’s system is still failing.” NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER

Clerk Dorothy Brown Issues Open Message to Jackie Robinson West

(Chicago) – Clerk Brown addresses the Jackie Robinson West Little League team members: DJ Butler, Lawrence Noble, Jaheim Benton, Ed Howard, Cameron Bufford, Brandon Green, Darion Radcliff, Marquis Jackson, Joshua Houston, Eddie King, Prentiss Luster, Pierce Jones and Trey Hondras, and writes: Thank you all for the lessons in courage. I consider each one of you to be a Profile in Courage. Not only Profiles in Courage, but also profiles in tenacity, fortitude, resiliency, stick-to-itness, go-through-it-ness, grace under pressure, and, finally, Just- Do-it-ness. I know I made up some phrases, but how else can I describe your extra-ordinariness? You and your volunteer fathers, manager and coaches demonstrated the strength brought by a Black father being involved in the life of his son, as well as the importance of Black boys having the support of family and community. I believe that we will remember for years to come your win over Las Vegas, especially when Pitching Coach Houston refused to take his son Josh out of the game after a pitching error gave Vegas the lead with a home run that brought two runs in, saying, “Get your head together. You are staying on the mound and we are going to get it done.” Even when it appeared that Josh felt like he wanted to stop. Then with tears in his eyes, Josh pulled himself together and pitched, first, two balls and, then, a strike; and the batter’s next hit was caught and he was out. But what happened next is what corporate training tapes on courage, fortitude, and achieving against all odds are made of: Josh went on to get a base hit, driving in the tying run to help us stay alive. Jackie Robinson West, every man, woman, boy and girl should review your US Championship game to see what true champions are made of.”