We the People Wednesdays Actions for November 11

ACTION 1:

Today is Veterans Day, and our action honors our veterans by protecting their health care.  The Trump administration has eliminated 26,000 vacant VA positions, including health care positions, which it claimed were unneeded. Yet in September 2026, the VA Inspector General reported:

Virginia Senators Warner and Kaine have written to VA Secretary Douglas Collins to challenge these cuts, noting that the VA has not provided the criteria used to determine that the positions were unnecessary or the staffing models supporting the decisions.


Write to our Senators to ensure high quality care for veterans.  Adapt this sample text:

Dear Senator XXX,

   On this Veterans Day, please challenge VA staffing cuts and ensure that VA hospitals have the staff needed to provide high-quality care.


Sincerely,

<your name and zip>


Senator John Fetterman

142 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510


Senator Dave McCormick

SH-702 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

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ACTION 2:


The City of Philadelphia has been sending one third of its trash to the City of Chester for burning in the largest trash incinerator in the US. The childhood asthma rate in Chester is four times the national average. Philadelphia City Council will hold a hearing on Nov 18 about extending the contract for this for seven more years. This is a clear case of environmental racism. We're not sure that our local Councilperson, Cindy Bass, is on the right side of this issue. 


Write to Councilperson Bass to reject more years of polluting Chester’s air.  Adapt this sample text:

Dear Councilperson Bass,

   Please reject extending the city’s contract to burn trash in Chester.


Sincerely,

<your name and zip>


The Honorable Cindy Bass

CIty Hall Room 508

Philadelphia, PA 19107