Ali & Jenn
CRPS Warriors
Traveling to Washington, D.C. with Popular Democracy and Ali, a fellow CRPS Warrior, was both an inspiring privilege and a powerful physical reminder of why we do this work. As a rare disease advocate, former state representative, and disabled person, traveling takes an immense physical toll on my body. It usually requires a dedicated recovery day just to recharge after navigating airports and long hallways. Yet, despite the exhaustion, there is nothing quite like taking our grassroots stories directly to the halls of Congress and fighting for the resources our communities urgently need.
Protecting Our Polls & Defending Civil Rights
During our visits with congressional offices, one of our top priorities was safeguarding our democracy and ensuring that every eligible citizen can vote without fear. We met with key staff to express our deep relief and appreciation for Congresswoman Goodlander’s “Protect Our Polls Act,” which aims to restrict military presence at polling locations and protect voters from intimidation. Following concerning reports of voter intimidation during recent primary seasons, folks in New Hampshire and across the nation deserve to know that their polling place is a safe space. We explicitly urged Congressman Pappas’s office to sign on as a co-sponsor to this vital bill.
Additionally, we voiced our strong support for House Resolution 1539, introduced by Congresswoman Mejia, which strongly affirms the 14th and 15th Amendments of the Constitution. Standing up for constitutional civil rights protections goes hand-in-hand with ensuring every voice is heard at the ballot box.
Transportation is Healthcare
Back home in New Hampshire, we are facing a growing public transit crisis that directly impacts public health. Access to reliable transportation is fundamentally a healthcare issue—especially for disabled individuals who rely on public routes and specialized services to reach essential medical treatments.
When Manchester recently lost another bus line, it left residents in the city stranded. For many in our state, missing a bus line means missing life-sustaining doctor visits or being unable to pick up prescriptions. My own treatments are an hour away; without assistance from local organizations like NH New Futures in Sight, I would be paying $200 out-of-pocket per trip just to get there and back, on top of copays and coinsurance. To say New Hampshire is falling behind on access is putting it mildly—for many, transportation access is literally a matter of life and death.
Legislative Solutions vs. Harmful Policies
To address these systemic barriers, we need federal policy that builds real infrastructure without compromising safety. We are actively urging Congresswoman Goodlander to join Congressman Pappas in co-sponsoring the “Stronger Communities through Better Transit Act / Moving Transit Forward Act.” Having our entire New Hampshire congressional delegation united on expanding public transit would be a major victory for our state.
On the flip side, we must remain vigilant against legislation that causes harm under the guise of progress. The “BUILD America 250 Act” may sound beneficial on the surface, but it falls short of funding what our local communities actually need. Even more concerning, it grants dangerous liability exemptions to ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft if a passenger is assaulted by a driver. We cannot allow federal legislation to compromise passenger safety or strip away accountability.
Stay Engaged & Take Action
Progress only happens when we show up, speak out, and hold our leaders accountable. I am deeply grateful to our allies at Popular Democracy for facilitating our trip to D.C., to advocates like Ann Sullivan for guiding us through local and federal policy, and to local groups like NH New Futures in Sight for keeping our neighbors connected.
To learn more about the transit challenges and solutions facing our communities, please take a moment and visit Transit Justice. Together, we will keep fighting for accessible, safe, and just communities for everyone.
