Medicare and Americans Abroad

Join us on February 19th for a practical explanation of what Medicare is, how it is funded, to whom it is available and the nature of coverage it does or can include.  Find out what kind of decisions you will have to make – either now or in the future – and how these decisions and programs can significantly impact your future financial and insurance coverage situation.  These decisions are important for people with disabilities and seniors, but knowing what is coming is important for all Americans overseas – whether you plan to stay abroad or move back to the US.

Our panelists are Democrats Abroad members and Americans living abroad who are working on legislation to better the opportunities of Americans abroad and who will share their knowledge, experience and plans for the future with you. Please note that this panel will give neither financial advice nor expert opinion on individual situations.  The webinar will be recorded, and all the documents presented in this webinar will be sent to anyone who RSVPS for the event.

RSVP Below!

Our Panelists:

Heather Stone, Chair Medicare Medical Portability Task Force
Philippe Blumenthal, CEO of the Government Savings Institute
Toni Kamins, Medicare Medical Portability Task Force and Chair of GSC Medicare Part B Committee

This event is co-hosted by DA's Global Seniors Caucus, Medical Portability Task Force, and Global Disability Caucus.

Thank you for your ticket purchase!  

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email us!

You can reach Glenda at  [email protected]

AAPI Represents in our Nation's Democratic Leadership Roles

As reported by Axios, the number of Asian Americans elected to Congress has increased significantly and is currently at a record high, but represents only about 3% of Congressional membership.  As of September 21, 2022, the 117th Congress, which ends on January 3, 2023, includes 18 Asian Americans serving in the House and 2 in the Senate. Once the 2022 midterm election results are finalized, the numbers are expected to remain the same despite one loss of a House seat previously held by an Asian American with the gain of a new seat due to redistricting.  

The House

In the House, all sitting Asian American Democrats were re-elected in the midterms.  Te seat previously held by Stephanie Murphy (D, Fl) who retired was flipped by Republican Cory Mills. 

Redistricting of many of the districts had particularly tight races, but were won by the incumbents, for example Andy Kim (D, NJ). 

Shri Thanedar, who gave up his Michigan state house seat, successfully ran for Michigan’s 13th district after the incumbent, Rashida Thaib, due to redistricting, successfully ran in the 12th district.  Jill Tokuda also won the seat vacated by Kai Kathele (who unsuccessfully ran as Governor of Hawaii).

The Senate

Senator Tammy Duckworth won re-election in the 2022 midterms. Senator Mazie Hirono (D, Hawaii) seat was not up for reelection at the midterms, and will continue to represent Hawaii in the new Senate.

Leadership

On Nov. 30, U.S. Rep. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA) was elected incoming vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus, the number five position in House Democratic Leadership. Congressman Lieu is the first Asian American elected as vice chair.

While all senators and representatives serve on a number of Congressional committees and caucuses, the following provides a short list of those who are currently chairs or co-chairs:

• Bobby Scott- currently chairs the Committee of Education and Labor.
• Doris Matsui - currently co-chairs: Congressional High-Tech Caucus, the National Service Congressional Caucus, the Congressional Caucus to Cure Blood Cancers and Other Blood Disorders, the House Task Force on Aging and Families, and the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC).
• Pramila Jayapal - currently chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
• Grace Meng - currently is the Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and a Vice Chair of the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus.
• Judy Chu - currently chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). She also founded and co-chairs the Congressional Creative Rights Caucus, which advocates for the copyright protections of those in the creative industries.
• Mark Takano - currently chairs the House Veterans Committee, and co- chairs the Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC.
• Raja Krishnamoorthi - currently chairs the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy.

Diversity of representatives: 

Democrat incumbents continuing in 2023 are from a diverse Asian American background:

• Representatives Doris Matsui (CA), Mark Takano (CA), and Senator Mazie Hirono (HI) are Japanese American. Mark Takano was also the first openly gay person to serve in Congress. 
• Representative Judy Chu (CA) is Chinese American - she was the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress.
• Representatives Grace Meng (NY) and Ted Lieu (CA) are Taiwanese Americans.
• Representative Bobby Scott (VA) is Filipino and African American and was the first Filipino to be elected to the House.
• Senator Tammy Duckworth (IL) is Thai American.
• Representatives Ami Bera (CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL), Pramila Jayapal (WA), and Ro Khanna (CA) are Indian American.
• Representatives Andy Kim (NJ) is Korean American.
• Representative Marilyn Strickland (WA)  is Korean and African American.
• Incoming Representative Shri Thanedar (MI) is Indian American.
• Incoming Representative Jill Tokuda (HI) is fourth generation Japanese American.

Non-voting House Delegates

There are currently six non-voting delegates in Congress: a delegate representing the District of Columbia, a resident commissioner representing Puerto Rico, and one delegate for each of the other four permanently inhabited U.S. territories: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Three of the six delegates are Pacific Islanders (2 Democrats, 1 Republican). While they do not vote on legislation, they have a voice in Congress and do vote as appropriate in committees on which they serve.

Below you will find an EMAIL and a CALL script to use to contact your House Representative asking them to Sign the Discharge Petition to allow a House vote for HR.82. 

To contact your Representative, follow these steps:

1. Click here and enter the zip code where you last lived in the U.S. It will then display your Representative.
2. Check here for the House to see if your Representative has already co-sponsored the bill.
3. Customize the scripts below to email or call (better yet, do both!) to ask them to sign the Discharge Petition to allow a House vote for HR.82. 
4. Email [email protected] and say “Discharge Petition DONE" in the subject line to let us know that you contacted your Representative.
5. Optional: If they have already co-sponsored, write or call to thank them for their support! See that script below. 

Email

Subject line:  Need your support to repeal Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

Dear Senator (Congressperson) _________,

I am respectfully asking for your committed support in passing H.R. 82 — the Social Security Fairness Act of 2021. The House is being blocked from voting on HR.82. I would like you to sign the Discharge Petition filed by Rodney Davis (IL) to allow the House to vote on HR.82.

My name is_________, I am a U.S. citizen who lives in (Country of Residence) and I vote in your district in (U.S. town and state you vote).  My Social Security benefits earned from my prior work history in the United States are being/will be unfairly reduced due to the Windfall Elimination Provision or WEP by the Social Security Amendments of 1983. 

As I am sure you are aware, WEP applies to most people who receive both a pension from non-covered work (including certain foreign pensions) and Social Security benefits based on fewer than 30 years of substantial earnings in SS covered employment or self-employment.

• Many retired Americans who live, or once lived abroad, have paid into Social Security. But they do not receive their full benefits or fair share of them from Social Security when they retire.
• WEP was meant to eliminate the advantage some workers received from overlapping full-retirement pensions supplemented by partial Social Security-covered employment. This is not the case with many people affected by WEP. 
• Also, some beneficiaries only learn of WEP after they have retired, and the reduced benefits substantially affect their and their family’s financial standing in later years.
• I am (will be) personally affected by these deductions (describe in what way), so this issue an important voting consideration for me when I vote by absentee ballot.

The problem that WEP was meant to resolve didn’t consider, in a fair and equitable way, the impact on overseas retirees. I ask for your support in finding a fair solution for all.

I hope that you can assure me that these bills will reach the floor for vote in this legislative session.  Please commit and give your urgent support in helping to pass HR.82 Social Security Fairness Act.

Respectfully,

(name of sender)

Voter in (Name your town again)  

If your Representative or Senator has already committed to supporting H.R. 82 thank them for their support.

Call 

Script to use to urge your House Representative to sign the Discharge Petition to allow a vote on HR.82 — the Social Security Fairness Act of 2021

Hello, I am a constituent who votes in [CITY/TOWN, STATE], but I am currently residing in and calling from [CITY, COUNTRY].  I was hoping to speak to the Senator/Representative or their staffer about the repeal of the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) that impacts your constituents like me who live outside the United States.

I am calling to ask Representative _____ to sign the Discharge Petition to allow a vote in the House on HR.82. 

[Personalize your message using ideas from this script]

I am an ordinary US citizen.  I moved to [Country] to [be with my partner/family/to take a job/other].  I am not wealthy. The complexity of investing for retirement due to double taxation of mutual funds and the unwillingness of banks in and outside the U.S. allowing pre-retirees to hold accounts and contribute to new investments, has left my pension funds lacking.

Most of the urgent need for WEP repeal has been focused on and sympathizing with retired public servants and teachers at home, even with their prior knowledge about WEP deductions on their future Social Security because of their non-covered pensions. 

But Americans living abroad often have worked at least part of their careers within the U.S. contributing to Social Security. Later, we entered the confusing and complicated environment of preparing for retirement while living abroad.

WEP applies to most people who receive both a pension from non-covered work (including certain foreign pensions) and Social Security benefits based on fewer than 30 years of substantial covered employment or self-employment earnings.  Spousal Social Security benefits are also unfairly eliminated due to WEP, making my family’s long-term financial stability more worrying.

The rules for WEP and the calculation for the deduction are complicated.  This leaves many retirees in the dark until they get the bad news that their paid-for benefits are being cut. Adding to this, the complexity of the Foreign Equalization Treaties and taxation of passive investing income affecting U.S. citizens abroad hinders us from properly preparing for our retirement.  Sometimes we can not even open a retirement account inside or outside the States for various reasons.

The current WEP law is punishing and unfair.  Can we expect to see the congress(wo)man endorse H.R.82 Social Security Fairness act of 2021?

I am (will be) personally affected by these WEP deductions, so this issue an important voting consideration for me, when I vote by absentee ballot. I hope that you can assure me that these bills will reach the floor for vote in this legislative session because American retirees living abroad are counting on you.

Thank you for your time listening to my concerns.

If your rep supports these bills:  I want to thank the Congress(wo)man for promising to support H.R. 82/S.1302 Social Security Fairness act of 2021.  I/My family relies on the security that my previously paid-in contributions provide for a secure future in my retired years.

If your rep does not support these bills:  I was incredibly disappointed to see that Congress(wo)man_____ has not committed to supporting H.R. 82/S.1302 Social Security Fairness Act of 2021, which would provide more fairness to the Social Security program and security for retired senior constituents in our district. 

GSC February 2023 Newsletter
Posted by Lauren Hakulinen · January 28, 2023 11:58 AM · 1 reaction

GSC December 2022 Newsletter
Posted by Lauren Hakulinen · November 22, 2022 8:03 PM · 1 reaction

GSC November 2022 Newsletter
Posted by Lauren Hakulinen · October 26, 2022 11:10 AM · 1 reaction

All Americans Abroad Can Vote in the Midterms

November 5, 2022:  It is not too late for you to vote, no matter where you are! YOU can help stop the Republican red tide by voting. Every American citizen can vote in the midterms. Whether you vote in a blue state or a red state, we need your vote. Let's keep the "election deniers" - more than 50% of the GOP candidates - out of office.

There is still time to send your ballot or a FWAB/Backup Ballot if you are already registered.

Send your ballot home: If your ballot must be returned by mail, you can still send your ballot in by courier. Courier discounts are available to voters in several countries. More info here.
Many states also accept faxed ballots or have an online system to upload your ballot - click here to find your options!

If you need help, we have you covered: check out our Voting Abroad 101 and get live assistance on Zoom here every day from today through November 8th: https://qrco.de/bbh0zg

Need help figuring out who to vote for? Build Your Ballot with Blue Voter Guide. The site can help voters in AZ, CA, GA, FL, NC, NV, PA, TX, or WI. For other states, check Ballotpedia's Sample Ballot.

This year, Democratic Candidates at all levels in every state are incredibly talented and diverse. Here is a snapshot of some of the high-level candidates.

We can’t know what moves you to vote, but here’s some information on some of the biggest issues in the election. Please share these short summaries and their links with everyone you know who can vote, both at home and overseas!

It’s the Economy, Stupid: Here are some hard facts and figures about where the US economy actually is. Inflation has been basically flat in the USA over the past three months, and real wages have gone up. The unemployment rate now matches its lowest level in 50 years at 3.5%, down from 6.4% when Biden took office. The economy has created 10 million jobs since the President took office, including almost 700,000 manufacturing jobs. 17 states are below 3% unemployment. Read more here.

Many countries around the world are being hit by inflation right now due to the post-covid recovery and invasion of Ukraine, and the USA is doing relatively well in a global context. This doesn’t mean people don’t have it hard, but that this is a global, not just a national (aka Democratic) problem. In fact, the Democratic party is taking real steps to address inflation, whereas the GOP’s only ideas are to cut Medicare and Social Security.

Roe vs. Wade: President Biden agrees that Congress should codify Roe vs. Wade into Federal law. But this cannot be done if we lose the Senate, where the Women's Health Protection Act is waiting to be voted on - it was passed by the House months ago.

Why should you care? In over 26 states, a woman can be prosecuted for getting an abortion, and personal data such as period tracking apps can be used to try to prove that a woman had an illegal abortion, regardless of what actually happened. Minors and women of color who had miscarriages have already been accused of - and prosecuted for - having illegal abortions in some states. Vote for your sisters, daughters, and friends - vote for their freedom to access reproductive health medical care.

Cannabis: Another important, if under-covered, issue on the ballot this year is cannabis legalization. Being arrested for the crime of simple possession is one of the biggest on-ramps to prison for many, which is precisely why the USA has such a large and vast prison population. It’s also an issue that massively and disproportionately impacts people of color. At many, many levels, cannabis legalization is a justice issue.

Marijuana is completely outlawed in just 13 states—with no allowances for medical or recreational use. See which states and find and get more information here.

Representation Matters: Whether you are Black, Asian, LGBTQIA+, Progressive, disabled, Hispanic, female, or yes, white and male - representation matters. It matters in elected officials, it matters in education, it matters in our daily lives. Do you want your voice, your opinions, and your experiences to be represented? VOTE, and please help your friends and family to vote.

Need language assistance for someone? We’ve covered you in Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Hindi, and more! AAPI Multilingual Voter Hotline: 1-888-274-8683 or see Spanish Overseas Voter Information: Votar del Extranjero.

Click here to see a short list of articles on the historical diversity of the 2022 midterms, including the full list of the 196 veterans running for office.

Whatever issues are important to you, don’t let this election pass without casting your vote!

Cannabis Legislation: Another important, if undercovered, issue on the ballot this year is Cannabis legalization. Being arrested for the crime of simple possession is one of the biggest on-ramps to prison for many, which is precisely why the USA has such a large and vast prison population. It’s also an issue that massively and disproportionately impacts people of color, so at many, many levels, cannabis legalization is a justice issue. 

In Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota, voters are being asked whether they support legalizing the recreational use of marijuana for adults. The measure looks likely to pass in three states—Arkansas, Maryland, and Missouri, according to polls. However, the outcome is less certain in the Dakotas.  If the legislation passes, they will join 19 states and the District of Columbia. Marijuana is completely outlawed in just 13 states—with no allowances for medical or recreational use.

Oklahoma voters will also have the chance to vote on marijuana recreational legalization in a special election in March.

Check out these articles on the historic diversity of the 2022 midterms:

• In a historic first, LGBTQ Americans will be on the ballot in all 50 states
• ELECTION 2022: A Report on Ten Black Candidates Running Statewide in 2022
• In NJ's 2022 elections, more South Asian Americans running for office
• California's AAPI voters - how will they vote?
• A slew of Latina candidates for Congress are looking to make history as 'firsts'
• Young Candidates Running in the 2022 Midterms Could Reshape US Politics
• The first Gen Z candidates are running for Congress — and running against compromise
• Record number of women candidates running for state and federal office in 2022 midterms
• A full list of the 196 veterans running for Congress this year

This year, Democratic Candidates at all levels in every state are incredibly talented and diverse.
Here is a snapshot of some of the high-level candidates.

Election Day for U.S. overseas voters is now! You should have received your ballot by now and we hope it is already on its way back to your local election office. Deadlines to register to vote and request your ballot are starting to pass. If you still need to register or request your ballot, go to VoteFromAbroad.org today! 

• If you have questions related to voting, please check out our website for state-specific information. We highly recommend that you also track your ballot to make sure that it arrives, especially if you have to return your ballot by postal mail.
• Additional assistance is available by emailing [email protected]. We have volunteers that can help answer your questions or point you in the right direction to make sure your vote is successfully cast.

This past month, we held two great events, which you can watch on our YouTube channel. On September 22nd, we hosted “Shifting Tides - Reaching Asian American and Latino Voters,” an event with the Global Hispanic Caucus and the California State Team. We spoke with Kathay Feng, National Redistricting Director of Common Cause, and Rudy Espinoza, Co-chair of the California Latinx Dems about the move by Asian Americans and Latinos away from the Democratic Party. On October 12th, we spoke with Kyle Van Fleet, Strategic Communications Associate for APIAVote, about mis- and disinformation as it pertains to AAPI communities. Both of these events were very insightful and left all attendees with a lot to think about. 

With just days to go until the elections, we can still use your support. You can get involved by emailing us at [email protected] or check out these 10 things you can do now to help get out the vote. You can also make a donation to Democrats Abroad on behalf of the AAPI Caucus. Your financial support to our all-volunteer organization will help pay for phonebanking and digital ads.

Democratically yours,

Emily Lines
Chair, AAPI Caucus

News of Note

Thanking Our Collaborating Organizations

As we head into what may be the most important midterm election in U.S. history, the DA AAPI Global Caucus applauds the hard work of our Democrats Abroad members and the local Democrat communities state-side for their tremendous work in getting out the vote. 

We also applaud the organizations who have collaborated with us this year in addressing and clarifying the key issues facing AAPI communities, and for their advocacy and tireless dedication in encouraging participation in the voting process. In the final stretch to the election next month, check out some of our events that you may have missed which feature experts from these important organizations, and links to these organizations with useful information related to voting. 

Read more

Sincerely,

As we head into what may be the most important midterm election in U.S. history, the DA AAPI Global Caucus applauds the hard work of our Democrats Abroad members and the local Democrat communities state-side for their tremendous work in getting out the vote. 

We also applaud the organizations who have collaborated with us this year in addressing and clarifying the key issues facing AAPI communities, and for their advocacy and tireless dedication in encouraging participation in the voting process. In the final stretch to the election next month, below are links to some of our events that you may have missed which feature experts from these important organizations, and links to these organizations with useful information related to voting. 

Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote)

APIAVote is the nation’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to strengthen their voices and create impact. Their action-driven organization has led national initiatives to ensure AAPIs are represented and heard.

http://apiavote.org/policy-and-research/voting-rights/

AAPI CAUCUS Event - You Tube: Understanding the AAPI Vote: Exploring Voter Data with Christine Chen, Executive Director, APIAVote

AAPI CAUCUS Event - You Tube: Building Trust to Empower our Communities - Understanding and Combatting Voter Mis/Disinformation in our Communities with Kyle Van Fleet, Strategic Communications Associate, APIAVote.  

National Asian Pacific Women's Forum (NAPAWF)

For over 25 years, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum has been the only organization focused on building power with AAPI women and girls to influence critical decisions that affect their lives, families, and communities. Using a reproductive justice framework, NAPAWF elevates AAPI women and girls to impact policy and drive systemic change in the United States.

http://www.napawf.org/vote

AAPI CAUCUS Event - You Tube: Reproductive Justice For Women - Conversion with Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director of NAPAWF

PFLAG

Founded in 1973, PFLAG is the first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their families. Their affinity group PFLAG Connects: Asian American & Pacific Islander Community provides monthly virtual meetings open to parents, family members, and members of the LGBTQ+ community who are AAPI.

http://pflag.org/pflag-academy-demand/pflag-votes-2022-midterms-matter-recording-training-toolkit

AAPI CAUCUS Event - You Tube: Unity, Inclusion, and a Shared Commitment to Human Dignity - Discussion with Diego Sanchez, PFLAG

Common Cause

Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. They work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.

http://www.commoncause.org/our-work/voting-and-elections/

AAPI CAUCUS Event  - Shifting Tides - Reaching Asian American and Latino Voters with Kathay Feng, National Redistricting Director of Common Cause and Rudy Espinoza Murray, President of the San Mateo County Latinx Dems.

To help U.S. citizens abroad request their absentee ballots and follow the sometimes complicated state-by-state guidelines, Democrats Abroad is sponsoring “Vote From Abroad” voter assistance tables on September 17th at scores of locations around the globe. Virtual voter assistance sessions will also be held throughout the day. The information stands and online assistance are open to all U.S. voters.

Hear from Americans about the upcoming elections and learn more about voting from overseas by visiting one of our Voter Assistance Tables!

Looking for the nearest Voter Assistance and Registration Table? Please check out our list of events below!