***For Immediate Release*** February 26th, 2021 Contact: Omaid Zabih Strategy Senior Director Nebraska Appleseed C: (605) 310-4060 ozabih@neappleseed.org Lawsuit Filed to Ensure Access to Benefits in the Medicaid Expansion Program Nebraska officials chose to enact an unlawful tiered benefits system, violating Initiative 427 LINCOLN, NE — On Thursday, February 25th, Nebraska Appleseed and the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) filed… Read more →
Each semester, Appleseed is fortunate to work with bright, talented, and dedicated interns and law clerks who are passionate about fighting for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans. We’re excited to have interns and clerks join our team from across the nation virtually! Meet the outstanding Nebraskans who dedicate their time to positive change in our communities. We’re also excited… Read more →
We are in the final weeks of all-day hearings. Every committee but Judiciary will wrap up hearings on Thursday, March 4th, while the Judiciary committee’s hearing schedule will end on Friday, March 12th. All-day floor debate begins the week of March 15th, focusing primarily on senators’ priority bills for the session. Learn more about Appleseed’s priority bills on our blog.… Read more →
Every February, we focus on learning ‘Black history’, in other words, the American history that must be central to any true study of our country. Black history is ingenuity, innovation, and the ongoing pursuit of truth and justice moving this nation closer to its ideals of liberty and democracy. But history does not live in some distant, disconnected, and stagnant… Read more →
The Nebraska Legislature’s Business and Labor Committee recently held a hearing on LB258, which would ensure Nebraskans have access to basic, earned paid sick leave – promoting healthier and stronger families, especially working parents with young children. Contact the committee members to ensure this important bill moves forward. Access to basic paid sick leave consistently emerges as a priority for… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Friday, February 19, 2021 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Welcomes U.S. Citizenship Act and Urges Swift Action by Congress Positive immigration laws will support Nebraska communities, families, and economic recovery Lincoln, NE – On February 18, 2021, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (CA-38) and Senator Bob… Read more →
2021 priority bills for Nebraska families, communities, and racial justice Each legislative session presents an opportunity to bring long-lasting positive change for our communities. Your voice is important in ensuring that we are building a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive Nebraska. Here is how you can safely advocate during hearings, and you can always call or email your senator to share… Read more →
We continued to testify on several bills during hearings last week, including those on paid leave, child care subsidies, and more equitable access for young adults in the Bridge to Independence program. As we noted last week, we are inching closer to the end of all-day hearings. Every committee but Judiciary will wrap up hearings on Thursday, March 4th, while… Read more →
The COVID-19 public health crisis has left millions of families and individuals struggling to afford food and keep a roof overhead, while also continuing to perform essential work for our communities. Congress has taken important first steps in providing relief last year, but much more is needed. President Biden’s Covid-19 relief proposal, the American Rescue Plan, provides this much needed… Read more →
Over the past few weeks, I’ve received a lot of questions from folks wondering what they can do to improve food access in Nebraska. There are a lot of ways we can do this, but one big way is by making your voice heard in the Nebraska Legislature! Appleseed’s food advocates are watching four bills in particular: LB108, LB117, LB121,… Read more →
This session, the Nebraska Legislature is considering a number of bills to improve food security for our neighbors across Nebraska. Join us in advocating for these Nebraska Appleseed priority bills below! SNAP “Cliff Effect” Bill (LB108, Senator John McCollister) Nebraska should be rewarding work, not discouraging it. Right now, Nebraska’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is structured in a way… Read more →
We asked the City Council for leadership…Now we’re awaiting their response. I spoke to the City Council on Monday evening, with the backing of more than 40 community members who sent messages and placed calls, to urge them to enact a moratorium themselves or call on the Mayor to do it by executive action. This isn’t a new request…While state… Read more →
Appleseed’s health care goals for 2021 Equity. Compassion. Quality. Affordability. Health care coverage is a vital part of enjoying a good quality of life. When every member in our community is healthy, our communities are healthy. The Affordable Care Act, which includes Medicaid expansion, is a great opportunity for thousands of Nebraskans to access quality, affordable health care. The work… Read more →
Building welcoming communities happens primarily on the local level, but it takes a commitment from leadership at all levels to truly create an inclusive nation that sees immigrants and refugees as a valuable part of its social and cultural fabric. That’s why we are pleased that the Biden Administration renewed the Task Force for New Americans, an important step toward… Read more →
The Legislature continued its intense pace of hearings last week and Appleseed testified on a number of meaningful bills related to housing, child welfare, and immigration. Speaker Hilgers provided a snapshot of the next month, noting that all-day hearings for all committees except Judiciary will end on Thursday, March 4th. The Judiciary Committee will wrap up hearings on Friday, March… Read more →
Thank you to everyone who sent messages to our leaders to stop evictions the past two weeks. Due to the snowstorm, the postponements have only delayed the worsening crisis, and it still desperately needs local intervention. We at Collective Impact Lincoln believe our city leaders have the power and responsibility to enact a limited eviction moratorium to close the gaps… Read more →
How School Meal Service has Changed During COVID-19 This is a guest blog post by Libby Israel, Nebraska Appleseed’s Youth Ambassador for Food and Nutrition Access. It has been nearly a full year since child nutrition programs across the country were turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. Facing safety-related closures, added risk, and remote learning models, nutrition directors have… Read more →
Stability & citizenship for Nebraska’s essential, longtime immigrant community members! We’re ready for full inclusion of our family members & neighbors who are an essential part of Nebraska communities and essential to our nation’s economic recovery! We have seen strong statewide support for fixing outdated and harmful immigration laws for many years. It’s time for Nebraska’s members of Congress to… Read more →
Last week, Appleseed testified in support of a number of bills that will make positive impacts across our state. There are several more hearings up this week that Appleseed and others will be participating in too. All-day hearings will continue through at least the end of February and floor debate will resume once hearings wrap up. Your voice is vital… Read more →
Black Families Matter: How the Child Welfare System Punishes Poor Families of Color Continuing the series, Challenging Racial Inequities in the Child Welfare System, with the article, Black Families Matter: How the Child Welfare System Punishes Poor Families of Color, both authors, Dorothy Roberts and Lisa Sangoi, share a convincing argument of just how brutal this system is against brown… Read more →
The Legislature pushed forward with its first day of hearings yesterday despite the snow. All-day hearings will continue through the end of February. This is different from years past where hearings would only occur in the afternoon, with floor debate taking place in the morning. This year, floor debate will resume once hearings wrap up. Your voice is vital to… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** January 26, 2021 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed’s Molly McCleery Honored as Families USA’s Consumer Experience Health Advocate of the Year Lincoln, Nebraska – On Tuesday, January 26, Molly McCleery, Director of the Health Care Access Program at Nebraska Appleseed, was recognized as Families… Read more →
Despite various attempts at implementing state and federal eviction moratoria, evictions have never fully stopped in Lincoln. We at Collective Impact Lincoln believe our city leaders have the power and responsibility to enact a limited eviction moratorium to close the gaps left by federal and state protections. Evictions are still happening. There are 29 hearings next week. There are a… Read more →
***For Immediate Release*** Thursday, January 21, 2021 Contact: Magdalena Cazarez Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed O: (402) 438-8853 ext 119 C: (402) 504-0074 mcazarez@neappleseed.org Nebraska Appleseed Welcomes Positive Immigration Plans Long-overdue positive immigration plans to provide stability for Nebraska families, communities LINCOLN, NE — On the first day in office, the Biden-Harris Administration announced plans to send a positive new immigration… Read more →
Last week was busy for the Nebraska Legislature as senators continued with bill introduction and Governor Ricketts shared his State of the State Address. At Appleseed, we believe our elected officials should seize the opportunity to address the economic and public health hardships Nebraskans are facing due to the pandemic and the systemic racism harming our communities. Hearings begin on… Read more →
