Friend,

As the COVID-19 pandemic brings new challenges and stresses across the country and around the globe, it also is revealing strengths and weaknesses in our systems and raising questions about what our nation and world will look like in the future. Many of these systems and issues that affect our everyday lives are at the heart of why citizen leaders like you have joined American Promise in the movement to get big money out of politics.

This week we highlight three American Promise citizen leaders who have worked in health care and were among those who provided written testimony for last month’s congressional hearing on the 28th Amendment. In their testimony and in the article featured below, Ellen Greene Bush, Marie HenselderKimmel and Robbi Duda explain how they have witnessed big money from special interest groups affect their patients, the care they receive, and the overall U.S. health-care system. 

While the pandemic renews questions about the cost of care and access to the U.S. health system, we are grateful for the health-care workers and other essential workers on the front lines of this battle, providing services to keep our communities functional. 

We’re also grateful for the work that continues—virtually for now—across our nation as American Promise citizen leaders continue their advocacy for a constitutional amendment to limit the influence of big money in the U.S. political system. Each of us can work separately toward our common goal of restoring the voice of we the people and a stronger, healthier democracy. 

Note: Starting next week, we will shift the American Promise newsletter to biweekly. Talk to you April 9! 

From the Harvard Business Review: In the final article of a five-part series on Democracy Under Attack, the Leadership Now Project notes that 90% of U.S. business leaders are concerned about the state of our nation’s democracy. Leadership Now outlines four ways that business leaders, like those in Business for American Promise, can come together and promote democracy reforms and systemic change. Read more.

From The New York Times: With Election Day just months away, the current pandemic should lead officials to ensure voting-by-mail options are available to all Americans, according to the editorial board at The New York Times. “A functioning democracy requires elections that are free, fair, accurate and on time, even during a global health crisis,” they say. American Promise partner organization Represent Us also is calling for vote-at-home mailing options across America. Read more. 

From the National Constitution Center: As students, teachers, and parents shift to online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic, educators and scholars at the National Constitution Center are supporting remote learning with free online lectures and civil dialogue sessions on the Constitution. These include an eight-week series of daily live constitutional conversations for middle school, high school, and college students, available through Zoom. Check the schedule and find other resources.

From the (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) Gazette: In a letter to the editor, Bill Panther of Iowa City says unlimited political spending by corporations, unions, Super PACs, and billionaires has created the need for a constitutional amendment. “The 28th Amendment would limit concentrated money in the elections, end the corrupt ‘pay-to-play’ lobbying system, and keep Corporations in business and out crony politics.” Read more.

Given current recommendations for avoiding large gatherings, most upcoming American Promise events are being rescheduled or reimagined as digital/online events. Watch the American Promise calendar for the most current information.

March 31: The Massachusetts American Promise Chapter will use Zoom video conferencing for its monthly meeting that starts at 6 p.m. Find an agenda and login information on the American Promise calendar.