314 Action Statement on Medicaid and Medicare’s 60th Anniversary

60 years ago today, Medicaid and Medicare were established and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement:

“60 years ago, Medicaid and Medicare were created as the answer to a health care crisis, providing life-saving coverage to millions of Americans every single year. But 60 years later, we are on the brink of another crisis.

“The GOP’s budget bill cuts $1 trillion from Medicaid and the ACA and rips health care coverage away from 17 million Americans. This bill will decimate rural hospitals, shut down ER rooms and worsen staffing shortages in our health care system. This is a death sentence for veterans, senior citizens, low-income families, and sick children — and with the threat of a tariff war on pharmaceuticals and Affordable Care Act subsidies expiring at the end of the year, Trump has created a crisis of the uninsured.

“Health care will be the defining issue of 2026. We’re rolling up our sleeves to work harder than ever to elect leaders who will restore and protect Medicaid and Medicare coverage. Doctors have seen first-hand how critical Medicaid and Medicare are for our health system, which is why we’re calling on more of them to run for office. Now, more than ever, we need their expertise and voice in Congress. It’s time to fight for our lives and we won’t stop until we oust Republicans who turned their backs on the American people.”

July 24, 2025

(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers today announced he will not be seeking reelection today. In response, 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement:

“Governor Tony Evers isn’t your typical elected official—as a former high school science teacher and principal, he jumped into politics because he believed Wisconsin students and kids deserved better.

“Since taking on—and defeating—the face of the Tea Party in 2018, Governor Evers has consistently delivered for Wisconsinites across the board. While in office, he secured the largest increase in public school funding for any governor in the history of the state; blocked Republicans’ efforts to suppress votes and invoke a Civil War era abortion ban; and increased transparency and accountability in drug pricing. Governor Evers has always led with science and common sense, proving that when STEM leaders are in office, a better future is possible.

“We’re proud to have stood with Governor Evers every step of the way. His leadership and dedication should be the standard for leaders across the nation. We thank him for his service to Wisconsin and wish him the best in his retirement at the end of his term.”

314 Action is the only national organization working to recruit, train and elect Democratic scientists across all levels of government—from the Senate down to local school boards. The organization is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people supporting scientists and health care professionals who will use science and facts to address the most urgent issues facing our generation.

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Speaker Mike Johnson has shut down the House early to block a vote calling for the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. In response, 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement:

”If you’re one of 17 million Americans about to lose their health care, House Republicans are satisfied they got the job done and they’re ready to go home. House Speaker Mike Johnson just sent them on vacation to dodge a vote on the release of the Epstein files.

“Conspiracy theories have taken over the modern Republican Party and now, they are coming back to bite them. This is why facts matter. Americans deserve to know if their party boy president is on Jeffrey Epstein’s client list and any House Republican complicit in this cover-up will be held accountable at the ballot box in 2026.”

(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Four new Democratic doctors and health care professionals launched their congressional campaigns in the past week. Following the passage of Republicans’ budget bill that cuts one trillion dollars from Medicaid and takes health care away from 17 million Americans, more doctors and health leaders are running for office. This includes: Dr. Jasmeet Bains (CA-22); Kisha Askins (NE-02); Dr. Dave Oxman (PA-03); and Dr. Ada Cuellar (TX-15). Earlier this year, 314 Action launched the Guardian of Public Health campaign, announcing our commitment to investing over $25 million to elect 100 new doctors in office by 2030.

“Health care will be the defining issue of the 2026 midterms. We need health care experts in Congress to fight to restore and protect health care for the American people. While Republicans are selling out their constituents, Democratic doctors are answering the call,” said Shaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action Fund. “With unprecedented attacks on health care, 314 Action Fund’s mission to elect doctors and scientists is more urgent than ever and we’re ready to support these crucial races flip the House.”

Read some of the coverage below:

Dr. Jasmeet Bains (CA-22)

Bakersfield Now: Assemblywoman Dr. Jasmeet Bains announces Congress bid in California’s 22nd District

[Lena Folke, 07/16/25]

• “I’m a doctor, not a career politician — and I’ve spent my life on the frontlines, listening to Valley families and fighting for their health, their safety, and their future,” said Dr. Bains. “I’m running for Congress because our communities deserve better than broken promises and backroom deals, and my community is tired of getting left behind. We deserve a representative who will actually show up, and stand up, for the Valley.”
• Dr. Bains is a family and addiction doctor who serves as the Central Valley’s Chief Medical Officer for the California Medical Assistance team, which organizes emergency health services across the state.
• “David Valadao doesn’t work for us — he works for the donors and D.C. insiders who drive up drug prices and fund his campaigns as families here are rationing care,” said Dr. Bains. “In the middle of an affordability crisis in the Central Valley, while our communities struggle to afford care, food, or clean water, Valadao just voted to gut Medi-Cal that provides 68% of the affordable healthcare in our community, jack up prescription drug prices, and cut off food assistance for thousands of hardworking folks. That’s not leadership — that’s betrayal.”

CalMatters: One of California’s most vulnerable Republicans just got a new challenger

[Maya C. Miller, 07/16/25]

• Dr. Jasmeet Bains, a Bakersfield assemblymember, hopes to harness voter outrage at Valadao’s decision to support President Donald Trump’s sweeping domestic policy bill, which experts say could strip health insurance from millions of low-income Californians. Nearly 290,000 residents in his own district are at risk of losing coverage, according to the California Budget and Policy Center.
• Bains said several patients at her family clinic have encouraged her to run to “do something” about the rising costs of health care and the lack of access to physicians.

The Sacramento Bee: Central Valley Democrat Dr. Jasmeet Bains challenges Rep. David Valadao

[Nicole Nixon, 07/17/25]

• Democratic state lawmaker and physician Jasmeet Bains will challenge Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford, for his Central Valley congressional seat, she announced Wednesday morning.
• Bains ripped Valadao for supporting President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill despite the four-term congressman saying he would not support large-scale cuts to Medicaid.
• “As a doctor, I took an oath to take care of everyone,” she said. “David Valadao just voted for the largest cut to healthcare in history to give tax breaks to billionaires and Wall Street, even after he admitted this bill threatens access to care and jeopardizes our hospitals.”

Kishla Askins (NE-02)

KETV: Retired Naval Officer Kishla Askins enters race for 2nd Congressional District

[Tyler Rinkol, 07/18/25]

• Askins is a retired naval officer and health care provider who served for 30 years. She currently lives in Omaha.
• KETV Newswatch 7 spoke with Askins on Thursday. Askins said she’s ready to protect Nebraskans and is focused on preserving health care.
• “We want healthy Nebraskans. We want them to be able to have the best quality of life, to have the best shot at the good life,” Askins said.

Nebraska Examiner: Retired Navy veteran Kishla Askins joins Nebraska 2nd District U.S. House race

[Juan Salinas II, 07/15/25]

• Retired U.S. Navy veteran Kishla Askins, a former deputy assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Joe Biden, is running to be the first Democrat to represent the district in nearly a decade.
• “I am the only one ready on day one,” Askins told the Nebraska Examiner. “I am the only one who can walk into Congress and understand how Congress works.”
• Askins said her focus in Congress would be on improving health care, affordable housing, education and national security. She said people in the 2nd District are concerned about the recent GOP mega bill, the one President Donald Trump called the “big beautiful bill” and its “cuts” to the social safety net.

Omaha World-Herald: Veteran, federal policy pro Kishla Askins running for Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District

[Josh Reyes, 07/15/25]

• Kishla Askins enlisted in the Navy and eventually retired as an officer. In that time, she worked as a paramedic, a corpsman and a Marine Corps physician assistant, serving in Iraq and in support of Afghanistan.
• She said she has experience building coalitions and relationships, and that background will help her form policy and address concerns she’s heard from Nebraskans about chaos at the federal level, the economy and health care.
• “The Americans I served with didn’t always look the same or vote the same, but we never wavered in our commitment to our country. I know what sacrifice looks like, and I know what leadership requires. And I know Nebraskans deserve a real shot at the good life,” Askins stated in her campaign announcement.

Dr. Dave Oxman

Philadelphia Inquirer: Meet Dave Oxman, the Philly doctor running for Congress who says healthcare is ‘broken as hell’

[Julia Terruso, 07/10/25]

• Dave Oxman has never run for office before. The intensive-care physician and medical school professor at Thomas Jefferson University has spent his career taking care of critically ill Philadelphians.
• Now, he’s running as a largely unknown candidate in Pennsylvania’s Third Congressional District, a race that has already drawn in State Rep. Chris Rabb, a Democrat from Mount Airy, and State Sen. Sharif Street, a Democrat from North Philadelphia. Both lawmakers have served in Harrisburg for several terms, and Street is the state Democratic Party chair.
• But Oxman, 58, of Bella Vista, has raised nearly $300,000 for his campaign already, not a small sum for a first-time candidate. He’s pitching himself as the unelected outsider in a crowded 2026 Democratic primary field where he hopes his background in medicine can be an asset.
• Oxman said he will make improving the nation’s healthcare system — and pushing back against the policies of President Donald Trump’s administration — his campaign’s top priority. He calls the nation’s system “broken as hell” in a video announcing his candidacy, in which he is dressed in medical scrubs.
• “I’ve spent my entire career caring for people from all walks of life — it shouldn’t be surprising that someone with my background now feels they have the opportunity and duty to do something more.”

Philadelphia Today: This Philly Doctor is Throwing His Name in Race for Pennsylvania Congressional Seat

[Jensen Toussaint, 07/17/25]

• Oxman’s decision to run has a lot to do with what he has experienced working in the medical field.
• More specifically, he wants to improve the nation’s healthcare system.
• “America has the greatest healthcare in the world, but what does it matter when so many Americans can’t access it or face financial ruin when they do?” Oxman said in the video announcing his candidacy.
• In addition, running for office affords him an opportunity to do even more.

Dr. Ada Cuellar

KRGV: Harlingen doctor challenges Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz for congressional seat

• A doctor based out of Harlingen has announced she is running against Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz for the 15th Congressional District seat.
• Dr. Ada Cuellar, an emergency room physician, made the announcement on Thursday.
• According to a news release, Cuellar is running a campaign on the belief that every U.S. American deserves access to quality health care, a strong public education system and an economy that works for working people.
• The news release said she became an emergency medicine doctor in the Rio Grande Valley to give back to the community that raised her and improve the lives of South Texans.

Texas Tribune: Harlingen doctor becomes first Democrat to challenge GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz for South Texas congressional seat

[Gabby Birenbaum, 07/17/25]

• Ada Cuellar, a Harlingen-based emergency physician, launched her campaign for Texas’ 15th Congressional District on Thursday, becoming the first Democrat to run for the South Texas seat that her party is targeting in the 2026 midterms.
• Cuellar, a 43-year-old Rio Grande Valley native, believes Latino voters, in particular, were looking for change last cycle as they felt the bite of high costs fueled by inflation. She believes Democrats can position themselves as the party of change in 2026, especially on issues like health care, after Republicans including De La Cruz voted for Medicaid cuts as part of Trump’s recently enacted megabill.
• “People are frustrated with health care costs, inflation, the economy, how difficult it is to succeed,” Cuellar said. “And I think a lot of frustrations were directed towards the Democratic Party.”

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314 Action Overview:

314 Action is the only national organization of its kind dedicated to recruiting, training and electing scientists and doctors to office. Last year, 314 Action worked with candidates and campaigns across 47 states. Despite a right-ward shift across the country, the 2024 cycle was 314 Action’s most successful election, electing 7 new members to Congress, re-electing 3 U.S. Senators and 225 candidates in local races. 

With unprecedented attacks on health care, our mission to elect more Democratic doctors and scientists has never been more urgent. Through strategic campaign support and advocacy, 314 Action amplifies the voices of STEM professionals and ensures that scientists have a seat at the table at all levels of government.

Project title: PR Firm – Booking & Strategic Communications Support

Project begins:
September 2025

Project length:
6 month contract with potential for renewal. 

Project Overview: 314 Action seeks an experienced PR firm to provide strategic communications support with the primary goal of increasing earned media for the organization and our endorsed candidates. The selected partner will work closely with 314 Action’s in-house communications team, which leads overall strategy, to execute high-impact national media outreach, profile building, and rapid-response efforts. The ideal partner will bring excellent media relationships, strong political and narrative judgment, and the ability to translate strategy into coverage.

RFP submission date:
Please submit all proposals to press@314action.org by August 8, 2025. Please include PR Firm Proposal in the subject line.

Scope of Work:

• Develop and execute earned media strategies to increase national press coverage for 314 Action and its endorsed candidates.
• Secure bookings and coordinate press opportunities, including media appearances, profile features, and interviews.
• Provide ongoing media training and coaching for 314 Action executives and candidates as needed.
• Provide proactive media pitching for op-eds, thought leadership, interviews, and feature stories.
• Offer messaging guidance and rapid-response strategic counsel, aligned with guidance from 314 Action’s communications team
• Shape and pitch compelling narratives that support fundraising growth, candidate recruitment, and STEM community engagement — with a focus on elevating 314 Action as the political home for scientists and doctors.
• Shape and pitch compelling narratives that reinforce 314 Action’s brand, support grassroots and major donor fundraising, and increase visibility within the STEM community to help recruit future candidates and activists.
• Coordinate with 314 Action Communications team to prepare briefing materials and talking points in advance of media engagements.
• Collaborate with 314 Action staff to align communications with campaign goals and strategic priorities.
• Maintain relationships with reporters, editors, and producers across relevant beats (politics, science, elections, etc.).

Deliverables:

The goal of this engagement is to enhance 314 Action’s reputation as the organization heads into the 10th anniversary since it was established in 2016. Deliverables include:

• Increased media mentions over the first 6 months across online, print and TV outlets 
• Secured national profile in a tier 1 outlet highlighting 314 Action’s impact and unique role at the intersection of science, politics, and democracy
• Increased inbound press inquiries to 314 Action on topics including RFK Jr., Medicaid, health policy etc.
• Regular and ongoing coaching to improve the media performances of 314 Action executives and spokespeople  

Proposal Submissions Should Include:

Background:

• Firm name and contact information.
• Brief description of your team and its structure.

Experience:

• Outline your firm’s experience with national and political media, particularly in securing earned coverage for advocacy groups, political campaigns, or mission-driven organizations.
• Case studies or a pitch deck may be submitted in lieu of a narrative.

Approach:

• In a short presentation, describe how your firm would approach this work within a broader strategy set by 314 Action’s communications team.
• Include a summary of your media methodology, example outlets you’d target, and how you’d tailor your approach to both high-profile national outlets (e.g., NYT, CNN, Politico) and trade or issue-specific publications (e.g., STAT, Scientific American, MedPage Today).
• Explain how your media execution would help grow 314 Action’s reputation in the national press, expand its reach within the STEM community, and support its fundraising and candidate recruitment goals.

Location:

• RFP is open to individuals/firms based in the United States, preferably in Washington D.C. or New York.

Cost and Availability:

• Provide a project-based or monthly retainer estimate.
• Indicate your team’s availability, including any limitations on hours. 

References:

• List 3 past or current clients 314 Action may contact for references. Include name, title, organization, and contact info.

Success Metrics & Reporting:

• Provide a short overview of how you evaluate success in media engagements and how you would report on progress over the contract period.

Most-Favorable Terms:

314 Action reserves the right to make an award without further discussion of the proposals submitted. Therefore, your initial submission should represent the most favorable terms your firm can offer. 

Contract negotiations may incorporate all or parts of your proposal. Submitting a proposal indicates your willingness to accept the final contract terms if selected. 

No Obligation to Contract:

This RFP does not obligate 314 Action to contract for the services described.

Rejection of Proposals:

314 Action reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject any or all proposals without penalty or obligation.

Nondiscrimination Policy:

The selected vendor must commit to nondiscrimination in all aspects of employment and contracting, regardless of race, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected status.

July 15, 2025

“This new polling confirms that health care will be the deciding issue in the midterms”

(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — Today, Trump pollster Fabrizio Ward released a memo on their latest survey showing Congressional Republicans are underwater in all 28 battleground districts, especially on health care issues. In response, 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement:

“If the GOP wanted a fight over Obamacare, they got one. This new polling confirms that health care will be the deciding issue in the midterms. The results are staggering, showing Democrats in a double-digit lead if Republicans continue to attack health care.

“With Affordable Care Act tax credits set to expire at the end of the year, the fight to protect health care is far from over. If Congress fails to extend ACA benefits, 22 million Americans will see their health insurance premiums rise and Republicans will finally get their wish — ending a decades-long project to repeal Obamacare, and their political careers.”

Key findings from the Fabrizio Ward survey include:

Among all registered voters, Republican candidates are trailing Democratic candidates by three points.

If Republicans let the premium tax credit expire, Republican candidates trail the Democrats by 15-points.

Nearly eight-in-ten voters support tax credits that make it more affordable for working families and individuals to purchase health insurance directly through healthcare.gov or state exchanges.

“Health care is becoming the number one issue in the midterms and Democratic doctors and scientists are uniquely positioned to respond to voters’ concerns. 314 Action is working with over 25 candidates running for Congress to elect more Democratic doctors and scientists to Congress and ensure Republicans pay a price for this.”

314 Action is the only national organization working to recruit, train and elect Democratic scientists across all levels of government—from the Senate down to local school boards. The organization is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people supporting scientists and health care professionals who will use science and facts to address the most urgent issues facing our generation.

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July 10, 2025

(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) — With new reports that measles cases in the United States have hit the highest total since the disease was eliminated, 314 Action President Shaughnessy Naughton released the following statement:

“Americans have always been at the forefront of scientific and medical innovation—including the development of the measles vaccine, which eradicated the disease. There’s absolutely no reason that we, as a nation, should be going backwards. Yet with RFK Jr. at the helm of public health, that’s exactly what’s happening.

“As children die from preventable diseases, RFK Jr. is increasing his attacks on the safety of vaccines. He’s weaponized the nation’s most powerful vaccine committee to endorse his conspiracy theories and to weaken children’s immunization schedule. How many more eliminated diseases will make a comeback under his watch? How many more children will die under RFK Jr.’s leadership?

“We cannot allow deadly outbreaks to be our new normal.”

Since his nomination, 314 Action has been a leader in holding RFK Jr. accountable and continues the work through an ongoing seven-figure accountability campaign against him and the Trump administration. 314 Action also launched a petition demanding the MAHA Report be immediately removed and retracted from the White House website, which has been signed by a coalition of 100 elected officials, doctors, and STEM leaders.

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July 8, 2025

(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)  — Today, 314 Action held a virtual press conference spotlighting the short-term and long-term impacts of Republicans’ billionaire budget bill, which will cut $1 trillion to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Speakers highlighted the risk of emergency departments shutting down, potential staffing shortages in hospitals and nursing homes, and rural hospitals facing the brink of bankruptcy.

314 Action vowed to hold Republicans accountable by fielding qualified Democratic doctors and scientists for Congress and focusing on restoring health care in the midterms. A summary of their remarks are outlined below:

Shaughnessy Naughton, President of 314 Action
“Health care isn’t just a bedrock issue, it is a moral crisis and a pocketbook issue, and it is going to decide the midterms for Democrats and for our country…Our fight is just beginning, and every single day from now until November 2026, we will be reminding the American people of what this disastrous bill is going to do to our health care.”

Shelly Werger, Iowa mom whose family depends on Medicaid
“My husband and I are scared and worried what could happen to all families like ours. We aren’t sure how we will pay for such massive jumps in the cost of our health care. We have been brainstorming, trying to come up with ideas of how to increase our family’s income. There are not many options out there.”

Dr. Manan Trivedi, internal medicine hospitalist
“When unpaid care goes up at a hospital, it causes payers to be spread out throughout the system. The other thing to think about here is what happens is when you have more ER visits, the hospitals get backed up, and when… we’re too backed up at my hospital, we have to go and shut down the ER, and that’s going to happen more and more.”

Anne Shoup, Senior Advisor of Protect Our Care
“People’s costs are going to go up immediately. Republicans’ bill will shutter—and I mean, this number is incredible for rural hospitals and nursing homes, they could shutter over 330 rural hospitals and 570 nursing homes across the country. Republicans pushed for this bill that prioritizes profits over people and cruelty over care.”

Dr. Annie Andrews, pediatrician and candidate for U.S. Senate in South Carolina
“Medicaid is the backbone of children’s health care in this country, and with these drastic cuts, the entire system is at risk of collapsing. EDs will be overrun and children will needlessly suffer. This is truly the worst case scenario for those of us who work in pediatric health care. And yet, just last week, Senator Lindsey Graham and his Republican colleagues voted to strip away that care and to pass the biggest budget cuts to Medicaid in American history.”