About Us
Change America Now (CAN), led by Americans United For Change, USAction and Campaign for America's Future, is a national campaign effort being mounted by nearly forty groups in thirty one states to pass through Congress the economic elements of the 100 Hour legislative agenda as outlined by Speaker Pelosi in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Known as the CAN 100 Hour Agenda, Change America Now has supported legislation during the first 100 legislative hours in the House of Representatives in early January to increase the minimum wage, lift the prohibition on Medicare negotiating with pharmaceutical companies for lower prescription drug prices as part of the Part D prescription drug plan, cut the interest rate on student loans in half to make college more affordable and end tax breaks for big oil companies and invest new resources into alternative sources of energy.
The Change America Now campaign is dedicated to passing each element of the Can 100 Hour Agenda through the House of Representatives with large bipartisan majorities in an effort to brand what progressives and their allies in Congress are for and to build momentum to pass these issues through a closely divided Senate and have them signed into law by the President.
In addition, the Change America Now campaign is uniting progressive voices from across America to champion these issues and pass them into law as a down payment on advancing a broader agenda for American families in a number of areas including jobs and wages, healthcare, the environment and education.
In the recent election, Americans voiced opposition to conservative rule in Washington, particularly with respect to the war in Iraq and the culture of corruption, and in general terms called for a new direction for America. However, polls show that while Americans know quite well what conservatives stand for, they have little idea what progressives stand for or hope to achieve on behalf of the America people. After twelve years of conservative rule during which public policy was dictated largely by those corporate and individual interests with the deepest pockets, Americans have soured on Washington as a force for positive change in their lives.
Change America Now, in addition to helping pass specific and vitally important pieces of legislation, will use the campaign model developed during the successful anti- Social Security privatization effort of 2005 to brand a progressive agenda and to answer the question of what we and our allies are for and why the agenda we support is important to Americans from all walks of life.
Under President Bush and conservative rule in Washington, a reverse Robin Hood effect has dramatically shifted the distribution of wealth and power in America from the poor and the middle class to the wealthiest of Americans and corporate America. Change America Now will work to reverse those policies which have harmed the poor and the middle class and to advance new initiatives to return the nation to the type of broad economic prosperity that gave rise to the concept of the 'American Dream.' Change America Now will utilize high intensity grass roots and public relations campaign tactics to convince Members of Congress to support the progressive agenda and to brand such an agenda for the American people.
