View Congress Member / Senator

Name: Matt Cartwright
Position: House (PA, 8)
Party: Democrat

Staffer: Hunter Ridgway
Telephone: 202-225-5546
Email: hridgway.cartwright@mail.house.gov
Address: 1034 Longworth House Office Building

Number of Contacts: 12 ( or 0% in support)
Cosponsor in 116th: Yes

Message and Talking Points

Contacts

Sophie Poost writes on 6/21/2019 at 12:33PM:
On 6/20, ADAPT members stopped by the office and asked to speak with Stephen Coffey, they were told he was unavailable, then they asked to speak with Hunter Ridgeway (Chief of Staff) or Rachel Cohen (Leg. Assistant), who they were told were also unavailable. They emailed both Hunter (hridgeway.cartwright@mail.house.gov) and and Rachel asking to meet with them that afternoon. Rachel agreed to a brief meeting.

In the meeting with Rachel, ADAPT discussed the bill and its many elements. They spoke about individual choice and letting each person make the decision. They discussed informal caregivers and cost differences. Rachel mentioned meeting with constituents who were worried that their family members would be kicked out of a place they loved, but ADAPT members made it clear that it would be the person's choice on whether or not they left an institution. They discussed that this was a civil rights bill not a funding or incentivizing bill. Rachel got called out of the meeting, however agreed to a follow up in a few weeks.

Sophie Poost writes on 6/21/2019 at 12:23PM:
Changed staff contact from Stephen Coffey to Rachel Cohen.

Sophie Poost writes on 5/16/2019 at 5:06PM:
On 5/15/19 Sophie Poost received the following email from Stephen Coffee:
Hi Sophie,

The Congressman is still reviewing the legislation. We have a bill we introduce each Congress that we believe also addresses many of these issues as well. However, I do not handle disability issues for Congressman Cartwright now, and I have copied the staffer, Rachel Cohen, who does. If you or someone else would like to meet about the bill, I???ll encourage, as I have previously, to email ahead of time to try to arrange a meeting rather than dropping by the office. We often schedule our meeting requests weeks or months in advance.

Thanks,

Stephen Coffey
Legislative Director | Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-08)
1034 Longworth House Office Building
202-225-5546 | http://cartwright.house.gov/


Sophie sent the following response on 5/16/19:

Good Afternoon,

It sounds like Congressman Cartwright understand the importance of such issues. Seeing as the Disability Integration Act is legislation that the Disability Community wants and supports in the resolution of such issues, we look forward to seeing Representative Cartwright added as a cosponsor of the bill. We hope you are able to finish reviewing this legislation soon.

Thank you for your time,
Sophie Posot

Sophie Poost writes on 5/15/2019 at 3:30PM:
On 5/15/19, Sophie Poost calle dthe office and spoke with Joe. He said Stephen was not available but took down a message from Sophie. Sophie then sent the following email to Stephen Coffey:

Good Afternoon,

I just spoke with your receptionist, Joe, who said you were unavailable at this time but said that I should send an email with my concern. In the past few weeks, ADAPT has sent you several emails and in the last few months visited you to ask that Congressman Cartwright cosponsor the Disability Integration Act (HR. 555). We understand that there was some hiccups with previous iterations of the legislation, however we hope that Representative Cartwright values the freedom of Disabled Americans more than past politics. It is essential that you review the emails ADAPT has sent you. ADAPT will be in town next week and we would prefer to stop by your office to thank Rep. Cartwright for his support.

Please respond to this email and confirm that you have received this message and our emails requesting Congressman Cartwright cosponsor the Disability Integration Act. He can sign on as a cosponsor of the bill by reaching out to Amy Bos in Rep. Sensenbrenner???s office.

Thank you for your time,

Sophie Poost
ADAPT

Ericka Jones writes on 5/08/2019 at 3:35PM:
On May 8th, S. Poost tweeted at Matt Cartwright: "& for many #DisabledPennsylvanians there remain no protections for their Long Term Services & Supports in the community, which could be fixed with the #DisabilityIntegrationAct, a bill you continue to shrug off. We need you to cosponsor #DIAToday and help us #FreeOurPeople"

Ericka Jones writes on 5/08/2019 at 3:34PM:
On April 10th, E. Jones sent an email requesting an in person meeting in the D.C. office. Stephen Coffey responded: "Our schedule is full for the day as we typically schedule our meetings weeks in advance. However, our front provided the packet on the bill that was left earlier and we can review that."

after some back and forth, Stephen Coffey sent a followup email that stood firm on not giving a meeting.

Ericka Jones writes on 5/08/2019 at 3:24PM:
Since January, S. Poost has tweeted at Rep. Cartwright multiple times asking why he isn't a cosponsor on the Disability Integration Act.

Tim Bowman writes on 8/30/2018 at 1:12PM:
On August 30th, 2018, C4CI sent an email to Stephen Coffey (stephen.coffey@mail.house.gov) asking why is not a cosponsor of DIA and whether the representative would commit to being an initial co-sponsor of DIA if elected to the next Congress.

Sophie Poost writes on 8/16/2018 at 1:03PM:
Sophie emailed staffer a copy of the packet and asked that they consider it beyond the history that they may have had with the bill.

Bruce Darling writes on 9/27/2017 at 3:30PM:
On September 27th, ADAPT members - as part of the Fall Action Hill Day - provided the office with information about the Disability Integration Act and asked that the Member of Congress cosponsor this legislation.

Bruce Darling writes on 5/17/2017 at 4:45PM:
On May 17th, ADAPT members - as part of the Spring Action Hill Day - provided the office with information about the Disability Integration Act and asked that the Member of Congress cosponsor this legislation.

Stephanie Woodward writes on 4/13/2016 at 11:02AM:
On April 13, 2016 ADAPT members - as part of the Spring Action Hill Day - provided the office with information about the Disability Integration Act which has already been introduced in the US Senate and asked that the Member of Congress become initial cosponsor this legislation in the House.


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