The imminent vote on health reform is going to be incredibly close. We've got to pump up the volume to help make sure it passes. That's right: It's time to make sure our voices are heard once again by Congress that healthcare reform is critically important to our nation's families in order to counter corporate lobbyists who are out in full force.

That's why we're making a big ruckus on-the-ground at the Capitol this week--and that's why we need your help with some on-the-phone from your home back up.

All this week MomsRising members are delivering Diaper-O-Grams, diapers cutely decorated with member messages to Congress, from MomsRising members who think the insurance industry's practices stink! And, on Monday, MomsRising Healthcare Campaign Director, Donna Norton, flanked by dozens of MomsRising members and their adorable and vocal babies and children, spoke in support of healthcare reform at an event with Speaker Pelosi.

Can you back us up by calling your members of Congress now? Online, on-the-phone, and on-the-ground, we need to make sure Congress knows that America's families are ready for a change NOW!  Click here to get the exact right phone number to your House Representative:

http://action.momsrising.org/go/12?akid=.7.FhFtKK&t=4

Here's a sample of what you can say when you call: "Hello. I'm a constituent and a member of MomsRising. Healthcare reform is critically important for our nation's families and I urge you to pass healthcare reform as soon as possible. Thank you."

Why the Diaper-O-Grams? What stinks? Health insurance rate hikes of up to 39 percent are now happening around the country. And the five biggest insurance companies earned 56% more in profits last year, while covering 2.7 million fewer people. [1]

Some are saying we should just hang tight in this stinky situation. But what's the cost of doing nothing? A recent article in the New York Times documents the unbearable costs that will accrue if we fail to take action to fix our broken healthcare system:

* Without a change, 275,000 people will die prematurely over the next 10 years because they do not have insurance
* Without a change, the typical price of family coverage is expected to almost double from $13,000 to $24,000 a year by 2020
* And, without a change, the number of uninsured people is predicted to increase from about 49 million today to between 57 and 66 million by 2019. [2]

Together, we'll remind Congress that when you catch a whiff of something bad, ignoring the smell isn't going to make the mess go away. These costs are too much to bear, are expected to get worse without action--and are avoidable if we act now to pass meaningful healthcare reform and rein in health insurance companies.

Help us tell Congress it is indeed time for a change! Call your legislators now: http://action.momsrising.org/go/12?akid=.7.FhFtKK&t=6

Please share this blog post with friends, family, parent groups, soccer/basketball lists, and more so the number of real people who are demanding that Congress rein in the abuses of health insurance companies can't be ignored.

Together we are a powerful voice for America's families.

P.S. Check out this great video from the press conference on Monday, where Donna tells the story of a MomsRising member struggling with her lack of healthcare coverage.

P.P.S. If you haven't signed the petition yet, click here.

[1] Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer: Our Broken Health Insurance System, Health insurers take heat for rise in profits

[2] The Cost of Doing Nothing on Health Care