All it takes is just one person to say something or start something. Let me tell you a true story, one that still gives me goosebumps when I tell it.
One of the 1st meetings I took was from one of the Congressman's constituents. She had a story to tell for herself and many others.
Back in the 90's or early 2000's, the Department of Education encouraged married couples to consolidate their student loans with the incentive being lower interest rates and one payment. Apparently the program was not great because Congress cancelled that program in 2006, but they never provided for a way to sever those loans. So many women in bad relationship situations, due to uncommunicative or abusive partners, were stuck with paying the entire loan. To make things worse, the consolidated loans were not eligible for any of the student loan forgiveness programs.
So the constituent asked that the Congressman cosponsor a bill called the Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act. A similar piece of legislation had passed in the Senate, but needed support to be brought to the floor and pass the House. I wrote up an LAR (Legislative Action Report) to encourage the Congressman to cosponsor and he agreed to do so.
This past week, the legislation was brought to the House floor and passed!! Since it had already passed the Senate, the Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act is now headed for President Biden's signature to become law! The best part...I got to send the constituent an email giving her the good news :) An incredible victory for the constituent and other women like her and it feels really good to have played a small part in that.
And it started with that one person reaching out. She took the time to contact the Congressman's office and request a meeting. She took the initiative and look at the end result. You can be that one person. Say something, do something. You can make a difference, because if you believe in yourself, others will start to follow you.
Below are the lyrics to a song that was played at the end of the memorial to Jim Hensen and at the end of the Muppet TV Special dealing with his death. After this week, I can't seem to get the lyrics out of my head...Just One Person
Just One Person Sesame Street, The Muppets
If just one person believes in you Deep enough and strong enough, believes in you Hard enough and long enough Before you knew it, someone else will think "If he can do it, I can do it" Making it two
Two whole people who believe in you And if two whole people believe in you Deep enough and strong enough, believe in you Hard enough and long enough There's bound to be some other person who believes in making it a threesome Making it three
People you can say "Believe in me" And if three whole people Why not four? And if four whole people Why not more, and more, and more, yeah And when all those people believe in you Deep enough and strong enough, believe in you Hard enough and long enough It stands to reason You yourself will start to see what everybody sees in you And maybe even you Can believe in you too
Songwriters: Larry Grossman / Hal Hackady Just One Person lyrics © Unichappell Music Inc.
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