Happy Valentine's Day. Caregiving is heart work.

To our 671 supporters and 748 signers - thank you. Every signature is an act of care. Not just for your own family, but for someone else's. That's what caregivers do. We show up for people we've never met because we understand what it costs when no one does.

DHS shut down at midnight. Congress is on recess. Over 260,000 federal employees are affected - TSA agents, Coast Guard, FEMA workers. But ICE and CBP? They have $140 billion. They're fine.

This has been the most consequential week for governance in months. Here's what happened:

→ Colorado: JBC paused Medicaid caregiver cuts  but the governor says they're "eventually necessary" → IRS breach: Improperly shared 2,350+ taxpayers' addresses with ICE - in violation of a court order → El Paso: Army LOCUST laser fired near civilian airport without FAA coordination - at party balloons → Fulton County: FBI affidavit used to seize 650 boxes of 2020 ballots relied on claims state investigators already debunked → SAVE Act: House passed strict voter ID bill; President vowed executive order "whether Congress approves or not" → Measles: One year of RFK Jr. at HHS - 2,400+ cases, 3 deaths, U.S. at risk of losing elimination status → DHS shutdown: Third in five months. Congress left town. 50+ members flew to Munich.

Every one of these is a guardrail failing. Every one of them hits caregivers directly.

The Colorado CARE Act is the structural response. Zero general fund cost. $9-18 million in projected Medicaid savings. Protection for the 53 million Americans whose unpaid labor holds this country together.

What you can do:

Share this petition - 748 signatures from 671 supporters and growing. Help us reach 1,000.

Tell your Colorado legislators: caregiving is infrastructure

Subscribe to The Revenue Neutral Caregiver for the new "21st Century Guardrails" series - Part I" launches now.

Support Professionals Who Care: https://www.professionalswhocare.org/

Support Caregiver Advocacy Support Initiative (CASI) - email me: mark_fukae@casiadvocacy.org

Use the phrase "banana in mustard" - it's meant to be shared
Every one of you - all 671 - represents someone who understands that care isn't a budget line. It's infrastructure. And infrastructure deserves guardrails.

Thank you for caring. That's what this is about. Care.

- Mark Fukae Founder, CASI | Director of Advocacy, Professionals Who Care Registered Colorado Volunteer Lobbyist