Small Voices, BIG Impact: Little Lobbyists Takes on Harrisburg!

By Victoria Schiano, National Community Engagement Coordinator, Little Lobbyists

What happens when a bus full of healthcare advocates rolls into Pennsylvania's capital? A whole lot of heart, a whole lot of hope, and some very powerful voices demanding change!

On Wednesday, October 7, Little Lobbyists joined Protect Our Care's “Sick of It! Fix Health Care Now” Bus Tour at the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, and what an incredible day it was!

The energy was contagious, the conversations were meaningful, and the message couldn't have been clearer: Our families deserve better, our children deserve better, and we aren't going anywhere.

The Harrisburg stop was part of Protect Our Care's nationwide, coast-to-coast campaign, bringing together patients, families, healthcare professionals, advocates, and elected officials to demand affordable, accessible healthcare for everyone.

And Little Lobbyists was proud to be part of it!

Showing Up for Our Kids

I had the honor of speaking at the Capitol alongside Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and fellow healthcare advocates, sharing the story of my son, Cole, and what Medicaid means to families like ours.

Cole is ten years old, full of curiosity, adventure, humor, and personality. He also lives with complex medical needs that require extraordinary care.

Because of Medicaid, Cole gets to do the things every child deserves to do: live at home, attend school, spend time with friends, and be part of his community.

As I shared during my remarks:

“Medicaid doesn't just keep my son alive. Medicaid gives my son the freedom to live.”

That freedom is exactly what we're fighting to protect.

I also spoke about the growing maternal healthcare crisis, the disappearance of maternity wards, and the devastating consequences of cuts that threaten mothers, babies, disabled children, and entire communities.

Because protecting children means protecting the families who love and care for them.

You cannot claim to value families while dismantling the healthcare systems that keep them together.

Advocacy Is Better Together!

One of the absolute highlights of the day was sharing this experience with my fellow Little Lobbyists Pennsylvania State Lead, Chelsea Anders, and her wonderful parents, Eddie and Debbie.

Having them alongside me made an already meaningful day even more special.

We brought photographs of our children, proudly sharing the faces and stories behind our advocacy. Those photos were powerful reminders that behind every policy debate, every budget decision, and every headline are real children with real lives, big personalities, and limitless potential.

Our children may not have been standing at the Capitol with us, but their presence was absolutely felt.

And getting to meet Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis was another exciting moment. Having the opportunity to connect with Pennsylvania leadership while elevating the experiences of medically complex and disabled children made the day even more memorable.

These are the moments that remind us why showing up matters.

Turning Frustration Into Forward Momentum

Protect Our Care's “Sick of It!” campaign is calling for reversing devastating Medicaid cuts, restoring affordable health insurance coverage, and lowering prescription drug costs.

These aren't abstract policy priorities. They affect whether children can receive nursing care at home, whether families can afford prescriptions, whether pregnant women can access maternity care, and whether communities can keep their hospitals open.

And while the challenges are serious, the feeling in Harrisburg was anything but hopeless.

It was energizing. It was empowering. It was a reminder of what happens when people turn concern into action and use their voices to demand something better.

At Little Lobbyists, we know advocacy isn't always easy. Sometimes it's exhausting. Sometimes it's emotional. And sometimes the challenges ahead feel enormous.

But then there are days like Wednesday.

Days when we stand shoulder to shoulder with people who care deeply. Days when our children's stories are heard. Days when we remember that our community is strong, our voices are powerful, and our determination is unwavering.

We may be sick of the attacks on healthcare, but we will never get tired of fighting for our kids!

The Bus Rolls On. So Do We!

As Care Force One continues its journey across the country, we're carrying the energy of Harrisburg with us.

We are grateful to Protect Our Care for creating space for families like ours, to Lieutenant Governor Davis and the advocates who stood alongside us, and to everyone working to make healthcare more accessible and equitable.

Most of all, I'm grateful for the Little Lobbyists families who remind us every single day what this movement is really about.

Our children are not line items in a budget.

They are dreamers, explorers, classmates, friends, and future changemakers.

And they deserve a world that makes room for every single one of them.

Harrisburg, you showed up. You brought the energy. And you reminded us that when families raise their voices together, big things can happen.

Little voices. BIG impact. And we're just getting started!

Show up for upcoming stops on the “Sick Of It” tour all over the country this October to speak our, learn more, and meet more Little Lobbyists families.