The POPVOX Blog
Articles Tagged release
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PRESS RELEASE: Does your Rep (or Senator) Represent YOU?
Washington, DC January 02, 201: POPVOX, the award-winning online platform for advocacy about bills in Congress, announces POPVOX “Congress Match,” a personalized grid to show POPVOX users how well their Representatives and Senators line up with their views.
“Congress Match displays every bill on which you took a position and how your legislator voted if a vote was held.” said POPVOX CEO, Marci Harris. “As you weigh in on more bills and Congress takes more votes, Congress Match will update to help you see just how 'representative' your Representative and Senators are.”
“With the start of the 2012 election year,” Harris continued, “POPVOX Congress Match gives you even more reasons to tell your legislators what you think about pending legislation -- and a way to assess how well they listened when Election Day rolls around.”
To access Congress Match, visit https://www.popvox.com/home/match. Note: you must weigh in on bills using POPVOX before information can be displayed on the Congress Match grid.
POPVOX is a neutral, nonpartisan advocacy platform that meshes legislative data with individuals’ personal stories and sentiment. POPVOX delivers public input to Congress in a format tailored to actionable policy decisions and empowers users to leverage their expertise and numbers.
For more information, visit: http://www.popvox.com -
PRESS RELEASE: First App Designed for Congress Released
POPVOX releases “MarkUp” to help Congress hear from constituents, read and annotate bill textNovember 17, 2011, WASHINGTON, DC — POPVOX, the fastest-growing neutral online platform for advocacy about bills in Congress, launched their first edition iPad app today. POPVOX MarkUp, a legislative dashboard and annotation tool for Congress and government affairs professionals, is now available in the Apple app store for $9.99.
“Legislators and staff must constantly balance multiple issues and packed schedules. With POPVOX MarkUp, they can hold coffee in one hand and ten thousand bills in the other,” said POPVOX CEO, Marci Harris.
“We decided to build the app soon after the House rules change in January 2011, allowing iPads on the House Floor,” explains Harris. “We were already building a site to help Congress better hear from constituents and find out what groups were saying about legislation. MarkUp delivers that information not only to the last mile, but the last inch -- right into the hands of Members of Congress, who really want to know what their constituents have to say about pending bills.”
POPVOX MarkUp provides comprehensive access to POPVOX’s bill-specific constituent sentiment statistics, bill reports and constituent comments -- sortable by Congressional district -- as well as endorsement and opposition statements from advocacy organizations. The iPad app equips users with time-saving features to search all bills in the 112th Congress, including the ability to mark up the bill with personal notes while reading, find sponsor, status, and cosponsor information, use in-bill keyword search and table of contents navigation, and share via social media. The app is designed for Congress but can be used by anyone.
To finance the app, POPVOX turned to Appbackr, a website that allows many people to finance development by purchasing wholesale units of the app and “backing” it. “People across the country agreed that it was important to make this information available to Congress, and they helped us make it happen,” says Harris. “From AppBackr to our wonderful development partners at Houston-based ChaiONE, everyone went out of their way because they felt this was an important project that will help Congress do its job better.”
About POPVOX
POPVOX is a neutral, nonpartisan advocacy platform that meshes legislative data with individuals’ personal stories and sentiment. POPVOX delivers public input to Congress in a format tailored to actionable policy decisions and empowers users to leverage their expertise and numbers.
For more information, visit: www.popvox.com
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PRESS RELEASE: In Congress, Multiple Bills Focus on Veterans Issues
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Rachna Choudhry
Chief Marketing Officer
202-256-4326 / rachna@popvox.comIn Congress, Multiple Bills Focus on Veterans Issues
POPVOX Spotlights Pending Legislation for Veterans’ Day
November 10, 2011, WASHINGTON, DC — POPVOX, the transparent online platform for advocacy about bills in Congress, today spotlighted over 20 bills pending in Congress that would affect Veterans.
POPVOX co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Rachna Choudhry said: "As we pay tribute to America's veterans, POPVOX invites individuals to learn about these proposals and write a message to Congress in honor of the sacrifices our veterans have made."
Veterans' Employment
VOW to Hire Heroes Act (will be attached to 3% Withholding Repeal and Job Creation Act, which is currently being considered by the Senate) offers tax credits to companies who hire unemployed veterans or veterans who were discharged in the last five years, and gives an additional tax credit to firms that hire unemployed veterans with service-related disabilities. (This bill hasn't been assigned a number yet, so it's not listed on POPVOX.)
Veterans Opportunity to Work Act (HR 2433) from Rep. Jeff Miller [R, FL-1] makes certain improvements in the laws relating to the employment and training of veterans
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr2433
S. 745 from Sen. Charles Schumer [D, NY] protects certain veterans who would otherwise be subject to a reduction in educational assistance benefits
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s745
Hiring Heroes Act (HR 1941 from Rep. Sanford Bishop [D, GA-2] and S 951 from Sen. Patty Murray [D, WA]) improves the provision of Federal transition, rehabilitation, vocational, and unemployment benefits to members of the Armed Forces and veterans
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr1941 and https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s951
HR 802 from Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51] creates a VetStar Award Program recognizing business contributions to veterans' employment
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr802
Honoring Veterans
Cold War Service Medal Act (S 402 from Sen. Olympia Snowe [R, ME] and HR 1968 from Rep. Steve Israel [D, NY-2]) awards military service medals for having served honorably during the Cold War.
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s402 and https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr1968
H Res 184 from Rep. Linda Sánchez [D, CA-39] expresses support for a designation of a “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day”
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hres184
Cold War Service Medal Act (S 402 from Sen. Olympia Snowe [R, ME] and HR 1968 Rep. Steve Israel [D, NY-2]) recognizes members of the Armed Forces who served honorably during the Cold War
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s402 and https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr1968
Veterans' HealthVeterans Dog Training Therapy Act (HR 198) from Rep. Michael Grimm [R, NY-13] directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on dog training therapy
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr198
TBI Treatment Act (HR 396) from Rep. Peter Sessions [R, TX-32] creates a pilot program to make payments for traumatic brain injury treatment
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr396
HR 930 from Rep. Chellie Pingree [D, ME-1] improves the disability compensation evaluation procedure for veterans related to military sexual trauma
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr930
Fort McClellan Health Registry Act (HR 2052) from Rep. Paul Tonko [D, NY-21] directs the V.A. to establish a registry of certain veterans who were stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr2052
Agent Orange Equity Act (S 1629 from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D, NY] and HR 812 from Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51]) clarifies presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of Vietnam
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s1629 and https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr812
Medicare VA Reimbursement Act (HR 814) from Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51] provides Medicare payments to V.A. medical facilities for items and services provided to Medicare-eligible veterans for non-service-connected conditions
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr814
Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act (HR 329) from Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51] requires the provision of chiropractic care and services to veterans at all V.A. medical centers and to expand access to such care and services
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr329
Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act (S 277) from Sen. Richard Burr [R, NC] furnishes hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care to veterans who were stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC, while the water was contaminated at Camp Lejeune
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s277
Janey Ensminger Act (HR 1742) from Rep. Bradley Miller [D, NC-13] establishes a presumption of service connection for illnesses associated with contaminants in the water supply at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC, and provides health care to family members of veterans who lived at Camp Lejeune while the water was contaminated
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr1742
Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention and Health Care Enhancement Act (HR 2074) from Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle [R, NY-25] requires a comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault incidents at medical facilities of the V.A. and improves rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain injury
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr2074
Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention Act (S 1689) from Sen. Patrick Toomey [R, PA] requires a comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault incidents at medical facilities of the V.A.
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s1689
Veterans' Homelessness
Veterans Programs Improvement Act (S 1148) from Sen. Patty Murray [D, WA] improves the provision of assistance to homeless veterans and the regulation of fiduciaries who represent individuals for receiving V.A. benefits
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s1148
Homes for Heroes (HR 287) from Rep. Al Green [D, TX-9] provides housing assistance for very low-income veterans
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr287
Other Veterans BillsVeterans Appeals Improvement Act (HR 1484) from Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51] improves the appeals process of the Department of Veterans Affairs
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr1484
Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act (S 1707) from Sen. Richard Burr [R, NC] clarifies the conditions under which certain persons may be treated as adjudicated mentally incompetent for certain purposes
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s1707
Honor America's Guard and Reserve Retirees Act (HR 1025 from Rep. Timothy Walz [D, MN-1] and S 491 from Sen. Mark Pryor [D, AR]) recognizes the service in the reserve components by honoring them with status as veterans under law
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr1025 and https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/s491
Hotels for Heroes Act (HR 3303) from Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger [D, MD-2] expands the Operation Hero Miles program to include the donation of hotel points or awards for free or reduced-cost accommodations
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr3303
Veteran’s I.D. Card Act (HR 2985) from Rep. Todd Akin [R, MO-2] directs the V.A. to issue, upon request, veteran identification cards to certain veterans
https://www.popvox.com/bills/us/112/hr2985
About POPVOXPOPVOX is a neutral, nonpartisan advocacy platform that meshes legislative data with individuals’ personal stories and sentiment. POPVOX delivers public input to Congress in a format tailored to actionable policy decisions and empowers users to leverage their expertise and numbers.
For more information, visit: www.popvox.com
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PRESS RELEASE: Almost 100% Oppose Robocalls to Mobile Phones
POPVOX aggregates opinions on Mobile Informational Call Act
OCTOBER 4, 2011, WASHINGTON, DC―Individuals are using social media and the POPVOX advocacy platform to weigh in on a bill proposed in Congress that would allow informational calls, including “robocalls” to mobile phones. Within one day, over 3,000 people sent messages to their Members of Congress on H.R. 3035: The Mobile Informational Call Act -- almost 100% in opposition.
Shaun Dakin, CEO and Founder of the National Political Do Not Call Registry, used tools from POPVOX to turn followers into advocates. “I decided that action needed to be taken and created an opposition page on POPVOX where our members could go and register opposition and contact Members of Congress.” Dakin set up an action page on his website using the free POPVOX “Write Congress Widget” and used Twitter to alert followers of @EndTheRobocalls.
Someone from New Jersey’s 13th District wrote, “I oppose H.R. 3035 because I feel it is an invasion of my privacy. I should have the right to decide who gets my mobile phone number.” Comments are aggregated and searchable by Congressional district.
The StopPoliticalCalls.org campaign is an example of how the POPVOX platform helps individuals voice their concerns to Congress, aggregating many voices into quantified grassroots muscle. Since comments sent to Congress with POPVOX are also tallied and posted publicly on POPVOX, individuals can see both sides of the issue before writing an informed comment of their own. In this case, individuals can read the position statements of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and others in support of the Mobile Informational Call Act.
“POPVOX is easy to use and provides Congressional staffers with the key information they need: who is opposing the bill from their Member's district. With POPVOX I can have more confidence that Congress is listening to the voter,” said Dakin.
About POPVOX
POPVOX is a neutral, nonpartisan advocacy platform that meshes legislative data with individuals’ personal stories and sentiment. POPVOX delivers public input to Congress in a format tailored to actionable policy decisions and empowers users to leverage their expertise and numbers. POPVOX provides a legislative dashboard for Congress and government affairs professionals with bill status information, customized tracking, bill-specific advocacy information, and real-time constituent sentiment and comments. For more information, visit: www.popvox.com
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PRESS RELEASE: POPVOX Delivers the People's Message to Congress on the American Jobs Act
SEPTEMBER 13, 2011, WASHINGTON, DC― POPVOX, the award-winning transparent online platform for advocacy on bills in Congress, now makes it possible to weigh in on the President's proposed American Jobs Act with a message to Congress.
POPVOX CEO and former Congressional staffer, Marci Harris, wrote: “[T]he proposed legislation starts a conversation: the analysis of each element will all affect the structure of whatever eventually is introduced by Congress.” Harris continued, “If there are things that you like about the American Jobs Act, shout it from the rooftops. And if there are things that you don’t like, let Congress know.”
Anyone can visit the proposed bill’s action page on POPVOX to see information about the proposed bill, including the text, summary, and section-by-section analysis released by the White House, and statements in support or opposition by organizations that have taken a position. These include: Bio, National Education Association, National League of Cities, National Organization for Women.
Any advocacy organization can create a profile on POPVOX and upload a position supporting or opposing the proposed legislation. In addition, anyone with a website can embed a free “widget” to send their users to tell Congress what they think about the American Jobs Act.
Individuals choose to “support” or “oppose” proposals on POPVOX, and write comments that are delivered to Congress. Since the tool is powered by POPVOX, constituent information is verified for Congressional offices and messages are aggregated publicly on POPVOX.com to show quantified grassroots power. Individuals can track delivery of their message to their legislators’ offices, share their comments on Facebook and Twitter, and invite friends to weigh in.
About POPVOX
POPVOX is a neutral, nonpartisan advocacy platform that meshes legislative data with individuals’ personal stories and sentiment. POPVOX delivers public input to Congress in a format tailored to actionable policy decisions and empowers users to leverage their expertise and numbers. POPVOX provides a legislative dashboard for Congress and government affairs professionals with bill status information, customized tracking, bill-specific advocacy information, and real-time constituent sentiment and comments. For more information, visit: www.popvox.com
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PRESS RELEASE: Political Startup Shows Users "What We Know About You"
June 21, 2011, WASHINGTON, DC ― POPVOX, Inc., the award-winning political social advocacy platform, today released a cutting-edge privacy policy that includes a What We Know About You customized report and a unique first-party approach to Do Not Track (DNT) guidelines.
“The revised POPVOX policy incorporates existing standards and proposes a new standard that we hope privacy experts and other websites will consider,” POPVOX Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Joshua Tauberer said. “Months of surveying users identified privacy as a universal issue, but it was clear that legalese could only be one part of our response to the specific questions and concerns we heard.”
POPVOX focused on policy, protocols and transparency: A “What We Know About You” report shows logged in users the personal information POPVOX has on file, how the information is used, and why it is important. Additionally, the groundbreaking policy commits to DNT compliance and and suggests that DNT guidelines be extended to cover the responsibilities of so-called "first-parties."
“Current Do Not Track guidelines permit a compliant website to embed non-compliant resources,” Tauberer explained. “We think that websites that have committed to the Do Not Track header should only embed resources that honor DNT when the visiting user has turned on the option in their browser.”
“In most cases, privacy concerns are about trust,” Tauberer said. “With these steps we’re signaling our commitment to privacy and transparency through our actions.”
For more information, visit https://www.popvox.com/legal or Tauberer’s blog post on the new policy at: http://www.popvox.com/blog/2011/06/20/new-popvox-privacy-tool/
About POPVOX
POPVOX is an innovative advocacy platform that meshes legislative data with individuals’ personal stories and sentiment. Winner of the social media category in the 2011 SxSW BizSpark Accelerator startup competition, POPVOX delivers public input to Congress in a format tailored to actionable policy decisions and empowers users to leverage their expertise and numbers. POPVOX provides a legislative dashboard for Congress and government affairs professionals with bill status information, customized tracking, bill-specific advocacy information, and real-time constituent sentiment and comments. For more information, visit: www.popvox.com
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PRESS RELEASE: POPVOX Heading to the Final Round of SxSW BizSpark Accelerator
If you thought we were excited before...
We've moved through to the final round of the SxSW Accelerator and now we get FIVE WHOLE MINUTES to present POPVOX to the startup world. We are so grateful for all of the encouragement from POPVOX users, family, friends, and our wonderful advisors. We will be hunkered down today working our hardest to make you proud.
Press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
POPVOX Advances to Final Round in SxSW Accelerator
March 14, 2011, AUSTIN, TX ―POPVOX, Inc., a Silicon Valley and Washington, DC startup designed by Washington insiders advances to the final round of the 3rd Annual Microsoft BizSpark Accelerator at SXSW.
On Tuesday, May 14 the final twelve early stage companies will have five minutes to showcase their companies in front of influential industry judges and a live audience. Sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, IBM, .CO, and Turner Broadcasting System, the Microsoft BizSpark Accelerator at SXSW honors four of the web's most exciting new innovations in four categories: Innovative Web Technologies, Social Media and Social Networking Technologies, Entertainment Technologies, and News Related Technologies.
“Advancing to the final round is an enormous honor,” said Marci Harris, POPVOX Founder and CEO. “We are not a typical tech startup. Our expertise is in the world of legislation and advocacy and we're focused on how technology can improve information flow. Yesterday’s selection shows that the SxSW BizSpark Accelerator stage levels the start-up playing field for companies that don’t fit established ‘patterns.' Our model is to empower individuals and improve the quality of information coming into Congress. It is heartening to see that recognized at SxSW.”
About POPVOX
POPVOX is a disruptive advocacy platform that meshes legislative data with individuals’ personal stories and sentiment. POPVOX delivers public input to Congress in a format tailored to actionable policy decisions and empowers users to leverage their expertise and numbers. POPVOX provides a legislative dashboard for Congress and government affairs professionals with bill status information, customized tracking, bill-specific advocacy information, and real-time constituent sentiment and comments. For more information, visit: www.popvox.com .
About the SXSW Interactive Festival
The 18th annual SXSW Interactive festival will take place March 11-15, 2011 in Austin, Texas. An incubator of cutting-edge technologies, the event features five days of compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders and an unbeatable line up of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games and startup ideas the community has to offer. From hands-on training to big-picture analysis of the future, SXSW Interactive has become the place to experience a preview of what is unfolding in the world of technology. Join us March 2011 for the panels, the parties, the 14th Annual Interactive Awards, ScreenBurn at SXSW, the SXSW Expo, Accelerator at SXSW and, of course, the inspirational experience that only SXSW can deliver. SXSW Interactive 2011 is sponsored by Miller Lite, Chevrolet, AOL, IFC, Pepsi, PepsiMax, Freecreditscore.com, Monster Energy, Microsoft, Samsung, AT&T and The Austin Chronicle. For more information, visit www.sxsw.com .
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PRESS RELEASE: DC Startup, POPVOX, to Showcase Online Advocacy Platform at SxSW
March 9, 2011, Washington, DC ― POPVOX, Inc., a Silicon Valley and DC startup designed by Washington insiders, was selected as one of eight finalists in the Social Media category for Microsoft BizSpark Accelerator at SXSW, where early stage technology companies demo innovative new technology in front of influential industry judges and a live audience.
The three-day event will be held Monday, March 14th - Wednesday, March 16th. Judges will select a winner in each category to be revealed on March 15th at 6pm. POPVOX will present alongside seven other companies in the Social Media category at 12:30 on March 14th.
"We are living in an era of unprecedented civic engagement empowered and amplified by technology," said POPVOX CEO and former Congressional staffer, Marci Harris. "Existing platforms like Facebook and Twitter have proven great for political organizing but lacking when it comes to affecting policy."
Rachna Choudhry, POPVOX co-founder and a former nonprofit lobbyist explained, "The POPVOX team understands Congress. We know what works and we designed a system to produce effective advocacy for any size organization -- and for individual citizens who are moved to contact Congress on issues that matter to them."
Built by GovTrack.us creator and POPVOX co-founder and CTO, Josh Tauberer, POPVOX provides citizens with a free platform for communication with Congress, channeling input to actual pending bills. Users take action to support or oppose, leave a personal message to Congress, and share their comment via social networks or email. Messages are delivered electronically to Capitol Hill and remain public on POPVOX in Bill Reports, with charts and maps of support, organization statements of support or opposition, sortable by state or Congressional district.
Founding Advisor and financial backer Tim O'Reilly says, "POPVOX brings a unique blend of Capitol Hill savvy and Silicon Valley technology to the problem of measuring and managing advocacy. You can think of it as a kind of Google Analytics service for politics, bringing visibility and actionable insight to both Congressional staffers and advocacy organizations."
About POPVOX
POPVOX is a disruptive advocacy platform that meshes legislative data with individuals personal stories and sentiment. POPVOX delivers public input to Congress in a format tailored to actionable policy decisions and empowers users to leverage their expertise and numbers. POPVOX provides a legislative dashboard for Congress and government affairs professionals with bill status information, customized tracking, bill-specific advocacy information, and real-time constituent sentiment and comments. For more information, visit: popvox.com
About the SXSW Interactive Festival
The 18th annual SXSW Interactive festival will take place March 11-15, 2011 in Austin, Texas. An incubator of cutting-edge technologies, the event features five days of compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders and an unbeatable line up of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games and startup ideas the community has to offer. From hands-on training to big-picture analysis of the future, SXSW Interactive has become the place to experience a preview of what is unfolding in the world of technology. Join us March 2011 for the panels, the parties, the 14th Annual Interactive Awards, ScreenBurn at SXSW, the SXSW Expo, Accelerator at SXSW and, of course, the inspirational experience that only SXSW can deliver. SXSW Interactive 2011 is sponsored by Miller Lite, Chevrolet, AOL, IFC, Pepsi, PepsiMax, Freecreditscore.com, Monster Energy, Microsoft, Samsung, AT&T and The Austin Chronicle. For more information, visit http://www.sxsw.com.
(For media inquiries, please contact Marci Harris, POPVOX’s CEO, at info@popvox.com.)
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