Families Belong Together Trump’s change of “heart” over the policy of separating children from their parents at the border will not end the suffering of families. The influx of illegal immigrants is not a crime wave but a humanitarian crisis and should be treated as such. Action: 1. There are marches and protests planned for June 30 in Washington, DC and throughout the country. Find an event near you and sign up to attend: http://act.moveon.org/event/families-belong-together/ 2. Donate to an organization providing services and support to migrant families at the border. Here’s a list of organizations to choose from: http://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/18/heres-list-organizations-are-mobilizing-help-separated-immigrant-child/
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Financial Conflicts of Interest Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced S.1026, Know Conflicts of Interest Act of 2017. This bill would increase transparency and accountability regarding financial conflicts of interest in the administration of federal awards. Specifically, it would require that www.USASpending.gov, a searchable public website with information on federal spending, include in any search results information as to whether the President or Vice President has a financial stake in the recipient of any federal awards. Action: 1. If your Senator is a cosponsor, thank them. 2. If your Senator is not a cosponsor, contact them and urge them to cosponsor the bill. 3. The bill has been passed to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Contact the Committee and urge them to expedite the bill’s passage through committee so that it can be voted on by the full Senate. 4. Thank Senator Casey for introducing the bill. Keep Families Together (Reprise) S. 3036 - Keep Families Together Act - has been introduced into the Senate by Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) with 39 cosponsors and has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill prohibits DHS, DoJ, DHHS, or anyone representing these agencies, from removing a child from the custody of his or her parent or legal guardian, even if that adult has entered the U.S. illegally, unless it can be proven that the child is at risk of abuse or trafficking. Action: 1. If your Senator is a cosponsor, send them a message of thanks. 2. If your Senator is not a cosponsor, call and urge them to cosponsor the bill (even if you have already done so). 3. If your Senator sits on the Judiciary Committee, contact them and urge them to support the bill and move it forward quickly so that the whole Senate can pass it. Oppose Andrew Oldham Andrew Oldham, General Counsel to uber-right-wing Texas governor Greg Abbott, has been nominated for the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. He holds extreme anti-government views and doesn’t believe in the IRS or the EPA. Action: Call your Senators and ask them to OPPOSE the nomination of Andrew Oldham to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Trump Sabotages ACA One of the key protections which the ACA provided to health care insurance buyers was that insurers were not allowed to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. 20 states have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the ACA, including this provision. The Trump administration has said it agrees with these states and will no longer defend the ACA against the lawsuit, breaking with longstanding custom whereby the current administration always defends existing laws. If the lawsuit prevails, millions of people across the country will lose their health care. Action: 1. Contact the Department of Justice and ask them to continue defending the ACA against the 20-state lawsuit. 2. Contact your Member of Congress and ask them to protect their constitutents’ right to health care. Ask them to stand up to the Trump administration and defend the protections for people with pre-existing conditions. North Carolina Voter Suppression In 2013 North Carolina passed a voter suppression law, which was mostly struck down by a federal court in 2016 as it clearly targeted African Americans. The NC legislators are now attempting to reintroduce a voter ID law via a referendum and constitutional amendment. The change would make little or no difference to vote fraud but would indeed make it harder for many legitimate voters to cast their ballots, especially African Americans. Amazon and Apple are both considering moving their new corporate headquarters to North Corolina. Action: Call Amazon and Apple and urge them to make it clear that they will not consider locating their headquarters in NC if this assault on voting rights goes through. Amazon: 844-241-1141 Apple: 844-899-8785 Keeping Families Together Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and 31 of her colleagues have introduced a bill which would prohibit DHS from continuing to separate children from parents who have illegally entered the country. Action: 1. Contact your Senators and ask them to support Senator Feinstein’s bill to keep families together. 2. Thank Sen. Feinstein for introducing the bill. State Public Option for Medicaid Coverage The State Public Option Act would permit states to offer Medicaid insurance coverage to consumers of all income levels. Consumers would be able to buy Medicaid coverage on the insurance exchanges. Allowing greater access to this cost-effective insurance program would be an attainable way of offering affordable health coverage to a great number of people. Action: 1. Contact your Member of Congress and ask them to support H.R. 4129, State Public Option Act. If your MoC is a cosponsor, thank them. 2. Contact your Senators and ask them to support S.2001, State Public Option Act. If one of your Senators is a cosponsor, thank them. |
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November 2019
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