Actions of the Month - August 2022
Action #1 - Support the DISCLOSE Act: reduce foreign influence on elections and public identification of “dark money” donors
The DISCLOSE Act, introduced in both the US Senate (S.443) and the House (H.R.1334), combats the flood of anonymous special interest spending in American politics. Citizens United and subsequent Supreme Court rulings permit super PACs and certain types of tax-exempt groups, such as 501(c)(4) nonprofits, to spend unlimited sums in elections. Many of those groups are not required to disclose their donors, allowing wealthy corporations and individuals to spend unlimited, undisclosed – or “dark” – money without being tied to the television attack ads and other electioneering activity the groups carry out. The DISCLOSE Act will amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require organizations spending money in elections – including super PACs and 501(c)(4) dark money groups – to promptly disclose donors who have given $10,000 or more during an election cycle. This will permit Americans to see who is really spending to influence elections.
CALL: Rep. Jim McGovern DC 202-225-6101 Northampton 413-341-8700
SCRIPT: Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a constituent. My address is __________. I'm calling to urge Rep. Jim McGovern to support H.R.1334, the DISCLOSE Act to combat the flood of anonymous special interest spending in American politics. The American people deserve to know who is trying to influence our elections. Thank you for your time and attention.
CALL: Sen. Elizabeth Warren; DC 202-224-4543; Springfield 413-788-2690. Sen. Ed Markey; DC 202-224-2742; Springfield 413-785-4610
SCRIPT: Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a constituent. My address is __________. I'm calling to urge Senator (Warren/Markey) to support S.443, the DISCLOSE Act to combat the flood of anonymous special interest spending in American politics. The American people deserve to know who is trying to influence our elections. Thank you for your time and attention.
Action #2 - Respect for Marraige Act
OVERVIEW: The Respect for Marriage Act reaffirms that the freedom to marry same sex or opposite sex spouses is the law across the United States. The act provides clarity and much needed comfort to millions of LGBTQ+ families across the country. It is an important opportunity to protect the families of LGBTQ+ Americans who remain vulnerable to discrimination in their daily lives. The U.S. House passed the bill on July 19 with bipartisan support. It is now sitting in the Senate waiting for further action there.
TAKE ACTION: Contact our Senators today and ask them to support the Respect for Marriage Act!
Call Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Dial (518) 431-4070 or (607) 772-6792
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Senator Schumer in his role as Senate Majority Leader, to urge him to do more to support the Respect for Marriage Act. Senator Schumer should use his power to get the act out of committee and get the Respect for Marriage Act to the senate floor for debate. Thank you.
Call Senator Elizabeth Warren- (413-788-2690) or (202-224-4543)
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is ___]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I am calling upon Senator Warren to do more to support the Respect for Marriage Act. Senator Warren should publicly urge the senate to move the Respect for Marriage Act out of committee and get it to the senate floor for debate. Thank you.
Call Senator Ed Markey- (413-785-4610) or (202-224-2742) or (617- 565-8519)
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is ___]. My phone number [is ___]. I am calling upon Senator Markey to do more to support the Respect for Marriage Act. Senator Markey should publicly urge the senate to move the Respect for Marriage Act out of committee and get it to the senate floor for debate. Thank you.
Action #3 - Amend Title IX to make it more effective
OVERVIEW:The U.S. Department of Education is proposing to amend Title IX to improve on its effectiveness in meeting its nondiscrimination mandate. The amendment would clarify the scope and application of Title IX and the obligation of all schools, including elementary schools, secondary schools, postsecondary institutions, and other recipients that receive Federal financial assistance from the Department to provide an educational environment free from discrimination on the basis of sex, including through responding to incidents of sex discrimination. The proposed amendment would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics under Title IX. This would help combat the discriminatory and harmful laws currently targeting LGBTQ+ students across the county. The public can comment on the proposed amendment until September 12th. It is expected that there will be a flood of negative comments. It is important that the voices urging adoption of the proposed amendment are louder and in greater numbers than the negative comments.
TAKE ACTION! Add your comment to support the proposed amendment to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the protected characteristics under Title IX. Go to this site and add your comment:
https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/ED-2021-OCR-0166-0001
It can be as simple as: “All students- no matter their background, sexual orientation, or gender identity deserve to feel safe, protected, and fully welcomed in schools. Please amend Title IX to include clear protections of all students, including those in the LGBTQ+ community.
Action 4:
Support Americans’ digital health privacy and modernize HIPPAA protections.
Overview:
Since the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade in June, much focus has turned to popular apps or websites which track a woman’s menstrual cycle. The most popular app has 43 million active users.
Pro-choice people fear that law enforcement, in those states where abortion will now imminently become illegal or nearly-illegal, will look for and prosecute women who seek or obtain abortions using warrants for the sexual and reproductive health information stored on technological devices and platforms — such as menstrual cycle trackers.
GovTrack Insider recently covered the Health and Location Data Protection Act, Democratic-led legislation to ban the sale or publication of a person’s health data or location data stored on their technology, such as their cell phone
The My Body, My Data Act would limit the sexual and reproductive health data stored by these technology platforms, by:
Limiting such data collection to only that which is “strictly necessary,” and requiring an affirmative opt-in by the user.
Requiring such platforms to provide users a free and easy way to review their data, delete it if they choose, and provide users a list of any third parties (whether private or governmental) which have accessed their data.
Explicitly allowing enforcement by both the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and by an individual’s private lawsuit.
Call:
Sen. Elizabeth Warren DC 202-224-4543 Springfield 413-788-2690
Sen. Ed Markey DC 202-224-2742 Springfield 413-785-4610
Rep. Jim McGovern DC 202-225-6101 Northampton 413-341-8700
Your script: Hi, I’m from [TOWN, ZIP] calling/writing about several issues. I’d like Rep./Sen [NAME] to:
Support H.R. 8111, the My Body, My Data Act of 2022 to ensure Americans’ digital health privacy and modernize HIPAA protections. This legislation will protect people’s privacy and provide them with needed protections related to their health status.
Action 5
Volunteer for Election Protection.
There are many ways to volunteer for the 2022 Election. Click on this link to learn more and to sign up to be an Election Protection volunteer