Actions for February 2020

Make Voting Accessible

Voter turnout in the 2018 midterms reflected a nearly 5% gap between disabled and non-disabled voters, often due to inaccessible polling places. Many elderly people and non-native English speakers also experience barriers to voting.

Call Senate Committee on Rules and Administration: Dial (507) 288-5321 or (218) 287-2219

Call: Elizabeth Warren (413) 788-2690 or (202) 224-4543

And Ed Markey (617) 565-8519 or (413) 785-4610

Script: Hi. I’m calling from [address], because I believe all Americans have the right to participate in our democracy. Voter turnout in the 2018 midterms reflected a nearly 5% gap between disabled and non-disabled voters, often due to inaccessible polling places. Many elderly people and non-native English speakers also experience barriers to voting. I’m asking [NAME] to co-sponsor the Accessible Voting Act of 2020 (S.3206), which will provide resources to address these issues at the state and local levels.

Starving for Justice in ICE Detention

For immigrants languishing behind bars, a hunger strike is often the sole remaining means of protest against a dehumanizing and unjust system.

Call: ICE Field Director William Joyce at (504) 599-7800*

*Calls may not go through, so consider writing the above at 30-35 Hackensack Avenue, Kearny, NJ 07032

Call: Deputy ICE Field Director Caridad Cephas-Kimbrough at (504) 599-7889

Script: I am calling to make two demands regarding the LaSalle Detention Facility asylum seekers who are hunger striking to reclaim their dignity and basic freedom. First, stop subjecting them to force-feeding or force-hydration, a human rights violation that defies medical ethical guidelines and basic decency. Second, release them immediately to receive urgent medical attention and be with their loved ones while their legal asylum cases are proceeding. Thank you.

Stop Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act S-2669

The SHIELD Act creates a duty on US candidates to report illicit offers of campaign assistance from foreign governments and their agents. The act helps prevent foreign interference in our future elections by improving the transparency of online political advertisements.

The SHIELD Act would require political campaigns, parties and political committees to report attempts by foreign governments, political parties and their agents to influence elections. The reports would go to authorities at the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The SHEILD Act would also help prevent foreign interference in future elections by ensuring that political ads sold online are covered by the same rules as ads sold on TV, radio and satellite.

The legislation would close loopholes that allow foreign nationals and foreign governments to spend in U.S. elections by prohibiting them from participating in decision-making about campaign contributions or expenditures. The SHIELD Act bans the offering of non-public campaign material to foreign governments and those linked with foreign governments and their agents as an illegal solicitation of support.

Finally, the bill prohibits anyone from providing false information about voting rules and qualifications for voting, provides mechanisms for disseminating correct information, and establishes strong penalties for voter intimidation.

Call Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

Dial (507) 288-5321 or (218) 287-2219

Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling to get a message to both Senators Roy Blunt and Amy Klobuchar in their capacity as Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. I want “both” of the Senators to take immediate steps to move the Stop Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act S-2669 out of committee and to get this important bill to the Senate floor for further action. Our 2020 Election Day is less than one year away, and we desperately need the critical safeguards outlined in this legislation. Thank you.

Investigate Department of Justice’s decision to reduce Stone’s sentencing recommendation

WHEN YOU LEAVE A MESSAGE: Please leave your full name, street address and phone number so your call will be counted!

Call: Senate Judiciary Committee (Ranking Member’s office) (202) 224-3841 or (415)-393-0707

Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___].

I’m calling to get a message to both Senators Lindsey Graham and Dianne Feinstein in their capacity as Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I want both Senators Graham and Feinstein to use the power of the Judiciary committee to launch an investigation into when, why, and how the Department of Justice decided to reduce the original Roger Stone sentencing recommendation that was filed with the court. The investigation should specifically determine whether the reduction in the DOJ prison recommendation was influenced by the president and other inappropriate political factors. The senators should also publicly demand that the DOJ Inspector General launch the same investigation in the DOJ. Thank you.

Call: House Judiciary Committee Dial 202-225-3951 or (202) 225-5635

Suggested Script: Hello. My [Name is __]. My [Address and ZIP is __]. My [Phone number is __]. I’m calling to get a message to “both” Representatives Jerry Nadler and Doug Collins in their capacity as Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee. I want “both” representatives to use the power of the Judiciary committee to launch an investigation into when, why, and how the Department of Justice decided to reduce the original Roger Stone sentencing recommendation that was filed with the court. The investigation should specifically determine whether the reduction in the DOJ prison recommendation was influenced by the president and other inappropriate political factors. The senators should also publicly demand that the DOJ Inspector General launch the same investigation in the DOJ. Thank you.

Call the House Oversight Committee Dial (202) 225-5051 or (202) 225-7944

Suggested Script: Hello. My [Name is __]. My [Address and ZIP is __]. My [Phone number is __]. I’m calling to get a message to “both” Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Jim Jordan in their capacity as Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee. I want “both” representatives to use the power of the Oversight committee to launch an investigation into when, why, and how the Department of Justice decided to reduce the original Roger Stone sentencing recommendation that was filed with the court. The investigation should specifically determine whether the reduction in the DOJ prison recommendation was influenced by the president and other inappropriate political factors. The representatives should also publicly demand that the DOJ Inspector General launch the same investigation.

THANK PATRIOTS OF IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION

Call Senate Intelligence Committee (202) 224-1700 or (Ranking Member’s office) 202-224-2023

Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling to get a message to both Senators Richard Burr and Mark Warner in their capacity as Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. I want both Senators Burr and Warner to introduce and support a resolution to thank the patriots (like Marie Yovanovitch, Alexander Vindman, Fiona Hill, Bill Taylor, Kurt Volker, Michael McKinley and others) who testified credibly during the house and senate impeachment proceedings. Please do something to recognize them for their courage, for raising red flags when that was needed, for defying significant White House obstruction and for giving honest, compelling and consistent testimony to support our democracy. Let’s tell them all, well done, and you made us proud. Thank you.

Call Senate Judiciary Committee (Ranking Member’s office) (202) 224-3841 or (415)-393-0707

Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling to get a message to both Senators Lindsey Graham and Dianne Feinstein in their capacity as Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I want both Senators Graham and Feinstein to introduce and support a resolution to thank the patriots (like Marie Yovanovitch, Alexander Vindman, Fiona Hill, Bill Taylor, Kurt Volker, Michael McKinley and others) who testified credibly during the house and senate impeachment proceedings. Please do something to recognize them for their courage, for raising red flags when that was needed, for defying significant White House obstruction and for giving honest, compelling and consistent testimony to support our democracy. Let’s tell them all, well done, and you made us proud. Thank you.

Call Senate Committee on Rules and Administration (Ranking Member’s office) (218) 287-2219

Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling to get a message to both Senators Roy Blunt and Amy Klobuchar in their capacity as Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. I want both Senators Blunt and Klobuchar to introduce and support a resolution to thank the patriots (like Marie Yovanovitch, Alexander Vindman, Fiona Hill, Bill Taylor, Kurt Volker, Michael McKinley and others) who testified credibly during the house and senate impeachment proceedings. Please do something to recognize them for their courage, for raising red flags when that was needed, for defying significant White House obstruction and for giving honest, compelling and consistent testimony to support our democracy. Let’s tell them all, well done, and you made us proud. Thank you.

Call the House Judiciary Committee Dial 202-225-3951 or (202) 225-5635

Suggested Script: Hello. My [Name is __]. My [Address and ZIP is __]. My [Phone number is __]. I’m calling to get a message to “both” Representatives Jerry Nadler and Doug Collins in their capacity as Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee. I want “both” representatives to introduce and support a resolution to thank the patriots (like Marie Yovanovitch, Alexander Vindman, Fiona Hill, Bill Taylor, Kurt Volker, Michael McKinley and others) who testified credibly during the house and senate impeachment proceedings. Please do something to recognize them for their courage, for raising red flags when that was needed, for defying significant White House obstruction and for giving honest, compelling and consistent testimony to support our democracy. Let’s tell them all, well done, and you made us proud. Thank you.

Call the House Intelligence Committee Dial (202) 225-7690 or (202) 225-4176

Suggested Script: Hello. My [Name is __]. My [Address and ZIP is __]. My [Phone number is __]. I’m calling to get a message to “both” Representatives Adam Schiff and Devin Nunes in their capacity as Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee. I want “both” representatives to introduce and support a resolution to thank the patriots (like Marie Yovanovitch, Alexander Vindman, Fiona Hill, Bill Taylor, Kurt Volker, Michael McKinley and others) who testified credibly during the house and senate impeachment proceedings. Please do something to recognize them for their courage, for raising red flags when that was needed, for defying significant White House obstruction and for giving honest, compelling and consistent testimony to support our democracy. Let’s tell them all, well done, and you made us proud. Thank you.

Call the House Oversight Committee Dial (202) 225-5051 or (202) 225-7944

Suggested Script: Hello. My [Name is __]. My [Address and ZIP is __]. My [Phone number is __]. I’m calling to get a message to “both” Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Jim Jordan in their capacity as Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the House Oversight Committee. I want “both” representatives to introduce and support a resolution to thank the patriots (like Marie Yovanovitch, Alexander Vindman, Fiona Hill, Bill Taylor, Kurt Volker, Michael McKinley and others) who testified credibly during the house and senate impeachment proceedings. Please do something to recognize them for their courage, for raising red flags when that was needed, for defying significant White House obstruction and for giving honest, compelling and consistent testimony to support our democracy. Let’s tell them all, well done, and you made us proud. Thank you.

Pass the Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act

The SAFE Act establishes requirements for voting systems, including that systems (1) use individual, durable, voter-verified paper ballots; (2) make a voter's marked ballot available for inspection and verification by the voter before the vote is cast; (3) ensure that individuals with disabilities are given an equivalent opportunity to vote, including with privacy and independence, in a manner that produces a voter-verified paper ballot; (4) be manufactured in the United States; and (5) meet specified cybersecurity requirements, including the prohibition of the connection of a voting system to the internet.

Call Senate Committee on Rules and Administration: Dial (507) 288-5321 or (218) 287-2219

Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is ________]. My address [including ZIP is _____]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling to get a message to “both” Senators Roy Blunt and Amy Klobuchar in their capacity as Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. I want “both” of the Senators to move the “Securing America’s Federal Election’s (SAFE) Act” out of committee and to the Senate floor for further action.