ACTIONS OF THE MONTH - MARCH 2021

Action #1 - Restore voting rights to returning citizens

Call: Sen. Warren Springfield 413-788-2690 DC 202-224-4543; Sen. Markey Springfield 413-785-4610 DC 202-224-2742

Script: Hi, I’m calling from [full address ZIP] because I’m part of the bipartisan majority of Americans who believe that citizens who have served their full sentences should have the right to vote. The Democracy Restoration Act would establish a uniform standard for allowing those with criminal convictions to vote, and is endorsed by civil rights and criminal justice reform groups. Can I count on [NAME] to cosponsor and vote for S. 481? Thank you.

Action #2 - Support DC Statehood

BACKGROUND: Residents of Washington DC pay federal taxes but don’t have Senators or Representatives to vote on issues affecting them. DC has a larger population than both Vermont and Wyoming. After the deadly insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6th, Mayor Bowser requested aid from the National Guard but was denied and delayed because the Pentagon, not the Mayor oversees the District’s forces

ACTION: Call Senators Warren and Markey and Representative McGovern and urge them to support HR 51/Senate S. 51 making DC the 51st State of the Union. Support Voting Rights Act (HR1 in the House, S 1 in the Senate)

Script:

Hi, my name is [NAME]. I’m your constituent. My address is [ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE]. My phone number is [NUMBER]. Tonight I’m calling to urge [Senator/Congressman] to make the District of Columbia the 51st State of the Union. The January 6th coup attempt makes it clear that issues like the inability of city leaders to protect the District in emergencies, let alone taxation without representation, is unacceptable.

Action #3 - Please Send Emails to “5 Calls” and to Jen Hoffman urging them to add the following actions to the list of actions they send to citizens across the country this week.

To: make5calls@gmail.com

Subject: Please consider this request

To the “5 Calls” team:

I work with a group of dedicated people in Western Massachusetts (Valley Action Group) who actively participate in our democracy to make it better. We use the information you list every week to keep informed and to educate us on things we can do to impact our issues of concern. At this moment we are very concerned about the disinformation and lack of transparency regarding social media control over the flow of information to Americans. We view it as a significant root cause of the deepening divisions and growing political dysfunction in our country.

I am asking you to consider adding the following to the list of actions that you suggest citizens in the US take.

1- watch “The Social Dilemma” to understand the problems

2- call your representatives and senators to demand transparency from these companies and protections against disinformation.

Sample script: I am deeply concerned about how disinformation and the lack of transparency around how companies like Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp and others like them, control the flow of information to many American citizens. The disinformation is causing widespread and growing divisions and discord in our country. I want you to support legislation that protects citizens from disinformation campaigns and forces social media companies to be transparent about how they determine what we are exposed to in our media feeds, and why we are being targeted to receive certain information. Thank you for your consideration.

Cut and paste the same message “To the Jen Hofmann Team” at: jen@jenniferhofmann.com

Action #4 - Support United States Postal Service and work to oust Louis DeJoy

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate re-introduced the bi-partisan USPS Fairness Act (S. 145 and H.R. 695). This legislation would repeal the onerous prefunding of retiree health care benefits which Congress required when it passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) in 2006. This law, forced the Postal Service to prefund its retiree health care benefits 75 years in advance, paying for retirement health care for individuals who had not been born yet, let alone enter the workforce. The pre-funding mandate is accountable for 92 percent of the Postal Service’s net losses since 2007 and is a constant threat to the financial sustainability of the Postal Service. The USPS Fairness Act would return the Postal Service to the procedures in place prior to the PAEA, utilizing a pay-as-you-go method for retiree benefits, the standard practice across federal agencies and private businesses.

The 2020 appointment of Louis DeJoy as Postmaster General has had devastating effects on the Postal Service. Due to the structure of the oversight of the Postal Service by a Board of Governors (sitting 9 members), presidents can only affect the Postmaster General position by his/her appointment of governors, which Trump did in 2020. In turn, President Biden cannot simply fire DeJoy, but must rather work within the governor system set up by Congress. President Biden recently nominated three Democrats to fill three empty seats on the Board of Governors (Nine seats total, max of 5 for any given party). The Senate needs to confirm these quickly.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Democratic Party is hoping to use the Postal Service to support voting rights groups, and to expand vote-by-mail access as a firewall against Republican state legislatures that have introduced bills to do the opposite. For this reason, it’s important to gain Democratic majority in the Board of Governors.

IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: Please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.

Calls:

Senator Elizabeth Warren Springfield 413-788-2690 DC 202-224-4543

Senator Ed Markey Springfield 413-785-4610 DC 202-224-2742

Congressman Jim McGovern Northampton 413-341-8700 DC 202-225-6101

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent and my address is [address] and telephone number [number]. I’m calling in support of the US Postal Service. DeJoy’s internal changes have slowed mail including paychecks, bills, and prescription drug mail orders. These changes hurt citizens and loyal postal workers, and risked elections. I am asking for two things: one, to urge a solution to oust DeJoy and second, to eliminate the burden of pre-funding USPS retirement by cosponsoring the USPS Fairness Act [S. 145/H.R. 695]. Thank you.

Extra calls: Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee – overseeing the confirmation process for the three Biden nominations to the Board of Governors.

Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Chair, DC (202) 224-6221 Michigan: (313) 226-6020

Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member, DC (202) 224-3353 Ohio: (614) 469-6774

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a US citizen calling because of your position on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. I’m calling to urge support for a speedy confirmation process for President Biden’s three US Postal Service Board of Governor nominees. We need to get qualified nominees in these seats who will work with Congress to ensure the Postal Service is focused on strong service performance for all of our citizens. My address is [address] and telephone number [number].

Action #5 - Support Voting Rights Act (HR1 in the House, S 1 in the Senate)

The For the People Act (HR 1, S1) would expand and protect this most fundamental right and bring voting into the 21st century.

• Modernize Voter Registration

• Automatic Voter Registration

• Same-Day and Online Registration

• Protect Against Flawed Purges

• Restore the Voting Rights Act

• Restore Voting Rights to People with Prior Convictions

• Strengthen Mail Voting Systems

• Institute Nationwide Early Voting

• Protect Against Deceptive Practices

Read More at the Brennan Institute for Justice: (Read more at the Brennan Institute for Justice

Contact:

Script: For the People Act (HR 1, S1) would expand and protect this most fundamental right and bring voting into the 21st century.

Background: The health and strength of democracy has been weakened by years of voter suppression, partisan Gerrymandering and dark money in politics. Democracy reform must be a priority. Democrats have introduced sweeping legislation [HR 1 and Senate 1] aimed at addressing the years of erosion of our democracy by shoring up voting rights, reforming campaign finance, and heightening ethical standards. Examples include.

• Modernize Voter Registration

• Automatic Voter Registration

• Same-Day and Online Registration

• Protect Against Flawed Purges

• Restore the Voting Rights Act

• Restore Voting Rights to People with Prior Convictions

• Strengthen Mail Voting Systems

• Institute Nationwide Early Voting

• Protect Against Deceptive Practices

Read More at the Brennan Institute for Justice: (Read more at the Brennan Institute for Justice)

WHO TO CALL:

Sen. Warren Springfield 413-788-2690 DC 202-224-4543

Sen. Markey Springfield 413-785-4610 DC 202-224-2742

Rep. McGovern Northampton 413-341-8700 DC 202-225-6101

SCRIPT:

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent and my address is [address] and telephone number [number]. I’m calling to express my support for [H.R. 1/S. 1] the For the People Act and urge [Representative/ Congressman] to work to swiftly pass this legislation. Addressing corruption, protecting voting rights, and reforming campaign finance should be a bipartisan priorities to make our democracy better for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. Thank you for your time and attention.

Action #6 - Support LGBTQ Rights with Equality Act of 2021 - Passed House- Need Senate

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects people from discrimination based on race, skin color, sex, religion, and national origin, but it does not protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Thus, in the 29 states without robust LGBTQ anti-discrimination laws, LGBTQ people can legally be fired, harassed at work, barred from businesses, denied housing, and more because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The Equality Act will provide necessary national-level protections for LGBTQ people by updating existing laws, like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, to explicitly ban discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The law would also revise the Civil Rights Act to ban sex-based discrimination in public spaces and services, such as retail stores, pharmacies, and transit, as well as in federally funded programs. On February 25, with a final vote of 224 to 206, the House passed the Equality Act, with three Republicans joining all Democrats voting for the legislation. The bill now moves to be Senate for consideration.

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 support the Equality Act. LGBTQ people still face significant violence and discrimination at the workplace, in the housing market, and in everyday interactions. Civil rights protections must be expanded to include gender identity and sexual orientation as protected characteristics. The House of Representatives responded courageously by passing the Equity Act. Now, I want the Senate to move with similar boldness and urgency to do the same. Thank you.

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

Suggested Script: Hello. My name is ___. My address (including zip code) is ___. My phone number is ___. I am calling Senator Warren to urge her to support the Equality Act. LGBTQ people still face significant violence and discrimination at the workplace, in the housing market, and in everyday interactions. Civil rights protections must be expanded to include gender identity and sexual orientation as protected characteristics. The House of Representatives responded courageously by passing the Equity Act. Now, I want the Senate to move with similar boldness and urgency to do the same. 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’m calling Senator Markey to urge him to support the Equality Act. LGBTQ people still face significant violence and discrimination at the workplace, in the housing market, and in everyday interactions. Civil rights protections must be expanded to include gender identity and sexual orientation as protected characteristics. The House of Representatives responded courageously by passing the Equity Act. Now, I want the Senate to move with similar boldness and urgency to do the same. Thank you.

Action #7 - Begin the Release of Migrant Families from Detention and End Child Separation

The new Biden administration is poised to quickly undo and end the most egregious and harmful policies of the Trump administration. The most heinous among these is the inhumane separation of children from their family and the unending detention of families seeking refuge in the United States. Demand that your representative support measures that begin the process of reuniting children with their parents or caregivers and releases families from ICE detention.

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 support measures to end the detention of migrant families. Alternative methods, such as the Family Case Management Program, have already proven successful and cost effective. Congress must work with the Biden administration to fund and implement these methods instead of inhumane detention. Thank you.

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

Suggested Script: Hello. My name is ___. My address (including zip code) is ___. My phone number is ___. I am calling Senator Warren to urge her to support measures to end the detention of migrant families. Alternative methods, such as the Family Case Management Program, have already proven successful and cost effective. Congress must work with the Biden administration to fund and implement these methods instead of inhumane detention. 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’m calling Senator Markey to urge him to support measures to end the detention of migrant families. Alternative methods, such as the Family Case Management Program, have already proven successful and cost effective. Congress must work with the Biden administration to fund and implement these methods instead of inhumane detention. Thank you.

Representative Jim McGovern (413-341-8700) or (202-225-6101)

Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Representative McGovern to urge him to support measures to end the detention of migrant families. Alternative methods, such as the Family Case Management Program, have already proven successful and cost effective. Congress must work with the Biden administration to fund and implement these methods instead of inhumane detention.