Actions of the Month for November
A bill to establish a Global Climate Change Resilience Strategy- S.2565
According to the United Nations, by 2050, there may be as many as 200 million climate-displaced persons worldwide. As populations continue to experience climate-induced disruptions, including weather-related disasters, drought, famine, and rising sea levels, Senator Ed Markey introduced legislation (S.2565) to create both a global climate resilience strategy and a new humanitarian program for those who have been displaced by environmental disasters or climate change. Climate-displaced persons often lack any formal protection under domestic or international law. Many individuals do not meet the definition of refugee under U.S. law, and as such, they cannot access resettlement opportunities in the United States. The humanitarian program for climate-displaced persons will function separate from the U.S. refugee admissions program, but will afford the same benefits. The legislation is endorsed by Foreign Policy for America, Human Rights First, Oxfam, International Rescue Committee, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Church World Service, Refugees International, International Refugee Assistance Project, National Partnership for New Americans, and Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA).
Call Senator Elizabeth Warren- Springfield 413-788-2690 DC 202-224-4543
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling because I want Senator Warren to support S-2565, which is Senator Markey’s bill that would create both a global climate resilience strategy and a new humanitarian program for those who have been displaced by environmental disasters or climate change. I want Senator Warren to act on this important issue that requires her immediate attention by supporting Senator Markey’s bill. Thank you.
Call Senate Foreign Relations Committee - Dial (202) 224-4651
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 James Risch and Bob Menendez in their capacity as Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I want “both” Senators to support S-2565, the bill that would create both a global climate resilience strategy and a new humanitarian program for those who have been displaced by environmental disasters or climate change. I want the senators to act on this important issue that requires their immediate attention by supporting Senator Markey’s bill. 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 SHIELD 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 move the Stop Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy (SHIELD) Act S-2669 out of committee and 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.
Keep America Safe Act- S-447
This bill establishes a new criminal offense for the import, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device (LCAFD). Studies have shown what is plainly obvious to the vast majority of Americans: large capacity magazines make it easier to kill more people, and they serve virtually no other function. One analysis of mass casualty shootings between 1982 and 2012 found that large capacity ammunition magazines were recovered in over half of these incidents. And, on average, their use caused twice as many fatalities, and 14 times as many injuries. Without question, it is long overdue to ban these instruments of death. Congress has considered and enacted legislation like the Keep America Safe Act before. In 1994, Congress banned the possession or transfer of magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. Just as this bill does, those who possessed magazines on or before the date of enactment that exceeded 10 rounds were ‘grandfathered in’ and they could continue to possess the banned magazines. The 1994 prohibition was extremely successful, but it had a deadly flaw; it contained a sunset provision, and in 2004, the federal ban expired. Since the expiration of this law in 2004, the use of high-capacity magazines in crime guns has grown substantially, with tragic results. For example, in Virginia, when the federal ban was in effect, there was a significant reduction in the share of crime guns equipped with high-capacity magazines, down to an all-time low of 10 percent before the law expired in 2004. But by 2010, the share of Virginia crime guns equipped with high-capacity magazines had more than doubled to 22 percent. Nine states and the District of Columbia regulate high-capacity magazines. States with these laws experience mass shootings at less than half the rate of states without restrictions. And according to a Boston University researcher, ‘Whether a state has a large capacity ammunition magazine ban is the single best predictor of the mass shooting rates in that state.’ The evidence is clear that it is time that we finally re-establish a ban on these deadly devices, and the American people strongly agree. One recent poll shows 70% of Americans support a ban on large-capacity magazines, which underscores the obvious: we must reasonably limit the tool favored by mass casualty shooters.
Call Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: Dial (859) 578-0188 or (270) 781-1673
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___].I’m calling Senator McConnell to ask him to use his authority as Majority Leader to allow a vote on S-447- The Keep America Safe Act. I urge him to allow a vote on this, as well as other sensible common sense gun control bills that are pending to end gun violence. As we know, these efforts are supported by a vast and overwhelming number of Americans. Thank you.
The Paws Act- HR 3103
Many veterans return from deployment suffering from PTSD. This bill directs the Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs to carry out a grant program to make service dogs available to eligible veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, and for other similar purposes. The intent of the bill is to make service dogs more accessible to all veterans who want the companionship of a dog as an alternative additional PTSD treatment option, to help reduce the veteran suicide rate of 20 per day and enable them to reintegrate successfully into society. Currently, the VA does not fund service dogs or recognize the use of service dogs as a viable method to treat PTSD.
Call Rep. McGovern (413) 341-8700 or (202) 225-6101
Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Representative McGovern because I want him to Co-Sponsor HR 3103, the bill to make service dogs more accessible to all veterans who want an alternative additional PTSD treatment option. Access to service dogs will hopefully help reduce the current veteran suicide rate of 20 per day and will help enable our Veterans who suffer from PTSD to more successfully reintegrate into society. Thank you.
Call the House Veteran’s Affairs Committee: Dial: (202) 225-9756 - (202) 225-2305
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 Mark Takano and Dr. Phil Roe in their capacity as Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Veteran’s Affairs Committee. I want “both” representatives to support HR 3103, the bill to make service dogs more accessible to all veterans who want an alternative additional PTSD treatment option. Access to service dogs will hopefully help reduce the current veteran suicide rate of 20 per day and will help enable our Veterans who suffer from PTSD to more successfully reintegrate into society. This important bill to support our Veterans should be moved out of committee for a vote. Thank you.
Call the House Armed Services Committee: Dial: (202) 225-4151
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 Smith and Mac Thornberry in their capacity as Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Armed Services. I want “both” representatives to support HR 3103, the bill to make service dogs more accessible to all veterans who want an alternative additional PTSD treatment option. Access to service dogs will hopefully help reduce the current veteran suicide rate of 20 per day and will help enable our Veterans who suffer from PTSD to more successfully reintegrate into society. This important bill to support our Veterans should be moved out of committee for a vote. Thank you.
Keep Big Tech Out of Finance Act- HR-4813
The House Financial Services Committee is considering legislation that would block large online platforms (like Facebook or Google) from entering the financial services and banking industry. The bill would also stop them from launching a cryptocurrency. The bill is intended to maintain a firewall between private “for profit” commerce and banking. It is also intended to prevent for profit “tech companies” from establishing alternative financial currency that the tech companies would control, with little government oversight. The bill also hopes to curb the instability cryptocurrencies might create for the U.S. dollar.
Call the House Committee on Financial Services Dial (323) 757-8900
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 Maxine Waters and Patrick McHenry in their capacity as Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Financial Services. I want the representatives to support HR-4813 to “Keep the Big Technology Companies out of the Banking and Financial services industries”. We need to protect our banking system, and the preserve the stability of the US Dollar from alternative “crypto-currency” that would be controlled by “for-profit tech companies”, with little government oversight. Thank you.
Call Rep. McGovern (413) 341-8700 or (202) 225-6101
Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Representative McGovern because I want him to Co-Sponsor HR-4813 to “Keep the Big Technology Companies out of the Banking and Financial services industries”. We need to protect our banking system, and preserve the stability of the US Dollar from alternative “crypto-currency” that would be controlled by “for-profit tech companies”, with little government oversight. Thank you.
Call Senator Elizabeth Warren- Springfield 413-788-2690 DC 202-224-4543
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Senator Warren because I want her to sponsor legislation that is essentially identical to [HR 4813] to “Keep the Big Technology Companies out of the Banking and Financial services industries”. We need to protect our banking system, and preserve the stability of the US Dollar from alternative “crypto-currency” that would be controlled by “for-profit tech companies”, with little government oversight. Thank you.
Call Senator Ed Markey- Springfield 413-785-4610 DC 202-224-2742 Boston (617) 565-8519
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Senator Markey because I want him to sponsor legislation that is essentially identical to [HR 4813] to “Keep the Big Technology Companies out of the Banking and Financial services industries”. We need to protect our banking system, and preserve the stability of the US Dollar from alternative “crypto-currency” that would be controlled by “for-profit tech companies”, with little government oversight. Thank you.
Call the Senate Banking Committee Dial (440) 242-4100 or (614) 469-2083
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 Mike Crapo and Sherrod Brown in their capacity as Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee. I want “both” of the senators to sponsor a substantially similar companion bill to [HR 4813] to “Keep the Big Technology Companies out of the Banking and Financial services industries”. We need to protect our banking system, and preserve the stability of the US Dollar from alternative “crypto-currency” that would be controlled by “for-profit tech companies”, with little government oversight. Thank you.
Advocate for equality for LGBTQ+ Americans
Write: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, 601 West Broadway, Room 630, Louisville, KY 40202.
Script: I am writing to express my support for protecting all Americans against discrimination. Majorities in every state support protections for LGBTQ people in housing, public accommodations, and employment. Almost 200 days ago, the House passed bipartisan legislation to ensure these protections federally (HR 5) which currently has 46 Senate cosponsors. As a public servant for all Americans, I ask you to bring the Equality Act (S 788) to the Senate floor for a vote immediately. Thank you.
Advocate for federal Ranked Choice Voting Legislation
Call Rep. McGovern (413) 341-8700 or (202) 225-6101
Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Representative McGovern because I believe congressional elections would be fairer if they used ranked-choice voting. The Ranked Choice Voting Act would encourage civil campaigning and increase voters’ trust in elections. Can I count on [NAME] to cosponsor H.R. 4464? Thank you.
Call Senators Elizabeth Warren- Springfield 413-788-2690 DC 202-224-4543; Senator Ed Markey – Springfield 413-785-4610 DC 202-224-2742
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Senator [Warren/Markey] because I believe elections would be fairer if they used ranked-choice voting. The Ranked Choice Voting Act would encourage civil campaigning and increase voters’ trust in elections. Can I count on [NAME] to introduce companion legislation to ranked choice voting bill H.R. 4464 in the Senate?
Tell PBS to Rebroadcast Impeachment Hearings During Prime-Time
On Friday, PBS announced the network will broadcast the hearings live during the day but during prime-time will only offer the hearings on-demand on its digital platforms. As former PBS journalists Bill Moyers and Michael Winship recently explained, it does not serve our democracy to hide the hearings from people who come home from work to see them but don’t have cable, satellite, and Internet access. If PBS were truly an alternative to corporate networks, it would repeat the hearings in prime-time for the mass audience. Period. These hearings are too important for our democracy to relegate them to lesser known or hard to access platforms. Submit a comment to PBS’s Public Editor at https://www.pbs.org/publiceditor/feedback/
Or write to PBS at: Public Broadcasting Service, 2100 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202