Hi, all, and happy Tuesday!
I’ll make this quick. I’m tired. My computer died unexpectedly yesterday and it felt a bit like losing an arm. I’m so dependent on it for everything…I’m sure many of you will understand.
As a result of this I’m also a bit behind on the current state of play. But it sounds like Democrats are edging towards a deal. The progressives have declared they’re willing to lower their price tag to 2.5 trillion, which isn’t all we wanted but is still a decent chunk of change. It’s good to remember that we can always add more money to these programs later—they key is to get them launched. With that amount of money we should be able to.
So we’ll keep fighting to get this package passed. I believe we can.
Remember, hope is as action. So if we want to FEEL hopeful, we need to act like it. Let’s do that now by making our quick calls.
P.S. I have to buy a new laptop. As this is a big expense for an activist whose income is very modest I have launched a Go Fund Me to help defray the expense. Zero pressure, but if you CAN and you feel like supporting this cause in any amount I’d be most grateful. And so would my kid, whose laptop I’m currently borrowing to get this newsletter out. 😂
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
First, I support providing a pathway to citizenship for essential workers, DACA recipients, TPS holders, farmworkers, and all essential workers. This is something that should be included in the Build Back Better plan.
Second, so far this year, as a result of the climate crisis: nearly 1 in 3 Americans experienced an extreme weather disaster this summer, 25,441 total high temperature records have been set, 6 million acres have burned, 200 million acres of crops are dwindling in drought, 1 billion sea creatures died, $29 billion has been spent managing these crises.
The cost of the climate crisis to our way of life and our communities is incalculable. This is CODE RED. We have to act quickly and aggressively to address it. [If Democrat add:] The Build Back Better package must be passed now. There are no second chances. The cost is nothing compared with what the cost of inaction will be.
[If Democrat add:] One more thing: With his threats to crash the economy Mitch McConnell is once again making an excellent case for Senate Democrats to finally eliminate the filibuster as a weapon he can keep using to derail President Biden’s agenda. Please abolish it now. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
First, I support providing a pathway to citizenship for essential workers, DACA recipients, TPS holders, farmworkers, and all essential workers. This is something that should be included in current legislation.
Second, so far this year, as a result of the climate crisis: nearly 1 in 3 Americans experienced an extreme weather disaster this summer, 25,441 total high temperature records have been set, 6 million acres have burned, 200 million acres of crops are dwindling in drought, 1 billion sea creatures died, $29 billion has been spent managing these crises.
The cost of the climate crisis to our way of life and our communities is incalculable. This is CODE RED. We have to act quickly and aggressively to address it. [If Democrat add:] The Build Back Better package must be passed now. There are no second chances. The cost is nothing compared with what the cost of inaction will be.
Extra Credit
The White House comment line is open today, tomorrow and Thursday from 11-3 EDT. Please try calling at 1 (202) 456-1111 and saying the below, but if you don’t get through you can also send it as a letter here (H/T):
I’m sure you know that a large oil spill has continued to spread across the coastal waters of Southern California, shutting down miles of beaches, closing the region’s busiest leisure port, and threatening wetlands and wildlife. This accident has so far poured as much as 144,000 gallons of oil into the waters and onto the shorelines of Newport Beach and Huntington Beach. And it’s just one more example of how disastrous oil and gas extraction is for humans on every front.
As we speak the Line 3 pipeline has begun carrying oil across thousands of miles, including over and through hundreds of lakes and rivers. You’re the only one who can stop it. Please, be the climate leader you promised to be and shut down Line 3 before disaster strikes again.
Then steer this country away from the use of oil and gas forever. It’s killing us, killing wildlife, and killing the planet. Thanks.
Get on the Phones! ☎️
The Virginia elections are rapidly approaching, and turnout is critical -- especially in communities whose vote has been traditionally suppressed.
Join the Center For Common Ground as they make calls to get out the vote for communities of color, and help folks choose their most convenient way of voting - voting early!
By expanding turnout, we are helping to permanently increase the level of civic participation within communities, resulting in more power and more resources sent to areas that have been ignored in the past.
Sign up here for a Tuesday (today!) 6-8 PM EDT guided phone bank -- these will include training for beginners, and a supportive group of volunteers making calls with you when you are ready to rock!
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[to your Senators] [H/T]
I am writing today as your constituent to urge you to vote YES to pass the Equality Act.
Equality works when we all have it.
In 2021, more than 140 bills were brought in 33 states to limit the rights of LGBTQ+ youth and transgender youth in particular. As we speak, protesters are storming school board meetings across the country to eliminate clubs and books for LGBTQ+ students.
In this country, lawmakers have laid the burden of discrimination on children. Yet because youth are incredibly resilient, students from Ruby Bridges to the late Congressman John Lewis to Gavin Grimm are the standard bearers for equality.
The persistence, resistance and insistence of youth demands that the Senate pass the Equality Act.
The Equality Act assures LGBTQ+ people would be protected from discrimination in education, housing, federal programs, and more. It also adds sex as a protected class, and clarifies that sex includes sexual orientation and gender identity. Plus, it names more places where discrimination is not allowed. This includes people who are already protected by the Civil Rights Act.
It is time for equality for everyone, everywhere at all times.
Please do the right thing and vote YES when the Equality Act comes to the Senate floor for a vote! Thanks!
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk tomorrow.
Jess
I have received a most eloquent email from Anna Eshoo about the Build Back Better Act; would like to email it to you -- not post here; but cannot figure out how to do that.