Hi, all, and happy Friday.
I just finished making public comment at my monthly South Coast Air Quality Management District meeting. It was, as always, extremely satisfying, and provided yet another reminder of how impactful and rewarding efforts on a local level feel. Here in Los Angeles our air quality—always bad—is currently appalling. Instead of throwing up my hands or pretending it’s not true, I choose to do something about it.
Every time I take such an action I can feel my own power and sense of hope grow. I suspect you will find the same. Engaging in our communities—and our democracy—in such a hands-on way is very, very satisfying.
It’s also, of course, critical.
So are we tired of working to fix endless broken things? Of course!
But when we start to see those things get fixed, even a little? What a feeling!
Speaking of which, I recommend reading this article about how determined Democrats in the Senate are to get voting rights legislation done before year’s end. Good! We will keep hammering them to pass that—as well as the Women’s Health Protection Act and the Build Back Better Act—before anyone puts on their holiday PJs and goes on break.
I refuse to accept failure or fatal delay. I hope you will, too.
P.S. For the first time ever I got a perfect score on the NYT News Quiz! Want to see if you can, too? Try here.
Call Your Senators (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I’m calling to ask a few things:
First, the Senate needs to Pass the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376) to address the climate catastrophe, help our undocumented population, reduce health care costs, and help families with child and eldercare. It also needs to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act (S.1975) to codify Roe v Wade into law. This should get done before you go on recess.
I’d also like the Senator to support the Remove the Stain Act (S. 1073) to rescind 20 Medals of Honor awarded to the perpetrators of the Wounded Knee massacre. [H/T]
Finally, we must have legislation to protect our freedom to vote. The Senator knows our democracy is under attack. S/he needs to show they take this seriously by pushing Senator Schumer to bring the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act up for a vote BEFORE holiday recess.
[If Democrat add:] Do whatever you have to do to get this done, including filibuster reform. Thanks.
Call Your House Rep (find yours here)
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I want the Congressmember to vote in favor of the Protecting Our Democracy Act (H.R. 5314). [Optional add:] This bill would prevent presidential abuses of power and foreign interference in our elections. It’s the best way to make sure no future administration can do some of the questionable things we’ve seen in the recent past. [H/T]
Also, I’d like them to co-sponsor and pass the bipartisan CISA Leadership Act (H.R. 5186) to mandate a five-year term for the head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Thanks! [H/T]
Extra Credit
Let’s take a great action from Jen Hofman to protect our election workers .
Call or write:
The U.S. Election Assistance Commissioners: Chair Donald L. Palmer, Vice Chair Thomas Hicks, Commissioner Christy McCormick, and Commissioner Benjamin W. Hovland.
USEAC phone: 866-747-1471
USEAC contact form
Script (it’s best if you change it slightly): Hi, I’m a resident of [ZIP] urging all four USEAC Commissioners to follow bipartisan Senate requests to protect election workers from violent threats. Please tell state and local election officials how to use their federal funding, provided by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, to identify and respond to potential threats. Thank you.
Get on the Phones! ☎️
Tomorrow, Saturday the 4th from 12-2 CST Field Team Six, my favorite voter registration org, is running a phonebank into Texas. These are easy calls just trying to get young folks registered! Try it—you’ll love it! They will train you.
Register here.
(If voter registration is something you feel drawn to, by the way, I urge you to sign up for FT6’s email blasts. They have so many great opportunities across the country, and need more volunteers!)
Chop Wood, Give 💰
My friend Emily Barth Isler, author of the wonderful YA book “Aftermath” (about young survivors of a school shooting) is holding a “Books and Beauty raffle” to raise money for Everytown For Gun Safety. I don’t need to tell you what an amazing organization they are, or how badly their work is needed at the moment. If you have any money to spare won’t you consider buying a few dollars worth of tickets here? (The prizes are great!)
Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)
[To your Democratic Senators and President Biden]
[Quick send to Biden: SIGN PRLOWP to 50409. Quick send to Senators: text SIGN PSUCRT to 50409)]
I’m concerned and deeply frustrated that the Senate still plans to go on recess in a week. It’s akin to a doctor walking out of a surgery while the patient is still fighting for their life. This can’t happen!
The Senate needs to stay in session until the critical legislation before you has been passed. I’d like you to use all of your influence to promote this. If we see Senators going home after December 10th and not coming back until January—all while voting rights are being demolished, Americans are losing the constitutional right to an abortion, and major legislation to help America’s working class and address climate change sits on Chuck Schumer’s desk—how do you think Democrats will keep their majorities in 2022?
We have toiled, sacrificed, and donated to get you into office and to win Democrats the ability to legislate—if necessary WITHOUT Republicans. Use it, lest we decline to repeat those efforts in the future.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk Monday!
Jess