Chop Wood, Carry Water 12/6

Because hope is an action

Hi, all, and happy Monday!

Exciting weekend for me. I fell in our crumbling driveway on Saturday and broke and dislocated my wrist. With my husband out of town, no less! I spent a very painful four hours at the ER—to which I was driven by a neighbor—and I’m at the orthopedic surgeon now finding out whether or not I will need surgery. [Update: He thinks I do. I’ll be getting a second opinion this afternoon]. Good times!

The excellent news is that I fell on my left wrist, so I can still sort of type. I can also make phone calls! And I intend to continue doing both until we get some bills passed and we can take a real break for the holidays.

The other good news? According to a Dear Colleague letter Senator Schumer sent just this morning, he does intend to try to pack as much into the next week—legislatively speaking—as possible. So let's keep the pressure on.

Pardon me for being a bit briefer than usual. But the calls are as important as ever. Let’s get to work!

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.

First, I want the Senate to pass (S.1975) the Women’s Health Protection Act right now. We must codify a pregnant person’s right to choose! I also support (S.1141) the Judiciary Act, and want the Senator to co-sponsor it. And I want the Freedom to Vote Act to be passed right away—before the Senate goes on recess.

[to Dems only] Lastly, I know that the Build Back Better Act, as it’s now comprised, would provide protection for 7.1 million undocumented immigrants, 1.6 million Dreamers, 360,000 TPS holders, 1 million farmworkers, and 2.6 million essential workers. Please make sure all of this stays in the bill, and please pass it as soon as possible! Thanks.

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.

The vote on the 2022 budget appropriations bill is quickly approaching. I’m calling to urge support for including the $6 million in funding for Postal Banking pilot programs that’s currently in it. This is one of several critical components to saving the Postal Service and also helping lower income Americans.

Also, has the Congressmember yet made a statement demanding that Lauren Boebert be censured and have her committees stripped? [if yes thank. If no add:] the American people are tired of the hateful rhetoric and incivility. She's crossed the line and there need to be consequences. Thank you.

Extra Credit

Please consider posting this on social:

Well look at that! @AidAccessUSA (aidaccess.org) will now send medication abortion pills to anyone--even if they're not yet pregnant!

Seems like news that should be shared widely! 🤷🏽‍♀️

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/13/opinion/abortion-pills-texas-prescription-doctors.html

Get Educated!

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, the fate of abortion access will come down to who holds power in state legislatures.

Join the amazing States Project (formerly Future Now Fund) to learn how you can help build majorities that will protect choice. This will be a really productive webinar—highly recommend.

Dec 7, 2021 08:00 PM EST. Register here.

Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here!)

[to your House reps][H/T]

No president, regardless of party, should be able to line their pockets, ignore Congress, or exploit loopholes to pursue corrupt, personal agendas.

Passing the Protecting Our Democracy Act (PODA) would make sure that no president is above the law. PODA includes sweeping reforms -- that traditionally have earned bipartisan support—to restore checks and balances and prevent future presidents from abusing their power. It would end self-serving pardons, prevent presidents from profiting from office, and ensure presidents can be prosecuted for wrongdoing. It would protect the Department of Justice from political interference from the White House and defend our elections against foreign interference by enhancing criminal penalties for seeking support from foreign actors.

Finally, PODA would strengthen congressional subpoenas and ensure that Congress has the ability to be an effective check on the presidency, something that Republicans and Democrats should be able to agree on. No president, regardless of party, should be able to obstruct and undermine the people’s representatives in Congress or exploit weaknesses in our political system to pursue corrupt, personal agendas.

I urge you to pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act so that we can prevent a corrupt president of any party from abusing the power of their office.

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OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.

Talk tomorrow.

Jess