Chop Wood, carry Water 4/18

Hi, all, and happy Monday!

We’re back from Yosemite; my tank is re-filled. Thanks for your patience while I unplugged for a few days. It was incredibly restorative. There’s nothing like spending time in a landscape both vertiginously larger and massively older than oneself to help put things in perspective.

If you haven’t done something similar recently I recommend it, if at all possible.

We all know these are more difficult times than normal. Acknowledging the stress, caring for ourselves accordingly, AND then returning to do the work again are all imperative.

The stakes of our fight are incredibly high. The battle will be long.

Staying in top shape is critical. Let’s all remember that.

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

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

First, I want the Senator to vote to pass the Protecting America’s Meatpacking Workers Act (S. 3285) to ensure meat and poultry workers have essential protections. [H/T]

Second, I want him/her to vote to pass The Right Whale Coexistence Act (S.3664). [Optional add:] This bill would begin to address the enormous threats to this species by authorizing $15 million annually from 2022-2032 in new funding to develop, test, and implement innovative technologies and other strategies to reduce the risk of entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes. Thanks. [H/T]

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

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

First, I’d like the Congressmember to vote to pass the Protecting America’s Meatpacking Workers Act (H.R. 6250) to ensure meat and poultry workers have essential protections. [H/T]

Second, I want him/her to vote to pass The Right Whale Coexistence Act (H.R. 6785). [Optional add:] This bill would begin to address the enormous threats to this species by authorizing $15 million annually from 2022-2032 in new funding to develop, test, and implement innovative technologies and other strategies to reduce the risk of entanglement in fishing gear and vessel strikes. Thanks. [H/T]

Extra Credit ✅

Send this to President Biden via his e-mail form (please personalize!) [H/T]

I am writing today to ask you to use your existing legal authorities to dramatically lower costs of essential drugs like insulin, drugs that reverse opioid overdoses, hepatitis C drugs, HIV/AIDS drugs, cancer treatments, EpiPens, asthma inhalers, and COVID-19 treatments via executive action. Millions of people are counting on you.

One in four Americans struggles to afford the medication they need to stay healthy and alive. We know that people of color disproportionately bear this burden. And we also know that at the same time, Big Pharma continues to drive up prices, for no other reason than to pad their pockets.

Congress knows how important action on this issue is; I am pleased to see the Congressional Progressive Caucus continue to fight for strong reforms to lower prescription drugs in the reconciliation bill. However, you also have the authority to unilaterally lower drug prices right now. We need both legislative and executive action to meaningfully save patients money and get them the medicines they need! Please do this now! Thanks.

Register Voters!

From Tucson to Pittsburgh, from Phoenix to Philadelphia, and from Milwaukee to Cleveland, fewer than 20% of 18 year olds are registered to vote. 😳 If graduation passes and these numbers don't shift dramatically, then millions of young people will be unable to vote in November.

The Civics Center is getting prepared for high school graduation season and asking all high school seniors to register to vote before graduation (or to pledge or preregister to vote if they are not yet eligible to register).

They’re holding a workshop on Tuesday, April 19, at 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET to go over how volunteers can get involved in this nonpartisan campaign. Volunteers can register for the meeting here. PLEASE HELP!

Win Races! 🗳

I’ll be at Environmental Voter Project’s phonebank today, Monday, April 18, at 3PM PT / 6:00 PM ET. We’ll be calling low propensity environmental voters in Tucson, AZ ahead of their May 17th Municipal Special Election! (Think these elections don’t matter? Check out this new research on the effects down ballot races have on UP BALLOT races.)

All you need to participate is a (landline, cell, or internet-based) phone, web-enabled computer or tablet, and yourself! Training provided!

Hope to see you there! Register here.

Resistbot Text (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.)

[to all 3 reps] [H/T] [Quick send text SIGN PNRQJC to 50409]

I’m writing because I’m alarmed and appalled to see the President moving to enable more oil and gas drilling, not less, on public lands in a misguided attempt to address rising gas prices. We know this won’t work. Oil and gas companies are making record profits—they are capable of getting prices under control; they are simply choosing not to.

Dialing back our commitment to climate action, when we know more than ever how much trouble we’re in, is insane.

This is an emergency. Please, we MUST take the urgent action needed to tackle the climate emergency and secure real energy independence now by investing in a strong domestic clean energy sector. A clean energy economy will lower costs for families; create good-paying, family-supporting jobs; reduce emissions at the rate science demands; and secure our independence from unreliable and unpredictable forces beyond our control.

There is no option for inaction on the climate crisis. The future of our economy, our planet, and our lives — our children’s lives — is in your hands. 

Thank you.

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

Talk tomorrow.

Jess