Chop Wood, Carry Water 5/18

May 18, 2022

Hi, all, and happy Wednesday!

I am, actually, cautiously happy this AM. One of the Congressional candidates I’ve been doing a lot of phonebanking for, Summer Lee, looks like she won her primary in Pennsylvania last night. This in spite of the millions of dollars her corporate Democratic opponent spent trying to defeat her. He’s a union buster; she’s pro-worker. He’s represented corporate polluters; she’s held them accountable in the Statehouse. Now she’ll be in Congress, where she can become yet one more voice of sanity and strength. YAY!

Also John Fetterman won, which I think is a really good thing.

Also Kurt Schrader, the “Blue Dog” Democrat who singlehandedly blocked Democrats’ attempts to pass lower drug pricing legislation, looks like he lost his primary! Sweet revenge!

And Madison Cawthorn is gone!

All of this is another reminder, as I said rather jubilantly on TikTok this morning, that people power really is more powerful than money. It is! When we fight for candidates we care about we win!

And when we win it feels really, really good.

So let’s do more of that, shall we?

Call Your Senators (find yours here)

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

I’m calling to ask if the Senator has yet co-sponsored S 3802, the Big Oil Windfall Profits Act, to hold Big Oil accountable for their blatant price-gouging and profiteering.

Big Oil companies reported nearly $100 BILLION in profits in Q1 2022; meanwhile gas prices are killing people like me. Congress needs to stop this price-gouging and deliver on a clean energy legislative agenda.

The future of our economy, our planet, and our lives are in your hands. Please act!

Call Your House Rep (find yours here)

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

I’m calling to ask if the Congressmember has yet co-sponsored HR 7061, the Big Oil Windfall Profits Act, and H.R.7688, the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act, both of which will hold Big Oil accountable for their blatant price-gouging and profiteering.

The future of our economy, our planet, and our lives are in your hands. Please act!

Extra Credit ✅

Send to President Biden via his web form. Please personalize! [H/T]

One in four Americans are struggling 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, which is why I am pleased to see the Congressional Progressive Caucus continue to fight for strong reforms to lower prescription drugs in the reconciliation bill. Last night a “Blue Dog” Democratic Congressman who sided with Big Pharma over his voters (and your agenda) was defeated. GOOD! Voters have had it!
But 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!
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. Thanks.

Get Smart AND (optional) Give 💰!

Y’all, I’m co-hosting this excellent NC-related event next week. Can anyone come?

It’s called “Briefing on Building Political Power in North Carolina—with Dreama Caldwell, Irene Godínez, Jessica Laurenz, and Special Guest Jessica Craven - Author Substack Newsletter: Chop Wood, Carry Water.” 🤗

Wednesday, May 25 on Zoom, 7PM EDT

The description:

Senate Circle is thrilled to announce that they were so impressed with their recent event with Dreama Caldwell, Irene Godínez, and Jessica Laurenz, that they are collaborating with Seniors Taking Action, Team4NC, and All In for NC, to host them again! And this time Jessica Craven is joining in to introduce them! The three inspiring North Carolina women lead grassroots organizations that are building long-term political power in NC. (Read more about them here.)

Come learn how we can help broaden and engage our critical North Carolina electorate.

Win Races! 🗳

As you know, Texas is gearing up for runoff elections next week. And Lead Locally needs volunteers to text voters to remind them that Sara Stapleton Barrera is on the ballot!

Sara Stapleton Barrera is a climate champion running for State Senate along the Gulf Coast of Texas where there is a huge proposed build out of fossil fuels. She is the only candidate to oppose the LNG export facilities— the candidate she is running against has taken big money from the oil industry.

Join Lead Locally this Thursday, May 19, from 5:30-7:30 PM CT, for their text bank for Sara. This runoff could come down to just a handful of votes and we need to reach as many voters as possible in the next week.

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

[to your House rep] [H/T Climate Action Now App] [Quick send text SIGN PVQCLN to 50409]

I am writing to ask for your support for H.R. 4458, the Kelp Act, which will "establish a grant program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to award grants to eligible entities for the purpose of carrying out projects on the conservation, restoration, or management of kelp forest ecosystems". H. R. 4458

Did you know that the kelp forests sequester as much carbon as redwood groves? The ocean is warming from our greenhouse gas emissions, which rose again in 2021 by six percent. The IPCC warns that we need to decrease emissions every year, by significant amounts. This warming, referred to by scientists as "the blob" caused water temperatures to spike along the west coast and killed millions of individual life forms in the ocean. The kelp forests help to protect our coasts, which we will need even more as the sea levels rise. They provide an ecosystem for many species while also sequestering carbon, but they are being severely affected by the climate crisis.

We need our kelp forests. Please Support H.R. 4458, The Kelp Act.

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

Talk tomorrow.

Jess

Chop Wood, Carry Water