Chop Wood, Carry Water 6/15

Hi, all, and happy Thursday!

Another quick opening in what is turning out to be a very chaotic (and personally busy) week. I hope you’re all hanging in there. The news fatigue many of us are experiencing is real; if you’re struggling with it please know that you’re not alone.

Remember: all we can do is take today’s actions. Whatever our concerns are about the future, that’s an arena over which we have zero power. Where we do have power, and where we can exercise agency, is in what we do today.

So let’s make our calls and take our actions now, and trust that the uncontrollable future will be a bit better because of it.

Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m glad that Senators Warren and Blumenthal have introduced S. 916, the Junk Fee Prevention Act, to eliminate burdensome fees imposed on consumers when purchasing tickets, hotel rooms, and other forms of entertainment. But I’m distressed to hear that some Senators are opposing this no-brainer of a bill. Is the Senator a co-sponsor? [If yes thank. If no add:] Why on earth not? May I have an explanation in writing, please?

Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲

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

I’m glad that Reps Gallego and Jackson have introduced HR 2463, the Junk Fee Prevention Act, to eliminate burdensome fees imposed on consumers when purchasing tickets, hotel rooms, and other forms of entertainment. But I’m distressed to hear that some Republican Congressmembers are opposing this no-brainer of a bill. Is the Congressmember a co-sponsor? [If yes thank. If no add:] Why on earth not? May I have an explanation in writing, please?

Extra Credit ✅

Please send a public comment to the EPA in support of tightening truck pollution rules.

Use this email address: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov

And use this subject line: Comment on Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0985

This is the basic message, but it’s important that you personalize it:

I am pleased that the EPA is taking important steps to address global warming pollution from trucks, but the heavy-duty vehicle standard needs to do much more to put us on a path to eliminate all tailpipe emissions from new vehicles by 2035.

Black, Asian America, and Latin American communities and other marginalized communities living in high traffic areas have suffered the health impacts of diesel trucks for too long. Now is the time to set us on a path to eliminate toxic tailpipe emissions from trucks.

Unfortunately, the current proposal leaves the door open to hydrogen combustion technology that will continue to contaminate the air we breathe for decades to come. The EPA has the power to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission vehicles. Please finalize the strongest possible rule to deliver clean air. The clock is ticking, and zero-emission trucks will save lives.

I strongly urge the EPA to adopt requirements that would address the disproportionate health impacts for marginalized communities living near freight corridors and accelerate the rollout of zero-emission trucks. Thank you for your consideration.

[Name]

[City, State]

Get Smart! 📚

The Movement Voter Project's next national briefing will be Tuesday June 20, from 1 – 2pm EDT. MVP is one of my favorite groups and their briefings are always really inspiring.

This briefing will feature presentations by MVP local partners in New York (who are holding GOP House members accountable for the Debt Ceiling mess and preparing to flip FIVE House seats next year!) and Ohio (where an August ballot measure will have a huge impact on abortion rights, redistricting, and the future of this Senate battleground state).

The event registration info is here.

Win School Board Races! 🗳

On Tuesday, June 20, from 8:00 PM -  9:30 PM ET Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) is holding an organizing call to talk about winning school board races! From them:

Across the country, the far right is using schools for stepping stones to power, scapegoating and endangering LGBTQ kids and enforcing curriculums that teach lies about our country. Meanwhile, they are underfunding schools and, in some places, working to replace them entirely with charters and privatization. And they rely on the support of white parents and white voters. We are building a program to support members and chapters across the country to out-organize the far right in white communities and to work for school systems that serve all students. Whether it's campaigning for local school board candidates, pressuring your local school board to pass a resolution to not comply with the far right's agenda, or joining a national remote team to support the local work, we need you. Join us for our first School Board Organizing Call to learn more!

Register here.

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

[to President Biden] [H/T Robert Reich] [Quick send: text SIGN PEDJJD to 50409 or share here.]

Iowa governor Kim Reynolds just signed into law one of the most exploitative roll backs of child labor laws we’ve seen in decades.

In addition to extending the amount of hours teenagers are allowed to work, it allows kids into ultra-dangerous meatpacking facilities, high-volume Pepsi bottling plants, and building demolition and construction sites where more than 5,000 workers died last year.

The U.S. Department of Labor found numerous provisions in the legislation that are in direct conflict with federal labor law. Most of the conflict arises from laws loosening the hours and places 14- and 15- year olds are allowed to work. For example, provisions allowing minors to work six hours a day and until 9PM during the school year, and work in meat freezers and industrial laundries, are directly prohibited by federal law.

It’s not just Iowa. Across the country -- in red states, blue states, and everywhere in between -- special interest groups representing corporations are pushing bills that would weaken child labor laws. It’s really not OK.

Groups such as the National Restaurant Association, National Federation of Independent Business, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity have all spent millions of dollars in support of rolling back child labor laws.

As we mark the 85th anniversary of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 I want President Biden to honor the legacy of this historic legislation by using the power of his office to stand up to corporate greed and protect kids from exploitative business practices. Thanks.

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

Talk soon.

Jess