Chop Wood, Carry Water 7/11
Hi, all, and happy Tuesday,
I’m bursting with pride right now.
Why? Well, I’m sitting on a call into a California state legislative committee meeting—the committee in question is weighing a bill called the Gun Violence Prevention, Healing, and Recovery Act. This bill would essentially levy a small tax on gun purchases to help fund violence intervention programs in California.
During California legislative committee meetings there is generally an opportunity for something called “me too’s.” This is a time set aside for citizens and/or members of advocacy groups to call in and simply state their name, their affiliation, and their support for, or opposition to, a bill under consideration. Lawmakers listen to “me-too’s” to get a sense of how much energy is behind (or against) the laws they’re considering. It seems silly, but these “me-too’s” matter.
That’s why the California Moms Demand Action legislative team asked volunteers from inside the state to call in this morning to do “me too’s” on this bill.
And what’s so beautiful—what made me so proud—was to hear one caller after another saying the same thing: “My name is _____, I’m a Moms Demand Action volunteer, and I support this bill.”
Certainly there were voices speaking up in opposition, too—mostly folks who identified as members of the NRA. But we wildly outnumbered them.
Every one of these Moms Demand volunteers had taken time out of their morning—had missed work, or skipped an exercise class, or lost out on time with their kids—to sit on the phone, wait for their turn, and utter those few critical words. They knew that their voices would matter. They knew that whether or not they showed up, the NRA members absolutely would. So they made the time. And it made a difference!
They are the everyday heroes we need.
Y’all, I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that we get involved in not just what our federal government is doing, but in the activity of our state legislatures, too. In many ways it’s more important, because there is so much more actually getting done there! If this bill passes—and I’m cautiously optimistic it will—I’ll get to feel like I helped make it happen. Better yet, lives will be improved and maybe, just maybe, even saved.
Never say that you’re not powerful. You ARE. And when you show up as part of “the many?” There is nothing you—and we—can’t accomplish.
Call Your Senators (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is ______.
I'm calling to ask the Senator to cosponsor the bipartisan Prove-it Act, S.1863. This bill directs the Dept. of Energy to study average product emissions intensity, which is a necessary first step for implementing a U.S. carbon border adjustment mechanism or carbon border tariff that protects U.S. industries from higher-polluting foreign competition. Will the Senator co-sponsor it? [H/T and more info]
Call Your House Rep (find yours here) 📲
Hi, I'm a constituent calling from [zip]. My name is _______.
I understand that some House Republicans are trying to add amendments to the NDAA to curtail the Pentagon's use of electric vehicles. Restricting the U.S. military from using resilient and life-saving electric vehicles is wrong and also less safe. Numerous studies show that electric vehicles are more difficult for enemies to detect. These restrictions would undermine our national security and endanger our military personnel. Please ask the Congressmember to oppose this amendment. Thanks! [H/T]
Extra Credit ✅
The International Seabed Authority negotiations in Jamaica started yesterday, and the opportunity to stop one of the most dangerous experiments in history now lies in the hands of world leaders.
Over the next two weeks, delegates will decide whether a moratorium will be put on deep-sea mining or whether regulations will be adopted allowing for mining to begin as soon as later this year.
Add your name to the urgent open letter against deep-sea mining, and help us prevent this tragedy before it begins. The wonderful organization Only One is hoping to cross the 300K signatures mark!
Get Smart! 📚
The 2023 Farm Bill is our last big opportunity for federal climate legislation in the foreseeable future. The U.S. will spend $648 billion on farm subsidies, loans, and more, compared with $369 billion on energy and climate change in the Inflation Reduction Act.
What's more, bipartisan passage of the Farm Bill is virtually guaranteed. But the specific provisions that may help or harm the planet are hotly contested.
So the folks at Climate Action Now are holding an Action Party! Their panel of Farm Bill experts will comment on the actions they have queued up for participants. They'll unpack why these are the actions that can have the greatest impact and why it is critical for all of us to advocate for them.
Help turn the Farm Bill into a watershed legislative victory for farmers AND the climate.
Date: Thursday, July 13, 2023
Time: 4:00 pm PT / 7:00 pm ET
Location: Zoom, registration required
Spread the Word! 📣
Please amplify this great tool!
BallotReady.org is a nonpartisan, one-stop shop that connects voters with their upcoming elections, lets them research their ballot, shows them open positions to run for and helps them get in touch with their local elected officials. They offer a one-stop shop for all things civics-related including the full election experience from registration to getting prepared to vote.
Please check them out and please share!
Give 💰!
Turnout is everything in close congressional races. People's House is a new project by the fantastic progressive donor advising group Blue Tent that enables donors to invest in grassroots organizing and voter engagement (these increase turnout the most!) in competitive House districts, with a focus in 2024 on defeating the 20 most vulnerable Republican incumbents. This is super smart and I’m excited to support it!
Win Races! 🗳
The folks at Vote Riders have asked me to post the two below volunteer opportunities—I really hope some of you can sign up to help, as Ohio’s voter ID laws have gotten much stricter this year.
Please join Vote Riders for two upcoming virtual events to help Ohio voters get ID-ready to cast a ballot:
Ohio letter-writing party THIS Thursday, July 13 (sign-up here)
Ohio text-banking event Thursday, August 3 and independent texting through August 8 (sign-up here)
Resistbot Letter (new to Resistbot? Go here! And then here.) 💻
[to all 3 reps] [H/T--Win Without War] [Quick send: text SIGN PJBMBW to 50409]
I am writing as your constituent and a taxpayer about the NDAA Congress is getting ready to pass. I’m urging you to combat the greed of corporate military contractors and invest in our communities instead.
About half of our military budget goes to military contractors. And an exhaustive six month investigation by 60 Minutes has exposed drastic price gouging by federal military contractors―with some raking up total profits near 40%! This does not enhance our national security. The U.S. already spends more on defense than the next 10 countries combined—most of whom are our political allies.
According to the Institute for Policy Studies, if the U.S. were to cut just 10% of the military budget we could fund 10.95 million housing units for one year, or 8.45 million Head Start slots for low-income children, or low-income health care for 32 million children or 18.64 million adults.
Please invest in our communities and not corporate price gouging from military contractors. Thanks.
OK, you did it again! You helped save democracy! You’re amazing.
Talk soon.
Jess
Thank you for everything you do Jessica. SO grateful to have your hard work and insight. In particular, I want to thank you today for including the letter opposing Deepsea Mining. It is an issue few know about but one that will have a catastrophic effect on our oceans. We all need to speak up against it NOW. Thank you again for all you do!
Thank you for your important volunteer work. It is people like you that gives me hope we can take back our country from extremist who would rather see children dying in the streets than give up their AR15 assult weapons.