ESG investments, Wall Street and the housing market, banks supporting fossil fuels, and more!
Contact all members of Congress:
- By phone: (202) 224-3121
- By email: democracy.io
- By US mail: Representatives / Senators
- By fax: Representatives / Senators
- By Resistbot: Resist.bot
Contact White House or other federal agencies:
- ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, OR GOVERNANCE (ESG) INVESTMENTS
With the help of Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), Congress passed a bill that would revoke a Department of Labor rule allowing the managers of the agency’s vast retirement funds to use environmental, social, or governance (ESG) criteria when making investments. As promised, President Biden vetoed that bill. Now, Republicans are erroneously trying to argue that such “woke” measures as ESG investing are responsible for the recent failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Let’s tell our representatives in Congress that we want government investment to take climate change, the condition of labor, and the behavior of investment governors into account in spending our money. - DIVEST FROM BANKS SUPPORTING FOSSIL FUELS
On Tuesday March 21, protests were held around the country, calling for people to withdraw their funds and stop using credit cards from banks that have large investments in fossil fuels. https://www.npr.org/2023/03/22/1165127291/climate-change-activists-target-big-banks-divest-from-fossil-fuels. If we have funds or credit cards from Chase, TD Bank, Bank of America, Citi, or Wells Fargo, let’s consider moving our accounts into local banks and investigating other credit card options.
- OLD GLORY BILL
Republicans have been trying unsuccessfully for years to pass an “Only Old Glory” bill, which would forbid government buildings and embassies from flying anything but the US flag and is primarily directed at the Gay Pride and the Black Lives Matter flags. Now Marjorie Taylor Greene and 41 others have signed on as co-sponsors of such a bill (H.R.146). Meanwhile, in Florida, an amendment has been proposed to allow a Confederate flag to be flown at government buildings, but not pride flags. These bills —while largely symbolic and still unlikely to pass—nonetheless send a message about the US and its values. We should consider making our opposition known by contacting our rep in DC.
- NO BREAKS FOR UNION BUSTING
Under current law, corporations can take tax write-offs for the expenses they incur opposing their workers’ attempts to organize. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) has introduced the No Tax Breaks for Union Busting Act. If it passes, it will end these tax breaks and stop the taxpayer subsidizing corporate union busting. Let’s tell our Senators to co-sponsor S.737.
- GET WALL STREET OUT OF THE HOUSING MARKET
An increasing amount of the housing market has been cornered by Wall Street, and it’s a became a major factor in the continuing housing crisis. Democrats in Washington are pushing back, with Senator Jeff Merkley introducing the End Hedge Fund Control of American Homes Act to impose tax penalties on companies that own more than 100 homes and encouraging them to sell to ordinary homebuyers and Reps. Ro Khanna, Katie Porter and Mark Takano introducing the Stop Wall Street Landlords Act to tax housing transactions by large companies and stop Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from assisting them with financing. While these bills would not be a cure-all, they are important steps forward. Let’s contact our members of Congress and encourage them to support these and similar efforts to keep housing in the hands of regular Americans.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- AL, FL, GA, KS, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX, WI, and WV – MEDICAID EXPANSION
Black Voters Matter (BVM) has launched the Sick and Tired initiative, which focuses on “mobilizing Black voters, young people, grassroot organizers and policymakers around the need for Medicaid expansion and more access to equitable and affordable healthcare for Black and rural communities,” (https://tinyurl.com/3vc4jvsy). This is being done through a week of action, where BVM is providing the necessary tools for us to advocate for healthcare access. Let’s check to see if our state is among the eleven that have not yet expanded Medicaid, and if it is, call our legislators to tell them we want them to support Medicaid expansion. Then, let’s check out BVM’s Social Media Toolkit, where posts have already been provided for us to post on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to help educate and advocate in our communities. We can also check out more ways to get involved, including on-the-ground action, at the Sick and Tired website.
