May 3, 2023
MAGA default crisis, GOP hypocrisy on veterans, save the Grand Canyon, 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:
- MAGA DEFAULT CRISISWith the U.S. at risk of defaulting on its financial obligations as soon as June 1, House Republicans have passed a non-starter debt-ceiling spending-cut bill that threatens to hinder air travel, deprive nearly 1 million Americans of food aid, allow the wealthy to walk all over the IRS, undermine climate-friendly technology while boosting climate-busting fossil fuels, squeeze the poor, and more. A U.S. default would be devastating. It’s time for us to start calling our Members of Congress about this issue every day. Let’s tell our Democratic MoCs to stand firm and insist on a no-strings increase in the debt ceiling. Let’s tell our Republican MoCs that their manufactured default crisis is reckless and cruel, and we demand a no-strings lifting of the debt ceiling now.
- GOP SUPPORT OF VETERANS QUESTIONEDRepublican legislators are always talking about how much they love and support our troops and our veterans. Unfortunately, they don’t usually put their money where their mouth is. Case in point, the severe budget cuts in the bill the House passed last week by a vote of 217 – 215 , known as the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 (H.R. 2811). Prior to the vote, the Veterans Administration put out a press release specifically showing how the 22% cut will hurt their programs. In addition, approximately two dozen veterans groups have written to members of Congress urging any debt ceiling negotiations to prevent reductions in veterans services. The GOP does not think the claims are true. Let’s let our GOP lawmakers know that they can’t have it both ways. They can’t claim to support our veterans, then vote in ways that proves they do not.
- SAVE THE GRAND CANYON FROM URANIUM MININGTribal leaders from the Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai nations, along with Rep. Raul Grijalva and Senator Kyrsten Sinema, have asked President Joe Biden to use the Antiquities Act to create a national monument, preserving 1.1 million acres of land adjacent to the Grand Canyon. This would make the current 20 year moratorium on uranium mining on this land permanent. Let’s echo their call by telling the White House to create the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. This fact sheet from the House National Resources Committee has talking points. We can also write through this portal organized by the Native Alliance Organizers Action Fund.
- SUPPORT CLIMATE ACTION ON THE BALLOT
This Saturday, voters in El Paso, Texas will vote on whether or not to add climate action to their city charter. Proposition K would mandate an aggressive transition to renewable energy and prioritize controlling climate emissions in city policy. The oil and gas industry has made a massive effort to stop this ballot initiative, making ludicrous false claims about its costs. Let’s show the movement we have their backs during GOTV. We can sign up to make calls and texts at this link.
- ANTI-RACISMIf we are seeking to educate ourselves on issues affecting people of color from *their* perspective, the opinion pieces and research at The Emancipator are a good place to start. A “A collaboration with The Boston Globe and Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research,” it curates and gathers articles on a wide variety of issues written by up and coming journalists of color. Let’s learn: https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/the-emancipator/
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- TEXAS: BRING H2744, RAISING PURCHASE AGE FOR AR-15 STYLE WEAPONS TO 21, TO A VOTE.It’s been almost a year since the Uvalde massacre, where 19 students and 2 teachers were killed, and 17 others injured by a teenager using an AR-15, bought right after his 18th birthday. Sadly, this shooting is part of an alarming statistic: of the nine deadliest mass shootings in the US since 2018, six were by people 21 or younger. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/02/us/politics/mass-shootings-young-men-guns.html So, while it may seem like a small step, by raising the purchase age for weapons like the AR-15 from 18 to 21, we may be able to reduce gun violence and save lives. 22 states have raised the purchase age so far https://everytownresearch.org/rankings/law/minimum-age-to-purchase/ and now Texas has a chance to join them. Rep. Tracy King, D-Uvalde has proposed HB 2744, which raises the age to buy AR-15 style semiautomatic rifles from 18 to 21. https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/tx/88/bills/TXB00062368/ Uvalde families waited over 13 hours to speak for the bill, and their testimony lasted until 4am. Even though the Speaker has said he will allow floor debate on the bill, it is stuck in committee where Chairman Guillen is refusing to bring it to a vote. https://apnews.com/article/gun-legislation-shooting-uvalde-parents-3b75eb97f992b005df3851122b418136 Time is running out. The session ends on May 29 and the time to act is NOW. We can call Chairman Guillén at 512-463-0416 to demand he bring H. 2744 to a vote. Uvalde families have waited long enough.