Discharge petition to stop default, child who died in border custody, Florida travel advisory, 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:
- ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CHILD WHO DIED IN BORDER CUSTODYBorder patrol agents allegedly repeatedly ignored a mother’s requests for medical help and hospital intervention for her 8 year old daughter who died on Wednesday while in CBP custody. The family was in custody for nine days, in violation of the policy that limits custody to 72 hours. Let’s contact DHS Secretary Mayorkas (202-282-8495) and Customs Border Patrol (877-227-5511) to demand an investigation into the incident, as well as answers for the policy violations.
- FLORIDA TRAVEL ADVISORYThe NAACP, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and Equality Florida, have each issued travel advisories for Florida, warning potential travelers of the risk to safety that Florida, led by Governor Ron DeSantis, imposes on Black, Latino, LGBTQ, and other targeted communities. With Memorial Day weekend approaching, followed by summer and the peak of tourist season, these warnings are especially important. For those of us who intend to travel, let’s be sure we do so elsewhere, and contact the Governor’s office to make sure he understands why we will be avoiding Florida. In addition, we can thank these organizations and support them with donations. Let’s also encourage other large membership organizations to follow the lead of these three courageous groups.
- ABORTION CARE FOR LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIESSince the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, 14 states have banned abortions. Horrific situations have arisen in which women have faced life-threatening emergencies that could be alleviated via abortion, but were denied that care. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) is a federal law that requires hospitals to provide abortions when pregnancy complications put patients at high risk of developing a life-threatening emergency. Some hospitals are refusing to comply, citing state law. Women should not have to get so sick that they could die before they get the care they need. Let’s 1) thank the Biden Administration for investigating hospitals that violate the EMTALA and ask for more aggressive enforcement of the EMTALA, 2) know, and help others know, the process for filing an EMTALA complaint, 3) tell ProPublica our stories of living in abortion-ban states, and 4) sign up for election reminders with TurboVote and never miss a chance to vote for abortion-rights candidates up and down the ballot.
- BLOCK THE KROGER’S-ALBERTSONS MERGER
The two largest supermarket chains in the country are set to merge as soon as next year, with Kroger’s purchasing Albertsons for $25 billion. With Albertsons already having taken over Safeway, the resulting chain would control nearly one-fifth of the American grocery market, create food deserts, lower wages for those workers who survived the layoffs, and raise prices for customers. Consumer advocates and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union are fighting back, and we can join them. Let’s use this tool from More Perfect Union to send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission urging them to block the merger, and contact our members of Congress asking them to help stop it.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- ALL – BAN NON-COMPETE AGREEMENTS AT THE STATE LEVEL
According to the Federal Trade Commission, 30 million US workers, many of them in low-wage jobs, would have better career opportunities with a ban on companies requiring them to sign non-compete agreements, and wages would rise by $300 billion a year. While the FTC is working towards a federal ban, the states aren’t waiting, with Minnesota set to become the fourth behind California, Oklahoma and North Dakota to bar them on the state level. If our state isn’t on that list, let’s contact our legislators and tell them to join the effort.
- OH: VOTE NO IN AUGUSTOhio Democrats are pushing for a November 2023 ballot referendum that would allow voters to codify abortion rights in the state constitution. Under long-standing Ohio law, it takes a simple majority of voters to approve an state constitutional amendment. Fully aware of the Democrat’s plans, Ohio Republicans want to raise that to a supermajority of 60% of voters. Ohio citizens will be asked to vote on whether to change the process for amending their constitution from a simple majority to a supermajority in an election scheduled for August 8, 2023. If we’re in Ohio, let’s join Ohio Citizen Action’s efforts to defeat this antidemocratic Republican power-grab, and urge our friends to help as well. (h/t Political Charge)
- DISCHARGE PETITION TO STOP DEFAULTThe strategy of House Democrats to defy MAGA Republican House Speaker McCarthy and force a vote on raising the debt ceiling—known as the discharge petition—faces gale-force headwinds, but given the stakes, is still worth trying. So far, 210 Democrats have signed on. The three remaining Democrats who have not yet signed are Mary Peltola (Alaska), Ed Case (Hawaii-01), and Jared Golden (Maine-02). It’s important that every single Democrat be on record for lifting the debt ceiling so America can meet its financial obligations and keep our country from defaulting and sending the economy into a tailspin. Let’s call the offices of Representatives Peltola, Case, and Golden via the Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121 and tell them to sign the discharge petition, H.Res.350, now.