June 28, 2023
Moms [not] for Liberty, Medicaid, decarbonization, 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:
- MOMS FOR LIBERTY IN PHILADELPHIA: DON’T HOST HATE
Moms for Liberty, the conservative group pushing censorship, book bans, drag bans, and anti-LGBTQ+ policies, sparking harassment campaigns, and coordinating with the Proud Boys, has been officially named a hate group and anti-government extremist group by the civil rights watchdogs at Southern Poverty Law Center. That hasn’t stopped them from continuing to grow their influence in the Republican Party – their national summit in Philadelphia (June 29-July 2) will feature presidential candidates Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy and Asa Hutchinson as speakers, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr only pulled out at the last minute. It also hasn’t stopped a number of institutions from playing host to them: the summit will take place at the Marriott Downtown, and the Museum of The American Revolution is welcoming them for an event tomorrow. Let’s join the local activists, teachers, American Revolution Museum staffers and historians who are pushing back against the decision to host hate. We can contact Philadelphia Marriott Downtown general manager Ken Reed (main hotel phone number (215) 625-2900 and Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano at Anthony.capuano@marriott.com to tell them what wethink of their choice, and we can contact the Museum of the American Revolution (President & CEO Dr. R. Scott Stephenson) at 215-253-6731 or here – please note the staff has objected to this decision. Activists on the ground are also running a full calendar of protest events, which we can follow along to signal boost with the Philadelphia Coalition to Stop Hate on Instagram or ACT UP Philadelphia on Instagram or Twitter and donate to support their efforts here if we’re able. - SUPPORT MEDICARE FOR ALLOnce again the S. 1655/HR3421 Medicare for All Act has been introduced in the House by Reps. Pramila Jaypal (D-CA) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and in the Senate by Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). The House legislation is sponsored by more than half of the Democratic caucus, several powerful committee members, and supported by many notable organizations. Even if this may not be likely to be passed this year, we should make our voices heard and tell our MoCs that the horrific stories of medical care under the current system are not equitable, and the U.S. needs to join the majority of countries in the world and offer national health care.
- SUPPORT LABOR STRIKES FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED
Protests against the new anti-immigrant laws in multiple states shut down Florida on June 1st and have continued steadily ever since. Activists are launching another labor strike this week, running from June 30th to July 3rd, with a trucker convoy bringing in folks from across the country to Tallahassee. In addition to drawing attention to anti-immigrant legislation in Florida, Texas and Kansas, they are also pushing for action on HR 1511, which aims to provide lawful permanent status to long-term residents of the United States who are currently undocumented. The bill would allow those who obey the law, pay back taxes and fines, learn to speak English and have been here for more than seven years to achieve legal status. Let’s support this strike by calling our members of Congress and demanding action for our undocumented friends and neighbors. We can also sign this petition.
- HYDROGEN TAX CREDITIf new IRS guidance on the hydrogen tax credit within the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) isn’t clear about what makes hydrogen truly “clean”, billions of dollars in taxpayer money meant to speed up the clean energy transition could instead go towards increasing climate pollution. Hydrogen, used right, can help us decarbonize entire industrial sectors. But if we produce it with dirty fossil power, it can increase carbon pollution emissions by hundreds of millions of tons. Done correctly, the new hydrogen energy should instead lift up clean power and help shut down fossil power—but that all depends on how IRS defines “clean” hydrogen in the fine print. So let’s make sure they do it correctly! Fossil fuel industry lobbyists are dominating the conversation. We need to be louder. Send a comment here—please make sure to personalize slightly! (h/t: Chop Wood Carry Water)
- HELP FIGHT COVID WITH THE WORLD HEALTH NETWORKAlthough we would like Covid to be completely gone from our lives, with a death toll of over 6 million worldwide and over 1 million in the US, it is still a global threat. Moreover, according to the Mayo Clinic, the risk for medical problems stemming from a bout of Covid is 20% for the 18 to 64 age group and 25% for those 65 and older. We need to stay informed and active to fight this disease and the World Health Network is ready to help. Currently they are looking for communicators and community activists to help further fight the pandemic. If we have experience creating press lists, connecting with the press, and managing effective teams, and are interested in joining their press team, we can click here and then, if we choose, sign up.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- PA – PUBLIC MONEY FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS ONLY
The wave of attacks on public schools, whether through book bans, censorship of teachers or school privatization, isn’t limited to red states. A coalition pushing public money for private school vouchers in Pennsylvania is aiming to add a measure creating them in this year’s state budget, a measure Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA) has expressed support for. Let’s contact our state legislators and let them know we want them to give public schools the funding they need and oppose school privatization efforts, and reach out to Governor Shapiro to tell him we are disappointed in his position.
