July 6, 2023
Student loans, detention center, ranked choice voting, 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:
- END THE STUDENT-LOAN REGIMEThe student loan crisis continues to be a drag on individuals and the economy, no thanks to the Supreme Court. The College for All Act, introduced by Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders (VT), would do a number of things, including guarantee tuition-free community college for all, and tuition-free, debt free undergraduate education for students from single households earning under $125,000/year and married households earning under $250,000/year who attend public colleges and universities, non-profit Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other Minority-Serving Institutions. Let’s tell our U.S. Representatives to co-sponsor H.R.4117 and our U.S. Senators to co-sponsor S.1963, and see to the passage of the College for All Act. And let’s make sure that we’re registered to vote so we can elect a Congress that will take action on this issue in 2024.
- SHUT DOWN FARMVILLE DETENTION CENTER: The Farmville Detention Center in Virginia has been known for a decade as a place where undocumented immigrants and asylum-seekers have suffered abuse and harm. The facility’s 10-year contract with ICE is set to expire on September 15. Let’s call on the White House and Secretary of DHS, Alejandro Mayorkas (202-282-8495) to shut down ICE-Farmville. We can find out more from the FreethemallVA coalition, a group of national organizations that have come together to expose the harms of detention here and across the country.
- BRING RANKED CHOICE VOTING TO OREGON
As the legislative session in Oregon came to an end, lawmakers came together to pass House Bill 2004 to put a proposal to move to ranked choice voting on the statewide ballot in November 2024. This marks the first time a state legislature has proactively move forward on ranked choice voting. Let’s do what we can to help this reform win at the ballot box by signing up to volunteer with Oregon Ranked Choice Voting and considering a donation if we’re able.
- SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT LIMITS INCARCERATION AND DETENTION OF IMMIGRANTSAs Republicans try to restrict immigration policies even further, progressive Democrats, including a representative from Texas, have a different solution. HR 2374, The New Way Forward Act, would roll back many of the immigration laws that have led to racial profiling and unnecessary arrests and detention for instances like minor traffic offenses. It would also phase out private-prisons being used as detention centers. The bill currently has 30 co-sponsors and is in the House Judiciary Committee. Let’s tell our representatives that we want to see a new approach to dealing with immigration in this country and to support this bill.
- PHONEBANK FOR DEMOCRACY WITH OHIO DEMOCRATSIn a cynical bid to defeat an abortion/reproductive rights referendum this fall, MAGA Republicans are seeking to end more than a century of majority-rule for amending the Ohio constitution in a special election on August 8th. It is imperative that Ohio voters vote NO on Issue 1. Let’s join a phonebank run by Ohio Democrats to help inform voters about this election and urge them to go vote NO. We can learn how to phonebank and start making calls by signing up here.
- HARVARD, SHMARVARDThe Supreme Court’s gutting of racial justice admissions policies in higher education is a terrible blow, and could cause serious declines in Black and Hispanic enrollment at elite colleges and universities. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen. But it’s also important to remember that these elite schools educate only around 5% of all students attending college. According to the Pew Research Center, “The great majority of schools, where most Americans get their postsecondary education, admit most of the people who apply to them.”More than three-quarters of undergraduate students attend public college or university. Yet funding for public colleges and universities has been falling. In short, if we’re serious about equal opportunity for all, the pursuit of increasing minority admissions to very elite schools, while important, is a very limited vision, because only a handful of people benefit from that. Let’s:
- See how much our state spends on public higher education per student.
- Tell our state and federal legislators (1) that one way to start correcting for the damage of the Supreme Court’s decision is by enriching our public institutions of higher learning, (2) that we want more funding for public higher education through taxation of high-income and high-wealth households, raising capital gains taxes, and increasing estate and inheritance taxes, and (3) that we want significant increases in need-based aid.
- HELP FLORIDA PUT AN ABORTION PROTECTION REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOTFlorida Rising, a state-wide organization that has been fighting back against the slew of anti-human rights legislation passed by Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislature is working, along with many other groups, on gathering signatures to put abortion protections on the state ballot. If we know people in Florida, let’s be sure to send this link to keeping our reproductive rights to our friends and family. The grouphas put together a document that outlines key legislation and its effects on citizens. No matter where we live let’s all make sure to review the document and then let’s ask our state legislators to vote against any similar bills in our state and to introduce legislation that further protects the rights that are being threatened.
- NO TRUMPED-UP IMPEACHMENT CHARGES
With employment up and inflation, border crossings and murder rates down, congressional Republicans are increasingly focused on trumped-up impeachment proceedings, with Speaker McCarthy publicly expressing openness to impeaching Attorney General Garland over the Hunter Biden investigation. Let’s make sure we reach out to our members of Congress, especially if we’re represented by Republicans, and tell them we’re sick of these stunts and their abuse of power, and we want them to knock it off and focus on doing something that actually helps the American people. Let’s also consider signing up to volunteer with Field Team Six and register the voters we will need to hold these folks accountable next November. - PROVIDE QUICK ADVICE FOR FIRST-TIME CANDIDATES AS A “RUN FOR SOMETHING” MENTORRun for Something (RFS) recruits diverse young progressives to run for office and help build up a much-needed, strong national Democratic power base. Starting in 2017, their candidates have won over 1000 elections and have expanded Medicaid, defended gay and trans rights, expanded poll access, fought book bans and pushed back Nebraska abortion ban. Now RFS is looking for mentors to help out their latest first time candidates. If we are experienced in messaging, technology, fundraising, or organizing, we can help get more progressive leaders elected. If interested, we can join their Mentor Directory. Then, when candidates have questions that match our expertise, RFS will connect us for a brief consultation. We can find out more about becoming a Run For Something Mentor here and then, if we like, sign up for the program. Let’s build up our Democratic power and get our country moving in the right direction!
- GET INTERNET“As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, President Biden and Vice President Harris worked with Democrats, Republicans, and Independents to create the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households $30 per month off their internet bills. ACP-eligible households can also receive a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers.” We can find out if we are eligible and how to apply, here.