Climate change, mass killings, the (misnamed) American Confidence in Elections Act, 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:
- SUPPORT FOR NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded in 1949 and its “essential and enduring purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means.” While the organization was rebuffed by the former administration, Biden, with his rich history in foreign affairs, has helped to strengthen NATO as a vibrant alliance as evidenced by the recent NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Knowing the importance, and yet the fragility, of US membership in the group, a bipartisan Senate bill has been introduced that would prohibit a president from withdrawing from NATO without Senate approval or an act of Congress. Although not yet numbered, let’s make sure our senators know that we want them to support this bill. - TIME TO TAKE CLIMATE CHANGE SERIOUS
Last week, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that last month was the hottest June on record. “The recent record temperatures, as well as extreme fires, pollution and flooding we are seeing this year are what we expect to see in a warmer climate,” said Cornell University climate scientist Natalie Mahowald. “We are just getting a small taste for the types of impacts that we expect to worsen under climate change.” The impacts of climate change are happening faster than originally predicted. As far as the US goes, the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act was a good start in addressing the problem, but the makeup of the current Congress does not make more progress likely. Let’s tell our MoCs that this “blanket of pollution trapping heat on Earth” is a real problem. We are now dealing with the consequences we were warned about and we want them to be proactive in addressing climate crisis.
- ACT TO PREVENT MASS KILLINGS WITH STRICTER GUN LAWS
In the first six months of 2023, there were 28 mass killings, the highest number since 2006. All but one of these involved guns. Meanwhile, Florida became the 26th state to allow individuals to carry guns without a permit or a license, despite research from the National Institute of Health that shows that looser gun laws lead to more mass killings. Let’s make sure both our federal and state legislators are aware of these facts and ask them what they plan to do to keep us safe.
- BEWARE OF ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR.
Conspiracy theorist and Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., is now alleging, without any evidence, that COVID-19 was developed as a bioweapon genetically designed to target white and Black people, and to spare Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people. This is a dangerous and hateful lie. Kennedy’s beliefs and statements are antithetical to the values of the Democratic Party (example and example). Let’s use this form to contact Jaime Harrison, chair of the Democratic National Committee, and tell him Kennedy’s views and statements are so out of sync with the Democratic Party that he should be expelled from the Party and not be allowed to run on any Democratic ticket.
- URGE OPPOSITION TO ACE ACT
American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act (HR 4563) was introduced this week at a news conference attended by House Administration Committee Chair Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI), House Republican leaders, and others. Its title sounds enticing, but basically it gives states the right to suppress the vote in whatever way they choose. Let’s urge our House representatives to oppose this bill and let’s share these messages (from DemCast) in our social media.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- DE – STOP CORPORATE VOTING
The Delaware State Senate has blocked for this calendar year HB 121. legislation that would allow artificial entities – corporations, LLCs, and trusts – to participate in municipal elections in the town of Seaford. This bill would have empowered special interests and outsiders at the expense of flesh and blood people, and Seaford would not be the first community where it would be true: LLCs can already vote in at least 17 towns in Delaware. Rep. Sherry Dorsey Walker has introduced HB189 to ban this practice in all local elections for good. Let’s reach out to our legislators and tell them we want them to kill HB 121 when it comes up again, and that we want to see action on Rep. Dorsey Walker’s effort to put a stop to corporate voting once and for all.
