April 1, 2024
Affordable connectivity, the right way to cover this election, overdraft fees, and more!
Contact all members of Congress:
By phone: (202) 224-3121By email: democracy.ioBy US mail: Representatives / SenatorsBy fax: Representatives / SenatorsBy Resistbot: Resist.bot
Contact White House or other federal agencies:
- AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM ENDING THIS MONTH, UNLESS…The Internet has become a necessary utility for all of us – for banking, schooling, working, and more. It is hard to imagine life without it. The cost is a barrier for some, however, and the Affordable Connectivity Program has helped millions of households access discounted broadband Internet service. This month, its funding is set to expire. The $14.2 billion program is one of many initiatives funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021. However, if Congress doesn’t approve extended funding by May, the FCC says the more than 23 million households across the country enrolled in the ACP will lose their benefits. The Affordable Connectivity Program Extension Act of 2024 (S.3565) was introduced in January, but is still in committee with only three co-sponsors. We must continue to fund this program and ensure all of our communities are connected in this digital age. Let’s contact members of the Appropriations Committee and our own senators telling them we want to see this approved ASAP so there is no disruption of access to many.
- ENDING EXCESSIVE SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR IMMIGRANTS IN ICE DETENTION
When campaigning for president in 2020, Joe Biden promised to end solitary confinement for immigrant detainees, but a new report has found that this practice has instead increased, for time periods that the United Nations claims amounts to psychological torture. With the new appropriations agreement allowing for even greater detention capacity–often for people who have no criminal record and can just as easily be monitored in the community while their cases are being adjudicated–we need to make our call even stronger to stop this torturous practice. Making matters worse: many detention centers are run by private for-profit corporations who have little accountability. Let’s tell the White House and the Department of Homeland Security that this dangerous practice must stop now!
- JOURNALISM STRAIGHT TALKOver the weekend, Cleveland’s Plain Dealer newspaper came out with an editorial that should set the stage for press coverage of the former president. Journalists, in all media, need to start treating this election season for what it is and isn’t. It is not a matter of good people on both sides. We have never had an election where one of the candidates is so open about destroying democracy. Let’s share this editorial with our local papers and ask that they follow suit with the straight talk. Let’s also thank Editor Chris Quinn for his integrity: 1) by email: editor@cleveland.com, 2) by snail mail: Plain Dealer Publishing Co 4800 Tiedeman Road Brooklyn, Ohio 44144, or 3) by phone: 216-999-6000.
- DEMAND TRANSPARENCY FROM INSURANCE PROVIDERS WHO CONTINUE TO INVEST IN FOSSIL FUELS
Last summer, Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced HR 4888, the Pollution Portfolio Disclosure Act, which would require insurance companies to disclosure their investments in fossil fuels. According to a report from Reuters, these investments are increasing the number of climate-related risks that they are underwriting. Even though this bill is unlikely to go anywhere in this Congressional Session, let’s contact our MoCs to call attention to the issue and the irony of these dangerous investments and ask them to co-sponsor the bill. We can also research our own insurance companies’ investments and, if necessary, call them out on these practices.
- SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENT AGAINST OVERDRAFT FEES – DEADLINE TODAY
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed new protections against exorbitant overdraft fees, part of the agency and this administration’s ongoing effort to take on junk fees. They’ve estimated this new rule will save consumers $3.5 billion or more a year (JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of America alone reported $2.2 billion in overdraft fees in 2023) – so the banking industry is working hard to lobby against it. Today is the FINAL day to submit our comments on the proposed new rule in support of the crackdown on abusive overdraft fees – let’s do so either directly or using this tool from Americans for Financial Reform before the deadline.
