April 24, 2024
Comstock Act, American Climate Corps, “Shrinkflation”, 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:
- WHAT IS THE COMSTOCK ACT?We are hearing a lot about the Comstock Act lately when the topic of abortion comes up. The Comstock Act is a 19th century piece of legislation regarding “sexual purity” including outlawing abortion. Not only is this Act being discussed at the Supreme Court in the mifepristone case, it is also included in the GOP playbook Project 2025, the blueprint that will be followed should the GOP win the 2024 presidential election, to restrict abortion. So, the former president can say what he wants about abortion, the plan that will be followed is not his. Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith wants to repeal the Comstock Act and is working on legislation to do just that. Let’s let our senators know that we want them to support this effort to repeal this outdated legislation. If we use Resistbot, we can use this.
- AMERICAN CLIMATE CORPS JOBS AND TRAINING PROGRAMS“President Biden is marking Earth Day…by launching a website for his Climate Corps jobs and training program.” Let’s explore the American Climate Corps website, look for climate career opportunities, and sign up to receive updates.
- STOP “SHRINKFLATION”The Shrinkflation Prevention Act of 2024 (HR7285/ S 3819) would allow the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to crack down on corporations who deceive customers by not informing them when they’ve reduced the size of a product, yet continue to charge consumers the same price for it. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this practice accounts for 10 percent of inflation, and has contributed to higher and higher corporate profits at a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet. Let’s tell our MoCs that we support this bill and we want to see it passed in Congress as soon as possible.
- VOTE, VOTE, VOTELet’s register to vote, check our registration, and get election reminders at TurboVote!
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
- KS – NO OVERRIDE ON ANTI-ABORTION BILL VETOES
Kansans made our views on abortion clear in the 2022 referendum, where 59% of us voted that our state constitution guarantees abortion rights. The Republican majority in the legislature has charged forward with an anti-reproductive rights agenda regardless of what we want. This year, they’ve pushed through multiple bills championed by the abortion banners, including HB 2749 to require health care providers to ask even more invasive and unnecessary questions to patients about their reasons for seeking an abortion, HB 2436 to create a whole new crime of “coercion to obtain an abortion,” and HB 2465 to establish a tax credit for donations to the so-called “crisis pregnancy center” fake clinics and exempt them from sales tax laws. Governor Kelly has vetoed these efforts, but they’ve managed to overturn her pro-reproductive rights vetoes in the past and they are aiming to do so again in the next few days. The coalition that won the referendum is fighting back. Let’s use this tool from Loud Light to let our state legislators know we want them to uphold the Governor’s vetoes. We can also join in a phone bank tonight from 5:30pm-8:00pm to encourage constituents for key votes to make their voices heard in support of abortion rights, or rally at the State Capitol at noon on Monday. Lastly, we can reach out to Governor Kelly and thank her for her vetoes.
