Universal free school meals, pause on methane exports, power of giving circles, 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:
- OPPORTUNITY FOR UNIVERSAL FREE SCHOOL MEALS
Universal free school meals were one of the great pandemic success stories, feeding hungry kids at a time of economic instability and increasing test scores and attendance while providing a boost to America’s farmers for only $11 billion a year more than the pre-COVID school meal programs. That program came to a halt at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, despite widespread popularity, but we have an opportunity this month to bring it back. House Agriculture Committee Chair Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) has promised a mark-up on a new Farm Bill by Memorial Day. This legislation covers a range of policies related to agriculture and food – including school lunches. As Congress works towards this deadline, let’s tell our members know we want to see universal free school meals included in the Farm Bill. We can do so directly or via ResistBot by texting SIGN PYIXVY to 50409 or hitting the sign petition button here. - TELL CONGRESS WE SUPPORT THE PAUSE ON METHANE GAS EXPORT APPROVALS
Climate activists earned a major victory earlier this year as President Biden paused approvals of exports of liquid methane gas (often referred to as liquid “natural” gas). The fossil fuel industry and their bought-and-paid-for politicians have been pushing to roll it back ever since, with the GOP-controlled House passing legislation to reverse this move within weeks of the announcement and Republicans attempting to force a rollback as a rider to bills securing aid for American allies. With multiple must-pass bills on the table in the next few months, they may well try again. Let’s make sure our members of Congress know we want more climate action, not less, and we support the pause. We can do so directly or by using this tool from Evergreen Action.
- TSP GIVING CIRCLES ARE POWER CIRCLES FOR STATE LEGISLATURESFrom a reader – Consider joining or creating a “Giving Circle” with The States Project (TSP). TSP is a highly effective PAC hyper-focused on both winning state legislative power and helping state lawmakers govern effectively. In 2022, their work resulted in historic midterm wins that were powered by their data-backed strategy, innovative campaign tactics, and unwavering focus on the states. Why states? The right has actively focused on states for decades, building power in state legislatures and influencing the outcome of national elections. From 2010 to 2016 we lost nearly 1000 state legislative seats, as the right wing took majorities in state houses and state senates. In state houses and senates where the right wing took majorities, they defunded education, legislated right to work laws, gutted environmental protections, eroded abortion rights, etc. It’s often cheaper to shift power in an entire state chamber than to flip a single competitive congressional seat. For example, in 2018, TSP was the second largest donor in the successful effort to build a new majority in the Maine State Senate with just $175,000. Contrast that with an unsuccessful $70 million bid to unseat U.S. Senator Susan Collins two years later in the same state. TSP is now adding Wisconsin to its 2024 plans. We’re stronger together than on our own. Let’s consider making a donation to TSP or creating a TSP Giving Circle. No donation is too small.
A Supreme Court for the people, write letters and text for democracy, and vote, vote, vote!
- A SUPREME COURT FOR THE PEOPLE BEGINS…WITH THE PEOPLEPassing legislation (like this) that will reform the Supreme Court depends on our having majorities in both houses of Congress that are willing and able to pass it, and a President willing to sign it. Let’s help make this possible by:· Donating to and/or volunteering with groups like Swing Left, Movement Voter Project, and by checking out ways we can help at Mobilize.us.· Ending the extreme MAGA gerrymandering in the states that gives unfair electoral advantages to Republicans and makes it harder to get a Democratic majority in the US House of Representatives—we can donate and/or volunteer with Sister District and The States Project.· Strategically donating directly to candidates’ campaigns through Oath.
- WRITE LETTERS TO VOTERS WITH VOTE FORWARD’S DATA AND RESEARCH TEAMVote Forward, the organization that makes it possible for us to write letters to key voting blocs in battleground elections, is holding an interesting virtual event: on May 16, 8-9PM EDT, we can join volunteers from across the country in writing letters while hearing from Vote Forward’s Data and Research Team. Plus, we’ll get guidance from Vote Forward staff on how to craft our own messages that will resonate with the voters we’re writing to. We can register for this event here. And we can sign up to write letters by getting a Vote Forward account here.
- TEXTING TO TAKE BACK STATE COURTS
The slow work of taking back a packed state supreme court starts this month, as former Democratic Congressman John Barrow challenges an appointed incumbent on Georgia’s high court. Barrow has run on striking down the state’s abortion ban and restoring women’s rights to make their own medical decisions. Fair Fight Action is hosting textbanks for Barrow ahead of the May 21st vote, starting Thursday at 5:30pm. Let’s sign up to get out the vote for a pro-reproductive rights candidate here. (We can also write postcards for Barrow with Postcards to Voters.)
- DON’T BOO. VOTE! Let’s register to vote, check our registration, and get election reminders: TurboVote
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