FEDERAL ACTION ALERT – Feb. 12, 2021
Produced by Democrats of the Red Rocks and Coconino County Democratic Party
THIS WEEK’S ALERTS: PASS VAWA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2022; PROD SENATE TO PASS A CLIMATE PROTECTION BILL; URGE EPA TO DO ITS JOB ON CLEAN AIR; SIGN THE PETITION TO END PLASTICS POLLUTION
A. URGE SENATORS TO REAUTHORIZE THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT (VAWA)!:
The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 has just been introduced in the Senate. This important bill reflects a bipartisan consensus that the government needs to do more to prevent and to respond to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. The bill addresses the many needs identified during extensive engagement with the sexual and domestic violence field including expanding resources for sexual assault and domestic violence services, prevention, housing, and sexual assault forensic examinations. A summary of the Senate bill can be found here. Its time for the Senate to swiftly pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 and send it to the House for a vote. TAKE ACTION! Join us in urging our senators to cosponsor and vote in favor of this bill. Just click hereto automatically send an email! You can find social media posts and graphics here. |
| Kind regards, Tasha Menaker Chief Strategy Officer Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence tasha@acesdv.org |
Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 and send it to the House for a vote.
B. We Need a Climate Change Bill Now in the Senate; Thank Rep. O’Halleran for prodding the President and Senate
A cross-ideological coalition of 20 House Democrats, including Tom O’Halleran, has called on the President Biden to advance a robust climate protection bill. The Bill would invest $555 billion to combat climate change. The House Democrats wrote in a letter this week to Pres. Biden focusing entirely on climate protection, “The time for you to work with the Senate to finalize and pass the strongest and most comprehensive version of the Build Back Better Act that can get 50 Senate votes is right now.” The bill will have to accommodate some of Sen. Manchin’s concerns to get passed. According to CNBC, the $555 billion investment “would help the U.S. get roughly halfway to meeting the administration’s pledge to curb emissions in half from 2005 levels by 2030 according to the nonpartisan analysis firm Rhodium Group.”
Let’s urge our Senators to sign on and let’s also thank Rep. O’Halleran for signing the letter!
Sample Voice Mail for Senators: “I live and vote in XXXX, Arizona. I am extremely concerned about climate change. I see that moderate House Democrats are calling for the Senate to pass a stand-alone climate change bill that would invest $555 billion over ten years. I’m strongly urging you to sign on co-sponsor and support these noble efforts. The future of our planet and our children depend on you!”
Sen. Sinema: Call (202) 224-4521 (DC) or (602) 598-7327. Email via her website at “http://www.sinema.senate.gov” Tag the Senator at @senatorsinema .
Sen. Mark Kelley: Call (202) 224-2235 (DC), Email via his website at http://www.kelly.senate.gov Tag the Senator at @senmarkkelly. Senator Kelly sits on the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Committee on Aging.
Sample Voice Mail for Rep. O’Halleran: “I live and vote in XXXXX, Arizona. I want to thank you for signing on to Rep. Mike Levin’s January 31, 2022 letter calling on President Biden to advance a climate protection bill in the Senate. I so appreciate you standing up for our planet and future generations!”
Rep. Tom O’Halleran: Call (202) 225-3361 or send an email via his website at http://www.ohalleran.house.gov
C. Prod the EPA to go after 39 states (including AZ) for failing to submit required plans under the Clean Air Act
The Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Diné Citizens for a Healthy Environment and 35 other environmental groups have sent the EPA a Notice of Intent to Sue[1] alleging the EPA hasn’t enforced the latest round of regional haze rules under the Clean Air Act. 39 states, including Arizona, failed to file draft plans to reduce air pollution and reduce haze by last summer’s deadline.[2] EPA also failed to issue a formal finding that the states missed the cutoff date by its own deadline at the end of January.
The coal-fired Coronado and Springerville generating stations in eastern Arizona are some of the state’s biggest polluters, emitting sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that affect public health and the environment and create haze on public lands and elsewhere. Coal fired power plants and fires in California are commonly referenced as the sources for low visibility at the Grand Canyon and nearby tribal nations.
Sample email: Dear EPA Administrator Michael Regan, I live in northern Arizona and am very concerned that the EPA has failed to take action against Arizona and 38 other states that have failed to submit draft plans to reduce air pollution as required under the Clean Air Act. We are dealing with significant haze at the Grand Canyon and adjacent tribal nations. There is also significant pollution coming from power plants in eastern Arizona. Please protect our air and enforce the Clean Air Act.
Michael Regan, Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Ariel Rios Building
via email at
D. Sign the Petition for a Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution! Click on the link below and join people from all over the world petitioning the UN and national governments to enter into a global treaty to prevent plastics pollution. The picture below contains a thousand words!
But finally there’s hope. For the first time, more than 100 countries are now calling for a new global treaty to end plastic pollution! This is our chance to show huge global support for the most ambitious plan to end the plastic crisis. Add your name before governments meet – let’s be deafening! SIGN HERE |
[1] See https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/Notice%20of%20Intent%20Regional%20Haze%20Round%202%20Failure%20to%20Submit%20Feb%207%202022.pdf
[2] Much of this alert is taken from knau.org
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