Federal Action Alert – 2/20/2022

Produced by Coconino Democrats and Democrats of the Red Rocks

THIS WEEK’S ALERTS: LET’S STAND UP FOR WOMEN THIS WEEK!  REAUTHORIZE VAWA, SUPPORT THE PREGNANT WORKERS PROTECTION ACT AND THE PUMP ACT ALLOWING EMPLOYEE BREAKS FOR BREASTFEEDING. SUPPORT THE CLIMATE SOLUTIONS ACT.

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 violenceservices, prevention, housing, and sexual assault forensic examinations. A summary of the Senate bill can be found here. It’s time for the Senate to swiftly pass the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 and send it to the House for a vote.  Join us in urging our senators to cosponsor (neither Arizona senator is yet a co-sponsor) and vote in favor of this bill. Just click here to automatically send an email! You can find social media posts and graphics here.

B.  ASK OUR SENATORS TO CO-SPONSOR THE PREGNANT WORKERS’ FAIRNESS ACT!    

      

      The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act passed the House last May.  This bill prohibits employment practices that do not make reasonable accommodations for qualified employees affected by pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.  It would also ban taking adverse actions against a qualified employee requesting or using such reasonable accommodations. The bill sets forth enforcement procedures and remedies to be utilized by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.  The Senate will be taking up the Act and we need to be sure that our Senators become co-sponsors.  They are not currently co-sponsors.  

Sample script to our Senators:  “My name is XXXXX and I live and vote in XXXXX, AZ.  I am very concerned about women’s issues – in particular in the workplace.  I know you share those concerns.  I am asking that you become of a co-sponsor of the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act to bring a level of needed fairness for women who work during their pregnancies. 

 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.

C.  ASK SENATORS TO CO-SPONSOR THE PUMP FOR NURSING MOTHERS ACT (S. 1658)

The PUMP ACT would require employers to provide reasonable break time and a private, non-bathroom space for breastfeeding employees to pump during the workday. The bill has passed the House.  Neither of our Senators is a co-sponsor yet, even though there is some bi-partisan support for the Act in the Senate. 

Sample script to our Senators:  My name is XXXX and I live and vote in XXXXX, Arizona.  I am very concerned about women’s issues.  I see you are not yet a co-sponsor of two very important bills pending in the Senate that directly affect women.  Please sign on, as a co-sponsor, and promote the passage of the PUMP Act for Nursing Mothers. The PUMP Act would give nursing mothers reasonable break time to pump breast milk.  I think our new mothers deserve your co-sponsorship of this important legislation.  

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.

D. ASK REP. O’HALLERAN TO SUPPORT RENEWABLE ENERGY (HR 6351, CLIMATE SOLUTIONS ACT)  This bill imposes a national renewable energy standard, rising to 100 percent of all retail electricity in 2035. Given the struggles around the Build Back Better proposals, it is important to pursue multiple avenues toward significant action on climate change – and this proposal, introduced at the end of December 2021, is one specific policy action deserving attention. Our congressman is a member of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, to which this bill has been assigned.

Sample script for Rep. O’Halleran: “My name is xxxx, and I’m a voter and constituent in yyyy, Arizona. I’m painfully aware of how serious climate change impacts already are in our region – fires, floods, drought. And I’m frustrated that so many good climate-related actions are being held up in the delays around the Build Back Better Act. For that reason, I urge you to sign on as a co-sponsor for HR 6351, the Climate Solutions Act, recently referred to the House Energy & Commerce Committee. An ambitious national standard for renewable energy, with aggressive target dates, would really move the needle and help keep the US up to date with global commitments. And Arizona ought to benefit as a key producer of renewable energy! Please signal your support by co-sponsoring, and help move this bill through committee to the House floor.”

Rep. Tom O’Halleran: Call (202) 225-3361 (DC) or email via website at https://ohalleran.house.gov/contact  Tag the Congressman @RepOHalleran 

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