Produced by Coconino County Democratic Party and Democrats of the Red Rocks
THIS WEEK’S ALERTS:
A. Encourage our representatives to support the portions of President Biden’s proposed
FY 23 budget investing in climate, clean energy, and environmental justice.
B. Provide comments to the US Department of Transportation about the many challenges
and rights violations encountered by wheelchair users during air travel – DEADLINE
4/25/22!
C. Tell our representatives to support the Stop Child Hunger Act and make the summer
Electronics Benefits Transfer (EBT) program to feed poor kids while school is out
permanent.
Contact information for our elected officials is at the bottom of this alert.
A. President Biden recently released a detailed budget proposal for next fiscal year. Now is not too soon to communicate with our representatives about elements important to us – including environmental and climate change issues. Audubon (President Biden’s Budget Proposal Advances Clean Energy, Climate Resilience and Equity Goals | Audubon ) points out that the president has proposed
-$3.3 billion for clean energy projects
-$1.8 billion to help the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior strengthen federal firefighting services
– $1.45 billion toward Justice 40 initiatives to advance racial equity, clean up pollution, and
create good-paying jobs for front-line communities among other items of interest.
Call our Senators and Representative O’Halleran to explain why it is important to you for the budget to make these investments in the environment and equity.
B. Many persons use wheelchairs, either on a daily/routine basis or on special occasions such as navigating through airports and accessing travel services (e.g., flights). But wheelchairs and other mobility devices are frequently lost or damaged during air travel. This in turn can lead not just to inconvenient delays but great expense, loss of mobility and access, and even injury or death for travelers dependent on their (often customized) devices. The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund has detailed information on aspects of this chronic problem and has been encouraging travelers and their families to provide feedback to the US Department of Transportation, which is considering means of improving access to air travel by wheelchair users and others with mobility limitations. On the DREDF website ( USDOT March 24th Public Meeting on Air Travel by Wheelchair Users – Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (dredf.org) ) you can find information from a
recent DoT hearing on this topic and a list of specific questions and issues on which the Department wants to hear from the public. Comments are being accepted until April 25, 2022, on Regulations.gov – the DREDF page has detailed instructions on how to use this site and provide information on your experiences.
C. For kids who rely on school meal programs, summer months can be hungry months!
There is a program that we know works and has been piloted in a number of areas across the country. It is called the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program. It provides
grocery cards to help families purchase breakfast and lunch during the summer and when
school is closed. Senator Murray (D-WA), Representatives Levin (D-CA) and Hayes (D-CT)
have introduced the Stop Child Hunger Act which would make the Summer EBT pilot a
permanent, nationwide program. In its pilot version the program was shown to reduce hunger among children by almost 1/3 and increased the consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other nutritious food. We know this program works!! Tell our representatives to support the Stop Child Hunger Act!!
Sen. Mark Kelly: Call (202) 224-2235 (DC), Email via his website at http://www.kelly.senate.gov Tag the Senator at @senmarkkelly.
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 .
Rep. Tom O’Halleran: Call (202) 225-3361 (DC) or email via website at
https://ohalleran.house.gov/contact Tag the Congressman @RepOHalleran