Federal Action Alert – July 31, 2021

Produced by The Coconino County Democratic Party & Democrats of the Red Rocks

SUPPORT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT!!

Republicans know they can’t win on their bigoted, unpopular platform alone. It’s why they’ve returned to Jim Crow tactics — gerrymandering election maps, rewriting voting rules, denying voters access to the ballot, and even penalizing poll workers — all to clear a path back to power during the 2022 midterm elections.


The attacks on voting rights in state legislatures are ramping up. Just last week, Texas lawmakers fled the state to block the passage of another anti-voter bill that would have made it harder for Black and brown voters to cast their ballots.

These legislators took their fight all the way to D.C. where they demanded that Congress protect our freedom to vote by passing the For the People Act. 


On August 16, the Census Bureau is scheduled to release data from the 2020 census to the states. Without the anti-gerrymandering protections in the For the People Act, states could draw up even more partisan districts, further dilute the political power of communities of color, and stack the deck for Congressional elections for at least another 10 years.

The stakes are high and time is short. We need to flood Senate offices with calls demanding a stronger democracy with voting protections for ALL.


The Senate can protect our freedom to vote and secure our elections by passing the For the People Act (S.1). But if they don’t do it soon, states will not have enough time to implement the legislation before the 2022 midterm elections. That means millions of voters, especially Black and brown, rural, and disabled voters, will be disenfranchised due to anti-democratic voter suppression laws. It’s time for the Senate to act.

(Source: Daily Kos)

Call Senator Mark Kelly at (202) 224-2235 and Senator Kyrsten Sinema at (202) 224-4521. Urge them to honor the will of the people and pass the For the People Act. Here is a message you can leave when you get an aide or voicemail: 

“Hello, my name is xxxxxxxxxxxx calling from xxxxx in the city of xxxxxxxx. The right to vote is at the very heart of democracy and must be defended for EVERY voter, regardless of party. Voter suppression in all its forms is wrong. Use every tool available to pass S.1, the For the People Act. Thank you. “

INVESTIGATE THE FBI FAILURE TO EFFECTIVELY VET BRETT KAVANAUGH!!

On July 22, news broke that the FBI finally disclosed more details about its inquiry into Brett Kavanaugh, further confirming how gravely the Bureau mishandled the case and utterly disrespected Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Debbie Ramirez.

As expected, the news also implicates the Trump White House. In a June 30 letter to Sens. Whitehouse and Coons, FBI assistant director Jill C. Tyson wrote that the most “relevant” of a staggering 4,500 tips the agency received were referred to White House counsel.

As explained in a response from some Senate Democrats, the FBI did not reveal the tip line’s policies or procedures, how they reviewed or assessed those tips, or whether any of the people who called in “relevant” tips were ever interviewed.

The Senate Judiciary Committee must immediately examine and hold public hearings on the handling of the Brett Kavanaugh investigation by the FBI and Trump’s White House counsel.

Our senators cannot meet this sham with silence. In this moment, they must rise—for democracy, for justice, for truth, and most importantly, for Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, Debbie Ramirez, and all survivors. 


Call Senator Mark Kelly at (202) 224-2235 and Senator Kyrsten Sinema at (202) 224-4521. Urge them to work with their fellow Senators to have the Senate Judiciary Committee investigate the inquiry into Brett Kavanaugh now! Here is a message you can leave when you get an aide or voicemail: 

“Hello, my name is xxxxxxxxx calling from zip code xxxxx in the city of xxxxxxxx and I urge you to immediately work with your colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee to open an investigation into the FBI’s handling of its inquiry into Brett Kavanaugh. The most relevant tips of a staggering 4500 total about Brett Kavanaugh were referred to the White House counsel and it would seem, never investigated!  The public demands answers.”

Environment

One item related to wildlife, and an opportunity to support an ambitious Civilian Climate Corps as part of the Democrats’ proposed infrastructure bill.

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

Rep. O’Halleran: Call (202) 225-3361 or send an email via his website at http://www.ohalleran.house.gov

  1. Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (HR 2773) has strong support in the House of Representatives, including 100 co-sponsors. Thank Representative O’Halleran for signing on as a co-sponsor:

Sample text for comment or phone call:

 “My name is X X, and I am a voter and constituent in Y, Arizona. I’m calling/writing to thank Representative O’Halleran for co-sponsoring HR 2773, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Wildlife conservation is very important to me [add something personal about why], and this legislation would really make a difference by assisting states in funding their highest-priority species conservation efforts. The collaborative approach – partnerships between federal and state agencies, and cooperative efforts engaging private landowners – is so important to sustainable and successful conservation and recovery of rare species. Thank you again for co-sponsoring – I look forward to the passage of this bill in the House of Representatives and eventually the Senate.”

  1. Recently more than 80 Democrats in the US Senate and House signed a letter supporting the concept of a well-funded Civilian Climate Corps as one key element in the proposed Democratic bill for infrastructure (to be pushed through the reconciliation mechanism). You can read about this effort here (Democrats lay out vision for Civilian Climate Corps | TheHill ) – the article includes a link to the letter itself. The signatories span the full political spectrum of Democrats; they disagree on various specifics for implementation and funding, but all are willing to voice strong support for the concept of this new version of a CCC. They cite the benefits to young people early in their working lives, to communities and economies, and to future generations through climate-friendly projects. Disappointingly, O’Halleran, Sinema, and Kelly are not among the signers! Call or email to urge them to add their support for this CCC concept and funding:

Sample text: 

“My name is X X, and I am a voter and constituent in Y, Arizona. I was very disappointed to see that Representative O’Halleran [or Senator Sinema, or Senator Kelly] is not one of the 80 Democrats signing the public letter of support for ensuring a well-funded Civilian Climate Corps will be part of the Democratic proposal for infrastructure funding. There are so many places in Arizona and elsewhere around the country where we still see and enjoy the products of past CCC labor in the 1930’s. And as a public relief program the CCC helped to rebuild our economy after the Great Depression. A Civilian Climate Corps would bring the same relief and the same assistance for young people as we rebuild from the pandemic’s efforts. While there are many specifics about details and about funding to be worked out, I believe it is vital to include some well-funded version of a Climate Corps in our efforts to build back better. I urge Representative O’Halleran [or Senator Sinema, or Senator Kelly] to make a public statement of support for the CCC in unity with his/her fellow Democrats.”

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