Produced by Coconino County Democratic Party and Democrats of the Red Rocks
THIS WEEK’S ALERTS: The roadblocks and obstruction of key legislative priorities is hugely frustrating – not to mention the looming threat of the loss of our rights to bodily autonomy, privacy, and other protections. But still the everyday business of the federal government continues, and in so many arenas we can still accomplish good. This week’s alert features three issues where there could actually be positive bipartisan action:
- Recovering America’s Wildlife Act – help push this across the finish line!
- Tell the EPA to take strong action to regulate polluting trucks – deadline is midnight on Monday, May 16!
- Support accountability and justice for the tragic abuses of tribal children in Native American boarding schools
Contact information for our elected officials is at the bottom of this alert.
A. Help move an important piece of conservation legislation (and funding) to completion. A significant new piece of legislation, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, is moving toward debate and vote in the full House and Senate. This bill authorizes substantial annual spending to take concrete conservation actions to protect and restore dwindling wildlife species, from birds and mammals to freshwater mussels. Each of the 50 states has already adopted a detailed plan identifying its threatened wildlife and habitats, and outlining necessary actions for recovery. Importantly, the federal legislation allocates funds to states for them to address the highest priorities, including moving proactively to prevent additional species becoming so imperiled as to require federal listing as threatened or endangered. And for the first time, funds would be available to allocate to tribes so that they can better act as stewards of their traditional lands and resources. A good summary of this legislation can be found at https://www.nwf.org/recoverwildlife . Our legislators have all signed on as cosponsors – but as the time nears for this bill to be voted on by full Senate and House, we can remind them of its importance in protecting our natural heritage.
Sample voice mail or message to Senators Sinema and Kelly, and Rep. O’Halleran: My name is XXXX, and I live and vote in XXXX, AZ. I’m calling/writing to thank you for signing as a co-sponsor of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S 2372, HR 2773). Our wildlife, fish, and open landscapes are irreplaceable pieces of our natural heritage – as well as providing the basis for a huge outdoors and recreation economy. But too many of our wildlife species – from well-loved icons like eagles and pronghorns, to less visible but important freshwater species – are struggling! I appreciate the bipartisan support for this bill, providing more meaningful support for states to carry out their highest priority conservation plans. And it’s also exciting to see that tribes would receive some funding to carry out their own stewardship programs. Please help get this bill to the floor of the Senate/House for a vote soon – and please urge your colleagues to pass it.
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
B. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new regulations to limit pollution from commercial diesel trucks, and taking public comment through May 16, 2022 – but the new regulations are far weaker than they should be. Data show that pollution from diesel trucks causes thousands of premature deaths annually – especially in poor and marginalized communities near industrial sites, waste processing locations, border crossings, and the like. The EPA announced proposed new regulations back in February, but appears to be favoring far less rigorous rules than many states are now pursuing on their own. And the new rules virtually ignore the huge potential for zero-emission (electric) vehicles. (If you want to dig into the specific pros and cons of the proposed rules, see https://blog.ucsusa.org/dave-cooke/epa-recognizes-problem-of-truck-pollution-but-hesitates-on-solution/ . The EPA’s rules, their background on the issue, and transcripts from hearings they have already held can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/proposed-rule-and-related-materials-control-air-1 ) The EPA is taking public comment through midnight on Monday, May 16, 2022. Two easy ways to submit comments:
— via the Union of Concerned Scientists Fast Action comment portal: https://secure.ucsusa.org/a/2022-time-for-zero-emission-trucks
— or via email directly to the EPA: Email: . Include Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR– 2019–0055 in the subject line of the message.
Tell them why air pollution from diesel trucks is a personal concern of yours, why they should take strong action now, and why you think it’s urgent to begin incorporating zero emissions vehicles in our commercial trucking fleet in the very near future.
C. Last week the US Department of Interior released a major report on the history and treatment of Native children in federal boarding schools across the US. For decades thousands of children were removed from their families and home communities, forced to abandon use of their native languages, and acculturated and prepared for (usually) menial service jobs. Health care was often minimal and over the years many children died or at least news of them never reached home. After scores of graves were discovered at the sites of various Canadian boarding schools for Indigenous children, our Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland initiated an investigation of the history of such schools in the US. The initial report has identified more than 400 schools and found more than 50 burial sites so far. Because Arizona has so many federally recognized tribes, our legislators will be important to next steps – including the possible establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Representative O’Halleran has already signed as a cosponsor of the bill that would establish such a commission (similar to one set up in Canada) – but our Senators have not yet signed as co-sponsors.
Sample message for Senators Kelly and Sinema: “My name is XXXX, and I am a voter and constituent in YYYY, Arizona. Last week’s release of the initial Interior report about Native American boarding schools and their impacts on children, families, and communities was both eye-opening and sobering. We can start to see what the persistent effects of those schools and policies have been – all the attempts to wipe out the rich tribal cultures of our original peoples. Given how important Arizona’s tribes are, I was pleased to see that Congressman O’Halleran is a cosponsor of HR 5444, the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act – but I was really surprised to see that you haven’t yet signed as a cosponsor on the Senate equivalent, S 2907. Please show respect and honor for our tribal neighbors by supporting S 2907 and using your influence to advance reconciliation.”
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. Kelly: Call (202) 224-2235 (DC). Email via website at Home » Senator Mark Kelly (senate.gov) Tag the Senator @SenMarkKelly
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