Federal Action Alert – November 16, 2022

Produced by the Legislative Committee of the Coconino County Democratic Party and Democrats of the Red Rocks

A. We need Democrats to keep Congress in session for the rest of the calendar year to
minimize the potential harm Republicans can inflict if they achieve control of the US
House. We need to accomplish as much legislative cleanup as possible and prevent
hostage-taking in the incoming Congress. There are a number of critical funding
legislative actions needed in the short term. The Republicans have already expressed
the threat to oppose a raise in the debt ceiling without significant concessions on taking
back many of President Biden’s initiatives. There are critical social legislative actions we
must get in place considering what the Supreme Court is very likely to do in the coming
year. So, demand our representatives keep Congress working to get all this work done
NOW and not leave any significant work to the next Congress!!

B. Our Representatives MUST act to get the Save Oak Flat Act passed in this Congress!!
The Save Oak Flat Act will right a wrong, protect the religious freedom of indigenous
people, save an important recreational area, and protect the plants and animals that
inhabit this biologically rich part of the Tonto National Forest in Arizona. The act repeals
Section 3003 of the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which currently allows the
US Government to give Oak Flat, a sacred recreational and ecological haven, that is US
Public Land, to foreign mining companies. Measures to implement the Act were
introduced in the House and the Senate back in 2021. If this Congress doesn’t act, the
whole process would need to start over again. Demand our Representatives get the
Save Oak Flat Act passed!!

C. We are very close to getting the Respect for Marriage Act passed in the US Senate. A
bi-partisan group of Senators have expressed confidence that the agreements reached
are sufficient to get the Act passed. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Sdhumer has filed a
motion to set up a procedural vote to advance the bill as soon as tomorrow-
Wednesday. The Act repeals the Defense of Marriage Act and safeguards interracial
marriages by requiring that valid marriages are recognized regardless of “sex, race,
ethnicity or national origin.” The amendment worked out in the Senate ensures that
non-profit religious organizations will not be required to provide services, facilities or
goods for the celebration of a same sex marriage. It also makes clear that the bill does
not authorize the federal government to recognize polygamous marriage. Not the best
adjustment but if it gets the Act approved its worth it. If the Senate version is passed it
will need to be reauthorized by the House. Get our Senators to get this DONE!!!

Sen. Mark Kelly: Call (202) 224-2235 (DC); Email via his website at
https://www.kelly.senate.gov/contact/. Tag the Senator at @senmarkkelly.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema: Call (202) 224-4521 (DC) or (602) 598-7327. Email via her website at
https://www.sinema.senate.gov/contact-kyrsten. 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

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