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 8/3/17

The Rogan’s List Team is on vacation from July 30 through August 13, but because of the extension of the Senate calendar we have decided to run a smaller list during this time. We look forward to being back to the full list on August 14.

Contact Federal Government Officials

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Search all members of Congress here:  https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/current
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Find senators’ Twitter and Facebook Accounts here:
Find representatives on Twitter here:

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If your senators and reps aren't saved in your phone yet,
text your US postal address to (520) 200-2223 and get a text back with their contact information.

1.       Congress has heard our voices, and is proposing cutting far less from the EPA budget than Trump wants. (http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/341507-house-bill-would-cut-epa-funding-by-528m) But they’re still Republicans, and they’re still planning on a 7% reduction in EPA funding… on top of the 20 percent they’ve cut since 2010. And this is just the beginning of the unacceptable environmental policies included in the FY2018 Interior & Environmental Appropriations bill. Let’s call our members of Congress and tell them we want them to vote no on this unless there are NO cuts to the EPA.

2.      The Republican regime has tucked three (3) riders into appropriations bills that would bar federal agencies from enforcing campaign finance laws. http://billmoyers.com/story/latest-sneaky-attempt-increase-corporate-political-power/  Let's tell our Representatives that we know these sneaky riders are there and we oppose them.

3.      The Trump administration is moving quickly to fill empty judicial seats with conservatives. http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-judges-attorneys-nominations-2017-7 Ilyse Hogue, current president of NARAL, says this should concern us, since more than a few of these are lifetime appointments (like Neil Gorsuch). http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/the-judiciary/343289-if-trump-packs-the-courts-expect-ideological-fury Next up for consideration is Amy Coney Barrett, of Indiana, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit (August 8). Alliance for Justice is opposed to her nomination for her pro-life stance. https://www.afj.org/our-work/nominees/amy-coney-barrett Let's let our Senators know that we're paying attention to these nominations and that we oppose her confirmation. We can check who's up for consideration next here: https://www.senate.gov/committees/committee_hearings.htm

4.      Republican Senators Tom Cotton and David Perdue received Trump's endorsement of their RAISE Act on Wednesday. (http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/02/trump-legal-immigration-reduction-bill-241249) This legislation would significantly reduce the number of refugees admitted to the United States each year, and would overhaul the immigration process, converting it to a points-based system where the most educated individuals gain priority.  http://bit.ly/2u0XTjb Let's give our senators a call to see where they stand on the RAISE Act, and to ask that they oppose this legislation.

5.      On Tuesday, it was reported that the Department of Justice is seeking lawyers to investigate discrimination against white students via affirmative action admission policies. http://bit.ly/2u0xYIuThis attack on civil rights is unacceptable, as affirmative action is a key tool in fighting back against discrimination, creating more equitable conditions. 5calls has more information, as well as a phone number and call script we can use to call the Department of Justice and voice our opposition: https://5calls.org/issue/recxdBa3iAqAKHMBU

6.      The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is planning to waive environmental laws in constructing the border wall. (http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/01/540892890/homeland-security-to-waive-environmental-rules-on-border-wall-projects) We need to be aware of ways our government is circumventing the rules. Let’s write to the acting DHS secretary so they will know that we are watching and we do not approve: Acting Secretary Elaine Duke, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528.

7.      The President of the National Federation of the Blind has written a piece on The Hill, calling on cosponsors of H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017, to withdraw their support http://bit.ly/2tJqD4d H.R. 620 would create unnecessary challenges in the litigation process for those with disabilities who wish to file a complaint against a business not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Let's make sure our representatives are not a cosponsor of this bill, and if they are ask them to withdraw their support https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/620/cosponsors We can also make sure our representatives, even if they are not a cosponsor, know that we oppose this bill.
State Actions

1.       GA: As part of Georgia’s off-year voter roll maintenance, nearly 600,000 “inactive voter” registrations have been cancelled (http://bit.ly/2uhuuAA). For those of us who had registered to vote in Georgia, let’s make sure to double-check our current voter registration status: https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do.

2.      RI: Those of us who live in State Senate District 13 (Newport/Jamestown) have a special election coming up August 22! Candidates are Democrat Dawn Euer https://electdawneuer.com/ , Republican Michael Smith http://votemikesmith.com/ , Green Party Gregory Larson (appears not to have a website), and Independent Kimberly Ripoli (appears not to have a website). We  can vote on Election Day, Aug 22, 2017, or by Emergency Mail Ballot http://www.elections.state.ri.us/voting/emergency.php (Aug 2-21). We can find polling places and more here: https://vote.sos.ri.gov/

Other Actions

1.       For those of us who aren’t already, we register to vote and find our polling places here http://www.canivote.org/! Voting is the ultimate act of resistance. Elections matter at all levels—federal, state, and local. For example, while Washington, DC, is pushing a radically conservative agenda, Connecticut reformed its bail system so poor people won’t be jailed just because they’re poor (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/connecticut-bail-reform_us_59382ca2e4b0b13f2c660f04); Oregon passed sweeping pro-reproductive rights legislation (http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2017/07/06/oregon_passes_sweeping_law_enshrining_abortion_rights_and_funding_for_all.html); and the Kent City Council in Ohio strengthened its LGBTQ anti-discrimination ordinance (http://www.kentwired.com/latest_updates/article_d4fdf31a-6328-11e7-98d5-5fd843f9d124.html). Let’s make sure we’re registered to vote, and then let’s vote in *every* election—even for dogcatcher.

2.      Prisoners in a St. Louis jail have been suffering in triple-digit temperatures without air conditioning (http://www.cbsnews.com/news/st-louis-jail-to-add-portable-ac-units-mayor-says/). Activist attention has helped get the city to respond, but we need to do everything we can to help these folks out. One thing we can do is contribute to National Bail Out’s efforts to GET these folks out, since many of them are only there because they cannot afford their bail. Let’s help them get back to their families by donating at nomoremoneybail.org.


Rogan’s List is a participant in and strategic partner of the Action Alliance,
            a loosely-federated group of organizations that, in the wake of the
2016 election, are sharing daily or weekly calls to action.
Other member sites are listed here: https://www.actionalliance.co/  --scroll down and click through and you'll find many more opportunities to make a difference.
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Rogan’s List is also part of RISE Stronger’s United States of Resistance

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