Rogan's List

9/11/17                                                            http://roganslist.blogspot.com/

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Many newspapers, including New York Times and Washington Post require subscriptions, but without one we can see a few articles each month.  We can also check with our local libraries to find out how to get online access through them.

1.      This week in Congress: Thirteen (13) bills will be brought to the floor this week in the House of Representatives. Let's take a look at them on govtrack.us.  Let's recall from some of our prior experiences that bills with nice names might mislead us as to what they do.  We can also take a look at the subjects of hearings for the House committee and subcommittees for this week fromhouse.gov.

2.      Hurricanes Harvey and Irma (not to mention Katia and Jose) make it more urgent than ever to help Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) gather Congressional support for HR 3671, “Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future Act,” (https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/3671/text ) which she has just introduced.  It would move the U.S. electricity, auto, and rail systems to 100% renewable energy by 2035, end all federal fossil fuel subsidies, place a moratorium on new fossil fuel projects, and provide for a just transition for those most impacted, including communities of color and low-income areas on the front lines of climate and pollution fights. Off Fossil Fuels has a sign-up to help us to get our MoCs to sponsor this act: http://go.offfossilfuels.org/signup/fossil-fuels-off-act-volunteer-form/

3.      According to the US Senate Calendar, the Senate will convene at 3pm on Monday to  resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.2810, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018.  The White House has issues with this bill as noted in this article in "The Hill."  "The administration's specific objections to the bill include a prohibition on new base closures, changes to how the president can curtail military pay raises, organizational changes at the Pentagon, steps to develop a missile that would violate a treaty and a continued prohibition on recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea, among a slew of other provisions."  Let's be aware that the Senate may try to sneak in provisions this week. Let's be prepared to let our Senators know what we think.

4.      Alaska Congressman Don Young spoke with great condescension to a female colleague in the House: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/349763-house-republican-causes-stir-after-saying-female-lawmaker-doesnt Let’s let him know that we are now 17 years into the 21st century: https://donyoung.house.gov/contact/

5.      In light of hurricane Irma, the mayor of Miami has asked Trump to talk about climate change.  http://thehill.com/news-by-subject/energy-environment/349955-gop-miami-mayor-calls-on-trump-to-talk-climate-change  Even though Pruitt does not think this is the time to talk about climate change (https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/09/fake-dichotomies/539259/) , let’s join Mayor Tomás Regalado in telling Trump we need to talk about it:  https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/write-or-call

6.      From one of our own:  Looks like funding for ACA outreach isn’t just cut. Grant letters have not gone out to outreach organizations and the current regime says no funding that goes out, if it goes out, will be retroactive to Sept. 1. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/9/8/16268572/trump-obamacare-navigators  It may be worthwhile to restart a Call /contact your MoC and Call/contact the WH campaign! Helping the ACA succeed is a vital part of fighting its repeal and replacement with anything Republicans would consider healthcare insurance.

7.      The Brennan Center, a non-partisan policy and law institute at NYU, posted an extremely informative Twitter thread, which focuses on voter suppression and Pence/Kobach's "Fraud Commission," as they relate to reliable data vs. the "fake facts" of the Heritage Foundation https://twitter.com/BrennanCenter/status/906218559650619394 Let's check out the thread, as well as the cited sources, then use it to inform our phone calls as we contact our MoC and ask them to speak out against Pence and Kobach's voter fraud commission. We can also contact the members of the officially named "Commission on Election Integrity", and ask that they dismantle the commission ASAP http://bit.ly/2u8dVdI

8.      The bipartisan joint resolution, S.J. Res. 49, ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/49?r=95) condemns white nationalists, white supremacists, the KKK, neo-Nazis, and other hate groups.  This is a joint resolution, so if it passes both the Senate and the House, it will be sent to Trump to sign into law.  By signing it, Trump will acknowledge that a “domestic terrorist attack” occurred in Charlottesville, and urge his Cabinet and Administration to use all available resources to improve data collection on hate crimes and to work in a coordinated way to address the growing prevalence of hate groups.  The NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and the Anti-Defamation League, all back this resolution. http://www.newsweek.com/trump-charlottesville-white-supremacists-republicans-660661 Let’s call our senators and representative to let them know that we support this resolution.  If any of our MoCs are co-sponsors, let’s thank them.  If they are not, ask that they become one.

9.      The House is expected to vote this Tuesday on a bill that criminalizes immigrants, including those fleeing gang violence, and allows more of them to be detained and deported. It also affects vulnerable populations such as asylum seekers, TPS holders, and unaccompanied children (http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2017/sep/08/labrador-announces-legislation-targeting-criminal-alien-gang-members/). Let’s join Indivisible in calling our reps and telling them to vote no on H.R. 3697.

State Actions

1.      VA: Virginia’s entire House of Delegates—100 seats—is up for election this year. There’s a massive effort to flip the state’s lower chamber blue. *If we’re in Virginia, let’s make sure we don’t miss this important deadline: October 16, 2017.* That’s the last day to register to vote, or update an existing registration, for the November 7, 2017, general election. Let’s make sure our progressive family and friends know about this deadline, too.

Other Actions

1.      In case we missed this photo, check it out! It’s a wonderful, wonderfully clever, installation by the French artist JR, visible only from the California side of the (already existing) Mexican border wall: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/08/549491208/as-boy-peers-curiously-over-border-wall-his-artist-asks-what-is-he-thinking Let’s thank the artist in a comment on his Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/JRartiste/ or on Twitter:  @JRart

2.      The National Cathedral has made the decision to remove two stained glass windows honoring confederate leaders Lee and Jackson: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/06/548929726/national-cathedral-is-removing-stained-glass-windows-honoring-confederate-leader Let’s take a moment to say thanks: https://cathedral.org/contact-us/

3.      Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett has come forward about his encounter with racial profiling and police brutality late last month http://n.pr/2wINue9 The Las Vegas Police Department has been slow to respond to requests for video footage, and there seems to be an extreme lack of transparency https://usat.ly/2xXRUhL As Bennett stated, "I have always held a strong conviction that protesting or standing up for justice is just simply, the right thing to do." Let's stand up for Michael Bennett. We can sign on to MomsRising's letter, asking that the Las Vegas Police Department release police footage and the names of the police officers involved in the incident:  http://action.momsrising.org/sign/Justice_For_Michael_Bennett/We can also contact the police department directly: Address: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department 400 S. Martin L. King Boulevard Las Vegas, Nevada  89106 Phone: 702-828-3394 e-mail: PIO@lvmpd.com

4.      This month, Organizing For Action ( https://www.ofa.us/faq/ ) will be focusing efforts on voter registration and community building, culminating in a day of action on National Voter Registration Day, September 26th. We can sign up to participate and receive information on upcoming actions for voter registration efforts https://www.ofa.us/help-us-build-a-fair-democracy/We can also make sure that we register for and listen in on the first Voter Registration Prep Call this Wednesday evening: http://bit.ly/2eOMwVG

5.      As Floridians endure, then recuperate from, Hurricane Irma, local community organizations will be essential to ensuring that residents get the help they need. This rings even more true for Florida residents who live in poverty, undocumented immigrants, and other marginalized communities. Over a dozen grassroots organizations have partnered to create the Hurricane Irma Community Fund. For those of us with the means, we can donate to help fund relief efforts here: http://bit.ly/2wQuAns"California plans its own lawsuit against the federal government because it is disproportionately harmed by President Trump's plan to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said Wednesday.  With a quarter of the 800,000 DACA participants coming from California, the state and its economy will be hurt more than other states, Becerra said, “I think everyone recognizes the scope and breadth of the Trump decision to terminate DACA hits hardest here,” Becerra said in an interview. The federal lawsuit will be filed in California, he said."  15 other states have joined together to file their own lawsuit.  http://www.latimes.com/politics/essential/la-pol-ca-essential-politics-updates-california-will-file-separate-lawsuit-1504736029-htmlstory.html

6.      When our leaders listen to experts in their fields, like scientists, instead of industry and donors, we are all better off.  Al Gore predicted that hurricanes like Irma would happen due to climate change.  http://www.newsweek.com/climate-change-made-hurricane-irma-worse-al-gore-warned-would-happen-people-661935 Let’s thank Mr. Gore at The Climate Reality Project (https://www.climaterealityproject.org/content/contact-us) where he is on the board and let’s also encourage our MoCs to rely on experts and specialists who have facts instead of profit in mind.

7.      One of the most important things we can do now to help DACA recipients is make sure those with their status expiring between now and March 5, 2018 get their renewal applications in to DHS no later than October 5th(http://www.businessinsider.com/when-does-daca-end-what-happens-recipients-2017-9).  Lawyers for Good Government are coordinating with immigration groups all over the country to organize "rapid fire" clinics held between now and October 5 to assist DACA recipients complete their renewal forms. Those of us who are lawyers can sign up to volunteer at these clinics here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/volunteer-for-daca-clinics-lawyers-needed. 

Petitions

1.      We all know the NRA donated to Trump's campaign. We've also seen a surge in state laws that loosen safety restrictions on gun purchases and ownership. The latest push by the corporate gun lobby is to "profit gun companies by gutting silencer safety requirements." Let's sign this petition to "tell Congress: OPPOSE roll back of gun silencer safety laws -- and don't put gun industry profits over public safety! http://act.everytown.org/sign/tell-congress-oppose-silencers-bill/ http://act.everytown.org/sign/tell-congress-oppose-silencers-bill/

2.      Let’s tell Congress that we want the Voting Rights Act fixed!  https://act.credoaction.com/sign/voting_rights_amendment_act/

Marches/events/teleconferences to attend/organize

1.      Care2 presents:  an online webinar called "Creative Activism: Using Creativity To Create Change Featuring Special Guest Ani DiFranco" on Friday, September 15th at 4pm ET (1pm PT).  We can use this link to RSVP and get more information:  https://www.crowdcast.io/e/creative-activism-with/register

2.      On Sept. 29, former sheriff Joe Arpaio will be the speaker at a Fresno Republican Party event. Fresno Resistance is planning a protest outside the event place, but are requesting that those who participate also stop by and support the restaurant that will be impacted by the protest.  For more information, we can check here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1999846420228337

 Reading/Watching

1.      “If we can learn to talk about the hard things, we can begin to find common ground, areas of agreement that transcend our differences. It would be a good start in trying to solve the intransigent problems that we face.”  https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-right-way-to-have-difficult-conversations-1504895455

2.      "Experts in authoritarianism advise to keep a list of things subtly changing around you, so you’ll remember." Amy Siskind is keeping track. For week 43 she writes, "This week the Mueller probe edged towards engulfing Trump’s entire inner-circle. ... Facebook finally admitted to the company’s role in allowing Russian bots to infiltrate our election ... the Trump regime continued its assault on marginalized communities and women, rescinding DACA and taking away protections for victims of campus sexual assault. A second major hurricane illuminated the extent to which the Trump regime has already deconstructed federal agencies like the EPA and State Department." Let's review Amy Siskind's list week 43

3.      “Justice remains elusive on 9/11 anniversary” - http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/justice-remains-elusive-911-anniversary-170910123831518.html

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

https://risestronger.org/resist