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10/31/19

NATIONAL ISSUES




Fax legislators for free:

Or use Resistbot:  https://resist.bot/

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IMPEACHMENT: The drips are getting more frequent and louder in the Impeachment Inquiry against Trump. On Tuesday, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman testified that the “transcript” of Trump’s call to Ukraine was missing some key words:  
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/468048-white-house-official-says-transcript-of-ukraine-call-omitted-key-phrases  The House will vote today on going ahead with a full-scale impeachment process. Let’s continue our own drip, drip, drip of regular contact with our MoC to demand that this clearly corrupt president be impeached.  We can find where our House member stands by sending the message ‘Impeachment’ to Common Cause on Facebook.

THANKING DEM LEADERS: Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff are taking a lot of heat as the Impeachment Inquiry progresses:  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/pelosi-wants-americans-see-trial-donald-trump-n1073686  Let’s take a moment to thank them for their tireless leadership in hard times:  https://pelosi.house.gov  and  https://schiff.house.gov

CONDEMN REPUBLICAN SENATORS FOR RESOLUTION AGAINST IMPEACHMENT: Even as the evidence against Trump becomes more and more damning, Republicans are continuing to defend him. A Senate resolution condemning the House Impeachment process currently has the support of 50 Republican Senators. Only Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) have not signed on. https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/467954-mcconnell-gop-will-see-if-pelosis-impeachment-resolution-passes-the-smell. Let’s contact our Republican Senators and demand that they listen to the evidence and take it seriously, rather than simply looking for loopholes to defend the President. We should ask them if they would have the same stance if a Democrat were in the White House and ask them how they possibly can serve as impartial jurors if they are discounting anything that has been revealed.

IMPEACHMENT: From Indivisible: "As of today, more than 500 Indivisible volunteers have officially made 250,000 Hubdialer calls to friendly voters in key states and connected them with their Republican senators on impeachment. We’re setting up to make more than 1 million calls -- and we’re well on our way thanks to you but we need more of you to pitch in an hour of your time and sign up for a shift this week." Let's join Indivisible volunteers across the country, and sign up for a shift connecting voters with their senators to demand a fair and complete impeachment trial:

NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY: Thanksgiving in the United States is quickly approaching, and with it come "First Thanksgiving" re-enactments in schools, among other celebrations that deny our country's brutal treatment of Native Americans both in the past, and still todayLet's make sure we educate ourselves on the violence and trauma that Native Americans have endured. Vox has created a video which explores the forced assimilation of Native American children that we can watch here, then let's learn more about the realities of the First Thanksgiving. Finally, for the educators among us, and for parents and caregivers who would like to start a dialogue with the educators in their lives, let's check out Teaching Tolerance's resources for Teaching Thanksgiving in a Socially Responsible Way

THE PLIGHT OF CHILDREN:  A new report indicates that the number of uninsured children in the US has increased by over 400,000 in the Trump years, from 2016 to 2018; this increase in rates is 3 times larger in states that have not expanded Medicaid than in those that have:  https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2019/10/29/the-number-of-uninsured-children-in-on-the-rise-acs/ Likewise, the U.S. has detained more unaccompanied minors trying to cross the southwestern border in the past year than ever recorded: https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/department-of-homeland-security/468025-us-detains-record-75000-minors  or 
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/world/americas/unaccompanied-minors-border-crossing.html We need to impress on our MoCs and our state representatives that we hold them accountable for this failure to protect children, immigrant or otherwise, from the dangers of disease and deportation.

CALIFORNIA FIRES AND THE CLIMATE CRISIS:  From one of our own:  While California burns, let's take the time to write to news organizations (especially those we use regularly) to tell them that any reporting on the fires that doesn't contextualize them within the current climate crisis is both incomplete and dangerous.  
https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/california_wildfires_2019_climate_change.php  We can find names, addresses and phone numbers to major news outlets here:

PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM SHUT DOWN: “The United States Agency for International Development created the Predict project 10 years ago in response to 2005's H5N1 bird flu scare. Through the $207 million initiative, researchers have identified more than 1,000 new viruses and trained about 5,000 people in Africa and Asia to conduct biological testing for virus identification.  Many public health experts are concerned the program's closure will hinder global efforts to prevent emerging diseases.”  https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/25/health/predict-usaid-viruses.html and https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/quality/government-cuts-research-program-for-emerging-diseases.html  Let’s ask our MoCs to legislate this program back into existence for the sake of global health. 

PRESSURE CAR COMPANIES TO SUPPORT CALIFORNIA’S RIGHT FO LOWER EMISSION STANDARDS: General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru, Isuzu, Suzuki, Maserati, McLaren, Aston-Martin and Ferrari have chosen to side with the administration in a lawsuit challenging California’s right to set lower auto emission standards. In contrast, BMW, Ford, Volkswagen and Honda are siding with California. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/automakers-side-with-trump-in-legal-fight-with-california Let’s contact these companies and either thank them for being on the side of the environment, or ask them to change their position, if they aren’t. And if we currently own their products, let’s make sure to let them know that we will consider their stance on this issue when it’s time for us to buy our next vehicle.  

TELL ZUCKERBERG TO STOP ALLOWING POLITICIANS TO LIE ON FACEBOOK: Under the CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s latest rule change, politicians’ posts and ads don’t have to follow the rules that ours do so candidates are free to promote lies, conspiracy theories and propaganda unchecked. In 2016, Facebook was an extremely powerful platform for disseminating harmful misinformation. In 2020, under these rules, it will be even worse. Alarmed Facebook employees have written a protest letter about this disastrous move which we can read here:  https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/28/technology/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-letter.html  and https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/28/facebook-employees-vs-ad-lies/ We can  call or email Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to demand that he stop the spread of lies and disinformation:  Email: zuck@fb.com  We can also click here to demand that  Facebook stop giving politicians a  broad influential platform to spread lies and misinformation. Politicians on Facebook MUST follow the same rules on content and advertisements as every other user. Facebook must correct this policy nowhttps://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-facebook-end-the-trump-exemption

PRESSURE FACEBOOK TO CHANGE ITS STANCE ON POLITICAL ADVERTISING: Twitter just announced that it will not accept paid political advertisements. https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/30/twitter-dropping-all-political-ads-000308. CEO Jack Dorsey claimed, “We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought." Meanwhile Facebook has stated that it will accept political advertisements, even when the company knows that they contain misinformation. https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-can-lie-in-facebook-ads-but-no-profanity-cursing-2019-10. Let’s thank Twitter (@Twitter) for putting integrity before profits and keep calling on Facebook to change its stance. 

WELCOME BLANKETS FOR REFUGEES & OTHER IMMIGRANTS: “The Welcome Blanket Project aims to connect people already living in the United States with our country’s newest immigrants through stories and handmade blankets, providing symbolic and literal comfort and warmth.” https://www.welcomeblanket.org/welcome If we knit, crochet, or quilt, let’s get involved in making a Welcome Blanket for newcomers to America: https://www.welcomeblanket.org/

CLIMATE CHANGE, FIRE MANAGEMENT, & INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE: 
Most of us feel like the world is out of balance. Our social, political, and ecological systems aren't working as they should, and research is now showing that many of these maladies are interconnected, such that the legacies of colonialism and racism can result in the larger, hotter, and more frequent wildfires we see today (https://theconversation.com/what-western-states-can-learn-from-native-american-wildfire-management-strategies-120731). So, let's remember that fighting for equality means fighting inequality everywhere.

ELECTION/VOTING

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5 IS AN ELECTION DAY IN MANY LOCATIONS:  Getting out the vote is the most important thing we can do at this point, especially our vote.  Let’s find out how making a plan can turn this into a reality:  https://politicalcharge.org/2019/10/30/make-a-plan-to-vote-3-steps-to-boost-turnout/

UPCOMING 2019 ELECTIONS:  In order to keep track of upcoming elections, we can use this from Ballotpedia:  https://ballotpedia.org/Elections_calendar

HELP “GRANDMOTHERS IN ACTION” GROW—Grandmothers in Action is a get-out-the-vote postcarding group founded in 2008 that targets Democratic women aged 60 and older in swing states and swing districts. Their thoughtfully messaged postcard templates are intended to be printed on canary yellow cardstock, with volunteers (us!) supplying stamps and handwriting the addresses and a personal message on each card. In preparation for the 2020 presidential and senate campaigns, Grandmothers in Action is looking to expand their network. To join the Grandmothers and perhaps also start your own postcarding group, sign up now at: http://www.grandmothersforabrighterfuture.com/  

TEXT THE VOTE WITH BLACK VOTES MATTER: The organization Black Votes Matter is texting more than 500,000 Black voters in seven states to encourage them to vote between now and November 5, 2019. https://www.facebook.com/BlackVotersMtr/photos/a.134846770532964/412759112741727/?type=3&theater Let’s sign up for a shift: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzi-SW3fWqEouzGNqOvVeDI4yD1uUNHw1fW1fCeZWPwZvILQ/viewform

RECAP: NOTABLE 2019 MAYORAL RACES: a) Denver CO: Incumbent Mayor Michael Hancock (non-partisan) defeated urban development consultant Jamie Giellis in the June 4, 2019. Hancock received 56.3% of the vote to Giellis' 43.7%. (Ballotpedia.org) b) Chicago IL: Former Chicago Police Board President Lori Lightfoot (non-partisan) defeated Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle in the April 2, 2019, runoff election. (Ballotpedia.org) c) Kansas City MO: City council member Quinton Lucas (non-partisan) defeated fellow council member Jolie Justus in the June 18 election. (Ballotpedia.org) d) San Antonio TX: Incumbent Ron Nirenberg (non-partisan) won election in the general runoff election for on June 8, 2019. (Ballotpedia.org)  e) Memphis TN: Incumbent Jim Strickland (non-partisan) defeated eleven other candidates for a four-year term in October 3, 2019receiving 62% of the vote. (Ballotpedia.org). 

MAYORAL RACES TO WATCH: a) San Francisco CA:  Incumbent Mayor London Breed (non-partisan) is running to retain her position in this election. (Ballotpedia.org) b) Houston TX: Incumbent Mayor Sylvester Turner (non-partisan) and 11 challengers will compete. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two general election candidates will participate in a runoff election on December 14, 2019. (Ballotpedia.org)  c) Indianapolis IN: Incumbent Joseph Hogsett (D) faces five challengers in his bid for a second term: one Democrat, three Republicans, and a Libertarian. (Ballotpedia.org). If we are voters in any of these cities, let's make a plan to vote.

PHONEBANKING FOR VIRGINIA:  It is not too late to sign up with Grassroots Democrats HQ to phonebank for flipping the Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate.  We can meet on Saturday in Beverly Hills at the Feminist Majority with Women’s March Action for GOTV weekend:  https://tinyurl.com/WM-Action-GOTV-Virginia or we can work from home and take the 20 Dial A Day Challenge: https://tinyurl.com/20-Dial-A-Day-Virginia

STATE/LOCAL

GA: CHECK VOTER REG STATUS AND WATCH OUT FOR VOTER PURGE NOTICES: With elections coming up next TUESDAY NOV 5, it’s time to protect our votes!  Let’s find out if we are registered and then make sure that we stay on the voter rolls through the latest Voter purge. We can check our voter registration status at the state site here: 
https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do Even after next week’s election, we must stay alert, since the state will be mailing Purge Notices to over 330,000 GA voters starting next week. If we get one of these Purge Notices, we MUST RESPOND within 30 DAYS or get removed from the voter rolls!
Then, to make sure we registered, we can check out
indivisiblegeorgia.turbovote.org and sign up for reminders to check our voter registration status. 

MI: INDEPENDENT CITIZENS REDISTRICTING COMMISSION: Applications are now being accepted for the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission that was approved by voters in the November 2018 election.  The Commission, and no longer political parties, will draw the new U.S. Congressional and Michigan State House and Senate district lines.  The commission will be composed of 13 randomly selected Michigan registered voters: four who affiliate with the Democratic Party, four who affiliate with the Republican Party, and five who do not affiliate with either major political party.  We can learn more and sign up here:  https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1633_91141---,00.html

RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS

IMPEACHMENT/NOVEMBER RECESS: From November 2nd thru the 11th, the House will be on recess, with many representatives back in their home districts. Just like we did during their October recess, let's make sure to make impeachment a focal point during townhalls and in-person meet ups with our representatives. We can find a townhall or event near us here, or if there isn't one yet, we can register one here. Whether we can attend an event in-person or not, let's also be sure to call our not-onboard MoCs and ask them one question: Do you think it's OK to ask a foreign power to interfere in our elections? Then, let's take note of their response and share it on social media. We can find more information and toolkits at https://www.impeachnow.org/

ELECTION SECURITY RALLIES: “Election security experts are warning that too many states and localities have election systems that are vulnerable to hacking and external actors.  On Wednesday, November 13th, join activists across the country as we gather outside of Senate offices to urge our Senators to pass $600 million in election security funding and to include accountability language to ensure the money is well-spent.”  More info:  https://secureourvote.us/take-action/  Guide for hosting:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OXaQmIYBWYfb6_MFsyL3rWpB3IWojGyCcC6k8HRgcwA/edit

IMPEACHMENT MOBILIZATION: The night before the House impeachment vote is held, a nationwide mobilization, “No One is Above the Law,” is planned. The coalition behind this effort is impressive.  Let’s click here to learn about events, how we can create one, materials to use, and more:   https://www.impeach.org/event/impeach-and-remove-attend/

READING/WATCHING




The Amount of Money Being Made Ripping Migrant Families Apart Is Staggering - https://www.thenation.com/article/immigration-ice-family-separation/

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We can stay up to date on Congress by checking out their schedules. a) The House publishes a weekly schedule at The Weekly Leader (published and dated Friday) as well as daily schedules at The Daily Leader. b) The Senate updates their schedule daily at the Senate Floor Schedule




10/29/19

NATIONAL ISSUES




Fax legislators for free:

Or use Resistbot:  https://resist.bot/

Or use StampsLicked to have messages hand-delivered to our own legislators:  https://stampslicked.org/



PROCEDURAL IMPEACHMENT VOTE—Speaker Pelosi has announced that the House will be voting this week on a resolution that “establishes the procedure for hearings that are open to the American people, authorizes the disclosure of deposition transcripts, outlines procedures to transfer evidence to the Judiciary Committee as it considers potential articles of impeachment, and sets forth due process rights for the President and his Counsel. We are taking this step to eliminate any doubt as to whether the Trump Administration may withhold documents, prevent witness testimony, disregard duly authorized subpoenas, or continue obstructing the House of Representatives.” 
https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/102819-0 Whether our Representative is a Democrat or Republican, let’s contact her or him immediately and communicate our resounding support for this resolution.

SANCTIONS AGAINST TURKEY:  From one of our own:  H.R.4695, the Protect Against Conflict by Turkey (PACT) Act, would place sanctions on Turkey for its attacks against Kurds in Syria and for its betrayal of NATO principals. It's scheduled for consideration in the House today.  https://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/scheduling/467677-this-week-house-to-vote-on-turkey-sanctions-bill  Let’s tell our reps that we think this should be supported.

WORLD SERIES GAME:  Trump attended Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night in Washington, DC and was booed by the crowd there when he was shown on the Jumbotron:  https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/27/donald-trump-booed-world-series-lock-him-up-chants-baseball  If we have Republican MoC, let’s encourage them to see the event as a chance to step outside their bubble and see where the sentiment is in the US.

ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE DRILLING SURVEY: From the Bakken Pipeline Resistance: [The activist] Dallas Goldtooth said, "This survey only takes less than a minute to fill out. If you don't mind, please show some solidarity with the Gwich'in Nation by filling this out and sharing it."  We who stood together to block the Dakota Access crude oil pipeline, strongly oppose opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. If you agree, please fill out this survey:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOt5p-8HE85PO8GoHC58zQrtmNb8iwEdtYvHMGWoztoUXX_A/viewform?fbzx=-3838554978642337693

MENASHI NOMINATION TO FEDERAL BENCH: The National Education Association has joined any number of progressive organizations to oppose the confirmation of Steven Menashi--the architect of Betsy DeVos’s education policies and immigration hardliner Stephen Miller’s acolyte---to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; the Senate Judiciary Committee must approve Menashi’s nomination, after which it goes to the Senate for confirmation: 
https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/467152-collins-to-oppose-controversial-trump-court-pick We must insist that our senators join Susan Collins (R-ME), in opposing Menashi’s confirmation. "Mr. Menashi’s past writings, particularly about women, LGBTQ advocates, and diversity, raise questions about whether he has the appropriate judicial temperament," Collins (rather mildly) explained of this virulent racist, misogynist, and homophobe.

END CHILD DETENTION AND FAMILY SEPARATION: A recent study revealed that under the Trump administration, over 5400 children were separated from their families at the border before the judge ordered an end to this policy in June 2018. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/tally-of-children-split-at-border-tops-5400-in-new-count?. While many of these children have been reunited, the ACLU reports that several children have not been accounted for because the government’s tracking systems were inadequate. The ACLU also reports that government authorities are abusing the intent of the judge’s order by separating children from many families who have any criminal record, including minor things like traffic offenses. And children traveling with older siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc. are not immune from detention and separation. Let’s ask our MoCs to put pressure on ICE to end these practices and also to create strong legislation that extends the concept of “family” and establishes clear guidelines for the kinds of criminal offenses that would mandate separation. 

END PRIVATE, FOR-PROFIT DETENTION CENTERS: The Department of Health and Human Services has announced that Calliburn’s contract to run the Homestead Detention Center will not be renewed on November 30th. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article236732048.html. Homestead has been closed for several months, but tax-payers, until recently had been paying Calliburn to staff the site at a cost of $720,000 per day, so this is a victory, not only for immigrants and immigration activists, but for taxpayers as well. The center has been put on “warm” status, but the bed capacity has been reduced to zero, and it is unlikely to re-open. Now that we’ve closed Homestead, let’s tell our MoCs to push for ending all privately operated detention centers and ask them to make sure there are prohibitions for this when the next budget deal is negotiated.

STOP FACEBOOK FROM INCLUDING BREITBART NEWS IN ITS NEW NEWS FEED: Facebook’s new news feed, which claims to include material from “high quality” news sources will include stories from alt-right Breitbart News, an outlet known for promoting racism (through standard feature headings like “black crime”) and slanting narratives to increase anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim bias. https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-includes-breitbart-news-high-quality-journalism-section-on-app-2019-10. Let’s contact Facebook corporate headquarters and remind them that while it’s fine to promote a diversity of viewpoints, Breitbart goes way over the line and its views should be antithetical to any company’s values.  Let’s recommend that they use the information provided by Ad Fontes Media’s Media Bias Chart so that they are using responsible media outlets that qualify as “high quality”.  Let’s also personally email Mark Zuckerberg – Chief Executive Officer, Chairman and Founder: zuck@fb.com and Sheryl Sandberg – Chief Operating Officer: Sheryl@fb.com

POSTCARDING:  From one of our own – Here are this week’s issues/addresses write-ups for postcarding:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xKnx4eXX5b698E4n_D0h8dJhlqEfAF0DaLQu_DS3ihE/edit  Let’s look these issues over and choose the ones that speak to you or share in our postcarding group.

MISTREATMENT OF FEDERAL DETAINEES: We like to think of the storied U.S. Marshals as heroes, but the Service has a massive problem with mistreatment of its 50K+ detainees by the local jails it pays to house them (https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2019/10/inside-the-us-marshals-secretive-deadly-detention-empire/). Because the Marshals use so many local jails nationwide (they detain more people than ICE does!), and because they are one of the very few users of those jails who actually pay, they have a great opportunity to push for improvements. Yet, over 150 have died in the Service's custody in just the past 3 years, so let's tell the Department of Justice (https://www.justice.gov/contact-us) that we now see this previously hidden problem and demand that its Marshals stop violating the Constitution.

WHISTLEBLOWERS:  Postcards for America has a clever way for us to solicit whistleblowers:  So, to be clear, the DOJ is investigating the CIA and FBI for investigating and exposing Russian intelligence operations.  Trump is using the apparently-corrupt AG, Bill Barr, to investigate the investigators who are investigating both of them. Trump is using the DOJ to investigate his enemies, instead of focusing on the traitors that helped Russia attack America, they are investigating the people that were working hard to protect the country. 17 Intel agencies separately concluded that Russia attacked our election. A slew of postcards asking #Whistleblowers to step forward at the DOJ could help.  Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20530.  *Note: We cannot put to specific names, but adding agency names means the mailroom will distribute. Here’s the listing of agencies: 

PERCEPTION GAP:  Democrats and Republicans often seem to have preconceived notions about each other.  Wonder how close they are to each other?  https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/democrats-are-wrong-about-republicans-republicans-are-wrong-about-democrats/  It is these perceived differences that can cause us more disagreement.  Let’s check out our own perception gap and see what we can learn:  https://perceptiongap.us/

DNA COLLECTION FROM IMMIGRANT DETAINEES:  We had been warned this was coming. Comments are due in 14 days. Proposed rule from Dept. of Justice on DNA-Sample Collection From Immigration Detainees.  https://www.npr.org/2019/10/21/772035602/justice-department-announces-plan-to-collect-dna-from-migrants-crossing-the-bord  and here:https://gizmodo.com/doj-rule-gives-green-light-to-collect-dna-from-asylum-s-1839226354  We can read it and comment here:   https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/22/2019-22877/dna-sample-collection-from-immigration-detainees. 

US CENSUS—Political representation and funding for education, healthcare, infrastructure, and other resources are based on data from the US Census. That’s why it is so important to get a complete and accurate count of everyone living in America. The League of Women Voters is working to make sure that everyone is counted, especially in low-reporting areas. https://www.lwv.org/other-issues/census Let’s join the League https://www.lwv.org/about-us/membership-local-leagues and offer to help in their Census-count projects.

ELECTION/VOTING

UPCOMING 2019 ELECTIONS:  In order to keep track of upcoming elections, we can use this from Ballotpediahttps://ballotpedia.org/Elections_calendar

LET’S BOO—AND VOTE: While this was massively satisfying,
 https://www.npr.org/2019/10/28/774044200/lock-him-up-trump-greeted-with-boos-and-jeers-at-world-series-gamelet’s make sure that every Democrat we know is registered to vote and goes to the polls not only in 2020, but in every election. Registration here: https://turbovote.org/

NEXT WEEK'S GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS:  1) KENTUCKY:  Incumbent Matt Bevin (R) is running for reelection against KY Attorney General Andy Beshear (D) and John Hicks (Libertarian). A recent poll shows Bevin and Beshear in a dead heat. (WEKU)   2) LOUISIANA: Incumbent Gov. John Bel Edwards (D)  is tied with challenger Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone according to the first poll made public since the primary.  (Washington Times), and 3) MISSISSIPPI : A poll shows Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves (R) leading Attorney General Jim Hood (D) 46% to 43%. Republicans have controlled the governor's mansion since 2004.  (Clarion Ledger). All of these races are close! Turnout will be key so it's up to us. Let's make plans to vote and to encourage our friends, family and neighbors to do the same.

NEW JERSEY GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Elections for all 80 seats in the New Jersey General Assembly are taking place next Tuesday. (Ballotpedia.org). We can read more at northjersey.com. If we are New Jersey voters, let's make a plan to vote and remind our NJ family, friends and neighbors to do the same.

USE TRANSGENDER VOTING RIGHTS GUIDE TO MAKE SURE OUR VOTES COUNT: Restrictive voter ID laws can make it harder for transgender voters to cast their votes, but, if we, or someone we know, is trans and looking for voting assistance, help is available. We can read this National Center for Transgender Equality Action guide to our rights, so we know what to bring to the polls, what to do if challenged and how to get help and, if needed, cast a provisional ballot. Armed with the handout “Voting While Trans” guides in English and Spanish, we will be able to make our votes count!  Click here:  https://transformthevote.org/voting

TEXT WITH BLACK VOTERS MATTER AND GET OUT THE NOVEMBER VOTE:  With the November 5th almost here , Black Voters Matter will have live texting campaigns from now to Election Day,  texting over 500,000 Black folks in 7 states to encourage them to vote and help build electoral power across our communities. We can let Black Voters Matter know what days and times we’re available to text by clicking on the link below, and we will receive info on the campaigns for that day:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzi-SW3fWqEouzGNqOvVeDI4yD1uUNHw1fW1fCeZWPwZvILQ/viewform

BLACK POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT IN MILWAUKEE—Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC) is working to improve the lives of Black families in Wisconsin using two door-to-door canvassing programs. BLOC’s silent canvassing program brings elected officials to the homes of Black residents to listen—not talk, listen—to the concerns of their constituents. BLOC’s ambassador canvassing program is a door-to-door effort to engage voters and get out the vote. https://www.wisn.com/article/canvassing-program-connects-with-voters/23994408# We can support BLOC’s important work by donating here: https://www.blocbybloc.org/

RUN FOR SOMETHING: Non-profit Run for Something wants us to run for office. So much, in fact, that they're here to help us out. Let's start by finding out what offices are available!  "Filling out this form will show us a list of state legislative and local offices where we can run based on your current address": https://www.wherecanirun.org

KEEP ON POSTCARDING! Thank you to all the volunteers who wrote cards to get out the vote will Postcards to Voters, Postcards For Virginia, and other groups. We have done our part for the Nov. 5 general election. However, the 2020 election season begins will the closing of the polls. Let's keep checking for addresses with Postcards To Voters which has always had at least one open campaign since its launch 178 campaigns ago. Let's continue to get out the vote!

STATE/LOCAL

MA: CITZENS’ LEGISLATIVE SEMINAR—The Citizens’ Legislative Seminar (CLS) is a two-day program offered by the Massachusetts State Senate to MA residents to learn about the legislative process. Applicants must be sponsored by their state senator. If we’re in MA, let’s read about the program: https://malegislature.gov/StateHouse/EducationalOpportunities/CitizensLegislativeSeminar , and consider applying: contact state senator: https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Members/Senate or call the Senate Office of Education and Civic Engagement 617-722-1380.

VA: POLL OBSERVERS NEEDED: The November 5, 2019, state election in Virginia will determine which party will draw the congressional maps, whether extreme Republican gerrymandering will end, whether 8 million Americans will benefit from the passage of progressive legislation on guns, reproductive rights, voting rights and voting access, climate change, and more. So much is at stake! Virginia Democrats are recruiting poll observers to make sure that no eligible voter is intimidated or turned away at the polls. Poll observers receive training. If we are in Virginia, or can be there on election day, Nov 5, 2019, let’s sign up: 

RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS

IMPEACHMENT/NOVEMBER RECESS: From November 2nd thru the 11th, the House will be on recess, with many representatives back in their home districts. Just like we did during their October recess, let's make sure to make impeachment a focal point during townhalls and in-person meet ups with our representatives. We can find a townhall or event near us here, or if there isn't one yet, we can register one here. Whether we are able to attend an event in-person or not, let's also be sure to call our reps and ask them one question: Do you think it's OK to ask a foreign power to interfere in our elections? Then, let's take note of their response and share it on social media. We can find more information and toolkits at https://www.impeachnow.org/

ELECTION SECURITY RALLIES: “Election security experts are warning that too many states and localities have election systems that are vulnerable to hacking and external actors.  On Wednesday, November 13th, join activists across the country as we gather outside of Senate offices to urge our Senators to pass $600 million in election security funding and to include accountability language to ensure the money is well-spent.”  More info:  https://secureourvote.us/take-action/  Guide for hosting:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OXaQmIYBWYfb6_MFsyL3rWpB3IWojGyCcC6k8HRgcwA/edit

IMPEACHMENT MOBILIZATION: The night before the House impeachment vote is held, a nationwide mobilization, “No One is Above the Law,” is planned. The coalition behind this effort is impressive.  Let’s click here to learn about events, how we can create one, materials to use, and more:   https://www.impeach.org/event/impeach-and-remove-attend/

READING/WATCHING

Trump Impeachment Inquiry: A Guide To Key People, Facts And Documents - https://www.npr.org/2019/10/28/771287237/trump-impeachment-inquiry-a-guide-to-key-people-facts-and-documents

Trump’s National Labor Relation Board and the roll back of workers’ rights - https://www.epi.org/publication/unprecedented-the-trump-nlrbs-attack-on-workers-rights/

Obama White House Photography Suggests Trump Situation Room Photo of Unfolding Al-Baghdadi Raid Was Staged - https://www.newsweek.com/obama-photographer-baghdadi-raid-trump-situation-room-suggested-staged-timestamp-golfing-1468012


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We can stay up to date on Congress by checking out their schedules. a) The House publishes a weekly schedule at The Weekly Leader (published and dated Friday) as well as daily schedules at The Daily Leader. b) The Senate updates their schedule daily at the Senate Floor Schedule







10/28/19

On Mondays, Rogan’s List features a listing of proposed rule and regulation changes that are currently accepting public comment.  Commenting is the way to show government agencies how we feel about these proposed changes. Our comments also become part of a record that will be reviewed by courts if and when a reg change is contested. Courts use comments to judge whether an agency is acting arbitrarily and capriciously.

Organization

Closing Soon
Recent   
Section I - ICE, DHS, DOL, NLRB
Section II - everything environmental - EPA, BLM, DOE
Section III - Civil rights, housing, education, healthcare
Other: More on regulations (tracking the trackers/general information)  
(Note: After a couple of weeks items are moved from “Recent” and “Closing soon” into the Roman numeral sections. A note on regulatory processes: there are three stages - Notice, Proposed Rule, and Rule. There’s usually a time lag of a few months to a few years between them, and they must be published in the Federal Register before appearing on Regulations.gov. Comment time varies from 10 days to 2 months, sometimes with extensions.)

Closing Soon

1.      Comments due 10/29/2019 Notice. Land Management Plan: Chugach National Forest; Alaska - opens up national forest to roads -This national forest is "a truly wild and roadless landscape that also includes the highest concentration of tidewater glaciers in North America, this area deserves the highest level of permanent protection in the new forest plan. Alternative D recommends full Wilderness designation for 97% of the Nellie Juan-College Fjord WSA!" - information that can be used in commenting following the instructions below can be found at  https://winterwildlands.org/comment-now-chugach-forest-plan/ Comment at - Via fax to (907) 586-7840. Faxes must be addressed to “Objection Reviewing Officer.” The fax coversheet should specify the number of pages being submitted. Electronically to the Objection Reviewing Officer via the CARA objection web form: https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=40816. Electronic submissions must be submitted in a format (Word, PDF, or Rich Text) that is readable and searchable with optical character recognition software. Read it here: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FS_FRDOC_0001-3227 https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/chugach/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprdb5408185 

2.      Posted 10/18/2019 and Comments due 10/29/2019. Ominous-sounding notice with only ten day comment period. Notice. Developing the Administration's Approach to Supporting Economic Recovery: Venezuela. "Summary: On behalf of the U.S. Administration, the International Trade Administration (ITA) is requesting comments on ways the Administration can support economic recovery following leadership transition in Venezuela. This request supplements on-going outreach the Administration is conducting with the private sector intended to inform our engagement going forward." https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=ITA_FRDOC_0001-5556   The plot thickens: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/business/energy-environment/citgo-venezuela-creditors.html and https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielcohen/2019/10/08/citgo-key-to-trumps-venezuela-strategy/#121b71207a8e

3.     Closing November 1, 2019. EPA Proposed Rule. Reclassification of Major Sources as Area Sources under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. Read it and comment here: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0282-0355 Read more here: https://ehsdailyadvisor.blr.com/2019/07/epa-proposal-would-allow-major-sources-to-reclassify/ " EPA’s proposed “air toxics loophole” would formally overturn protections that have been in place since 1995, allowing potentially thousands of large industrial facilities to opt out of rigorous clean air protections limiting discharges of dangerous pollutants such as mercury and benzene. Contrary to EPA’s claims, this action is not compelled by the Clean Air Act—and in fact undermines the protections that Congress intended to provide against toxic air pollutants. We urge EPA to withdraw this reckless and unlawful proposal. " See CA AG Becerra's letter here: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0282-0339 and read the other comments posted so far. And read this from multiple environmental organizations: https://www.edf.org/.../Joint-NGO-Letter-Opposing-OIAI-Proposal.pdf

4.    Comments due October 31, 2019. Reopening of comment period, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 6-Month Extension of Final Determination on the Proposed Threatened Status for the Bi-State Distinct Population Segment of Greater Sage-grouse. US Forest Service is allowing more time to comment on endangered species. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/01/2019-21385/endangered-and-threatened-species-6-month-extension-of-final-determination-on-the-proposed. Read more here: https://lmtribune.com/northwest/wildlife-official-say-sage-grouse-numbers-are-down-significantly-across/article_87e110be-25c9-5f1a-9ecb-7a05d4d5c17f.html

5.     Comments due 11/4/2019. Relaxing energy-efficiency standards. Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for General Service Incandescent Lamps  Read it and comment here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/05/2019-18941/energy-conservation-program-energy-conservation-standards-for-general-service-incandescent-lamps and read about it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/04/climate/trump-light-bulb-rollback.html

6.    Comments due 10/31/2019. Request for Comments on 2020 National Trade Estimate - used in determining trade policy. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/03/2019-18910/request-for-comments-to-compile-the-national-trade-estimate-report-on-foreign-trade-barriers  You can read the 2019 estimate here: https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/2019_National_Trade_Estimate_Report.pdf

7.     Closing 11/8/2019. USCIS Removal of 30- Day Processing Provision for Asylum Applicant- Related Form I-765 Employment Authorization Applications.  Comment here: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=USCIS-2018-0001-0001 “This rule change would allow DHS to take much longer to decide whether someone seeking asylum should be issued a work permit, requiring asylum-seekers to essentially survive on others’ charity while our government processes paperwork,” Read more here: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article235034052.html#storylink=cpy

8.    Update. Comments now due January 20, 2o19 - comment period extended from Sept. 16. Port Access Route Study: Alaskan Arctic Coast https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=USCG-2018-1058-0012  Read this comment from Audubon Society and Ocean Conservancy, among other organizations: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=USCG-2018-1058-0002 “The remoteness of the region and lack of infrastructure means that the impacts of a serious vessel accident, especially an oil spill, could be devastating to the marine environment and the people whose lives and livelihoods depend on a healthy ocean.” BLM has already released plans to drill the Arctic Coastal Plain - elsewhere in this document.

Recent

1.      New Regulations.gov beta site - is easier to read. https://beta.regulations.gov/



4.      Comments due December 20, 2019. Proposed Rule. Federal Acquisition Regulation: Recreational Services on Federal Lands.  Read it and comment here: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FAR-2019-0004-0001.Initially privatizing national park campgrounds and then expanding privatization to other agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation; regulation exceptions through ‘categorial permissions’ to electrify campgrounds by expanding utilities; mobile food trucks and camp stores within park grounds; and blackouts and restrictions on senior citizens admission discounts.” Read about it here: https://westernvaluesproject.org/plans-to-privatize-national-parks-outlined-in-trump-admin-memo-would-enrich-donors-special-interests/

5.      10/11/2019 Update on status of “public charge” rules - court rulings and what USCIS did with it. Nicole Narea @nicolenarea NEW: A @StateDept spokesperson just confirmed to me that the agency's own version of the public charge rule is still slated to go into effect on Oct. 15 as scheduled — despite three federal court rulings today blocking DHS's rule from going into effect nationwide. Read more at twitter link above and here: https://www.aila.org/advo-media/issues/all/public-charge-changes-at-uscis-doj-and-dos

6.      Comments due 12/17/2019. Notice Standardized National Hypothesis Generating Questionnaire 0920-0997 - Revision. 2019-22735 This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled Standardized National Hypothesis Generating Questionnaire. The information collected will be used to define a core set of data elements to be used for hypothesis generation once a given situation is determined to be a multistate foodborne outbreak investigation. https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=CDC-2019-0087-0001  Posted here because it is of interest

7.      October 10, 2019. Proposed changes to National Park usage. Subcommittee on Recreation Enhancement Through Reorganization, an advisory panel appointed by Trump's first Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, has recommended privatizing National Parks campgrounds, allowing food trucks in and setting up WiFi at campgrounds while also reducing benefits to seniors, according to the panel's memo. You can read the memo here: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1892/made-in-america-rac.htm.  Read more here: https://www.ecowatch.com/trump-panel-national-parks-business-2640990773.html?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2. Write your representatives.

8.     Comments due 11/18/2019. Notice. Mandatory Civil Rights Data Collection. Changes to data collected from schools, including disparities. Read it and comment here: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=ED-2019-ICCD-0119-0001. Read more here: https://all4ed.org/federal-flash-secretary-devos-is-proposing-changes-to-the-civil-rights-data-collection/

9.      From 9/26/2019. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services officials are planning to change all references of the term "foreign national" to "alien" in the agency’s policy manual. Read more here: https://www.aila.org/infonet/tracking-uscis-policy-manual-changes and here: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hamedaleaziz/immigration-uscis-foreign-national-alien. Write your representatives.

10.  Comments due November 18, 2019. Keystone XL is back. The U.S. Department of State just published the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for TC Energy/TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL tarsands export pipeline. ***There is only a 45-day public comment period. Please prepare your statements and submit your comments promptly to show our continued opposition to this disastrous project remains strong and healthy. TO ADD YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED KXL PIPELINE a link can be found directly below: - Enter docket number DOS-2019-0033. https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=DOS-2019-0033-0001  For updates: https://www.state.gov/releases-keystone-xl-pipeline

11.   October 9, 2019. Trump Executive Order requiring consent of "States and localities” (Mayors and Governor’s) for refugee resettlement. This before he attacked Somali community in Minnesota. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-enhancing-state-local-involvement-refugee-resettlement/

12.  Executive Order Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents - requires all agency directives be posted, searchable - to avoid what it calls "back door" regulation. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/15/2019-22623/promoting-the-rule-of-law-through-improved-agency-guidance-documents "The White House cited 2015 guidance from the Department of Labor as a prime example of back-door regulation. That measure declared many independent contractors should be classified as employees. This created confusion, raised costs for thousands of small businesses, and was done without public input, the White House said." https://news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-report/trump-orders-to-limit-effect-of-agency-guidance-to-industry

13. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ordered to Take Fresh Look at Petition to Delist Bone   Cave Harvestman (an invertebrate) https://www.endangeredspecieslawandpolicy.com/2019/04/articles/court-decisions/u-s-fish-and-wildlife-ordered-to-take-fresh-look-at-petition-to-delist-bone-cave-harvestman/ Endangered and Threatened Species: Bone Cave Harvestman; 90-Day Finding             closes October 9, 2020.  https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FWS-R2-ES-2017-0018-0007


15.  Comments close 12/10/2019. Tip Regulations Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Mandates tip sharing with non-tipped workers such as dishwashers https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/08/2019-20868/tip-regulations-under-the-fair-labor-standards-act-flsa Read more here: It would allow restaurant owners to mandate tip-sharing with kitchen workers and others who traditionally have not been tipped, but only if all the workers are paid at least the minimum wage. Restaurants that pay tipped workers less than the minimum can only require tip-sharing with those who have traditionally shared in tip pools, such as busboys and hostesses. (Federal law allows employers to pay a sub-minimum wage of $2.13 an hour to tipped workers.) The Labor Department estimates that more expansive tip pools could result in the transfer of as much of $213.4 million a year in tips from wait staff to kitchen workers, though the department says the actual transfer would likely be about half that much. Critics say that amounts to an indirect transfer of money from tipped workers to business owners, who can then use less of their own money to compensate kitchen workers. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/10/07/767996929/restaurants-would-get-more-flexibility-with-workers-tips-under-proposed-rule For a more critical view: https://www.sourcepolitics.com/new-trump-administration-rule-will-allow-restaurants-to-take-servers-tip-money/ and https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/8xwknb/how-the-trump-administrations-new-labor-policies-could-screw-over-restaurant-workers


17.  10/4/2019 Presidential Proclamation. Denying entry to immigrants without health insurance. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/09/2019-22225/suspension-of-entry-of-immigrants-who-will-financially-burden-the-united-states-healthcare-system-in and https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-proclamation-suspension-entry-immigrants-will-financially-burden-united-states-healthcare-system/. Read more here. If/when comment period becomes available, it will be posted here. https://www.vox.com/2019/10/9/20903541/trump-proclamation-legal-immigration-health-insurance and https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/trump-will-deny-visas-to-immigrants-who-lack-health-care-coverage/2019/10/04/81e4f48a-e710-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html

18.  10/7/2019. Notice of Availability for the Record of Decision for the Central Coast Field Office Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment for Oil and Gas Leasing and Development, California. Allows fracking in previously prohibited areas of California. Comments should become open in 30 days from publication.This plan amendment identifies the Federal mineral estate, located primarily in Fresno, Monterey and San Benito counties, California, that is available for oil and gas leasing and development. It also identifies leasing stipulations to protect resources.” https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/07/2019-21654/notice-of-availability-for-the-record-of-decision-for-the-central-coast-field-office-approved. Link to BLM site: https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do?methodName=dispatchToPatternPage&currentPageId=96878

19.  Presidential Executive Order requiring Medicare to pay amount equal to what private insurers pay for services (rather than negotiating lower prices for Medicare recipients). Predicted to bankrupt Medicare. “(b)  The Secretary, in consultation with the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, shall submit to the President, through the Assistants to the President for Domestic and Economic Policy, a report within 180 days from the date of this order that identifies approaches to modify Medicare FFS payments to more closely reflect the prices paid for services in MA and the commercial insurance market, to encourage more robust price competition, and otherwise to inject market pricing into Medicare FFS reimbursement.” https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-protecting-improving-medicare-nations-seniors/ When it is a proposed rule, will be posted here. Read more: https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-10-04/hiltzik-trump-medicare; https://khn.org/news/trump-speech-offers-dizzying-preview-of-his-health-care-campaign-strategy/

20.  Comments due Nov. 18, 2019. Changes to how HUD calculates means-testing for public housing. Proposed rule. “FR-6057-P-01 Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016: Implementation of Sections 102, 103, and 104.” https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=HUD-2019-0078-0001. Not much comment yet. Read more here: https://nahroblog.org/2019/09/16/new-hotma-provisions-to-be-implemented/#more-14008 

21.  Closing 12/10/2019. Dark money allowed to be hidden in new proposed rule. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/10/2019-19501/guidance-under-section-6033-regarding-the-reporting-requirements-of-exempt-organizations  IRS proposes regulations allowing tax-exempt groups to keep donor identities secret .The proposed regulations are likely to generate comments critical of political groups using tax-exempt entities for fundraising without disclosing the identities of their donors, effectively using so-called "dark money" to finance their causes and preferred candidates. The rules would also apply to groups such as the National Rifle Association, labor unions and trade associations. https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-proposes-regulations-allowing-tax-exempt-groups-to-keep-donor-identities-secret and https://www.insidepoliticallaw.com/2019/09/06/irs-issues-notice-of-proposed-rulemaking-on-donor-disclosure-rules-in-response-to-court-ruling/


23.  8/29/2019. Never posted - further citizenship restrictions. USCIS failed to provide advance public notice of this shift. USCIS’s Elimination of Non-Military Deferred Action at Local USCIS Offices - https://www.aila.org/advo-media/issues/all/featured-issue-usciss-elimination-of-non-military. "This shift puts lives in danger, including the lives of children facing serious medical conditions like cancer, epilepsy, cystic fibrosis, and HIV. USCIS's actions threaten such individuals with deportation and loss of access to essential treatment. USCIS's failure to provide advance public notice of this policy change epitomizes the agency's growing disregard for transparency and accountability." Write your legislators.

24.  Protect Utah and Hovenweep National Monument from Oil and Gas Drilling! https://secure.npca.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2088

Section I - ICE, DHS, DOL, NLRB

1.      Closing December 10, 2019. Anti-labor union proposed rule, specifically making it harder for unions in the construction industry. Representation-Case Procedures: Election Bars; Proof of Majority Support in Construction Industry Collective-Bargaining Relationships Read it and comment here: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=NLRB-2019-0001-0001. Read more here: https://hrdailyadvisor.blr.com/2019/10/07/nlrb-extends-union-election-rule-comment-period/.

2.      Comments due November 22, 2019. Student workers are not employees, from NLRB. Jurisdiction-Nonemployee Status of University and College Students Working in Connection With Their Studies https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/23/2019-20510/jurisdiction-nonemployee-status-of-university-and-college-students-working-in-connection-with-their

3.      Comments due November 27, 2019. Increasing amounts of pesticides on food. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/28/2019-23355/receipt-of-a-pesticide-petition-filed-for-residues-of-pesticide-chemicals-in-or-on-various Other countries are pushing back against EPA relaxation of environmental safeguards. Read more here: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/1780134/us-glyphosate-letter-riles-govt and here: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-019-0488-0

4.      Posted July 22, 2019 Notice. Submission to the Secretary of Agriculture: Pesticides; Agricultural Worker Protection Standard; Revision of the Application Exclusion Zone Requirements affecting “Agricultural worker, employer, environmental protection, farms, forests, greenhouses pesticides, nurseries, pesticide handler, worker protection standard.” No comments as it is “merely a submission to the Secretary of Agriculture.” Given this administration’s track record, this doesn’t bode well. Write your representatives. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/07/22/2019-15371/submission-to-the-secretary-of-agriculture-pesticides-agricultural-worker-protection-standard


Section II - EPA, BUREAU OF RECLAMATION - ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

1.      EPA vs. USDA in biofuels regulation. Comments due November 29, 2019. Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2020 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2021.Read it here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/28/2019-23379/renewable-fuel-standard-program-standards-for-2020-and-biomass-based-diesel-volume-for-2021-and and read more here: https://advancedbiofuelsusa.info/tag/epa/ and here: https://bioenergyinternational.com/opinion-commentary/epa-biofuels-proposal-falls-short-of-industry-expectations-ngfa 

2.      Comments due Dec. 18, 2019. Extending habitat for threatened orca. “Endangered and Threatened Species: Critical Habitat for the Southern Resident Killer Whale Distinct Population Segment.” https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=NOAA-NMFS-2014-0041-0278. Supported by Center for Biological Diversity: https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/federal-rule-protects-endangered-orcas-west-coast-habitat-2019-09-18/ 

3.      Sept 9, 2019. Plan. National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Integrated Activity Plan Bureau of Land Management plan to open Alaska Coastal Plain to oil and petroleum exploration and drilling. BLM eplanning site Alaska Coastal Plain National Petroleum Reserve https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do?methodName=renderDefaultPlanOrProjectSite&projectId=117408 Read more here: https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/reports/2019/09/10/474256/vast-liquidation-public-lands-underway-alaska/ Leasing site: https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends_ch4/  https://www.ecowatch.com/trump-alaska-refuge-oil-drilling-2640355340.html and https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/09/travel/alaska-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge.html 

4.      Dated 8/28/2019 and posted 9/10/2019. No comment information included, proposed rule. USDA withdraws several regulations on important areas - Performance Standards for the Production of Processed Meat and Poultry Products.NPRM ............ 8/03/2006 71 FR 43992 APHIS .................... 0579–AE02 .... Livestock Marketing Facilities .................................... NPRM ............ 1/2/2015 80 FR 6 FNS ........................ 0584–AD88 .... Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Farm Bill of 2008 Retailer Sanctions.NPRM ............ 8/14/2012 77 FR 48461 FNS ........................ 0584–AE00 .... Emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance for Victims of Disasters Procedures. No comment instructions. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/09/10/2019-19572/withdrawal-of-certain-proposed-rules

5.      9/6/2019 EPA and DOJ threaten California Air Resources Board and automakers for auto-emissions standard, politicizing EPA and DOJ in anti-environment move. EPA letter to CA: https://www.epa.gov › documents › epa.dot_puts_california_on_notice.pdf and DOJ story here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/justice-dept-launches-antitrust-probe-of-automakers-over-their-fuel-efficiency-deal-with-california/2019/09/06/29a22ee6-d0c7-11e9-b29b-a528dc82154a_story.html?noredirect=on. “California officials, who have repeatedly asserted the state’s rights under the 1970 Clean Air Act, criticized the inquiry as politicization to impose the Republican president’s policies.” Read more here: https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/09/20190919-onerule.html . Other federal announcements pertaining to CA auto emissions standards: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/trump-administration-announces-one-national-program-rule-federal-preemption-state-fuel and https://www.nhtsa.gov/corporate-average-fuel-economy/safe and https://www.nhtsa.gov/document/safe-vehicles-rule-part-1-fr-notice-09192019 Comment email addresses for EPA officials by area: Email addresses for EPA https://www.epa.gov/dockets/where-send-comments-epa-dockets#regional

6.    Tongass National Forest EPA site - proposal to open up Tongass National Forest to logging, roads, etc. Not on regulations.gov yet. You have to download the documents to read them but the first six pages of the first document confirm the intent. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/08/trump-open-alaskas-tongass-national-forest-worlds-largest-remaining-temperate-rainforest-logging-mining.html?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=Lands  https://cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-II/public/action/eis/details?eisId=277660 and Tongass development search

7.     Multiple items posted undoing the Clean Air Act piecemeal. “NESHAP” is “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.” https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/risk-and-technology-review-national-emissions-standards-hazardous - read more here, including a good explanation of how this works: https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/miscellaneous-coating-manufacturing-20449/ and https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/municipal-solid-waste-landfills-neshap-65928/

8.    Posted August 12, 2019. Allowing more toxic substances. Notice. Certain New Chemicals or Significant New Uses; Statements of Findings for June 2019  EPA proposed significant new uses of toxic chemicals, including dissociates, used in polyurethane. Comments not accepted. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/08/12/2019-17151/certain-new-chemicals-or-significant-new-uses-statements-of-findings-for-june-2019. Read more here: http://blogs.edf.org/health/2019/08/08/trump-epa-caves-again-to-industry-demands-on-new-chemicals-and-workers-pay-the-price/

9.    July 14, 2019 Multiple BLM Notices and Proposed Rules with links to comment pages. Constantly updated. https://www.esa.org/public-policy/stay-informed/federal-register-opportunities/

10.                        July 14, 2019 Multiple Ozone Standards - EPA is doing this state-by-state. https://www.regulations.gov/searchResults?rpp=25&po=0&s=ozone&fp=true&ns=true

11.   Comments must be received on or before midnight EDT September 25, 2020. Exposure of Underground Miners to Diesel Exhaust Request for Information; reopening of the rulemaking record for public comments. Because of comments, comment period extended to Sept. 25, 2020. https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=MSHA-2014-0031-0185 Federal Register version comment period ends 09/25/2020 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/03/25/2019-05443/exposure-of-underground-miners-to-diesel-exhaust  Update - “The comment period for the request for information, published on June 8, 2016 (81 FR 36826), which was scheduled to close on March 26, 2019 (58 FR 12904) is extended. An important comment here: https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=MSHA-2014-0031-0180 "This reopened RFI takes into account information originally gathered and shared from NIOSH, NCI, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which shows a correlation to exposure to diesel exhaust, a classified human carcinogen, and negative impact on miners health (Exposure of Underground Miners to Diesel Exhaust, 81 Fed. Reg. 110, 36826-36827 (June 8, 2016). On page 36827, stakeholders, MSHA, and the Diesel Exhaust Health Effects Partnership (Partnership) decided that more research and complex questions needed to be gathered and answered before allowing miners to continue working in DPM in the air. Potential for new technology and stricter standards that are in compliance with EPA DPM standards. "https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=MSHA-2014-0031-0182 And this study: https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/press-releases/2012/DieselMinersPressRelease

12.  5/20/2019. EPA Plan to change method of reporting pollution deaths. "E.P.A. Plans to Get Thousands of Pollution Deaths Off the Books by Changing Its Math".  Not posted yet as a proposal. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/20/climate/epa-air-pollution-deaths.html: Several people with knowledge of the EPA plan told the New York Times that using a new analytical model to calculate air pollution deaths could make it easier for the federal government to move forward with eliminating the Clean Power Plan, a key climate change rule put into place under the Obama administration.  Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/27/us/politics/trump-climate-science.html https://www.columbiamissourian.com/editorial-air-likely-to-be-more-polluted-under-new-epa/article_7ae47774-8238-11e9-befa-8b81c28c91d2.html

13.  2019 BLM oil and gas lease sales - still for sale. Document listing all projects : https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/projects/nepa/116438/162409/198093/2018.11.15_DNA_doc_March_2019_OGLsSa.pdf Website listing upcoming sales: https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/nepa/nepa_register.do  And the site doing the selling where you can buy leases starting at $2 and acre: https://www.energynet.com/govt_listing.plSee the calendar of government leases sales here: https://www.energynet.com/calendar.pl

14.  BLM’s own e-planningsite: 

Section III - CIVIL RIGHTS, TITLE IX, HEALTH, EDUCATION, FOOD, BANKING, HOUSING and FCC


2.      Coming as a proposed regulation. From June: Proposal to recalculate how the Federal government calculates poverty rates so as to reduce benefits to poor people. This was a notice - proposed rule will follow sometime. I'm putting this here as a place-holder because it’s coming. https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=OMB-2019-0002-0001  Article about it here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/07/us/politics/trump-poverty-level-proposal.html

3.      May-June 2019 Concerted Attack on Civil Rights. https://drive.google.com/open?id=1WH2B132JsR2fSqylMATCHmU-9BCq4bMs Learn more about the proposed regulation and how to fight it here (you can submit a comment):

4.      Extending Medicaid provisions: Some include work-requirements. These are by state. Some have comments open - usual time period is one month. Those with open comments are at the top of the list. https://public.medicaid.gov/connect.ti/public.comments/whatsNew


6.      Not posted as a regulation but followed as policy.  State Medicaid block grants

7.      Kaiser Health News take here: https://khn.org/news/block-grants-medicaid-faq/


Federal Government Sites:

1.      https://www.fedcenter.gov/news/regs/

2.      Overview of Trump Regulatory actions: See White House Complete Government “Reform” plan - it is sweeping and alarming: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Government-Reform-and-Reorg-Plan.pdf  and their regulations office: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-regulatory-affairs/

3.      Tracking regulations by Agency and Industry: https://quantgov.org/federal_regulation_tracker/

4.      USCIS Federal Register Announcements: https://www.uscis.gov/legal-resources/uscis-federal-register-announcements

Non-governmental sites providing up-to-date overviews and discussions of regulatory rollbacks:

1.      Trump’s regulatory agenda - status, challenges, enforcement or lack of, etc. https://www.govexec.com/management/2019/02/many-ways-gauge-results-trumps-deregulatory-push/155195/

2.      Overview of regulatory rollbacks: https://sensiblesafeguards.org/

3.      General advice on comment on regulations, includes a search tool: https://demcastusa.com/2019/10/03/how-to-public-comment-on-federal-regula tions/

4.      Discussion of regulations.gov ongoing and upcoming issues from Yale Law and ABA
http://yalejreg.com/nc/ and for discussion of banking, commerce, and energy regulation – http://yalejreg.com/

5.      Department of Transportation. Employment - hours of service - tracking trucking driver regulations:

6.      Employment law tracker: https://www.nelp.org/tracker/ Weekly updates on Trump effects on labor. See also: https://tax.thomsonreuters.com/blog/dols-regulatory-to-do-list-tackles-flsa-fmla-and-work-visa-issues/



9.      Tracking Alaska Oil and Gas drilling: https://inletkeeper.org/our-work/energy-alaska/oil-gas/


11.  Brookings Institution “Tracking Deregulation in the Trump Era.” https://www.brookings.edu/interactives/tracking-deregulation-in-the-trump-era/ and 

12.  Rules at Risk: https://rulesatrisk.org/

13.  For state impact - listed by state: https://www.trinityconsultants.com/news/states


15.  EPA Dozens of proposals for significant new uses of chemicals. Too many to list here but this link will take you to the current proposals. https://www.regulations.gov/searchResults?rpp=25&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&np=7&dct=N%2BPR%2BFR&cp=O&a=EPA  This is an article on the EPA rush to reclassify chemicals and toxic substances from the Environmental Defense Fund: http://blogs.edf.org/health/2018/09/19/the-tsca-new-chemicals-mess-a-problem-of-the-chemical-industrys-own-making/ https://www.edf.org/blog/2019/06/17/7-ways-trumps-epa-breaking-our-bipartisan-chemical-safety-law

16.  Upcoming Public Federal Meetings and Comment opportunities on the environment/ecology:  https://www.esa.org/esablog/federal-register-opportunities/ https://www.esa.org/esablog/federal-register-opportunities/

17.  Law of the Land Project from Center for American Progress. Tracks regulations and litigation with status updates. https://www.lawofthelandproject.org/

18.  Environment: Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics https://www.fseee.org/take-action/help-save-the-tongass/

19.  EPA Regulation Watch blog. http://acoel.org/category/Regulation.aspx

20.  EPA’s own Inspector General report critical of EPA biosludge policy and public health risks: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-11/documents/_epaoig_20181115-19-p-0002.pdf



23.  Federal Facilities Environmental Stewardship Center - where the Feds deal seriously with climate change: https://www.fedcenter.gov/news/regs/ See American Institute of Physics Report on Trump admin. plan for research and development - https://www.aip.org/fyi/2018/trump-administration-identifies-rd-priorities-its-next-budget-request and DOE 2019 plan - https://www.aip.org/fyi/2018/fy19-budget-request-doe-applied-rd-slashed-again

24.  Healthcare: Overview of Medicare financial plans for hospitals for 2019-2020. https://www.advisory.com/research/revenue-cycle-advancement-center/at-the-margins/2019/04/ipps-rule

25.  HHS healthcare rollbacks, proposed regulations and proposed legislation from Congress. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/mcdermottplus-check-february-15-2019



28.  Immigration - good summary of all public charge rules at several government agencies - USCIS, DOJ, DOS: https://www.aila.org/advo-media/issues/all/public-charge-changes-at-uscis-doj-and-dos

29.  Immigration law resources - great resource: https://www.aila.org/infonet

30.  Labor: Federal Labor Impacts: https://ucommblog.com/section/politics/national-politics

31. Labor: National Employment Law Project: https://www.nelp.org/  

32.  Medicare/ACA tracking changes: https://blog.medicarerights.org/category/medicare-watch/

33.  Native American issues. https://turtletalk.blog/

34.  Public Lands Tracking legal battles over the future of America’s public lands: https://www.lawofthelandproject.org/

35.  SEC Regulatory site: https://www.sec.gov/rules.shtml for information on proposed changes to financial rule and markets.

36.  Department of Transportation New and pending rules. https://www.transportation.gov/regulations/report-on-significant-rulemakings

37.  USDA Regulatory actions: http://www.afdo.org/blog/7879271

38.  For effective Commenting on Regulations, please read https://www.regulations.gov/docs/Tips_For_Submitting_Effective_Comments.pdf and  “How to Comment on EPA dockets”: https://www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epa-dockets

39.  Proposed “Regulatory Reform Agenda”: https://www.reginfo.gov/public/jsp/Utilities/index.jsp

40.  Search and track all Federal regulations at https://regulations.justia.com/