3/31/20
NATIONAL
ISSUES
Contact all Federal
Members of Congress
(includes contact info and
links to social media)
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/
White
House contact: https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/white-house
|
TRUMP/COVID:
On Sunday, President Trump
indicated that he thought holding the line at 100,000 COVID-19 deaths in the
United States would be a “very good job”: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/30/trump-says-keeping-us-covid-19-deaths-to-100000-would-be-a-very-good-job Let’s
let our MoC know that we expect them to stand up to a president who shows so
little regard for our lives.
COVID LEGISLATION
GAPS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED: The first three COVID-19 bills started the
relief process for our country. Congress is now on recess through at least
April 17 and more likely through at least the end of April, although Senator
McConnell has indicated that they will monitor the situation and could return
earlier. Members and their staff are already working remotely on a fourth bill. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/03/30/824150299/house-looks-at-4th-coronavirus-aid-package-pelosi-says-she-wont-get-test Let’s tell all our MoCs that we want them
to continue supporting all Americans who need help during these unparalleled times.
LEGISLATIVE
REMOTE VOTING: The House and Senate have a lot of work ahead
to get us through this pandemic, with talk already beginning about what will go
into the next relief bill. It's going to be hard to do without either putting
the lives of our elected officials at risk or reducing their accountability by
relying on things like voice voting, which is why members on both sides of the
aisle are calling for Congress to adopt remote voting to get us through the
crisis. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/23/congress-remote-voting-coronavirus-144119 Let's call our representatives in
Washington and tell them we want them to make this transition until the worst
is over.
TELL JAILS
TO RELEASE IMMIGRANT DETAINEES: Immigrant
detainees, who are in crowded situations with limited access to sanitation are
at high risk for COVID-19, and infections have already been reported. https://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2020/03/24/immigrant-detainees-are-sitting-on-a-covid-19-time-bombfirst-infection-reported/.
The New
Sanctuary Coalition is calling on people to make direct calls to jails.
They have a script and a small list of detention centers they are targeting. We can also use this site to contact
the corrections departments and individual facilities in our state. Let’s
put pressure on the jails now to release detainees, as well as other
non-violent incarcerated individuals.
RELEASE
MIGRANT CHILDREN FROM DETENTION: Four
migrant children have tested positive for COVID-19 and a judge has ordered the
government to “make continuous efforts” to release them from custody. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/29/us/coronavirus-migrant-children-detention-flores.html.
Let’s ask our MoCs to prioritize this issue and put pressure on the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Refugee
Resettlement (ORR) to comply. We can also contact these organizations directly.
(HHS Comment Line: 202-205-5445; https://www.facebook.com/HHS/; Twitter: @HHS.gov; ORR: 202-401-9246;
Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families, Mary
E. Switzer Building, 330 C ST SW Room 5123, Washington, DC 20201.
RESIST DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ATTACKS ON CIVIL LIBERTIES: The Department of Justice has asked Congress for “coronavirus emergency powers,” which among other things would allow them to detain someone without trial. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/21/doj-coronavirus-emergency-powers-140023. This is a scary attack on our civil liberties from an administration that has already tried to broaden executive power. Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has warned us to remember our long history of governments using emergency powers to curtail civil rights and called the request abhorrent. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/aoc-slams-reported-doj-effort-indefinitely-detain-people-during-emergency-n1166031. Let’s make sure our MoCs know that we’re aware of this backdoor effort to restrict our civil liberties and insist that they stand strong in rejecting these changes.
SUPPORT AMAZON, INSTACART AND WHOLE FOODS WORKERS STRIKE: Workers at Amazon and Whole Foods are going on strike due to unsafe health conditions related to COVID and unsupportive paid leave policies. https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/30/amazon-warehouse-whole-foods-workers-strike/. At Whole Foods, the CEO, John Mackey, has asked workers to donate their paid time off to a sick bank, rather than cut into his or the corporation’s profits. And Whole Foods is owned by Amazon, whose CEO, Jeff Bezos, is one of the richest people in the world. https://www.businessinsider.com/whole-foods-ceo-employees-donate-vacation-coronavirus-report-2020-3. Let’s contact Amazon, Instacart and Whole Foods and tell them we support their workers’ very reasonable demands and we will seek other delivery options until these demands are met.
NATIVE
AMERICAN RIGHTS: Interior
Secretary David Bernhardt has ordered that the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe's
reservation be disestablished and the land to be taken out of trust (https://wbur.fm/2wCaqAp).
The action could have far-reaching consequences, not only in requiring the
tribe to pay back taxes, closure of its court and police department, and the
Mashpee Wampanoag tribe's complete inability to decide how to regulate its own
land and natural resources, but it could also mean that the Interior Secretary
could disestablish any tribe's land on a whim (https://wbur.fm/2UvU8lM).
This will benefit many as we follow the money: https://democracylabs.kumu.io/pandemic-land-grab
First, let's contact Secretary
Bernhardt and tell him that this needlessly cruel act is a mistake and he
should reverse his decision. Mailing address: Department of the Interior, 1849
C Street, N.W., Washington DC, 20240, Phone: (202) 208-3100. Then,
let's contact our senators and tell them that we want them to pass
the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation Reaffirmation Act (H.R. 312), which has been stalled in the Senate since last
year. We can find a sample letter to send to our senators here: https://www.heron-hill.org/post/disestablish-reservation-land
HEALTH
& SAFETY FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE: The pandemic is an especially terrifying prospect for people who are
currently incarcerated. Close quarters and unsanitary conditions means that
there is an increased risk of COVID-19 spreading throughout jails and prisons.
Essence has published a resource where we can find No Kids in Prison and Community
Justice Exchange's demands to increase the safety and health of
incarcerated people. Let's check it out, then contact our city and state officials and
tell them that we expect them to take these demands seriously to ensure humane
treatment and promote public health.
COMPLETE
THE CENSUS ONLINE: The US Census happens every ten years and the data
are used for so many programs on which we rely.
The data gathered determine the amount of funding a community receives
(for schools, hospitals, fire departments, etc.), how a community plans, and its
representation in government. https://www2.census.gov/about/partners/general/2020-faqs.pdf Whether we’ve received the mailing with our
Census code, we can complete it online in a short amount of time. Let’s all make sure we do this to make
sure we are counted: https://my2020census.gov/
SAVE THE
USPS: The current crisis is
pushing the United States Postal Service to the edge: all they got in the
stimulus package was a $10 billion loan, rather than a grant of $25 billion as
was requested. Trump, who has wanted to privatize the USPS for a long time, had
a hand in that: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/congressman-says-trump-directly-involved-in-removing-stimulus-funds-for-postal-service/65-b6d16a3b-c10e-4404-acaf-f8b245145567 We
cannot let this issue fall out of sight, not least because a functioning USPS
is vital to our elections. Let's call our electeds to ask them how
they'll ensure the future of our public, treasured, and efficient postal
service.
COVID-19
RESOURCE HUB: From Pod Save the People: "Today we launch #WhileAtHome, a
resource hub for anyone impacted by COVID-19. Get tested. Find grants & loans.
Tools for teachers. Find job or apply for benefits. Organize. Tips for parents.
Repair your small business. Volunteer. & much more." Let's
check it out: https://whileathome.org/
SOURCE PPE,
MEDICAL, AND SANITATION SUPPLIES FROM OUR SCHOOLS: A
New Jersey School district just collected all PPE, gloves, masks, goggles,
medical supplies, as well as anti-bacterial wipes from every science
department, nursing office, school security, school district building and
grounds crew. Partnering with local colleges, their 3D printing lab is
also making face shields. https://twitter.com/ZywickiR/status/1243168019691589641?s=19 and https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/ct-oak-oprf-ppe-donation-tl-0402-20200330-6g64b4qmwngrdklxcbtistskqm-story.html
and https://www.telegram.com/news/20200323/central-mass-schools-donate-medical-supplies-to-hospitals Let’s see if our schools can help gather
and donate medical supplies too!
SUPPORT
INDEPENDENT BOOKSELLERS: If we
need to order books to help keep our minds occupied while we're home, let's
consider ordering from an independent bookseller. Independent booksellers are
struggling during this time. We can read this uplifting story about how readers
put Powell's bookstore employees back to work at KATU. We can find our local independent
booksellers at IndieBound.org
BECOMING A
"SHOPPING ANGEL" FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T SHOP FOR THEMSELVES: The threat of coronavirus puts many older people
and folks with compromised immune systems in an impossible spot - it's
dangerous for them to be out of their homes, but there are some things they
just can't live without. A pre-med student in Nevada has responded to this by
creating "Shopping Angels," a network of volunteers to pick up their
groceries for them (https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/17/us/coronavirus-student-volunteers-grocery-shop-elderly-iyw-trnd/index.html). Let's
join the Shopping Angels on Facebook, and promote the service to those who want
to help and those who could use it: https://www.facebook.com/shoppingangelsinc/.
GE WORKERS
DEMAND THAT THE COMPANY MANUFACTURE VENTILATORS: Workers at General Electric are demanding that
the company rehire laid-off employees to manufacture desperately needed hospital
ventilators, and improve protections for employees against the coronavirus. https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2020/03/30/labor-unions-demand-ge-make-ventilators-using-laid.html
Let’s 1) contact H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., Chairman and CEO, General Electric
Company, 5 Necco St, Boston, MA 02210; 617-443-3000, and tell him to support
the workers’ demands on both counts, and 2) thank the workers’ union for
advocating for the manufacture of ventilators and express support for the
health and safety of GE’s employees. https://www.iue-cwa.org/contact
THERAPIST
PROVIDES COPING SKILLS FOR THE CORONAVIRUS QUARANTINE: A therapist who has seen many patients
understandably anxious about the coronavirus has put together a list of her
best advice for coping with this difficult time. We can read through
this to find strategies and coping skills that work for us, then share this
info with family and friends who are interested: http://www.sfu.ca/olc/blog/my-ssp/mental-health-wellness-tips-quarantine
COVID-19: HOW
TO BE SAFE AND RESILIENT: Northeastern
University is offering a free online course, accessible to everyone, described
as a “‘one stop shop’ of credible, digestible collection of skills to help
manage and survive the pandemic.” We can find the course and other
information, here: https://news.northeastern.edu/coronavirus/how-to-be-safe-and-resilient/
VIRTUAL
POSTCARDING PARTIES: Let’s get together with our postcarding
friends on Zoom or some other virtual online platform and write some postcards: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rxbqxGfel8aArHHkgZc74Tlb0hlf0NwATSx368cf8tY/edit?usp=sharing
ELECTION/VOTING
VOTE BY
MAIL: Now we know that the GOP is fearful of
election results with more user-friendly voting reforms. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/30/trump-republican-party-voting-reform-coronavirus
Voting-by-mail makes a lot of sense, particularly under pandemic conditions. From Postcards for America: Here is
a web site that sets out rules for voting by mail in each state, along with
links to request vote-by-mail (absentee) ballots. Request vote-by-mail status
now, and you won't be in a quandary if we're still social distancing in
November. And if you have a vote-by-mail ballot, you're much less apt to wind
up missing the election if an emergency of some kind arises (car trouble, sick
cat, food poisoning...). Let’s check
it out here: https://www.postcardsforamerica.com/vote-by-mail.html
14
PRIMARIES POSTPONED. New
York is the latest state to postpone its primary, moving it from April 28 to
June 2. (CBSNews.com). We can check out a summary on all 14 states
at CNN. If we are voters in these states, let's mark
the rescheduled date on our calendars.
ENCOURAGE
VOTE BY MAIL. The Postcard To Voters'
campaign to reach every Florida Democrat not yet signed up for Vote By Mail
(VBM) continues. The current campaign is to reach voters in diverse and
populous Miami-Dade County. (#FLDemsVBM) Let's request 5 addresses
today to support this campaign.
STATE/LOCAL
ALL: URGE STATE
LEADERS TO FOLLOW UNITED STATES OF CARE PRIORITIES CHECKLIST: Andy Slavitt,
Obama’s former ACA head, now runs United States of Care, a task force on
battling the Coronavirus in the US. They have just released their Best
Practices guide, aimed at all Governors, but especially those in states not
fully hit by the virus yet. We can
read this COVID-19 Priorities Checklist then press our state leaders to take
actions: https://unitedstatesofcare.org/covid-19/priorities-checklist-for-state-leaders/
CA: RELIEF FOR UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS: Undocumented workers
are among the hardest hit during the Coronavirus crisis, but now there is some
aid available for who have lost their jobs or income as a result of the
Coronavirus outbreak, Legal Aid at Work has compiled a list of relief funds.
They also have information on legal rights on their page and all of the
information is available in Spanish as well. We can check out these
financial and legal resources for undocumented workers then share through
social media, concerned groups, or wherever we think can spread the message: https://legalaidatwork.org/blog/relief-funds/
MI: BE A VOLUNTEER: The State of Michigan has created a website
where we can all find ways to help pitch in to fight against COVID-19. From
former healthcare workers, to blood donors, to community members willing to
pitch in time, there is something that we can do. For those of us who are
at-risk and in need of help, we can also visit the website to request
assistance. Let's check it out and learn how we can each help: http://michigan.gov/fightcovid19
NY: MOUNT SINAI COVID-19 PLASMA PROJECT—Mount Sinai Hospital
needs plasma donations from those who have recovered from covid-19. The
hospital will use the antibodies to treat critically ill patients with the
disease. If we are in NY and have recovered from covid-19, let’s see
how we can donate our plasma and perhaps save lives: https://inside.mountsinai.org/blog/mount-sinai-to-begin-the-transfer-of-covid-19-antibodies-into-critically-ill-patients/
RALLIES/GATHERINGS/TRAININGS/GROUP ACTIONS/TWEETSTORMS
READING/WATCHING
How the
Pandemic Will End - https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/how-will-coronavirus-end/608719/
What
Coronavirus Actually Does to the Human Body - https://laughingsquid.com/what-coronavirus-does-to-human-body/
Dr.
Fauci Answers Trevor’s Questions About Coronavirus: The Daily Social Distancing
Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A3jiM2FNR8&feature=youtu.be
The
missing six weeks: how Trump failed the biggest test of his life - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/mar/28/trump-coronavirus-politics-us-health-disaster
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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
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