89 weeks to the presidential election
The AoC Checklist features clear, well-researched actions for Americans who value democracy, equality, voting, and decency. We are a big tent for all people who want a kinder, flourishing nation.
If you only have 10 minutes, take our top three suggested actions:
- Action 4: Protect local communities and forest habitats from a destructive pipeline by Feb. 21.
- Action 1: Protect the well-being of transgender youth.
- Action 2: Support farm workers displaced by gun violence.
In this edition of the AoC Checklist:
- Senate actions: What we’re contacting our senators about.
- House actions: What we’re contacting our House reps about.
- Action 1: Protect the well-being of transgender youth.
- Action 2: Support farm workers displaced by gun violence.
- Action 3: Protect Arctic wildlife and communities from the effects of oil-drilling.
- Action 4: Protect local communities and forest habitats from a destructive pipeline.
- Action 5: Oppose exclusionary asylum application processes.
- Action 6: Provide aid to those affected by earthquakes.
- Say Thanks: Acts of Gratitude
- Check out Good News from around the nation
- How you can support and share the AoC Checklist
Contact your senators
Check the box if you made contact–whether for one issue or all–so we can count your action. Contacting your senators’ staffers with multiple concerns is more efficient for both of you.
Join the 72 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Your script: Hi, I’m from [ZIP] calling/writing about several issues. I’d like Sen. [NAME] to:
- Pass the bipartisan Dream Act (S. 365) to address legal challenges to DACA and create a path to lawful permanent resident status for 1.9 million DACA recipients. [Sources: Mi Familia Vota, United We Dream]
- Support the Justice for Black Farmers Act (S. 96) to redress the USDA’s history of systemic racism. [Source: AoCC]
- Cut funding for ICE and CBP in Fiscal Year 2024 to reduce harm to aspiring Americans and their communities. [Source: Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Program]
Contact your House representative
Check the box if you made contact–whether for one issue or all–so we can count your action. Contacting your representative’s staffers with multiple concerns is more efficient for both of you.
Look up your House representative here.
Join the 62 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Your script: Hi, I’m from [ZIP] calling/writing about several issues. I’d like Rep. [NAME] to:
- Cut funding for ICE and CBP in Fiscal Year 2024 to reduce harm to aspiring Americans and their communities. [Source: Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Program]
I value equality
Support the dignity of your rainbow of neighbors from every religion, race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, age, and ability. We also support policies that show welcome to aspiring Americans and decency to people seeking refuge.
Action 1: Protect the well-being of transgender youth.
Source: AoCC
Join the 104 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Contact: Your two STATE legislators (look up).
Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [ZIP] because I care about the well-being of transgender youth in [STATE]. More than 80 anti-trans bills have been introduced across the country in 2023 that would limit young trans people’s access to gender-affirming care and increase their risk of depression and suicide. Can I count on you to protect transgender youths from harmful policy by denouncing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in [STATE]?
Be an ally: Visit PFLAG.org for LGBTQ+ community support and resources, and read the National Center for Transgender Equality’s guide to being a good ally.
Action 2: Support farm workers displaced by gun violence.
Source: Stop AAPI Hate
Join the 40 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Latinx and Asian community groups are working together to address the immediate and long-term needs of nearly 40 farm workers, who are victims and survivors of the Jan. 23 mass shooting in Half Moon Bay. If you are able, we encourage you to contribute to their efforts.
Donate: To the Half Moon Bay Victims Fund to provide direct support.
Action 3: Protect Arctic wildlife and communities from the effects of oil-drilling.
Source: NRDC
Join the 133 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Contact: President Biden via the White House contact form.
Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [ZIP] because I’m concerned about the destructive effects of the Willow Project on Indigenous communities and sensitive Alaskan ecosystems. The drilling operation would destroy habitats crucial to subsistence activities, expose local residents to dangerous pollution, and generate 277 million metric tons of carbon. The Biden administration has demonstrated a significant commitment to tackling the climate crisis and must block the Willow Project to honor that legacy. Thank you.
Alternate: Sign the NRDC petition. (Note: You will be automatically signed up for the NRDC email distribution list.)
Action 4: Protect local communities and forest habitats from a destructive pipeline.
Source: NRDC
Join the 227 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Submit a comment: Via the USDA Public Comment page before the comment period closes on Feb. 21.
Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [ZIP] urging you to block construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline in the Jefferson National Forest. This project has already severely damaged clean water sources across Appalachia, threatening local drinking water supplies and resulting in over 300 environmental infractions. Please protect the Jefferson National Forest and select Alternative 1, the No Action alternative, and reject any changes to the Forest Plan. Thank you.
Alternate: Sign the NRDC petition. (Note: You will be automatically signed up for the NRDC email distribution list.)
Action 5: Oppose exclusionary asylum application processes.
Source: AoCC
Join the 107 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Submit a comment: Via the U.S. Customs & Border Patrol comment form (under Topic, select CBP One APP).
Script: Hello, I’m writing from [STATE] to express my concern about racial bias in the CBP One mobile app. Requiring a mobile app to apply for asylum comes with major issues: the app’s facial recognition technology can’t identify the features of darker-skinned aspiring Americans and young children, which prevents individuals and families from making asylum appointments, and many people seeking refuge do not have access to cell phones that can support the software. I’m urging CBP to repair the facial recognition problems with the CBP One app, re-open other application avenues for asylum seekers, and offer immediate assistance to those affected.
Action 6: Provide aid to those affected by earthquakes.
Source: AoCC
Join the 57 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
In early February, Syria and Turkey were hit by a massive earthquake, leaving over 40,000 people dead, hundreds of thousands without shelter, and millions of residents and refugees in need of aid. Our volunteers have compiled a list of reputable organizations accepting donations to provide humanitarian and medical aid that will most effectively reach those impacted by the earthquakes.
Donate: Through the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), the Molham Volunteering Team, The White Helmets, and/or Direct Relief.
Acts of Gratitude
We believe in gratitude as a tool for change. We will print a letter of thanks from Americans of Conscience with your signature and mail it to the recipient. Your information will be removed from this website no later than four weeks after the Checklist’s publication date.
*An asterisk denotes a Gratitude suggested by a subscriber!
Thank Sens. Dick Durbin (D–IL) and Lindsey Graham (R–SC) for reintroducing the Dream Act, which will open up a pathway to lawful permanent resident status for DACA recipients.
If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use these addresses:
DD: 711 Hart SOB,Washington, D.C. 20510
LG: 290 Russell SOB, Washington, DC 20510
Thank publishing company Haymarket Books for offering free e-books and helping to ensure students have uncensored access to the full breadth of Black history.
If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: P.O. Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
Good News
If you find good news for democracy, equality, and the planet, share it with us here!
*An asterisk denotes a Good News item submitted by a subscriber!
National
- As part of 2022’s end-of-year-omnibus, Congress passes and the president signs the TRIUMPH for New Moms Act and the Into the Light For Maternal Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders Act, to address the mental health needs of postpartum parents.
- The State Dept. takes steps to streamline the domestic visa renewal process by eliminating the requirement that H-1B visa holders leave the U.S. to renew their visas.
- The State Dept. resolves a class action lawsuit regarding disability discrimination against Foreign Service applicants.
- The Bureau of Prisons closes a site known for frequent reports of violence and abuse.
- Members of Congress form a Dads Caucus to work alongside the Moms Caucus on policy proposals like expanding the child tax credit, paid national family leave, and child care program funding.
- A bust of Justice Thurgood Marshall will be placed in the Capitol while one of a former enslaver will be removed.
State
- *CA: People living in state prisons can now make free phone calls to loved ones.
- CA: 76,000 people incarcerated in the state are eligible for release due to compliance with good behavior and participation in rehabilitation programs.
- CA moves forward with efforts to dismantle the state’s death penalty system and save the lives of incarcerated individuals.
- GA’s Sec. of State’s office reverses their preliminary finding and concludes that Black Voters Matter and their partners did not violate campaign law.
- IN voters with print disabilities can vote by mail with assistance from a person they choose, or may use a remote-accessible tool to mark their ballots.
- MN establishes a fundamental right to abortion by passing the Protect Reproductive Options Act, which protects current access to abortion care and makes it harder to restrict abortion access in the future.
- MN establishes a carbon-free electricity standard.
- MS humanities and tourism groups waive the $10,000 installation fee for Freedom Trail markers in an effort to double the number of civil rights history markers across the state.
- OK: Court rules that poultry companies must work with the state to clean a watershed polluted by chicken litter.
Local
- The Homer, AK Public Library Board determines that LGBTQ+-related books will stay on the shelves in the children’s and young adults’ sections of the library.
- Monster by Walter Dean Myers will remain on school library shelves in Henrico County, VA.
- Picture book And Tango Makes Three will remain on the library shelves of Root Elementary School in Fayetteville, AR.
- New Yorkers can enroll in NYC Care healthcare plans regardless of immigration status, ability to pay, or length of time living in the city.
Corporate/business
- To counteract censorship, bookstore Chamblin Bookmine features a display of books banned in Duval County and provides contact info for locals to contact the Duval County Public Schools leadership and board members.
- Moderna pledges to keep their COVID-19 vaccine free for everyone, including those without health insurance.
Groups and organizations
- CHOICES: Center for Reproductive Health’s Carbondale, IL clinic will offer gender-affirming hormone therapy starting Feb. 28.
- The Orlando Center for Justice launches the Hello Project, which offers bilingual legal assistance for those who need help regarding asylum, U.S. citizenship, deportation defense, DACA, and visas.
- Little Free Library launches their Indigenous Library Program to provide book-sharing boxes in Native communities.
- Brewers for Clean Water advocates for measures that safeguard their water sources from pollution and keep waterways clean for their neighbors.
News with heart
- A new hotline offers free and confidential legal advice to patients seeking reproductive and abortion care in MA, including those who do not live in the state.
- Single women currently own more homes than ever before.
- Bobbi Wilson, age 9, is honored by the Yale School of Public Health for her efforts to eradicate the invasive spotted lanternfly from her neighborhood.
- Dogs in Skagway, AK ride the bus on their way to get walked.
Need inspiration?
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Suggestion for an action: Have people contact their state to make phone calls free to prisoners in state prisons like in California, and also to ask the Federal prisons to make phone calls free.