76 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 1: Support voting rights for 5.2 million Americans.
- Action 4: Support good governance through a clean debt limit increase.
- Action 6: Advocate for the pardon and asylum status of a survivor.
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: Support voting rights for 5.2 million Americans.
- Action 2: Advocate for voting opportunities for people in pre-trial custody.
- Action 3: Protect election workers in your state.
- Action 4: Support good governance through a clean debt limit increase.
- Action 5: Protect our communities by advocating for stronger climate reform.
- Action 6: Advocate for the pardon and asylum status of a survivor.
- 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 52 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:
- Support S. 1296, the John Lewis Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act, to improve healthcare access by taking into account social determinants of health. [Source: AoCC]
- Support S. 465, the BADGES for Native Communities Act, to ensure Tribal justice systems have the resources and support needed to protect their communities. [Source: NIWRC]
- Support S. 1342, the Smart Sentencing Adjustments Act, to reduce unnecessary incarceration through measures that promote humane and equitable criminal justice policies. [Source: Brennan Center for Justice]
- Pass S. 1318, the Election Worker Protection Act, to safeguard the civil servants and volunteers who manage our elections. [Source: Democracy Docket]
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 56 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:
- Support H.R. 3069, the John Lewis Equality in Medicare and Medicaid Treatment Act, to improve healthcare access by taking into account social determinants of health. [Source: AoCC]
- Support H.R. 2899, the STOP Violence Act, to reduce unnecessary incarceration through measures that promote humane and equitable criminal justice policies. [Source: Brennan Center for Justice]
- Support H.R. 1292, the BADGES for Native Communities Act, to ensure Tribal justice systems have the resources and support needed to protect their communities. [Source: NIWRC]
- Reauthorize H.R. 2604, the Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act, to support culturally appropriate supportive services for domestic violence survivors. [Source: NIWRC]
- Pass H.J.Res. 16, which proposes a Constitutional amendment lowering the voting age to 16, enabling citizens to participate in democracy as soon as they’re able to pay taxes. [Source: FairVote]
I value democracy
With respect and collaboration, we work to create a nation that welcomes all people, expands freedoms, and upholds the Constitution. Each citizen must be able to freely and fairly elect those who represent their values.
Action 1: Support voting rights for 5.2 million Americans.
Source: Brennan Center
Join the 54 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
If you live in AL, AK, AR, AZ, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, KS, KY, LA, MD, MS, MO, NE, NC, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, WV, WI, or WY (all red, orange, and yellow states on this map, except MN and NM which have new laws going into effect in July): Contact your state legislators (look up).
Script: Hi, I’m a resident of [ZIP], and I believe in second chances. [STATE] disenfranchises people with felony convictions, a practice that disproportionately affects people of color. Can I count on [NAME] to support legislation that honors the fundamental voting rights of citizens with felony convictions? Thank you.
If you live elsewhere: Donate to the Sentencing Project to help defend the voting rights of people with felony convictions.
Action 2: Advocate for voting opportunities for people in pre-trial custody.
Source: Leadership Conference on Human Rights, Brennan Center
Join the 28 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Write: The Honorable Ronald L. Davis, Director
U.S. Marshals Service
1215 S. Clark Street
Arlington, VA 22202
Script: Hi, I’m a resident of [STATE] asking you to follow the recommendations of over 100 civil rights organizations to support the voting rights of all eligible Americans in federal pre-trial custody in the following ways:
- Provide high-quality voter-registration services and assistance voting to eligible individuals.
- Publicize an assessment of the results of these efforts.
- Leverage your agency’s contracts to ensure ballot access for all eligible voters, not just those in federal custody.
Thank you for considering these recommendations.
Action 3: Protect election workers in your state.
Source: Brennan Center
Join the 42 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Contact: Your state legislators (look up).
Script: Hi, I’m a resident of [ZIP] calling to ask you to follow three recommendations for protecting election workers in advance of the 2024 elections:
- Reduce harassment and threats of physical violence by funding physical security protections and training.
- Allow election workers to protect personally identifiable information.
- Prohibit intimidation and doxing of election workers and ensure that all workers receive protection throughout the entire election process.
Can I count on you to promote legislation that addresses these recommendations? Thank you.
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 4: Support good governance through a clean debt limit increase.
Source: NRDC
Join the 97 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Contact: Your House rep (look up).
Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [ZIP] because I’m concerned about the devastating effect of proposed spending cuts in H.R. 2811. This misguided approach to solving the debt-ceiling crisis would weaken our infrastructure and jeopardize the well-being of children, veterans, seniors, disabled people, and other vulnerable communities. I urge you to sign the discharge petition for House Resolution 350 to allow for a humane and responsible resolution to the debt limit crisis.
Action 5: Protect our communities by advocating for stronger climate reform.
Source: NRDC
Join the 35 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Contact: The Honorable Michael S. Regan, Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20460
Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [STATE] because I’m concerned about the lack of regulation for fossil fuel power plants, which currently face no federal limits on carbon pollution even though they are responsible for one-third of U.S. emissions. Proposed EPA rules establish standards to clean up these plants or retire them in favor of renewable energy, but we need swifter and bolder action. Please urge the EPA to quickly implement the strongest possible standards to counter this crisis and save lives.
Action 6: Advocate for the pardon and asylum status of a survivor.
Source: California Coalition for Women Prisoners
Join the 99 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Contact: Gov. Gavin Newsom
By mail: ATTN: Office of Legal Affairs, Pardons, State Capitol, Suite 1173, Sacramento, CA 95814
By phone: (916) 445-2841
By contact form: here (select “Clemency – Pardon” as the topic)
Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [STATE] in solidarity with Ms. Marisela Andrade (CDCR#WA7304, A#074-816-783), a survivor of sexual trafficking and domestic violence. Ms. Andrade was approved for parole in 2021 but was transferred directly to ICE custody, before finally winning release in March. I urge you to pardon Ms. Andrade so that she may continue her quest for asylum and remain safely in the U.S. with her children.
Alternate: Sign the CCWP petition. (Note: You will be subscribed to Change.org emails)
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.
Thank the Kansas City, MO city council for voting to protect the rights of transgender Missourians seeking gender-affirming healthcare in the city.
If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: City Hall, 414. E 12th St., 22nd Floor, Kansas City, MO 64106
"*" indicates required fields
| Name | City | State |
|---|---|---|
| Beth | Weaverville | NC |
| Beatrice | Philadelphia | PA |
| Georgia | Austin | TX |
| Kathy | Newburyport | MA |
| Patricia | Philadelphia | PA |
| Name | City | State |
Thank Gov. Roy Cooper (D–NC) for vetoing a bill that severely limits abortion access for North Carolinians and those from nearby states.
If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: Office of the Governor, 20301 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699
"*" indicates required fields
| Name | City | State |
|---|---|---|
| Beth | Weaverville | NC |
| Beatrice | Philadelphia | PA |
| Georgia | Austin | TX |
| Donna | Sterling | MA |
| Patricia | Philadelphia | PA |
| Name | City | State |
Thank Sen. Alex Padilla (D–CA) for introducing the Citizenship for Essential Workers Act, which would create a pathway to citizenship for 5.2 million aspiring American essential workers.
If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: 112 Hart SOB, Washington, DC 20510
"*" indicates required fields
| Name | City | State |
|---|---|---|
| Beth | Weaverville | NC |
| Beatrice | Philadelphia | PA |
| Georgia | Austin | TX |
| Donna | Sterling | MA |
| JL | Chesterfield | VA |
| Name | City | State |
Good News
If you find good news for democracy, equality, and the planet, share it with us here!
Progress on issues previously featured in the Checklist
- Donations to the Sidewalk School enable the organization to help people seeking asylum access high-speed internet and the CBP One app.
National
- The FDA formally ends their discriminatory prohibition on blood donations from gay and bisexual men.
- Ahead of a final decision expected this summer, an FDA advisory panel votes in favor of making certain birth control pills available over the counter.
- The CDC updates their COVID-19 booster recommendations to include a second booster for older adults and others vulnerable to serious illness.
- The Dept. of Education releases updated guidance that prioritizes the religious freedom of all public school students.
- Four people are found guilty of seditious conspiracy regarding their involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol.
- SCOTUS lets stand an IL law banning the sale of assault weapons.
- SCOTUS upholds a CA law restricting the sale of pork produced using extreme confinement of pigs.
- 31 individuals with nonviolent drug offenses have their sentences commuted by President Biden.
State
- CA launches a hotline to facilitate the reporting of hate incidents and coordination of care for those reporting.
- CA and NV: A bullet train project that would connect Los Angeles and Las Vegas that is projected to create 35,000 construction jobs is moving forward thanks to bipartisan support.
- KS: A federal court strikes down a provision of a state law that prohibited sending personalized mail-in ballot applications to registered voters.
- MI adds protections for the LGBTQ community to state anti-discrimination law.
- MI extends the deadline for military and overseas voters to return their mail-in ballots.
- MN passes the Democracy for the People Act, which will:
- Automatically register voters who are eligible.
- Allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote.
- Create a permanent list of absentee voters who will automatically receive mail ballots.
- Require voting materials to be available in multiple languages.
- Prohibit voter intimidation.
- MN: People with felony convictions who have completed their term of incarceration can once again exercise their voting rights.
- NY passes the Build Public Renewables Act, which requires the NY Power Authority to switch all state-owned electricity generation to clean energy sources by 2030.
- NY: E. Jean Carroll is awarded $5 million in damages following a jury’s unanimous conclusion finding the previous president liable for battery and defamation.
- OK prohibits threats against and the doxing of election officials.
- WA: Minors seeking gender-affirming care in the state are protected from the intervention of estranged parents.
- WA bans the sale of assault weapons.
- WI’s Supreme Court rejects a challenge to a state constitutional amendment that expands and strengthens the rights of crime survivors.
Local
- Kansas City, MO protects transgender people’s access to gender-affirming healthcare following the passage of a state ban on gender-related care for minors.
- In the face of censorship, Fort Wayne, IN high school students produce their own independent production of the LGBTQ-inclusive play Marian.
- Union County, NJ requires all election materials to be printed in English and Spanish and will ensure that someone is available to help Spanish-speaking voters who need assistance at the polls.
- Gerina Whethers is appointed as the lead prosecutor of Jefferson County, KY, becoming the first Black woman to hold the position in the county.
- The City of San Antonio offers free swimming lessons during the summer of 2023.
Corporate/business
- In partnership with the National Down Syndrome Society, Mattel unveils the first-ever Barbie doll with Down syndrome.
- Home Depot increases pay for hourly workers.
Groups and organizations
- Donations4abortion.com provides resources to support abortion access in the U.S., Guam, and Puerto Rico.
- The HRC Foundation partners with Lyft to provide free rides for trans and non-binary people in select cities for medical appointments and job interviews.
News with heart
- The rate of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. plateaued in 2022 and has not risen since.
- Following higher-than-average unemployment rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of employment for Black women reaches a 22-year high.
- Employers created 253,000 jobs in April, while the unemployment rate dropped to 3.4 percent, matching a low from May 1969.
- Wages and salaries rose 5 percent between March 2022 and March 2023.
- Photographer Li Qiang documents and shares his family’s immigration experience.
Need inspiration?
- Read this week’s inspiring message from guest author Julie Damerell: Four Perks of Doing Something
- How can we respond to hateful policies?
- The Price of Eggs
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