Americans of Conscience Checklist: June 12, 2026

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is proposing a rule that would allow, and in some cases require, discrimination against transgender and nonbinary people seeking HUD-funded emergency shelter and other services. Gender-expansive people face higher rates of homelessness and experience housing discrimination, harassment, violence, employment discrimination, and barriers to accessing social safety nets. 

Submit a unique public comment: on the Federal Register by June 29th, 2026, modifying these points or using your own:

If finalized, this proposal would: 

• Remove protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Allow providers to demand “evidence” of a person’s sex.
• Redefine “sex” in a way that enables discrimination.
• Attempt to override state, local, and tribal protections.
• Obstruct providers’ ability to help those they serve.

Alternate: Use this toolkit to comment and add unique insights about why this matters to you. (Uncheck the “sign me up for email updates” box.)

Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Advocates for Trans Equality

The 30-day window to submit a comment closes July 2. The U.S. Postal Service has proposed a new rule that attempts to give the USPS unconstitutional oversight of elections in line with a recent unlawful presidential executive order already being challenged by voting rights advocates in at least four lawsuits. It would require each state to create a list of voters eligible to vote in federal elections and assign a unique ballot barcode to each voter. The USPS would then refuse to deliver ballots to anyone not on the list.

Send an email with a unique comment opposing this proposed new rule: PCFederalRegister@usps.gov, using the subject line “Ballot Mail.” Email comments must contain your name and physical address (you cannot comment anonymously).

Alternate: Send a letter with a unique comment opposing this proposed new rule:
Director, Product Classification
U.S. Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446
Washington, DC 20260-5015

Source: AoCC/5calls.org

Contact: Your two senators and one House representative (call, write, or email).

Script: Hello, I’m ______ from [ZIP], and I’m alarmed by the proposed elimination of dedicated funding for the specialists that deliver critical services to nearly half a million infants and toddlers aged 0-2 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Federal oversight through targeted funding ensures states train enough therapists to meet the needs of this vulnerable group. Please say NO to a Trump FY27 budget that eliminates critical services for children and toddlers with disabilities.

Alternate: Sign the MomsRising petition.

Source: MomsRising

If you live in DC, NC, NH, or PA, contact your two state legislators (look up). 

Script: Hello, I’m ______ from [ZIP], asking you to follow the example of states like CO and UT in requiring secure ballot drop boxes. Please also expand early voting to at least 14 days before Election Day, including weekends. Drop boxes and expanded early voting will allow voters to bypass the mail system entirely, ensuring their ballots reach election officials on time regardless of whether the Supreme Court strikes down ballot receipt grace periods. Thank you.

If you live elsewhere: Donate to the Voting Rights Lab to support their nonpartisan legislation tracker and voting-rights advocacy.

Source: Voting Rights Lab

If you live in AL, CA, FL, LA, MO, NC, OH, TN, TX, or UT, contact your state’s Secretary of State (look up).

Script: Hello, I’m ______ from [ZIP], urging you to contact every voter affected by [STATE]’s recent redistricting. With primaries taking place now around the nation, it is urgent for you to notify them of their new districts, election dates, and instructions for verifying registration status and polling locations. Please reply to let me know what you are doing to ensure [STATE]’s voters receive current and factual information about how to participate in this year’s elections. Thank you.

Alternate: If you live elsewhere, donate to the League of Women Voters.

Source: League of Women Voters/AoCC

Contact: Your two senators and one House representative (call, write, or email).

Script: Hello, I’m ______ from [ZIP], and I’m outraged by the Trump administration’s attempted use of grand jury subpoenas in New York to seize sensitive and private medical records of transgender minors in its ongoing efforts against gender-affirming care. All states and cities must protect the health and rights of our transgender youth despite the risk of backlash. Silence is complicity. Please publicly oppose this administration’s harmful messaging and anti-trans agenda. 

If you live in NY: contact your state assembly member to urge solidarity in opposing the administration’s subpoena strategy against NYU Langone Hospitals.

Source: ACLU

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed eliminating key standards that protect against unsafe levels of PFAS, known as “forever chemicals,” in drinking water. These new rules are a handout to polluters disguised as public protection and if implemented would threaten the health of up to 105 million Americans, including communities of color, who are disproportionately affected. Keeping PFAS protections in place is essential to protect health, save lives, and clean up our nation’s drinking water. 

Submit a unique public comment: on the Federal Register by July 20th, 2026.

Source: NRDC

Contact: Your two senators (call, write, or email).

Script: Hello, I’m ______ from [ZIP], asking you to co-sponsor and pass H.Con.Res. 86, the Iran War Powers Resolution, and help bring the war with Iran to an end. We should not allow another costly and open-ended war to continue without Congressional approval.

Source: 5calls.org

The administration is proposing new regulations that would make it harder for many people to work, including DACA recipients and asylum seekers. The proposal would restrict work permits, including a general policy against work permits for anyone who’s ever been arrested, even if no charges were brought. If enacted, this plan would strip nearly one million of our neighbors of their work permits. These rules would violate Constitutional rights and cause increased instability for families, businesses, and communities. We oppose these regulations and urge the administration to support fair and compassionate immigration policies.

Submit a public comment: Visit the Federal Register page and use the above paragraph to write an original comment opposing these proposed regulations.

Source: American Immigration Council

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has opened a public comment period after rescinding the permit rerouting a deactivated petroleum pipeline segment beneath the Pipestone National Monument, a site of unique geodiversity and tremendous cultural significance to local tribes who object to the development of this pipeline under sacred land. 

Submit a unique public comment: on the Minnesota PUC Comment Form by June 22nd at 4:30 pm CDT. Reference Docket No. 23-109 and use or modify IEN’s suggested comment (below), adding your thoughts on why protecting this national monument is important to you. 

• Edit, but do not copy this template: “I oppose the Magellan Pipeline reroute permit. I support the No Build alternative. We need to protect the Pipestone National Monument and the sacred quarries. The current cultural survey is incomplete and unacceptable. Deny this permit.”

Source: Indigenous Environmental Network

Polarization makes it easier for authoritarian leaders to divide us and harder for our democracy to function. We don’t need to agree with the “other side,” but open conversations help all of us build mutual understanding. Some Americans are withdrawing their support from the current administration and its harmful policies, and we can play a role in that shift. Our democracy has a better chance when we practice civil debate, active listening, and mutual respect. With better skills we can reunite our nation, one conversation at a time.

Will you practice better democracy? Participate in groups like Braver Angels, Crossing Party Lines, and Make America Dinner Again.

Source: AoCC

It’s our hope that using the Checklist inspires you to become more involved in specific issues and/or local action. In the last two weeks, did you volunteer, do service, advocate, or support a local or state cause? Check the box to let us know!

Source: AoCC

Thank Gov. Wes Moore (D-MD) for signing the Youth Charging Reform Act into law and stopping the school-to-jail pipeline. I appreciate your commitment to fairness, rehabilitation, and age-appropriate accountability for young people.

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: Gov. Wes Moore, 100 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401-1925

Thank you to the 121 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!

Thank Kristen Welker, host of Meet the Press, for pressing the president to support claims about election fraud with evidence. I appreciate your commitment to accountable journalism and public trust in elections.

If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: Kristen Welker, c/o NBC News, 4001 Nebraska Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016

Thank you to the 124 Americans of Conscience who completed this action!