59 weeks to Midterm Elections
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: Urge the President to protect our freedom to vote.
- Action 2: Support voters who don’t have ID to vote.
- Action 4: Advocate with Indigenous peoples to respect treaties and water.
In this edition of the AoC Checklist:
- Senate actions: What we’re calling our senators about.
- House actions: What we’re calling our House reps about.
- Action 1: Urge the President to protect our freedom to vote.
- Action 2: Support voters who don’t have ID to vote.
- Action 3: Advocate for accessible care.
- Action 4: Advocate with Indigenous peoples to respect treaties and water.
- Action 5: Urge the President and Congress to support Afghan people seeking refuge.
- Action 6: Support the safety of people who feed America.
- Action 7: Demand an end to dangerous border policies.
- Say Thanks: Acts of Gratitude
- Check out Good News from around the nation
- How you can support and share the AoC Checklist
Call your senators
Check the box that you called–whether for one issue or all–so we can count your action. Calling your senators’ staffers with multiple concerns is more efficient for both of you. They don’t mind, but be sure to call both progressives and conservatives. They need to hear from you.
Join the 0 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:
Priorities:
- Support both the Freedom to Vote Act (S. 2747) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4) that ban gerrymandering, reform campaign finance, and restore the power of the Voting Rights Act. [Source: Brennan Center and League of Women Voters]
- Support the Democracy Restoration Act (S. 481) that restores voting rights to 5.2 million
Add any of the following:
- Add to the bipartisan Build Back Better Plan a clear definition and plan for climate action. [Source: Mi Famillia Vota]
- Cosponsor the Women’s Health Protection Act (S.1975) to ensure patients’ rights to receive medical care without barriers. [Source: MomsRising]
- Support the Student Food Security Act of 2021 (S. 1569) to prioritize food security for college students’ success. [Source: The Counter]
- Support the Asuncion Valivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act (S. 1068) that creates OSHA protections for farm workers in extreme heat. [Source: United Farm Workers]
- Pass bipartisan resolutions S.J.Res 10 (which has already passed in the House) and S.J.Res 22 that rein in presidential power and repeal post-9/11 authorizations for use of military force. [Source: Brennan Center]
- In the budget reconciliation process,
- Support Americans with disabilities by fully funding home- and community-based services (HCBS. [Source: AAPD], and
- Support workers with a national paid medical- and family-leave program. [Source: MomsRising]
- Support 11 million essential workers, DACA recipients, TPS holders, and community members with pathways to citizenship, economic support, healthcare, and workplace protection. [Source: National Immigration Law Center, Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project]
Call your House representative
Check the box that you called–whether for one issue or all–so we can count your action. Calling your representative’s staffers with multiple concerns is more efficient for both of you. They don’t mind, but be sure to call both progressives and conservatives. They need to hear from you.
Look up your House representative here.
Join the 0 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:
Mention any of the following:
- Support Americans with disabilities by fully funding home- and community-based services (HCBS) during budget reconciliation. [Source: AAPD]
- Ensure guaranteed paid family and medical leave for all workers by funding a national paid leave program in the upcoming budget reconciliation. [Source: MomsRising]
- Ensure pathways to citizenship, economic support, healthcare, and workplace protection for 11 million essential workers, DACA recipients, TPS holders, and community members during budget reconciliation. [Source: National Immigration Law Center, Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project]
- Add to the bipartisan Build Back Better Plan a clear definition and plan for climate action. [Source: Mi Famillia Vota]
- Cosponsor the Women’s Health Protection Act (H.R. 3755) to ensure patients’ rights to receive medical care without barriers. [Source: MomsRising]
- Support the Student Food Security Act of 2021 (H.R. 3100) to prioritize food security for college students and empower educational and economic success. [Source: The Counter]
- Support the Asuncion Valivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act (S. 1068) that creates OSHA protections for farm workers in extreme heat. [Source: United Farm Workers]
- Support bipartisan H.R. 255 that reins in presidential power and repeals a post-9/11 authorization for use of military force. [Source: Brennan Center]
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: Urge the President to protect our freedom to vote.
Source: League of Women Voters
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Write or Call: President Biden at whitehouse.gov/contact or use the White House comment line: (202) 456-1111
Script: Hi, I’m calling from [STATE] to ask you to publicly support passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. I’m grateful for your previous support of voting rights, and now that these two bills have been introduced in the Senate, I ask you to publicly back them and urge their passage. Thank you.
Action 2: Support voters who don’t have ID to vote.
Source: Spread the Vote
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Spread the Vote assists people in obtaining IDs in states where ID is a requirement to vote. According to the ACLU, “Over 21 million U.S. citizens do not have qualifying government-issued photo identification, and these individuals are disproportionately voters of color … Even when IDs are free, applicants must incur other expenses to obtain the underlying documents that are needed to get an ID. This can be a significant burden on people in lower-income communities.”
Donate: https://www.kindest.com/donate/spread-the-vote (If you do, mention that you’re from AoCC!)
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.
Action 3: Advocate for accessible care.
Source: Caring Across Generations
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Do you or a family member rely on Home- or Community-Based Services (HCBS) for care? Share your story with Caring Across Generations, and help Congress understand the impact that fully-funded caregiving services will have on millions of Americans.
Record a testimony: Through HCBS Video Ask (30-60 seconds).
Action 4: Advocate with Indigenous peoples to respect treaties and water.
Source: Indigenous Environmental Network
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Write or call: President Biden at whitehouse.gov/contact or via the White House comment line: (202) 456-1111.
Write or call: MN Governor Tim Walz at https://mn.gov/governor/contact/ or 651-201-3400.
Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [STATE] to oppose the harmful Line 3 pipeline that is both environmentally damaging and in direct conflict with existing treaties. I’m asking you to prioritize environmental justice by stopping construction on this dangerous fossil fuel-based project.
Donate: To the Red Lake Treaty Camp Legal Fund via Venmo or PayPal to support those advocating for environmental justice. [Source: IEN]
Action 5: Urge the President and Congress to support Afghan people seeking refuge.
Source: RAICES
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
The U.S. has a constitutional and moral obligation to provide refuge to people seeking asylum from violence in their home countries. Our nation can do more to be a safe haven to the people of Afghanistan—many of whom acted as interpreters during the U.S. military occupation. Our government has promised to protect our Afghan allies. Ensure our leaders follow through.
Sign: This RAICES petition to President Biden and Congress to offer thorough support to Afghan people seeking asylum.
Action 6: Support the safety of people who feed America.
Source: United Farm Workers
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Farm workers harvest the food that millions of families enjoy across the country, often toiling in deadly heat. Their well-being matters. Consider supporting United Farm Workers who, through onsite efforts, education campaigns, and lobbying in the nation’s capital, strives to protect the lives of essential workers.
Donate: To United Farm Workers.
Action 7: Demand an end to dangerous border policies.
Source: Human Rights First
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Call: President Biden at whitehouse.gov/contact or via the White House comment line: (202) 456-1111.
Script: Hello, I’m contacting you from [ZIP] to encourage you to use your presidential power to end the disastrous and inhumane Remain in Mexico policy. Since its inception, this policy has forced aspiring Americans—many of whom have families and children with them—to wait for their immigration hearings in dangerous, unsanitary camps where they are vulnerable to violent attacks. I am asking you to do your duty as president and protect those seeking asylum, by putting an end to the unconstitutional Remain in Mexico policy once and for all.
Acts of Gratitude
Get out your stamps, postcards, and sparkle markers for some gratitude mail.
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Thank Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Don Bacon (R-NE) for introducing the WELCOMED Act. Share why providing humanitarian assistance to Afghan refugees arriving in the US matters to you.
Address:
SM: 1127 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC, 20515-2106
DB: 13906 Gold Circle, Suite 101, Omaha, NE 68144
Good News
As Americans of Conscience, we celebrate!
Progress on issues we’ve been calling for!
- Starting in Oct. 2021, SNAP benefits will increase by an average of 25% above pre-pandemic levels, the largest increase since the program’s creation.
- Southern CA court rules that it is unlawful to turn away people seeking asylum at ports of entry.
- DHS extends temporary protected status (TPS) for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras, and Nepal through Dec. 31, 2022.
- There are no more aspiring Americans detained at Irwin County Detention Center, where women were subjected to medical abuse.
- DHS administers COVID-19 vaccines to detained aspiring Americans.
- 33 lawmakers write to President Biden, asking him to end the Remain in Mexico policy to protect the rights of people seeking asylum.
- New Jersey bans jails from entering into new contracts with ICE.
- Rhode Island mandates African American history education in public schools.
National
- The 20-year war in Afghanistan has ended.
- House passes the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
- House passes a budget plan allocating funding to expand Medicare, improve education and family programs, and curtail climate change without restricting federal funding for abortions for the first time in decades.
- House forms a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
- AG Merrick Garland suspends federal executions.
- State Department will allow gender-neutral “X” markers on U.S. passports.
- A policy change instructs ICE not to detain pregnant, nursing, and postpartum people.
- AG Merrick Garland protects the First Amendment rights of journalists involved in leak investigations by barring federal prosecutors from seizing their records.
- Justice Dept. launches a task force to address threats against election workers. (We’ve been calling for this!)
- The federal pause on student loan payments is extended to Jan. 31, 2022 amid the ongoing pandemic.
- FDA grants full approval for Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine.
- CDC officially recommends that pregnant people get vaccinated against COVID-19.
- Officials from the former administration can give unrestricted testimony in congressional inquiries into the Jan. 6 insurrection and other efforts to subvert election outcomes.
- COVID-19 survivors with ongoing symptoms (“long-haulers”) are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- The former Acting AG testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee about potentially-illegal behavior by former administration members regarding the 2020 election.
- Dept. of Education automatically eliminates billions of dollars of student loan debt for eligible borrowers with disabilities instead of requiring discharge applications.
- Federal court temporarily blocks the Arkansas’ ban on nearly all abortions.
- Federal court blocks enforcement of an Arkansas ban on gender-confirming healthcare for transgender youth.
- A new report shows that Indigenous resistance has stopped or delayed greenhouse gas pollution equivalent to at least 25% of annual U.S. & Canadian emissions.
State
- CA bans state-funded travel to AR, FL, MO, ND, and WV due to those states’ discriminatory laws targeting LGBTQ people.
- CA turns pandemic rentals into permanent housing for unhoused people.
- CT makes phone calls free for incarcerated individuals and their families.
- FL: School leaders require masks in schools even as the governor threatens their salaries.
- GA: 95% of eligible Georgians are registered to vote.
- RI requires single-user toilets in public places to be non-gender specific.
- RI implements new gun safety laws banning “straw purchases” of firearms and prohibiting firearms on school property.
- TX House members leave the state in an effort to stymie passage of a restrictive voting-access bill.
Local
- Despite a statewide ban on mask mandates in schools, Dallas Independent School District requires face masks for students, staff, and school visitors and Paris Independent School District made masks part of their dress code.
- Washington, DC raises their minimum wage to $15.20/hour.
- The former president’s personal lawyer is suspended from practicing law in Washington, DC due to spreading falsehoods about the integrity of the 2020 election.
- Waukesha school board reverses decision to cut universal free meals.
Corporate/business
- Cloud computing company Salesforce offers to relocate employees and their families from Texas in response to new restrictive reproductive health laws.
Groups and organizations
- Disability rights activists Alice Wong, Gregg Beratan, and Andrew Pulrang receive Gayle Hafner Grassroots Advocacy Awards.
- The charity RIP Medical Debt eliminates $278 million in medical debt for 82,000 low-income patients in TN and VA.
- Promotoras (health promoters) from immigrant advocacy group CASA encourage COVID vaccinations and answer questions in Latino neighborhoods to help close MD’s vaccination gap.
- Abortion providers and reproductive rights advocates file a federal lawsuit against a TX law empowering individuals to sue anyone who helps someone access an abortion.
- Immigration rights advocates challenge ongoing Title 42 expulsions in court.
News with heart
- Afghans arrive at Northern Virginia Community College, greeted by an outpouring of support.
- Vietnamese-Americans who arrived in the U.S. after the Vietnam War offer aid in solidarity with incoming Afghans seeking refuge.
- The majority of Americans are in favor of non-policing solutions to crime, according to a Post-ABC poll.
- Cleveland’s MLB team changes their name to the Guardians.
- Kataluna Enriquez is crowned Miss Nevada, becoming the first openly transgender contestant who will compete in a Miss USA pageant.
- Douglass Washington Morris III, Isidore Dharma Douglass Skinner, Zoë Douglass Skinner, Alexa Anne Watson, and Haley Rose Watson – all descendants of Frederick Douglass – deliver Douglass’ “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” speech to mark Independence Day.
- Zaila Avant-garde wins the Scripps National Spelling Bee, becoming the first African American national champion in the bee’s history.
- Pose star Mj Rodriguez is nominated for a lead acting Emmy, becoming the first trans woman to receive a nomination in the category.
- Germany’s women’s gymnastics team sport full-length unitards at the Tokyo Olympics in a statement against the sexualization of gymnasts.
- At least 185 openly-LGBTQ athletes, including trans and non-binary Olympians, compete at the Tokyo Olympics, setting a global record.
- Workers in Mexican factories that produce goods for the U.S. receive American COVID-19 vaccinations.
- Government aid spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic cuts poverty by nearly 45 percent compared to 2018, particularly among children.
- The average pay for supermarket and restaurant workers exceeds $15/hour for the first time.
- An unprecedented number of Indigenous Olympians compete in the Tokyo Games.
- Japan’s Imagine One World organization designs 213 kimonos and obis, one to represent each nation participating in the Tokyo Olympics.
- The majority of Americans support COVID-19 safety rules to protect the common good, according to a USA TODAY/Ipsos poll.
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Housekeeping
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