52 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:
- Contact your Senators: Urge them to pass the Freedom to Vote Act (S. 2747), which would make Election Day a federal holiday, set national standards for voting rights, and require disclosure of “dark money” political campaign contributions. [Source: Citizens for Ethics]
- Contact your Senators and House Rep: Urge them to pass S. 2702 and H.R. 5008 to protect the voting rights of American Indians and Alaska Natives. [Source: National Congress of American Indians]
- Contact your Senators: Urge them to support Indigenous women by passing S. 1275 and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act with strong Tribal provisions. [Sources: National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, NCAI]
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 fair legislative maps for fair representation.
- Action 2: Get new voters the ID they need to vote.
- Action 3: Advocate with Alaska Natives for long-awaited watershed protection.
- Action 4: Support rational and merciful federal sentencing policies.
- Action 5: Advocate for equitable criminal justice practices.
- Action 6: Advocate for the inclusion of aspiring Americans as we Build Back Better.
- 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.
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:
- Pass the Freedom to Vote Act (S. 2747), which would make Election Day a federal holiday, set national standards for voting rights, and require disclosure of “dark money” political campaign contributions. [Source: Citizens for Ethics]
- Pass S. 2702 to protect the voting rights of American Indians and Alaska Natives. [Source: National Congress of American Indians]
- Protect reproductive freedom by passing the House-approved Women’s Health Protection Act. [Source: NARAL]
- Support Indigenous women by passing S. 1275 and reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act with strong Tribal provisions. [Sources: National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, NCAI]
- Support S. 420, the PRO Act, to protect workers’ rights to organize and collectively bargain. [Source: National Women’s Law Center]
- Introduce “second look” legislation to reevaluate life sentences and rectify racial disparities in the criminal justice system. [Source: The Sentencing Project]
Contact your House representative
Check the box if you made contact–whether for one issue or all–so we can count your action.
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:
- Support the following in the budget reconciliation package (we will update this action after the House’s initial vote, possibly 11/5):
- $20.5 billion in Native American reconciliation funding,
- $1.75 trillion to Build Back Better U.S. infrastructure and child care,
- the advancement of birth justice through Momnibus,
- and a universal, comprehensive paid family and medical leave program. [Sources: indianz.com, National Congress of American Indians, New Voices for RJ, MomsRising]
- Pass H.R. 5008 to protect the voting rights of American Indians and Alaska Natives. [Source: National Congress of American Indians]
- Introduce “second look” legislation to reevaluate life sentences and rectify racial disparities in the criminal justice system. [Source: The Sentencing Project]
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 fair legislative maps for fair representation.
Source: Brennan Center
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Contact your state legislators (look up) if you live in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PR, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WV, WI, or WY.
Script: Hi, I’m a resident of [ZIP] asking you to support drawing fair legislative district maps for [STATE] and end prison gerrymandering. People in prison deserve representation. I’d like you to pass legislation to count incarcerated people at their permanent residence, not where they are incarcerated. Thank you.
Donate: If you live in CA, CO, CT, DE, IL, MD, NV, NJ, NY, PA, VA, or WA, challenge prison gerrymandering by donating to the Sentencing Project.
Action 2: Get new voters the ID they need to vote.
Source: Spread the Vote
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Requiring voter ID is a discriminatory barrier to voting. 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, the documents needed to get an ID are not. Spread the Vote assists people with the process of obtaining IDs.
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 with Alaska Natives for long-awaited watershed protection.
Sources: Alaska Natives, NRDC, Stop Pebble Mine
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Email: EPA Administrator Michael S. Reagan at Regan.Michael@epa.gov.
Script: Hello, I’m writing to amplify the call of Alaska Natives to protect the water, wildlife, and livelihoods around Bristol Bay by stopping Pebble Mine. Bristol Bay is a fragile watershed habitat that falls under Clean Water Act protection, and open-pit mining results in toxic waste and unavoidable pollution. I am urging the EPA to use its veto power to finalize the process that will stop Pebble Mine and protect Bristol Bay before the 2022 fishing season.
Action 4: Support rational and merciful federal sentencing policies.
Source: The Sentencing Project
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Contact: Your STATE legislators (look up).
Script: Hello, I’m a constituent from [ZIP] calling to express my support for the evaluation and reduction of prison life sentences. Many nonviolent offenders (primarily people of color) are serving life sentences with no chance of parole or reintegration into society. I am asking [NAME] to follow the example of California, New York, and the District of Columbia and introduce “second look” legislation that aims to reduce racial disparities and biased sentencing in the criminal justice system.
Action 5: Advocate for equitable criminal justice practices.
Source: Generation Progress
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Step 1: Google “[STATE NAME] cash bail” to see if your state has passed humane cash bail reform.
Step 2: If your state has not reformed its cash bail system to allow people to await trial at home:
Contact: Your STATE legislators (look up).
Script: Hi, I’m a constituent from [ZIP] calling in support of reforming the [STATE] cash bail system. Each day, an average of over 630,000 people are detained in local jails because they’re unable to post bail. This problem disproportionately affects communities of color and people living in poverty. I ask [NAME] to reform our state’s cash bail system and allow people to remain at home while awaiting trial.
Action 6: Advocate with aspiring Americans as we Build Back Better.
Sources: New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE), Latino Rebels
Join the 0 Americans of Conscience who have completed this action by checking the tally box!
Note: We will update this action when the House votes on the budget reconciliation bill, likely on 11/5.
Contact: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Leo O’Brien Building, Room 827, Albany, NY 12207; (518) 431-4070; or email form.
Script: Hello, I’m from [ZIP], urging you to include a pathway to citizenship in the Build Back Better Act. House Democrats have committed to including citizenship language in the reconciliation bill for the 11 million aspiring Americans living in the U.S., and you can do the same. I would like Sen. Schumer to empower millions of community members to do more than dream.
Acts of Gratitude
Signatures to the forms below will be printed with a letter of thanks from Americans of Conscience, and mailed to the recipient 2 weeks after the Checklist publication date. Your information will not be stored after that date.
Thank U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi for speaking out against inhumane conditions and expulsions of people from Haiti at the U.S.-Mexico border.
If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Case Postale 2500, CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt, Suisse
Alt: contact form
Thank Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto for urging his viewers to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
If you’d like to mail your own personal expression of gratitude, use this address: Fox News Channel, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036
Good News
As Americans of Conscience, we celebrate!
Progress on issues featured in Americans of Conscience Checklist
- The Biden administration publishes a proposed rule in the Federal Register to preserve DACA protections.
- Temporary Protected Statusholders from Syria have their employment authorization extended through March 2022.
- Thanks to mail-in ballots, disabled voters’ participation in elections increased significantly in 2020.
- At the UN Climate Conference, President Biden affirms the U.S.’s commitment to the largest effort to combat climate change in American history.
- The White House sets a goal to deliver to disadvantaged communities at least 40% of the overall benefits from federal investments in climate and clean energy.
- Sending social workers and paramedics to respond to mental health crises instead of police, NYC’s B-HEARD program increases the rate of callers who accept mental health assistance.
- The last person detained by ICE at Yuba County Jail is released.
- The Los Angeles DA’s office reviews hundreds of cases after police officers involved were relieved of duty over racist and anti-Semitic messages.
- The Biden administration will regulate methane emissions within the agricultural sector.
- Secretary Mayorkas announces an end to the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) policy.
- Curtailing ICE, the Biden administration announces new immigration enforcement guidelines that limiting arrests at schools, hospitals, and other protected areas.
National
- FDA authorizes use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11.
- Dept. of Health and Human Services increases protections for abortion providers and clients in Texas.
- DHS develops procedures to protect workers who report labor law violations from deportation.
- Veterans Affairs moves to make gender confirmation surgery for veterans available through the VA healthcare system.
- DOJ investigates Phoenix’s police department over accusations of civil rights violations.
- 66 former Republican and Democratic legislators publicly oppose efforts by the previous president to block records regarding the January 6th insurrection.
- U.S. issues the first passport with the non-binary X marker to Dana Zzyym.
- Voting rights advocate Myrna Pérez is confirmed by the Senate to serve on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, becoming only the second Latina to serve on that court since Justice Sotomayor was appointed to the Supreme Court.
- Justice Beth Robinson is confirmed by the Senate to serve on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, becoming the first openly lesbian woman to serve on any federal circuit court.
- Judge Gustavo Gelpí is confirmed by the Senate to serve on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, becoming only the second Puerto Rican in history to serve on that court.
- USPS will process all Virginia election materials in accordance with procedures requiring timely postmarks and delivery.
- All same-sex partners are now entitled to Social Security survivor’s benefits.
- District court grants the EPA’s request to stop development of the Pebble Mine, bringing Alaska’s Bristol Bay closer to permanent protection.
- Senator Brian Schatz (D–HI) and nine other senators call on the Bureau of Prisons to reverse a dangerous policy that increases incarcerated transgender peoples’ risk of sexual victimization.
State
- CA expands access to reproductive healthcare while protecting the privacy of patients seeking abortions, gender-affirming healthcare, mental health treatment, substance abuse services, and intimate partner violence-related services.
- CA passes a law providing legal recourse to survivors of nonconsensual condom removal.
- CA passes the Momnibus Act to address racial disparities in maternal and infant health.
- CO establishes a legal defense fund for aspiring Americans to access attorney representation in immigration court.
- PA: Gov. Tom Wolf issues an executive order permanently establishing an Office of Environmental Justice within the state’s Dept. of Environmental Protection.
- RI forms a permanent commission to promote and continually improve education about genocide and the Holocaust in public schools.
- RI increases access to affordable prescription medications.
- A coalition of 24 state attorneys general file an amicus brief with SCOTUS opposing Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban.
Local
- Michelle Wu is elected mayor of Boston, becoming the first woman and first person of color to be elected to the position.
- Ruthzee Louijeune is elected as an at-large member of the Boston City Council, becoming the first Haitian-American to serve on the governing body.
- Descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce, who were run out of the Bruce’s Beach area by racists, regain lawful ownership of their land.
- Youth in San Francisco’s detention diversion project who participate in community-based programs are less likely to commit another crime than those on probation.
- Newark, NJ develops supportive housing for LGBTQ+ community members experiencing homelessness.
- Black communities in the Mississippi River corridor get a two-year reprieve on the construction of a toxic plant as the Army Corps of Engineers completes a thorough environmental assessment.
Groups and organizations
- 1,485 institutions from 71 countries with assets of more than $39 trillion commit to divest from fossil fuels.
- Fair Fight Action clears over $1 million in medical debt for residents in five states.
- Welcome.US welcomes Afghans seeking refuge in the U.S. and provides practical resources to our newly-arrived neighbors.
- The UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Michael R. Bloomberg seeks to close 25% of global coal plants and cancel all proposed coal plants by 2025.
- Indigenous voices feature prominently at the 2021 UN Climate Conference.
News with heart
- We:wa (Zuni Pueblo), a two-spirit Indigenous cultural leader and advocate, is celebrated with a Google doodle designed by Zuni Pueblo artist Mallery Quetawki.
- Braver Angels hosts an online workshop to help families navigate political tension during the holiday season.
- Donations to assist Texans needing abortion care have skyrocketed.
- Syukuro Manabe, David W.C. MacMillan, and Dr. Ardem Patapoutian, all of whom immigrated to the U.S., win 2021 Nobel Prizes for their contributions to physics, chemistry, and medicine, respectively.
- Matthew López’s The Inheritance, about the LGBTQ+ community at the height of the AIDS epidemic, wins the Tony for best play, making López the first Latino playwright to win the award.
- Nia DaCosta’s film Candyman debuts at number one in the domestic box office, making DaCosta the first Black woman film director whose film earned the top spot.
- A record-breaking number of openly LGBTQ Paralympians compete in the Tokyo Games.
- Paralympian Robyn Lambird wins bronze in the 100 meter wheelchair sprint, making history as first openly non-binary medalist in Paralympics history.
- Rev. Megan Rohrer is installed as bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod, becoming the first openly transgender bishop in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
- Artist and activist Michelle Browder creates the Mothers of Gynecology statue to honor enslaved women who survived cruel experiments by a 19th-century Alabama doctor.
- The Wiggles’ new TV show introduces multiple non-binary characters.
- Haitian activist Guerline Jozef accepts the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award for her immigration rights work at the U.S.-Mexico border, to let immigrating people know “we hear them, we feel them, and we are here for them.”
- Cuyler Frank and Glenn King (both Navajo) broadcast a college football game in the Diné language for the first time in history.
- A U.K. appeals court overturns a ruling prohibiting trans youth under age 16 from accessing puberty blockers.
- After being illegally looted from an Iraqi museum and acquired by a U.S. company, the Gilgamesh Dream Tablet is returned to Iraq.
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Housekeeping
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I was unable to email EPA Administrator Michael Regan using the email address given here, so I called the Washington D.C. EPA office and left a message.
Please disregard my comment about the EPA email address given here. I erroneously included the ( .) after .gov(.) I was able to successfully send the email! Thank you for all you do!