Actions for December 2022
Action #1 - Extend the expanded Childcare Tax Credit which proved effective at combating child poverty
The American Rescue Plan increased the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child for children over the age of six and from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under the age of six, and raised the age limit from 16 to 17. It lifted millions of children out of poverty. But the credit expired and families are facing the dual impact of the loss of that relief plus the impact of inflation, which hits low income individuals hardest. Studies have shown that since the expiration of the credit hundreds of thousands of children have slipped back into poverty and are, once again, struggling with food insecurity.
Call House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (202) 225-4965
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Rep. Pelosi in her capacity as House Speaker to urge her to do all that she can to reinstate the 2021 Child Tax Credit expansions in year-end budget negotiations to lower child poverty and relieve food insecurity for families with children.
Call Rep. Jim McGovern (202) 225-6101 or (413) 341-8700
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Rep. McGovern to thank him for his support for reinstating the 2021 Child Tax Credit expansions in year-end budget negotiations to lower child poverty and relieve food insecurity for families with children.
Call Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
Dial (518) 431-4070 or (607) 772-6792 or (202) 224-6542
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Senator Schumer in his capacity as Senate Majority Leader to urge him to do all that she can to reinstate the 2021 Child Tax Credit expansions in year-end budget negotiations to lower child poverty and relieve food insecurity for families with children.
Also call Senators -- Elizabeth Warren (202) 224-4543 or (413) 788-2690 andEd Markey (202) 224-2742 or (413) 785-4610. Let them know you believe this legislation is very important.
Action #2 - Urge passage of bipartisan Vote by Mail Tracking Legislation
The Vote by Mail Tracking Act (H.R. 1307) passed out of committee with overwhelming bipartisan support in November. Leadership needs to allow it to come to a vote.
The bill requires that all mailed ballots include a U.S. Postal Service barcode that enables tracking of each individual ballot, as well as meeting other requirements for envelope design and that it bear an official election mail logo.
The bill would also ensure that Election Officials and voters have the resources to track the status of their ballots, which would create peace of mind for voters and confidence that their vote is being counted, as well as adding another level of protection for the sanctity of our elections.
Call House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (202) 225-4965
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Rep. Pelosi Schumer in her capacity as House Speaker to urge her to bring the Vote by Mail Tracking Act (H.R.1307) to a vote. This bipartisan bill will ensure that Election Officials and voters have the resources to track the status of their ballots, which would create peace of mind for voters and confidence that their vote is being counted, as well as adding another level of protection for the sanctity of our elections.
Call Rep. Jim McGovern (202) 225-6101 or (413) 341-8700
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Rep. McGovern to ask that he do whatever he can insure the Vote by Mail Tracking Act (H.R.1307) is brought to a vote. This bipartisan bill will ensure that Election Officials and voters have the resources to track the status of their ballots. This will create peace of mind for voters and confidence that their vote is being counted, as well as adding another level of protection for the sanctity of our elections.
Call Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
Dial (518) 431-4070 or (607) 772-6792 or (202) 224-6542
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Senator Schumer in his capacity as Senate Majority Leader to urge him to work with his colleagues to pass the Vote by Mail Tracking Act (H.R.1307) to a vote. This bipartisan bill will ensure that Election Officials and voters have the resources to track the status of their ballots. This will create peace of mind for voters and confidence that their vote is being counted, as well as adding another level of protection for the sanctity of our elections.
Also call Senators -- Elizabeth Warren (202) 224-4543 or (413) 788-2690 andEd Markey (202) 224-2742 or (413) 785-4610. Let them know you believe this legislation is very important.
Action #3 - Contact the White House/President Biden to de-politicize the Census
The Census Bureau's primary mission is to conduct the U.S. Census every ten years, which allocates the seats of the U.S. House of Representatives to the states based on their population. Following the 2020 census there were many allegations that the census process was unfair and too susceptible to political manipulation. There have been calls to add safeguards and other protections to ensure the integrity of the census. A recent bi-partisan task force recommends that the Census Bureau be moved out of the Commerce Department and become an independent executive agency.
Leave a message for the President to let him know that an accurate “non-political” census count is critical to allow for appropriate representation in the House of Representatives. In your browser: search “contact the white house” or (WH.gov) or (whitehouse.gov ) Follow the prompts to leave a message.
Message type: Select “Contact the President”
Provide your name, email, home address etc.: (you may get a nice thank you letter back! )
What would you like to say: Leave your message in this box
Suggestions: Please take politics out of the census process. I want the Census Bureau to be an independent executive agency. This would increase the fairness, accuracy, and integrity of the census. You can do this by asking the 117th Congress for temporary Presidential reorganization authority before the Congress term ends.
Action #4 - Ensure that insurrectionists are disqualified from holding public office
As soon as Trump announced his candidacy for the 2024 election, two organizations Free Speech For People and Mi Familia Vota, launched a campaign to prevent insurrectionists from holding federal public office. Citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, known as the disqualification clause, the organizations are contacting Secretaries of State across the country. Enacted after the Civil War, the clause blocks any person from holding federal office who has “engaged in insurrection” against the U.S. or “given aid or comfort” to its “enemies.” We are asking you to contact Bill Galvin our secretary of state.
Call Secretary of State Galvin: 1-800-462-VOTE (8683) or 617-727-2828 (or Fax: 617-742-3238)
Or Write to:
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Elections Division
McCormack Building
One Ashburton Place, Room 1705
Boston, MA 02108
Email: elections@sec.state.ma.us
Suggested Script: Hi. I’m from [ZIP] and I’m calling to ask you to prevent insurrectionists from appearing on future ballots in Massachusetts. Section three of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution bars anyone who has “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office. A federal judge has barred one county commissioner from holding office for participating in the January 6th insurrection. I’m asking you to read Free Speech for People’s declaration to disqualify insurrectionists and take steps to prevent them from appearing on Massachusetts’ ballots. Thank you.