Actions of the Month - October 2020
Action #1 - CALL SENATORS REGARDING SUPREME COURT NOMINEE
Four years ago, these Republican Senators all did not vote to fill a Supreme Court vacancy, held up because it was vacated only 11 months before a presidential election. Voters with an * are up for re-election in 3 weeks, in fairly close races.
*Lindsay Graham (South Carolina) (864) 250-1417 or (202) 224-5972
*Cory Gardner (Colorado) – (970) 245-9553 or (202) 224-5941
*Joni Ernst (Iowa) (515) 284-4574 or (202) 224-3254
*David Perdue (Georgia) (404) 865-0087 or (202) 224-3521
*Dan Sullivan (Alaska) (907) 271-5915 or (202) 224-3004
*John Cornyn (Texas) (512) 469-6034 or (202) 224-2934
Mitt Romney (Utah) - (801) 524-4380 or (202) 224-5251
Chuck Grassley (Iowa) - (515) 288-1145 or (202) 224-3744
Lamar Alexander (Tennessee) - (615) 736-5129 or (202) 224-4944
Pat Roberts (Kansas) – (316) 263-0416 or (202) 224-4774
Note: When calling Lindsay Graham, you should begin call by saying you are calling him in his position as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Script: I’m calling to get a message to Senator ______________. I’d like to remind the Senator that in 2016 [he/she] was reluctant to appoint a Supreme Court justice for a seat vacated 11 months before a presidential election. I urge the Senator to remember [his/her] comments (as the voters do), and exercise the same refusal to rush through the nomination for Justice Ginsberg’s seat, when voting in this year’s presidential election is already underway. My name is ______________ and my address is ____________ [include zip code]. Thank you.
Also call: *Martha McSally (Arizona) (602) 952-2410 or (202) 224-2235
Script: I’m calling to get a message to Senator McSally. I’d like to remind the Senator that in 2016 the Senate refused to act on a nomination to fill a Supreme Court justice seat 9 months before a presidential election. I urge the Senator to remember this (as the voters do), and exercise the same refusal to rush through a nomination just weeks prior to this year’s election. My name is ______________ and my address is ____________ [include zip code]. Thank you.
And call: Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) - (907) 271-3735 or (202) 224-6665 and Susan Collins (Maine) - (207) 780-3575 or (202) 224-2523
Script: I’m calling to get a message to Senator [Collins or Murkowski]. I want to thank the Senator for taking a principled stand and refusing to vote on an appointment to replace Justice Ginsburg until after the next president is elected and sworn in. I agree with the Senator that having refused to act on a nomination 9 months prior to a presidential election in 2016, it would be unfair and hypocritical to act just days before this election. Thank you for acting with integrity. My name is ______________ and my address is ____________ [include zip code].
Action #2 - The “HEROES Act” (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act)
This expansive bill continues to respond to the COVID-19 crisis in the United States and provides a measure of ongoing relief for its impact on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals, and businesses.
Among other things, the bill
• provides additional direct payments of up to $1,200 per individual;
• expands paid sick days, family and medical leave, unemployment compensation, nutrition and food assistance programs, housing assistance, and payments to farmers;
• modifies and expands the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides loans and grants to small businesses and nonprofit organizations;
• establishes a fund to award grants for employers to provide pandemic premium pay for essential workers;
• expands several tax credits and deductions;
• provides funding and establishes requirements for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing;
• eliminates cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatments;
• extends and expands the moratorium on certain evictions and foreclosures; and
• requires employers to develop and implement infectious disease exposure control plans.
Call Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Dial (518) 431-4070 or (607) 772-6792
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Senator Schumer in his role as Senate Minority Leader. Americans are suffering devastating impacts from the COVID-19 crisis and I want more done to help them. The House of Representatives responded courageously by passing the HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) to help alleviate some of the worst challenges from the crisis. Now, I want the Senate to move with similar boldness and urgency to pass the HEROES Act. Thank you.
Call Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Dial (859) 578-0188 or (270) 781-1673
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Senator McConnell in his capacity as Senate Majority Leader. Americans are suffering devastating impacts from the COVID-19 crisis and I want more done to help them. The House of Representatives responded courageously by passing the HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) to help alleviate some of the worst challenges from the crisis. Now, I want the Senate to move with similar boldness and urgency to pass the HEROES Act. Thank you.
Call Senator Elizabeth Warren- (413-788-2690) or (202-224-4543)
Suggested Script: Hello. My name is ___. My address (including zip code) is ___. My phone number is ___. I am calling Senator Warren because Americans are suffering devastating impacts from the COVID-19 crisis and I want more done to help them. The House of Representatives responded courageously by passing the HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) to help alleviate some of the worst challenges from the crisis. Now, I want the Senate to move with similar boldness and urgency to pass the HEROES Act. Thank you.
Call Senator Ed Markey- Springfield 413-785-4610 DC 202-224-2742 Boston (617) 565-8519
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling Senator Markey because Americans are suffering devastating impacts from the COVID-19 crisis and I want more done to help them. The House of Representatives responded courageously by passing the HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) to help alleviate some of the worst challenges from the crisis. Now, I want the Senate to move with similar boldness and urgency to pass the HEROES Act. Thank you.
Call the Senate Finance Committee (503) 326-7525 or (541) 431-0229
Suggested Script: Hello. My [Name is __]. My [Address and ZIP is __]. My [Phone number is __]. I’m calling to get a message to “both” Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Wyden in their capacities as Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. Americans are suffering devastating impacts from the COVID-19 crisis and I want more done to help them. The House of Representatives responded courageously by passing the HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) to help alleviate some of the worst challenges from the crisis. Now, I want the Senate to move with similar boldness and urgency to pass the HEROES Act. Thank you.
Call the Senate Banking Committee Dial (440) 242-4100 or (614) 469-2083
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling to get a message to “both” Senators Mike Crapo and Sherrod Brown in their capacity as Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee. Americans are suffering devastating impacts from the COVID-19 crisis and I want more done to help them. The House of Representatives responded courageously by passing the HEROES Act (H.R. 6800) to help alleviate some of the worst challenges from the crisis. Now, I want the Senate to move with similar boldness and urgency to pass the HEROES Act. Thank you.
Action #3 - Extend the Census Deadline
The Census Bureau is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce and its director is appointed by the President of the United States. The Census Bureau's primary mission is conducting 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. The coronavirus pandemic caused delays to census field operations and will result in the undercount of many people, including but not limited to the homeless and people living in group quarters. In early October, a U.S. District Court have extended the collection of Census data to October 31st. The Trump Administration has been fighting that extension, including a further appeal to the Supreme Court.
Leave a message for the President to let him know that an accurate census count is critical to allow for appropriate representation in the House of Representatives. The date to complete the census should be extended to allow for a correct census.
In your browser: search “contact the white house” 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 extend the completion date for the census. An accurate census is important to the proper functioning of our government. The coronavirus pandemic caused delays to census field operations and has caused incorrect counts of people living across the United States. Please extend the completion date so that important work can be done correctly.
Action #4 - Suspension of Judiciary Hearing for Barrett
Demand the immediate suspension of the Judiciary Hearing on Nomination of Hon. Amy Coney Barrett to be an Assoc. Justice of the SCOTUS.
Call the Senate Judiciary Committee
Dial (202) 224-5225 to talk to Sen. Lindsey Graham Press Sec’y
OR Dial (202)224-5225 or (415)-393-0707 to talk to Sen. Feinstein’s office
Suggested Script: Hello. My name [is __]. My address [including ZIP is __]. My phone number [is ___]. I’m calling to get a message to “both” Senators Lindsey Graham and Dianne Feinstein in their capacity as Chairperson and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I’m calling to urge “both” of the senators to immediately suspend the Senate Judiciary Hearings on the appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to be an Assoc. Justice of the Supreme Court.
Stop there and say- Thank you.
OR -feel free to vent a little by saying why you think the hearing should be stopped. Perhaps something like…
The vast majority of Americans want the winner of the Presidential Election to make the next appointment to the Supreme Court.
Or—Moving forward with this hearing is a ridiculous hypocritical reversal of the 2016 position of this committee that refused to consider President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee because it was an election year.
Or—The Senators should be working on a coronavirus relief bill to help the millions of unemployed workers and small-business owners who are struggling because of the huge economic impacts of the pandemic.
Or -- It is completely unreasonable to continue with this hearing while any participant (currently Senators Mike Lee and Thom Tillis) are testing positive for the coronavirus.
Action 4 - Contact Governor Baker
Call: (617) 725-4005
Script: Hi, I’m a resident of [ZIP] and I believe [STATE]’s voters should be free from armed intimidation. While private militias and armed law enforcement are barred from polling places, individuals are still permitted to bring guns to polling places. I urge you to follow Amnesty International’s recommendation and issue an executive order banning guns at and near polling places. Thank you.