ACTION #1 - Support the HEROES 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.
Action 2: Stop Abuse and Forced Sterilization of ICE Detainees
On Monday, Sept. 14th, legal advocacy groups filed a whistleblower complaint detailing appalling abuses against immigrants detained at ICE Irwin Detention Center in Georgia. The complaint alleges that the facility was failing to test detainees for COVID19. The complaint also detailed horrifying allegations of forced sterilizations of women detainees, often conducted by a single gynecologist.
Call Congressman Jim McGovern: 202-225-6101
Senator Elizabeth Warren: 202-224-4543
Senator Edward Markey: 202-224-2742
Script:
I’m calling to urge Rep James McGovern to call for a full investigation into the appalling abuses of ICE detainees at the Irwin Detention Center and elsewhere, such as the withholding of COVID tests and unnecessary hysterectomies. I further urge [Rep McGovern/Senator ________] to call for the revocation of medical licenses of everyone involved in thiese gneocidalsterilizations and to support legislation to defund ICE.
Thank you for your hard work.
Action #3: Oppose Housing Discrimination Based on Sex
Click Here for the Federal Register. Comments due by Next Tuesday. Sept. 22
Then follow the prompts to add your comments about why you oppose the administration’s proposal to allow HUD-funded shelters to use biological sex-based admittance policies that discriminate against transgender people. You can personalize any of the suggested the points below.
Allowing women’s shelters to turn away trans women increases trans women’s risk of being subjected to violence and jeopardizes their health during this and any future pandemic.
The new rule would allow shelters to make “good faith” assessments about someone’s biological sex based on their appearance.
Transgender and other LGBQ-identified youth account for an estimated 20-40% of the more than 1.6 million homeless youth.
Housing instability is nearly three times higher among transgender veterans than among cisgender veterans
You have to leave your name, state etc. for your comment to be counted,
ACTION #4 - Demand an Extension to Collect US Census Data
In April, as Covid-19 began surging in the US, the Census Bureau found itself hampered in counting the US population due to the effects of the virus. The bureau decided to extend the deadline for collecting data to October 31st to allow for more time to count the estimated 60 million people who have yet to respond. However, in an unexpected change of course, on August 3rd the agency announced it would end data collection on September 30th, a full month earlier than scheduled. As of early August, almost 40% of US households had yet to respond to the census questionnaire, which could lead to severe undercounts across the country, especially of Black and Latinx communities.
Call: Sen. Elizabeth Warren 202-224-4543; Sen. Ed Markey 202-224-2742; Rep. Jim McGovern 202-225-6101
Script:
“Hi, this is [your name], and I am a constituent calling from [town/zip]. I am calling with concerns about the current US Census data collection. I ask you to introduce Senate legislation that mirrors the recently passed US House legislation that grants the US Census Bureau an additional four months to collect data. As you know, almost 40% of US households have yet to respond to the Census questionnaire. We also struggle with significant under counting of Black and Latinx communities. It is imperative that we allow more time for the US Census so that a fair count can be achieved. Thank you!”
Action #5: MA Police Reform Bill
In the wake of the killing of George Floyd both the Massachusetts House and Senate passed some version of police reform bills. The final bills are now in a Conference Committee whose members, along with the legislative leadership, will decide what goes in the final reconciled bill.
Call the following representative and ask them to ensure three things are in the final bill:
Leadership
Majority Leader Senator Karen Spilka: (617) 722-1500
House Speaker Robert DeLeo: (617) 722-2500
Conference Committee Members
Senator William Brownsberger: (617) 722-1280
Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz: (617) 722-1673
Senator Bruce Tarr: (617) 722-1600
Representative Claire Cronin: (617) 722-2396
Representative Carlos Gonzalez: (617) 722-2080
Representative Timothy Whelan: (617) 722-2488
Script: Hi, my name is [_________] from [address with ZIP]. I’m calling [Senator or Representative] __________ [“in their leadership capacity” or “because they are on the Conference Committee”] regarding the Reform Shift and Build Act (Senate Bill 2820) and House Bill 4860. I urge [Senator _________ or Representative __________] to insure that the following reform measures are included in the final reconciled version of the bill.
Police standards that restrict excessive force, including complete bans on chokeholds, attack dogs, and using tear gas against protestors – measures at least as strong as those set out in Rep. Miranda's bill, An Act to Save Black Lives.
A complete repeal of qualified immunity.
Remove the sunset provision on the ban on facial-recognition technology and extend that ban to prohibit its use by the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Action #6: ADVOCATE FOR ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC RACISM IN HEALTHCARE
The We Must Count Coalition is a group of health and racial equity and civil rights organizations calling for the uniform collection and release of COVID-19 testing, cases, health outcomes and mortality rates using data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, primary language, gender, disability status, and socioeconomic status.
Without demographic data, we won’t have a full picture of the extent of the disparities. Policymakers and public health advocates and officials need this data to inform prevention messages and interventions and allocate health resources equitably for all communities.
State and local authorities, vary widely in their reporting on and disaggregation of COVID-19 data – testing, access to treatment, and health outcomes – by race, ethnicity, primary language, genders, disability status, and socioeconomic status. Similarly, the CDC is not currently reporting all of this data, making it impossible for policymakers at all levels of government to effectively target resources based on need. A group of national, state, and local health, racial equity, and civil rights organizations have joined forces to compel the government at all levels to track and report on COVID-19 testing, cases, health outcomes and mortality rates using data disaggregated by race, ethnicity, primary language, genders, disability status, and socioeconomic status. The goal is to achieve better health outcomes by providing policymakers, advocates and health care providers with a clear understanding of how COVID-19 impacts different segments of the population in order to craft more calibrated responses. Racial and ethnic health disparities and inequities can only be eliminated by recognizing underlying social determinants, collecting high-quality information with which to track immediate problems, and creating protocols for the design and implementation of culturally specific medical and public health approaches.
MA Senator Warren and MA Rep Ayanna Pressley released a bill to address the tragic impacts of systemic racism on the health of people of color
Sources: blkwomenshealth and We Must Count Coalition
Email Call your House rep:
Jim McGovern: DC: 202-225-6106
NoHo; 413-341-8700
Email: access through his website: mcgovern.house.gov
Richard Neal:
DC: 202-225-5601
Springfield: 413-785-0325
Email: access through his website: neal.house.gove
Script
My name is ________, and I’m writing/calling from [your ZIP code] because I’m concerned that health and life outcomes in this country are largely dictated by the color of one’s skin. As a result, Black and Brown people are nearly three times more likely than white people to contract COVID, and one to two times more likely to die from the disease. I’m asking [NAME] to co-sponsor H.R. 8178, the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act of 2020, to address these and other health disparities. Thank you.
Action: #7: DEMAND FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY OF TOP UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE LEADERS
The dramatic and abrupt changes to the US Postal Service in the lead up to the November general election have led to public outcry and greater scrutiny of the top leadership at the government agency. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and USPS Board Chairman Robert Duncan have defended their actions, however, their assurances fall flat in light of the recent discovery that they and five of six Postal Service Board members, including Board Chair Duncan, have close ties to Trump and the GOP.
They have refused requests to provide information about the proceedings of the board or to disclose potential conflicts of interest, citing their status as “special” federal employees.
Demand the USPS board release their complete financial disclosures.
Call Your Representatives
Senator Elizabeth Warren Springfield 413-788-2690 DC 202-224-4543
Senator Ed Markey Springfield 413-785-4610 DC 202-224-2742
Congressman Jim McGovern Northampton 413-341-8700 DC 202-225-6101
Reminder to leave full address to ensure call is tallied.
Script:
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a constituent from [Address, Phone number]. I'm calling to urge the [Senator – Congressman] to call for the Board of Directors of the US Postal Service to provide their full and un-redacted financial disclosures in light of recent reports that nearly all have close ties to the GOP and Trump campaign. In the interest of conducting a safe election in the midst of a pandemic, it is imperative that US Postal Service leadership be transparent and non-partisan.
House Oversight Committee
Chairwoman, Carolyn Maloney DC: 202-225-7944 Brooklyn: 718-349-5972
Ranking member: James Comer DC: (202) 225-3115 Tomkinville: 800-328-5629
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm calling from [Address, Phone number] because of the Representative’s leadership position on the House Oversight Committee. I'm calling to urge the Representative to continue to investigate the Board of Directors of the US Postal Service. In addition, I request that the Committee obtain the Board’s full and un-redacted financial disclosures in light of recent reports that nearly all have close ties to the GOP and Trump campaign. In the interest of conducting a safe election in the midst of a pandemic, it is imperative that US Postal Service leadership be transparent and non-partisan.
Action #8: Demand and End to Violations of Religious Freedoms
Hold all ICE officials accountable and ensure that Muslims at all ICE facilities have access to unexpired halal meals.
Choose either to call or send a digital letter:
Call: The ICE Miami Field Office at (954) 236-4909 or
Send a digital letter to ICE and DHS: (click “edit subscription preferences” to opt out of emails).
Script: Hello, I’m calling to address the unlawful treatment of Muslim detainees at ICE facilities. Multiple reports have come out of the Krome Service Processing Center that since the pandemic began, Muslim detainees have been repeatedly forced to choose between eating pork-based meals, which goes against their religious beliefs, or expired, spoiled halal meat. I am joining lawmakers and human rights organizations in calling for immediate access to unexpired halal meals for Muslims at all ICE facilities, and demanding that the offending officers and employees are held accountable for violating religious rights and federal law.
Action #9: Support HR 1. End Corruptions and Defend Voting Rights
H.R. 1passed the House in March. This bill would strengthen ethics standards for all three branches of government, (e.g. by requiring presidential candidates disclose 10 years of tax returns and prohibiting members of Congress from using taxpayer dollars to settle sexual harassment cases. The For the People Act also contains many provisions to fight voter suppression. including national automatic voter registration, prohibitions on voter roll purging and federal partisan gerrymandering, and improved election security measures.
Call Senators
Warren: 202-224-4543
Markey: 202-224-2742
Script: Hello, I’m calling to express my support for HR 1: the For the People Act, and to urge Senator Warren to demand Majority Leader McConnell bring the legislation to the floor for a vote. Addressing corruption, protecting voting rights, and reforming campaign finance should be bipartisan priorities to make our democracy better for all Americans, regardless of their political affiliation. Thank you for your time and attention.