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Join Anne and Rachel for a reminder about what society's different sectors can actually do, an up date on cabinet nominations, and a couple of topics to keep an eye on.Five for DemocracyCall on your Senators to vote NO on: UN Ambassador Nominee Elise Stefanik.Call Senators Hawley (R-MO) and Sanders (I-VT) to thank them for introducing the bipartisan bill to cap credit card interest rates at 10%.Check out: Political Revolution – they have lists of protest events happening around the country.Follow litigation: www.justsecurity.org

Know thine enemy's goals and you can mess with them.Keep thinking critically about the news you hear.Five for Democracy1 – Give your senators a call to ask them to vote no on:Attorney General Nominee: Pam BondiSecretary of Energy Nominee: Chris WrightSecretary of Health and Human Services Nominee: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.UN Ambassador Nominee: Elise Stefanik2 – Also, give Costco a call to say thank you for keeping their DEI programs in spite of the administration!425-313-8100 (6am-6pm Pacific) **updated number from the recording**If you're a Costco shareholder, let them know!

We're back, baby.

Hello! We're back for a short series in the lead up to the November 2024 election. Over the coming weeks we'll address some of the whys and hows of voting.This week: Election IntegrityTune in to hear more about the integrity and security of our elections. Brace yourselves for a throw back to the hanging chad era.Want to know what voting methods your jurisdiction uses? Check out https://verifiedvoting.org/

Hello! We're back for a short series in the lead up to the November 2024 election. Over the coming weeks we'll address some of the whys and hows of voting.This week: Why Vote?Rachel has 10 really good reasons why you should vote in this (and every) election.

Bills expected on the Floor of the House this week:H.R. 354: LEOSA Reform Act – OPPOSEThis bill broadens the authority for certain law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms across state lines.Specifically, the bill allows qualified active and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms and ammunition (including magazines) in school zones; in national parks; on state, local, or private property that is open to the public; and in certain federal facilities that are open to the public.Further, the bill permits states to reduce the frequency with which retired law enforcement officers must meet certain qualification standards.Call Your Representative: tell them to vote NO on HR 354Read more hereH.R. 4814: Consumer Safety Technology Act – SUPPORTThis bill establishes a pilot program to explore the use of artificial intelligence to support the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Specifically, the CPSC must consult with relevant stakeholders, such as data scientists and product

Bills expected on the Floor of the House this week:H.R. 7109: Equal Representation Act – OPPOSETo require a citizenship question on the decennial census, to require reporting on certain census statistics, and to modify apportionment of Representatives to be based on United States citizens instead of all persons.Call Your Representative: tell them to vote NO on HR 7109Read more hereH.R. 2925: Mining Regulatory Clarity Act of 2024 – OPPOSEThis bill sets forth a process to allow mine operations to use, occupy, and conduct operations (e.g., construction of roads and other mining infrastructure activity) on public land regardless of whether a mineral deposit has been discovered on the land.Call Your Representative: tell them to vote NO on HR 2925Bipartisan SupportRead more hereS. 2073: Eliminate Useless Reports Act of 2023 – SUPPORTA bill to amend title 31, United States Code, to require agencies to include a list of outdated or duplicative reporting requirements in annual budget justifications, and for othe

Bills expected on the Floor of the House this week:H.R. 4016: Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act – SUPPORTFor those veterans who become unable to manage their VA benefits, the VA has a program in which another person can serve as a fiduciary to help the veteran. However, as with anything, there's the potential for fraud. This bill would provide for reimbursement to veterans defrauded by fiduciaries.Call Your Representative: tell them to vote YES on HR 4016Bipartisan SupportRead more hereH.R. 4824: Carbon Sequestration Collaboration Act – SUPPORTThis bill would direct the Secretary of Energy to start performing carbon sequestration work and evaluating the effects of it. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, carbon sequestration can be divided into geologic and biologic sequestration. The former often can assist oil wells which are no longer producing at high levels to produce more oil. Geologic sequestration involves forcing CO2 into geologic formations while biologic generally refers to growing more veget

Bills expected on the Floor of the House this week:H.R. 4016: Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Act – SUPPORTFor those veterans who become unable to manage their VA benefits, the VA has a program in which another person can serve as a fiduciary to help the veteran. However, as with anything, there's the potential for fraud. This bill would provide for reimbursement to veterans defrauded by fiduciaries.Call Your Representative: tell them to vote YES on HR 4016Bipartisan SupportRead more hereH.R. 4824: Carbon Sequestration Collaboration Act – SUPPORTThis bill would direct the Secretary of Energy to start performing carbon sequestration work and evaluating the effects of it. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, carbon sequestration can be divided into geologic and biologic sequestration. The former often can assist oil wells which are no longer producing at high levels to produce more oil. Geologic sequestration involves forcing CO2 into geologic formations while biologic generally refers to growing more veget

Bills expected on the Floor of the House this week:H.R. 4389: Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act of 2023 – SUPPORTThis bill reauthorizes through FY2028 and revises the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, which provides financial assistance for projects to promote the conservation of neotropical migratory birds.Call Your Representative: tell them to vote YES on HR 4389Bipartisan SupportRead more hereH.R. 2560: Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2023 – SUPPORTThis bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish a Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance Grant Program to encourage and facilitate coordinated rapid response and rescue of stranded marine turtles.Call Your Representative: tell them to vote YES on HR 2560Bipartisan SupportRead more hereH.R. 4639: Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act – SUPPORTTo amend section 2702 of title 18, United States Code, to prevent law enforcement and intelligence agencies from obtaining subscrib

Bills expected on the Floor of the House this week:H.R. 6610: Passport System Reform and Backlog Prevention Act – SUPPORTThis bill is intended to provide for the modernization of the passport issuance process, and for other purposes.Call Your Representative: tell them to vote YES on HR 6610Bipartisan SupportRead more hereH.R. 7520: Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024 – SUPPORTThis bill prohibits data brokers from transferring sensitive data of United States individuals to foreign adversaries, and for other purposes.Call Your Representative: tell them to vote YES on HR 7520Bipartisan SupportRead more hereH.R. 6009: Restoring American Energy Dominance Act – OPPOSEThis bill requires the Bureau of Land Management to withdraw a proposed rule titled Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process. The rule would make various changes to oil and gas leasing on public lands, including to implement provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs

Bills expected on the Floor of the House this week:H.R. 7521: Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act – BE INFORMED This bill is intended to protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications, such as TikTok and any successor application or service and any other application or service developed or provided by ByteDance Ltd. or an entity under the control of ByteDance Ltd.Call Your Representative: tell them what you think!Read more hereH.R. 886: Save Our Seas 2.0 Amendments Act – SUPPORTThis bill amends the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Foundation, to amend the Marine Debris Act to improve the administration of the Marine Debris Program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.Call Your Representative: tell them to vote YES on HR 886Read more hereH.Res. 1065: Denouncing the Biden administration’s immigration policies – OPPOSE

Bills expected on the Floor of the House this week:HR 6585: Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act– SUPPORTThis bill expands student eligibility for Pell Grants by establishing the Workforce Pell Grant Program.Call Your Representative: ask them to vote YES on HR 6585Read more here(PASSED – HR 7102: Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act – we asked you to SUPPORT last week. Passed out of the House 2/29/24!!)Senate Hearings Scheduled:Homeland Security and Government AffairsHearings to examine closing corporate loopholes that reward offshoring jobs and profits.Tune in at 9:30am ET, Wednesday, March 6, 2024 (or watch after!)Where to find other Senate hearings!https://www.senate.gov/committees/hearings_meetings.htm

Bills expected on the Floor of the House this week:HR 7102: Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act – SUPPORTThis bill establishes an Office of Native American Affairs within the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes.Call Your Representative: ask them to vote YES on HR 7102Bipartisan sponsorsRead more hereHR 6585: Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act– SUPPORTThis bill expands student eligibility for Pell Grants by establishing the Workforce Pell Grant Program.Call Your Representative: ask them to vote YES on HR 6585Read more here

Bills expected on the Floor of the House this week:HR 6976: Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act – OPPOSEThis bill makes driving while intoxicated or impaired a ground for (1) barring a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) from admission into the United States, or (2) deporting the individual.Call Your Representative: ask them to vote NO on HR 6976Read more hereHR 6678: Consequences for Social Security Fraud Act – OPPOSEThis bill makes certain acts related to Social Security fraud a ground for (1) barring a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) from admission into the United States, or (2) deporting the individual.Call Your Representative: ask them to vote NO on HR 6678Read more hereHR 5585: Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act – OPPOSEThis bill establishes new federal criminal offenses for operating a motor vehicle within 100 miles of the U.S. border while fleeing from a U.S. Border Patrol officer or a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer who is actively assisting or under t

The House is not in session this week, so we're focusing on Senate hearings.Senate Hearings Scheduled:Rules and AdministrationHearings to examine the use of Artificial Intelligence at the Library of Congress, Government Publishing Office, and Smithsonian Institution.Tune in at 2:15m ET, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 (or watch after!)Judiciary - Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and CounterterrorismHearings to examine AI in criminal investigations and prosecutions.Tune in at 2:30pm ET, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 (or watch after!)Foreign RelationsBusiness meeting to consider S.2003, to authorize the Secretary of State to provide additional assistance to Ukraine using assets confiscated from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and other sovereign assets of the Russian Federation.Tune in at 10am ET, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 (or watch after!)BudgetHearings to examine how the climate crisis threatens ocean industries.Tune in at 10am ET, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 (or watch after!)Small Business and Entrepr

Bills expected on the Floor of the House this week:HR 4250: PRESS Act – SUPPORTProtect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying ActUnder this law, federal entities would not be able to compel journalists to disclose protected information except in very limited circumstances.Call Your Representative: ask them to vote YES on HR 4250Bipartisan sponsorsRead more hereHR 3058: Recruiting Families Using Data Act of 2023 – SUPPORTThis bill requires state child welfare services to implement a "family partnership plan" which would improve foster care placement stability, increase rates of kinship placements (placement of children with family members), and align the composition of foster and adoptive families with the needs of children in or entering foster care.Call Your Representative: ask them to vote YES on HR 803Bipartisan sponsorsRead more hereBUDGETWe expect a bipartisan budget deal to come up this week or next.While this deal will not include funding for things like the war in Ukraine, passing it would help

Bills expected on the Floor of the House this week:HR 788: Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2023 – OPPOSEThis law would limit the government's ability to direct settlement payments by corporate wrongdoers to organizations that work to assist in relief efforts for broader groups of victims.In the past, this ability has been used to direct settlements from big banks who were held responsible for their roles in the mortgage foreclosure crisis in the early 2000s. A portion of that settlement money was directed to community organizations that assisted broader communities affected by the foreclosure crisis.Call Your Representative: ask them to vote NO on HR 788Read more hereHR 803: PROTECT Taiwan Act – SUPPORTPressure Regulatory Organizations To End Chinese Threats to Taiwan ActThis law would require excluding Chinese representatives from certain international organizations if there are reported actions by China that threaten Taiwan's security, society, or economy.Call Your Representative: ask them to vote YE

Rachel and Anne talk Congress (why are there two chambers? what do they do for us?), learn that Idaho was a successful trolling of Congress, and put their Senators' and Representative's numbers in their phones.Do you have another example of Congress getting trolled? Already have your Senators' and Representative's numbers in your phone? Give us a shout at [email protected]

Anne and Rachel talk federalism (we cover all the hot topics here), geek out about congressional records, and explore the federal government's resource page: www.usa.gov.Do you also geek out about old records from 1874? Did you notice when Rachel said "supra-natural" instead of "supranational"? Let us know at [email protected]

Rachel and Anne talk free speech (what exactly is it??), surprising protest songs, and how petitions can have a real impact.Do you have a protest song we didn't mention? Got a petition you want us to sign? Let us know at [email protected]