The Audacity of Action

Political participation doesn't begin and end at the ballot box. A place to share activism and advocacy opportunities as we aim to keep the Trump administration accountable to the American people. Created by Michelle Antenesse and Sara Blagg.

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Call Your Senators - Save CHIP and Pass the Dream Act

Legislators have until today to fund the government, and Democrats are demanding that any funding deal include a re-authorization of CHIP (the Children’s Health Insurance Program) and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), both programs of which are set to expire in March.

If these programs are not saved, millions of American children will lose their health insurance and Dreamers - young Americans who were brought to the country as children, due to no fault of their own, yet remain undocumented - will be deported.

There is widespread public support for both programs. If Republicans simply do what they said they would, there would be no need for a government shut-down. They promised that they would re-authorize CHIP and pass a clean Dream Act, but now they are essentially holding the programs hostage.

Call your Senators tonight and tell them to re-authorize the Child Health Insurance Program and pass the Dream Act: 844-551-6766.

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Please signal boost.

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Volunteer with United We Dream to Help Dreamers

Do you have free time to help advocate on behalf of America's Dreamers? United We Dream is looking for volunteers to text allies and encourage them to contact their Congressmembers about passage of the Dream Act. If you're interested, sign up and get more information here: http://toolsnp.com/clients/calltodream/?link_id=2&can_id=60a003a7b1012e5bc52e642bbec44e7c&source=email-join-the-uwd-texting-team&email_referrer=email_242751&email_subject=join-the-uwd-texting-team

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Our Hearts are with Las Vegas and We Must Act

Our hearts are heavy today as we learn more about the shooting in Las Vegas. If you are trying to locate a loved one that may have been in the Las Vegas area, call 1-866-535-5654.

These massacres have become all too commonplace in this country, and the government continues to fail to take action to try to curb the violence. We cannot wait for a more opportune time to demand Congress act. The time is now. The House is slated to vote this week to ease curbs on silencers. Critics say that silencers make it harder to detect source of gunfire in mass shootings. Please call your Congressman today and let them know that you are opposed to this devisive and unnecessary legislation.

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Oppose Graham Cassidy - Mobilize and Make Calls!

Republicans are making a last ditch effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act with the Graham Cassidy bill. Under the bill, millions could lose coverage, Medicaid would be cut and insurers could charge those with pre-existing conditions more.

Please contact your Senator TODAY and demand that they oppose Graham Cassidy. The following script, courtesy of 5 Calls, is a helpful tool. The Capitol switchboard can be reached by calling [phone]. SCRIPT:

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY/STATE].  

I’m calling to urge Senator [SENATOR’S NAME] to vote against the Graham-Cassidy ACA repeal plan. Any plan that eliminates Medicaid expansion and fails to guarantee affordable coverage for low-income Americans is unacceptable. The American people want a bipartisan approach to repairing the ACA, not a repeal of it.

Thank you for your hard work answering the phones.

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Oppose Graham Cassidy - Mobilize and Make Calls!

Republicans are making a last ditch effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act with the Graham Cassidy bill. Under the bill, millions could lose coverage, Medicaid would be cut and insurers could charge those with pre-existing conditions more.

Please contact your Senator TODAY and demand that they oppose Graham Cassidy. The following script, courtesy of 5 Calls, is a helpful tool. The Capitol switchboard can be reached by calling [phone]. SCRIPT:

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a constituent from [CITY/STATE].  

I'm calling to urge Senator [SENATOR’S NAME] to vote against the Graham-Cassidy ACA repeal plan. Any plan that eliminates Medicaid expansion and fails to guarantee affordable coverage for low-income Americans is unacceptable. The American people want a bipartisan approach to repairing the ACA, not a repeal of it.

Thank you for your hard work answering the phones.

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Back-to-Session To-Do List

The Congress is back in Session this week after a Fourth of July recess, so here is a back-to-session to-do list courtesy of our friends at Indivisible.

Everything you need to continue pressuring your senators to reject TrumpCare is available here: https://www.indivisibleguide.com/stop-trumpcare/ •Mark your calendars: possible markup (committee consideration) of budget resolution (Wed/TH). The House’s FY18 budget resolution (i.e. federal spending targets for the 2018 fiscal year) may include more devastating cuts to entitlements and non-defense spending, and set the stage for tax reform: https://www.indivisibleguide.com/resource/legislative-process-appropriations/

•Take action to stop the Kobach Commission—a ruse using false allegations of voter fraud in order to suppress voting rights: http://kobach.indivisibleguide.com/

Also. the key to free and fair elections in the future is fair re-districting. I would encourage you to check out the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. Chaired by former Attorney General Eric Holder, the NDRC was created in 2016 to build a targeted, state-by-state strategy that ensures Democrats can produce fairer maps in the 2021 redistricting process: https://democraticredistricting.com/

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Trumpcare Vote Delayed!

There will be no vote on #HealthcareBill until after July 4th. But that doesn't mean we can become complacent. Catch Senators while they're home and tell them what you think! Call every day! They think that we will forget about this disastrous bill over the break. Show them we won't quit!

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Facts About Trumpcare

Here's what you should know today about the ACA repeal bill: - Spending cuts made to Medicaid and other programs go toward a tax cut for the health industry and the rich. The people hurt the most are low and middle income Americans. - A vote is planned next week. - The bill contains nothing to incentivize healthy people to get insurance. In order to subsidize payments to sick people insurance relies on healthy people buying insurance. Without that Premiums rise! - The mandate for large employers to offer health benefits is eliminated. - Fewer people will receive tax credits to help with the cost of insurance, and those who do receive credits will receive less, hurting middle-income Americans who purchase their own insurance. - Insurers will be able to charge older Americans 5 TIMES more for insurance. - Medicaid is funded by block grants. When the grant is used up, the states have to pay. If they can't afford to pay, fewer and fewer people will have access to Medicaid. - States are allowed to change what is considered and essential health benefit. - Planned Parenthood will not receive Medicaid reimbursements for women's well-care, effectively defunding Planned Parenthood.

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Call on Your Senator and Demand they Defeat Trumpcare

The Senate is planning to vote on (and pass) Trumpcare before the July 4th recess. Indivisible advises that you call your Senator and ask to speak to their Health Legislative Assistant, then ask that they vote NO on Trumpcare.

The swing votes below:

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (AK) - HLA, Morgan Griffin [phone] Sen. Cory Gardner (CO) - HLA, Alison Toal [phone] Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA) - HLA, Matt Gallivan [phone] Sen. Susan Collins (ME) - HLA, Amy Pellegrino [phone] Sen. Dean Heller (NV) - HLA, Rachel Green [phone] Sen. Rob Portman (OH) - HLA, Sarah Schmidt [phone] Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (WV) - HLA, Dana Richter [phone]

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Keep calling!!!

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These Senators have concerns about Trumpcare. If one of them is your Senator , please call them and ask that they turn their concerns into action!

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It may seem like Trumpcare can't pass. We have many "moderate" Republicans furrowing their brows and saying they are troubled by the process, but as we've seen time and again, they will fall in line and vote for the bill if we don't fight like hell to stop them. If you have a Democratic senator, this link can help you figure out what to say to them when asking them to fight against the bill. If you have a Republican senator (especially if you are in MAINE, ALASKA, NEVADA or WEST VIRGINIA), call and tell them to VOTE NO on the Senate healthcare bill. This bill isn't getting a lot of coverage in mainstream news outlets, but that's why it's being drafted in secret. It's tough to cover a bill that no one has any information about, but what we do know is that it is equally cruel as the House version. Please pick up the phone and make two calls today.

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Call on Your Senator and Demand they Defeat Trumpcare

The Senate is planning to vote on (and pass) Trumpcare before the July 4th recess. Indivisible advises that you call your Senator and ask to speak to their Health Legislative Assistant, then ask that they vote NO on Trumpcare. The swing votes below: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (AK) - HLA, Morgan Griffin [phone] Sen. Cory Gardner (CO) - HLA, Alison Toal [phone] Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA) - HLA, Matt Gallivan [phone] Sen. Susan Collins (ME) - HLA, Amy Pellegrino [phone] Sen. Dean Heller (NV) - HLA, Rachel Green [phone] Sen. Rob Portman (OH) - HLA, Sarah Schmidt [phone] Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (WV) - HLA, Dana Richter [phone]

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Trump Announces Decision to Pull Out of Climate Change Treaty

Donald Trump has announced his decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, the landmark climate change treaty. Now is the time to call and express your anger and frustration with this disastrous move and ask that your representative and Senators denounce him. Following is a script courtesy of 5 Calls: Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a constituent from [City, State]. I'm calling to express outrage that President Trump has chosen to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. For the sake of our economy, health, and national security, the United States must continue to lead the global fight against climate change. I expect [SEN/REP NAME] to publically denounce Trump's decision. Thank you for your time and consideration. [IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]

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Call to action! Call your Republican senators and tell them you oppose efforts at healthcare reform. If they tell you their bill will be different from the House's AHCA, tell them that John Cornyn has confirmed that 70-80% of the AHCA is making it in the Senate bill. Script: "I am call to tell Senator [name] that I strongly oppose Republican efforts at healthcare reform. The CBO has confirmed that 23 million people will lose their healthcare, millions could lose protection against pre-existing conditions, and millionaires will receive a tax break. Scrap this bill. Thank you."

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Demand an Independent Prosecutor into Trump

The President has fired sitting FBI director James Comey. This is not normal.

Please call your Congress members and demand an Independent Prosecutor -

Congressional Switchboard [phone]

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Call your Representatives and the Department of Justice today and tell them to show courage and appoint an Independent Investigator.

The following is a script courtesy of 5calls.org:

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I'm a concerned citizen from [city/state].

[IF CALLING HOUSE/SENATE: I'm outraged at the firing of James Comey and I’m calling to urge [Senator/Representative] to push for the appointment of an independent special prosecutor to investigate Russia’s involvement with the Trump team. Comey’s firing shows the lengths Trump will go to kill the investigation into the truth. Thank you for your time and attention.

[IF CALLING DEPT of JUSTICE: I’m calling to ask Mr. Rosenstein to appoint an independent special prosecutor to investigate Russia's involvement with the Trump campaign and the 2016 election. His stated reasons for the firing of Comey make him look like a partisan instrument of the Trump administration and he has lost his credibility to investigate Russia. Thank you for your time and attention.

[IF LEAVING A VOICEMAIL: please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied]

Congressional Switchboard [phone] U.S. Department of Justice [phone]

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Demand an Independent Prosecutor into Trump

The President has fired sitting FBI director James Comey. This is not normal. Please call your Congress members and demand an Independent Prosecutor - Congressional Switchboard [phone]