LET'S GET TO WORK: Civic action to-do list for 7-17-17

3. Keep the Pressure Up

Senator Mitch McConnell released a new healthcare bill that even major insurance companies have called "unworkable." Once again, rather than protecting the most vulnerable, this legislation kicks millions off of Medicaid, defunds Planned Parenthood, and eliminates essential health benefit protections. It also adds a loophole that allows insurance companies to choose their clients for cheaper plans while forcing sick people to pay more for coverage. While the vote on this legislation is temporarily on hold, the time to take action is still now! Tell the undecided Senators Heller (NV), Murkowski (AK), Lee (UT), Capito (WV), and Portman (OH) to vote against the Better Care Reconciliation Act! 

2. Let’s Close the Gun Loophole 

Last week bipartisan bills were re-introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to close a loophole in current law that allows people convicted of stalking and dating violence to own firearms. We applaud the efforts of Senator Klobuchar, Congresswoman Dingell, and Congressman Donovan for working to save women's lives by sponsoring this legislation. Call on yourSenators and Representatives to co-sponsor the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Abusers Act and the Protecting Domestic Violence and Stalking Victims Act and keep violent offenders from owning guns!  

1. Share your Story 

After meeting with college administrators, sexual assault survivors, and those wrongly accused, Secretary Besty DeVos has not yet come forward in support of Title IX protectors for victims. Removing the 2011 guidelines ultimately further victimizes the twenty-three percent of female college students who experience rape or sexual assault. To engage in this issue you can tweet #DearBetsy, call your member of Congress, or if you are a survivor, call the Civil Rights Hotline in the Department of Education to share your story. 

And for you...

We know it’s hot. And issues like the ones above aren’t making it easier to cool down. One good thing about the heat – it makes the peaches grow! So find time to enjoy summer’s bounty. #PeachSeason #LittleThings