1. Express your outrage at Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate accord by calling your U.S. Senators and Representatives.
President Trump made this decision despite overwhelming opposition: a majority of American voters support the agreement and nearly every country in the world—195 in total—have signed the landmark accord.
Elon Musk has resigned as advisor to Trump’s business council; even shareholders at Exxon Mobil want the company to focus the costs of climate change, signaling that investors want fossil fuel companies to move toward a low-carbon economy.
Withdrawing from the agreement will damage U.S. competitiveness as other countries take the lead in the global transition to clean energy. It also will do serious damage to U.S. strategic interests around the world by alienating U.S. allies and undermining U.S. policy priorities. And none of that even touches on the impact that pulling out of the deal will have on climate change.
2. Call to support the Justice Safety Valve Act.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions seems determined to return to the past when prosecutors and judges were required to impose mandatory minimum sentences, even for non-violent offenders. This was a key “weapon” in the failed War on Drugs policy pursued in the 1980’s, which resulted in the jailing of a disproportionate number of poor urban black and Hispanic Americans, swelled prison populations, placed state and local governments in the impossible situation of funding and managing overcrowded prisons, and deprived millions of the right to vote.
Prosecutors and judges should be able to use their discretion in considering each case, rather than being required to impose arbitrary mandatory minimum sentences that result in mass incarceration.
3. Call your NC General Assembly representatives to express concern about the funds now in the budget for Crisis Pregnancy Centers.
The Senate budgeted an additional $300,000 for CPCs (crisis pregnancy centers), while the House budget calls for an additional $1 million in funding. It has been reported that 94% of these unregulated centers do not have medical professionals on staff and can give out inaccurate information. Tell your legislators that CPC’s do not safely address the needs of pregnant women.
4. Call your U.S. Senators to support the Deborah Sampson Act (Senate Bill 681) to help female veterans.
In addition to asking Congress to support a change to the VA’s non-inclusive motto, The Deborah Sampson Act would provide for enhanced access to VA care for women, and address gender disparities to ensure that women veterans receive equitable care and the benefits they earned through their service.
Deborah Sampson, a Revolutionary War veteran, was the first woman in America to serve on active duty, doing so by posing as a man. She was honorably discharged after her service.
NC Senators:
Thom Tillis (202-224-6342 and 704-509-9087)
Richard Burr (202-224-3154 and 800-685-8916)
SC Senators:
Lindsey Graham (202-224-5972 and 804-250-1417)
Tim Scott (202-224-6121 and 864-233-5366)
North Carolina House of Representatives:
http://www.ncleg.net/House/House.html
http://www.ncleg.net/Senate/Senate.html
South Carolina Legislature: