Action Alerts – Week of July 3rd – CNY Solidarity Coalition

CNY Solidarity Coalition Members and Supporters:

Here are the legislative action alerts for this week. We have a different theme each day this week, all with an eye toward protecting freedom and democracy as we celebrate Independence Day. Have a safe, happy, and healthy week. Resist and persist!

Monday, July 3rd — Protecting us from unchecked war — 1 phone call

Call Katko in support of the repeal of the Authorization for Use of Military Force. The House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment (the Lee Amendment) Thursday that would repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, which was initially passed days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to give the president authority to initiate war against al Qaeda and “associated forces” without congressional approval. Rep. Barbara Lee (D., Calif.) was the sole lawmaker to vote against the AUMF in 2001, and she has fought to repeal the act since, the Hill reported. “I knew then it would provide a blank check to wage war anywhere, anytime, for any length by any president,” Lee said. The 2001 AUMF has been used to justify military action more than 37 times in 14 countries, according to a 2016 report from the Congressional Research Service.

The amendment still has to pass a vote of the full House which has not yet been scheduled. Call Congressman Katko (315-423-5657) and say you support the Lee amendment that passed House Appropriations Thursday and ask him to support repeal of the 2001 War Authorization (AUMF) whenever that issue might come the floor.

Tuesday, July 4th — no actions

Today’s a day to celebrate freedom and democracy with your loved ones. Let’s all remind ourselves why we’re part of the #resistance every day.

Wednesday, July 5th — Protecting immigrants — 2 phone calls

1. Call Governor Cuomo (1-518-474-8390) about protecting undocumented people in New York State. Ask that the governor take executive action, since he is ultimately responsible for the State Police and the executive branch, to minimize New York’s cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents and to protect the undocumented community from waves of indiscriminate arrests and detention. Please ask that he exercise leadership to publicly support the Liberty Act and to pressure the State Senate to take up the Liberty Act first thing next January with hearings and a vote.

2. Call Katko (315-423-5657) about the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act. Last week, the House passed the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act and Kate’s Law, two hard-line anti-immigrant bills. The first bars “sanctuary cities” that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement from receiving many federal grants and leaves them vulnerable to liability lawsuits from victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants. The second steps up prison sentences for criminals who reenter the United States illegally after being convicted and deported. John Katko voted yes on both. Call his office and tell him that is unacceptable. In particular, his vote on the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act puts at risk a tremendous amount of federal funding that is critical in the NY24th. We support sanctuary.

Thursday, July 6th — Protecting the vote and the voter — 2 phone calls

1. Call Governor Cuomo (1-518-474-8390) to thank him for refusing to provide private data to Trump’s voter suppression commission. Last week, Trump’s voter suppression commission asked all the states to provide them with their residents’ voter data including names, birthdates, and social security numbers.

Cuomo joined more than half of the governors around the country in refusing to comply with this outlandish request. Call him and thank him for standing up for New Yorkers and against voter suppression.

2. Call Katko (315-423-5657) to demand a statement about voter suppression. Not surprisingly, Katko has remained silent on this critical issue. He has not responded to the voter suppression commission’s outrageous action. Call him and insist that he make a public statement against this latest step of the Trump commission’s voter suppression campaign.

Friday, July 7th — Protecting healthcare — 1 phone call, 1 online action

1. Call Valesky’s office (315-478-8745) about the IDC using Planned Parenthood in its mailers. Members of the IDC, including Dave Valesky, sent out mailers recently that included the Planned Parenthood logo, implying an endorsement (which they do not have) from the group. Making this extra-egregious is the fact that the IDC has helped block the Reproductive Health Act and Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act from coming to the floor for votes through their stance of giving control to Republicans. You can find a good explanation of the issue and a link to the letter PP sent in response, outlining their objections, here. Here’s a script you may want to use when you call Dave Valesky:

“I’m a constituent, and I feel betrayed by the mailer making it appear that Planned Parenthood endorses Dave Valesky and that he has advanced legislation to protect reproductive rights.

Using Planned Parenthood’s name and logo on this mailer shows that Dave Valesky knows his constituents support reproductive rights. And yet the IDC, of which Valesky is a member, continues to stand in the way of bills that would protect and advance reproductive health and rights, including the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act and the Reproductive Health Act. I urge Senator Valesky to bring these bills to the floor for a vote.”

2. Keep beating the Stop Trumpcare drum. The Senate delayed a vote on their “healthcare” bill thanks to the pressure brought to bear by you and people like you all around the country. We cannot let up. We need phone calls at the level we had during the House fight on the AHCA. So, again, if you know people in these states with Republican Senators–UT, KY, WI, LA, WV, CO, AZ, AK, AR, PA, OH, ME, NV–make sure they’re calling about healthcare. Republican senators in these states have been identified as movable on healthcare. If you know people in any of these states, make sure they are calling and getting their friends and family to call too. Contact information and call scripts can be found at www.trumpcareten.org. Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin are not on the website but are newly added targets of action.

Saturday, July 8th — Protecting our undocumented neighbors — 1 rally

8am-9am Anti-Detention and Deportation Rally at Regional Transportation Center

Two weeks ago, a woman traveling from New York City to Syracuse on the bus to visit her family was detained by Border Patrol. Since the inauguration of the new administration, we have seen a resurgence in Custom’s and Border Patrol’s (CBP) presence at the Regional Transportation Center. We have seen Border Patrol racially harassing and profiling people who are simply trying to visit loved ones and travel for work. Join us as we raise awareness around Border Patrols’ presence at the RTC.

SAVE THE DATES:

Sun., July 9, 3-5pm: CNY Solidarity meeting, Bishop Harrison Center

Sun. July 16, 9am-4pm: Workers’ Center of CNY 3^rd Annual Soccer Tournament Fundraiser, CBA, 6245 Randall Rd. 13214. Volunteers needed to help. Email nslade@workerscentercny.org for further details.

Wed., July 26, 7pm: CNY Solidarity meeting, location TBD

Sun., Aug. 6, 3-5pm: CNY Solidarity meeting, location TBD

Wed., Aug. 23, 7pm: CNY Solidarity meeting, location TBD

Today and every day, be sure to follow us online and on social media!

Check out our website: www.cnysolidarity.org