Action Items!

Actions for Week of December 12, 2021

One More Time! Please ask the Senate to pass Build Back Better Bill before they break for the Holidays – The landmark Build Back Better bill passed the House on November 19th. The bill increases Pell Grants for college; includes money for training workers; expands free school meals, rental assistance, and health care coverage for the poor (allowing some folks to get coverage through ACA for $0 monthly premiums); caps out of pocket costs for prescriptions under Medicare; extends the child tax credit for another year, etc. See the Sierra Club fact sheet for more information on contents of the bill and the Congressional Budget Office report on its effect on the US deficit. Please ask our Senators to support this bill. You can contact them through the links below or send an email through this link. Please also contact the 2 Democratic Senators who have not yet agreed to support the bill.

1. 1. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ): 202-224-4531, https://www.sinema.senate.gov/contact-kyrsten

   2. Sen. Joe Manchin (WV): 202-224-3954, https://www.manchin.senate.gov/contact-joe/email-joe

You can also join the online Health Justice Rally/Mass Call on Monday, Dec 13th at 7;30 PM ET by registering here.

Book Suggestion – The Premonition by Michael Lewis is a riveting read about the folks who prepared for a pandemic during the Obama administration, and how they stepped in to combat the COVID-19 pandemic when the CDC and federal government failed to act in early 2020.

Good News!

1. 1. The National Labor Relations Board has called for a revote on whether to unionize an Amazon warehouse in Alabama due to intimidation by the company.

   2. When Kellogg workers on strike voted against the latest contract offer this past week, Kellogg announced they would hire permanent replacement workers. Tiktok and Reddit users rapidly spammed the Kellogg job portal, causing the website to crash. In addition, an activist created a program that continuously uploads fake job applications 24/7.

   3. California’s ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines was reinstated by an Appeals Court.

   4. A federal just blocked the Texas social media censorship lawbefore it took effect.

   5. Justice Dept. has sued TX over their gerrymandered mapsbecause they discriminate against Latinos and Blacks.

   6. The Rohingya are suing Facebook for $150billion because the FB platform was used to stir up violence against this minority group in Myanmar.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. The new Georgia voting law resulted in rejection of absentee ballot requests because the due date was changed for this fall’s election.

   2. TN State regulators have relaxed pollutant standards for the TVA Kingston plant.

   3. Seems like few lessons were learned from the coal ash spill in Kingston TN… Read about how coal ash deposits are threatening the delta of the Mobile River in AL.

   4. Read about the redistricting battle in Fayette County, West TN.

   5. Learn about the priorities put forth by the public in the 8 town halls held across TN on the funding of schools.

   6. The Nashville District Attorney is launching an investigation into Gov. Lee’s no bid contracts that gave millions of dollars to companies with little evidence they could fulfill them.

Actions for Week of December 5, 2021

Fire DeJoy – Not only are postal services being purposefully undermined by Mr. DeJoy, an investigative report shows he has multiple conflicts of interest.  The administration has nominated a new chair for the USPS Board of Governors and a second new board member to replace DeJoy allies. Please contact the White House to request the Administration ask the Board of Governors fire DeJoy. Email link: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/?fbclid=IwAR0ntRrdkvSXBi4X96W1_SmSSx3rFShbjKHmsa5nxxB3qxfRWl_g1i2heXI

Support Documented Dreamers – Many children brought here legally by immigrant parents are aging out of the system when they become 21 years oldand are in danger of being deported because they have no means to apply for permanent residency. These kids are ineligible for DACA status because their parents are here legally. A bipartisan bill (Americas Children Act, (S.2753)  has been introduced to provide a path to citizenship for these kids. Please ask our Senators to support and cosponsor this bill.

Good News!

1. 1. Gov. Lee used the COVID pandemic to temporarily ban abortions in the State. No TN must pay $249,000 to the lawyers who fought this ruling for abortion providers because an appellate court ruled the restriction was unconstitutional.

   2. Germany incoming government says it will phase out coal and legalize marijuana.

   3. EPA is reversing a 45 rule that gutted clean water protections. Keep up with the Biden administration’s environmental actions here.

   4. Alison Nathan, an out LGBTQ woman, has been nominated to judgeship on the Second Circuit court of Appeals.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Did you know TVA is seeking to reduce restrictions on discharges into the Clinch River from the Kingston plant?

   2. Learn about the interesting library that allows you to check out people.

   3. Read how Louisiana has changed the racial ethnicity on traffic records to protect themselves from accusations of racial bias, i.e. “if everybody’s white, there’s no racism”.

   4. Learn about the Ali Forney Center and other organizations working with homeless LGBTQ youth.  

Actions for Week of November 28, 2021

Support Build Back Better in the Senate – The landmark Build Back Better bill passed the House on November 19th. The bill increases Pell Grants for college; includes money for training workers; expands free school meals, rental assistance, and health care coverage for the poor (allowing some folks to get coverage through ACA for $0 monthly premiums); caps out of pocket costs for prescriptions under Medicare; extends the child tax credit for another year, etc. See the Sierra Club fact sheet for more information on contents of the bill and the Congressional Budget Office report on its effect on the US deficit. Please ask our Senators to support this bill. You can contact them through the links below or send an email through this link. Please also contact the 2 Democratic Senators who have not yet agreed to support the bill.

1. 1. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (AZ): 202-224-4531, https://www.sinema.senate.gov/contact-kyrsten

   2. Sen. Joe Manchin (WV): 202-224-3954, https://www.manchin.senate.gov/contact-joe/email-joe

Petitions to Sign – 

1. 1. This petition asks Congress to investigate House members who reportedly collaborated with the January 6th insurrectionists.

   2. This petition urges Amazon to stop selling textiles manufactured using toxic chemicals.

   3. Although the House censured Rep. Paul Gosar for tweeting a video of him killing fellow House member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, here is a petition calling for his expulsion.

Good News!

1. 1. France has passed a bill prohibiting the use of wild animals in circuses.

   2. The administration is proposing a 20-year drilling ban in Chaco Canyon NM.

   3. The Rutherford TN County judge that was exposed for illegally jailing grade school children now has an opponent in the next election. Jacob Flatt is running for Juvenile Court Judge.

   4. President Biden signed the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act. It requires the VA to make service dogs available to veterans with PTSD and create a program where veterans with PTSD can help train service dogs for other veterans.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Read the report from Aspen Institute’s Commission on Information Disorder on the crisis of trust and truth in America. It makes 15 recommendations on how to increase transparency, build trust and reduce harms from disinformation.

   2. Did you know that 63% of Americans feel Roe v Wade should be upheld and only 27% want it overturned? In addition, 45% think SCOTUS should make it easier to get an abortion in the USA.

   3. Learn how Shelby County prosecutors try more kids as adults than the whole rest of TN combined, and nearly all are Black.

   4. A federal judge in Alabama blocked an administration rulepreventing states from using COVID-relief monies to offset tax cuts.

Actions for Week of November 21, 2021

Enjoy Thanksgiving! – Last Thanksgiving was subdued and isolating because of COVID-19. Hopefully this year will find you sharing the holiday with family and friends, and having a wonderful time. We are grateful for all of you! You can view a Thanksgiving ecard here.

Thank the House for passing BBB – You can thank the House for passing the Build Back Better Bill on Friday through this link.

Good News!

1. 1. A bill passed in NC requires NC-DOT to plant native trees, grasses and legumes along their state highways.

   2. A TN father’s proposal to improve guardrail safety along our nation’s roads was included in the infrastructure bill. One person can make a difference!

   3. Although it will tie up traffic for a while, the 1-40 bridge near the Pigeon River Gorge is being built with a wildlife passage way. Nine bears have been killed in this area over the last 3 months, so the project is very worthwhile.

   4. The Senate confirmed Charles Sams III as the first Native American to head the National Park Service.

   5. A federal judge has halted TN’s pro-COVID bill that bans school mask mandates.

   6. The administration is making plans to reverse a 45-era rule that would have allowed logging and building roads in Tongass National Forest Alaska. The proposal will reinstate a Clinton-era rule that protects more than half of North America’s largest temperate forest and one if its greatest carbon dioxide-trapping ecosystems.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. See the TN redistricting map proposed by state Democrats.

   2. Read how St. Jude Children Hospital’  support of their patient’s families is falling short, leaving families financially drained.

   3. Learn how this Kenyan is changing the fortune of local farmerswith his off-the-grid, cold storage project.

   4. Learn about Rural Organizing, a nonprofit dedicated to quality employment, education, equality, healthcare and sustainable land management.

   5. A Roan County grand jury decided not to bring criminal charges against TVA and a contractor for the Kingston coal ash spill. Instead, federal prosecutors are urged to look at the evidence.

   6. Learn about the tactic of climate deniers to shift from attacking the science to attacking the solutions.

Actions for Week of November 7, 2021

Provide Comments to TVA – TVA is planning to replace 5 of its coal-fired plants with natural gas units rather then explore the use of renewable sources of energy. One plant was taken offline this past July. TVA has not held a public comments session before a board meeting for more than a year. The next board meeting is Nov. 10th. If you want to submit written comments you can do so here. Please make sure they are submitted by the morning of November 10th. 

Infrastructure Week – It only took 4.5. years but infrastructure week is finally here. Read about the monies TN will receive for roads, bridges, broadband expansion, affordable internet plans, airports, electric vehicle charging stations and more. The bill will help address some of the $58.6 billion improvements needed in TN. Consider thanking Speaker Pelosi (https://www.speaker.gov/contact ) and the President (https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ )  for getting this bill passed. Note that none of the Republicans in the House or Senate voted for the bill, so feel free to also contact them with your feedback.

Good News!

3. 1. A statue honoring Colored Troops of the Civil War was installed in Franklin TN recently. 

   2. The Oklahoma Supreme Court has temporarily blocked abortion restrictions in that state, which is good timing because women from TX are currently traveling to OK for the procedure. 

   3. Immigrant detainees who were denied minimum wage while working at a detention center will receive $17.3 million in back pay. 

   4. Numerous LGBTQ candidates won local and statewide races in last Tuesday’s elections. 

   5. Gov. Lee plans to spend $400 million of federal COVID relief money on services for people with disabilities.

Educate Yourself

4. 1. Read about how recent Census Bureau statistics measure equity gaps across demographic groups. Reports are available on household median income, inequality measures, poverty measures, gender equity, health insurance coverage and more. 

   2. Visit the COP26 website to learn more on the outcomes and pledges made to combat climate change at the recent meeting in Glasgow. The Administration has proposed new rules to limit methane emissions and joined the Global Methane Pledge, along with 100 other countries. Other highlights include ending financing of international fossil fuel projects, India’s 2070 net zero target, financial pledges to help indigenous peoples, 2030 goal to end deforestation, etc. Read about the international leaders critical to reaching these goals and what scientists think of the goals. 

   3. A transgender student at Farragut High School is suing in federal court to overturn TN’s transgender sports law. 

   4. See this detailed map of cancer-causing industrial air pollution in the USA. 

Actions for Week of November 7, 2021

Provide Comments to TVA – TVA is planning to replace 5 of its coal-fired plants with natural gas units rather then explore the use of renewable sources of energy. One plant was taken offline this past July. TVA has not held a public comments session before a board meeting for more than a year. The next board meeting is Nov. 10th. If you want to submit written comments you can do so here. Please make sure they are submitted by the morning of November 10th.

Infrastructure Week – It only took 4.5. years but infrastructure week is finally here. Read about the monies TN will receive for roads, bridges, broadband expansion, affordable internet plans, airports, electric vehicle charging stations, and more. The bill will help address some of the $58.6 billion improvements needed in TN. Consider thanking Speaker Pelosi (https://www.speaker.gov/contact ) and the President (https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ ) for getting this bill passed. Note that none of the Republicans in the House or Senate voted for the bill, so feel free to also contact them with your feedback.

Good News!

1. 1. A statue honoring Colored Troops of the Civil War was installed in Franklin TN recently.

   2. The Oklahoma Supreme Court has temporarily blocked abortion restrictions in that state, which is good timing because women from TX are currently traveling to OK for the procedure.

   3. Immigrant detainees who were denied minimum wage while working at a detention center will receive $17.3 million in back pay.

   4. Numerous LGBTQ candidates won local and statewide races in last Tuesday’s elections.

   5. Gov. Lee plans to spend $400 million of federal COVID relief money on services for people with disabilities.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Read about how recent Census Bureau statistics measure equity gaps across demographic groups. Reports are available on household median income, inequality measures, poverty measures, gender equity, health insurance coverage and more.

   2. Visit the COP26 website to learn more on the outcomes and pledges made to combat climate change at the recent meeting in Glasgow. The Administration has proposed new rules to limit methane emissions and joined the Global Methane Pledge, along with 100 other countries. Other highlights include ending financing of international fossil fuel projects, India’s 2070 net zero target, financial pledges to help indigenous peoples, 2030 goal to end deforestation, etc. Read about the international leaders critical to reaching these goals and what scientists think of the goals.

   3. A transgender student at Farragut High School is suing in federal court to overturn TN’s transgender sports law.

   4. See this detailed map of cancer-causing industrial air pollution in the USA.

Actions for Week of October 31, 2021

TN Special Session Report – A variety of pro-COVID, partisan bills were under consideration in the TN General Assembly this past week. Here are some summarizing articles by the TN Journal, Tennessean, and TN Look Out. When it became known the bills sought to prohibit all businesses from requiring face masks, vaccinations or proof of vaccination, Ford and Toyota motor companies, TN Trucking Assoc, National Federation of Independent Businesses, local Chambers of Commerce and others spoke up. As a result, the omnibus bill that passed Friday night was modified to exempt private businesses. Government entities, including public schools, cities, towns are prohibited from issuing mask mandates unless extremely high infection/death thresholds are reached. The bill sets up a direct confrontation with the 3 federal judges who have ruled schools in Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville must keep mask mandates in place. After evaluating the bill over the weekend, experts at Vanderbilt say TN is now alarmingly incapable of combatting the next coronavirus surge, and one is expected in the future because so few people in the State are vaccinated. 

In addition, 

• The 6 independent, municipal health departments can no longer issue preventative health orders during a pandemic. 

• School board elections will now be partisan. (Sen. Swan voted yes.)

• Emergency executive orders can only last 45 days.

• Local, elected District Attorneys have been stripped of their discretionary power when making decisions as to whether to prosecute certain low-level crimes.

• Resolution (SJR9005) was passed stating that any federal COVID regulations the Legislature doesn’t like will be considered void in the State and the Attorney General is commanded to sue the federal government over itsr requirement for businesses with >100 employees to require COVID vaccinations. 

Representatives Ramsey and Moon abstained or were absent from the vote. Senate votes have not been posted yet. If you want to provide feedback to our elected officials on how they voted, here is their contact information: 

1. 1. Sen. Art Swann: 615-741-0981, sen.art.swann@capitol.tn.gov 

   2. Rep. Jerome Moon: 615-741-5481, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov 

   3. Rep. Bob Ramsey: 615-741-3560, rep.bob.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov 

And if you want to request Gov. Lee not sign any of these measures, you can contact him here.  

Good News!

2. 1. Keep your fingers crossed. If Congress approves the Build Back Better bill this week, it will include the largest investment ($555 billion) ever dedicated to climate and clean energy provisions. 

   2. A federal judge has blocked 45- era limits on regulating water-polluting projects. 

   3. The administration is confirming judicial nominees at a record pace and they now include 8 former public defenders. 

   4. The administration has launched a review that could kill plans for copper mine near MN’s Boundary Water Canoe area.

   5. UT will raise its minimum wage to $15. 

   6. Dozens of bison were released on tribal land in South Dakota on tribal land this past week. 

Educate Yourself

3. 1. The $6 billion federal food program to provide fresh produce to families during pandemic was mismanaged and used by 45 and his cronies for political gain.

   2. Read about how violent extremist Oath Keepers are moving into local, state and congressional positions.

   3. Did you know that TX removed its LGBTQ suicide hotline information from the Dept. of Family & Protective Services website to protect Gov. Abbott in his re-election campaign? 

   4. Learn about the lawsuit in Charlottesville VA against the white supremacists who organized the Unite the Right rally in 2017. 

   5. Read about the 2020 election officials that defended the integrity of the election who are running for office in GA, AZ and PA. 

Actions for Week of October 24, 2021

Arresting/Jailing Children in TN –  ProPublica and Nashville NPR reporters recently published an expose on the jailing of black children for a crime that doesn’t exist that started in 2016.  Children as young as 8 years old were arrested at their school in Rutherford County TN for witnessing a fight. The so-called crime was created by Judge Donna Davenport and overseen by Juvenile Detention Center under Lynn Duke. Locking up kids is big business for Rutherford County, which is centered around Murfreesboro. A class action suit was filed on behalf of the ~1450 kids jailed illegally and a settlement deadline is set for October 29th. So far only 200 people have filed eligible claims.

The ProPublica article is long and very horrifying but please take the time to read it. This incarceration process was only stopped because a federal judge intervened. However, judge Davenport has turned to other counties and contracted with them to house their juvenile offenders. It is interesting to note that Blount County has one of the higher juvenile incarceration rates for TN. Questions remain as to why the process wasn’t stopped sooner; why the judge remains in office and why she was only recently removed as adjunct faculty at MTSU; as well as why detention center supervisors and police officers were not sanctioned for their actions. The TN NAACP has issued this statement on the story.

Here are 3 actions you can take:

1. You can request the Dept of Justice investigate this matter through this website  https://www.justice.gov/contact-us

2. Here is a petition to sign.

3. A complaint can be filed here with the TN Board of Judicial Conduct.

4. When the NAACP decides what specific actions to take, those will be forwarded also.

Petitions to Sign – 

1. 1. This petition asks Congress to keep the investment in human infrastructure in the Economic Recovery bill currently under negotiation.

   2. This petition asks Congress to pass the bipartisan Global Nutrition & Prevention Act of 2021 (S.2956/HR.4693)

   3. ATT is the major financial backer of One America New, the 45-approved, ultraconservative news network. Consider signing this petition to ask ATT to remove their financial support of OAN.

Good News!

1. 1. As many as 7 new offshore lease sales are planned by 2025 for the purpose of creating wind farms.

   2. The administration is moving to curtail PFAS, more commonly known as “forever chemicals,” which do not break down naturally and have turned up in water supplies of communities across the country.

   3. California is banning swine farrowing crates that restrict the movement of mother pigs, and will increase the total space provided from 14 to 24 sq. ft.

   4. A federal judge ruled that University of NC can consider race in its admissions process.

   5. This past week Vice-President Harris broke a 50-50 tie to confirm Catherine Lhamon to lead the Dept of Education’s Civil Rights office.

   6. A federal judge ruled Friday that Gov. Lee’s mask opt-out order violates federal law, so it remains blocked in Williamson County.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. While Americans whine about wearing masks and getting vaccinated for the greater good, read about the incredible bravery of the men and women who formed the resistance movement inside Auschwitz.

   2. Here is an informative, interactive map showing broadband access across the USA by school district.

   3. Read Democracy Docket’s report on How the GOP Will Try To Subvert Our Elections.

   4. Learn about ongoing methane leaks in Russia.

   5. Did you know that 5 military advisors to Sen. Sinema have resigned?

   6. Read about the first all-Black team of mountaineers who will attempt to climb Mt. Everest?

 Actions for Week of October 17, 2021

1. TN Special Session – A special legislative session starts tomorrow to facilitate Ford Motor Company’s plans to build a major production complex in Memphis area. Speaker Sexton and numerous legislators (including Sen. Art Swann) also want the session to pass laws outlawing the ability of businesses, schools and other entities from imposing mask and vaccine mandates.  These efforts fly in the face of 3 judicial rulings declaring the governor’s mask opt out executive order is harmful and that schools in Memphis, Nashville & Knoxville must mandate masks. TN Business Roundtable and others also oppose any interference with companies’ mask and vaccine mandates. Please contact our legislators to request no such special session be held and no laws be passed to impede efforts to stem the tide of the pandemic. 

   1. Sen. Art Swann: 615-741-0981, sen.art.swann@capitol.tn.gov 

   2. Rep. Jerome Moon: 615-741-5481, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov 

   3. Rep. Bob Ramsey: 615-741-3560, rep.bob.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov 

2. Petitions to Sign – 

   1. This petition supports abolishing the debt ceiling permanently. 

   2. Consider signing this letter asking Congress to make the child tax credit permanent. This is a similar petition but also includes making CHIP permanent. 

   3. This petition asks Congress to strengthen and expand Social Security. If actions are not taken, benefits will start being cut in 2034. 

   4. Sign this petition to object to the proposed open pit copper mine in Lower Zambezi National Park. An open pit mine would threaten this vital river basin. Independent researchers say supportive documentation is flawed, economic rationale is flawed, and huge negative impacts are expected on the environment, tourism industry and overall economy of Zambia.

   5. You can email our MoCs urging them to stop deportation of Haitians and restore asylum for them via this website. 

3. Good News!

   1. A bill has been introduced in the House that would create a series of commemorative coins to honor working dogs. 

   2. Kering, the luxury fashion giant and parent of Gucci, is banning furs from all its 31 brands. 

   3. A lawsuit has been filed in Montana against the new state law banning voter registration and other political activity in dining halls, dorms, athletic facilities, etc. at public universities. 

   4. The Administration issued a ruling banning all workplace immigration raids. 

   5. 7 in 10 fliers want a vaccine mandate for domestic air travel.

4. Educate Yourself

   1. States like TN that ended COVID unemployment benefits early (in June) experienced no boost in job growth in August & September. 

   2. It is probably no surprise but the Koch-backed organization, Independent Women’s Forum, is leading the opposition to school mask mandates. They are the same group screaming about critical race theory. 

   3. Another Koch affiliated, right wing group, Parents Defending Education, are leading the efforts to attack school boards and replace sitting board member with alt-right extremists. Efforts are underway here in Blount County to elect extremists to school boards, city councils and county commission seats. 

   4. Gov. Lee recently announced plans to look at how schools are funded. He wants to change from school-system funding to student-centered funding. Student-based funding is promoted by American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), another conservative, Koch Brother supported endeavor. They promote this type of funding because it expands private-school choice and use of government funds to send students to private schools. Although theoretically, student-centered funding is an attractive alternative, its support by ALEC, libertarian (e.g. Reason Foundation), and school choice (e.g. ExcelinEd) groups makes it worrisome. 

   5. Would you believe that poor and low-income voters turned out in high numbers in the 2020 and helped elect Joe Biden?

Upcoming Events

See & bookmark this calendar:  https://sites.google.com/view/wmcethuddle/calendar?authuser=0

Oct. 19th, Tues 7-9 PM: China Town Hall. Sponsored by UTK Center for Global Engagement. The first hour is a nationwide event featuring Fareed Zakaria and the second hour is panel discussion with 3 emminent scholars. Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/633584668050772/?ref=newsfeed . Please register in advance here. 

Oct 19th, Tues 7PM: Knoxville Citizens’ Climate Lobby Meeting. ZOOM Meeting Online:  https://zoom.us/j/3447087937. Password 123, Phone: 1-929-205-6099:  344 708 7937

Oct.  19th, Tues 7-9PM: Redistricting Hearing for East TN.  The event will be live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFM7LEM5SD9-Jv54zk3NnGQ      

Oct. 20th, Wed 4:3- PM: Environment Working Group Meeting. Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88542722852?pwd=Ym5YdEtuZExDNHRxK3VHa1lLVTd5UT09 . Meeting ID: 885 4272 2852, Passcode: 085938

Oct. 20th, Wed 7PM: What is Critical Race Theory & Why is it Getting Attention Now? Discussion sponsored by SURJ-BC. Discussion leaders will help us understand the origin and implications of CRT and why it has become such a flashpoint. To receive registration details (including suggestions for preparation) for this session, please send a note with CRT in the subject line and your contact information to blountcountysurj@gmail.com . 

Oct. 20th, Wed 7-8:15PM: Feminist Futures Webinar: Everyday People are the Protagonists. Sponsored by Women’s March Coalition. For more information and to sign up visit here.

Oct. 23rd, Sat 10AM-2PM. America Recycles Day. Sponsored by Keep Blount Beautiful. Location: 1st Baptist Church Maryville, 202 W. Lamar Alexander Pkway, Maryville. For more information, visit this website.

Oct. 24-27th, Sun-Wed Midnight-11:30 PM: Maryville College Southern Circuit Film Series: And So I Stayed. This is the story of how the legal system gets domestic violence wrong. It is a moving portrait of Kim, Tanisha, and Nikki, three survivors whose strikingly similar stories are separated by over 30 years. None of them were believed, and each of them was criminalized for fighting back. This film is free and can be viewed online anytime during these 4 days. Click on this link, scroll down to “purchase ticket”, register by entering your email address, create an account and click on preorder. A link to the movie will be sent to you. 

Oct. 27th, Wed 7-8:15PM: Feminist Futures Webinar: Resistance and Defiance. Sponsored by Women’s March Coalition. For more information and to sign up visit here.

Oct. 28th, Thurs 7-9 PM: Maryville Huddle Meeting: 2030 Goals: How The Nature Conservancy is committed to conserving lands, waters and ocean by 2030 globally and in East Tennessee" .Speaker is Mr. Alex Wyss, Director of Conservation at TN Nature Conservancy. Zoom link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89545888666?pwd=ZlMyQ2pBYVQwMG5pblNVdGt5RTdwUT09. Meeting ID: 895 4588 8666, Passcode: 061690. 

Nov. 3rd, Wed 7-8:15PM: Feminist Futures Webinar: Women’s Work and a Feminist Economy. Sponsored by Women’s March Coalition. For more information and to sign up visit here.

Nov. 10th, Wed 4:3- PM: Environment Working Group Meeting. Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88542722852?pwd=Ym5YdEtuZExDNHRxK3VHa1lLVTd5UT09 . Meeting ID: 885 4272 2852, Passcode: 085938

Nov. 10th, Wed 7-8:15PM: Feminist Futures Webinar: Global Solidarity. Sponsored by Women’s March Coalition. For more information and to sign up visit here.

Nov. 13th, Sat 11AM: Little River Run 5K. Sponsored by Keep Blount Beautiful and Little River Watershed Association. Location: Townsend Abbey, 7765 River Rd. Townsend. For more information and to sign up, visit this website. 

Nov. 17th, Wed 7-8:15PM: Feminist Futures Webinar: Our Feminist Future. Sponsored by Women’s March Coalition. For more information and to sign up visit here.

Nov. 20th Sat 11AM-12:30 PM: Statewide Virtual Rally: Throwing a Fit for Health Justice. Sponsored by TN Justice Center. Participants will have an opportunity to hear from health justice advocates, faith and clergy leaders, and HBCU representative. Register here. 

Future Huddle Meeting Dates: We will continue to meet via Zoom on the last Thursday of the month. 2021 Meeting Dates: Oct 28th (TN Nature Conservancy), no meetings in November and December. 2022 Meeting Dates: Jan 27th (Update on Kingston Coal Ash Spill), Feb 24th (Equity Alliance), Mar 31st (TN General Assembly Update), Apr 28th, etc.

Actions for Week of October 10, 2021

Comment on Foothills Parkway Construction – The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public input concerning the proposed construction of the next section of the Foothills Parkway and access improvements between Wears Valley and the Metcalf Bottoms area in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The new proposed Foothills Parkway section, 8D, would extend the parkway for 9.8 miles from Wears Valley to the Spur near Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. This proposed action would provide direct access to one of the primary entrances to the park. A virtual public meeting will be held on October 14th from 5-6 PMon Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85645135682. Comments may be submitted here through from October 31st.

Thank the White House – The White House announced this past week that Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments will be restored with full protections, reversing a 45-era ruling that shrunk them. You can thank the White House here.

Good News!

1. 1. The Biden administration has overruled a 45-era edit that barred clinics (such as Planned Parenthood) that receive federal funding for family planning from referring patients for abortions.

   2. The House Oversight Committee has launched an investigation of the disinformation propagated by the fossil fuel industry on the climate crisis.

   3. For the first time, a malaria vaccine has become available. Children cannot take anti-malarial drugs because of toxicity associated with their long-term use. As a result, >260,000 children <5 years old die of the disease each year. This vaccine reduces severe malaria in children by 30%. It is a good start!

   4. The people of Missouri passed a referendum in favor of expanding Medicaid a year ago but the governor refused to follow through and asked a court to rule the amendment flawed. The MO Supreme Court ruled this past week that Medicaid expansion must go forward.

   5. A bill has passed in CA that requires all public schools and colleges to stock restrooms with free menstrual products.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Learn about NextGen America, an organization dedicated to turning out young voters in key states. Next Gen just launched a $32million program aimed at increasing youth voter engagement in TX, AZ, NC, PA, NH, MI, WI, and NV.

   2. Did you know the Alabama governor intends to use Federal COVID relief money to build more prisons?

   3. Read how Portland will create 6 homeless shelter villages using COVID relief money.

   4. Read an op-ed on why the Debt Ceiling should be abolished altogether.

   5. Did you know that a plan went into effect Friday to slow the mail down and make it more expensive? Nineteen States and Washington DC have filed a formal complaint.

Actions for Week of October 3, 2021

1. Support Lowering Drug Costs – Medicare premiums and prescription drug costs are going up. The cost of some prescriptions drug plans is increasing >300% this year.Prescription drugs are not affordable for many older Americans. Low-income beneficiaries face barriers to getting extra help, there is no cap on out-of-pocket costs, and the appeals system is confusing and burdensome. In addition, low-income Americans on Medicare receive less help to afford out-of-pocket health costs compared to people <65 years who live in a Medicaid expansion state or receive subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. TheLowering Medicare Premiums and Prescription Drug Costs Act (S. 1844) would significantly improve Medicare low-income protection. Please ask our Senators to support this bipartisan bill. Contact information below. Thanks to Joanifor bringing this bill to our attention. 

2. Support Affordable Health Care – You can easily send a message through this website to Congress requesting they pass the reconciliation bill, which includes measures to expand Medicaid in TN, make health care plans more affordable, and provide dental care for those on Medicare.

3. Good News!

a. OSHA is issuing a rule setting guidelines to prevent heat stress in the work place. 

b. More than 200 companies are pledging to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.  In addition, the EPA is issuing a ruling cutting back on use and production of hydrofluorocarbons. 

c. Thousands of military veterans who were forced out of the military because they are LGBTQ will now receive VA benefits.

d. More than 14,700 acres are being added to Skinner Mountain Forest Wildlife Management Area on the Cumberland Plateau of TN.

e. The Biden administration has reversed the 45-era rule that reduced penalties for killing migratory birds. It restores protections first introduced in the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. So far the new administration has overturned 43 and is examining another 73 environmental policies from the prior administration. 

f. DHS has issued new guidelines for ICE agents. Just because a person is in the country illegally will no longer be enough to automatically arrest and deport them. 

4. Educate Yourself

a. Polls show that most Americans favor COVID vaccines and disagree with GOP anti-vaxxers. 

b. Native American tribes in Minnesota are suing to stop planned hunts of gray wolves.

c. Read about how retirees in Goodwin House helped the immigrants who care for them to become US citizens.

d. Learn about the Global Citizen movement to defend the planet and defeat extreme poverty.

e. Learn how Sen. Tim Scott turned against his police-reform plan, which sank discussions on the George Floyd Policing Act.  

f. Did you know that TN leads the nation in COVID-related school closures?

Actions for Week of September 26, 2021

Support Freedom to Vote Act – This bill is a compromise offered by Sen. Joe Manchin in the place of the For the People Act. It contains a number of measures that make voting easier, for example:

1. 1. Automatic voter registration with driver’s license

   2. Election day registration

   3. 15 days of early voting, including weekends

   4. Vote-by-mail option for all voters

   5. Requirement for paper ballots in every state

   6. Partisan gerrymandering banned

   7. Requirement for candidates & committees to report foreign contacts

Please contact our Senators and ask them to support the bill. Contact information below and you can use this link.

Suspend the Filibuster – Sen. McConnell has already announced that no Republican Senators will vote for the Freedom to Vote Act. If this remains true and Sen. Manchin cannot find 10 Republicans to vote for it, then the filibuster must be suspended in order for it to pass. So far 2 Democratic Senators (Manchin, Sinema) say they won’t support suspension of the filibuster. How ironic if Manchin overseas the defeat of his own bill. Please contact them and request they change their view on the filibuster when it comes to voting rights bills, similar to how they suspended it for judicial confirmations.

1. 1. WVa Sen. Joe Manchin: https://www.manchin.senate.gov/contact-joe/email-joe , 202-224-3954

   2. AZ Sen. Kyrsten Sinema: https://www.sinema.senate.gov/contact-kyrsten , 202-224-4521

Good News!

1. 1. The Women’s Health Protection Act that was on our action list last week passed the House. Now it needs to pass the Senate.

   2. A federal judge has ruled that Catholic schools can’t fire teachers for being gay.

   3. Pres. Biden has picked Alvaro Bedoya, founding director of Georgetown University's Center on Privacy & Technology, to serve on the Federal Trade Commission.

   4. A bill passed in California seeks to protect workers at Amazon by requiring companies to disclose quotas that are used to track productivity and prohibit penalties for time off-task.

   5. Federal judges over-ruled Gov. Lee’s opt out mask executive order in both Knox and Williamson counties this week. Students, teachers, staff and visitors will have to wear face masks starting Monday.

   6. The National Cathedral in Washington DC will replace Confederate stained glass with racial just imagery.

   7. Veronica Rossman was confirmed as an appellate judge by the US Senate last week. She is a former public defender and members of this group are rarely chosen to be judges.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. More than 400 economists want Congress to permanently expand the child tax credit.

   2. Read about how taxi drivers in Thailand idled because of the pandemic have put miniature gardens on the roofs of their cars. Pretty cool!

   3. Did you know that Facebook allows 99% of disinformation on climate change to go unchecked?

   4. Read Democracy Docket’s op-ed on “A Dangerous Time in our Country’s History”.

   5. Very sad to say that negotiations in the Senate to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act have failed. All those marches in June-July 2020 have produced little legislative action so far.

Actions for Week of September 19, 2021

Support Women’s Health Protection Act – HR3755 will protect the right to access abortion care throughout the USA. This bill is up for a vote this week in the House. For more information and to see who is sponsoring the bill, visit this website. Please contact Rep. Burchett (contact information below) and ask him to support the bill. You can also contact Congress through this link.

Support Better Care Better Jobs Act - Medicaid is the primary payer for long-term care. Although nursing home coverage is mandatory, home care is optional and underfunded. As a result, many have no choice but to move into an institution, and up to 1.5 million people are on waiting lists for home care. Home care keeps families together, is safer and less expensive, and provides a better quality of life. Home care workers have been underpaid and undervalued for far too long, creating serious turnover and access problems. Almost half of these workers have incomes below 200% of poverty, nearly 88% are women, 62% are people of color, and one-third are over age 55.

 - S. 1844/H.R. 4131 is a historic change that will help 3.2 million Americans obtain the home care they prefer, while strengthening the economy by creating >1.6 million new jobs with living wages and better benefits. To learn more,  see the Justice in Aging Home Care fact sheet and the Harvard and MIT analysis of the bill.  You can contact our MoCs through this link or via their contact information below. Thanks to Joani for bringing this bill to our attention.

Good News!

1. 1. Harvard University has decided to divest from fossil fuels.

   2. A federal judge blocked Gov. Lee’s executive order allowing parents to opt-out of school face mask requirements. Williamson county parents filed a similar lawsuit last week.

   3. At the Global Diversity Summit held 2 weeks ago, members voted to place a moratorium on deep sea mineral mining.

   4. A federal judge has ruled that E. Jean Caroll’s defamation lawsuit against 45 can proceed.

   5. COVID stimulus funds successfully reduced overall USA poverty in 2020.

   6. A North Carolina 3-judge panel permanently blocked the state’s voter ID law.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. The USA broke a summer heat wave record last set during the 1936 dust bowl.

   2. For the first time, Boston will elect a woman and a person of color as mayor. Check out who the two candidates are.

   3. Grey wolves may need to be placed on the protected list againbecause Western states are passing laws making it easier for them to be killed.

   4. The US National Women’s Soccer team have been fighting for equal pay and benefits for years. US Soccer Federation is now offering the same contract proposals to both the men’s and women’s national teams.

   5. Interior Secretary Haaland is returning the Bureau of Land Management main office to Washington DC. When 45 moved it to Colorado, 87.5% of BLM employees quit or retired.

 Actions for Week of September 12, 2021

Support Blount County Zoning Regulations Review – To support the formation of an ad hoc committee to review/revise zoning regulations in the county consider attending the BC Commission meeting on Thursday, Sept 16th, at 6:30 PM in Room 430 of the Blount County Courthouse, 359 Court St. Maryville TN. You don’t need to speak, just showing up is impactful. You can also contact your commissioners via phone or email and ask them to support Resolution 21-09-019. To determine which district you’re in, see this map. For Commissioner phone numbers and email addresses visit the Commission website. You mail also send them an email via this contact form.

Participate in the Feminist Futures Series – The Women’s March Coalition is offering 8 interactive, political education webinars on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:15 PM beginning September 29th. For more information and to register visit this website: https://www.mobilize.us/womensmarch/event/405870/ Individual webinar information is also listed in the events list below.

Good News!

1. 1. A federal judge threw out a 45-administration rule allowing the draining and filling of streams, marshes and wetlands.

   2. An appeals court blocked TN’s attempt to ban abortions at about 6 weeks, and based on certain reasons for seeking the procedure.

   3. EPA is restoring protections to Alaska’s Bristol Bay, which stops the construction of a gold mine that would  threaten the world’s largest sockeye salmon run.

   4. Iceland has started up the Orca Plant, which can suck 4000 tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere every year.

   5. TN has launched a new website for unclaimed money/property in the state. Visit this website to learn more.

   6. A federal judge blocked Florida’s anti-protest bill. Now someone needs to sue TN over theirs.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. The ex-prosecutor in the death of Ahmaud Arbery has been indicted for misconduct.

   2. Almost all juveniles whose cases were transferred to adult court in Memphis/Shelby County were African American.

   3. Did you know that only 53% of education funding in TN actually makes it to the classroom?

   4. Learn about why the Texas abortion law is terrible for the economy. Read about the corporations who funded the sponsors of the TX abortion ban. The US Dept. of Justice has sued TX over SB8, calling it a scheme to get around the constitutional rights of women. Justice Sotomayor wrote a scathing dissent of the SCOTUS decision allowing the ban to stand. Even Justice Breyer is speaking out. Critics have spoken out against Sen. Susan Collins for all the times she said Justice Kavanaugh wouldn’t gut Roe v Wade.

   5. Read about how San Francisco schools have had no COVID outbreaks (cluster of 3 or more cases) since they opened in August.

 Actions for Week of September 5, 2021

Prepare to March – The Women’s March Coalition and 90 other organizations are planning marches in all 50 states on October 2nd to protest the Texas abortion law. The Texas abortion law (SB8) prohibits abortions as early as 6 weeks (as soon as cardiac activity is noted). There are no exceptions for rape or incest. The law gets around Roe v. Wade by banning state officials from enforcing it. Instead, it offers a $10,000 reward to private citizens who sue anyone who performs or helps a woman get an abortion. Anyone, anywhere can bring a suit, even though they have no connection with the women, doctor or clinic. The men involved in the pregnancy are not mentioned in the law, much less penalized. Members of Gen Z quickly created bots on Friday that lodged false tips on the Texas Right to Life whistleblower website and GoDaddy bumped the website from its platform this weekend. Companies based in Texas are also pushing back. A Texas judge passed a narrow ruling protecting Planned Parenthood in TX. These efforts will not be enough alone, however. Women are banning together to fight for their reproductive rights, with marches planned across the country. Sign the pledge to march here in order to be notified of details. 

Take the Survey – If you haven’t done so, please take this quick survey on the TN Justice Center website regarding the TN Medicaid Block Grant proposal. Your answers will be collated and sent on to the Biden administration.

Participate in the Feminist Futures Series – The Women’s March Coalition is offering 8 interactive, political education webinars on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:15 PM beginning September 29th. For more information and to register visit this website: https://www.mobilize.us/womensmarch/event/405870/ Individual webinar information is also listed in the events list below.

Good News!

4. 1. A new TN law improves access to school sports and college for kids in foster care. 

   2. A Georgia judge has blocked part of the voter suppression law there. The judge rejected the part of the law that forbade photographing or recording a completed ballot, saying it was infringement on freedom of speech. 

   3. The FDA is blocking the sale of >55,000 flavored e-cigarette products being marketed to young Americans.

   4. The US Education Dept. is cancelling student debt ($1.1billion) for 115,000 students who attended the now defunct ITT Technical Institute. 

   5. A federal just blocked Gov. Lee’s mask opt-out rule in Shelby County. A similar lawsuit has been filed in Knox County. 

Educate Yourself

5. 1. As we celebrate Labor Day tomorrow, learn about the Battle of Blair Mountain, a key conflict in labor history. In the late summer of 1921, at least 7,000 coal miners affiliated with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) fought for their rights and their livelihoods in a weeklong fight against a private army that was raised by the coal companies and supported by the National Guard and the U.S. Army Air Force. The battle was the climax of two decades of low-intensity warfare across the coalfields of Appalachia, and it remains the largest battle on U.S. soil since the end of the Civil War.

   2. Learn about the huge study that involved 340,000 people showed face masks do prevent the spread of COVID. 

   3. In TN over the last 2 weeks, 28,000 school-age children tested positive for COVID. 

   4. 52% of employees say they are planning or considering requiring employees to get vaccinated for COVID by the end of year. 

Actions for Week of August 29, 2021

New Comment Period for TN Medicaid Block Grants – The Biden administration has reopened the comment period for the proposed Medicaid Block Grants and a lawsuit against enactment of the waivers has been halted in a federal court. Deadline for submission of comments is Thurs, Sept. 9th. Please attend the Huddle Meeting on Thursday to learn more about this issue, then answer the survey on the TN Justice Center website and offer comments through their portal. Additional information on the topic is available here. 

Siphoning Money to Charter Schools – $14.4million of COVID education funds has been directed to charter schools by Gov. Lee instead of going to public schools. $4.4million is being used to establish new charter schools, none of which are scheduled to open until 2022. This COVID money was sent to the states to make schools safer, not support schools that have no public oversight. Please provide feedback to Gov. Lee on this issue at 615-741-2001 or https://www.tn.gov/governor/contact-us.html 

Good News!

3. 1. The administration reversed a 45-era policy that allowed use of chlorpyrifos in the food chain. Its use is now banned on food crops. 

   2. Food stamp benefits will increase by 25% in October. Average monthly benefit per person will rise from $121 to $157. 

   3. Chuck Sams III, a member of the Cayuse & Walla Walla Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, has been nominated to become director of the National Park Service.

   4. A federal judge blocked the Willow Project, an expansive oil drilling project on the Alaskan North Slope. 

   5. A judicial panel in North Carolina has rules that ~56,000 ex-felons can now register to vote. 

   6. Airbnb is offering free accommodation to 20,000 Afghan refugees. 

Educate Yourself

4. 1. See how much TN State Legislative district miss their ideal populations based on new Census data. 

   2. The Blount County Commission may take up a resolution next week requiring employees to report adverse effects of mandated COVID vaccines. Read the background story on this idea.

   3. Emissions tests in 5 TN counties will end in January. Here is information on the status of emissions testing across the USA. 

   4. Some TN GOP legislators want doctors to write prescriptions for the animal dewormed, ivermectin. False information has circulated on the internet about it being efficacious against COVID. Animal formulations are toxic to people and it causes serious side effects. 

   5. Unfortunately, SCOTUS has ruled the eviction moratorium set to last until October 3rd must end immediately. 

Actions for Week of August 22, 2021

1. New Comment Period for TN Medicaid Block Grants – The Biden administration has reopened the comment period for the proposed Medicaid Block Grants and a lawsuit against enactment of the waivers has been halted in a federal court. Deadline for submission of comments is Thurs, Sept. 9th. Please attend the Huddle Meeting on Thursday to learn more about this issue, then answer the survey on the TN Justice Center website and offer comments through their portal. Additional information on the topic is available here. 

2. Good News!

   1. A federal judge ruled against several Indiana abortion laws. 

   2. The child tax credit appears to be easing economic hardship already. 

   3. A Virginia school board is enacting a policy expanding rights of transgender students.

   4. A federal appeals court has allowed the eviction moratorium to continue while the matter is assessed by the SCOTUS.  

   5. The US Dept. of Education is forgiving $5.8billion in student loan debt held by severely disabled students unable to work off the debt.

3. Educate Yourself

   1. TVA used toxic coal ash in the construction of a youth sports field in Anderson County. 

   2. Dept. Human Services processing of DACA renewal applications has slowed way down, which is preventing DACA recipients from working and going to school. 

   3. Visit this map of GDP per capita worldwide and learn about the changes in standard of living of time. It’s eye opening!

   4. Read about how a Biden Executive Order could reshape rail and ocean shipping. 

   5. The US Education Secretary is questioning the legality Gov. Lee’s executive order allowing parents to opt-out of face masks. State officials also question its legality and lawsuits are likely. The Nashville District Attorney won’t prosecute schools/teachers that require face masks. 

4. COVID Data – You can track COVID infection data, vaccination progress, and find a vaccine via this helpful website. 

9Actions for Week of August 15, 2021

Call for TN General Assembly Special Session – This past week Speaker Sexton sent a letter asking Gov. Lee to call a special session to craft legislation preventing mask mandates and stripping health departments of their right to make public health decisions. See a pdf of the letter here. All Republican representatives signed the letter, including Reps. Ramsey and Moon. Rep. Ramsey explained his rationale for signing in this Daily Times article. Note that such legislation may prohibit private businesses, schools, local governments, etc. from requiring vaccinations of their employees, customers and clients. In addition, the need to show proof of vaccination by carriage of vaccine “passports” (i.e. vaccine certificates) may also be prohibited. So far, the leader of the TN Senate is not very supportive of a special session. If the governor calls a special session, it would cost taxpayers around $30,000 per day. Judges at the federal level and at the US Supreme Court have already weighed in that mask bans and vaccination requirements are not discriminatory and can be put in place. Please contact our State elected officials with your feedback:

1. 1. Rep. Bob Ramsey: 615-741-3560, rep.bob.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov , https://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h20.html 

   2. Rep. Jerome Moon: 615-741-5481, rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov , https://www.capitol.tn.gov/house/members/h8.html  

   3. Sen. Art Swann: 615-741-0981, sen.art.swann@capitol.tn.gov , https://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s2.html 

Petitions to Sign

2. 1. This is a local petition requesting Knox County Board of Education follow CDC guidelines and require wearing of facemasks by students, teachers and staff. 

   2. This statewide petition asks elected official to stop politicizing the COVID crisi. 

   3. This petition urges the EPA to enact strong regulations against methane pollution.

   4. This petition asks Facebook to close a loophole that allows 45 to evade FB’s enforcement decisions.

   5. You can ask Congress to support legislation holding big tech companies accountable through this petition.

   6. This nationwide petition is against gerrymandering. 

   7. You can email legislators asking them to close the healthcare coverage gap through this link. 

Good News!

3. 1. Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance won its lawsuit over bridge construction affecting Grand Staircase-Escalante.

   2. Biden Administration announced new emission standards for cars and the target for 50% of cars sold in USA by 2030 to be electric. Europe is going even farther. It aims to stop sale of all polluting cars and trucks by 2035, including hybrid vehicles. 

   3. Transgender students are suing TN over the recent law restricting which bathrooms they use. 

   4. Mexico is suing US gun makers for flow of arms from USA into Mexico.

   5. A judge ruled that Dominion’s defamation lawsuit regarding their voting machines can proceed against 45’s lawyers. 

Educate Yourself

4. 1. Read about ways schools can meet the needs of formerly incarcerated students.

   2. A critical ocean current system in the Atlantic has become unstable and may collapse. 

   3. TN will pay $6.8million in fines for food stamp violations in administration of SNAP between 2012-14. 

   4. Louis DeJoy is head of the US Postal Service. A company he and his family have financial ties to (XPO Logistics) is being given a $120million contract. Why has this man not been fired? 

   5. Learn about the Koch brothers efforts to destabilize and privatize public education. 

   6. Did you know that TN has compiled secret dossiers on civil rights protestors? 

Actions for Week of August 8, 2021

Thank the President – With the urging of the President, the CDC extended the federal eviction moratorium until October 3rd, and is encouraging money set aside for renters and landlords to be quickly paid out by the state.  Unfortunately, the State of TN is not going to honor the moratorium. You can send a message to the White House thanking them at this link. 

Comment on Public Instruction Restrictions – Tennessee plans to start levying $1-5million fines on school districts when teachers violate new restrictions on classroom discussion of systemic racism, white privilege and sexism.  See this pdf for a list of rules and restrictions. TN Dept. of Education will accept public comments on this plan until end of day, Wednesday August 11th. Comments can be sent to EDU.PublicComments@tn.gov . Already parent groups are complaining that teaching about Ruby Bridges (first Black child to integrate New Orleans school) and Martin Luther King Jr are making white students uncomfortable. 

Infrastructure Bill & Sen. Hagerty – The Senate stopped debate on the infrastructure bill yesterday but passage has been held up all weekend by TN Sen. Bill Hagerty. It appears he wants attention from the press. He knows the bill has enough votes to pass and he’s refused to listen to requests from fellow Republicans to let the bill proceed. Feel free to contact him at phone:  202-224-4944 (DC), 865-545-4253 (Knoxville), 423-752-5337 (Chattanooga) or 615-736-5129 (Nashville), email: https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/ , Twitter = @BillHagertyTN .

Good News!

4. 1. The Dept of Justice has put States on notice about election audits and voting changes. 

   2. Complaint has been filed in 15 states against American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). TN is one of the states. The complaint asks state oversight agencies to examine the relationship between ALEC, state legislators and the bills they’ve introduced. 

   3. The EPA is going to impose new limits on wastewater pollution from coal power plants.

   4. The Justice Dept will not defend Rep. Mo Brooks in the suit filed by Rep. Swalwell regarding Brooks’ role in the January 6th insurrection.

   5. The Biden Administration has extended the payment pause on student loan debt until January 2022.

   6. Justice Breyer of SCOTUS stopped a Maine church’s attempt to block Delta variant restrictions.

   7. Earlier this spring the Arkansas governor signed into a law banning facemask mandates. He now regrets that bill. Fortunately, a judge blocked it from going into effect last week.

Educate Yourself

5. 1. Visit this map of GDP per capita worldwide and learn about the changes in standard of living of time. It’s eye opening!

   2. Learn about the no-bid COVID testing contract in TN that cost the state millions for a test that didn’t work. 

   3. Did you know that while Gov. Lee won’t incentivize vaccines in people for COVID, he is paying farmers to vaccinate their cattle? The governor’s spokesperson declined to say whether Lee himself has received money for vaccinating his own cows. 

   4. Did you know that in the early 90s Dolly Parton started receiving royalties for Whitney Houston’s rendition of the song, I Will Always Love You. Dolly quietly used the funds to invest in a building in a Black Nashville neighborhood.

   5. Read about how a Biden Executive Order could reshape rail and ocean shipping. 

   6. Learn about how much money Tennessee will receive from the infrastructure bill. 

Actions for Week of August 1, 2021

Eviction Moratorium Ends – The moratorium on evictions enacted by the CDC ended at midnight last night. The US Supreme Court ruled it could not be continued without an act of Congress. Dollars set aside to pay landlords during the moratorium have also not been paid out. The House is not scheduled to reconvene until Sept. The Senate is set to adjourn soon. Please contact our MoCs and ask them to expedite legislation to prevent evictions. 

Comment on Parking Plans for Laurel Falls – GSMNP has developed a congestion management pilot program for parking at the Laurel Falls trailhead that will be tried from Sept 7 – Oct 3, 2021.  The pilot project eliminates roadside parking outside the formal parking lot, which damages plants and soil and causes safety risks for visitors walking along the road to the trailhead. Visitors will pay to reserve a parking spot online or take a shuttle to the trailhead from downtown Gatlinburg. The Park is asking for public comments on the program to be made online at this link (scroll down to bottom of page) by August 7th. 

Good News!

3. 1. A federal judge blocked West Virginia’s anti-transgender sports ban bill from going into effect and allowed a student’s lawsuit to proceed. The ruling will hamper TN from enacting a similar bill. The Arkansas bill banning transgender confirming treatment was also blocked. 

   2. Argentina has created a gender-neutral ID for nonbinary people.

   3. The Dept of Justice has ruled that Treasury must provide a copy of 45’s tax returns to Congress.

   4. Melinda Gates and McKenzie Scott are donating $40million to organizations supporting women.

   5. Gov. Lee and the State of TN have been sued for ending COVID federal unemployment benefits.

Educate Yourself

4. 1. Learn about the myths associated with expiration dates on foods and the tremendous waste taking place in the USA. 

   2. The heat wave has gotten so bad in the western USA that raptor chicks are leaping from their nests. 

   3. Is the push for oil exploration in the Okavango Basin actually an investment scam? 

   4. Read about what’s in the final version of the infrastructure bill being voted upon in the Senate. 

   5. Sixteen TN State Senators published a letter last week encouraging the public to get vaccinate for COVID-19. 

Actions for Week of July 25, 2021

Infrastructure Bill – The $1.2trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework is scheduled to come up for a vote in the Senate within the next 2 weeks. Details of the bill can be found on the White House website. Negotiations are continuing, with the hope a deal will be reached soon. Please ask our Senators to support this bill. Contact information is below.

Good News!

2. 1. The bust of Nathan B. Forrest was removed from the TN Capital building on Friday.

   2. Chantele Wong is the first lesbian to be appointed to an ambassador-level position. 

   3. The Biden administration is rolling back decisions made by the previous administration and is moving to protect Tongass National Forest from logging and road building. 45’s showerhead rule has also been reversed. 

   4. Atty General Garland has restored immigration judges’ discretion that was stopped by 45. 

   5. Researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia and 5 other groups have developed a one-dose, intranasal vaccine for COVID-19 that is being tested in animals. This route of administration is already in use for respiratory diseases in dogs. 

   6. The Missouri Supreme Court upheld expansion of Medicaid that was secured by a ballot initiative but was not enacted by the governor. 

Educate Yourself

1. Watch this YouTube video on ranked choice voting. 

2. Read about the closures of rural hospitals in TN. 

3. Learn what happened when Republican governors cut the additional $300/week unemployment benefit sent to them by the federal government. A recent survey showed that child care obligations and COVID-related concerns were the top 2 reasons folks are not returning to work. 

4. Did you know that the state of Mississippi has asked the US Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade? This happened within days of Arkansas’ near total abortion ban bill being blocked. 

Actions for Week of July 18, 2021

TN Top Vaccine Official Fired – Dr. Michelle Fiscus was fired this past week supposedly for distributing a memo relaying that under TN law, mature teenagers do not need parental consent to be vaccinated. The circumstances surrounding her firing appear to be political and supported by anti-vaccination/parental rights legislators. She was sent a muzzle in the mail prior to her firing. The Health Dept tried to claim Dr. Fiscus was fired because of her poor management skills but the following day, Dr. Fiscus released numerous, positive performance reviews. Gov. Lee signed off on the firing but has refused to answer reporters’ questions on the matter. TN physician group is calling on the US Dept of Justice to investigate.

1. 1. Following the firing TN health officials were ordered not to promote immunization awareness month (August) and to stop sending second COVID and other vaccine reminders to teens. TN has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country and COVID cases in TN are skyrocketing. Combined with increasing prevalence of the Delta variant, COVID transmission may increase as schools open. 

   2. Please provide feedback to Gov. Lee and ask him to vigorously promote and support vaccinations for teens and other children, particularly as the next school term begins.  Phone: 615-741-2001. Email:  https://www.tn.gov/governor/contact-us.html . Twitter: @GovBillLee. 

Petitions to Sign – 

2. 1. Ask Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act by signing this petition.

   2. This petition supports banning 45 from future office. 

   3. Here is a petition asking that Rep. Gloria Johnson be treated equitably by the TN House Speaker. 

Good News!

3. 1. 1.2 million children in TN will benefit from the federal tax credits that began this past week. 

   2. Cherished Hearts is a Nashville program than aims to help survivors of human trafficking. 

   3. A lawsuit has been filed against the Texas anti-abortion law that awards private citizens when they bring complaints/suits against anyone facilitating an abortion.

   4. The US Supreme Court left in place a previous ruling that a transgender student could use the bathroom of his gender identity not his birth identify.

   5. On the 1-year anniversary of his death, the US Navy christened a ship after John Lewis. 

   6. Maine is the first state to ban “forever chemicals” in products. 

Educate Yourself

4. 1. Read about how corporations are donating large sums of money to support voter suppression bills.

   2. Learn about the foundation funding the anti-critical race theory movement. This article explains CRT and why it is under attack. 

   3. Read about the Mercy Culture Church movement that promotes political actions to convert the USA to a nation ruled by religious authority. 

   4. CEO compensation increased by 16% in 2020, while average worker compensation rose only 1.8%.  Wage suppression drives ever increasing inequality. Perhaps taxing CEO windfalls could be done to pay for infrastructure improvements. 

   5. Learn about LARC, a Knoxville-based nonprofit providing information and access to long-acting birth control. 

   6. Minimum wage workers can no longer afford rent anywhere in the USA. 

Actions for Week of July 11, 2021

Get to know your local county government.  A calendar of meetings (with agendas and minutes) are posted online for Blount County. Find your County Commissioners. (Note: July 13th Redistricting Committee meeting was cancelled)

Support Coal Ash Disposal Bill – Rep. Cohen of Memphis has introduced in the House the Ensuring Safe Disposal of Coal Ash Act that strengthens regulations surround coal ash clean up. Please ask Rep. Burchett to support this bill.

Petitions to Sign

Deadline July 15 - Tell TVA to invest in clean energy to replace the Kingston coal plant

Good News!

1. Congratulations Zaila Avante-garde! Spelling Bee Champ and the first African American to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 93 editions of the competition.

2. A federal judge temporarily blocked Tennessee's anti-transgender bathroom bill which took effect on July 1. 

3. The statues of 2 Confederate Generals were removed from downtown Charlottesville, VA on Saturday. In Tennessee, the bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest is closer to removal from the state Capitol following the end this week of a 120-day waiting period.

Educate Yourself

1. NAACP Redistricting, Race, and Representation training - Monday Jul 12.

2. EPA has relaunched it's Climate Change Indicators site.  It's full of information on how scientists track and better understand the effects of changes in the Earth's climate.

Actions for Week of June 27, 2021

Pledge to attend a Deadline for Democracy event.

Petitions to Sign

1. 1. Sign this petition to tell Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights act.

   2. This petition requests the president work for the release of journalist, Danny Fenster, who is detained in Myanmar. 

   3. Tell TVA to invest in clean energy to replace the Kingston Coal Plant 

Consider Boycotting Chick-fil-A:  Dan Cathy, the heir to the Chick-fil-A fortune is monetarily supporting the anti-LGBTQ legislation here in TNand around the USA, as well as the anti-Equality Act movement.  

Good News!

1. 1. The Biden Administration has extended the eviction moratorium 1 more month.

   2. Over 70 companies including the National Hockey League, Patagonia and Tumblr signed an open letter entitled “Corporate America Supports the For the People Act,” urging the Senate to pass the legislation. 

   3. The US Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Georgia over the state's voter suppression law.

   4. Democrats are expanding access to voting even as the GOP restricts voting.

   5. Biden’s Justice Department tells court to end Arkansas’s trans health care ban

Educate Yourself

1. 6. Read about "What happens next on voting rights"

   7. Following the sentencing of Chauvin to 22 years for the murder of George Floyd, learn why Advocates are calling for Systemic Policing Reform

   8. Register for PFPS Webinar: "Vouchers, Voter Suppression, and Other Vices: The Effort to Undermine Democracy and the Public Good"

   9. June Huddle Meeting Presentation by Connor Towne O’Neill - June 2021 Maryville Huddle - Monuments, Memory and the Legacy of White Supremacy 

Actions for Week of June 20, 2021

Now that the ACA is here to stay, call Governor Lee and our State Senator (Art Swann) and urge them to prioritize the health of all Tennesseans by expanding Medicaid.

Support HR1405 – This bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Cohen of Memphis. It would require that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment be enforced, i.e. it prevents anyone who engaged insurrection to hold political office. Please contact Rep. Burchett and ask him to support this bill.  

Contact West Point Board of Visitors - Retired Army Col. Douglas Macgregor, who was appointed to West Point's Board of Visitors in the waning months of the Trump administration has repeatedly spread a conspiracy that the Biden administration is bringing in non-White immigrants as part of a "grand plan" to have them outnumber White Americans of European ancestry in the United States. Please contact the White House to ask that Mr. Macgregor be recalled. Rep. Mark Green also serves on the board, so consider contacting him about Mr. Macgregor at https://markgreen.house.gov/email-me
  

Good News!

1. 1. Blount County Commissioners passed a resolution to urge TDOT to hold a public information session about the Pellissippi Parkway Extension.

   2. The Mastercard Foundation is donating $1.3billion to boost Africa’s pandemic response.

   3. President Biden signed a law making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

   4. The Affordable Care Act survived another attempt at repealing the law when the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that Texas, Tennessee and other GOP-led states had no right to bring their lawsuit to federal court.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. TennCare added 83,000 people to its rolls as pandemic increases number of folks living in poverty.

   2. These four charts demonstrate the staggering differences in wealthbetween White and Black Americans.

   3. Sen. Joe Manchin was one of the sponsors of the For the People Voting Rights Act of 2019. Learn how the Koch network has bought his opposition to the 2021 version of the bill.

Actions for Week of June 13, 2021

1. Resolution to TDOT – As you may know, Federal Highway Administration has approved building the final portion of the Pellissippi Parkway Extension (PPE). A resolution has been written that requests TDOT hold public, in-person hearings before moving ahead on this project. The Blount Commissioners will vote on the resolution at their meeting on Thurs, June 17th, at 6:30PM in Room 430 of Blount County Court House. Please plan to attend this meeting in person. You do not need to speak. Your presence will send a strong message! If you are unable to attend, you can contact your County Commissioners through this link. Zoom meeting Id: 940-2254-8441.  

2. Support Coal Ash Disposal Bill – Rep. Cohen of Memphis has introduced in the House the Ensuring Safe Disposal of Coal Ash Act that strengthens regulations surround coal ash clean up. Please ask Rep. Burchett to support this bill.

1. Petitions to Sign

   1. Here’s a petition requesting the resignation of Rep. MT Green because of her violent rhetoric and abusive behavior.

   2. Consider signing this petition asking the Edmund Pettus Bridge be renamed after John Lewis.

   3. Here’s a petition requesting that Tucker Carlson be fired from Fox News.

   4. This petition is in support of confirming David Chipman as ATF Director. David Chipman is uniquely qualified to lead the ATF, having dedicated his career to the agency's mission of enforcing firearms and explosives laws that protect communities from people perpetuating violence, investigating acts of terrorism, and combatting illegal gun trafficking. He is currently a senior advisor for Giffords, and formerly a member of the Everytown advisory council and a senior advisor at Mayors Against Illegal Guns.

1. Good News!

   1. The Dept. of Education has rescinded 45-era policy restricting state oversight of student loan companies and debt collectors.

   2. At the recent G-7 meeting, countries agreed to a 15% minimum global tax rate for corporations.

   3. The administration is bringing back protections for endangered species that were undone by 45.

   4. The Texas legislature recently adjourned without renewing the 20-year-old tax break for oil and gas companies in the state.

   5. The Keystone pipeline project has been cancelled.

   6. The community is rallying behind 2 teens who painted the Alcoa bridge with Pride art.

   7. The first Muslim American federal judge was confirmed by the Senate. 

1. Educate Yourself

   1. Economic Policy Institute says there is no justification for Republican governors to cut unemployment benefits. EPI also documents how low-wage, low-hours workers were hardest hit by COVID.

   2. The Senate failed to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, with all female Republican Senators voting against it.

   3. Learn about the growing support for filibuster reform and a potential move that Vice-President Harris could take.

   4. Read about the miseducation of white school children.

   5. In 2020 CEO pay increased 16% while worker pay increased just 1.8%  and how the wealthiest Americans avoid paying taxes.

   6. Listen to this podcast about Stone Mountain and the  falsehoods that fan the fires of white nationalism. 

 Actions for Week of June 6, 2021

Resolution to TDOT – As you may know, Federal Highway Administration has approved building the final portion of the Pellissippi Parkway Extension (PPE). A resolution has been written that requests TDOT hold public hearings before moving ahead on this project. You can read the resolution here. It will be introduced by 3 Blount County Commissioners at their Agenda Committee Meeting on Tuesday, June 8th, at 6:30 PM in Room 430 of Blount County Court House in an appeal to place the resolution on the full commission meeting to be held, Thursday, June 17th. The existence of this resolution sends a strong message to TDOT that some County Commissioners do not believe TDOT's recent “virtual meeting" was fair or adequate. Please plan to attend these meetings. Also encourage folks affected by PPE and those who oppose it to also attend. You do not need to speak. Your presence will send a strong message! If you are unable to attend, you can contact your County Commissioners through this link. Zoom meeting Id: 933-5091-0205.

Contact Gov. Ducey – Arizona is refurbishing its gas chamber with the intent of executing death row inmates with hydrogen cyanide, the same gas used by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Please contact Gov. Ducey to comment on these plans. He can be reached by email at https://azgovernor.gov/engage/form/contact-governor-ducey , by phone at 602-542-4331 or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/dougducey 

Good News!

3. 1. Secretary of Transportation is bringing back the minority hiring program that was scrapped by 45. 

   2. The State Dept has rescinded the 45-era regulation that denied citizenship to gay couples’ kids.

   3. Kristen Clarke was confirmed as the first Black woman to lead the Dept. of Justice’s civil rights division.

   4. Karine Jean-Pierre recently made history as the first Black woman since 1991 and the first gay woman ever to conduct a presidential press briefing.

   5. The Administration is suspending oil and gas drilling leases in Artic National Wildlife Refuge. 

   6. This week Wilberforce University, an HBCU, cancelled student debt for 2020 and 2021 graduates.

Educate Yourself

4. 1. How horrible that a federal judge on Friday compared an AR-15 assault rifles to a Swiss Army knife and over turned California’s 30-year old ban on assault weapons on the same day Gun Violence Awareness Weekend began.

   2. Learn about the Tennessee Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization that works to exonerate the innocent through investigation and litigation. 

   3. Read about how Gov. Lee spent $490million on COVID response and has almost nothing to show for it. 

   4. NCAA athletes are urging the NCAA to pull all its collegiate tournaments out of the states that have passed anti-trans athlete bills. This includes TN. 

   5. A whistleblower complaint has been lodged with the SEC over ReconAfrica’s permit filings to drill for oil in Namibia just north of the pristine Okavango Delta of Botswana. 

   6. Read about ideas on how Congress can expand Medicaid in states that are refusing to do so

Actions for Week of May 30, 2021

TVA Plans for Cumberland Fossil Plant – TVA is preparing an environmental impact statement on retiring their two coal-fired units at Cumberland Fossil Plant. They are offering some ideas on replacements but most involve turning to gas-fueled units. TVA is accepting public comments until June 10th.  Comments can be submitted online here or emailed to nepa@tva.org. 

SACE Take Action Petitions:

2. 1. Consider signing this petition urging Congress to support 100% clean electricity by 2035. 

   2. This petition requests governors and members of Congress to suspend utility cut offs because of COVID pandemic.

   3. Tell Congress to stop offshore drilling and seismic blasting by signing this letter.

Good News!

3. 1. Lawyers have found 54 more families of migrant children that were separated at the border. 

   2. League of Women Voters and Arkansas United have filed a lawsuit challenging 4 voter suppression laws (HB 1715, SB643, HB1112, SB486) passed in that state this year. 

   3. The new Memphis schools budget contains a raise for teachers!

   4. Jane Goodall has been awarded the Capstone Award. She’s a hero to both beasts and humans. 

   5. Three major developments occurred this week in big oil companies. A court in Holland is requiring Shell to cut emissions from its drilling and its products by 45% by 2030. Activist investors ousted 2 Exxon directors and the voting is close on 2 more. And investors at Chevron’s shareholder meeting voted to demand the company reduce its contribution to climate change.

   6. The Nashville District Attorney says he will not enforce TN’s new anti-trans bathroom bill. 

Educate Yourself

4. 1. Learn about the feed supplement that reduces methane production by cows. 

   2. Read how the TN Dept. of Education is issuing grants for charter applications in school districts that don’t even authorize charter schools. 

   3. Learn how the appraisal of the home of a Black woman doubled in value when a white man posed as the owner. 

   4. Should the rich be taxed? See the Economic Policy Institute’s Policy Agenda. 

   5. Texas has passed one of the most onerous anti-abortion bills ever conceived (SB8/HB1515). It would allow anyone (e.g. neighbor, rapist, anti-abortion zealot) to complain and possibly have prosecuted any person having anything to do with a pregnancy termination (e.g. friend who drives the woman, activist organizations, domestic violence and rape counselors), even for valid medical reasons. 

   6. This past week Gov. Lee signed a bill prohibiting the teaching of systemic racism and Critical Race Theory in TN schools. Learn more about Critical Race Theory here. 

Actions for Week of May 23, 2021

Support Keep it in the Ground Act – This bill has been reintroduced in both the US House and Senate. It bans leases for fossil fuel extraction on public lands and waters, and would potentially prevent release of 90% of emissions from federal lands. Please ask our MoCs to support and cosponsor this bill. See contact information below.

Anti-Asian Hate Crime Bill – Rep. Burchett was one of 63 House Representatives that voted against the Anti-Asian Hate Crime bill. Please provide him feedback on his decision. Other TN legislators that also voted against it include Reps. Harshbarger, Green & Rose. Thank you if you participated in the Prayer Walk for our AAPI neighbors yesterday!

Good News!

1. 1. The Biden administration has revoked 45-era actions onimmigration, monuments, censorship, police brutality, and creation of an American Heros park.

   2. Construction of a huge offshore wind project near Martha’s Vineyard MA has been approved.

   3. The Biden administration is giving around 100,000 Haitians living in the USA Temporary Protected Status.

   4. The administration is providing $7.4billion for states to hire more public health care workers.

   5. House TN Rep. Cohen’s bill that protects pregnant workers from discrimination and abused passed the House. Now let’s hope the Senate concurs.

   6. Police unions are changing their stance on protecting bad cops.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Learn about Arizona’s new voter purge bill.

   2. Air pollution from farms leads to around 18,000 deaths in the USA each year.

   3. Read the new Executive Order directing agencies to analyze and mitigate the risk climate change poses to  homeowners, businesses and workers.

   4. Even journalists from UK news agencies are appalled at what the legislators and governor of TN are doing with regards to their bigoted, anti-LGBTQ, racist and anti-pandemic relief measures.

   5. Read about the conservative groups that convince state legislatorsto introduce bigoted, racist, and voter suppression legislation around the country. If reading the article doesn’t make you mad, watch this video.

   6. Even as TN legislators passed a bill cutting unemployment coverage from 26 to 12 weeks, many of them were recipients of thousands for dollars in forgivable PPP loans.

Actions for Week of May 16, 2021

Support the DeJoy Act – Nothing like throwing a little shade. 😊 The Delivering Envelopes Judiciously On-time Year-round Act ( 2021 Postal Service Reform Act) will prohibit the Postal Service from lengthening mail-delivery windows. The bill also provides further reforms of USPS and has bipartisan support. Please ask Rep. Burchett to support this bill. Note the Senate Homeland Security Committee this past week advanced 3 new USPS Board of Governors. They will be voted on by the full Senate soon. Please ask our Senators to approve their confirmation. 

Petitions to Sign

2. 1. Here’s a petition supporting a permanent ban of 45 from Facebook. 

   2. Ask Senators to pass the PRO Act, which ensures the opportunity to join a union by signing this petition. 

   3. Sign this petition to urge Senators to take action on background checks. 

   4. Here’s a petition calling for DeJoy’s resignation. 

Good News!

3. 1. The Bident administration is releasing more than $8billion in hurricane relief funds for Puerto Rico that were held up 45. 

   2. The Energy Innovation & Carbon Dividend Act has gained 7 more sponsors in the House.

   3. So far, the new administration has added 21 new environmental protections, overturned 29 prior 45-era rules and is targeting 71 more. 

   4. The administration is also reversing limits on protections for transgender people in healthcare,  withdrawing the rule that loosened Artic drilling regulations, and reversing the ban on pandemic aid for undocumented students. 

   5. A federal judge dismissed the NRA’s bankruptcy case in Texas, providing a way for the New York lawsuit against the NRA to proceed. 

   6. Burger King is rolling out a green packaging program in Miami to test alternative materials for paperboard, cutlery, napkins, etc. 

Educate Yourself

4. 1. Brooke Baldwin, a former CNN correspondent, has written a book on the power of Women’s Huddles. It is entitled “Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power.”

   2. Learn about the Blount Corunty woman suing to change the sex on her birth certificate.

   3. Read this interesting piece on what is known about the Capitol riot suspects. 

   4. Learn about the citizens of Glasgow that mobilized to prevent immigration officers from detaining two migrants. 

   5. At the same time Gov. Lee decided to stop federal payments of $300 per week for the unemployed and the TN Legislature passed a bill cutting unemployed benefits, TN revenue collections for April were $600million about projections. Sen. Sanders has asked the Labor Secretary to keep the$300 jobless benefits going in states where the governors want to end them. 

Actions for Week of May 9, 2021

Contact Reps. Ragan & Lafferty – Last week the TN General Assembly passed HB0580, which contains a racist amendment that prevents the teaching of systemic racism and social justice in TN schools. The amendment was introduced by Rep. Ragan of Oak Ridge. The bill would allow state education officials to withhold funding from any school promoting or including certain concepts in the curriculum or any supplemental instructional materials. Among others, the banned ideas would include:

• "An individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, is inherently privileged, racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously."

• "An individual, by virtue of the individual's race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex."

• "An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or another form of psychological distress solely because of the individual's race or sex."

• "A meritocracy is inherently racist or sexist, or designed by a particular race or sex to oppress members of another race or sex."

• "This state or the United States is fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist."

During debate on the bill Rep. Lafferty of Knoxville supported it by erroneously arguingthat the 3/5 Compromise in the US Constitutionwas an attempt to stop slavery rather than counting each individual slave as 3/5 of a person, which not only recognized slavery but ensured slave-holding states would be perpetually overrepresented in national politics.

Please contact these representatives with your feedback:

Rep. Justin Lafferty, District 89: rep.justin.lafferty@capitol.tn.gov

Rep. John Ragan, District 33: rep.john.ragan@capitol.tn.gov

To see other representatives that voted for the bill, visit this link and click on “votes” tab on far right.

Contact Gov. Lee – Please contact Gov. Lee and ask him to veto the above bill, HB0580/SB0623. Note that a bill can become law with the governor’s signature or without the governor’s signature, i.e. his failure to act on the bill will allow it to pass. Only a veto will stop a bill. Also consider asking him to veto HB1027/SB126 that prohibits physicians from treating transgender youth with state-of-the-art hormonal and surgical procedures. You can reach Gov. Lee by phone: 615-741-2001 or email: https://www.tn.gov/governor/contact-us.html

Good News!

1. 1. The Uffizi gallery in Florence just reopened after remodelling. For the first time, space is dedicated to artists who are women and People of Color.

   2. EPA will issue a rule requiring cuts in hydrofluorocarbons, which are more potent that carbon dioxide as greenhouse gases.

   3. Kansas legislature failed to overridethe governor’s veto of their transgender sports ban.

   4. A Native American has been appointed the first chief-of-staff of the Interior Dept.

   5. South Africa is going to ban its farmed-lion business/trade.

   6. In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court rejected a request by the state of Texas to allow them to file a complaint against the state of California for banning state-funded travel to the Lone Star State in response to an anti-LGBTQ law.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Read about how an act by basketball players at ETSU revealed racial division in TN.

   2. Learn about the financial impact the American Families Plan will have in TN.

   3. If the teaching of racism and social justice is banned, how will this affect TN educators? Learn more here.

   4. Learn how underpaid teachers are in TN and other states.

   5. Read about how ranked voting is improving political outcomes.

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com. In the month of April, the group sent 177 emails and made 3 calls.

Actions for Week of May 2, 2021

Support the HR1405 – Rep. Cohen from TN has introduced a bill in the House to remove and bar any person who engages in insurrection & rebellion against the USA from holding office. It requires that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment be enforced. Please ask Rep. Burchett to support this bill.

Support NO BAN Act – The House recently passed this bill which prohibits future presidents from enacting another Muslim or similar ban on immigrants and entry in to the USA. Ask our Senators to support the bill. Also learn about the NO BAN Act Coalition here.

Good News!

1. 1. The mine workers union is endorsing the new administration’s energy policiesand infrastructure plan in exchange for job training programs.

   2. The administration plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.

   3. The Senate passed the Drinking Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Act by a vote of 89-2. Guess who voted No?

   4. The Senate voted to reinstate methane rules changed by 45.

   5. The USDA will extend free breakfast and lunch to ALL school children through the 2021-22 school year. In addition, the administration is launching the largest summer food program in US history.

   6. Interior Department will roll back several 45-era steps that complicated the process by which Native American tribes can place land into trust.

   7. The Senate passed the anti-Asian hate crimes bill by a vote of 94-1. Guess who voted no?

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Read about the call for Justice Coney Barrett to recuse herselffrom a pending dark money case before SCOTUS.

   2. Learn how this fabricated police story may have become the official account of George Floyd’s death if cell video had not been recorded.

   3. Read about how 2020 Census results are changing House Seats and the Electoral College.

   4. Read about efforts of the administration to share COVID vaccines with the rest of the world.

   5. Learn more about gerrymandering and how the South is at high risk for partisan gerrymandering.

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com

Actions for Week of April 25, 2021

Support the George Floyd Policing Act -The guilty verdicts in the Eric Chauvin trial are a relief but they are only one, small step in the effort to achieve racial justice in this country. The US House has passed HR 1280and it is now in the Senate. Read about its contents here. Please ask our Senators to support it. Their contact information is below and you can send a letter via this link.

Petitions to Sign

1. 1. Please sign this letter to Gov. Lee and legislators requesting that TennCare extend postpartum coverage to 12 months.

   2. Here is a letter encouraging our Senators to pass permanent paid family & medical leave. Also consider following @PaidLeaveUS on Twitter and Facebook.

   3. Send a letter to the Biden administration encouraging them to find ways to end racist policing.

Good News!

1. 1. A federal judge approved a partial settlement between the Women’s Soccer team and US Soccer Federation that calls for charter flights, hotel accommodations, venue selection and professional staff support equitable to that of the men’s national team

   2. The NCAA is threatening to pull championship events out of statesthat discriminate against LGBTQ students.

   3. New Interior Secretary Haaland has revoked several 45-era energy orders that promoted oil and gas mining on federal lands.

   4. An Atlanta high school named after Nathan Bedford Forrest is being renamed for Hank Aaron.

   5. Former President Bush is encouraging Republicans to turn down the rhetoric and work on immigration reform.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Learn about how the most recent COVID Relief bill targets homelessness.

   2. Read about how the accuracy of GPS signals is imperiled by a decision made by the FCC during the 45 administration.

   3. Did you know that 63% of Americans no longer support lifetime appointments to SCOTUS?

   4. The House voted 415-2 to reauthorize the National Bone Marrow Donor Program by passing the Transplant Act. Only attention seekers Marjorie Green & Lauren Boebert voted against it.

   5. Read about the 4 nominees to the TVA Board.

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com

Actions for Week of April 18, 2021

Support Austin-East School – As you know, a student was killed in Austin-East School last week. It is the 5th student they’ve lost to gun violence since January. Mom’s Demand Action is recommending we send cards of support to the students who will be returning to school this week. Address: Austin-East High School, 2768 Martin Luther King Avenue, Knoxville TN 37914.

Contact Publisher – The police officer, Jonathan Mattingly, who was shot by Breonna Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, during their home invasion and who is suing Mr. Walker for battery, assault and emotional distress has written a book entitled “The Fight For Truth: The Inside Story Behind the Breonna Taylor Tragedy.” Although Simon & Schuster says they won’t distribute the book, the TN publisher plans to proceed. Please consider contacting Post Hill Press at 8115 Isabella Lane, Suite 4, Brentwood T 37027, 615-261-4646 to ask them not to publish the book. You can also email them at contact@posthillpress.com and  publicity@posthillpress.com.

Good News!

1. 1. Pres. Biden is nominating the first woman to serve as Secretary of the Army.

   2. The House Oversight Committee has advanced the DC Statehood bill, so it now goes to the floor for a full vote.

   3. Big corporations and Big law are joining the fight against voter suppression.

   4. Temporary Protective Status has been granted for Venezuelans already in the USA.

   5. Pres. Biden announced several anti-gun violence measures last week, including nominating David Chipman to head the ATF. Mr. Chipman is an anti-gun violence advocate who serves as a policy advisor to the Giffords Foundation.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Read about the guaranteed monthly income payments that Cambridge MA is will be giving to 120 low-income households.

   2. The Army has concluded the DC Guard misused helicopters in its low-flying confrontation with BLM/George Floyd protestors last summer.

   3. Calls are growing for WHO and USA to enact patent waivers on COVID vaccine technology so they could be manufactured more widely.

   4. Six US Senators voted against the bill to combat hate crimes against Asian-Americans. No surprise here: Sen. Cotton, Cruz, Hawley, Marshall, Paul, Tuberville.

   5. Watch the video of a 4th grader shaming the TX Senate over their anti-transgender law.

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com

Actions for Week of April 11, 2021 

Oppose HB1039/SB1402 – This bill was originally a caption bill designed to be a placeholder for text to be developed at a later date. It was amended last week at the request of House Speaker Sexton to include the following: 

1. 1. Unemployment will only be paid for 12 weeks when the unemployment rate in the state is <5.5%. 

   2. An additional week is added for each 0.5% increment in the state’s unemployment rate.

   3. However, payments max out at 20 weeks and only are paid that long if the unemployment rate is >9%.

It appears the main reason for this amendment is to save the State money because the TN unemployment trust has been underfunded for several years. But the State is not in financial trouble. Last October it was estimated the State had a surplus of $1billion, its revenue stream has remained good, and it is set to receive billions more from the latest COVID Relief Fund. 

This bill is before the House Finance, Ways & Means Subcommittee on Wed, Apr 14th. The date is being reset but the Senate version will go before the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee in the near future. We urge you to call the two sponsors and Speaker Sexton to request they pull the bill.

• Rep. Kevin Vaughan: 615-741-1866.  You can email him through this link.  

• Sen. Art Swann: 615-741-0981. You can email him through this link. 

• Rep. Cameron Sexton: 615-741-2343. You can email him through this link. 

Please also call/email these committee members:

House Finance, Ways & Means Subcommittee:

Gary Hicks, Chair, 615-741-7480, R, Hancock/Hawkins-9, Suite 620, rep.gary.hicks@capitol.tn.gov  

Charlie Baum, 615-741-6849, R, Rutherford-37, rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov 

Karen Camper, 615-741-1898, D, Shelby-87, Suite 664, rep.karen.camper@capitol.tn.gov 

Bob Freeman, 615-741-9524, D, Davidson-56, Suite 592, rep.bob.freeman@capitol.tn.gov 

Ron Gant, 615-741-6890, R, Fayette/McNairy/Hardeman-94, Suite 606, rep.ron.gant@capitol.tn.gov 

David Hawk, 615-741-7482, R, Greene-5, S406, rep.david.hawk@capitol.tn.gov 

Patsy Hazlewood, 615-741-2746, R, Hamilton-27, Suite 516, rep.patsy.hazlewood@capitol.tn.gov 

Susan Lynn, 615-741-7462, R, Wilson-57, Suite 622, rep.susan.lynn@capitol.tn.gov 

Brandon Ogles, 615-741-6808, R Williamson-61, Suite 660, rep.brandon.ogles@capitol.tn.gov 

Chris Todd, 615-741-7475, R, Madison-73, Suite 608, rep.chris.todd@capitol.tn.gov 

Ryan Williams, 615-741-1875, R, Putnam-42, Suite 400, rep.ryan.williams@capitol.tn.gov 

John Windle, 615-741-1260, D, Morgan/Jackson/Overton/Fentress-41, Suite 428, rep.john.windle@capitol.tn.gov 

Sam Whitson, 615-741-1864, R, Williamson-65, Suite 552, rep.sam.whitson@capitol.tn.gov 

Senate Commerce and Labor Committee:  

Paul Bailey (615) 741-3978, Chair [R-Sparta] Suite 736, sen.paul.bailey@capitol.tn.gov 

Art Swann (615) 741-0981,  1st Vice-Chair  [R-Maryville] Suite 748, sen.art.swann@capitol.tn.gov 

Frank Niceley  (615) 741-2061, 2nd Vice-Chair  [R-Strawberry Plains] Suite 712, sen.frank.niceley@capitol.tn.gov 

Raumesh Akbari (615) 741-1767 [D-Memphis] Suite 762, Sen.Raumesh.Akbari@capitol.tn.gov 

Jack Johnson (615) 741-2495  [R-Franklin] Suite 702, sen.jack.johnson@capitol.tn.gov 

Shane Reeves 615-741-1066 [R-Middle TN] Suite 752, sen.shane.reeves@capitol.tn.gov 

Steve Southerland (615) 741-3851  [R-Morristown] Suite 722, sen.steve.southerland@capitol.tn.gov 

Bo Watson (615) 741-3227 [R-Hixson] Suite 706, sen.bo.watson@capitol.tn.gov 

Ken Yager (615) 741-1449 [R-Kingston] Suite 704, sen.ken.yager@capitol.tn.gov   

Good News!

2. 1. EPA has replaced chemical guidances enacted by the last administration because they were compromised by politics. You can track the new administration’s environmental actions here. 

   2. Iran and the USA are talking again about reaching a nuclear deal. 

   3. The new Secretary of Interior has created a unit to investigate the disappearance and killings of Indigenous people, particularly women. 

   4. Gov. Beshear in Kentucky signed into law a bipartisan bill that expands voting access.

   5. James Kyle Bell, organizer of Keep American Great PAC has been charged with bilking supporters of 45 out of money. This is separate from the effort of the 45 campaign to charge donors repeatedly without their knowledge.

   6. Maryland has enacted 3 bills reforming the police, including repeal of the police bill of rights. 

   7. Wisconsin Supreme court issued a ruling preventing the state from purging its voter rolls. 

Educate Yourself

3. 1. Learn about the electric vehicle fast charging network coming to TN. 

   2. Read about how Biden’s zero-carbon energy proposals. 

   3. Consider watching this 14-minute Ted Talk Video by Heather McChee entitled Racism Has a Cost. 

   4. Atmospheric C02 has passed 420 parts per million for the 1st time ever!

   5. The Arkansas legislature over-ruled the governor’s veto of a bill that bans healthcare for trans youth. Doctors in the state feel the bill is unethical.

   6. Read the Executive Order creating a commission to study the Supreme Court and Court reform.

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com

Actions for Week of April 4, 2021 

Give Thanks – Let’s celebrate the roll out of vaccines against coronavirus around the world. In the USA more that 162million doses have been delivered, with the total daily rate surpassing 4million on Friday. In the USA 31.4% of the total population has received one shot and 60million are fully vaccinate. Although TN is lagging behind some states, accessibility to vaccine has improved and more appointments are now available. If you know of folks wanting to be vaccinated, send them to vaccinefinder.org. Stay vigilant, wear a mask and relish the freedom that vaccination brings. 

Enjoy the Louvre! – The Museé du Louvre in Paris has digitized its entire collection and created a website so that everyone around the world can enjoy its collections. You no longer have to travel to Paris to see the Mona Lisa. 

Good News!

3. 1. The new Secretary of Education is cancelling $1billion of student loan debt for those defrauded by colleges and universities.

   2. The California Supreme Court struck down the cash bail system for defendants who can’t afford it. 

   3. The new British 50 Pound note will be dedicated to gay mathematician, Alan Turing. Turing developed mechanical computation via the Turing machine, a precursor to modern computers. He was the subject of the 2014 movie, The Imitation Game.

   4. The White House announced an offshore wind power initiative. 

   5. Last Wednesday, the President issued a Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation and the Pentagon issued a new policy enabling transgender people to serve in the military. 

   6. New EPA chief, Michael Regan, dismissed >40 outside experts appointed by 45 to key advisory panels. 

   7. TVA and Nashville Electric Service are donating $200,00 to those impacted by the Christmas day bombing in Nashville.

   8. Major League Baseball moved its all-star game and draft out of GA after the state passed a voter suppression law. They’ve been joined by dozens of Black executives and >100 corporations in condemning such laws in GA, TX and elsewhere. 

Educate Yourself

4. 1. This link contains fascinating/appalling audio of a presentation funded by the Koch-run group, Stand Together, strategizing on how to sell voter suppression to the American public.

   2. Read about Gov. Lee’s plan to create a $250million fund to tackle mental health issues in K-12 students.

   3. Learn about the projected amounts TN cities and counties will receive under the COVID relief program. 

   4. Read about the need for gun violence research.

   5. This article provides good detail on what is included in the proposed federal Infrastructure bill.

   6. Virginia’s new voting rights act was drafted by Black female lawmakers.

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com. The postcard group wrote 379 emails, 40 letters and 11 postcards in March. Go Group! 

Actions for Week of March 28, 2021 

Support the REAP Act – HR1153, the Restoring & Enforcing Accountability or Presidents Act, requires forfeiture of benefits of any former President convicted of a felony.  It would remove pension, office and staff budgets of a former president. Please ask Rep. Burchett to support this bill.

Petitions to Sign 

1. 1. Ask Gov. Lee and our State GA members to expand Medicaid in TN since the American Rescue Act will pay for it.

   2. Ask Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act by signing this petition. Here’s a second petition and a third one in support of the For the People and John Lewis Voting Rights Acts.

   3. Sign and send this petition to corporations based in Georgia to object to their support of politicians who backed the recently passed voter suppression bill. Also feel free to call Coca-Cola’s customer service line in Atlanta at 800-438-2653.

   4. A law is before the TN General Assembly this week that is aimed at homeless people. It makes it a felony for a homeless person to sleep on public property and unlawful for people to solicit money on highway ramps, etc. Please sign this petition.

Good News!

1. 1. The 9th Circuit Court ruled that laws that limit carrying guns in public are constitutional. The court stated that people DO NOT automatically have the right to carry arms openly in public and such carriage can be regulated.

   2. Rachel Levine is the first transgender person to be confirmed to a high federal office.

   3. The State of Virginia has abolished the death penalty and  banned testing cosmetics on animals.  

   4. The USA and our allies are finally sanctioning top Chinese officials over their treatment of Uyghurs. Here is  information on the detainment and repression of Uyghurs.

   5. Evanston Illinois will pay Black residents reparations in the form of $25,000 home ownership and improvement grants.

   6. The Save Lives Act was signed by Pres. Biden. It allows the VA to provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all veterans, their spouses & caregivers.  

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Learn about how Australian women are demonstrating about sexual violence against women.

   2. Read about the young climate activists that are taking to the streets again.

   3. Women would disproportionately benefit if the federal minimum wage was raised to $15.

   4. If you know of someone who died from COVID, funds are being made to help pay for funeral expenses. People can apply here.

   5. Both Arkansas & TN passed transgender sports ban bills this past week. Two conventions have already pulled out of TN and the ACLU is filing suits against both bills.

   6. Read about Gov. Lee’s nominee to serve on the State’s textbook commission, Laurie Cardoza Moore, who is an anti-Muslim activist & leads the Judeo-Christian organization Proclaiming Justice to the Nations (PJTN), which is deemed a hate group.

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com

Actions for Week of March 21, 2021 

1. Support HR1 – The For the People Act, which reforms voting measures in the USA in ways listed below has passed the House and is now going to be taken up by the Senate. (Rep. Burchett voted against it.) Please ask our Senators to support HR1.

   1. Requires states with voter ID laws to allow people to vote without an ID.

   2. Prevents states from engaging in bogus purging of voters.

   3. Restores voting rights to convicted felons after they have served their sentences.

   4. Requires minimum of 2 weeks of early voting for at least 10 hours per day. 

   5. Allows any voter to vote by mail for any reason.

   6. Requires use of paper ballots.

   7. Requires redistricting to be done by independent commissions in order to end gerrymandering.

   8. Established a system for candidates to received 6-to-1 matching funds for small donations.

   9. For other details, see this website and the Brennan Center website. 

2. Support HR8 – The Bipartisan Universal Background Checks Act also passed the House and Has been sent to the Senate. (Rep. Burchett voted against it.) Please ask our Senators to support HR8.

3. BCAA Survey – Blount County Community Action Agency (BCCAA) is currently obtaining data for Community Needs Assessment. They would appreciate your assistance in identifying the needs in our community. This data will support existing and new programs, as well as services BCCAA could provide for the next 3 years. Please take their short survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9TL62Q6 

4. Good News!

   1. The Biden administration granted temporary protected status to 320,000 Venezuelans and refugees from Myanmar (Burma) are granted TPS for the next 18 months. 

   2. The Labor Dept has reversed 45’s rules that diminished worker protections and the Labor Board withdrew rules that eliminated teaching & research assistants’ rights to organize as employees. 

   3. The House passed a pair of immigration bills that establishes a pathway for citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

   4. The House passed the Violence Against Women Act, HR1620. Rep. Burchett voted against it.

   5. Deb Haaland was confirmed as the first Native American to become a US cabinet secretary and head of the Interior. 

   6. The House voted to remove the deadline for ratification of the ERA. Rep. Burchett voted against it.

5. Educate Yourself

   1. Did you know that Blount County schools will receive almost $17million dollars and Knox County will receive $17million in COVID relief funds? See this article by Chalkbeat to learn details on all TN school systems. 

   2. Learn about the debt relief offered black farms in the recently passed COVID Relief bill.

   3. A new report indicates Medicare for All would have prevented thousands of COVID deaths. 

   4. Gov. Lee says TN does not need its share of the American Rescue Plan funds. 

   5. Twelve Republicans opposed awarding Congressional Gold Medals to the police for protecting the Capitol on Jan 6th . Rep. Burchett voted for it. These are the 12 nays. 

   6. After the TN Historical Commission voted to remove the bust of Nathan B. Forrest from the State Capitol, a bill was introduced to replace the Historical Commission and impeach Gov. Bill Lee if the bust is removed. See the video that made national TV. 

6. Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com

Actions for Week of March 14, 2021

Support DC Statehood -  S51, The Washington DC Admission Act, would make DC our 51st state. Please ask our Senators to cosponsor and support this bill.  

Support Emergency Family Stabilization Act – SB220 is a bipartisan bill that creates a new grant program with flexible funding for organizations working to meet the needs of the homeless. Please ask our Senators to support this bill and send them a message through this link.

Good News!

1. 1. HR 8 that requires universal background checks for ALL gun sales and HR 1446 that extends the initial background check review period both passed the House.

   2. The House also passed the PRO Act, which makes it easier to join a workers union.

   3. City of Minneapolis reached at $27million settlement with George Floyd’s family.

   4. SCOTUS, at the new administration’s urging, dismissed some 45-era cases this past week, including a policy targeting low-income immigrants, and 2 work requirements for receiving Medicaid.

   5. A rule weakening protections for migratory birds was revoked.

   6. A year after the death of Ahmaud Arbery, the GA House passed a bill that rolls back citizen’s arrest.

   7. Pres. Biden nominated 2 female generals to 4-star commands. Nominations of female candidates were suppressed over the prior 4 years because of 45s antipathy towards women.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. States with highest COVID infection and death rates are governed by Republicans.

   2. Read about a potential way to reform use of the filibuster in the Senate.

   3. Read about the near total abortion ban bill passed in Arkansas.

   4. Despite the filing and passage of voter suppression laws all over the country, Pres. Biden signed an Executive Order expanding voter access.

   5. A memoir by the Civil Rights Activist, CT Vivian, is being published this week: “It’s in the Action: Memories of a Nonviolent Warrior”.

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com

Actions for Week of March 7, 2021 

Support Rescinding ERA Deadline – Sens. Cardin of MD & Murkowski of AK has introduced SJR1 to the Judiciary Committee, which removes the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.  The companion resolution in the House is HJR17. TN Sen. Blackburn serves on the Sen. Judiciary Committee. Please ask all 3 of our MoCs to cosponsor these resolutions. See contact info below. 

Please Support  Protecting America’s Wilderness Act – HR803 recently passed the House and was introduced into the Senate this past week. The bill builds upon legislation that passed previously and was never taken up in the Senate. It includes provisions protecting landscapes in Arizona, California, Colorado and Washington. H.R. 803 is a collection of eight public lands bills spanning 2.7 million acres and more than 1,000 miles of Wild and Scenic rivers. Please ask our Senators to cosponsor this bill. 

Petition to Sign – Please support the John Lewis Voting Rights Act by signing this petition. 

Good News!

4. 1. HB1 (For the People Voting Act) and George Floyd Justice in Policing Acts passed the House this past week. And the COVID Relief bill should be sent to the President’s desk this week! Here are the highlights of the COVID bill and the American Hospital Assoc statement on it. 

   2. Another House Representative has sued 45 & his allies over the Capitol riot.

   3. Morehouse College is offering an online program with reduced tuition to help Black men complete their unfinished degrees. Please spread the word. 

   4. One of the largest private, adoption & foster care agencies in the USA – Bethany Christian Services- will provide services to LGBTQ parents. 

Educate Yourself

5. 1. Sadly, TN made the national news this past week when the anti-protestor bill (HB13) was passed through committee. It is already illegal in TN to obstruct a "highway, street, sidewalk, railway, waterway, elevator, aisle, or hallway," but doing so results in a Class A misdemeanor. The newly proposed bill would make that a Class E felony, punished with $3000 fine and up to 6 years in prison. The bill would give anyone operating a vehicle who "unintentionally causes injury or death to another person" blocking a pathway complete immunity from prosecution for the injury or death.

   2. The US Supreme Court will again consider whether federal protections for minority voters should be kept or rolled back.

   3. If you want to track the roll out of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, visit this website.

   4. Learn about how the University of Illinois (my alma mater) developed its own saliva-based COVID-19 test to keep its student safely in school.

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com . For the month of February this group sent 280 emails and made 6 calls. 

Actions for Week of February 28, 2021 

Support For the People Act - HR1/S1 has been reintroduced and will be voted on this next week. It reforms voting measures in the USA in ways listed below. Please ask Rep. Burchett to support HR1.

1. 1. Requires states with voter ID laws to allow people to vote without an ID.

   2. Prevents states from engaging in bogus purging of voters.

   3. Restores voting rights to convicted felons after they have served their sentences.

   4. Requires minimum of 2 weeks of early voting for at least 10 hours per day. 

   5. Allows any voter to vote by mail for any reason.

   6. Requires use of paper ballots.

   7. Requires redistricting to be done by independent commissions in order to end gerrymandering.

   8. Established a system for candidates to received 6-to-1 matching funds for small donations.

   9. For other details, see this website and the Brennan Center website. 

Support the George Floyd Act – HR7120  is also up for a vote. Includes measures to increase accountability for law enforcement misconduct, to enhance transparency and data collection, and to eliminate discriminatory policing practices. The bill also creates a national registry (National Police Misconduct Registry) to compile data on complaints and records of police misconduct. It establishes a framework to prohibit racial profiling at the federal, state, and local levels. The bill establishes new requirements for law enforcement officers and agencies, including to report data on use-of-force incidents, to obtain training on implicit bias and racial profiling, and to wear body cameras. This bill passed the House during last session but was never taken up by the Senate. When it was reintroduced, it was renamed in honor of George Floyd. Please ask Rep. Burchett to support this bill. 

Petitions to Sign – 

3. 1. Please consider signing this petition today. TN Senate is set to vote on the anti-transgender school sports bill tomorrow. 

   2. Please sign this petition in support of TN College Athlete’s right to kneel during the national anthem. 

   3. Here’s a petition urging the Senate to conform nominee Neera Tandem to lead the Office of Management & Budget. Ironically, after staying silent on >20,000 degrading tweets by 45 they are objecting to some of her past tweets. 

Good News!

4. 1. UT has renamed two dorms for black civil rights leaders. 

   2. Illinois is the first state to end cash bail. 

   3. Biden administration has rolled back the more difficult citizen test enacted by the former administration.

   4. Virginia passed a bill eliminating the death penalty.

   5. The Feds have rescinded the effort by TN to lock in Medicaid changes made by the previous administration.

   6. TN Supreme Court upheld the injunction to stop use of school vouchers pending review of the lower court’s ruling they are unconstitutional. In addition, the FBI is investigating allegations of bribery over passage of the law. 

   7. DHS is mandates state and local spending to combat domestic terrorism. 

   8. Lawyers have found the parents of 112 separated migrant children in the past month. Parents for 499 kids still need to be found. 

   9. The House passed the Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act, an omnibus bill that protests almost 3million acres of federal lands in CO, CA, WA & AZ. 

   10. A federal judge in TN blocked the TN abortion restrictions bill that was passed last summer.

Educate Yourself

5. 1. Learn about the Democracy Coalition.

   2. Read about how to end the filibuster in the US Senate.

   3. Read how wind turbines can definitely run effectively in cold weather but TX didn’t want to winterize theirs.

   4. Arkansas Senate passed a bill allowing pharmacists & nursing homes to turn away LGBT! patients.

   5. Sen. McConnell is backing a bill in KY to ensure he is not replaced by a Democrat if he leaves office early.

   6. Read how Judge Merrick Garland has been tutoring 2nd graders at a DC elementary school for 21 years.

   7. The Gender Policy Council cancelled by 45 has been re-established and given a prominent position in the White House. 

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com .

Actions for Week of February 21, 2021

1. Support COVID Relief Package – A vote on the COVID relief bill is planned this week in the House. A synopsis of what is included can be found here.  For information supporting raising the minimum wage to $15, see this video from the Economic Policy Institute. A separate but related bill, HR394 – Student Loan Relief Extension Act, extends and expands student loan forbearance relief. Please ask Rep. Burchett to support these bills.

1. Support Equality Act – HR5 may also be voted on in the House this week. It was reintroduced in the House because the Senate never took it up in their last session. This bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Specifically, the bill defines and includes sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation. Please ask Rep. Burchett to support this bill. You can also sign a petition supporting it here.

1. Support Renaming Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park – Please consider signing this petition.

1. Good News!

   1. Read how ordinary citizens banded together to save cold-stunned sea turtles off the coast of Texas last week.

   2. The new administration has started processing asylum seekers that have been held up in Mexico.

   3. The US is donating $4billion to help provide COVID vaccines to poor countries and will donate extra doses we might have in the future.

   4. New data show the Pfizer COVID vaccine provides 85% protectionafter the first dose and that it can be stored in regular medical freezers. Studies in Israel show it prevents 98.9% of COVID deaths. Kudos to the scientists who developed this vaccine!

   5. The S.S. Katherine Johnson, a Northrop Grumman Cygnus capsule, is due to arrive at the International Space Station Monday, bearing some 8,000 pounds of science and research supplies and vehicle hardware. It is named after one of the mathematicians featured in the movie Hidden Figures.

1. Educate Yourself

   1. The UN has issued a report recommending we stop making war on nature. It is an interesting perspective on how we look at the world around us.

   2. Read about the states with the most hate groups. TN is 2nd on the list!

   3. Learn in this article by Stacey Abrams & Lauren Groh-Wargo on how to turn your state blue.

   4. Read SACE’s report: Energy Efficiency in the South East: Solution to Multiple Crises.

   5. You can track Biden’s environmental actions on this website.

1. Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com .

Members of Congress (MoC) Contact Information 

A good way to fax these folks is to use ResistBot. Text “resist” to 50409 and follow the instructions. When contacting them in any form, always ask for a response.

Rep. Tim Burchett: 800 Market St. Suite 110 Knoxville TN 37902, phone: 202-225-5435 (DC), 865-523-3772 (Knoxville), 865-984-5464 (Maryville), email = https://burchett.house.gov/zip-code-lookup?form=/contact/email-me , Twitter = @timburchett

Sen. Bill Hagerty:  phone:  202-224-4944 (DC), 865-545-4253 (Knoxville), 423-752-5337 (Chattanooga) or 615-736-5129 (Nashville), email: https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/ , Twitter = @BillHagertyTN

Sen. Marsha Blackburn: 357 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510 or 800 Market St. Suite 121 Knoxville TN 37902; phone: 202-224-3344 (DC), 865-540-3781 (Knoxville), 423-541-2939 (Chattanooga), 629-800-6600 (Nashville); email = https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/email-me , Twitter = @MarshaBlackburn

Upcoming Events

See & Bookmark this calendar:  https://sites.google.com/view/wmcethuddle/calendar?authuser=0

Feb 23rd, Tue 11:30AM-1PM: BCEAC Virtual Meeting. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82720389885?pwd=ZEpSQ2h1Rk9XR3NrYkI4YjBsbnBhUT09 . Meeting ID: 827 2038 9885, Passcode: 331230. One tap mobile: 301-715-8592, or 312-626-6799. Dues are $20 per year. RSVP to bcecumenicalactioncouncil@gmail.com.

Actions for Week of February 14, 2021

1. Object to Acquittal - Please let our Senators know how you feel about their vote to acquit 45, especially in light that Sen. McConnell has hung them out to dry by condemning the former president. Contact information below. And if you want to give Sen. McConnell some feedback you can do so here: https://contactsenators.com/kentucky/mitch-mcconnell

Applaud Vote to Convict -  Please consider thanking these Republican Senators for having the strength, integrity and courage to vote for conviction.

1. 1. Sen. Collins: https://www.collins.senate.gov/contact

   2. Sen. Murkowski: https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/contact

   3. Sen. Burr: https://www.burr.senate.gov/contact

   4. Sen. Romney: https://www.romney.senate.gov/contact

   5. Sen. Toomey: https://www.toomey.senate.gov/contact/email-senator-toomey

   6. Sen. Sasse: https://www.sasse.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-ben

   7. Sen. Cassidy: https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/contact

Good News!

1. 1. The new administration has withdrawn 45’s work requirement pertaining to Medicaid.

   2. Pres. Biden has cancelled funding for the border wall.

   3. The Saudis released a prominent female activist, Loujain al-Hathloul, this week in response to the new administration’s complaints on human rights violations.

   4. A Diné women has been appointed to a vacant seat in the Arizona Legislature.

   5. Pope Francis has named the first woman to be an undersecretary to the synod of bishops.

   6. The administration is starting to process migrants that have been held up in Mexico.

   7. Harriet Tubman was inducted in the US Army Military Intelligence Corps’ Hall of Fame as a full member.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. The medical journal, Lancet, published a study this week that estimates that 40% of deaths in the USA from COVID-19 could have been avoided, if the USA has corresponded like other countries did.

   2. Read how young climate campaigners are undeterred and are taking their case, Juliana v United States to the Supreme Court.

   3. Read about the idea being proposed for a new conservation corps to be created.

   4. Learn about the Antigovernment Extremism movement in the USA in 2020.

   5. This article provides details on the many groups who came together (including ours) to save the 2020 election.

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com .

Actions for Week of February 7, 2021

Support 45’s Conviction- 45’s impeachment trial begins this week. Please let our Senators know that you support his conviction for inciting insurrection. Remind them that hundreds of Congressional Staffers are urging conviction. Read their letter here. Contact information is below.

Petitions to Sign/Tweets to Send

1. 1. Sign the pledge to help secure freedom for all LGBTQ Americans and learn about the Freedom for All Americans movement.

   2. Efforts to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill have resumed.  Consider supporting them.

   3. You can sign a petition asking for the resignation of Rep. Green sponsored by March for Our Lives. You can also text Resign to 954954 to sign a petition to remove her.

   4. For Twitter users, here are links to Fox News Ad buyers. Please provide them some feedback.

   5. And here are progressives in TN to follow on Twitter.

Good News!

1. 1. The Movement for Black Lives Matters has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

   2. A newly issued Executive Order is bringing hope the boundaries of Bears Ears National Monument will be enlarged again.

   3. A federal judge threw out the EPA rule that limited which scientific studies can be use in crafting public health protections.

   4. Hundreds of people, including a raft of 45 appointees have been asked to resign from Pentagon advisory boards.

   5. The Empire State Building company will now be powered by wind.

   6. The new administration is moving to end the past administration’s migration agreements with Central American and will increase refugee numbers to 125,000/year.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Read or view the webinar on the 3rd annual report on Energy Efficiency in the Southeast.

   2. Learn about the mirage of the Black middle class.

   3. If you want to watch something creepy, watch the video played at the Stop the Steal Rally just prior to the march to the Capitol. It is fascist propaganda.

   4. Read about TN’s $3-5Billion surplus and why it should be used to increase teacher pay. Here’s an explanation of school funding in TN over the last 10 years.

   5. The TN State Supreme Court is set to hear the appeal of the school voucher bill.

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com .

Actions for Week of January 31, 2021

Support ERA – Senate Joint Resolution 1 is a bipartisan bill that removes the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.  38 States have ratified the ERA Amendment, so removing the deadline would allow it to be included in the US Constitution. It has been referred to the Judiciary Committee and Sen. Blackburn sits on that committee. Please request that she vote for SJR1. Contact information is below.  

Support Rep. Johnson – Rep. Johnson knew she was going to have to changes offices in the TN Capitol building because of remodelling but what she didn’t know is that her vote against Speaker Sexton would result in retribution. He moved her into a tiny conference room and put her assistant (who is battling cancer) in a closet, with no air flow and missing ceiling tiles. Rep. Johnson moved her assistant into the conference room and she is now sitting in the hallway at the desk they gave her. Please call Speaker Sexton (615-741-2343) or email him at speaker.cameron.sexton@capitol.tennessee.gov to ask he find her suitable office space.

Good News!

1. 1. The new administration is forming a commission to examine reform of the Supreme Court

   2. AppHarvest is turning Kentucky coal country into the world’s largest indoor farming area.

   3. An Executive order issued this week ends the Just Department’s use of private prisons.

   4. Louisville police have been rebuked by a commission on their handling of Breonna Taylor’s killing.

   5. General Motors will stop making gas- and diesel-powered carsand SUVs by 2025.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. See the Economic Policy Institute’s top charts from 2020 that provide details on the economic fallout from the pandemic.

   2. Read the state-by-state and county-by-county assessment of the wellbeing of children in the USA and  in TN published by Kids Count Data Center.

   3. Learn how dark money forces are promoting bills against transgender youth in 14 states, including TN.

   4. The Raise the Way Act has been filed in both the House (HR582) and Senate (S150). Learn about why we need $15 per hour wage. See this interactive Congressional district map will see their wages increase if the bills pass. In our district (TN 2nd), 29% of workers would benefit.

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please email maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com

Actions for Week of January 24, 2021 

Support HR1 – This is the resubmission of the For the People Voting Rights bill that deals with voting, campaign finance reform, and ethics. Rep. Burchett voted against this bill when it was originally passed in the House in 2019. It was never taken up in the Senate, so had to be refiled and will be voted on again in the House. Please ask him to vote “Yes” this time. Also, here’s a petition to sign.

Petitions to Sign

1. 1. This petition supports the requirement that all members of Congress must pass through metal detectors.

   2. Here’s a petition to expel Reps. Boebert & Greene from the House.

   3. This petition asks ATT to drop OAN channel.

   4. Encourage the new administration to make gun violence prevention a priority in its first 100 days by signing this petition.

Folks to Follow on Twitter – If you want to follow other progressive folks and groups in TN on Twitter, see this list from Indivisible.

Good News!

1. 1. Here’s a summary of the first Executive orders signed by the president.

   2. Selling leases for oil drilling in Artic National Wildlife Refuge has been temporarily halted.

   3. US Census chief quit last week, so they were not able to submit numbers to the US Supreme Court on undocumented folks. The new administration has subsequently issued a statement that ALL people residing in the USA will be counted.

   4. Lawmakers who objected to the election results have been cut off by 20 of their largest PAC donors. If HR1 passes (see above), PAC donations will be limited and transparent, i.e. no more dark money.

   5. Democratic Senators have filed a formal request to investigateSens. Cruz & Hawley for their role in fomenting insurrection.

   6. The TX Supreme Court has paved the way for the Sandy Hook Families to sue Alex Jones for defamation.

   7. The new administration has suspended all oil & gas permitting on federal lands and waters for the next 60 days.

   8. Nearly 40 million people watched the inauguration.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Learn about Citi Group’s plan to spend $1.15bilion to help close America’s racial wealth gap.

   2. Learn about how a group of children in Canada are suing the government over ensuring Climate safety.

   3. Did you know the army initially denied that Mike Flynn’s brother (who is also a general) was originally on the call asking for National Guard troops to help protect the Capitol on Jan 6th?

   4. The final count of lies told by 45 during his time in office was 30,573. Want to bet more are discovered in the ensuing months?

   5. Here is a complete analysis of the 4 years of the last administration.

   6. Learn about how 45’s reelection campaign paid for the rally on Jan. 6th.

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please contact Rhonda M. at maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com 

Actions for January 17, 2021

Closure of Precinct Voting Sites – The Daily Times reported this past week that Blount County Election Commission is considering replacing 31 precinct voting sites with 10-15 “convenience” voting locations on the next election day. This change does not affect early voting. This proposal would allow voters to vote at any of the new 10-15 sites on voting day. It would save the county about $80,000 per election. See further rationale for the plan in this memo from the BC Election Commissioner. This measure is to be voted on at the next Election Commission meeting on Thursday, January 21st at 6PM (Zoom Meeting ID: 965 3037 9812). Before then, please email the Commission at elections@blounttn.org , write them at 383 Court St. Maryville TN 37804, or call at 865-273-5920 to provide them feedback on this proposal. Here are some talking points:

1. 1. This proposed change is being made too quickly and without public input. We urge them to slow down the process.

   2. Much of the data from the 2020 election that they are basing closure decisions on are skewed because of the pandemic. The pandemic pushed people towards early voting and voting by absentee ballot. And should the pandemic persist or recur, will it be safe to force more people into fewer voting sites on election day?

   3. Before any precincts are closed studies must be performed to ensure that no group or populations are being targeted or will be discouraged from voting. In other words, we need to ensure such a change will not suppress voter turnout.

   4. Request that public hearings be held so that questions, concerns and recommendations from the public can be taken into consideration. Urge them to reach out to local community leaders and residents of all local precincts slated for closure to learn more about the impact of such a decision.

   5. Request they re-orient their priorities. Saving money should not be done at the expense of ease of voting. To increase voter turnout, they should look at expanding days, hours and locations of early voting, and pushing the state to enact automatic and same day voter registration.  

   6. TN remained 46th in voter turnout in the 2020 election. The last thing we need is for changes to be made that confuse and discourage voters.

Petition to Sign – Consider signing this petition to expel Ted Cruz from the Senate.

Good News

1. 1. 3 days to inauguration. Events start today, so see this link for details.

   2. Kamala Harris will be sworn in by Justice Sotomayor.

   3. The NRA declared bankruptcy this past week and is still under investigation in NY.

   4. Not only did women turn their ex-husbands into the FBI when they learned the men participated in the attack on the Capitol, women used the dating site, Bumble, to encourage men to post pictures of themselves during the insurrection. Then the women sent details to the FBI. Go Ladies!

   5. A priority of the new administration is to introduce a law providing citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants.

   6. The new administration’s science team is composed of some renowned scientists and for the first time Science & Technology will be a cabinet position.

Educate Yourself

1. 1. Read about the Biden plan to speed up administration of COVID vaccines.

   2. Learn about the executive orders that will be issued later this week.

   3. Read Justice Sotomayor’s dissent in the opinion to conduct another federal execution this week. Let’s end the death penalty! An idea on how to do this is in the first comment below her statement.

   4. In the Biden stimulus plan is the American Family Act, Child Tax Credit expansion. Read how experts believe it could cut childhood poverty by 50%.

   5. Read about the diplomats being named to senior positions who have experience on the Iran nuclear treaty and who are expert on Ukraine.

   6. The TN legislature passed a law last week to enact the Medicaid block grant program but will the new administration allow it to proceed?

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please contact Rhonda M. at maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com 

Actions for January 10, 2021

Support Impeachment, Resignation, Removal – As of this morning, 238 House members support impeachment and some Republican Senators are expressing their tentative support. 

1. 1. Call our MoCs today. Contact information below. Be prepared to leave a voice mail message. 

   2. Also consider contacting our State officials who signed a letter in support of 45’s myth of voter fraud: Rep. Jerome Moon (615-741-5481, Rep.jerome.moon@capitol.tn.gov ) and Sen. Art Swann (615-741-0981, Sen.art.swann@capitol.tn.gov 

   3. Text “impeach” to 50409 to send a fax to the MoC via Resistbot.

   4. Sign more petitions – Fight for Reform,  Hold Them Accountable, EveryTown

   5. Urge 45 to resign through Contact the White House.

Condemn Complicit TN Officials – A number of TN officials were complicit with the insurrection attempt on Wednesday, including Sens. Hagerty & Blackburn, and Rep. Burchett. Burchett’s response to Wednesday’s events was nonsensical. Sens. Blackburn & Hagerty’s statement didn’t even mention 45. Six of 7 House members from TN voted for the Electoral College objection, and some are bragging about it. State Rep. Lynn Weaver and other Tennesseans participated in and cheered on the event. Please join the statewide effort launched by Memphis for All to investigate and remove these folks from office by signing this letter to the State Legislature and Gov. Lee. 

Good News

3. 1. The campaign to re-elect 45 now has lost 63 court cases, with only 1 insignificant win.

   2. The major newspapers in Kansas are calling for the resignation or removal of Sen. Josh Hawley over the roll he played in objecting to the Electoral College vote. He’s also lost the support of a major donor, his former mentor (Sen. Danforth), and his book deal with Simon & Schuster. Protestors gathered in St. Louis yesterday to demand his resignation. 

   3. The Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express, as well as various Texas lawmakers are calling for Sen. Cruz’ resignation. 

   4. Twelve different media platforms have banned 45. 

   5. A US judge has blocked the sweeping asylum rules that were to be enacted on Monday. And Biden has placed immigration reform as a majority priority.

Educate Yourself

4. 1. Read this editorial from an international journalist on how “American is Coming Undone”. 

   2. Read about how Blount County Commissioner Steve Mikels is comparing the insurrectionists to 1976 American patriots. 

   3. The World Mental Health Coalition has called for the removal of 45. 

   4. Read the story of how Republican Attorney Generals sent robocalls urging the march to the Capitol last Wed. 

   5. Learn how 45 forced the resignation of a GA US Attorney because he would not investigate unfounded accusations of voter fraud. He was immediately replaced by an acolyte who has brought in lawyers that are weak on condemning voting rights abuses. 

   6. On Friday the FBI raided the homes and offices of TN Reps. Casada, Hixson, Warner and their aids. Speculation is that the raid pertains either to recent election abnormalities or the bribery scheme investigation surrounding passage of the school voucher bill. 

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please contact Rhonda M. at maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com 

Actions for January 7, 2021

Please text Trumpout to 30403 to sign a petition for impeachment.

Please text Impeach to 50409 to send faxes to our MoCs. 

Here are some other petitions to sign that support impeachment and invoking the 25th Amendment:

3. 1. Working Families Party petition

   2. Move On petition

   3. Women’s March Coalition petition

Please contact Rep. Burchett’s office to provide him feedback on his actions and request that he resign. Contact info: 800 Market St. Suite 110 Knoxville TN 37902, phone: 202-225-5435 (DC), 865-523-3772 (Knoxville), 865-984-5464 (Maryville), email = https://burchett.house.gov/zip-code-lookup?form=/contact/email-me , Twitter = @timburchett

Please consider writing a letter to the editor of either the Daily Times or Knoxville News Sentinel through these links. All it takes is to write a few sentences expressing how you felt witnessing yesterday’s events. We would like to deluge the papers with letters. If you need or want help composing a letter, feel free to contact Marilyn (Voting Rights Working Group Leader) at mlynfin@gmail.com.  

Future Actions

We are waiting to see today how Sens. Hagerty and Blackburn respond to yesterday’s events and whether they condemn the president for inciting violence. We are also appalled at the poor response of Capitol police and rumors that some officers aided the insurgents. We were horrified to learn this morning that local elected officials and TN State officials participated and supported the insurgency. See this article in today’s Daily Times. In addition, we are waiting to see if Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram will continue to suspend 45’s accounts and postings. 

Stay tuned for more actions in the ensuing days. 13 days and counting!

Actions for Week of January 3, 2021

Electoral College Certification – On Wed, January 6th, Congress will certify the Electoral College votes, a largely ceremonial event that confirms results of the presidential election. Numerous Republicans in the House plan to object. About a dozen Senators are planning to do the same, including both TN Senators. 

1. 1. Please contact Rep. Burchett and request he not join this charade. Please call our Senators to provide them feedback. Emails may not reach them before Wednesday. Contact information is below.

   2. Here is a petition to sign. 

Oppose Sen. Blackburn’s Racism – Sen. Blackburn has a history of tweeting vitriolic material. Her repeated tweets denigrating China has had a negative impact on the Asian American community in TN. Please consider adding your name to this letter in support of our Asian American neighbors. 

Good News!

3. 1. 17 days to inauguration

   2. The 45 campaign is now 1 win and 60 losses in their lawsuits to overturn the election.  The lawsuit against Pence was dismissed Friday evening. 

   3. An appeals court has upheld the subpoena-power of the minority party in the House, meaning federal records about the Trump International Hotel in Washington DC should be released. 

   4. In the recently passed Defense Bill, all military bases named for Confederate leaders will have to be renamed. 

   5. The same bill bans anonymous shell companies that have been used in the past for money-laundering. These companies have been used extensively by 45 and his family to hide their business dealings. 

   6. Two more police officers involved in the Breonna Taylor killing have been fired. 

   7. Turnout for the GA Senate run-off race continues to be very high, especially for first-time and younger voters. Election day is Tuesday, Jan 5th. 

Educate Yourself

4. 1. Learn about how Gov. Lee is using TN State funds to hire his political supporters. 

   2. Gov. Lee is calling for a special legislative session to start Jan 19th to deal with education issues. 

   3. Read about the resignation of 45’s long-term banker at Deutsche Bank, Rosemary Vrablic. The book, Dark Towers, chronicles their relationship and Deutsche Bank’s history of laundering money for the Russians. 

   4. You can follow Biden nominees to key administration positions at this website. 

Postcard Writing Group is Working from Home – Until the group is able to meet again in person, they will be sending emails to elected officials. Issues, sample scripts and contact information for elected officials will be emailed to Postcard Group members once a week for state/local issues, and on the last Monday of the month for federal issues. If you would like to be included in the Postcard Group email distribution list, please contact Rhonda M. at maryvilletnhuddle@gmail.com  .