Letters to My Representatives 4-27-2018

Today’s letters are very similar to last weeks, but I sent them any way! It’s important to keep the issues in front of our representatives even if we’ve already voiced out opinions once. Please write your own letters or make your own phone calls and encourage your friends an family as well. You are welcome to use my letters, but you can also visit I Called My Reps for information and scripts!

Dear Senator Stabenow,

I ask that you support the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act to protect Robert Mueller, as introduced by Senators Tillis, Coons, Booker and Graham. The NYT’s latest report indicates that Trump considered ending the Russian investigation in the fall, the second time he has made such considerations. That move along with his continued rhetoric suggests Trump might try to end Mueller’s work sooner than later. Prominent members of the GOP keep reiterating they believe in Mueller and want to let him do his work. Please pass the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act as soon as possible. I would also like to ask that you reiterate that Rod Rosenstein cannot be fired as well.

Please vote NO on Ronny Jackson for Head of the VA and NO to Haspalo for CIA Director.

I want you to address the fact that our country has only taken in 11 Syrian refugees this year. If we are to seriously address the challenges being faced by Syrians, the refugee restrictions put forth by this administration need to be reversed.

I demand you call for Scott Pruitt’s resignation. The daily scandals that keep coming out of the EPA are absolutely unacceptable. Not only is he repeatedly committing ethics violations, he clearly doesn’t spend enough time doing his job, versus trying to defend his job.

I want you to vote in favor of Senator Markey’s resolution to repeal the FCC’s December decision to unwind Net Neutrality, via the Congressional Review Act. Polling suggests 60-80% of Americans do not support the rollback of the net neutrality, and voting in support of this bipartisan resolution will help ensure this issue isn’t singlehandedly decided by five people.

I support the FCC Inspector General case against Chairman Pai and I ask that you do as well. Chairman Pai’s potential connections with Sinclair Broadcasting need to be explored, particularly given the potential Sinclair-Tribune merge on the table. I also ask you to consider passing anti-trust laws, so Chairman Pai’s actions to help Sinclair in the merger process, cannot be repeated.

I am adamantly opposed to John Bolton’s appointment as National Security Advisor, and demand you do everything in your power to protest this appointment. John Bolton has a track record for advocating for extreme foreign policy views, often to the detriment of the nation. It’s for that reason Senate Foreign Relations determined Bolton was unfit to serve TWICE during the Bush Administration, and why he’s still unfit to serve now. I understand that you have no confirmation power when it comes to Bolton. But I demand you push forward w/ other options, including pushing forward w/ the Markey/Lieu bill limiting POTUS’s ability for first strike.

I expect you to take a stand against the Trump Administration’s latest attempts to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military. The administration’s justification for banning transgender  individuals is based on flawed, discriminatory research. Moreover, many active service duty members have already reiterated: this discriminatory act against potential/serving officers, only damages unit cohesion. It doesn’t improve it. I expect you to take a stand, and let your constituents know you are supportive of any and all who choose to serve.

I ask that you do what you can to defend Andrew McCabe from the administration’s latest attack. Firing him days before he’s scheduled to retire is, as Senator Hirono called it, “sadistic”. He will lose his pension, after a twenty-two year career at the Bureau. I encourage you to call to let McCabe retire and receive his full pension, and continue on with whatever investigations are needed at that point.

I want to know why Trump is meeting with Putin and why Russia made the announcement.

I am against Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs, and I am demand you take a stand against these measures. According to economists, the tariffs will likely cause trade wars, disrupt the US economy and cause job losses in certain industries. Moreover, history has shown us before, tariffs simply are not effective. Please take whatever steps you can to oppose these measures.

I demand you work with your colleagues, to determine a concrete solution to address Dreamers. Since the Trump administration has announced the end of DACA, more than 19,000 immigrant youth have lost their protections from deportation. 850 more lose it every week. We need action NOW, especially as Leader McConnell wants the immigration debate to end. Now the bipartisan budget bill is out of the way, I demand you take the promises you made in the lead-up to that vote seriously, and figure out a solution for DACA. Please take this seriously. Please support a clean DREAM/SECURE Act for all then people currently in this country who need it, including 200k Slavadorans who will lose their protected status.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Austin

Letters to My Representatives 3-22-2018

I missed a couple weeks because of life! To be honest, I almost didn’t do this week’s, but I buckled down and got it done. So here are today’s letters to my representatives. As always, check out It’s Time to Fight for scripts and information.

Also, if you are able, please find a March for Our Lives event near you this Saturday, March 24th.

Dear Senator Stabenow,

I am against Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs, and I ask that you take a stand against these measures. According to economists, the tariffs will likely cause trade wars, disrupt the US economy and cause job losses in certain industries. Moreover, history has shown us before, tariffs simply are not effective. Please take whatever steps you can to oppose these measures.

I am in support of Senator Cornyn and Senator Murphy’s FIX NICS bill, with the understanding Concealed Carry Reciprocity can’t be attached, as it is in the House. I ask that Senators continue to push for debate and consideration of the other legislation available for gun safety, including Senator Feinstein and Flake’s Age 21 bill. Simply fixing NICS isn’t enough to address the gun safety challenges in our nation.

I want you to vote in favor of Senator Markey’s resolution to repeal the FCC’s December decision to unwind Net Neutrality, via the Congressional Review Act. Polling suggests 60-80% of Americans do not support the rollback of the net neutrality, and voting in support of this bipartisan resolution will help ensure this issue isn’t single-handedly decided by five people.

I would like to express my concerns regarding Speaker Ryan’s decision to replace Matthew Masterson from the Election Admission Commission. The Speaker’s office has been unable to justify the decision to replace him, and Mr. Masterson’s state colleagues have been vocally against the move. Given the intelligence community’s assessment that Russia is clearly working to interfere in the 2018 midterms I demand to know 1) Why Mr. Masterson is being replaced before he has a chance to implement his recommended protection measures, and 2) who Speaker Ryan plans to replace Mr. Masterson with and when.

I ask that you vote NO on Mike Pompeo for Secretary of State and also NO on Gina Haspel for CIA Director. Both candidates are completely unfit for their positions, with Pompeo having little to no background in diplomacy, and Gina Haspel having spent a portion of her career both working on assignments involving torture and also possibly destroying tapes. Please vote AGAINST their appointments if/when they come to a vote on the floor.

I demand you work with your colleagues to determine a concrete solution to address Dreamers this week. Since the Trump administration has announced the end of DACA, more than 19,000 immigrant youth have lost their protections from deportation. 850 more lose it every week. We need action NOW, especially as Leader McConnell wants the immigration debate to end this week. Now that the bipartisan budget bill is out of the way, we demand you take the promises you made in the lead-up to that vote seriously, and figure out a solution for DACA. Please take this seriously.

I am against Trump’s tariffs that will affect the solar panel and washing machine industries. This will debilitate both industries. Please do what you can to protest these actions.

I am strongly against Trump’s decision to end protection for Salvadorians seeking refuge in this country. Sending them back to an unsafe place is tantamount to murder. Please do what you can to protest and prevent this heinous measure.

Please work to stabilize the ACA in light of the current spending bill needed to be passed this week. So many Americans rely on ACA and we must do all we can to continue affordable coverage for those who need it.

I ask that you do all you can to protect the investigation being done my Robert Mueller. Please help ensure that he has the time and resources to complete this as well as protection from Trump’s petty vindictiveness. It is imperative that this investigation be concluded in an appropriate and legal manner to ensure not only that we protect America from outside influence, but also that we know the investigation itself was not tampered with.

I ask that you call for hearings regarding the firing of Andrew McCabe.

I ask that you call for hearings regarding Facebook’s involvement with Cambridge Analytics, as well as an investigation into CA itself.

Thank you for your time and consideration. If you need volunteers during the 2018 Midterms I would be happy to contribute my time to your campaign.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Austin

 

Dear Representative Moolenaar,

I am against Trump’s steel and aluminum tariffs, and I ask that you take a stand against these measures. According to economists, the tariffs will likely cause trade wars, disrupt the US economy and cause job losses in certain industries. Moreover, history has shown us before, tariffs simply are not effective. Please take whatever steps you can to oppose these measures.

I am in support of Senator Cornyn and Senator Murphy’s FIX NICS bill, with the understanding Concealed Carry Reciprocity can’t be attached, as it is in the House. I ask that Senators continue to push for debate and consideration of the other legislation available for gun safety, including Senator Feinstein and Flake’s Age 21 bill. Simply fixing NICS isn’t enough to address the gun safety challenges in our nation.

I want you to vote in favor of Senator Markey’s resolution to repeal the FCC’s December decision to unwind Net Neutrality, via the Congressional Review Act. Polling suggests 60-80% of Americans do not support the rollback of the net neutrality, and voting in support of this bipartisan resolution will help ensure this issue isn’t single-handedly decided by five people.

I would like to express my concerns regarding Speaker Ryan’s decision to replace Matthew Masterson from the Election Admission Commission. The Speaker’s office has been unable to justify the decision to replace him, and Mr. Masterson’s state colleagues have been vocally against the move. Given the intelligence community’s assessment that Russia is clearly working to interfere in the 2018 midterms I demand to know 1) Why Mr. Masterson is being replaced before he has a chance to implement his recommended protection measures, and 2) who Speaker Ryan plans to replace Mr. Masterson with and when.

I demand you work with your colleagues to determine a concrete solution to address Dreamers this week. Since the Trump administration has announced the end of DACA, more than 19,000 immigrant youth have lost their protections from deportation. 850 more lose it every week. We need action NOW, especially as Leader McConnell wants the immigration debate to end this week. Now that the bipartisan budget bill is out of the way, we demand you take the promises you made in the lead-up to that vote seriously, and figure out a solution for DACA. Please take this seriously.

I am against Trump’s tariffs that will affect the solar panel and washing machine industries. This will debilitate both industries. Please do what you can to protest these actions.

I am strongly against Trump’s decision to end protection for Salvadorians seeking refuge in this country. Sending them back to an unsafe place is tantamount to murder. Please do what you can to protest and prevent this heinous measure.

Please work to stabilize the ACA in light of the current spending bill needed to be passed this week. So many Americans rely on ACA and we must do all we can to continue affordable coverage for those who need it.

I ask that you do all you can to protect the investigation being done my Robert Mueller and I strongly condemn the House Intelligence Committee’s decision to end their investigation. This partisan politics at its most damaging. Please help ensure that Mueller has the time and resources to complete this investigation as well as protection from Trump’s petty vindictiveness. It is imperative that this investigation be concluded in an appropriate and legal manner to ensure not only that we protect America from outside influence, but also that we know the investigation itself was not tampered with.

I ask that you call for hearings regarding the firing of Andrew McCabe.

I ask that you call for hearings regarding Facebook’s involvement with Cambridge Analytics, as well as an investigation into CA itself.

Do not support S.2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act, which passed the Senate. We are only a decade out from the 2008 economic crisis, and several months out from the Wells Fargo banking crisis. Wall Street and the banking industry have clearly demonstrated time and again, they need the regulations that were put into place by Dodd-Frank and the Volcker rule. Rolling back many of the safeguards implemented by Dodd-Frank, including those outlined in Section 401 may temporarily help banks now, but would also create a climate that might very well lead to another financial crisis in the future. Vote NO.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Austin

Letters to My Representatives 1-10-2018

Here are today’s letters. They’re a little short as I have been a bit distracted over the holidays from the news cycle, and the director of the It’s Time to Fight website has been involved in a cross country move and hasn’t been able to update the site! So here are the couple of things that she has posted on her Twitter page and a few I have thought of.

Dear Senator Stabenow,

I would like you to vote in favor of Senator Markey’s resolution to repeal to the FCC’s decision to unwind Net Neutrality last month, via the Congressional Review Act. Polling suggests that 60-80% of Americans do not support the rollback of net neutrality, and support of the resolution will help ensure this issue isn’t single-handedly decided by five people.

I do not support Trump’s decision to begin deportation of 200,000 Salvadorians and 60,000 Haitians, removing their protected status in this country. Please stand up and support these disadvantaged people so they may stay protected in this country.

Please help to find and support a solution for Dreamers in this country and support a clean Dream Act.

Please support Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and increase funding for the people there who need electricity, food, water, and medical aid.

I am horrified over Trump’s comments and taunting with Kim Jung Un via Twitter concerning nuclear weapons and his “button”. Not only is this unbecoming of a president, it is dangerous.

I am disgusted by Trump’s plans to award “Fake News” awards. Not only is this unbecoming of a president, it is embarrassing to this nation, and quite frankly he has a job to do. It is wholly inappropriate for him to be taking time to do this and most importantly, it goes against everything the Constitution was written for. It is examples of his authoritarian leanings and wishes to stifle and suppress the free press.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Austin

 

Dear Representative Moolenaar,

I am looking forward to reminding your voters come 2018 elections that you support the repeal of the ACA, the GOP Tax Scam, and repeal of Net Neutrality.

I want you to support the Senate resolution on Net Neutrality. Polling suggests that 60-80% of Americans do not support the rollback of net neutrality, and support of the resolution will help ensure this issue isn’t single-handedly decided by five people. Please do what you can to bring this issue to the House floor for a vote.

I do not support Trump’s decision to begin deportation of 200,000 Salvadorians and 60,000 Haitians, removing their protected status in this country. Please stand up and support these disadvantaged people so they may stay protected in this country.

Please help to find and support a solution for Dreamers in this country and support a clean Dream Act.

Please support Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and increase funding for the people there who need electricity, food, water, and medical aid.

I am horrified over Trump’s comments and taunting with Kim Jung Un via Twitter concerning nuclear weapons and his “button”. Not only is this unbecoming of a president, it is dangerous.

I am disgusted by Trump’s plans to award “Fake News” awards. Not only is this unbecoming of a president, it is embarrassing to this nation, and quite frankly he has a job to do. It is wholly inappropriate for him to be taking time to do this and most importantly, it goes against everything the Constitution was written for. It is examples of his authoritarian leanings and wishes to stifle and suppress the free press.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Austin

Letters to My Representatives 7-19-2017

Here are today’s letters! Still trying to unpack all the moving boxes (and looking for ideas—writing-related ideas—for new blog posts) but I managed to find some time to write my reps.

Dear Representative Moolenaar,

I am writing today to let you know that I do not support the House Budget Committee Bill released Tuesday, July 17th. While I do recognize the need to balance the budget and reduce the Federal Deficit, I do not thinking raising military spending at the expense of needed programs for the disadvantaged is a viable solution. The proposal’s plan to cut Medicaid and Social Security is unacceptable. Any proposal that has $200 billion cuts to entitlement programs would unduly damage the safety nets that many of our oldest and most vulnerable populations depend on. I understand that the budget is being marked up today. If the budget reaches the House floor, please vote no.

Despite your letter to me regarding the Net Neutrality laws, I would still like to tell you that I am not in favor of rolling back Net Neutrality protections. Obviously you have already made up your mind, but it is just another item that should it go through (as it appears to be happening) and should there be consequences as many Democrats have warned against for individual people, small businesses, etc., I will be sure to remind your constituents come election time that you supported rolling back Net Neutrality protections and inhibiting and damaging their experience and accessibility to the internet.

I also ask that you use whatever resources are available to you to investigate Donald Trump Jr.’s meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya. Trump’s denials of the meeting and then lies about the purpose of the meeting – countered by the emails from Rod Goldstein – indicate collusion. This is something that must be taken seriously and investigated. Please push for the truth. It is time for Republicans to stop putting party before constituents and recognize and accept that the Trump Presidency is damaging to this country in so many ways. If you do not actively fight to preserve our Democracy, you will be remembered as one of the people who tried to destroy it.

I ask that you speak out against Trump’s decision to hold a second meeting with Vladimir Putin, without any members of the American delegation present. This is highly unusual and considering all that has been happening, alarmingly concerning as well as bad for the image of the presidency. Even though Trump is claiming that the meeting was innocent and standard, there is no way of confirming the veracity of this statement because no other Americans were present. Moreover, the lack of transparency involving this meeting continues a trend by the Trump administration to not publicly disclose meetings involving the Russians. I am alarmed by this repeatedly happening and I ask that you condemn this practice of secrecy by the administration.

I would also like to express my concern over the White House’s decision to continuously block reporters from recording or broadcasting the daily White House briefing. Denying the American public the right to hear what is being discussed by our government is anti-transparency and not what a democratic government is supposed to do. Please speak out against this practice and challenge the White House on this practice.

I would also like to express concern over Interior Secretary Zinke’s recommendation for the Bear’s Ear monument in Utah to be scaled back, and for Congress to step in management for some sections. The monument is considered sacred by many Nations and is home to 100,000 cultural and archaeological sites. Co-management or sepaating the sites – as proposed by Zinke – will not work. Please speak out against any attempts to scale back Bear’s Ear or any of the other 26 monuments.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Austin

 

Dear Senator Stabenow,

Thank you for your continued support of the ACA, opposition to the BCRA & AHCA, and opposition to any attempts to repeal the ACA without replacement.

I would also like to ask that you continue to take a stand against the rollback of Net Neutrality. A change in rules would take away our freedom on the internet and negatively impact individuals and small businesses alike. Please stand up against the FCC’s efforts to change Net Neutrality.

I also ask that you use whatever resources are available to you to investigate Donald Trump Jr.’s meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya. Trump’s denials of the meeting and then lies about the purpose of the meeting – countered by the emails from Rod Goldstein – indicate collusion. This is something that must be taken seriously and investigated. Please push for the truth.

I ask that you speak out against Trump’s decision to hold a second meeting with Vladimir Putin, without any members of the American delegation present. This is highly unusual and considering all that has been happening, alarmingly concerning as well as bad for the image of the presidency. Even though Trump is claiming that the meeting was innocent and standard, there is no way of confirming the veracity of this statement because no other Americans were present. Moreover, the lack of transparency involving this meeting continues a trend by the Trump administration to not publicly disclose meetings involving the Russians. I am alarmed by this repeatedly happening and I ask that you condemn this practice of secrecy by the administration.

I would also like to express my concern over the White House’s decision to continuously block reporters from recording or broadcasting the daily White House briefing. Denying the American public the right to hear what is being discussed by our government is anti-transparency and not what a democratic government is supposed to do. Please speak out against this practice and challenge the White House on this practice.

I would also like to express concern over Interior Secretary Zinke’s recommendation for the Bear’s Ear monument in Utah to be scaled back, and for Congress to step in management for some sections. The monument is considered sacred by many Nations and is home to 100,000 cultural and archaeological sites. Co-management or separating the sites – as proposed by Zinke – will not work. Please speak out against any attempts to scale back Bear’s Ear or any of the other 26 monuments.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Austin

Visit It’s Time to Fight for scripts and more info!