FEDERAL ACTION ALERT – Sept. 10, 2021
Produced by Democrats of the Red Rocks and Coconino
County Democratic Party
Important Note: While the struggle for voting rights at the federal level is critical, there is something
you can do right now here in Arizona: Sign the petitions to reverse the voter suppression legislation
passed by the Arizona legislature this Spring. Getting a sufficient number of signatures will stop the
Arizona legislation in its tracks. But time is short. You can become a petition circulator also. The
Coconino Democrats have scores of events scheduled over the next two weeks where you can find
an opportunity to sign. Find out about the events at CoconinoDemocrats.org. The petitions are also
available for Yavapai and Coconino counties at the DORR Office, 105 Roadrunner Dr. Sedona
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 11-3. Call and check that they are open before coming to the office
928.212.1357
THIS WEEK’S ALERTS: The House is in session writing recovery legislation. Urge Rep.
O’Halleran to fully fund climate change and health care legislation in the House Energy &
Commerce Committee. Push our Senators and O’Halleran to back full funding of the
American Families Plan proposals in recovery legislation. Urge passage of the Women’s
Health Protection Act in light of the US Supreme Court’s failure to prevent a Texas ban on
abortion. Demand Pres. Biden raise the refugee cap in light of the dire needs of our Afghan
allies.
FOR REP. O’HALLERAN ON INFRASTRUCTURE: Representative Tom O'Halleran is crucial for
passing an inclusive recovery!
Representative O'Halleran sits on the Energy and Commerce committee (including the Climate
Change Subcommittee) and will make key decisions in the next week on both climate and health
aspects included in the overall recovery package. Markup on this package in E&C takes place
Monday, Sept. 13 – so now is the time! Choose one of these two issues on which to contact
O’Halleran’s office.
Climate: Any recovery package must include strong progress on climate. We know that the climate
crisis can’t wait and Congress must act now to leave a planet that is healthy and habitable for future
generations. That means establishing a federal Clean Energy Standard (CES), investing in green
infrastructure jobs, including through the creation of a Civilian Climate Corps, and ensuring at
substantial portion of the benefits of climate and clean infrastructure investments are directed to
disadvantaged communities. 1 An enormous step would be ensuring that the Clean Electricity Payment
Program focuses on true renewables and does not include natural gas (a fossil fuel). Let’s make
sure Rep. O’Halleran is on board.
Script for Rep. O’Halleran. “I’m a lifelong Democrat voting for you repeatedly out of XXXXX,
Arizona. I know you are working hard on the Energy and Commerce Committee to pass strong
climate change legislation in the budget reconciliation bill. I’m asking you to support fully funding the
establishment of a federal Clean Energy Standard (CES), investing in green infrastructure jobs,
including through the creation of a Civilian Climate Corps, and ensuring that a substantial portion of
the benefits of climate and clean infrastructure investments are directed to disadvantaged
communities. I hope the committee focuses on true renewable energy, and does not include natural
gas as a “clean” electricity source. Please push hard on this. [Add something personal about why this
means so much to you – favorite parts of Arizona threatened by climate change, wanting your
grandchildren to be able to enjoy the same resources and landscapes we love, etc.] Our planet is on
fire and our children’s futures are literally at stake.”
Health: The Energy & Commerce Committee is also dealing with two crucial aspects of health care in
this recovery/budget reconciliation bill: Medicare expansion and lowering drug prices. Key
improvements to Medicare include lowering eligibility to age 60, capping out-of-pocket expenses, and
adding coverage for dental, hearing, and vision care. Lowering prescription drug prices involves
allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with major pharmaceutical companies, allowing all purchasers
access to drugs at those same prices, and capping prices at a level indexed to those of other
developed nations. Importantly, lowering prescription drug prices for Medicare would generate
tremendous savings that can be used to fund other components of recovery (such as the expansion
of Medicare).
Script for O’Halleran: “My name is XXXX, and I’m a Democrat living and voting in YYYY. As
Americans and communities struggle to recover from the COVID19 crisis, no issue looms larger than
health care. I urge you to support Medicare expansion and measures to reduce the cost burden of
prescription drugs as the Energy & Commerce Committee shapes the budget reconciliation bill.
Lowering age eligibility for Medicare, and adding coverage for vision, dental, and hearing care, would
provide a safety net for many – including many of those essential workers we’ve all depended on for
this past 18 months. Meanwhile, negotiating lower drug prices for Medicare would free up federal
dollars that can fund Medicare expansion (while benefiting everybody else too) – a real win-win! A
1 Text in part from Indivisible’s Tricia Sauer. Thank you Tricia!
just and inclusive recovery needs to address the crisis we have in this country of health care (or its
lack, or its price) costing people their financial security or even their lives.”
Rep. O’Halleran: Call (202) 225-3361 or send an email via his website at
http://www.ohalleran.house.gov
Twitter: @RepOHalleran
FOR BOTH SENATORS AND OUR REP – INCLUDE THE AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN IN THE
BUDGET RECONCILIATION PROPOSAL: Dems must deliver the major elements of the American
Families Plan. 7/10 Americans support it, our Senators and representatives should also. No cutting
back on new legislation to provide paid family and medical leave, establish a universal Pre-K
program, expand Medicare coverage for seniors to include dental, vision, and hearing coverage,
lower health care costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, provide tax breaks for
clean energy, and expand the Child Tax Credit for most families with children. Pay for it with tax
adjustments that make our tax system fair. These proposals derive from President Biden’s American
Families Plan (see fact sheet from April, here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-
releases/2021/04/28/fact-sheet-the-american-families-plan/ ). Both the Senate and the House are
working this week to determine exactly which programs should be part of the $3.5 trillion proposal.
Sample text or message for both Senators and Rep. O’Halleran: “My name is XXXX, and I’m a Democrat living
and voting in XXXXX. As a Democrat I’m imploring you to support and fully fund the American Families Plan. 7
of 10 Americans support it and you should too. The plan is sorely needed to provide paid family and medical
leave, universal Pre-K programs, free community college, expanded Medicare coverage for seniors, lower drug
prices and tax breaks for clean energy. The bipartisan infrastructure bill, focused on physical infrastructure
investments, is fine as a start but by itself will not build the recovery we need! We can pay for a true and fair
recovery for Americans with lower drug prices, tax adjustments, and a repeal of the awful Trump tax cuts that
unfairly enriched the super-rich and corporations.” [Personalize this by emphasizing the components that have
the most meaning for you.]
Sen. Sinema: Call (202) 224-4521 (DC) or (602) 598-7327. Email via her website at
“http://www.sinema.senate.gov” Tag the Senator at @senatorsinema . Senator Sinema sits on the Commerce
Science and Transportation Committee (drug prices, Medicare), and on Banking Housing and Urban Affairs
(housing proposals).
Sen. Mark Kelley: Call (202) 224-2235 (DC), Email via his website at http://www.kelly.senate.gov Tag the
Senator at @senmarkkelly . Senator Kelly sits on the Environment and Public Works Committee and the
Committee on Aging.
Rep. O’Halleran: Call (202) 225-3361 or send an email via his website at http://www.ohalleran.house.gov