August 13 to 17th Calls to Action

NATIONAL SECURITY

1.“Russia if you’re listening…”

So far two Democratic Senate midterm campaigns (Claire McCaskill’s, MO, and Bill Nelson’s, FL) have been hacked by Russia. The Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines or the "DETER" Act (S2313 and HR4884) would impose new sanctions if U.S. intelligence officials determine Russia meddled in U.S. elections. The DETER Act would also make sanctions more automatic and aim to punish Russia’s finance, energy, defense and other sectors.

Sample Script: I’m calling from [zip code] to urge Senator Harris/Feinstein / Representative Carbajal to co-sponsor the DETER Act ( S2313 and HR4884 ) and bring it to the floor for a vote. We have evidence from 2 Democratic campaigns that Russia is once again hacking our elections. We need to pass this bill now.

ENVIRONMENT

2. No Fracking in Santa Barbara County

The Trump Administration has declared open season for drillers to pollute 1.6 million acres of CA’s public lands. In a notice of intent published on the Federal Register Wednesday, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) said it would prepare an environmental impact statement on the use of fracking on 400,000 acres of public land and 1.2 million acres of mineral estate overseen by BLM in California counties including Fresno, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara. Because fracking uses a high amount of toxic chemicals it is particularly dangerous for places like Santa Barbara with shallow groundwater depths.

Email: blm_ca_bkfo_oil_gas_update@blm.gov directly to the Federal Register before September 7.

Mail: Bakersfield Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Bakersfield RMP Hydraulic Fracturing Analysis, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308

Sample Written Script: I strongly oppose the BLM’s plans to open 400,000 acres of public land and 1.2 million acres of mineral estate overseen by the BLM to fracking. Hundreds of fracking chemicals are known to be toxic to humans and wildlife, and several are known to cause cancer, according to several peer-reviewed studies by scientists and state regulators. A 2015 report from the California Council on Science and Technology highlighted these risks.

National forests, monuments and wildlife refuges and preserves harbor sensitive ecosystems and wildlife, protect important watersheds, and are places of recreation. They deserve closer scrutiny to evaluate if fracking is appropriate in these areas. I urge the agency to restrict oil and gas development that impacts public lands and conduct a thorough review of fracking and its impacts on water, air, wildlife, and recreation.

3. Save the Endangered Species Act

Since 1973 the Endangered Species Act has provided needed protections to endangered wildlife, and prevented the extinction of 99% of listed species. It has always been and continues to be overwhelming popular with the public. It is now in the Trump administration's crosshairs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries has been forced by law to seek public input on proposed reforms to “Improve & Modernize Implementation of the Endangered Species Act”. Deadline is September 24th. Comment here.

Sample Written Script: I strongly oppose the NOAA & FWS proposed rule changes that appear designed to undermine the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These rule changes are an overreach by these agencies into the legislative realm, and they clearly favor challengers to the law and run opposed to the actual spirit of the legislation . The numerous NOAA & FWS proposed changes to definitions and language are death by a hundred cuts to the ESA. Rather than suggest practical process and "interagency cooperation" changes, the NOAA & FWS are clearly seeking to rewrite the actual legal language to be used in the enforcement of the ESA. In short, the NOAA and FWS should WITHDRAW all suggested changes and leave untouched one of the most successful laws ever passed by Congress.