Quote of the Week: “This is grueling work that many rightly feel they shouldn’t have to do. But in my years of writing about people living through epic change, I’ve taken up the mantra that the burden of citizenship is accepting that what is not your fault may be your problem.” The Ink by Anand Giridharadas Legislative Actions: If you're new to Take Action Network (TAN):
Sign in PRO Support SJM 8006 (Requesting that the federal government create a universal health care program.): Sign in "Pro" for House Health Care & Wellness's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Feb 14 • 12:30pm Please help support Universal health care (SJM 8006) by lobbying the state legislature. This SJM will enhance the ability of our Universal Health Care Commission to design and fund the universal health care system envisioned and mandated by our State Legislature under SB 5399 (2021). Sign in Pro to Support SB 5462 (Inclusive learning standards): in House Education's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Feb 14 • 9:30am Please support inclusive learning standards by signing in PRO. LGBTQ+ students’ academic achievement and mental health improve when LGBTQ+ people like themselves are part of a course curriculum. Sign in Pro to Support SB 5890 (Ballot rejection) DEADLINE: Feb 14 • 12:30pm Ballot rejection rates are too high, particularly with people of color. This bill attempts to address some concerns around this. Support SB 6007 (Grocery workers): Sign in "Pro" for House Labor & Workplace Standards's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Feb 14 • 7:00am Protect the food supply by making sure grocery stores continue to operate smoothly after changing ownership. Support HB 1917 (Streamline Physician Assistant licensure.): Sign in "Pro" for Senate Health & Long Term Care's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Feb 15 • 9:30am An interstate licensure compact will streamline the process for PAs to obtain authorization to practice in more than one state. Support HB 1961 (Animal cruelty/seriousness): Sign in "Pro" for Senate Law & Justice's Public Hearing DEADLINE: Feb 15 • 7:00am Make animal cruelty laws consistent and increase animal and public safety. Contact the Legislature Environment Comment on HB 2144 (Beverage container recycling and reuse through a deposit return system) DEADLINE: Feb 13 • 5:00pm A deposit return program for beverage containers will greatly increase the recycling of beverage containers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Support Recycling and Packaging (ReWRAP Act) (House: On Rules Review List For 2nd Reading) DEADLINE: Feb 13 • 5:00pm Shift recycling costs away from ratepayers and onto the manufacturers. SB 6092 Support Requiring a report of greenhouse gas emissions (Senate: Passed To Rules For 2nd Reading) DEADLINE: Feb 13 • 5:00pm Requiring large businesses to report all their associated greenhouse gas emissions. Comment on HB 1185: Producer responsibility for mercury-containing lights DEADLINE: Feb 13 • 11:00pm This bill extends the existing producer-provided recycling program for mercury-containing lights and phases out their sale. Housing Lobby Your Representatives in Support of Transit-Oriented Development (HB 2160) DEADLINE: Feb 13 • 5:00pm Build more housing near transit to create thriving communities. Lobby Your Representatives in Support of Rent Stabilization (HB 2114) DEADLINE: Feb 13 • 5:00pm Support (HB 2114) rent stabilization to protect residential and manufactured/mobile home renters. Require notice of and limit rent and fee increases, establish a landlord resource center and associated services, create parity between lease types, and provide for attorney general enforcement. Good Government Voice your support for language assistance in Elections! DEADLINE: Feb 13 • 5:00pm Providing language assistance to voters is a crucial part of making sure everyone has equal access to voting. Support allowing alternate voter verification pilot project DEADLINE: Feb 13 • 5:00pm It’s time for Washington to explore options for verification that allow voters to prove their identity without relying solely on signatures. Justice Future fund needs a public hearing (Senate: In Committee (Ways & Means)) DEADLINE: Mar 7 • 11:00pm Please help support the creation of the Future fund program to break the cycle of poverty by lobbying the Senate Ways & Means Committee to pass SB 5125 out of committee. Stand up (AGAIN!) for Protecting Capitol State Forests  Photo Credit: Flickr Photographer: Brian Henderson Source: From our friends at Center for Responsible Forestry Last week, our Call to Action asked you to contact the Chair of the House Capitol Budget Committee, to urge the Committee to continue conserving mature forests and buying replacement lands for economically-impacted rural counties using Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funds in this year’s supplemental budget. These forests are our state’s best natural climate solution and are crucial for the well-being of our environment, communities, and the state as a whole. Now we need to reach out to our legislators to ask them to prioritize the conservation of mature forests in Capitol State Forest during this session. Last year, no forests in Capitol State Forest were included. Our County Commissioners have been fighting for years to protect our mature forests; please stand with them by taking action this legislative session. Action: Email your legislators asking them to allocate CCA funds for the conservation of mature forests including those in Capitol State Forest, and for replacement lands for economically-impacted rural counties. Local Actions: Support Public Schools in Thurston County  Olympia Indivisible members strongly support voting YES on the school levy renewals. Make sure you get your ballot postmarked by this Tuesday, Feb. 13 or into a ballot box on Feb. 13 before 8pm. And for those who would like to promote the levy in Olympia, Olympia Education Association is organizing sign waving to promote voting Yes on the levy:
Federal Actions: Support the Medicare for All Act - 3rd Time  Photo Credit: Politico’s Matt Wuerker In May and July 2023, Indivisible members asked our members of Congress to co-sponsor the Medicare for All Act. We need to ask a third time! Rep. Pramila Jayapal is the sponsor and Rep. Adam Smith is a co-sponsor of the House bill. It is time to get Rep. Strickland and our Senators to push for Medicare for All. Let’s ask our MoCs to cosponsor H.R.3421/S.1655 Medicare for All Act - again! Action: Email all three MoCs at once using Democracy.io. Script: Please co-sponsor the Medicare for All Act H.R. 3421/S.1655. Indivisible members asked you to co-sponsor this bill in May and July 2023. We are now asking you again to be a co-sponsor and to speak out and push for Medicare for All! If you refuse to support Medicare for All, will you at least agree to end the Medicare Advantage program that routinely denies 18% of claims leaving many Americans without life-saving care. [NAME] from [CITY], [ZIP] Protect Communities From This Toxic Air Pollutant Photo credit: Richard Hurd, Flickr Source: from our friends at Earthjustice Ethylene oxide is a colorless, typically odorless, flammable gas used to make other chemicals, plastic, and to sterilize medical equipment and spices. Ethylene oxide is also an aggressive carcinogen, especially when inhaled. Long-term exposure causes damage to the nervous system and increases people’s risk of developing cancer, leukemia, and other terminal illnesses. The Environmental Protection Agency is finally tackling this toxic air pollutant but industry has argued that its proposed regulations go too far and would like EPA to weaken them and allow additional compliance time. The White House is currently reviewing the rule, and we need to send a message to the Biden administration to put our health before the will of industry. Action: Tell the Biden Administration to ensure that the EPA protects communities by strengthening existing emission standards, requiring the capture of fugitive emissions, and implementing new monitoring requirements. Have You Scheduled These Events? Learn How to Bust Disinformation with Indivisible Truth Brigade Indivisible National’s Truth Brigade invites Olympia Indivisible members to take part in their 2024 kickoff webinar this Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 3:30pm PST. Disinformation polarizes us, blowing up heartfelt disagreements into what can feel like insurmountable divisions, particularly along racial and generational lines. We must learn the persuasive communication tactics that bring us together in power. Join us to learn about the disinformation landscape ahead, and launch our first disinfo-busting action campaign of the new year! Register here. ---- Action Cafe 2024, Every Monday at Noon OI members meet, make new friends, and take actions together. Every Cafe comes with a side order of live music and a heapin’ helpin’ of good cheer! Cafe patrons receive an email on Sunday with a sneak-peek at what we'll do at the cafe the next day. On Monday morning, Chef Lisa will send you a pdf "Menu" which has links to the actions we'll take together at the Cafe. Action: Register HERE. We will send you a Zoom link and tomorrow morning, Chef Lisa will send your "menu." ---- National Indivisible Training Series 2024: Persuasion to Power: Know your Audience w/Loretta Ross on February 21st at 5 pm PST Join Indivisible and veteran activist Loretta Ross (featured in The Persuaders!) for a conversation on how to assess and adjust our communication approaches based on the person we’re talking to and how closely they already align with our goals. Action: Sign up here You Might Also Like to Attend: Celebrate Black History Month in Thurston County  There are many activities and events happening right here in Thurston County. Take a look and let’s celebrate. Governor’s Mansion Black History Month Tours Wednesday, February 14, various times Governor’s Mansion 504 15th Avenue SE, Olympia In partnership with members of the Thurston County Black community, the Governor’s Mansion Foundation (GMF) is recognizing the 2024 Black History Month theme “African Americans and the Arts.” During the one-hour tour, local Black artists, whose works are on display in the mansion’s gallery, will be showcased along with short performances of poetry and music. Make reservations online via the mansion tour request form. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Each tour is open to 25 guests and spots fill up fast. ---- Olympia Black History Month Celebration February 15, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts at SPSCC 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia This free event put on by The Hawk Foundation for Research and Education in African Culture, in partnership with the City of Olympia and Olympia School District celebrates Black history and heritage with presenters, music and food. ---- Inspiration and Celebration of Artists of Color February Hands On Children’s Museum 414 Jefferson Street NE Olympia Every day in February, kids can head to the Art Studio at the Hands On Children’s Museum to celebrate and be inspired by Artists of Color for Black History Month in Olympia. One activity is Shaping History, where kids can participate in clay sculpting and drawing inspiration. Another activity, Shared Stories Bookmaking, teaches kids how books are made and then they can write their own! ---- Pop-Up Black History Museum Feb. 17 and 24, 12pm-2pm New Life Baptist Church 7838 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey, WA 98503 The Pop-Up Black History Museum is a continuation from previous years, but much expanded and now available for public touring. The Museum will be available to the public on Saturday, February 17th from 1:00 PM-4:00 PM and on February 24th from 12:00 PM-2:00 PM. There will also be a local Black authors corner each Saturday. The community is invited to visit this unique collection of exhibits, artifacts, and archival information to enhance their knowledge and education about the tremendous history of Black people in America. For more information, contact Dr. Thelma Jackson at (360) 259-7304 or [email protected]. ---- Self-Guided Olympia Area Black Pioneers Walking Tour Anytime Olympia A great activity for the whole family that you can do whenever it is convenient for you is the Olympia Historical Society & Bigelow House Museum’s Olympia Area Black Pioneers walking tour. It’s self-guided, so all you have to do is download the free walking tour map and follow along. The brochure includes 11 sites of interest with maps, Blacks in Thurston County early census data and information about important People of Color in Olympia’s history. Comments are closed.
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