CONGRESS: PROTECT DEMOCRACY AND REAUTHORIZE THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
For the first time in our history, a new Congress – the 116th–convened during a government shutdown that the previous Congress—the 115th–failed to solve. The President is holding nine agencies hostage to his demand for a border wall, with no sign of negotiating.
Today is Day 14 of this self-inflicted crisis.
As we write this, the House is on the verge of passing HR1 (a sweeping anti-corruption bill), to end the shutdown and establish a Select Committee to create a “New Green Deal.” Unfortunately, none of this reauthorizes the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The VAWA expired when the last short-term continuing resolution expired on December 7.
We must ask our MoCs to immediately reauthorize the VAWA. After its passage, intimate partner violence decreased dramatically and broad public awareness of the issue increased. Without the VAWA lives are in danger and there might not have been a #MeToo movement. As this new Congress reopens the government and protects our elections, we need it to protect this vital law too – women’s rights are human rights.
Call Congress!
Tell them we expect results in 2019!
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS WYDEN AND MERKLEY:
“My name is [Name]. I am a constituent and I and live in [town/city], ZIP code [number]. I am calling to express my strong support for ending the shutdown with no money for the wall and for HR 1. But I am distressed that there is no reauthorization for the Violence Against Women Act. As efforts to end the shutdown advance in the Senate, I ask [NAME} to correct this gap in protections for women – immigrants as well as citizens – who are threatened by personal violence. Thank you.”
SENATOR RON WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION THREE: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**
Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on our local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. Check out the following:
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: Women’s March Flash Mob Rehearsal – Ashland
January 6 and January 13 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-womens-march-flash-mob-rehearsal-ashland/
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: Hate Crimes Listening Session – Medford
January 9 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-hate-crimes-listening-session/
Women’s March Southern Oregon – Medford
January 19 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-womens-march-southern-oregon-medford/
Non-ORD2 Indivisible Sponsored Event: The Karen Lovely Band – Post Women’s March Celebration – Ashland
January 19 @ 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/non-ord2-indivisible-sponsored-event-the-karen-lovely-band-post-womens-march-celebration-ashland/
TEACH & GREET Featuring Representative Pam Marsh – Talent
January 20 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/teach-greet-featuring-representative-pam-marsh-talent/
SUBMIT EVENTS TO BE ADDED TO THE ORD2 INDIVISIBLE EVENT CALENDAR
Help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/
SOURCES:
VAWA’s expiration: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-violence-against-women-act-just-expired_us_5c24d8aae4b05c88b6fe046e
Public health research on the impact of VAWA: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3952594/