Senators are home for the August recess for the next week. Drop by or call the local U.S. Senate offices and urge your senators to support important civil rights issues! Find their local office information at Senate.gov. For helpful tips on having an effective meeting with your senators or their staff, check out our Visiting Your Members of Congress at Their Local Offices page!
Expand the Child Tax Credit
Congress can start to send a clear signal this fall about its commitment to fighting poverty by passing legislation that allows more families to receive the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Current law denies the CTC to millions of poor children and their families because they earn too little to owe federal income tax.
>> Call Your senators and urge them to expand the Child Tax Credit
Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prevented unfair treatment toward people with disabilities, but recent court decisions have left workers vulnerable to discrimination.
>> There are three things you can do NOW to help restore the ADA
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is a "fix" to a 2007 Supreme Court decision that severely limited the ability of victims of pay discrimination to sue and recover damages.
>> Find out how your senators voted and let them know what you think
Other Actions You Can Take!
Get Ready for the DTV Transition
In less than 6 months, all full-power TV stations nationwide will switch from transmitting analog TV signals to broadcasting only digital signals. If not adequately informed and prepared, 21 million households that rely solely on free, over-the-air TV may lose access to critical emergency, news, weather, and community information.
>> Learn what you can do to get ready for the transition and help others in your community prepare
Stand Up Against the FCC
The FCC recently decided to eliminate a longstanding limit on how many media outlets one company can own. This allowance of media ownership consolidation decreases the local, minority and female ownership of media outlets.
>> Write your representative to urge support of a resolution of disapproval on the FCC’s decision
>> View Previous Action Alerts
Grassroots Organizing Resources
- Grassroots Tool Kit (pdf):
This toolkit provides information on a myriad of effective mechanisms you can use in your local or state community to educate and empower individuals in your community, develop a strong coalition of activists, and get your voice heard in Congress to help impact the history of civil and human rights for all people today.
- Grassroots Organizing During a Congressional Recess (pdf):
Tips for organizing when your member of Congress is back in the district during a congressional recess.
- Grassroots Action Steps: Four things you can do right now to learn more and take action in 2008
Issue-Based Resources
Below are materials for a few of the issues we are currently organizing around. You can also visit the issues section of the website to learn about other civil rights issues.
Affirmative Action
DC Voting Rights
- DC Voting Rights Brochure (pdf): A printable brochure to let people know about the lack of voting representation in Washington, D.C.
Immigration
Judicial Nominations
Media
Workers' Rights
