Previous Action Alerts

We can’t predict what Congress will do this year, but one thing is for sure – Americans have had enough of a do-nothing Congress that has put partisan politics and political games over the best interests of the country. As you watched the State of the Union this year, we asked you to tweet Rep. John Boehner (@JohnBoehner), and Sen. Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) to share your thoughts on the civil and human rights issues Congress must address this year.

To Honor Dr. King's Legacy, Help Inspire Others

On Monday, January 16, the nation celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and reflected on his selfless service to others and commitment to justice for all. In honor of King’s legacy of serving and inspiring others, ask your friends to join you in the struggle for civil and human rights.

2011

In 2012, Congress Must Do Better

As 2011 comes to a close, we want to thank you for fighting alongside The Leadership Conference to protect the civil and human rights of every person in this country. Start the year off by making even more phone calls, telling more friends about actions they can take, and sending more letters through Action Alerts. Together, we can do better.

Solidarity with Alabama Is in the Holiday Spirit!

The close of 2011 marks the end of a hard year for immigrants in America. Congress has again failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform, and states around the country are implementing harsh and discriminatory laws that are destroying families, businesses, and entire communities. We asked you to show solidarity with families in Alabama by writing to your member of Congress to tell them that your wish for the holiday season is for Congress to take a stand against discriminatory state laws like H.B. 56; and urge them to pass comprehensive immigration reform without further delay.

Tell Congress: Keep the Holiday Spirit and Extend Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment benefits were set to expire at the end of December. It was unthinkable for Congress to even consider celebrating this holiday season while denying relief to millions of unemployed Americans during the economic crisis.

Whose Side Are They on?! Confirm Cordray!

A strong CFPB needs a strong director with the political presence and clout required to effectively stand up for Main Street and stand up to Wall Street and special interests. No one has questioned Richard Cordray’s fitness for the job. It is clear that blocking Cordray’s confirmation simply boils down to protecting big banks on Wall Street and thereby preventing the protection of consumers.

Stand Up for Families Across the Nation

This Thanksgiving, we asked you to write your senators to share your Thanksgiving family traditions and urge them to pass laws that will help keep families together and working.

Tell Congress: Say NO to any Balanced Budget Amendment

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and many other organizations oppose a Balanced Budget Amendment because it is a recipe for making recessions more frequent, longer, and deeper, while requiring severe cuts that would harshly affect the most vulnerable Americans including seniors, children, veterans, and people with disabilities.

Join the Fight in Alabama!

As we remember the legacy of Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, one of our nation's most revered civil rights heroes who passed away on October 5, 2011 in Birmingham, Alabama, it is striking that Alabama’s anti-immigrant law, H.B. 56 is dividing people in the same state where Rev. Shuttlesworth fought for justice. Rev. Shuttlesworth dedicated his life to ending legal segregation in Alabama, yet in his death, the state’s anti-immigrant law has ushered in what many call one of Alabama’s worst times since Jim Crow.

Tell Your Senators: Pass the Jobs Bill!

On October 11, President Obama's American Jobs Act was considered by the Senate for a vote. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and many other organizations supported this bill because it would have helped Americans get back on their feet, revitalized our nation’s economy, and put Americans back to work.

Tell Congress this Labor Day: Rebuild the American Dream—American Workers Need Good Jobs

On Labor Day, we asked people to attend a town-hall meeting or drop by their members' offices to tell them that Americans need jobs, not cuts. Labor Day is a day to celebrate the contributions American workers make to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. What better way to celebrate the holiday than for Congress to commit itself to creating jobs and putting the country back to work.

Take a Stand in Birmingham! Join the Rally for Alabama’s Future: Repeal HB56

More than 3,500 activists from all over the South gathered together to rally for Alabama’s future and oppose a terrible law that was law inspired by Arizona’s notorious SB1070, but goes much further. The outcome of this struggle for justice in Alabama will have tremendous repercussions for the rest of the country, as legislators in other states assess the actions of the courts and community advocacy. Thank you to all those who came out to show your support.

Enough is Enough! Tell Congress: Don't Destroy the American Dream

In this exceedingly dangerous moment in our country, Congress must make some hard choices. Lawmakers must not try to fix our nation’s debt by eliminating longstanding programs that have helped low-income and working class families for decades, and have kept the middle class from sliding into poverty and the impoverished from living on the streets. Instead, Congress should create a fair budget plan that protects and preserves our nation’s commitment to providing a safety net and expanding opportunity to millions of the most vulnerable communities. There is no other choice.

Write Your Senators: Make the DREAM a Reality!

DREAM students are part of our country’s future. And since many of them were brought to the U.S. as small children, the DREAM Act would help these students to realize their full potential in the only country they’ve ever known. The bill would provide a path to legal status for undocumented students of good moral character, and who serve in the military or obtain a college degree.

Tell Senators: END Job Discrimination - Support ENDA

In a nation which prides itself on opportunity, it is deplorable that hardworking Americans would be kept from supporting their families and contributing to the economy because of characteristics that have no bearing on to their ability to do a job. But Congress has the opportunity to remedy this injustice by passing the Employee Non-Discrimination Act.

2010

Call Your Senators: Stop Shortchanging Women

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Paycheck Fairness Act in 2009, and it is time for the Senate to do the same. This bill will prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who disclose or discuss their salaries; improve wage data collection; and put remedies for gender-based wage discrimination on an equal footing with discrimination based on race or ethnicity

Confirm Elena Kagan

Earlier this month, the Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings to consider the nomination, where Judge Kagan demonstrated that she is a uniquely well-qualified nominee, with a sharp and independent mind and a record of excellence and integrity.

Call Your Representative: Correct the Disparity

The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, S. 1789, would reduce excessive penalties imposed on people convicted of low-level crack cocaine offenses and increase penalties for high-level traffickers. The U.S. Sentencing Commission estimates the changes could reduce the federal prison population by 3,800 over 10 years, and the measure will save taxpayers $42 million over five years.

President Obama Addresses the Nation on Comprehensive Immigration Reform

President Obama addressed the nation in early July and called for a bipartisan comprehensive reform bill to fix our broken immigration system. Members of Congress must follow the president’s lead by making the passage of a comprehensive immigration reform bill a priority for this year.

Support Women This Mother's Day

CEDAW, the Women's Treaty, helps women and girls to go to school, to own and inherit property, to take part in public life, and to fight violence and oppression. We need Senate action on the CEDAW Treaty (the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) to give the U.S. greater clout to help women worldwide win these basic rights.

Help Create 1 Million Jobs!

There are now six unemployed American workers for every one job vacancy – double the ratio in the last recession. Almost every American has been touched in some way by the economic downturn and rising unemployment, and almost every community has been deeply impacted by the cuts in services that result in cuts to state and local revenue. That’s why urged members of Congress to cosponsor House Education and Labor Committee Chair George Miller’s (D.Ca.) Local Jobs for America Act (H.R. 4812).

Make Yourself Count- Fill Out Your Census Form

Fill out your census form and mail it in by April 1: Filling out your census form can help get federal funding to support education, health care, housing and economic development in your area. For each person who doesn't get counted, an estimated $14,000 in urgently needed resources for your community is lost over the next 10 years. Your children, neighbors, and community members are counting on you, so fill it out and mail it back!

Restoring American Financial Stability Act

Call Your Senators to Protect Consumers with the Restoring American Financial Stability Act: On March 22, the Senate Banking Committee passed (13-10) the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 (S. 3217), legislation that will protect American consumers and increase the stability of the economy in a serious and timely fashion. A critical component of this bill is the creation of a strong Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) that would be established to protect consumers from discriminatory and predatory lending practices.The Senate needs to support a strong and independent CFPB, a single agency that consumers can trust – one with strong civil rights protections that will centralize and strengthen existing regulation, hold banks responsible for their lending practices, and fill in the gaps where existing laws have failed.

Extend UI Benefits and Cobra

Urge the Senate to immediately extend Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits and COBRA subsidies through the end of 2010: At the end of the month, people looking for a job in this tough economy will be completely cut off from UI benefits and COBRA subsidies. And, on top of that, states will soon lose funding for Medicaid and other public services. There are more than 26 million unemployed Americans who cannot afford to be cut off from these vital lifelines. Minorities and older Americans are disproportionately affected as they are more likely to be unemployed longer.

2009

Vitter Census Amendment

Thank Your Senators for Dropping Vitter Amendment: On November 5, the U.S. Senate voted to drop the Vitter amendment, which if approved, would have required individuals to answer a question on immigration status. Not only would this amendment have been detrimental financially, it would have added to the overall climate of fear within the immigrant community. The intrusive question would have inflamed concerns within both native-born and immigrant communities about the confidentiality and privacy of information provided to the government. This bill would have deterred many residents from responding, and would have likely resulted in an undercount.

Hate Crimes Prevention Act

Thank Your Member of Congress for Passing the Hate Crimes Prevention Bill: On October 28, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. For the first time in history, individuals targeted due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability status will now be protected from violent crime. This new law provides the federal government jurisdiction to prosecute hate crimes in states where current law or local law enforcement action are inadequate. In many cases, localities and states have simply not had the resources to act. We are proud to celebrate this important and historic victory with the advocates and organizations nationwide who have worked tirelessly to push this bill over the finish line.

Child Tax Credit

Tell Senators to Pass a Stimulus Package with an Expanded Child Tax Credit: The Child Tax Credit (CTC), a crucial component of S.1, is a federal tax credit of up to $1,000 for families with children under age 17. Current law requires families applying for this credit to have a minimum annual income of $8,500, which denies the CTC to millions of poor children and their families. At this time, S.1 lowers the earnings threshold to $6,000, which is better than current laws, but still excludes many low-wage workers with children from the benefits of the CTC. The House version of this bill helps the poorest by eliminating the earnings threshold entirely, allowing 12 million more children, many of whom are African American or Latino, to receive the credit or receive an increased amount.

Eric Holder Nomination for Attorney General

Tell the Senate to Bring Integrity Back to the Justice Department: Holder has earned a reputation as a fair-minded, tough and aggressive foe of political corruption. As U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and as Deputy Attorney General, Holder demonstrated his commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans. Eric Holder’s record of service on behalf of the American people proves that he is the right candidate to lead the Justice Department.

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

Restore Discrimination Remedies for American Workers with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay 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.Without this "fix" the impact of the Court's decision will be widespread, affecting pay discrimination cases involving women and racial and ethnic minorities, as well as cases under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Legislative Update: The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act passed in the Senate!

2008

Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act

Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act Signed into Law
President Bush recently signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act – which fulfills a promise of fairness and equality to all American workers with disabilities. This victory shows the power of bipartisan alliance and multi-sectored coalition – as members of the civil rights, disability and business communities came together to work with Congress to fix this wrong.

Child Tax Credit Expansion

Rescue Bill Includes Temporary Child Tax Credit Expansion: The Rescue bill included a CTC expansion among its tax provisions that will benefit an estimated 13 million children. The provision lowers the earnings threshold that families must meet to qualify for the refundable portion of the credit to $8,500, as opposed to the current level of $12,050. However, this provision is temporary as it is only for the 2008 tax year. Learn more about how the CTC is one component of eliminating poverty through our Half in Ten Campaign.

Stand Up Against the FCC
The FCC recently decided to eliminate a longstanding limit on how many media outlets any one company can own. This allowance of media ownership consolidation decreases the local, minority and female ownership of media outlets. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision to ease restrictions on media ownership and consolidation must be stopped.

Controversial Judicial Nominations

As a result of the President's relentlessness and the Senate's previous willingness to confirm ideologically-driven judges, ultraconservative judges are becoming increasingly dominant on the courts. The Senate should not grant "swift decisions" (as President Bush would like) when it comes to life-long appointments that impact constitutional rights.

No Child Left Behind Act

Quality Education is a Civil Right: Fifty years after Brown v. Board of Education, the extent of educational inequality is still startling. An improved and fully funded No Child Left Behind and other federal laws must play an important role in making educational opportunity for all Americans a reality.

Richard Honaker Nomination

The Senate Must Reject the Nomination of Richard Honaker to A Lifetime Seat on The Federal Court. Attorney Richard Honaker was nominated to a lifetime position on the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. Honaker is one of many controversial nominees who threaten to weaken established constitutional rights and civil rights protections for ordinary Americans.

End Racial Profiling Act of 2007

Urge Congress to Co-Sign the Bill to End Racial Profiling. Racial profiling is a violation of civil rights and a drain on resources. The "End Racial Profiling Act of 2007" would create a federal prohibition against racial profiling, provide funding for the training of law enforcement officials on how to discontinue and prevent the use of racial profiling, and hold law enforcement officials and agencies that continue to use racial profiling accountable.

Comprehensive Economic Stimulus Package

Economists say that an effective economic stimulus plan needs to include an increase in food stamps, unemployment insurance, and aid to the states. Senators should also reject anti-immigrant language as it creates barriers to serving eligible needy people.

2007

FCC Nominations

Tell Bush and McConnell to Stop Holding the FEC Hostage to Reward a Political Crony.
President Bush and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R. Ky., tried to hold hostage the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) by insisting on the all-or-none confirmation of four nominees, including Hans von Spakovsky, who has an egregious record of politicizing the U.S. Justice Department and rigging the system against minority voters.

Accurate Census

Urge Senators to Save the Census - An Accurate Count Means Accurate Representation.
The census is struggling to pay for critical activities in preparation for an accurate count in 2010. Getting an accurate count of all Americans is essential for the fair allocation of federal funds among the states. Data from the 2010 census will also be used to monitor compliance with civil rights laws and to determine how many seats each state gets in the House of Representatives.

DC Voting Rights Act

Urge Your Senator to Support the DC Voting Rights Act. During the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the DC Voting Rights Act (S. 1257), a robust and bipartisan panel, including Wade Henderson, President and CEO of LCCR, expressed strong support for the bill that would give the District of Columbia a voting representative in Congress. The bill would ensure voting representation for the more than 600,000 residents of our nation’s capital.

Media Ownership

Tell the FCC: "I Care Who Owns the media!"
Many Americans, particularly those in underrepresented communities, feel insufficiently represented by today’s media system. One reason for this injustice is the disproportionately small number of minority- and female-owned media outlets. The FCC is examining the current state of media ownership and you have the opportunity to tell them what you think.

Coalition Action Alerts:

Urge Your Senators to Pass the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act(GINA)
All Americans should be able to use genetics in medicine without fear of misuse of their genetic information. This legislation would, for the first time, establish federal standards to protect the privacy of genetic information and prohibit discrimination in the workplace and insurance based on genetic test results.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

The Nation's Premier Civil and Human Rights Coalition