A vote on immigration, a safety net for hungry kids, and research on gun violence: Civic action to-do list for 5-14-18

3. The Immigration Debate Takes Center Stage (Again)

The 800,000 young people known as DREAMers deserve an opportunity to seek citizenship in the United States, the country they have called home since they were children. After more than eight months of uncertainty, a growing number of Republican members of the House of Representatives are calling for a vote on four different immigration bills that provide a pathway to citizenship. Call your Representative and ask them to sign on to the discharge petition (H. Res 774) that requires Speaker Ryan to allow for debate and a vote on each bill. 

2. Secure the Safety Net

No one should go hungry or without necessary medical care in our country, and yet Congress is currently deciding on whether to drastically decrease eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Instead of cutting these valuable safety net programs that protect millions of Americans we should be strengthening them and making sure that everyone who is hungry or needs healthcare has access. Call your Representative and tell them to oppose the Farm Bill that restricts SNAP eligibility and to oppose the White House proposal for $7 billion in cuts to CHIP. 

1. Gun Violence Research Needed

Gun violence has reached epidemic levels in our country, and still federally funded research is greatly restricted. As the Senate Committee on Appropriations begins to consider funding levels across all departments and agencies, call your Senators and ask them to push for a $50 million increase funding for the Center for Disease Control (CDC) specifically tied to gun violence prevention research. We desperately need more research in order to develop the data that is needed to create comprehensive policy change.