The Must-Have List

THE ESSENTIALS

Numbers, scripts and advice you can always use (until these issues are solved!).

Phone numbers:

Our weekly lists will have updates on which boxes are full vs. not full, but these are some good numbers to have. When you call, keep in mind to stay calm and hang up if you feel worried. These people's jobs are to listen to you so there is no risk. If you're calling a Senator, Rep or office out of your state, don't mention where you're calling from. Typically you'll leave a message (if there are options, choose the "leave a message with a comment" one) and you can read directly off of a script. If someone picks up, you can still read the script and adjust it if you feel that's necessary. If someone picks up and you feel nervous having a conversation, you can easily hang up.

United States Capitol: 202-224-3121 (call to be transferred to your senator or rep via your zip code)

Dept. of Justice Comment Line: 202-353-1555

Dept. of Justice Environment and Natural Resource Division: 202-514-2701

White House Comment Line: 202-456-1111

White House Switchboard: 202-456-1414

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell: 202-224-2541

HElpFul LInks:

These links are for other websites that feature scripts, numbers and information. Use them when you need it! [Note: to sign up for DAILY ACTION texts, text "DAILY" to 228-466 (A-C-T-I-O-N)]

The 65: thesixtyfive.org/ (has amazing resources in the form of scripts, numbers and actions)

Daily Action: dailyaction.org/ (sign up for daily texts!)

Regulation Comment Page: regulations.gov (email comments on government regulations on this page)

Your senators' websites: [last name of your senator].senate.gov (go here to get numbers and emails, plus info about town halls and the like)

Women's March: womensmarch.com; @womensmarch (updates on events and nationwide protests)

SCRIPTS:

Basic script:

Hi, my name is _____, I'm from _____, and I'm calling to ask you to [vote; speak out; protect; support; continue to _] on/about/against/for [your topic/law]. I believe that this is [important; vital; the only way to _] because [your reason!]. I urge you to use your conscience in making your decisions on this topic. Thank you.

Planned parenthood:

Hi, my name is __________, and I live in ___________. I'm calling to ask my Senator to vote NO on any attempt to defund Planned Parenthood. This is nothing more than a blatantly political attempt to do whatever it takes to attack women's health and rights and take health care away from the people who need it most. If Congress cuts funding to Planned Parenthood, millions of people will be left without access to birth control, lifesaving cancer screenings, and other basic care. Many of them will have nowhere else to go for the health care they need. I'm counting on my Senator to do the right thing and stand up for the Planned Parenthood patients in our community and across the country who are counting on those health centers. I stand with Planned Parenthood because [insert your own story or message, if you like]. I expect my Senator to vote against any attacks on Planned Parenthood and the vital health services they provide. Thank you for your time. (adapted from Planned Parenthood)

Recommended #: 202-224-3121 (capitol to be connected to your senator) or Republican/Moderate reps in your area or anywhere in the country.

Standing rock

Hi, my name is ___________, and I live in ____________. I'm calling to ask that construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline stop immediately and be cancelled and to stop the brutal treatment of Standing Rock Water Protectors. The Dakota Access Pipeline is not only incredibly bad for the environment in many respects, it puts the citizens of the Standing Rock reservation in serious danger and introduces a threat to their water supply. In a blatant act of white supremacy, the pipeline was rerouted from Bismarck to Standing Rock so as to protect Bismarck's water supply. It is diabolical to threaten such a basic right and resource such as water, and even more so considering the endless torture and terrorism Natives have endured in our country's history. I hope that you will separate ethics from party politics in order to see what an immoral and unjust act this is. Thank you.

Recommended #: 202-514-2701 (Dept. of Justice Environment and Natural Resource Division); 202-761-8700 (DAPL Hotline)

Climate Change Legislation

Hi, my name is ________, and I live in ___________. I'm calling to ask that you push for more concrete climate legislation in Congress. Scientists have proven numerous times that our Earth is in grave danger and global warming is a serious threat. Our government needs to be thinking more seriously about this. There is so much at stake if our government does not implement proper legislation. I hope that you will take the severity of the situation into account and vote conscience over party. Thank you.

Recommended #s: 877-251-4575 (EPA); 202-224-3121 (capitol); your senator's number

Russia Investigation

Hi, my name is ______ and I live in ________ . I'm pleased about the DOJ's appointment of a special counsel to investigate Trump's administration's connections to Russia, but I want Congress to step in as well. Please urge [Senator/Representative name] to publicly and legislatively demand the creation of an independent, bipartisan commission. I don't want partisan politics or the Trump Administration's influence to bias the investigation, and I think the public has a right to know the full extent of Trump's involvement with Russia, even if special counsel deems that are no crimes to prosecute. A commission modeled after the 9/11 commission will provide the level of transparency that the American people deserve. Thank you! (adapted from the 65)

Recommended #: your senator or rep; any Republican senators (this is where google comes in handy!)

FLINT

Hi, my name is ________. I'm calling to say that the situation in Flint, Michigan is an example of environmental racism and deprivation and should be treated as such and immediately remedied by whatever means possible. I hope that this issue does not disappear into the shadows and that the government will take action.

Recommended #: your senator or rep; Dept. of Justice

IMMIGRATION AND BORDER WALL

Hi, my name is _______ and I'm calling to ask you to oppose federal funding for a border wall and cutting funding for sanctuary cities. I believe that the proper route to controlling undocumented immigration is to provide concrete resources to help, not hurt, immigrants in their path to citizenship. Additionally, spending taxpayer money on a wall is impractical and takes up funding that could be used on more important matters that help American people. Also, sanctuary cities are very important so that undocumented immigrants and try to achieve citizenship uninterrupted and without fear when crimes are committed against them. I hope you will take my opinion into account as you make your decision, and that you will vote conscience over party.

Recommended #: your senator or rep; Sec. of State's office or Attorney General's office; WH comment line

Refugee crisis

Hi, my name is ___________ and I'm calling to ask you to keep Barack Obama's plan to let in refugees in place in these coming years. The terror that overwhelms people in Syria is something we can't understand and to turn our backs as they suffer is immoral and cruel. Refugees are heavily vetted in this country and the risks of terrorism underwhelm the importance of humanity. I hope we can follow other countries' examples and help refugees in this time of need. Thank you.

Recommended #: Your senator or rep; Republican senators

GUN CONTROL

Hi, my name is __________. I'm calling to urge that actions be taken to ensure that guns don't end up in the wrong hands in this country. Background checks and limited gun availability will stop crime and terrorism in the U.S. and we cannot turn a blind eye to the root of the problem of domestic terrorism: the fact that firearms are so accessible in this country. Thank you.

Recommended #: Senators

police brutality

Hi, my name is ______________. I'm calling to express my outrage at the recent events involving police brutality in our country/your city/your state and demand that action be taken to prevent further events, and that the officers who have shot and killed Black men be arrested and jailed for what was clearly murder. For too long, our justice system has been rigged against people of color, and that must change immediately. Thank you.

Recommended #: police depts. of cities and states with recent shootings

MINIMUM WAGE

Hi, my name is _____. I'm calling to ask that the federal minimum wage be raised to $15 per hour, adjusted to inflation and gradually raised as needed in order to achieve $15 an hour. People in this nation work too hard to be put on barely livable wages while corporations bask in their billions of dollars. Thank you.

Recommended #: your senators or reps

HEALTHCARE

This issue is ever-changing and there are new updates on it most weeks. Please check in on the most recent weekly updates for scripts and info.

DACA

Hello, my name is _____ and I’m a constituent. I'm extremely concerned about the President's plan to end DACA, putting 800,000 young people at risk of being deported from the only home they have ever known. I'm calling to urge you to support the Dream Act and protect these young people. I value the contributions of young immigrants, and I think they deserve to live their lives free of the fear that they'll be deported. Please do all you can to protect DACA and support the Dream Act of 2017. Thank you.

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MUST-HAVES