Voter's Corner

The American Rescue Plan to assist this nation through the COVID 19 Pandemic is an historic piece of legislation and the largest relief package since the Great Depression. The bill will help countless American and small businesses that have struggled through this crisis.

What is less known in this bill is the extremely helpful and needed 10.8 Billion in international relief!!! The work to help those effected by COVID is Global and needs a robust global response!!!! Advocating for that sort of responses calls us to create helpful relationship with our legislators on a national level. Catholic Relief Services is helping us organize this effort through the work of our local CRS Chapters.

In response to the passing of HB-1319 we are asking parishioners to:

1. Send a thank you email to our WA Senators & House Representatives for supporting this bill that included the 10.8 Billion in international relief.
2. If your House Representative did not vote for the passage of HB-1319, please contact her/him to let them know how important this international relief is in address such a global pandemic.

Helpful links:

H.R. 1319: American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 — GovTrack.us

Homepage | house.gov;

U.S. Senate: Contacting U.S. Senators

A bill to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise the criteria for determining which States and political subdivisions are subject to section 4 of the Act, and for other purposes.

U.S. Senate, Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) introduced legislation titled the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (S. 4263). (This is companion legislation that goes a long way to support the Voting Rights Act of 1965).

“John called voting ‘the most powerful nonviolent tool we have to create a more perfect union.’ He was right,” Leahy said in a press statement. “And that’s why we cannot stand idly by while states engage in flagrant suppression schemes to take this tool away from marginalized communities.”

The measure has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who upon Lewis’s passing said he “lived a consequential life and worked hard to make America a more perfect Union.”

“Words are great, but the most meaningful thing that you could do is to put substance to those words,” said House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-South Carolina), who proposed the legislation’s name change. “So, if you love John, want to honor John, let’s do something and pass this law. His law.”

(John Lewis’ final fight to restore the Voting Rights Act | New Orleans’ Multicultural News Source | The Louisiana Weekly)

To expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and implement other anti-corruption measures for the purpose of fortifying our democracy, and for other purposes.

Please contact Senators Murray and Cantwell and voice support for this legislation! 

Congress.gov | Library of Congress

U.S. Senate: Senators of the 117th Congress

Dear Senator,

I ask that you support in its entirety -HR –1 that is now before the 117th Congress. Its introduction encapsulates the fundamentals of the bill,

“To expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and implement other anti-corruption measures for the purpose of fortifying our democracy, and for other purposes.”

If we do not ensure the rights for all American Citizens to vote, we will not be able to address the issues of justice, equity and care for Creation. The voice of the people – all the people must be heard. In the next 2 years, if voting rights are not preserved, expanded and protected, the work of a free and democratic nation will not be accomplished.

This is about securing our sacred rights as American Citizens to cast our ballots for those running for office and to ensure that all Americans are represented in Congress. A democratic nation demands free access to the ballot box for its citizens, whatever the mechanism, to be unencumbered, free of coercion, safe and counted. 

There continues to be an assault on democracy by making voting in this nation more difficult, especially for the poor, disenfranchised and people of Color. This cannot be the way of the United States any longer! We must safeguard the rights for all citizens to vote. We must promote and provide means for an informed electorate, end the falsehoods and champion facts and clear policies for honest debate.

Please Senator – Pass and support HR -1