Call to Action Archive
Suit Up Maine’s current calls to actions (C2As) can be found on our homepage, but past C2A can be viewed here in our archive by topics. For more information on the specific issues and the working groups that produce them, click on the issue headers below.
#FixTitleX: Reverse Trump’s family planning gag rule
The Biden-Harris administration has proposed a rule to repeal Trump’s domestic gag rule on the Title X family planning program. QUICK ACTION: Submit a public comment in support of the Biden-Harris rule by May 17!
COVID RELIEF: Support Biden’s American Rescue Plan
UPDATE: The COVID relief bill passed, with Maine’s Rep. Jared Golden joining Sen. Susan Collins and every Republican in the House and Senate in voting against the bill. QUICK ACTION: Learn how the aid package will benefit Mainers and let Golden and Collins hear from you.
Support Trump’s Removal from Office
Donald Trump incited an attempted insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday and the vice president and cabinet have refused to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from office, despite bipartisan calls for them to do so. The House will vote this week to impeach, with support from Representatives Pingree and Golden and Sen. King. QUICK ACTION: Ask Senators Collins to vote to convict when impeachment moves to the Senate.
#StandWithWabanaki: Restore Tribal Self-Governance
Legislators will hold a public hearing February 15 on a bill to restore Wabanaki tribes’ inherent right to self-govern. The Wabanaki Alliance has set a goal to gather 500 written testimonies in support of the legislation to demonstrate the strong statewide backing for the bill, and are asking allies to step up! QUICK ACTION: Be one of the 500! Learn more about the bill and how to submit testimony in our call to action!
SUM Testimony on bills in the 130th Legislature
Every bill that goes before the Maine Legislature gets a public hearing, offering Mainers an opportunity to make their voice heard. Suit Up Maine testified on more than a dozen bills during the first half of the 130th Legislature, on issues ranging from housing to health care to racial justice. Read our testimony and learn more about the bills we tracked.
VICTORIES & GOOD NEWS ROUNDUP: 2021 Maine Legislature edition
2021 was a remarkable year for the Maine Legislature, not just because of the pandemic. The first half of 130th Maine Legislature was also remarkable because of the number of laws passed that will directly improve the lives of all Mainers. UPDATED: Read about some of our legislative wins and find links to the latest legislative scorecards from our partner organizations!
WHAT’S NEW: Read SUM’s latest newsletter
Latest news: The For the People Act gets a vote in the Senate. And while other states have passed strict voter suppression laws, Maine is passing bills to make voting easier and more secure. We have more on that and a run-down of the latest legislative victories. Read SUM’s latest newsletter to get caught up on our current actions!
Victories & Good News Roundup: 2020 Election Edition
This election season was unlike any the country has seen. Despite a global pandemic, more Americans cast ballots this year than ever before and there is much good news to report from the polls. We’ve captured some of the brightest victories in our Victories & Good News Roundup.
Statement: Response to Maine’s election results
Flipping Maine’s Senate seat would have helped break McConnell’s log jam of obstructionism. Now that work falls to Susan Collins.
NO FAMILY DETENTION: Maine vigils against Trump’s internment camps
More than a dozen groups around Maine took part in the Lights for Liberty vigil on July 12, a national protest of Trump’s inhumane immigration policies and his internment camps for immigrant families. Hundreds turned out in 12 towns around the state, joining thousands of others in more than 700 cities around the U.S. ACTION: See the image galleries below from the Maine vigils, volunteer at one of Maine’s immigrant advocacy organizations, and tell your members of Congress to take action.
#SaveTheCensus: No citizenship question on the 2020 Census
The fight against adding an untested, unnecessary, and likely unconstitutional citizenship question to the 2020 Census has been hard to follow. Bottom line: There will be no citizenship question, but Trump is still hoping to help Republican-controlled state governments move forward with plans to gerrymander districts in favor of Republicans. Read more.
WELCOME NEW MAINERS: Support asylum seekers at the Portland Expo Center
More than 170 asylum seekers have arrived in Portland in recent days, and more will be arriving in the near future. The families will have temporary shelter at the Portland Expo, and efforts to coordinate volunteers and donations are under way. QUICK ACTION: Learn more and sign up to volunteer and donate.
CASE REVIEW: Kavanaugh on the Issues
Just before midnight Sept. 1, 2021, Brett Kavanaugh joined a conservative Supreme Court majority to overturn Roe v Wade in Texas. Although Sen. Susan Collins has yet to comment, we know her response cannot include claim that she didn’t know this would happen. Because in 2018, leaders of Suit Up Maine and four advocacy groups met with Maine’s senators’ judicial advisers on Kavanaugh’s record. Her senior staff included the case review we prepared in her official briefing book. Read our report on these cases and Kavanaugh’s relevant history.
WHAT’S NEW: Read SUM’s latest newsletter
Latest news: The For the People Act gets a vote in the Senate. And while other states have passed strict voter suppression laws, Maine is passing bills to make voting easier and more secure. We have more on that and a run-down of the latest legislative victories. Read SUM’s latest newsletter to get caught up on our current actions!
#FixTitleX: Reverse Trump’s family planning gag rule
The Biden-Harris administration has proposed a rule to repeal Trump’s domestic gag rule on the Title X family planning program. QUICK ACTION: Submit a public comment in support of the Biden-Harris rule by May 17!
2020 Maine Legislature Roundup Recap
An early adjournment due to COVID-19 meant that many bills we were tracking in the second session of the 129th Maine Legislature were left on the table, eventually dying when efforts to reconvene for a special session were unsuccessful. Our Legislature Roundup will reconvene with the Legislature in January 2021, with dozens of bills to track in the coming session. For now, see what passed in 2020 and what was left behind.
BLOCK EXTREMIST & UNQUALIFIED JUDGES: No Zealots in Lifetime Positions
We’re tracking the most concerning nominees to lifetime judicial appointments, in partnership with other progressive groups. Justin Walker, a nominee to the DC Court of Appeals, opposes the ACA, unions, and civil rights and is the latest in a long line of extremist, unqualified nominees.
QUICK ACTION: Learn more about Walker’s extremist record and tell Collins and King to vote NO on his confirmation.
#StrikeWithUs: Support Global Climate Strikes
More than 500 climate strikes were held Sept. 20 in the U.S.–including 20 in Maine–in an intergenerational action to demand action on climate justice and to highlight the climate change crisis.
QUICK ACTION: View image galleries from the strikes, learn about upcoming actions, and contact your members of Congress!
PROTECT PERSONAL DATA: Secure Your Online Accounts and Devices
Facebook failed to protect its users’ personal information from exploitation by third parties interested in manipulating voters.
QUICK ACTION: Follow these steps to secure your devices and online accounts, and protect your private data from prying eyes and bad actors.
WHOSE NEWS? Take Back Control of Your Facebook News Feed
Facebook recently changed the way users see posts in their News Feed, choosing the content THEY think you should see first. As a result, you may be missing important posts, updates, events, and calls to action.
QUICK ACTION: Take back control of your news feed in a few easy steps.
NET NEUTRALITY: Defend Internet Freedom in FCC Vote
The Senate voted to restore the net neutrality regulations that protect our internet freedom which were eliminated by Trump’s FCC earlier this year. Now the issue heads to the House where its fate is less certain.
QUICK ACTION: Thank Senators Collins, King, and Rep. Pingree for supporting net neutrality, and tell Rep. Poliquin that rural residents and small businesses depend on the freedom and access to the internet that net neutrality provides.
NO FAMILY DETENTION: Maine vigils against Trump’s internment camps
More than a dozen groups around Maine took part in the Lights for Liberty vigil on July 12, a national protest of Trump’s inhumane immigration policies and his internment camps for immigrant families. Hundreds turned out in 12 towns around the state, joining thousands of others in more than 700 cities around the U.S. ACTION: See the image galleries below from the Maine vigils, volunteer at one of Maine’s immigrant advocacy organizations, and tell your members of Congress to take action.
#SaveTheCensus: No citizenship question on the 2020 Census
The fight against adding an untested, unnecessary, and likely unconstitutional citizenship question to the 2020 Census has been hard to follow. Bottom line: There will be no citizenship question, but Trump is still hoping to help Republican-controlled state governments move forward with plans to gerrymander districts in favor of Republicans. Read more.
WELCOME NEW MAINERS: Support asylum seekers at the Portland Expo Center
More than 170 asylum seekers have arrived in Portland in recent days, and more will be arriving in the near future. The families will have temporary shelter at the Portland Expo, and efforts to coordinate volunteers and donations are under way. QUICK ACTION: Learn more and sign up to volunteer and donate.
BLOCK EXTREMIST & UNQUALIFIED JUDGES: No Zealots in Lifetime Positions
We’re tracking the most concerning nominees to lifetime judicial appointments, in partnership with other progressive groups. Justin Walker, a nominee to the DC Court of Appeals, opposes the ACA, unions, and civil rights and is the latest in a long line of extremist, unqualified nominees.
QUICK ACTION: Learn more about Walker’s extremist record and tell Collins and King to vote NO on his confirmation.
TAKE ACTION MAINE: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and communities around Maine are holding events to draw attention to intimate partner violence and violence prevention
QUICK ACTION: Attend an event near you.
GUN REFORM: Maine’s New Gun Safety Bills Need Your Support
All 11 of the new gun safety bills we tracked this session were defeated in the Maine legislature this session. QUICK ACTION: Find out how your state legislators voted, and hold them accountable for their opposition and continued inaction.
PROTECT TITLE IX: Oppose Protection Rollbacks for Student Survivors
The Trump administration has issued new Title IX regulations that would make it harder for students who are sexually assaulted to report the assaults. More than 100,000 comments were submitted during the public comment period on the rule, with the vast majority in opposition. QUICK ACTION: Stay tuned for updates and ask Reps. Pingree and Golden to support 3 bills in the House that protect Title IX.
CHILD POVERTY IN MAINE: Support Bill to Improve Parents’ Access to Education and Training
Maine’s child poverty rate is increasing eight times faster than the national average. A bill in the Maine legislature could help bring those numbers down by increasing parents’ access to educational and training opportunities. UPDATE: LD 1774 is now law in Maine! After receiving overwhelming support in the House and Senate, the bill became law without the governor’s signature. A huge thank you to everyone who worked on this important legislation!
SUPPORT MAINE STUDENTS: Ban Lunch Shaming & Restore Funding for School Health Centers
The Legislature is considering bills to ban food shaming in public schools (LD 1684) and restore funding to school-based health centers (LD 1710). UPDATE: The House passed LD 1710 and LD 1684 and the Senate votes next. QUICK ACTION: Call your senator and ask her/him to pass LD 1710 and LD 1684!
Suit Up Maine is an independent, all-volunteer grassroots progressive group that seeks to build a more informed and engaged electorate in Maine. Founded in 2016, Suit Up Maine is run by and for Mainers, and is not engaged in fundraising of any kind. Representing thousands of constituents across Maine’s 16 counties, Suit Up Maine raises awareness of and advocates for policies and legislation that promote equity and equality in civil rights, social justice, health care, the environment, education, the economy, and other areas that affect the lives of all people. Suit Up Maine is beholden to issues and action, not parties or politicians.
