FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Here are our Calls to Action, Guides, and Explainers on federal legislation and policy. This includes the federal budget, international affairs, national security, the Mueller investigation, and a range of other topics. Interested in helping us track federal legislation and policy? Take action with us.
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.
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#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.
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HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN YEMEN: End U.S. Support for Saudi-Backed War
Trump has vetoed a bipartisan resolution to end U.S. support for the war in Yemen, which has produced what the United Nations calls the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in 100 years. QUICK ACTION: Ask Representatives Pingree and Golden and Senators King and Collins to override Trump’s veto.
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PROTECT OUR WATERS: Oppose Trump’s “Dirty Water Rule”
The Trump administration has proposed widespread rollbacks to clean water protections, jeopardizing wetlands and drinking water for nearly half a million Mainers and millions of Americans. There’s just one week left to submit a public comment! QUICK ACTION: Submit a public comment opposing the rollbacks by April 15.
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RELEASE THE REPORT: Demand the full Mueller report and attend an April 4 protest
Congressional leaders from both parties have called on AG William Barr to release the full, unredacted Mueller report to Congress. So far, he has refused, offering instead to make a redacted version public by mid-April.
QUICK ACTION: Attend one of 9 #ReleaseTheReport protests in Maine on April 4 and ask your members of Congress to call Barr to testify before Congress if he refuses to give them the full report.
17 Reasons Why We Don’t Need a Wall
When Congress rebuffed his border wall demands for a third time, Trump made an end-run around them by declaring a national emergency. While all lawmakers agree that we can improve our border security, the case for wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on an ineffective vanity project steeped in racial animus is as thin as tissue paper. We’ll show you why.
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#FakeEmergency: Tell Congress to Override Trump’s Veto
Trump’s #FakeEmergency attempts to snatch Congress’s power of the purse, funding from military construction projects, and citizens’ private land, despite evidence that no emergency exists. Both the House and Senate have passed a bill to repeal the emergency declaration.
QUICK ACTION: Thank our Maine MoC for voting to uphold Congress’s constitutional authority, and ask them to urge more fellow legislators to join them in overriding Trump’s expected veto.
NO FOX IN THE HEN HOUSE: Oppose Andrew Wheeler for EPA Director
UPDATE 2/28: Andrew Wheeler was confirmed by the Senate 52-47, with both Maine senators voting NO. Former coal lobbyist and acting EPA director Andrew Wheeler has been nominated by Trump to take over the position permanently. The Senate could vote on his confirmation as early as THIS WEEK.
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END THE SHUTDOWN: Pass a Clean CR to Re-Open Government
The Senate will vote Thursday on two bills to re-open the government: One would fund Trump’s border wall and block asylum requests from children from some Central American countries and the other is a clean continuing resolution the Senate already passed 100-0.
QUICK ACTION: Tell Collins and King to pass a clean CR and re-open the government now!
Ten Reasons Matthew Whitaker Should be Out of DOJ
Former Acting AG Matt Whitaker has a background overrun with fraud, scams, dark money payments, conflicts of interest, and other potentially illegal activity.
QUICK ACTION: Tell your MoC that Matt Whitaker has no business working in the Department of Justice and to demand answers about his background before considering him for any other position at DOJ.
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.
