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The Returning Education to Our States Act to Terminate the United States Department of Education
I am writing in opposition of H.R.899 - To terminate the Department of Education and S.5384 - Returning Education to Our States Act. This legislation is an attack on diversity in the curriculum and efforts of the U.S. Department of Education to hold state and local officials’ accountable for issues of discrimination.
The department’s mission is to foster “equal access” to education by “prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education.” This mission is supported by numerous offices, programs and White House initiatives designed to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. HR 899 would effectively eliminate the Office of Civil Rights, the subagency responsible for enforcing civil rights laws that protect against discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin and disability. That office has been a central tool for holding school districts accountable for the egregious suspension and expulsion rates of African American and Native American children. The office also has routinely engaged in cases on student and employee harassment, retaliation, school tracking and the permissive allowance of hostile environments.
In addition to the Office of Civil Rights, the department houses the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, which coordinates and recommends policy to support children with disabilities, ensure the provision of special education services, and improve the delivery of special and rehabilitation services. Even more, the U.S. Department of Education houses numerous White House initiatives designed to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for students of color and institutions serving high proportions of diverse students.
The executive branch does not have the authority to abolish the Department of Education by executive order. Eliminating a federal agency requires congressional action. It is imperative that the U.S. Department of Education remain operational and fully funded in order to ensure a free, fair and equitable public education for all our citizens. I am asking for you to oppose this legislation, as well as any similar legislation introduced in the 119th congress. Thank you.
To send the above message exactly as worded, text PUNDIV to 50409 or go to https://resist.bot/petitions/PUNDIV and it will be sent to your congressional representatives requesting their opposition to terminating the federal department of education. This is a free service.
The Educational Choice for Children Act
I am writing in opposition of H.R.9462 - Educational Choice for Children Act and S.120 - Educational Choice for Children Act. This legislation will spend $5 billion a year in taxpayer funds, totaling $20 billion over a four-year period, creating a system for privileging certain charities over others. They prioritize donations to private schools over charities that address other issues, such as food banks, churches, and homelessness shelters. The benefit for donating to private schools would be 2-3 times more than other charitable organizations, according to the National Coalition for Public Education.
Despite private schools being able to discriminate against different student groups, such as those with disabilities and LGBTQ+ students, the legislation offers no protections for students. Notably, the only mention of non-discrimination in the bill language is about ensuring religious private schools are eligible for the same benefits as secular private schools. The legislation offers two opportunities for discrimination against students: the scholarship granting organizations, which also take a cut of the money, can discriminate against the students they choose to provide vouchers to, and the private schools can discriminate against the students they choose to accept into their schools.
It is difficult to justify spending $20 billion to create a new federal system for private education when we have a public education system struggling with a lack of funds. This proposal further defunds public education at a troubling time for our nation’s schools. The drop in pandemic relief funding, combined with state tax cuts, inflation, and existing state voucher programs has caused schools across the country to consider mass layoffs, program cuts, and even school closures. For all of these reasons, I am asking for you to oppose this legislation as it makes its way through congress, as well as any similar legislation introduced in the 119th congress. Thank you.
To send the above message exactly as worded, text PCYVZH to 50409 or go to https://resist.bot/petitions/PCYVZH and it will be sent to your congressional representatives requesting their opposition to the Educational Choice for Children Act. This is a free service.
The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act
I am writing in support of H.R.5166 - Protecting Sensitive Locations Act and S.455 - A bill to amend section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to limit immigration enforcement actions at sensitive locations, to clarify the powers of immigration officers at sensitive locations, and for other purposes. No one should live in fear of being detained while taking their child to school, seeking medical care, or practicing their faith. Allowing ICE to invade spaces where people access health care, education, justice, and prayer is cruel and unnecessary, as well as a threat to public safety. When people are too frightened to seek medical care or report a crime, the entire community suffers. This bill prohibits immigration enforcement actions within 1,000 feet of a sensitive location except in exigent circumstances.
Sensitive locations include:
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health care facilities;
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schools and school bus stops;
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places that provide assistance for people such as places that provide disaster or emergency services;
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places of worship;
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courthouses and lawyers’ offices;
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facilities used as polling places;
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public assistance offices.
The prohibition shall apply to Department of Homeland Security officers and agents, as well as state employees pursuing immigration enforcement actions. I am asking for you to support this legislation as it makes its way through congress. Thank you.
To send the above message exactly as worded, text PWQJFO to 50409 or go to https://resist.bot/petitions/PWQJFO and it will be sent to your congressional representatives requesting their support for the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act. This is a free service.
Reauthorization of The Peace Corps Act
With all that's going on in America right now, we must not forget the impact of Americans serving abroad. The Peace Corps is one such entity that has worked diligently to promote world peace and friendship through community-based development and intercultural understanding since its inception for more than 60 years. There are currently thousands of Peace Corps Volunteers serving in a myriad of capacities in 58 countries around the globe, hundreds of thousands of returned Peace Corps Volunteers who have undeniably had their lives changed for the better because of their service experience, and hundreds of civil servants working diligently every day to help sustain The Peace Corps' day-to-day operations. Furthermore, within each country that The Peace Corps serves, local nationals are hired to support the in-country operations and the sustainability of strategic partnerships. Please support reauthorization of The Peace Corps Act and release the funding streams through USAID that Peace Corps volunteers around the world utilize to support the communities they serve.
To send the above message exactly as worded, text PRURYQ to 50409 or go to https://resist.bot/petitions/PRURYQ and it will be sent to your congressional representatives requesting their support for reauthorization of The Peace Corps Act. This is a free service.
