Weekly Justice Highlights

In the Spirit of St. Vincent: As individuals and families continue to struggle around the world with regard to being able to live daily, United States residents are invited to National Budget Call-In Days on July 13-15 to Senators. Call this toll free number 888.907.1485 and urge Senators to protect millions of vulnerable Americans who rely on federal support to meet their critical needs, to oppose a balanced amendment to the Constitution and to rely as much on fair revenue increases as spending cuts when resolving the budget.

Water: Call U.S. Representatives urging them to oppose HR 2018 (Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011) that gives states a veto power over a host of critical water quality decisions that the Clean Water Act currently authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to make.

Water: Urge U.S. Representatives to protect clean water and oppose H.R. 2354 that would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Core of Engineers from making any changes to protect these streams.

Human Trafficking: The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (S. 1301) is in need of reauthorization (expires September 2011) to continue funding for the momentum in the work against human trafficking and to protect victims. Urge U.S. Senators to co-sponsor and pass this legislation.

Immigration and E-Verify: Urge U.S. Representatives to oppose H.R. 2164, the Legal Workforce Act that would mandate E-verify, a verification system that allows employers to verify an employee’s legal immigration status before hired still has a significant error rate.

Join Jose Antonio Vargas whose story was in the New York Times a couple of weeks ago in calling for a new national conversation on immigration

Urge President Obama to push for greater civilian protection and humanitarian access to displaced persons in Sudan (look for Stop the Violence in Sudan)

Urge U.S. Representatives to oppose the Korea, Panama, and Columbia Free Trade Agreements when they are submitted to Congress for a fast track vote

Did you know that the wealthiest 1% of our population own more than 90% of us combined? Urge President Obama to host a White House Summit on the wealth gap. Information on Mind the Gap! campaign is located here.

The U.S. Department of Energy is open to public comment on hydraulic fracking. Adapt a message to urge an equal voice on fracking rather than pushing the industry agenda.