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This week has been intense with constant discourse about Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court in the face of allegations of a sexual assault thirty years ago. David Perdue issued a statement of support prior to Dr. Blasey Ford’s accusation. Recently, calls to his office have been routed to voicemail, so his current position is unknown. Johnny Isakson’s office says he is waiting until the Hearing to make a decision. David Perdue tweeted that the American people need to hear from both Judge Kavanaugh and Dr. Blase Ford. Some Senators requested that Dr. Blasey Ford be heard and that the FBI background check be reopened.
Protection of Civil Liberties
Statistics of sexual and attempted sexual assault are staggering - every 98 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police. False reporting is low - between two and ten percent.
1. Contact Senators Isakson and Perdue with the suggested script: I’m from Macon (or other city). I oppose Judge Kavanaugh’s appointment. There is a credible accusation of an attempted sexual assault. Research shows that 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police. There is a serious cloud over this nomination and a potential taint on the Supreme Court. Before you make your decision, listen to the Judiciary Hearing with an open mind and remember that there are many other qualified judges who could fill the empty seat.
RELATED: The Georgia Alliance for Social Justice plans to hand deliver personal testimonies of survival of sexual assault on Thursday, September 27 to Senator Perdue’s Atlanta Office, the day Dr. Blasey Ford is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee about her attempted rape. Across the country, survivors will gather at their Senators’ offices from 12:00 to 1:00 PM and share their own testimonies of assault as a part of #HearOurVoice. If you are willing to share your experience, please email your story to info@gafsj.org.
If you wish to participate in person, more details are available at: http://actionnetwork.org/events/senator-perdue-we-believechristine/
The Department of Health and Human Services reported that there are more than 13,000 children currently in HHS custody. The number fluctuates daily, but that is higher than the record-setting 12,800 in custody last week. Secretary Azar said his agency is reallocating up to $186 million from other pots of HHS money and up to $80 million from refugee programs. (The refugee program money inadequately used because of the administration slashing the yearly number of refugees admitted to the country.)
Previous reports show that the Department of Homeland Security similarly reprogrammed more than $200 million to cover immigrant detention this month, including $10 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Now the administration is planning to shift more than $260 million to cover the rising cost and strain of housing thousands of undocumented immigrant children in their custody -- including millions of dollars from programs like cancer research and HIV/AIDS prevention. The request comes as the program has been strained by record-high levels of children in custody, driven in large part by new policies that are holding kids longer and making it more difficult for them to be released.
2. Contact Senators Isakson and Perdue and Congressman Bishop or Scott with the suggested script: I’m from Macon (or other city). The number of immigrant children in detention centers continues to rise and is now 13,000 according to the DHS’ own numbers. So far, as much as $726 million has been reallocated to keep children in uninspected facilities. What are you doing to hold these taxpayer funded detention centers accountable and ensuring these children’s safety?
The Violence Against Women Act passed in the Senate and is now in the House for a vote.
3. Contact Congressman Bishop or Scott with the suggested script: I’m from Macon (or other city). HR6545, the Violence Against Women Act is in committee and needs to be renewed by the end of September. Please vote YES.
Access to Affordable Healthcare
A bipartisan bill exists in both Houses of Congress that will promote home versus institutional care for people with disabilities. Home care is more cost-effective than institutional care.
Contact Senators Isakson and Perdue and Congressman Bishop or Scott with the suggested script: I’m from Macon (or other city). I support the right of people with disabilities to receive long-term care services at home rather than an institution. It’s more humane and cost-effective when the decision rests with an individual needing care. Please support the bipartisan Disability Integration Act (S. 910 for Senate and H.R. 2472 for House?)
Only 6 weeks until the midterm elections. You have until Tuesday, October 9 to register. Already registered? Make sure that your polling place has not changed. https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do
Thank you to everyone for your hard work.
Remember, as always -- it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Contact Sheet for our Public Officials:
https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/7ce3fc_8d631005a4594375b19d4e4035fc2127.pdf?mc_cid=4e969d5634&mc_eid=ce30031849
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