CONGRESS CAN’T GO HOME UNTIL ITS WORK IS FINISHED
Our Members of Congress cannot go home for Christmas until they solve all the problems they’ve put off until now and confirm all Biden’s judicial and executive branch nominees.
QUICK READ: Poor scheduling and too many breaks have created a logjam of legislation and pending confirmations in the Senate. Congress must stay in session until the avalanche of issues--from keeping the government open to passing voting rights protections --is resolved, even if that cuts into or eliminates its weeks-long Xmas break.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
Congress returned from its extended Thanksgiving holiday to an avalanche of issues it must resolve in the next several weeks:
Funding the government beyond December 3, when the latest continuing resolution expires
Suspending/eliminating debt ceiling by December 15 to avert defaulting
Passing National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and 2022 budget
Continuing judicial and executive branch Senate confirmations
Passing voting rights protections and BBB
These problems stem primarily from Senate’s
3 week-long breaks in October and November, and upcoming December recess
Continually kicking the can down the road, as done with government funding, the debt ceiling, the NDAA, and voting rights legislation.
Republicans’ misuse of the filibuster and other Senate rules to undermine Biden’s presidency
The Senate’s also been slow confirming Biden’s judicial and executive branch nominees, largely due to GOP posturing:
Of the 432 nominated to fill 1200+ executive positions requiring Senate approval, 243 remain unconfirmed
The Senate must stay in session until all these logjams are resolved. Cutting or eliminating the holiday break may be the only way all this legislation passes and Biden’s nominees are confirmed.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Senate must stay in session until it passes legislation keeping the government open and the military funded at an appropriately lower level, eliminating the debt ceiling, protecting voting rights, retaining the essential social and climate investments in BBB, and confirming all Biden’s nominees. Thank you for pushing your colleagues to do what we, your constituents, demand of our public servants.
SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Senate must stay in session until it passes legislation keeping the government open and the military funded at an appropriately lower level, eliminating the debt ceiling, protecting voting rights, retaining the essential social and climate investments in BBB, and confirming all Biden’s nominees. Thank you for pushing your colleagues to do what we, your constituents, demand of our public servants.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
The Senate must remain in session until it passes all necessary pending legislation and confirming all Biden’s nominees. The best way to get home for Christmas is to stop your obstructionism and allow the Senate to do its job.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for all of your hard work this session. Before recessing for the holiday, the House must pass another continuing resolution (CR) and do something about the debt ceiling. Please work (1) to keep the CR as short as possible, limiting how long Trump budgetary constraints continue, and (2) to eliminate the politicized debt ceiling.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Congress must remain in session until all necessary pending legislation passes. The best way to get home for Christmas is for your party to stop its obstructionism. Please pass this message on to Senate colleagues.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for all of your hard work this session. Before recessing for the holiday, the House must pass another continuing resolution (CR) and do something about the debt ceiling. Please work (1) to keep the CR as short as possible, limiting how long Trump budgetary constraints continue, and (2) to eliminate the politicized debt ceiling.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for all of your hard work this session. Before recessing for the holiday, the House must pass another continuing resolution (CR) and do something about the debt ceiling. Please work (1) to keep the CR as short as possible, limiting how long Trump budgetary constraints continue, and (2) to eliminate the politicized debt ceiling.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for all of your hard work this session. Before recessing for the holiday, the House must pass another continuing resolution (CR) and do something about the debt ceiling. Please work (1) to keep the CR as short as possible, limiting how long Trump budgetary constraints continue, and (2) to eliminate the politicized debt ceiling.
Action 3:
Other opportunities for action include:
Phonebank on Saturday, December 4 from 9:00-11:00am (Pacific time)
Phonebank to demand bold changes to create a government that represents all of us, not just big corporations or special interests. We'll be calling voters in AZ and connecting them to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema to support the Freedom to Vote Act. Training will be provided. You will need a phone and a computer or tablet.
Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/396674/
[Please join our organizers who are attending this phonebank, hosted by Common Cause and Target Majority NYC.]
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FURTHER READING:
Does congress spend too much time away from Washington? Another break raises questions
This week: Congress starts year-end legislative sprint
Democrats’ December dread builds after defense stumble
Congress returns to work staring down fiscal deadlines and fights over Biiden’s agenda
All the big deadlines facing Congress this holiday season
GOP weighs trapping Democrats in Trump’s budget
With hundreds of nominees to confirm, the Senate doesn’t deserve Thanksgiving break
