Action Items: Week of May 11, 2025
Remember, Empathy and Kindness are our Superpowers. We must hold them dear.
“A reminder that every small bit of good you do - whether it be putting art into the world, helping a friend or stranger, donating to a good cause, or just listening to someone who needs to vent - offsets all the evil in the world just a little bit. And sometimes that's just what the world needs.” - C. Robert Cargill
This Week’s Newsletter Contains…
Top 5 Things You Can Do This Week
IGGR Events
Events From Other Organizations
What We’re Monitoring
Top 5 Things You Can Do This Week
Call Senators Peters, 202.224.6221 and Slotkin 202.224.4822 (see Resources for You for more contact info)
Thank you for voting NO on advancing S. 394 (so-called “GENIUS Act”). Continue to oppose all iterations of this bill if it is re-introduced. This Bill is supposed to regulate the crypto currency called ‘stablecoin.’ Oppose because there are too many loopholes which could enable money laundering and crypto is only good for crimes and scams. The Trump family uses crypto currency, especially stablecoin in their dealings with big business nationally and internationally.
Thank you for voting NO on confirming Frank Bisignano for Social Security Commissioner.
Oppose Dr. Casey Means, who has been nominated to be the US Surgeon General Trump taps former Oregon physician turned health influencer as surgeon general nominee
Vote NO on HR 22 SAVE Act when it comes to the floor and work to convince other senators to vote no. Would require proof of citizenship in the form of a certified birth certificate or passport with state issued picture identification with name matching on all documents.
Vote NO on HR 1526 NORRA when it comes to the floor. It is in the Senate Judiciary Committee. It would severely curtail federal courts from issuing injunctions or temporary restraining orders against executive orders.
Vote NO on House Joint Resolutions (HJ Res) 87, 88 and 89 passed in the House. The resolutions would negate California’s clean air regulations regarding automobile and truck emissions.
Speak out against the firing of the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, and Cameron Hamilton, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Oppose cuts to the CDC
Oppose cuts to Public Broadcasting
Call Representative Rep. Scholten, 202.225.3831
Disappointed in YES votes on House Joint Resolution 87 to stop California from requiring dealers to sell an increasing percentage of zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles over time and to block an effort to reduce smog, HJR 88 to strike the Biden administration’s waiver for California’s rule that would phase-out gasoline-powered vehicles, and HJR 89.
Thank you for voting NO on HR 276 Gulf of America Act, which renames the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and directs federal agencies to update their documents and maps to incorporate the new name
Work against and vote against budget cuts to essential services in H.Con.Res 14 Budget for Fiscal Year 2025. The budget passed in both houses but the Senate made changes so it is back in the House. At this time the House is discussing what cuts to funding should be included.
Vote NO on HR 2607 Afrikaner Act, when it comes to the Floor (it is in the House Judiciary Committee). It would give white South African farmers an immigration advantage over other immigrants, including refugees and asylum seekers.
Vote NO on HR 1702 Judges Act, when it comes to the Floor (it is in the House Judiciary Committee). It would increase the number of federal district court judges by 66, giving Trump an opportunity to load the federal district courts with MAGA sympathizers.
Speak out against the firing of the Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden, and Cameron Hamilton, the acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Submit a comment before May 19 to oppose the Trump administration’s plan to eliminate habitat protections for endangered and threatened species. At issue is a long-standing definition of “harm” in the Endangered Species Act. “Harm” has been defined as acts which alter or destroy the places in which species live, acts which bring habitat destruction, the biggest cause of extinction. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has said in its newly proposed rule that “habitat modification” should not be considered “harm” because it is not the same as intentionally targeting a species. Experts in biological diversity argue that “harm” must include significant habitat degradation or modification, an argument previously upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. The proposed change in definition threatens a half-century of progress in protecting and restoring endangered species, including bald eagles, gray wolves, Florida manatees, humpback whales, and green sea turtles. To oppose this change, submit your comment here before May 19. Points to include can be found through the Sierra Club here, Earthjustice here, and the Center for Biological Diversity here, but be sure to use your own words. (Thx to Rogan’s List for these sources). Reference Fish and Wildlife Service Docket No. FWS-HQ-ES-2025-0034 in your comment.
Submit a comment before May 23 to oppose Schedule F. The Trump administration announced that it is moving ahead with a new rule, previously known as "Schedule F” and now titled “Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service.” The rule will make it easier to remove federal employees the administration believes are undercutting Trump's agenda. By stripping civil service protections from about 50,000 people, Trump is striving to make the government more answerable to him, significantly eroding the nonpartisan Civil Service. Civil servants in nonpartisan roles traditionally have had job protections that shielded them from the political whims of whoever was in the White House specifically to allow agencies to operate in a consistent manner. Trump wants to remove this protection. Submit your comment here before May 23. Reference Office of Personnel Management, Docket ID: OPM-2025-0004 in your comment.
Please consider donating to Indivisible Greater Grand Rapids via our secure ActBlue account. Your funds will help us sponsor the No Kings Protest in Grand Rapids on June 14 and cover costs of the event, which include sound system rental and other expenditures. Thank you for your donation!
Please Volunteer! We need help with Social Media posting and moderating, Public Relations, Event Planning and lots of other skills. If you can spare an hour a week - we’d be grateful! Click the button below and fill out the form. THANK YOU!!
IGGR Events
Wednesday, May 14 at 12 pm. Protect Social Security Rally at the Social Security Office, 3045 Knapp St NE, GR.
Thursday, May 15 at 7 - 8:30 pm. Grand Rapids Power Analysis Workshop.Fountain Street Church Social Hall, 24 Fountain Street NE. Join GR organizer Jeff Smith in this interactive workshop where he will discuss the Grand Rapids Power Analysis to help you understand the organizations and people who have significant political and economic power in this city. This analysis provides critical information needed by individuals working to affect structural changes to injustices in Grand Rapids. You will be better prepared to create strategies and tactics for handling resistance from those organizations and people as you work to achieve social justice.
Jeff Smith has been part of social movement work for 40+ years in Grand Rapids. He co-founded the Koinonia House, which practiced radical hospitality for the unhoused and was a sanctuary for Central American refugees fleeing US sponsored terrorism in the 1980s. Jeff spent a significant amount of time doing accompaniment work in Central America and Mexico, working with, and learning from, movement organizers in those countries. He has written several books including “A People’s History of Grand Rapids.
Friday, May 16 at 4:30 to 6 pm. Bridge Takeover Protest. Fuller Ave. over I-196. Park on side streets north of the 1-196 or at Kent Community Hospital
EVENTS FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Monday, May 12 at 12 pm. Tesla Takedown. Tesla Showroom in Grand Rapids, 2919 29th St SE.
Friday, May 16 at 5 pm. People’s Assembly. Linc Up Gallery, 341 Hall St SE. Learn how to be in solidarity with immigrants. Sponsored by Movimiento Cosecha GR and GR Rapid Response to ICE
Ongoing. Sundays at 1 pm. Join the Protest for Progress - a weekly demonstration hosted by the Grand Rapids Trans Foundation in Monument Park on Fulton Street, GR
What We're Monitoring
Following is information about introduced Bills that our Research Committee is keeping an eye on. Come back here as often as you’d like to find an update. We’ll edit this at least once a week.
Please let us know if you find this newsletter helpful by pressing the ❤️ button at the top or bottom of this email. You can also click on the thought-bubble icon 💬 and leave us a comment or question. Not only does the team at IGGR want your feedback but you help us make this communication better for all. Thank you for reading.
For faster updates or other info - join our private Facebook Group and follow us on Bluesky - @indivisibleggr.bsky.social.
Thank you so much for all of this information and the incredibly hard work you do for us!
Info on June 14?