Daily Dems Doing the Work, Making Noise, and Fighting Back Day 15

I don’t have a witty intro today, apologies. Let’s just dig in!

Rep Robert Garcia (CA-42)

Many elected officials spent the weekend back in their districts, and Rep Garcia spent some of Saturday at the local Long Beach DoE rally. He joined educators, state electeds and concerned citizens in the fight against demolishing the DoE. And, maybe because he was there, it got on the local news. If you’re wondering why it is so important for our electeds to come back to their districts weekly, this is why.

Sen Andy Kim (NJ)

Sen Kim was interviewed on Meet the Press yesterday. The whole interview is fantastic, especially what he says about USAID, but I think the most important part is when Kristen Welker asked about shutting down the government. She specifically mentioned that Sen Jeff Merkley (OR) has mentioned that that is not only on the table for Dems but something he vehemently supports as budget talks begin this month. Sen Kim confirmed that he agrees:

They are simply trying to dismantle the government, so yes, if we have to take steps to told them accountable, use the leverage that we have to force it, I cannot support efforts that will continue this lawlessness that we’re seeing when it comes to this administration’s actions

The list of Dem electeds who are willing and ready to take this step is growing by the day.

Members of the MD congressional delegation

They held a “Hands Off Our Social Security” rally at the Social Security offices this morning. I love the idea that different state delegations are focusing on different things. It makes it easier to not let anything fall through the cracks.

The turnout looks pretty good for a morning rally, and I love that Sen Chris Van Hollen live streamed it on YouTube, knowing that the media wouldn’t be posting it live.

It’s only 40 minutes, so if you have the time, I highly recommend watching the whole thing. Very energizing!

Sen Chris Van Hollen (MD) 0:00-7:54
Sen Angela Alsobrooks (MD) 8:03-15:47
Rep Kwaisi Mfume (MD-07) 16:01-20:00
Rep Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) 20:07-24:00
Rep Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) 24:07-27:08
Rich Couture AFGE Council 215 President 28:14-32:40
Martin O’Malley former commissioner of Social Security 32:50-36:16

Rep Brad Sherman (CA-32)

I’m sure people will have a problem with this win, but I don’t care. Any win against homelessness and for veterans is a win worth celebrating. Rep Sherman and R Rep Monica De La Cruz (TX-15) introduced “Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA)” It would change the HUD definition of annual income so that more disabled vets will be eligible for housing assistance. The bill passed the House today.

It’s so important to remember that while there are quite a lot of things that Republicans believe that are cartoonishly evil, we still have a few common goals, and those are why it is so important to contact your Republican elected officials daily and tell them your story of how these horrific executive orders are personally affecting you and your family.

I commend Rep Sherman for working with De La Cruz to pull this off and hope the Senate supports it as well. I don’t know what happens from here, but this is a win.

House Equality Caucus

People constantly say that Democrats in office don’t care about progressive values, don’t care about Trans people or queer people in general. Well, I’m happy to say we now know for a fact that that could not be more untrue

There are only 215 Democrats in the House. All but 24 of them are in the Equality Caucus three weeks into the 119th congress. So I hope that makes you feel more hopeful on the state of the elected Democrats, cause, that’s a pretty strong message.

And that’s the message I’m gonna end it on today. This doesn’t even cover half the stories that happened today, but if I covered them all, I would never sleep, or have any sort of life, for that matter.

Please remember to follow ALL Elected Dems, at least at the federal level, that way you will constantly see all the Dems doing the work, even the ones I don’t get to.

Your voice is your superpower, but only WHEN you use it.

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