Democracy Archives - Generation Progress https://genprogress.org/category/issues/democracy/ Young people working for progressive change. Thu, 16 Dec 2021 18:32:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 Redistricting Is Already Underway–Here’s How To Make it Fair https://genprogress.org/redistricting-is-already-underway-heres-how-to-make-it-fair/ Wed, 15 Dec 2021 19:35:51 +0000 https://genprogress.org/?p=50955 Even though redistricting is a battle primarily fought in the halls of state legislatures, it has national implications. For young people, the results of this process are extremely significant.

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Every ten years, the United States conducts a national census, and the results of that census inform a wide range of policy decisions–from where hospitals are built to how much funding each state receives for Medicaid. Critically, the Census also determines the number of seats each state is allocated in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Due to the change in population counts and subsequent reallocation of House seats, all states must redraw their legislative district maps, a process that is known as redistricting. Following the results of the 2020 Census, redistricting is well underway in state legislatures across the nation–but the process can be contentious. 

Even though redistricting is a battle primarily fought in the halls of state legislatures, it has national implications. For young people, the results of this process are extremely significant, as many of these maps will stay in place for a decade until the next Census and redistricting process occurs in 2030. Learning about how we can take action to combat some of the nefarious partisan activity that impacts redistricting will help us to advocate for a more fair and representative democracy.  

Challenges to Fair Redistricting  

1. Redistricting Committees Work To Diminish the Power of Communities of Color.  

Gerrymandering, a term for the manipulation of legislative district"™s boundaries to give one political party an advantage, can greatly influence which party has more electoral power in the state"™s Congressional delegation. All too often, it robs power from non-white voters by "cracking and packing" communities of color. States may "crack" communities so that voters of color constitute a small percentage of many districts and don"™t hold a majority in any district. Conversely, states may also "pack" voters of color into one district, resulting in people of color making up a large majority of one or two districts, with white people making up a slimmer majority (but a majority nonetheless) in all other districts. 

The Texas congressional maps are an example that has drawn widespread attention, as the state is gerrymandered on every level, from the State Board of Education to U.S. House Districts. Texas lawmakers used gerrymandering to pack Hispanic voters into fewer districts and dilute the presence of Black communities in other districts. 95 percent of Texas"™s population growth since 2010 was due to people of color, and Texas added eleven new Hispanic residents for every new white, non-Hispanic resident. Despite this, Texas lawmakers managed to add a majority-white congressional district and eliminate a majority-Hispanic district. Texas lawmakers also cut the state"™s only majority-Black district in the 2020 redistricting process.  Only 39.8 percent of the Texas population is white, yet white people constitute the majority in 59.3 percent of legislative districts. 

Maps like the ones from Texas reinforce systemic racism by giving white voters control of more districts, which ultimately comes with the political power to choose the majority of the representatives in Congress. This disproportionate allocation of power also results in voters of color having less opportunities to elect representatives who are committed to solving issues faced by communities of color, slowing down progress on racial justice. 

2. College Campuses Are Targeted by Right-Wing Politicians. 

College campuses have a high concentration of young people in a small geographic area. Because young people are more progressive on average than older generations, many college campuses are surrounded by large blocks of progressive, student voters, making them a prime target for partisan gerrymandering. College campuses are sometimes cracked and diluted into surrounding districts, while other states may opt to pack multiple colleges into a single district. Both outcomes result in college-age populations having less political power.  

Additionally, minority-serving institutions are nearly twice as likely to be gerrymandered compared to institutions that primarily serve white students. Until 2020, North Carolina A&T State University, the country’s largest historically Black university, had a congressional line drawn through the middle of campus, dividing the college into two different House districts. Before a court decision required the campus to be contained into one congressional district, students would frequently cross the district line on the walk from their dormitory to the lecture halls.

3. Prison Populations Are Used To Decide District Populations–Even Though Most Incarcerated People Can"™t Vote. 

Prison gerrymandering occurs when the Census Bureau includes prison populations in population counts for congressional districts, meaning incarcerated people’s "usual place of abode" is defined as the prison or jail where they are incarcerated. However, many incarcerated people cannot vote due to practical or legal barriers, and many serve sentences as short as six months, meaning their location in the jail was only temporary when officials conducted the Census.  

 Prison gerrymandering primarily harms people of color and young people, two groups that are disproportionately jailed. Before the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau asked the public for feedback on its residency definitions. The Bureau received nearly 78,000 public comments about prison populations, and 99.9 percent said incarcerated people should be counted in the community they call home, not the place they are incarcerated. By not counting incarcerated people as residents of their home community, prison gerrymandering disproportionately shifts power away from over-policed communities of color and to the permanent residents of prison towns, who tend to be white. In sixteen states, over 75 percent of the incarcerated population is incarcerated in a disproportionately white county. Many of these districts have more Black Americans who are incarcerated than Black Americans who are not. 

Take Action 

In 32 states, the state legislature controls redistricting, which can be problematic because the party in power may choose to draw a map that is more favorable to them. But it doesn"™t have to be this way! Some states use non-partisan or independent commissions, which prohibit incumbent politicians and party officials from making redistricting decisions. While we should continue to work towards broader redistricting reform that includes criteria to prohibit partisan gerrymandering, there is still action you can take right now to promote fairness during redistricting. 

1. Pass the Freedom To Vote Act 

The Freedom To Vote Act (FTVA) would increase transparency and accountability by requiring redistricting commissions to publish the data used to create maps. States would be required to use computer modeling to assess a map"™s partisan impact and decide its fairness using formal criteria. Legal challenges to partisan gerrymanders would automatically be referred to a federal district court in Washington D.C. 

The FTVA would also apply, even retroactively, to all maps drawn after the 2020 census, meaning it isn"™t too late to reverse the gerrymandered maps that states have already produced. Tell Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act today! 

2. Testify 

Most states take public testimony into consideration when redistricting. Preparing written or spoken testimony about the redistricting process is a great way to engage with your legislators and represent your community. 

Testifying is your opportunity to explain to mapmakers how their decisions will directly impact you and your community members–and young voices need to be heard in this process. Check out the FiveThirtyEight project to learn more about redistricting in your state, including how to testify. 

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Five Abortion Stories That Show We Need to Increase Access https://genprogress.org/abortion-stories-wetestify/ Thu, 02 Dec 2021 15:42:25 +0000 https://genprogress.org/?p=50939 While abortion remains legal in all 50 states, decades of challenges to Roe v. Wade by anti-abortion groups and lawmakers have made it so many people aren't able to access their right to bodily autonomy.

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While abortion remains legal in all 50 states, decades of challenges to Roe v. Wade by anti-abortion groups and lawmakers have made it so many people aren"™t able to access their right to bodily autonomy. Through medically unnecessary restrictions people of color, rural communities, young people, LGBTQI+ people, people with disabilities, immigrants, and those struggling to make ends meet have been most affected. 

In 2021, Generation Progress partnered with We Testify to launch the below Instagram series that outlines some of the root causes of reproductive oppression. The experiences show how five women navigated these barriers while accessing abortion care. 

The right to abortion isn"™t real if only some people can access it. If you agree, join us by demanding lawmakers pass a proactive abortion agenda. 

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Abortion Rights Are on the Line–Here’s What You Need to Know https://genprogress.org/abortion-rights-are-on-the-line-heres-what-you-need-to-know/ Tue, 23 Nov 2021 21:47:29 +0000 https://genprogress.org/?p=50918 For the first time since Roe v. Wade was decided nearly 50 years ago, the Supreme Court will soon weigh in on a case that directly threatens the core holding of our constitutional right to abortion. The decision that the Court makes could have a lasting impact on the future of abortion rights and access in America.

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For the first time since Roe v. Wade was decided nearly 50 years ago, the Supreme Court will soon weigh in on a case that directly threatens the core holding of our constitutional right to abortion. The decision that the Court makes could have a lasting impact on the future of abortion rights and access in America.

In 1973, the Court recognized that we all have a constitutional right to abortion care, free of excessive interference from the government. In the decades since anti-abortion groups and lawmakers have repeatedly challenged Roe in an attempt to ultimately ban abortion. In doing so,  they"™ve made accessing care harder for everyone.

In Mississippi, abortion may soon be outlawed after 15 weeks of pregnancy. This law is the basis of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case that the Supreme Court heard on December 1, 2021. If a majority of justices rule in favor of the law, the precedent set by Roe would be overturned–and our constitutional right to abortion would be decimated. In Mississippi, all abortion clinics but Jackson Women’s Health Organization have closed, making it nearly impossible for people to access safe, legal abortion care in the state. 

Sadly, Mississippi isn"™t the only state where abortion access is a problem. Depending on where you live, there may be a 24- or 48-hour waiting period between a consultation appointment and when you can get your abortion. You may be forced to undergo a medically unnecessary ultrasound before you can terminate. Your nearest clinic may be miles away and/or backlogged. Lack of insurance coverage may result in unaffordable costs. Laws may dictate your timing of, if, and when you can get an abortion. You may also be given false information from anti-abortion volunteers posing as health care workers at crisis pregnancy centers. Anti-abortion laws and policies may supersede your decision-making and autonomy. 

Our abortion rights have been in danger for a long time, but this year it"™s only gotten worse. In 2021, more states have passed abortion restrictions that can cause significant challenges to receiving care than any other year. This is the erosion of reproductive rights and justice in America.

Earlier this year, Texas enacted S.B.8–a law that bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy and authorizes ordinary people to sue anyone who helps someone get an abortion past that point. Six weeks of pregnancy is only two weeks after a missed period, a time when most people don"™t yet know they"™re pregnant. Regardless of this fact, the Supreme Court refused to block the law in September, forcing hundreds of people to travel out-of-state to get care and others to continue with a pregnancy they do not want. If Roe is overturned, this situation could be the new reality for birthing people across the country.

We have to protect our constitutional right to abortion and push legislators to go above and beyond it. If Roe is overturned, abortion would immediately be banned in 24 states as a result of insidious trigger laws that are designed to take effect the moment the abortion is no longer protected. These people would have to drive an average of 4.5 hours to get an abortion, and the impact would fall hardest on people of color, rural people,  young people, LGBTQI+ people, people with disabilities, immigrants, and those struggling to make ends meet. Abortion access is an issue of racial equity and economic justice. It"™s a simple, essential, health care service that allows individuals to have control over their future. While it could be months before the Court releases its decision on Dobbs, we won"™t give up this fight.

The Women’s Health Protection Act would protect abortion rights by establishing a statutory right for health care professionals to provide abortion care and patients to receive it. It also eliminates some key barriers to abortion access, including mandatory waiting periods, biased counseling, two-trip requirements, and mandatory ultrasounds. The bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, but it still has to get through the Senate to become law. 

We have to transform how abortion is treated in this country, especially for those whose abortion rights have been most obstructed."¯Tell your elected officials to protect abortion access and ask your senators to pass the Women"™s Health Protection Act. This is how we can save Roe and go even further.

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Protect Our Vote, Protect Our Communities https://genprogress.org/protect-our-vote-protect-our-communities/ Tue, 19 Oct 2021 19:27:35 +0000 https://genprogress.org/?p=50759 The Freedom to Vote Act, a landmark pro-voter bill currently being considered by Congress, would be a significant step towards establishing a more inclusive and representative democracy and eventually passing gun violence prevention legislation that saves lives. 

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The United States has a gun violence problem: in 2020, over 43,000 people in this country were victims of gun violence, and 2021 is on pace to be the worst year for gun violence in decades. But despite the efforts of many young activists and advocates and overwhelming public support,  Congress has failed to pass common sense gun violence prevention laws.  This inaction is due, in part, to deep, systemic flaws in our democracy. Gerrymandering, voter suppression, and the influence of "dark money" in politics–among other issues–have created a nearly impassable divide between the gun violence prevention measures that voters want and the laws that legislators are willing to pass. The Freedom to Vote Act, a landmark pro-voter bill currently being considered by Congress, would work to undo that. The bill would be a significant step towards establishing a more inclusive and representative democracy and eventually passing gun violence prevention legislation that saves lives. 

Gerrymandering 

Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral districts to give an unfair advantage to a political party or politician. It is often done to consolidate power and reduce the influence of voters who politicians expect to oppose them. One party may earn the majority of the votes in a state, but depending on how the districts are drawn, the other party could receive the majority of district seats. For example, in 2018, North Carolina Democrats won 51.2 percent of the votes for the state House of Representatives and 50.5 percent for the state Senate. But due to gerrymandering, North Carolina Republicans won majority control of both chambers. Similar things have happened in states throughout the country, giving an advantage to either party based on how the districts are drawn. Considering that 53 percent of all Americans and 81 percent of Democrats support stricter gun laws, gerrymandering does not allow fair representation of the democratic process. The Freedom to Vote Act would completely ban partisan gerrymandering, not allowing either party to take advantage of the redistricting process. The bill would also ensure transparency in the redistricting process.

Dark Money In Politics

Large corporations and special interest groups have power and money that ordinary voters don"™t. These organizations spend their considerable resources on campaign donations, political advertising, and lobbying to persuade elected officials to act in their best interests. The special interest groups that have a vested interest in preventing gun violence prevention measures from becoming law, including the National Rifle Association (NRA), have been particularly successful.

The NRA, which is funded in part by gun manufacturers, have spent decades blocking life-saving gun violence prevention legislation through a coordinated campaign to exert political and financial pressure over candidates and elected officials. The most staunchly anti-gun reform politicians have more than likely received numerous contributions to their campaigns from groups like the NRA. The Freedom to Vote Act would help put an end to this. The bill would require super PACs, 501(c)4 groups and other organizations spending money in elections and on judicial nominations to disclose donors who contribute more than $10,000, create a 6-1 matching system for smaller donations to give ordinary people a stronger voice, and overhaul the Federal Election Commission to ensure that the agency does its job and investigates violations of the law.

Voting Accessibility

Decades of gun violence in our schools and communities have shifted the public opinion on guns, and it"™s now clear that the majority of Americans want laws that will help prevent gun violence. Voting is one way for Americans to make their views and priorities known, but rampant voter suppression efforts that disproportionately affect young people and people of color mean that the freedom to vote has been eroded to the point where many Americans aren"™t able to cast a ballot. The Freedom to Vote Act would create a national standard for voting rights protections and make voting more accessible to all Americans. The bill would require all states to offer an early voting period at least two weeks before election day and expand vote-by-mail, giving voters more flexibility to cast their ballots in a way that works for them. The bill would also standardize voter ID laws, which currently vary greatly on a state-by-state level, meaning that people will have a clearer idea of what they need in order to vote. These provisions are especially important to young voters, who face disproportionate barriers to registering to vote and voting. 

Conclusion

When the people have the power in our democracy, we get better public policy. Through a number of insidious laws and policies, the democratic process has slowly been chipped away and people"™s voices have been silenced. Extremist politicians have introduced over 400 bills nationwide to suppress our votes, and they are gerrymandering states to disenfranchise millions of American voters. The Freedom to Vote Act would begin to undo these policies and allow the people to vote for legislation that they support. The Freedom to Vote Act would not only have lasting ramifications on gun violence prevention, but would also impact policy across many different areas, including climate change, reproductive rights, and more. It is critical that the Senate pass this bill to strengthen our democracy and put the power back in the hands of the people.

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EVENT: How Fixing Our Broken Democracy Could Get Us Action on Climate Change https://genprogress.org/event-how-fixing-our-broken-democracy-could-get-us-action-on-climate-change/ Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:52:07 +0000 https://genprogress.org/?p=50708 In order for us to see real progress on the issues we care about, like the climate crisis, we need a democracy that works and includes all our voices.

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Did you know that passing pro-voter legislation can help us tackle climate change? To see progress on the urgent issues that our generations care about, like the climate crisis, we need a democracy that represents us all. 

Congress can help us get there by passing critical bills like the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would protect voters from discrimination and voter suppression. By having a democracy that works and has all of our voices represented, we can begin to see real progress on the issues that matter most to us.

On October 15, 2021, Generation Progress and our friends hosted a virtual event where we discussed the ways that bold investments in climate, democracy reform, and voting rights are all deeply connected, and how we can all take action. Watch the recording:

Use the buttons below to join the movement.

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Four Things You Need to Know About the Texas Abortion Ban https://genprogress.org/four-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-texas-abortion-ban/ Fri, 24 Sep 2021 18:15:24 +0000 https://genprogress.org/?p=50646 The Supreme Court's decision not to block the Texas abortion ban is a major blow for reproductive rights, but the battle isn't over yet. Here's what young people need to know about this law.

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In May 2021, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law a piece of legislation that effectively bans abortion care after six weeks. Activists and advocates managed to prevent the law from taking effect initially, but now that the Supreme Court has refused to grant an emergency request to block the ban, it has proceeded to be implemented. Here"™s what you need to know as the law takes effect in Texas.

How does the Texas abortion ban work?

Like many abortion bans, this law prohibits abortion care as soon as early cardiac activity can be detected, around the sixth week of pregnancy. While six weeks may sound like a long time, the clock begins on the date of a person"™s last menstrual period–so for many people, the sixth week of pregnancy may be just two weeks after a missed period. For this reason, most abortions don"™t take place until after this window closes. In Texas, at least 85 percent of abortions take place after the sixth week of pregnancy.

What makes this law uniquely egregious is how it is enforced. Unlike similar laws, the Texas abortion ban doesn"™t rely on state officials. Instead, the law authorizes private citizens to sue anyone who helps a person obtain abortion care after six weeks. Anyone can be sued, from doctors to rideshare drivers to friends and family. In addition, the law offers a $10,000 reward to those who win their lawsuits. The result is a bounty system that incentivizes anti-abortion vigilantes to interfere with abortion care.

How does the Texas abortion ban impact young people?

Young people are especially impacted by the Texas abortion ban. Already, young people are more likely to need abortion care and less likely to be able to access it for logistical and financial reasons. Even before this ban, Texas already had a myriad of abortion restrictions in place such as parental consent and notification requirements, biased counseling to discourage and shame those seeking an abortion, mandatory and medically unnecessary ultrasound requirements, limited coverage of abortions under private and public insurance, and a 24 hour waiting period. The Texas abortion ban adds to the burden young people face by making it so that nearly anyone seeking abortion care after the sixth week of pregnancy must travel out of state, imposing a huge cost in terms of money and time that many young people are unable to afford. The Guttmacher Institute estimates that because of S.B. 8, the average one-way driving distance to an abortion clinic would increase from 17 miles to 247 miles, more than 14 times the distance for care. Young people from Black, Latinx, rural, undocumented, and low-income communities are even less likely to be able to make the journey.

What"™s next?

While the Supreme Court"™s decision not to block the Texas abortion ban is a major blow for reproductive rights, the battle isn"™t over yet. In early September, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Texas over the new abortion ban. The Department of Justice is seeking a judgment declaring the Texas abortion ban invalid, as well as a “preliminary and permanent injunction against the State of Texas–including all of its officers, employees, and agents, including private parties” involved in enforcing the abortion ban.

Texas offers us a lesson: fighting for abortion rights on the state level is necessary, but isn"™t enough. If we want to protect abortion rights in America, we need action at all levels of government, especially at the federal level. Join us in calling for lawmakers to adopt a proactive abortion agenda and secure the right of every American to safe abortion care.

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EVENT: Recess Can Wait–Our Democracy Can't: Millennials & Gen Z https://genprogress.org/event-recesscanwait-our-democracy-cant/ Mon, 02 Aug 2021 20:40:28 +0000 https://genprogress.org/?p=50455 Before Congress left for August Recess, state legislators joined Generation Progress and young activists for a virtual event that called on the U.S. Senate to pass the For The People Act.

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Young people are critical players in our democracy, but our freedom to vote is under attack. In the last year, nearly 400 restrictive voting bills have been introduced across the country. This is in an attempt to make it harder for people of color and young people to vote after we turned out in droves in the 2020 election.

The For the People Act (S.1) would stop this by creating national standards to protect our freedom to vote, ensure fair representation for all, and ending the dark influence of corporate money in politics that inhibits our progress on so many fronts. We need to make sure public officials work in the interest of the public.

Before Congress left for August Recess, state legislators joined Generation Progress and young activists for a virtual event that called on the U.S. Senate to pass the For The People Act.

Use the buttons below to join the movement.

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Why Strengthening Our Democracy Is Key to Combating the Climate Crisis https://genprogress.org/why-protecting-voting-rights-is-also-key-to-combating-the-climate-crisis/ Wed, 21 Apr 2021 01:32:58 +0000 https://genprogress.org/?p=50259 Young people believe in climate action that confronts racial, economic, and environmental injustice–and voting is one way for us to make our voices heard. We need democracy reform that ensures that voters, not big money, have the power in our democracy.

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Over the past several years, Americans have seen leaders in our highest political offices take steps to sow distrust in our democracy and attempt to destroy it from the inside out. Simultaneously, many of the same leaders have continued to deny the existence of climate change and systematically destroy key regulatory protections that seek to slow or halt the destruction of our environment. Unsurprisingly, the fights to end climate change and build a stronger democracy go hand in hand. It is not possible to enact proper solutions to the climate crisis without a functioning democracy–specifically, one that works for the people and not corporate interests. 

What Are the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act? 

The For The People Act (HR 1/S 1) is a transformative bill currently being considered in Congress that includes multiple policy solutions designed to build a stronger democracy that will more fairly represent all people, including marginalized communities that often have been kept from realizing the American dream

 This bill would: 

  • Increase fair access to the ballot box, making it easier to vote
  • End the dominance of big money in politics
  • Ensure public officials work in the interest of the public

The bold policy solutions that young people have long called for have a much better chance of being enacted if we have a democracy that works for all of us, not just some of us. The For the People Act is a unique opportunity to fix the problems in our democracy and give the will of voters a bigger role in deciding U.S. public policy. At present, this bill has passed the House of Representatives and is currently pending in the Senate.

The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) sought to eliminate racial discrimination in voting; however, in recent years, key provisions of the VRA have been dismantled. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, known in the previous Congress as H.R. 4, would strengthen the Voting Rights Act and restore key protections for voters across the country. This bill would reestablish the rule that any changes to voting laws that could potentially discriminate against voters based on race must undergo a federal review process, known as pre-clearance. It was named after Georgia representative and civil rights activist John Lewis, who dedicated his life to fighting for the right of every American to be able to vote free from racial discrimination.

Why Does This Matter?

The For The People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act are two key pieces of legislation that seek to reform our democracy and transform it into one that works for all of us. Both of these bills would improve access to voting, protect the votes and voices of constituents by stopping partisan gerrymandering and reducing the outsize role of big money in politics, and ensure that public officials work for us. 

For too long, under-resourced communities and communities of color–particularly the Black community–have been disenfranchised. As of this March, the Brennan Center for Justice found that 361 voter suppression bills have been introduced or enacted in 47 states since the November 2020 election. There is a coordinated and organized movement working to suppress participation and representation in our democracy and concentrate power in the hands of those who already hold it. These bills would pave the way towards a future that is more inclusive and equitable, and give voters a clear way to communicate our priorities, from climate change to gun violence prevention, racial justice, healthcare, and more. 

What Does This Have To Do With the Climate Crisis? 

Solving the climate crisis will require a functioning democracy. When voters have fair access to the ballot box, we are able to cast our ballots for the issues that matter the most to us. The communities that have seen their rights to vote chipped away at are the same ones disproportionately experiencing the damaging effects of the climate crisis. These frontline communities know better than anyone else the solutions that are needed to address climate change in their neighborhoods. It is imperative that they are able to cast their votes for the politicians who will best represent them. 

Young people believe in climate action that confronts racial, economic, and environmental injustice. Voting is one concrete way for young Americans to make our voices heard and ensure that our priorities are acted upon by the people we elect to public office. When we are able to cast our votes freely, safely, and securely, we can ensure that the politicians we elect will take the bold action necessary to confront the climate crisis.

The For the People Act will also reduce the huge influence of big money and secret dark money in politics. For too long, corporate and special interests have had an outsized influence in our political system, guiding policies to benefit them, and not voters. This corrupted system has allowed lawmakers to ignore what everyday Americans want. For example, in the 117th Congress, there are currently 139 elected officials who deny the science and reality of climate change. These same 139 officials have collected a total of over $61 million in campaign contributions from the oil, gas, and coal industries. Climate denial, especially when directly funded by the fossil fuel industry, is a dangerous belief to have, as we don"™t have time to waste on not  addressing the climate crisis.

What Can You Do?

Young people have long demanded more from our government, and we turned out in record numbers during the 2020 presidential election in order to make our voices heard and show that we are looking for strong leadership on climate. To date, President Biden has taken this directive seriously, using many of the core tools and power available to him to address the climate crisis–but there is still more action needed. It is now up to Congress to meet this moment and do their part by passing the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. The climate crisis can"™t wait. Use our tool to tell lawmakers to pass the For the People Act. Then, call on Congress to prioritize frontline communities and the climate in future economic recovery packages. 

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Beyond the Presidency: How Biden Appointees Can Take Action on Youth Issues https://genprogress.org/beyond-the-presidency-how-biden-appointees-can-take-action-on-youth-issues/ Mon, 22 Mar 2021 17:58:52 +0000 https://genprogress.org/?p=50169 Here's what young people can expect from the various departments and agencies under the Biden-Harris administration when it comes to the policy priorities that they want to see enacted. 

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Young people have been consistent leaders in movements that advocate for progressive solutions to the issues facing this country–and we are creating substantive change. In November, young people under the age of 35 turned out to vote in historic numbers in large part because of our desire for progressive solutions to issues like the climate crisis, systemic racism, and the gun violence epidemic. Throughout the campaign, Millennials and members of Generation Z made it clear that we want to see action from our government. Now that the election is over and a new administration has come into office, it"™s important for us to know who has influence over the issues we care about and who is responsible for enacting the solutions we want to see.    

On January 20th, President Biden took the oath of office to become the 46th president of the United States. And a new president is just the start when it comes to changes in the executive branch of government. One of Biden"™s first tasks as president has been appointing the leaders of the departments and agencies that make up the rest of the executive branch. This change in leadership will have a massive impact on many of the issues that young people care about.  

The new executive branch will include the President"™s Cabinet which consists of heads of executive departments, independent agencies and other boards, commissions, and committees. These high-level officials serve as advisors to the president, using their expertise to inform the president"™s decision-making. Within the departments and agencies that they lead, they are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws and policies. They administer programs, make funding decisions, and collect and analyze data. These agencies set the stage for what is possible in an administration, meaning that the leaders of federal departments and agencies will directly impact whether or not the goals of our generations are accomplished. This is why leadership change is so important and thinking beyond the seat of the presidency is critical. 

Many of President Biden"™s appointees require Senate confirmation. As those confirmation hearings and votes continue, we wanted to break down exactly what young people can expect from the various departments and agencies under the Biden-Harris administration when it comes to the policy priorities that they want to see enacted. 

Student Debt

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

The CFPB is tasked with protecting American consumers by regulating products and services that fall under federal consumer laws. The bureau also aims to empower consumers to make informed financial decisions through the spread of information and educational resources. In terms of student debt, the CFPB has the power to protect borrowers through the regulation of servicers and lenders. 

Biden-Harris Appointee: Rohit Chopra

Rohit Chopra is currently a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission, and has previously served as the assistant director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), where he worked directly on protections for people with student loans. Chopra has also served as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, where he worked alongside Generation Progress to address the student debt crisis.

Status: Awaiting confirmation

Department of Education (ED)

The Department of Education may be best known for its role in supporting and strengthening K-12 education. However, ED also regulates and enforces rules to limit or expand the power of student loan lenders, services, banks, and colleges and universities. The department has significant power to act on student debt–including, most notably, the power to cancel student debt in part or in whole. It also has the power to shore up regulations that prevent predatory institutions from  defrauding students and borrowers. The Secretary of Education can lead this department to protect borrowers through regulatory rulemaking, cancelling student loans, and issuing guidance on how federal funding for colleges can be used.  

Biden-Harris Appointee: Miguel Cardona

Miguel Cardona is a former teacher and has previously served as the Connecticut Commissioner of Education.

Status: Confirmed

Climate

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The EPA protects natural resources like air, land, and water to defend human and environmental health. The agency leads the country in developing and enforcing federal climate policy and conducts research to further public understanding of environmental health and risks. The Administrator of the EPA has the power to fight climate change by putting in place health and environmental safeguards, creating jobs in clean energy technology, and instating more forceful environmental protections and regulations. And importantly, they can prioritize policies that build resilience in frontline communities and embed environmental justice in all the work they advance. 

Biden-Harris Appointee: Michael S. Regan

Michael S. Regan previously served as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and has also served as Air Quality Controller for the EPA under Pres. Obama. The Biden administration has indicated that it will prioritize environmental justice in its climate policy, acknowledging that BIPOC communities are often most impacted by pollution, natural disasters, and other manifestations of climate change. 

Status: Confirmed

Department of the Interior (DOI)

The Department of the Interior is tasked with conservation and management of the country"™s natural resources. The department also works closely alongside Indigenous communities to protect public lands. The Interior Secretary has the power to address the climate crisis by implementing comprehensive regulations and protective measures and prevent pollution and exploitation of natural resources by corporate interests.  

Biden-Harris Nominee: Representative Deb Halaand

Rep. Haaland is a U.S. Representative from New Mexico’s 1st congressional district. Rep. Haaland is the first Indigenous person to serve as a Cabinet secretary in U.S. history. Her nomination was enthusiastically supported by many young and Indigenous advocates.

Status: Confirmed

Department of Energy (DOE)

The Department of Energy develops scientific and technological solutions to address energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges.The Secretary of Energy has the power to combat climate change by supporting research and innovation that would cut down on carbon pollution, develop further production of renewable and clean energy.

Biden-Harris Nominee: Jennifer Granholm

Jennifer Granholm is the former Governor of Michigan, and the first woman to ever serve in that role.

Status: Confirmed

Gun Violence Prevention

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The Department of Health and Human Services serves the public by advancing medicine, public health, and social services. The department has the power to combat the gun violence epidemic by declaring gun violence to be a public health emergency, which could result in the allocation of additional resources to address the issue and the promotion of community-led gun violence prevention measures at the federal, state, and local level.  

Biden-Harris Nominee: Xavier Becerra

Xavier Becerra is the current Attorney General of California and a former U.S. Representative from California. 

Status: Confirmed

Department of Justice (DOJ)

The DOJ is tasked with enforcing federal gun laws and regulating the gun industry, among its many duties. This department has the power to shape our criminal legal system, combat police brutality and white supremacy, and use a racial equity lens to address gun violence by supporting a public health approach and community-centered violence solutions. The department is led by the Attorney General.  

Biden-Harris Nominee: Merrick Garland

Attorney General Garland previously served as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. 

Status: Confirmed

Immigration

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The Department of Homeland Security oversees security efforts in the areas of border security, immigration and customs enforcement, cyber security, and anti-terrorism security. The department also houses the Customs and Border Protection (CBP),  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The DHS Secretary has the power to work with President Biden to implement immigration policy that centers human dignity and provides a pathway to citizenship.

Biden-Harris Appointee: Alejandro Mayorkas

Alejandro Mayorkas is the first Latinx person and immigrant to lead this Department. Mayorkas served in prominent DHS roles during the Obama administration, including Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and Deputy DHS Secretary, and led the development and implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. 

Status: Confirmed

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

As discussed in the section on gun violence prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services serves the public through advancing medicine, public health and social services. The department, via the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), is also responsible for ensuring the care and safety of "unaccompanied children"–children who do not have lawful immigration status in the United States, are under the age of 18, and do not have a parent or legal guardian in the United States.

Biden-Harris Nominee: Xavier Becerra

Xavier Becerra is the current Attorney General of California and a former U.S. Representative from California. 

Status: Confirmed

Conclusion

When young people turned out to vote in November, we voted for a president and vice president. But the impact of our votes extends far beyond those two positions, leading to new people in key positions that will determine U.S. policy for years to come. With this new leadership, young people can expect to see bolder interagency solutions to the urgent issues facing our country that meet the needs of the lived experiences of us all. Over the coming months and years, young people will be paying close attention to who is leading these agencies, what their policy priorities are, and what they are able to accomplish. We expect these new leaders–not just the president–to keep the needs of young people in mind as they go about their work, and we look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together. 

The post Beyond the Presidency: How Biden Appointees Can Take Action on Youth Issues appeared first on Generation Progress.

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A Look Back at Some of Young People’s Priorities in Month One of the Biden-Harris Administration https://genprogress.org/a-look-back-at-some-of-young-peoples-priorities-in-month-one-of-the-biden-harris-administration/ Mon, 01 Mar 2021 20:06:14 +0000 https://genprogress.org/?p=50124 Without the work of young people who marched, made calls, sent emails, and spread the word, the gains of the last month would not have been possible. There is still significant work to be done, but it is clear that our generations are up for the challenge.

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Last November, young Americans turned out in significant numbers to cast their ballots in the 2020 presidential election. For many of these voters, their participation in the election was preceded by months or years of advocating for bold, progressive policies on the issues that matter to them–and their decision to cast their ballots for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris reflected the potential they saw in making real change under a Biden-Harris administration. On January 20th, in large part because of the participation of young voters, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris began their tenures as President and Vice President of the United States. 

In just over a month, the Biden-Harris administration has  taken meaningful action on some of the core issues that matter to Millennials and Generation Z, which is a testament to the work and power of young activists and organizers.

Advocacy and activism is hard, often emotionally draining work, and it is hugely important that we pause to celebrate these early accomplishments. It is also important to recognize the priorities that young voters and advocates are still hoping to see the Biden-Harris administration act on in the coming weeks and months–including gun violence prevention, student debt cancellation, continued support for a national $15 minimum wage, and additional rescue checks in the next COVID relief package.

Without the work of young people who marched, made calls, sent emails, and spread the word, the gains of the last month would not have been possible. There is still significant work to be done, but it is clear that our generations are up for the challenge and our efforts will continue to deliver results. 

COVID Pandemic and Economic Survival

More than 500,000 American citizens and residents have died due to  COVID-19. To slow the spread of the virus, people have physically distanced from others, been prevented from visiting friends and family, and countless people have lost jobs or income because of the economic fallout of the pandemic. To make matters worse, a recent study found that 40 percent of all U.S. COVID deaths were preventable, and a disastrous federal response to the pandemic by the Trump administration exacerbated the suffering. To put it simply, the collective loss is staggering.

It is, therefore, not surprising that ending the COVID pandemic polled as the top issue for young people during the election. Young Americans want swift and decisive action from the Biden-Harris administration to contain the pandemic and support those suffering from related economic hardship. The Biden-Harris administration has responded, including with the following actions:

  • Purchased 200 million more doses of COVID vaccines, increasing supply by 50 percent and giving the country enough vaccines to cover every American adult by the end of July. 
  • Significantly increased the distribution of vaccines to states and created new federal vaccination sites to administer the vaccines directly to people, especially those in communities that are most vulnerable.
  • Created the COVID-19 Health Equity Taskforce to mitigate health and social inequities caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and appointed Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith to lead the task force. Young Black voters ranked ending systemic racism and discrimination nearly as high as ending the COVID pandemic, which makes the creation of this taskforce particularly important. 
  • Invoked the Defense Production Act to expand and accelerate COVID testing and vaccine production and distribution, and to increase availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as gloves and N95 masks–the type of masks that provide the most effective filtration and protection, but which have largely been unavailable in the United States over the past year.
  • Expanded the role of Dr. Anthony Fauci–a trusted voice in the scientific community and among young Americans–to make him chief medical adviser and part of Biden"™s COVID-19 team, and empowered him to speak candidly with the American public about the state of the pandemic and the steps we must collectively take to contain it.
  • Nominated Xavier Becerra, a staunch defender of the Affordable Care Act and proponent of universal health care and abortion access, to serve as the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Proposed the American Rescue Plan, which would:
    • Provide $1400 relief checks per adult, to build on the $600 relief checks authorized by Congress in December 2020.
    • Provide support for adult dependents and mixed-status families, both of whom were excluded from one or both of the previous COVID relief packages.
    • Provide colleges with the necessary resources to implement public health protocols, execute distance learning plans, and provide emergency grants to students in need.  
    • Allocate an additional $35 billion in rental, mortgage, and homelessness assistance in order to address the housing insecurity that many young people are experiencing.

Climate Change and Environmental Justice

Young people across the world have been leading the movement to address climate change and environmental injustice; the same has been true in the United States, where young advocates have been the pulse of the climate movement. Climate change polled as a top concern for young voters during the election.

Immediately following Joe Biden"™s Democratic primary victory, young climate advocates called for Biden to revamp his climate plan and release a bolder, more ambitious climate platform. Biden responded with the most ambitious climate platform of any major party nominee, and through executive actions and senior-level appointments and nominations, President Biden has delivered numerous early victories in the climate space. The Biden-Harris administration"™s early climate policies and actions have drawn praise from groups including the Sunrise Movement. The administration"™s early actions include:

  • Signed an executive order within hours of taking office to re-join the Paris Agreement on climate change, the 2015 landmark accord in which the nearly 200 nation-signers commit to limit their greenhouse gas emissions. 
  • Revoked the permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would have brought oil from Alberta, Canada all the way to the Texas Gulf. The pipeline was opposed by numerous Indigenous and young (and young Indigenous) leaders in the climate movement, and Biden"™s early executive action on this is seen as a clear signal for the administration"™s stance on climate.
  • Instituted a pause on new leases for oil and natural gas development on federal lands and waters. 
  • Created, via executive order, the Justice40 Initiative, with the goal of delivering 40 percent of the overall benefits of relevant federal investments to disadvantaged communities and tracking performance toward that goal through the establishment of an Environmental Justice Scorecard. Centering the Justice40 Initiative alongside other early climate actions, provides an early indication of the Biden-Harris administration"™s commitment to environmental justice
  • Committed to an ambitious conservation goal of protecting 30 percent of U.S. land and coastal seas by 2030. Known as "30×30" in the conservation community, the effort will help fight climate change and reverse the destruction of our wildlife, waters, and natural places.
  • Established a White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council and a White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, "to prioritize environmental justice and ensure a whole-of-government approach to addressing current and historical environmental injustices, including strengthening environmental justice monitoring and enforcement through new or strengthened offices at the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Justice, and Department of Health and Human Services."
  • Established the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy, led by the first-ever White House National Climate Advisor, Gina McCarthy, reflecting the significance that climate issues will have in the Biden-Harris administration. McCarthy"™s appointment and early comments have been celebrated by young advocates. Ali Zaid, the new Deputy National Climate Advisor, has also been celebrated as a young leader who played a key role in developing the Obama administration"™s Climate Action Plan and helping negotiate the Paris Climate Agreement. 
  • Appointed John Kerry to serve as the first-ever United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, a role tasked with the global climate change crisis. In his role as Special Envoy for Climate, Kerry is also a member of the White House National Security Council. and elevated the role to cabinet-level
  • Nominated Representative Deb Haaland to serve as the Secretary of the Department of the Interior. If confirmed, Rep. Haaland will be the first-ever Indigenous person to serve as a Cabinet Secretary. Her nomination was advocated for by environmental activists.

Criminal Justice Reform

While climate change actions have taken center stage in the early days of the Biden-Harris administration, there have also been some promising steps taken to reform the criminal justice system and provide second chances to those who"™ve previously been convicted of a felony. Young people, ages 18 to 35, are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system–they make up 30 percent of the adult population, but 60 percent of adult arrests and 42 percent of prison admissions. The often-lifetime collateral consequences that follow a conviction can have profound negative impacts on people"™s ability to obtain living-wage employment, stable housing, and educational credentials. Young people"™s overrepresentation in the system is a major concern for generations that have already witnessed their parents"™ generation endure massive incarceration growth which began in the 1970s and accelerated in the early 1980s, which inflicted incalculable harm on Black, Indigenous, and Latino communities. The good news is that over the past few years a gradual decline has begun, and the Biden-Harris administration has taken early steps that demonstrate a desire to see that decline accelerate.

  • Issued an executive order to not renew federal contracts with private prisons. Roughly 12 percent of the total U.S. population is in federal prison, and about 16 percent of those in federal prison were held in private prisons. So, eliminating private prison contracts at the federal level will not eliminate mass incarceration nationally, but it does indicate that the Biden-Harris administration anticipates continued decreases in the federal prison population. Previously, private prisons have been used by the federal government when the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) runs out of capacity. Not renewing those contracts means that the BOP will need less capacity than it currently has, which means fewer people in prison. It is also noteworthy that this action came in week one of the Biden-Harris administration, whereas a similar order–which was widely celebrated by advocates–came in the final six months of the Obama administration before being rescinded under Donald Trump, showing that the progress made during the Obama administration is the foundation upon which the Biden-Harris administration will build, rather than the ceiling.
  • Eliminated exclusions for business owners with non-fraud felony convictions from accessing Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The Paycheck Protection Program was passed by Congress to help small businesses survive the COVID pandemic and economic fallout, but the Trump administration added rules during the implementation of PPP that excluded thousands of business owners who were arrested or convicted of a felony within the past year. The Biden-Harris administration eliminated those discriminatory restrictions.    
  • Reinstated prosecutorial discretion by rescinding former Attorney General Jeff Sessions"™ memo that prosecutors must "charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense." Acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson issued a memo to all federal prosecutors rolling back Sessions"™ harsh charging and sentencing policy and reinstated–on an interim basis–2010 guidance from former Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr. which requires prosecutors to make charging decisions based on an individualized assessment of each case. Advocates praised this move as a "clean break from the unjust tactics of over-incarceration."
  • Nominated experienced civil rights attorneys Vanita Gupta and Kristen Clarke as Associate Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, respectively. During the prior four years, the Department of Justice had been misused and–in some cases–leveraged to actually inflict harm in people"™s lives. From the deployment of BOP correctional officers to US cities during racial justice protests and uprisings, to joining court cases in opposition to LGBTQ rights and affordable healthcare, the new DOJ political leadership will have to reinspire confidence in both the agency"™s career staff and the country at-large. Nominees Vanita Gupta–who would serve as the number three official at the Department–and Kristen Clarke–who would lead the Civil Rights Division–are nationally-recognized civil rights attorneys whose confirmation would signal a significant shift in the Department"™s orientation, and provides an encouraging sign that the Biden-Harris administration will seriously address the issues of over-incarceration and discrimination against people with criminal records.  

Immigration

After four years of inhumane and xenophobic immigration policy under Trump–who made "Build The Wall" the rallying cry of his 2016 presidential election–it is heartening to see the Biden-Harris administration take immediate action to reverse some of the most harmful policies from that era and begin to chart a new path forward. The last year has seen a protracted battle over the Trump administration"™s unlawful termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that resulted in DACA recipients living in fear of being deported to countries that many of them do not even remember. The Supreme Court declared that termination unlawful in June of this year, and Biden has already affirmed that the policy will be protected under his leadership. In a positive step forward, the Biden-Harris administration has already introduced an ambitious bill with Congressional Democrats that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for most of the 11 million undocumented people in the United States, as well as eliminate restrictions on family-based immigration and expand worker visas. 

  • Ended the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policy, under which the Department of Justice criminally prosecuted all adults who crossed the border without documentation, with no exception for asylum seekers or parents of minor children, and without regard for individual circumstances. The zero-tolerance policy led to the separation of children from their parents and families, which drew widespread condemnation for its depravity and cruelty. 
  • Created a taskforce to reunite children who were separated from their families under the Trump administration"™s family separation policy. The taskforce will include the Secretary of Homeland Security, Secretary of State, the Secretary of Health and Human Service, and will include involvement from Julissa Reynoso, Chief of Staff to First Lady Dr. Jill Biden.
  • Ended the so-called "Muslim Ban." This ban, which barred people from seven Muslim-majority countries from traveling to the United States, was imposed by the Trump administration in 2017 and drew criticism for religious discrimination. 
  • Reaffirmed support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. On Biden"™s first day in office, he signed a presidential memorandum that directed the Secretary of Homeland Security and Attorney General to take action to preserve the program.
  • Ended the "Remain in Mexico" policy put in place by the Trump administration, which required asylum-seekers traveling to the U.S. from across the U.S.-Mexico border to await their immigration court date in Mexico. This policy left many vulnerable asylum-seekers in often dangerous and transient conditions.
  • Mandated incorporating undocumented immigrants into the census. The Trump administration tried (unsuccessfully) to add a citizenship question to the Census, which would likely deter immigrants from participating in the Census, resulting in an undercounting of the districts that they live in and reducing both federal funding and political power for those districts over the next ten years.
  • Terminated the construction and funding of the wall at the U.S. southern border.

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