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Call to Action: Protect Afghan Women and Support Urgent Afghan Refugee Resettlement
Over the last few days the world has been witness to the precipitate fall of the Afghan government and army. The rapid entry of the Taliban into all major Afghan cities has exposed countless American citizens and our Afghan allies to violence and retribution at the hands of the invading army. While the situation on the ground is rapidly changing, it is clear the U.S. government is making significant efforts to airlift out U.S. citizens, as well as those who were directly employed by the U.S. government. But it is not clear that there is a pathway to safety for women who are not directly employed by our government. Afghan…
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Open Letter to U.S. Senators Asking for Debate on S1 to Ensure Equal Citizen Access to Participate in Federal Elections
(To send this letter to your senators, please go here.) Dear Senators, E pluribus unum — out of many, one. We are deeply committed to this vision for our nation and believe it is reflected in our governing principles. As a nonpartisan organization made up of women with diverse political views, we have experienced the benefits of good faith discussion and compromise. As S1, the For the People Act, is brought to a vote, we ask you to come together with your colleagues and model open, intelligent, and collaborative governance, including honest debate. We ask for sincere engagement with legislative efforts that reflect the clear will of the American people…
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Call to Action: Request Your Senators Support a Bipartisan Commission to Investigate the January 6 Insurrection
On January 6, 2021, Americans watched, horrified, as an attack was carried out on our nation’s Capitol building, threatening all members of the U.S. Congress and hundreds of staff and security personnel. The result was tragic, with as many as 150 people injured or killed. This assault was not only physical but also symbolic, as it sought to disrupt the Constitutionally mandated process of certifying the electoral ballots. Motivated by a big lie, the insurrection was a bald-faced assault on the institutions and norms of American democracy. When America has been attacked in the past, as with the September 11 terrorist attacks, an independent bipartisan commission has been established to…
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Call to Action: Tell Your Utah State Reps to Delay Passing 2nd Amendment Sanctuary and Critical Race Theory Resolutions
On May 19, Utah will be holding a special legislative session to consider “crucial budget issues” and other bills added at the request of legislators. On May 17, Governor Cox approved 22 issues to be discussed in the special session. Although he had been asked to add establishing Utah as a Second Amendment sanctuary state and banning critical race theory to the approved topics list, Governor Cox declined to do so. Instead, he expressed support for delaying discussion of any legislation regarding establishing Utah as a Second Amendment sanctuary state or dealing with diversity, equity, and inclusion in education until those topics could be heard in a normal session. He…
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Earth Day Call to Action: Request Responsible Legislation for Environmental Stewardship
As women of faith, our ethic of environmental stewardship is informed by prophetic counsel. For example, President Russell M. Nelson proclaimed: “We should care for the earth, be wise stewards over it, and preserve it for future generations.” Likewise, MWEG’s Principle of Ethical Government (2f) states: “Governments and members of society have an obligation to exercise responsible stewardship of the earth, thereby protecting not only the wellbeing of their citizens, but also that of both future generations and other citizens of the planet (see D&C 59:18-21 and D&C 104:13-15).” We are at a critical juncture for taking effective action and implementing policy to mitigate the effects of climate change. This…
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Call to Action: Support Dreamers and Pass the Dream Act of 2021
UPDATE: On July 16, 2021, a federal judge ruled that accepting new DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) applications is illegal. While this does not change the status of current DACA recipients, it does bar new applicants, emphasizing the need for legislative action. The House passed the Dream Act, but the bill is currently held up in the Senate. We need to continue to encourage our senators to work together to find a legislative solution to ensure Dreamers are protected from deportation and are provided a reasonable pathway to permanent status. The American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 is a bipartisan bill that would provide permanent protection and a…
