Welcome to The Gov Hub Newsletter by Girl and the Gov®. This weekly pop of politics is designed to share action items, resources, and quick links to civic engagement tools and topics to inboxes far and wide. Typos included free of charge.

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THE ACTION ITEMS

Jump right in

ACTION 1:

The Ask: Tell your [federal] rep to support the LASO Act & support land access for young & BIPOC farmers.

The Action: Hit send on this pre-written digital note from the National Young Farmers Coalition.

The Background: If this bill is ringing a bell, it might be because you saw an overview of it here. For a quick refresh, the LASO Act or in long form, the Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act [H.R. 395] aims to make its home in the 2023 Farm Bill. In practice, it would ‘increase access to capital for underserved farmers, boost training and economic opportunity for beginner farmers, and help make land more affordable for young and Black, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC) farmers.’ The bill’s line items offer an opportunity to create opportunity for farmers.

ACTION 2:

The Ask: Put pen to paper, and show your support for taking back the House in 2024.

The Action: Digitally sign this petition from the House Majority PAC.

The Background: As you may know, the recent ruling (303 Creative v. Elenis) by SCOTUS against the LGBTQ+ community reiterates how important it is that the Dems retake the House. Without the majority, the safety, freedom, and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community are threatened by the dangerous moves and bills presented by the GOP. The petition enables you to show your support for taking back the House and supporting candidates who will fight for federal protections and the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

**This action item is sponsored by the House Majority PAC**

ACTION 3:

The Ask: Tell your [federal] reps to support the Break the Cycle of Violence Act to reduce gun violence.

The Action: Send this pre-written digital note from Brady United to your rep.

The Background: According to team Brady, the Break the Cycle of Violence Act would establish federal grant programs to support violence intervention initiatives in communities disproportionately impacted by homicides and community violence. By the numbers, that translates to communities that experience 20 or more homicides per year and have a homicide rate at least twice the national average, or communities that demonstrate a unique need for additional resources to intervene in gun and group-related violence. The grants would be used to implement hospital-based violence intervention programs, evidence-based street outreach programs, and group violence intervention strategies. The full line-up of what’s included can be viewed here

Looking for more action items? Check our library of past Gov Hub’s.

FULL SEND…TO A FRIEND

Just about guaranteed to make it to the group chat

• These Senators and Reps all drive EVs – and each other crazy, but that's neither here nor there. Also, Rep. Massie is a fan of his Tesla because as he told Politico, “One of the reasons I got it is in a zombie apocalypse, I can still drive around.” Do with that info as you may.

• What does it mean when the Fed raises interest rates? We’ll hand the mic over to Rep. Khanna for that:

• For the crew that loves to cook, host a watch party for No Borders, Just Flavors. Then, get the recipes to your inbox and try ‘em out together.

• Who is Rep. Anna Paulina Luna? An Instagram influencer and debatably a female George Santos.

• Whoever is on Senator Tina Smith’s digital team – give them a raise for integrating the phrase ‘soft landing the plane’ into her Twitter copy.

BACK ON OUR BILLSH*T

New bills, new BILLsh*t.

FEDERAL: The End Solitary Confinement Act was intro’d by a crew of House Dems and looks to change the parameters and applications of solitary confinement. Specifically, as reported by NBC News, if passed, the Act would put forth following:

• End solitary confinement in federal prisons, jails, and other detention settings with limited exceptions, including a 4-hour maximum for emergency de-escalation.

• Protect vulnerable populations from being placed in solitary confinement.

• Allow for longer-term separation from the general facility population while ensuring all people incarcerated in federal facilities have meaningful access to out-of-cell time, group programming, and basic needs and services.

• Impose strict due process protections, including access to representation and neutral decision-makers.

• Create oversight and enforcement mechanisms, including mandatory reporting, a private cause of action, oversight by a community monitoring body, and enhanced media access.

• Incentivize states and municipalities to adopt similar bans on solitary confinement.

FEDERAL: This bill and its sponsors said ‘let me reintroduce myself’ with the reintroduction of the Reproductive Health Accessibility Act. The bill is designed to make repro health care more accessible for disabled people and to increase the number of disabled people in the repro health care workforce. More specifically, the bill includes:

• $10 million to fund training programs for health-care professionals.

• $10 million for educational programs focused on the reproductive health needs of disabled people.

• $10 million to establish a new technical assistance center to provide recommendations and best practices regarding sexual and reproductive health care for people with disabilities.

• $15 million to expand the health-care workforce by increasing the representation of disabled people in the physician and nursing professions.

• $15 million to fund an in-depth study on reproductive health care for disabled people by the Department of Health and Human Services.

FEDERAL: This bill, introduced by renowned vegan and the driver of the most fashionable Barbie Jeep we’ve seen yet, would largely ban corporations from buying or leasing farms. Aptly named the Farmland for Farmers Act, aims to protect farmers, bring transparency to land ownership, and much more. If passed, it would:

• Restrict corporations, multilayered subsidiaries, pension funds and investment funds from purchasing or leasing agricultural land. These types of corporations would be allowed to continue owning farmland they already own, but these corporate owners would not have future access to USDA and Farm Credit System programs and benefits, which should not be used to underwrite speculative corporate farmland investments.

• Not apply to corporations with 25 or fewer shareholders, partners, members, or beneficial owners who are all actively engaged in farming; non-profit corporations; farmer cooperatives; or to farmland owned by a legal entity formed by owners of heirs’ property.

• Strengthen State authority to regulate corporations, both domestic and foreign, involved in farmland ownership.

• Authorize imposition of penalties on corporate entities that violate ownership restrictions.

FEDERAL: A bi-partisan bill with a name longer than the Mississippi, the ‘No Congressionally Obligated Recurring Revenue Used As Pensions To Incarcerate Officials Now Act’ takes a swing in DC corruption. The bill in its shortened name, the No CORRUPTION Act passed in the Senate at the hands of Senator Rosen [D-NV] and Senator Scott [R-FL], and “would bar Members of Congress from collecting taxpayer-funded pensions if they are convicted of felonies related to their official duties and preventing them from continuing to receive these taxpayer dollars post-conviction by dragging out the appeals process.”

And for a bill that passed the finish line:

NEW JERSEY: Governor Phil Murphy signed S1517 into law, which expands the qualifications for which a resident can get a restraining order related to stalking. The law now makes it possible for residents to get a restraining order against strangers, co-workers, or acquaintances that have stalked them. The law aims to close what is known as the ‘stranger loophole’ which prevented victims of stalking without a current or previous relationship to their stalker from being able to obtain a restraining order against them. The previous qualifications for a restraining order of this sort were categorized under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act and required there to be a relationship between the individuals in order for a restraining order to be issued.

THE ICK LIST

Rotten Eggs in Politics

• Operation Save America: This male, anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-Muslim religious group is the anti-thesis of what America should be, despite its name. The group, beside being distinctly anti-anything good in the world views, held an all-male panel in Georgia discussed: death penalty punishments for those that receive abortion care [so0o0o pro-life right?!], how if a woman is president something’s wrong, how women shouldn’t be preachers, oh, and how the fight over abortion could lead to a civil war. Our comment: sit down.

• Rudy Giuliani: He’s a repeat offender if the ick, and this has not been and will not be the only time this human hair dye drip ends up on this list. ICYMI Rudy admitted that he lied about two Georgia election workers [Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss] mishandling ballots in 2020, which caused heartache and harassment for both, online and IRL. The admission on its face is positive, but about three years late, having caused irreparable damage, and according to a statement from his advisor, they were just done to move the case ahead. Le ick.

• Ron DeSantis: Like the guy above – repeat ick list inclusion here. This particular inclusion however, is his disdain for a kid eating an ICEE. He hates Disney, human rights, and sugar – what a guy!

thedemocrats

View more on Instagram

• Senator Tuberville [R-AL]: In case him blocking 250+ military promotions wasn’t bad enough, he’s decided to deny climate change. When the shoe fits pershap? His words on this summer’s record breaking heat? “It’s called summer. It’s no hotter right now than it’s ever been. This world’s not heating up, come on.” Tell that to Florida’s coral reef.

• Congressman Derrick Van Orden [R-Wis.]: The GOP Congressman apparently thought that cursing out Senate pages, i.e. a bunch of 16/17 year olds that help the The Hill go ‘round was the move. And when we say cursing them out, we really mean calling them pieces of sh*t. How becoming.

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WAIT, WAIT UPDATE ME

ICYMI, droppin deats and ‘dates

• REDISTRICTING: The Alabama redistricting case that required ‘Bama to create a second majority-Black district, that led to the state’s GOP saying ‘thanks for the opinion, but no thanks,’ will be headed back to court. Apparently, SCOTUS opinions only apply selectively, according to the GOP move. Side eye.

• STUDENT LOANS: On the student loan repayment front, the Department of Ed unveiled a beta website that will serve as the home for the Biden admin’s new income-driven student loan repayment plan. ICYMI, the plan, which has been named the SAVE plan or the Saving on a Valuable Education plan makes significant changes for borrowers – the rundown. The beta site can be viewed and bookmarked here.

POST WEEKEND CATCH UP

Four top stories you might've missed

CARLOS DE OLIVEIRA APPEARED IN COURT OVER CLASSIFIED DOCS: So, Trump’s property manager at Mar-a-Lago, Carlos De Olivera was charged with four counts related to moving boxes of documents at the complex that were sought under federal subpoena. The charges are also related to him trying to delete video surveillance recordings. The counts include: conspiracy to obstruct justice, destroying or concealing an object, and making a false claim. Today, good ol’ Monday, he made his first appearance in court. In said appearance, he didn’t make a plea and was released on a $100K bond, with an arraignment scheduled for August 10, 2023.

SPACE COMMAND TO STAY IN COLORADO: Biden said uno reverse to a Trump admin decision to move the temporary HQ of Space Command to Alabama. Instead, the HQ will stay in Colorado Springs, CO. According to reports, the decision was made based on readiness and stability, and reactions from the Alabama GOP’ers that pushed for the move to their state are going to be PO’d. Grab the popcorn.

BIDEN SIGNS MILITARY JUSTICE FORM FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES: In good news, Biden signed an executive order that changes the way the military handles sexual assault cases – a process that’s been rightfully under scrutiny for years. The EO puts the decision making powers around a sexual assault case within the military to an independent military prosecutor, instead of their commanders [what had been done]. The EO specifically amends what is known at the Uniform Code of Military Justice and puts into place what is being called the largest and most significant reform of the U.S. military justice system since the 1950s.

VP HARRIS TO VISIT WISCONSIN: VP Harris will be making a trip to Wisconsin this week to discuss wins for broadband and affordable connectivity. She’ll be joined by the maker of this great Barbie meme and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimonodo to tout the legislation that’s making a $1 billion investment in internet access across the state possible.

OTHER STORIES TO HAVE ON YOUR RADAR THIS WK:

• AP: Members of Congress break for August with no clear path to avoiding shutdown this fall

• Roll Call: Group pushing charter schools says Democrats losing voters on education

• Politico: Vance sends a ‘wokeness’ questionnaire to State nominees
  

Speaking of stories to keep up with, check out our go-to resource for women’s sports:

Subscribe | Sports business insights, straight to your inbox. Get the sports biz newsletter read by leaders at Nike, FanDuel and the NBA with an easy-to-read, easy-to-follow format.

NEW ON THE POD

It’s the summer of the strike, and this week’s episode features an interview with an expert that explains how we got here. Michelle Eisen, of Starbucks Workers United joined the pod for a convo on strikes and fighting corporate power at large, but also to talk about the Starbucks workers movement. From the chain of events that catalyzed it to the union busting they’re facing, and the tactics they’ve employed, we get into it all. We also chat about what consumers can do to help, and what employees interested in unionizing can do too. Get the full scoop by tuning in via Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts, or watching on YouTube [hit subscribe pretty plz]:

PS RATE & REVIEW – be a bestie pal and please leave us a review on Apple [scroll to the bottom] and/or Spotify. TYSM XOXO.

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