For months, our nation has debated the laws governing the use of guns and ammunition in our country.  It’s clear that the majority of Americans want Congress to take new, strong steps to relieve the epidemic of gun violence across our nation. 

Next week the Senate will vote on S. 649.  Tell your Senators it’s time to stop the violence. The League has been lobbying for common sense solutions to gun violence that will protect our children and our families and help restore public confidence. 

S. 649 will require background checks on all gun purchases and impose stricter penalties for “straw purchases,” where one individual buys for another.  There will also be amendments from the floor of the Senate that the League strongly supports.  These amendments include Senator Feinstein’s Assault Weapons Ban and an amendment to limit the size of high capacity ammunition magazines. 

Millions of Americans are at risk every day from senseless violence.  Responsible gun legislation is a critical matter of public safety and public health.  Tell your Senators this issue is too important to ignore any longer and that common sense solutions to gun violence will save lives.

Sincerely,

Elisabeth MacNamara
President, League of Women Voters

Very soon, the U.S. Senate will take up a bill to restore transparency to U.S. elections by requiring complete disclosure of spending on big-money advertising in candidate elections. 
   
Contact your Senators now and ask them to vote for cloture on S. 3369, the DISCLOSE Act of 2012.
  
The League has worked for decades to bring about real reform to our campaign finance system. A vote for cloture is a vote for meaningful debate on a topic of vital importance to our democracy. The Senate should truly debate this bill rather than succumbing to the hyper-partisanship that too often blocks responsible action by the Senate. 
  
Tell your Senators to end the political games and bring S. 3369 up for full debate. 
  
The League supports the DISCLOSE Act of 2012 because we believe that Americans deserve all the information they can get before they vote. S. 3369 builds on disclosure requirements already approved by the Supreme Court. In fact, the Court pointed in the direction of enhanced disclosure in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission when it said that disclosure is important to “providing the electorate with information.”

Secret campaign money has no place in America’s democracy. It undermines the role of the voter and corrupts the election process.  Voters have a right to know -- whether it is a corporation, union, trade association, or non-profit advocacy group making unlimited campaign expenditures and influencing elections. 
  
Tell us where the money is coming from and let the voters decide.
 
League of Women Voters 
1730 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

Clean air protections are being attacked in the U.S. Senate.  A vocal minority is threatening to eliminate an historic regulation issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This regulation is a landmark Clean Air Act achievement for public health and we need your help to fight and make sure it remains.
Stand up for Clean Air: Send your Senators a message now!

Earlier this year, the EPA set an historic standard, regulating mercury and toxic air pollutants from power plants. This standard came after decades of delay, and sets strict limits on mercury and toxic emissions. This standard will save thousands of lives and help those with asthma and bronchitis breathe easier.
Despite resounding support from the public, Senator Jim Inhofe has introduced a bill that would nullify this historic advance. For years the League has worked to fight for clean air and protect the Clean Air Act. Now that action has been taken to strengthen this law, some Senators wants to take a step back!
Tell your Senators you want clean air in your community.

You can make a difference! Send a message to your Senators today. Tell them to oppose S.J. Res 37. Tell them to limit mercury and air toxics including arsenic, lead, acid gases and dozens of others from power plants that burn coal and oil.  Tell the U.S. Senate it’s time to support people not polluters.

League of Women Voters 
1730 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036

For the first time ever, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could put limits on the industrial carbon pollution that fuels global warming, makes smog worse and threatens the health of children and the elderly -- and you can help make it happen.

Support the EPA’s historic standard to limit carbon pollution.

The EPA has taken an important first step by proposing a new standard to limit carbon pollution from new power plants. The agency is now receiving public comments on the proposal and we must add our voice in support.  

You can bet that corporate polluters are already doing everything they can to block these important health protections. Members of the environmental and health communities are already voicing their support, and we must add the trusted League voice to theirs.

Add your voice! Tell the EPA that you support strong protections against industrial carbon pollution.

The EPA’s proposal sets a performance standard that will ensure new power plants limit their pollution. But this is just a down payment. Existing coal-fired power plants account for the largest chunk of carbon dioxide pollution emitted by stationary sources in the US, which is roughly on a par with the carbon dioxide pollution emitted by the entire transportation sector.

We need to build strong support for the EPA’s proposal on new plants to ensure that there will be political support for taking the next step -- controlling carbon pollution from existing power plants!

Send a powerful message to let the EPA know you want them to support people not polluters. Your comment will be delivered with those of thousands of League members and supporters across the country.

Submit a comment to the EPA today!

League of Women Voters 
1730 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036