Advocacy Info

Transforming faith into action

Our UU 5th Principle (the use of the democratic process within our congregations and society at large) and our UU values call us to be informed, engaged, and vocal advocates who speak truth to power.

UUSJ amplifies the voices of UUs at the national level through direct advocacy, engaging in witness activities, and capacity building through educational workshops, briefings, and advocacy training.

For further information, contact advocacy@uusj.org

Current and Recent UUSJ Action Alerts & Write Here! Write Now! (WHWN)

2023 Action Alerts & WHWN Campaigns

2022 Activities & Accomplishments

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2022 Action Alerts & WHWN Campaigns

2021 Action Alerts & WHWN Campaigns

2020 Action Alerts & WHWN Campaigns

  • December (WHWN (Senate) – Tell your U.S. Senators to support greater voter participation by improving registration and electoral access. Making it easier to register and easier to vote are key goals, and should not depend on where a voter lives. These goals are 100% non-partisan.  Write Here! Write Now! Online Letterwriting – WHWN Handout
  • October WHWN (Senate) – Urge Senators to promote environmental justice by providing increased funding for environmental justice programs in impacted communities. WHWN Handout. Access the new WHWN Online Alert submission form. Letters due October 15, 2020.
  • September WHWN (Senate) – Tell your Senators to provide Immigrants access to aid in the next COVID relief bill and to strengthen oversight of DHS. For more information see the September WHWN Handout. Access the new WHWN Online Alert submission form. Letters due September 17, 2020.
  • Action Alert Urge House and Senate to strengthen oversight of immigration agencies and expand immigrants covered in next COVID Relief Bill
  • July WHWN (Senate) Actions due by 6pmET Thursday, July 16, 2020 – Make Police Accountable! Urge our U.S. Senators to Support the Justice in Policing Act. Link to the July WHWN Handout with topic details. WHWN July 6, 2020 Briefing slides. Schatz-Murkowski-Harris-Paul NDAA Amendment #2252 1033 Reform and Oversight. No hill visits due to COVID-19.
  • VOTE was on August 20, 2020 — Action Alert: It’s Time to Demilitarize Civilian Law Enforcement. We’ve seen too many deaths of Black people at the hands of police. Weapons of war have no place in local communities. Urge Congress to co-sponsor and vote for amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
  • Action Alert: Secure Our Vote. Ongoing until action is taken. Urge our Senators to provide $3.6 billion for free, fair, safe, and secure elections — and support the United States Postal Service! A functioning Postal Service is critical for safe vote-by-mail elections.
  • Advocacy for June (Senate) Actions due by 3pmET June 18, 2020 – Secure Our Vote! Urge your Senators to provide $4 billion for free, fair, safe, and secure elections — and support the United States Postal Service. Link to the June WHWN Handout with topic details, sample letter, and letter submission details. Due to the pandemic, we are not hand-delivering letters as we did prior to April.
  • Action Alert, May 11, 2020 (House and Senate) ongoing – Protect Your Right to Vote. Congress must provide the necessary $4 billion to fund safe elections in November.
  • Advocacy for May 2020 (Senate) Nationwide Letter-Writing Campaign during the UU Spring for Change: A Season of Sacred Activism March 22-May22 in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day. No hill visits due to COVID-19. Tell your US Senators to co-sponsor and vote for the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2019 (S.2754). Link here to the WHWN Handout with topic details. Letter deadline is May 14, 2020. Visit the WHWN Earth Month Information Page for ideas for virtual writing events and other ways to contact Senators. YouTube video of UUSJ WHWN Briefing on Senate American Innovation and Manufacturing Act 2019 (5/12/2020)
  • Action Alert, closing date May 18, Tell EPA to Withdraw its Dangerous “Secret Science” Proposal. The EPA must base its decisions on all relevant studies and data. Yet EPA has proposed a rule that would exclude relevant studies and data simply because they do not meet certain rigid “transparency standards.” This proposal would keep EPA from considering landmark public health studies simply because some of the underlying data is confidential in order to protect patient privacy.
  • Advocacy for April 2020 (House) – No hill visits due to COVID-19. Letters will be delivered to members’ offices by UUSJ via email. Tell your U.S Representative to Take Action Now Against Dangerous Super Climate Pollutant HFCs — While Creating New Jobs! Congress must take action to reduce harmful greenhouse gases. A bi-partisan bill now in the House and Senate can help make that happen. We are calling for support of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Leadership Act (H.R.5544). Link here to the April WHWN Handout with topic details. Link here to the April House WHWN information page with ideas and resources for virtual letter-writing and advocacy during the pandemic.
  • Action Alert, April 21, 2020 – Protect Your Right to Vote. States need $4 billion to fund safe elections in November.
  • Advocacy Day March 10, 2020 (Senate) – Tell your US Senators to Provide a Pathway to Legal Permanent Status for Immigrant Families with Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Link here for WHWN Handout for topic details.
  • Action Alert, March 4, 2020. National Environmental Policy Act Rollbacks (NEPA)
  • Advocacy Day Feb.11, 2020 (House) – Tell your US Representative to address food insecurity for our military families. Link here for the WHWN Handout for topic details. UUSJ partnering with MAZON — A Jewish Response to Hunger.
  • Advocacy Day Jan. 14, 2020 (Senate) – Congress Must Reclaim Its War Powers. No WHWN for January. UUSJ is partnering with the Friends Committee on National Legislation.

Previous UUSJ Action Alerts