Not only is this an expensive and flawed solution, the wall would infringe upon private property - AND would violate over 30 laws - including the Endangered Species Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. John F Kelly, the Secretary of Homeland Security, says - "It won't work. A physical barrier will not do the job, it has to be a layered defense."

Stopping refugee resettlement, for any period of time for any group of people, would undermine our nation’s founding principles of being a beacon of freedom and hope. An announcement restricting access to resettlement from primarily Muslim countries is tantamount to the Muslim ban that President Trump threatened during his campaign. This is a clear case of discrimination based on religion and nationality and must be decried as such. This is a program that saves hundreds of lives every day, and strengthens our communities and our nation. Stopping refugee resettlement will have profound and detrimental consequences. Lives will be lost and our national interests and security will be at risk. The United States can – and must – continue to welcome refugees while continuing to ensure our own security. Our history has proven you don’t need to make a choice, and we should continue to do both. We urge President Trump to not stop refugee resettlement for any period of time, lower the amount of refugees we resettle, or stop resettlement based on religion or country of origin.

Pulling out of the United Nations would have detrimental effects on our relationships with other countries including our allies. Tell congress we won't stand for this!

On January 5, freshman Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin [MD-8], widely seen as a progressive champion, cast a breathtaking vote in support of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. He voted for the Royce-Engel H. Res. 11, which attacked UN Security Council Resolution 2334 for restating the opposition of the international community to illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. [1] These illegal settlements are an existential threat to hopes for a diplomatic resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict. But now Jamie has an opportunity to make restitution for his vote in support of illegal settlements. He can join Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and dozens of other Senators and Representatives in supporting the candidacy of Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Keith Ellison to lead the Democratic National Committee. [2] Unlike Jamie - but like Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi - Keith voted no on the Royce-Engel pro-settlements resolution. [3] Join us in pressing Jamie to support Keith by signing our petition. References: 1. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll011.xml 2. https://keithfordnc.org/endorsements/ 3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/01/05/keith-ellison-votes-against-gops-israel-resolution/

The United Nations is necessarily an imperfect human institution. It's basically a parliament whose members are governments. If the governments are far from Heaven, the UN isn't going to be magically angelic. But as Henny Youngman asked: "Compared to what?" Before the UN existed, the world was not better off. It was worse off. Some people in Washington are having an outrage festival because the UN Security Council - with the support of the Obama Administration - criticized illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. During her confirmation hearing to be the next U.S. ambassador to the UN, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley harshly condemned the Obama administration for allowing the UN Security Council to criticize Israel and pledged to never let it happen again if confirmed. She also said the U.S. should threaten to cut U.S. funding to the UN, which would violate a U.S. treaty obligation. [1] Senators Marco Rubio and Ben Cardin are pushing the same attack in S. Res. 6: bashing the UN Security Council for restating the international community's longstanding opposition to illegal Israeli settlements. [2] Insisting that the UN can't say anything about the Israel-Palestine conflict is an unrealistic fantasy. The UN has to represent the whole world, not just the pro-settlements lobby in the United States. Urge Senators to push back against the Haley-Rubio-Cardin attack on the UN and oppose S. Res. 6 by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-nominee-nikki-haley-set-to-show-skepticism-about-value-of-un/2017/01/17/4558615a-dcf0-11e6-acdf-14da832ae861_story.html 2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-resolution/6/cosponsors

The Saudi war in Yemen has caused a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, [1] with over 10,000 killed and 80% of the population in need of humanitarian assistance, including 14 million people who can't afford adequate food for their families. The U.S. has assisted Saudi Arabia's reckless airstrikes that frequently hit unlawful civilian targets. [2] These attacks have placed U.S. personnel at legal risk of aiding and abetting possible war crimes. [3] Following a Saudi airstrike on a funeral procession that killed 155 people, [4] the U.S. decided to withhold the sale of precision-guided munitions but continue refueling Saudi aircraft. [5] This sent a mixed signal and did not protect civilian lives. If we continue to refuel the Saudi aircraft that bomb civilians, our condemnation of those Saudi airstrikes will become cruel hypocrisy. Reps. Ted Lieu [D-CA] and John Conyers [D-MI] are circulating a letter to President Obama urging him to stop the refueling of Saudi warplanes that are bombing civilians in Yemen. Urge your Representative to sign the Lieu-Conyers letter by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34011187 2. https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/09/22/urgent-need-international-inquiry-yemen 3. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/11/opinion/americas-moral-duty-in-yemen.html 4. http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/15/middleeast/yemen-funeral-strike-saudi-arabia/ 5. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/12/13/with-small-changes-u-s-maintains-military-aid-to-saudi-arabia-despite-rebukes-over-yemen-carnage/

On December 23, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2334 concerning Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The resolution states that the settlement project violates international law and demands that the Israeli government stop expanding the settlement project. The resolution passed 14-0, with the U.S. abstaining at the direction of President Obama, thereby allowing the resolution to pass. [1] Unfortunately, some Democratic senators are attacking President Obama and the UN Security Council for re-affirming the longstanding opposition of the U.S. and the international community to the Israeli settlement project in the West Bank. These senators are co-sponsoring S. Res 6, which attacks UNSC 2334. According to The Hill, some of these Democratic Senators may run for President in 2020. [2] Of nine Democratic Senators identified by The Hill as possible presidential candidates, seven are co-sponsors of the pro-settlements S. Res 6 and two are not. [3] Of the nine, the seven pro-settlements Senate Democrats are: Cory Booker, NJ; Kirsten Gillibrand, NY; Michael Bennet, CO; Amy Klobuchar, MN; Sherrod Brown, OH; Claire McCaskill, MO; and Tim Kaine, VA. Of the nine, the two Senate Democrats who have not co-sponsored S. Res 6 are Chris Murphy, CT; and Elizabeth Warren, MA. Tell these nine Senate Democrats being talked about as future presidential candidates not to support the settlements by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.timesofisrael.com/choosing-not-to-veto-obama-lets-anti-settlement-resolution-pass-at-un-security-council/ 2. http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/313666-cory-booker-kicks-off-2020-maneuvering-in-the-senate 3. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-resolution/6/cosponsors

Secretary of State-designee Rex Tillerson is being attacked by Marco Rubio, who wants more confrontation with Iran, for having opposed some sanctions on Iran in the past. Unfortunately, some Democratic groups, like American Bridge, are opportunistically supporting Rubio's attack. Every Member of Congress, Democrat or Republican, who supported diplomacy with Iran to address the issue of Iran's nuclear program at some point opposed some sanctions on Iran or sought to limit some sanctions on Iran. The Obama Administration opposed some sanctions on Iran and sought to limit some sanctions on Iran. Every NGO that supported diplomacy with Iran opposed some sanctions on Iran and sought to limit some sanctions on Iran. In particular, all these actors sought to limit sanctions on Iran so that they could be lifted if a diplomatic agreement with Iran on its nuclear agreement could be achieved, in order to make an agreement with Iran possible. It was common sense that if the goal of sanctions were to pressure Iran to negotiate an agreement, then Iran should believe that in the event of an agreement, those sanctions would be lifted. Urge Senators to oppose opportunistic attacks on Rex Tillerson related to Iran sanctions by signing our petition.

I live on the lands of the Ohlone People and believe they deserve Federal and State "Recognition" .

A vote is expected soon on the Royce-Engel H. Res. 11 [1], which falsely and unjustly attacks the decision of President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry not to veto the recent UN Security Council resolution against settlements in the West Bank. A similar resolution has been introduced in the Senate by Rubio and Cardin. [2] The Obama Administration acted on the side of peace and justice when it refused to veto a UN Security Council resolution against settlements in the West Bank, allowing the resolution to pass. The resolution was consistent with longstanding U.S. policy and consistent with language previously adopted by the UN Security Council. But now the House of Representatives is threatening to pass a resolution falsely and unjustly slamming the Obama Administration’s action. Contrary to claims of supporters of H. Res. 11, every U.S. president since 1967 has abstained on or voted in favor of resolutions critical of Israeli government policies, including resolutions to which the Israeli government strenuously objected, when those resolutions were consistent with U.S. policy. [3] Urge your Representative to vote NO on H. Res. 11 and urge your Senators to oppose the Rubio-Cardin resolution by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-resolution/11 2. http://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/5590c8cf-1618-4749-98c4-c182f8a2a7bd/F06947C6440E55CC44C7F88FFC844089.rubioisraelunletter.pdf 3. https://peacenow.org/WP/wp-content/uploads/US-Israel-UNSCRs-1967-present.pdf; http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/12/opinion/international/israels-unsung-protector-obama.html

As a citizen, my duty is to uphold our democracy by supporting the United States of America. Being a patriot means respect for our men and women in uniform and trust in our government officials such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). A lot of Americans and allies all over the world are shocked by the result of the 2016 Presidential Election. While some have compared this event to the aftermath of September 11, 2001 - a terrorist act - I am trapped in a coma unable to tangibly feel the fearful future we face ahead of us. It is in this state of mind that I would like to take this moment to thank President Obama for bringing our enemies to their knees and igniting a sense of justice in our hearts. These terrible times will come to pass; yet sanctions are appropriate to ensure our children enjoy the freedom that comes with being a democratic nation. Together, we stand united as one country regardless of our divisions, race, and color, country of origin, disabilities, age and sexual orientation. We are thankful and look forward to a bright future! Let's us be reminded that this is a bipartisan effort and we humanly begin our long journey to reconciliation by being thankful. Peace!

On December 23, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution to launch negotiations in 2017 on a treaty banning nuclear weapons. [1] Unfortunately, the Obama Administration opposed the resolution. [2] Worse, the Obama Administration called on other countries to vote against the resolution and to boycott the treaty negotiations. [3] The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is urging all countries to take part in the treaty negotiations. [4] Urge President Obama and Members of Congress to support the negotiations on a treaty to ban nuclear weapons by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/un-general-assembly-approves-historic-resolution/ 2. http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/voting-on-un-resolution-for-nuclear-ban-treaty/ 3. http://www.icanw.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/NATO_OCT2016.pdf 4. http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/un-general-assembly-approves-historic-resolution/