Resistance Toolkit: Congressional Recess

ICYMI: Congress is currently out of session, a time period also known as recess. They have a few breaks throughout the year, but August is allegedly thee most exciting recess break breaks of them all because they have the entire month (usually). During this time, Senators and Representatives go back to their home states and districts and spend time with their people. Just because they’re on recess doesn’t mean they’re (all) not working, however. (You can read more about what Congressional recess means here.)

Many go home and do driving tours of the state, host town halls, and meet with constituents. Others hide. Depends on the moral character of the elected official.

In case you missed it, the chaos hasn’t stopped just because Congress is out of sessions. DJT continues to do and say crazy things. We still discuss daily whether North Korea is going to take action against the United States. White supremacists have held rallies across the countries. The world is in chaos — and you may be wondering what you can do while Congress is in recess. We’re here to help.

1. Call your Members of Congress

Just because they are not in Washington doesn’t mean their staffs are not there… so you should keep calling. Call your Members of Congress (202–224–3121) and ask them to denounce Donald Trump’s flip flop on Charlottesville and his argument that there are “many sides.” Call and express your concern that the President of the United States is using Twitter to provoke a country that may or may not have nuclear warheads directed at our country. Call and express your concern on tax reform and the debt ceiling, tell them your feelings on education, encourage them to support the Department of Education’s investigation into schools who violated Title IX. Call. Your. Members. Of. Congress.

2. Go see your Members of Congress!

As said above, some Members of Congress are touring their states, holding town halls (some Dems are using the hashtag #ShowMeTownHalls to highlight these), and taking meetings with constituents. Go find them! Ask your questions in person!

Some Senators and Representatives who have been super transparent about their public events: Senator Claire McCaskill is hosting a handful of townhalls, Senator Chris Murphy is walking across Connecticut, and dozens of Representatives. You can find a town hall near you through the Town Hall Project.

3. Participate in an action.

Check your local progressive and activist Facebook groups for rallies, protests, phone banks, and fundraisers. Get together with fellow citizens who are concerned with the state of America and fight together. Go to a local phone bank (like this one in Brooklyn, NY). Check Indivisible’s “Act Locally” page and find a progressive group near you — then check the events they’re putting on. Volunteer with a campaign. Do something.

4. Educate yourself on upcoming issues.

When they return from recess, there are a few key issues that are almost definitely going to come up: tax reform and the debt ceiling.

There’s not much out about the GOP tax reform plan, other than they want to cut taxes for the wealthy. Mic has a great piece that breaks down one of the latest announcements from the GOP about the impending tax reform. Conservative groups are hoping to avoid the mistakes the GOP made when it came to the healthcare debate. This article from the The Washington Post also called out the “tax reform” the GOP is pushing for by its real name — tax cuts. This piece from The Hill also talks about the difference between tax reform and tax cuts.

The debt ceiling is a tricky topic to fully grasp (I have spent years trying to fully understand it… and I’m still learning more and more!) — but NPR did an explainer on what it is, what it exists, and more. You can also read the technical definition from the U.S. Department of Treasury and see what actions have been taken regarding the debt ceiling/limit over the past six years.

5. Self-care.

Take a break. Relax. Read Harry Potter. Watch Grace and Frankie on Netflix. Throw a Youtube party and go down a rabbit hole of videos you like in 2008. Have a dance party to Panic! At The Disco. Go on a walk. See the sunlight.

Do something away from the crazy that is the Internet.

You can read more about our self-care suggestions here.