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** Growing, Giving Thanks, and Getting Ready to Govern in 2020
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As we approach the holidays, we at SiX want to thank ([link removed]) our incredible network of state legislators. Serving as a state legislator is no easy task, and we are grateful for the dedication and courage they bring to the job. See what 2019 had in store for us and what we’ll be up to in 2020. And if you’re getting ready for next year’s legislative session, let us know (mailto:[email protected]) ! We’re ready to help.


** Did you know? Voters Want More Oversight for Big Ag
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A new study ([link removed]) published this week shows that voters overwhelmingly want the government to provide help to farmers and to provide oversight over concentrated animal feeding operations, otherwise known as CAFOs. With additional information, voters ([link removed]) also support state legislatures enacting a moratorium ([link removed]) on these types of operations, which remove animals from the land and instead keep them in warehouse-like buildings. Livestock in these conditions produce copious amounts of animal waste which often contaminates nearby waterways, groundwater and causes toxic emissions that are hazardous for workers and neighbors. Last month, the American Public Health Association issued a statement
([link removed]) calling for a precautionary moratorium on these operations. Ranchers across the country are demonstrating that meat can be raised in a way that benefits ([link removed]) climate, water, soil and local communities.


** Add your name: McDonald's to address sexual harassment
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Legislators -- please consider adding your name to this state legislator sign-on letter ([link removed]) calling on McDonald’s to take concrete action to stop sexual harassment in their stores. Workers have filed over 50 new sexual harassment complaints ([link removed]) against McDonald’s employees, covering a wide range ([link removed]) of behavior. These are part of a larger trend ([link removed]) over the last three years in which McDonald’s workers have filed sexual harassment complaints with the EEOC, staged protests and strikes, and published open letters to management. Add your name
([link removed]) to the letter calling on McDonald’s to take concrete action to stop sexual harassment against their workers.


** SNAP Restrictions Threaten Hundreds of Thousands of Americans’ Food Security
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The federal government recently announced changes ([link removed]) to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) to limit the ability of state governors to temporarily waive the work requirements for struggling citizens to receive food assistance. The new SNAP restriction could cut off roughly 700,000 recipients' access ([link removed]) to food and shifts the burden to states and counties already struggling ([link removed]) to help ([link removed]) their poorest occupants living in low-employment areas ([link removed]) and food
deserts. Even more Americans will be impacted as folks dependent ([link removed]) on SNAP recipients —like children and elderly family members who live apart from the recipient or non-familial housemates— will also lose food security. As states brace to provide for the thousands of residents who will lose access to SNAP, they could face further obstacles from the detrimental impact SNAP restrictions will have on state economies and job markets ([link removed]) .


** Southern States Are Preparing to Take on Huge Democratic Reforms in the Next Session
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As Kentucky moves to restore voting rights ([link removed]) to over 100k individuals, here is how other southern states are fighting for democratic reforms ([link removed]) like redistricting, bans on secret money, expanding voter access, automatic voter registration, and limiting political spending
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** Youth Lead the Movement on Climate Change
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Inspired by famous young activists like
Autumn Peltier, ([link removed]) Mari Copeny, ([link removed]) Isra Hirsi, ([link removed]) and Greta Thunberg ([link removed]) , young people across the country have launched protests ([link removed]) , marches ([link removed]) , and rallies ([link removed]) to pressure their state legislators to take action ([link removed]) on combating climate change. As the generational gap
([link removed]) on climate change has grown, young people are increasingly engaging in political activism, championing climate change solutions like declaring ([link removed]) a state of emergency ([link removed]) or funding sustainable agriculture ([link removed]) . The youth-led climate change movement in the US has centered on local institutions ([link removed]) —like state legislatures ([link removed]) , schools, universities, and companies—because young activists believe they can more
effectively enact change ([link removed]) and accountability at the state level than at the national or global scale.


** SiX trip to El Salvador Bolsters Legislators’ Resolve to Fight Abortion Bans
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Over their trip through El Salvador, the legislators of the RFLC delegation witnessed the horrors of total abortion bans and returned the to US energized ([link removed]) to protect abortion access in their states. With a pre-Roe abortion ban still on the books in Arizona and a new extreme abortion ban pending in Ohio that would jail women and doctors, these the RFLC lawmakers understand the importance of protecting access to abortion —particularly for low-income women who are disproportionately impacted by abortion bans.


** Rep. Stephanie Howse Speaks Her Mind on Abortion Bans
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In an interview with Cleveland Scene ([link removed]) , Ohio State Representative and RFLC member Stephanie Howse discusses her trip to El Salvador, the horrific new Ohio anti-abortion bill ([link removed]) , and how progressive legislators in the state will continue to fight for reproductive justice.

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The State Innovation Exchange (SiX) is a national resource and strategy center that supports state legislators who seek to strengthen our democracy, fight for working families, defend civil rights and liberties, and protect the environment. We do this by providing training, emphasizing leadership development, amplifying legislators’ voices, and forging strategic alliances between our legislative network and grassroots movements.

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