EZ Read Sep 16, 2022

Sep. 16, 2022

Candidate Spotlight

Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL)

When Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) was elected to Congress in 2018, she became the youngest black woman to serve in either chamber. She has worked hard for our country since day one and we need to keep her in Congress.

Donate here to reelect Rep. Underwood. We need to raise $20,000 to help her fend of extreme attacks from the GOP who want her pro-choice seat.

She has fought boldly for many of JAC’s most pressing issues. As a registered nurse, Rep. Underwood prioritizes women’s reproductive healthcare. She was a cosponsor of the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021 and the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022, fighting to make abortion accessible for pregnant people across the country.

“Contraception is a crucial part of preventive health care that millions rely on, and it’s not only used to prevent pregnancy, but can also treat serious medical conditions," she said. She helped to introduce and pass the The Right to Contraception Act, which protects the right to obtain and use contraception.

She is also a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and has worked to secure funding for gun violence prevention research, including $12.5 million each to the CDC and NIH to study firearm injury and mortality prevention.

Rep. Underwood believes that the best chance for peace in the Mideast would be with a two state solution. She also supports Israel's right to defend itself from attacks and has voted for Iron Dome funding to help keep one of our strongest allies in that region secure.

As the first woman, first person of color, and first millennial to represent Illinois’ 14th district, she understands what it takes to be a trailblazer. We are lucky to have Rep. Underwood in Congress and we need to make sure she stays there.

Join a special ZOOM conversation with Rep. Underwood next Monday, Sept 19 at 2:00 pm CT. Free to all current JAC members. See details below.

DONATE TO ELECT LAUREN UNDERWOOD

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SUPPORT JAC TODAY

Upcoming Events

Sunday, September 18

JAC Meeting with Sen Maggie Hassan (D-NH)

Private home in Glencoe, IL

1:00 pm CT

RSVP

Monday, September 19

Tea with Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ)

8:30 am CT

Highland Park, IL

RSVP

Monday, September 19

Women's Health Care Zoom with Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL)

3:00 pm ET | 2:00 pm CT | 12:00 pm PT

Zoom

RSVP

Tuesday, September 20

Cocktails, Canasta & Congress

2:00-5:00 pm

Lincolnwood

Call the JAC office at 847-433-5999 for details

Wednesday, September 21

Your Choice, Your Vote: Women and the 2022 Election

Chicago

RSVP

Thursday, September 29

Jewish Women's Event at the DNC Women's Leadership Forum

Washington, DC

RSVP

DON'T FORGET...

Postcard writing every Wednesday afternoon at the JAC office,

resuming on September 21st.

Thanks to our great postcard leaders: Amy Zisook, Sharon Koltin, Beth Cherner, Laura Gold, Allison Shaewitz, Annie Atlas and our volunteers. Together, we have sent out over 10,000 postcards.

If you would like to host a postcard party at JAC or at your home, please contact the JAC office (847-433-5999).

Live outside of Chicago? Can't make it on Wednesdays?

Contact the JAC office at (847) 433-5999 and we will send you postcards.

Photos of the Week

(Sen. Gary Peters, MI Sec. of State Jocelyn Benson, Sen. Debbie Stabenow at JAC's Detroit luncheon; Detroit luncheon co-chair Lisa Lis with MI Congressional Candidate Hillary Scholten; JAC-Politifacts Meeting in Glencoe)

In the News

ISRAEL

Controversy is arising over the incorporation of an Israeli comic book hero in a new Marvel movie
Lebanon and Israel are close to reaching an agreement about allocating gas and oil resources
Moscow invited a Hamas chief to Russia, sending a message of dissatisfaction to Israel

ANTISEMITISM AND BDS

A tiny Jewish community in NM is fighting to regain control of their historic synagogue that was turned into a church in the 1950s
Filmmaker whose work joked about dead Jews and invoked antisemitic tropes has died at age 91
States with anti-BDS laws are protesting Morningstar boycott of Israel under the guise of social justice

CHOICE

Democrats are using Republican talking points to garner support on abortion
Republicans are stumped on how to effectively message and act on their restrictive views on abortion
Sen. Lindsey Graham introduced a bill to federally ban all abortions after 15 weeks

RELIGION AND STATE

The Supreme Court agreed with a state court -- for now -- that Yeshiva University must recognize a gay rights organization on campus
Churches across Jackson, Mississippi are l eading the effort to distribute water to the city's inhabitants
A clip has been released of PA Senate candidate Doug Mastriano leading a prayer for MAGA's seizure of power on January 6

BEYOND THE CORE

Gun dealers are finding workarounds to the ATF's serial number and background check requirements on ghost gun sales
Major credit card companies plan to separately categorize gun shop purchases, to help track suspicious sales
The UN Secretary General warns that the world is headed toward an unknown level of destruction as climate change worsens

POLITICAL BYTE

Over 100 Jewish organizations are urging the Senate to codify same-sex marriage into federal law
The Queen of England's death stirred up conversations over her colonial past with Africa
September 13 was the final primary before the November midterm elections

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FYI

After 70 years as England's monarch, Queen Elizabeth's death has shaken the country
Ukraine has recaptured more than 2,300 square miles of territory that Russia occupied for the last several months
A second Alex Jones trial began on September 13 for his promotion of the false claim that the Sandy Hook massacre was made up

THE LAST WORD

“We must stand together -- students, parents, educators, faith leaders, business leaders, and law enforcement officials. And we must clearly say that a harm against any one of us is a harm against all of us. We are at an inflection point in our history and, indeed, in our democracy."

- Vice President Kamala Harris at the United We Stand Summit, centered around combatting hate-based violence

Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JACPAC) is a pro-Israel PAC with a domestic agenda. We support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and advocate for reproductive health and the separation of religion and state and incorporate other issues of importance to the Jewish community, including gun violence prevention and climate change. In addition to providing financial support for U.S. Senate and House campaigns, JACPAC educates our membership with outreach events designed to inform and activate their participation in the political process.

Paid for by Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs. Contributions or gifts are not tax deductible. Federal law requires us to use our best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in an election cycle. Corporate contributions and contributions from non-US citizens who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence are prohibited. All contributions by individuals must be made from personal funds and may not be reimbursed or paid by another person.