December 17, 2025 - A Busy Day in the House
Light up their phones as they debate our future. Plus an oil industry exec could be in charge of our public lands, resources for fighting for the Education Department and more.
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LIGHT UP THE PHONELINES FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TODAY
The House of Representatives has a big day in motion:
They’re set for a vote on the GOP’s effort to distract from the expiring health insurance premium tax credits, even as we’ve secured enough signatures on a discharge petition to force a vote on extending them (more on that below).
Members are debating war powers resolutions aimed at blocking taxpayer funds from going to support Trump’s boat strikes and a war on Venezuela… which became all the more urgent after Trump announced a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the country.
GOP leadership has secured enough right-wing votes to begin debate on the SPEED Act gutting another of our most important environmental protection laws… by deliberately giving Trump more power to cancel clean energy projects.
And as of this writing, they debating the first of two bills to criminalize and block access to gender-affirming care for trans people.
Let’s make sure our representatives are hearing from us today - demanding they oppose a rush to an unnecessary and unpopular war, giveaways to the fossil fuel industry and transphobia and back real solutions to health care costs rather than Republican show votes. We can find language to use in the links!
HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS ARE SET TO SPIKE, BUT THE FIGHT CONTINUES
Supposed Republican moderates worried about losing their seats next November have been begging Speaker Mike Johnson to give them some cover on health care with 20 million Americans set to see premium increases from the expiring tax credits. Johnson has ignored them, and this morning they fired back, providing the signatures necessary for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries’ discharge petition to force a vote on a clean, three-year extension. This vote would not take place until January, and the Senate has already rejected a similar measure, but it does keep pressure building for some sort of step to avoid financial disaster for working families - and gives us the opportunity to continue highlighting the Republicans responsible for the price hikes.
Let’s take this moment to thank those who have signed on in the House. And let’s reach out to our senators, especially those who voted no on the clean extension last week, to urge them to stop blocking a bill supported by bipartisan congressional majorities in both houses, pass the extension and keep American families from paying the price for their inaction.
PUBLIC LANDS OPPONENT COULD LEAD BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Trump last month nominated Steve Pearce, former Republican congressman and oil industry executive, to lead the Bureau of Land Management, overseeing 245 million acres of public lands. Environmental groups have been raising hell about it ever since. Pearce has a long record of championing the sale of public lands, opposing the protection of national monuments and working to protect fossil fuel companies from paying higher royalties to taxpayers. If he’s confirmed, he could play a crucial role in the regime’s efforts to expose lands that have been protected for the use of regular Americans for generations to exploitation by big corporations.
Let’s reach out to our senators in opposition to Pearce’s confirmation. We can find language to use here.
RESOURCES TO FIGHT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Conservatives have long demanded the destruction of the Department of Education and shifting public money to corporate-run schools, and under Trump they’re getting their way. They’ve been deconstructing it piece by piece, and badly undermining its work in the process. The impact for our kids is going to be brutal - especially those in low-income school districts and those with disabilities. Thus far, we have not been able to rally enough support among our elected officials to stop them, and that’s going to be a major goal in the coming year.
This means getting new people engaged in the fight. The Poster Project have created state-by-state infographics about the impact of unraveling the Department of Education we can print out, post in our communities and share with our neighbors to help recruit them. Let’s check out the price our state will pay and put these tools to work.
KEEPING AN EYE ON…
The campaign to impeach RFK Jr. is underway - tools to tell ours reps to join the fight here, learn more in this week’s info sessions here
Oppose expansion of the public charge test that will keep children from getting fed before December 19th - model comment here, background here
Our drinking water is at risk in potential Clean Water Act rollback - public comments due before January 6th, language here
Trump’s plan to massively expand offshore drilling is open to public comment - tell him hell no before January 23rd, language here
The Starbucks strike is ongoing! Take the No Contract, No Coffee pledge not to cross the picket line and find more ways to help here
Push Spotify, Telemundo and Univision to get ICE off their airwaves and say no to AT&T until they stop ICE contracts
The T-Mobile boycott is on - learn more here, sign the pledge here
Find ethical gifts this holiday season with the Fair Trade Gift Guide