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STATE SENATORS/REPRESENTATIVES

Tips for Calling
• Have your script ready to reference. If it's helpful, you can even copy-paste the script into a word document or notes app and fill the blanks in prior to calling.
• Take a deep breath and find somewhere comfortable to call from. It can seem intimidating, but you will likely either speak to a staffer or leave a message on a voicemail. If the voicemail is full or the line is busy, try calling later or calling a different office.
• If a staffer answers, tell them your name and hometown and that you'd like to leave a message for the representative. They will usually respond encouraging you to begin your message. Be firm but remain respectful of the staffer, as they are just the messenger.
• You can add or edit scripts as needed! If you have a personal anecdote, share it. If you have new information, use it. You can ad-lib and add in as much as you feel comfortable.
• After calling, take a moment to recalibrate. Get a snack, drink some water, watch a video of baby sloths! Then share the script and link information with your friends so they can call and add their voices.

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GUN CONTROL Script

Here you will find scripts you can use to call and email your elected officials and urge them to pass gun control laws to prevent mass shootings. Simply fill in the blanks with your name and information. These scripts include space for you to talk about victims of the recent shooting at Robb Elementary - click here to learn about their lives. If you are comfortable, feel free to edit the scripts or ad-lib. For advice on how to call, click here.

FEDERAL SCRIPTS

Call Script: Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I’m a constituent from [YOUR TOWN]. On May 24, 2022, twenty-one people were shot and killed at Robb Elementary School when a teenager with AR-15 rifles entered a classroom. I’d like to tell you about [SOME/ONE] of those people today. [VICTIM’S NAME] was [VICTIM’S AGE] years old. [Include information here about the victim’s life. Your goal is to humanize them, to remind your representative of people in their life. Talk about their interests and personality, what they were doing that day or looking forward to, what their family has said about them.] [VICTIM’S NAME] should still be here. This was the 213th mass shooting and the 27th school shooting in the United States this year. This is unacceptable and it does not happen anywhere else in the world. The time to pass gun control laws is now. Did you know that the wounds from an AR-15 damage a body so badly that the children at Robb Elementary who died could only be identified through DNA samples? There is no justification for people to have access to a weapon like that.Add on for Senators: In fact, House Bill H.R.8 already passed in the house of representatives in March of 2021 but stalled in the Senate. Bill HR8 will strengthen background checks and close loopholes in gun sales practices that have been open for too long. I urge you to support this bill - it’s the least we can do to take steps to stop these tragedies. You may say it’s not a political issue, but you have already made it one. You can either choose to protect kids or to protect guns. [REPRESENTATIVE NAME], I hope you’ll make the right choice for people like [VICTIM’S NAME] and the countless Americans who have been killed in preventable tragedies. Thank you for your time and have a nice day.
Add on for other federal officials: You may say it’s not a political issue, but you have already made it one. You can either choose to protect kids or to protect guns. [REPRESENTATIVE NAME], I hope you’ll make the right choice for people like [VICTIM’S NAME] and the countless Americans who have been killed in preventable tragedies. We should not have to fear for our lives every time we go to school or a movie theater or a grocery store. You have the power to make sure this never happens again. Thank you for your time and have a nice day.Email Script:
Dear [REPRESENTATIVE NAME],
My name is [YOUR NAME] and I’m a constituent from [YOUR TOWN]. On May 24, 2022, twenty-one people were shot and killed at Robb Elementary School when a teenager with AR-15 rifles entered a classroom. I’d like to tell you about [SOME/ONE] of those people today. [VICTIM’S NAME] was [VICTIM’S AGE] years old. [Include information here about the victim’s life. Your goal is to humanize them, to remind your representative of people in their life. Talk about their interests and personality, what they were doing that day or looking forward to, what their family has said about them.][VICTIM’S NAME] should still be here. This was the 213th mass shooting and the 27th school shooting in the United States this year. This is unacceptable and it does not happen anywhere else in the world. The time to pass gun control laws is now. Did you know that the wounds from an AR-15 damage a body so badly that the children at Robb Elementary who died could only be identified through DNA samples? There is no justification for people to have access to a weapon like that.Add on for Senators: In fact, House Bill H.R.8 already passed in the house of representatives in March of 2021 but stalled in the Senate. Bill HR8 will strengthen background checks and close loopholes in gun sales practices that have been open for too long. I urge you to support this bill - it’s the least we can do to take steps to stop these tragedies. You may say it’s not a political issue, but you have already made it one. You can either choose to protect kids or to protect guns. [REPRESENTATIVE NAME], I hope you’ll make the right choice for people like [VICTIM’S NAME] and the countless Americans who have been killed in preventable tragedies.
Add on for other federal officials: I urge you to support this bill - it’s the least we can do to take steps to stop these tragedies. You may say it’s not a political issue, but you have already made it one. You can either choose to protect kids or to protect guns. [REPRESENTATIVE NAME], I hope you’ll make the right choice for people like [VICTIM’S NAME] and the countless Americans who have been killed in preventable tragedies. We should not have to fear for our lives every time we go to school or a movie theater or a grocery store. You have the power to make sure this never happens again. Thank you for your time and have a nice day.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME], [YOUR TOWN]

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HONOR LIST

Victims of mass shootings in the United States, listed by date and then alphabetically by last name. Right now, only those from the Robb Elementary shooting are listed, more information will be added soon.

ROBB ELEMENTARY (May 24, 2022)
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Neveah Bravo, 10.
She loved to ride her bike and play softball. Her name was 'heaven' spelled backwards and her family said she was "an angel" who put a smile on everyone's faces. They already miss her smile.
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Jackie Cazares, 9.
She and her cousin Annabell were in the same class. Her dad described her as a "firecracker," always full of energy. She was brave and compassionate and stood up for classmates who were bullied. Jackie had recently completed her first communion and was excited for her tenth birthday next month.
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Eliahana Cruz Torres, 10.
She loved playing sports and spending time with her family. After the shooting, her great-grandfather rushed to the school to try to find her. He waited for her outside the gates all night long before finally being told the next day that she had died.
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Makenna Lee Elrod, 10.
She loved softball, gymnastics, and dancing. She made friends everywhere she went and often helped her dad feed the animals on their family's ranch. Makenna often hid loving handwritten notes for her family to find.
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Jose Flores Jr., 10.
He loved playing baseball and video games and had received an honor roll award that morning. His grandfather was teaching him golf and said Jose would try anything. He was full of energy, happy-go-lucky, and a caring big brother to his two younger siblings.
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Uziyah Garcia, 8.
He was described as, "the sweetest little boy I've ever known." He loved his two sisters and playing video games. This year on spring break, he visited his grandfather, who was teaching him how to play football.
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Ellie Garcia, 9.
She was always happy and smiling and loved to greet her grandmother with hugs. She played basketball and her cheerleading coach said she had a big heart and was always cheering the loudest for everbody. She was going to be turning 10 in just two weeks and was excited for her birthday party. Last year her dad had to work on her birthday and she sent him a video to say she missed him and loved him but understood why he couldn't be there, and that she would be waiting to see him when he got home. This year her dad had promised to be her personal DJ for her birthday party. She was killed before he got the chance.
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Irma Garcia, 46.
She was a mother of four and had been a teacher for 23 years. Robb Elementary gave her a teacher of the year award and in 2019 she won a prize for Excellence in Education from Trinity Univeristy. She loved listening to music and barbecuing with her husband, Joe. Irma and Joe were high school sweethearts and they were preparing to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Two days after her death, Joe died of a heart attack after putting flowers at her memorial her memorial, leaving their four children orphaned. Irma died protecting her students, physically shielding them.
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Amerie Jo Garza, 10.
Her father described her as loving and sweet. "She always brushed her teeth, she was so creative, always making things for us, never got in trouble for school." Every day her baby brother asks for her after he wakes up and her parents have to explain to him she's gone now. Amerie's 10th birthday was two weeks before her death. She received a cell phone, which she used to call the police for help during the shooting. The gunman shot her for doing so. Her best friend was sitting beside her and was covered in Amerie's blood. Help didn't come until forty minutes later. Amerie's stepfather, a medic, learned his daughter had been killed while helping her best friend.
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Xavier James Lopez, 10.
Just two hours earlier his mom was at the school to watch him receive his award for being an honor roll student. His family said his smile could cheer anyone up. Xavier loved to dance and play basketball. He was excited for summer and planned to go swimming with his older cousins.
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Jayce Carmello Luevanos, 10.
He woke up early every morning so he could make a pot of coffee for his grandparents. Jayce loved school and his dog Fifi. His grandmother was chaperoning a kindergarten field trip for one of his relatives to the San Antonio Zoo. He asked to go with her but they told him it didn't make sense to skip class when the end of the year was so close, and that they'd go another time. He and his cousin Jaliah were in the same fourth-grade class and were both killed.
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Tess Marie Mata.
She was sweet and caring and liked playing softball with her older sister. She loved the Houston Astros and Ariana Grande. Tess was sassy and gave the best hugs.
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Maranda Mathis, 11.
She was talkative and loving and liked to do her hair to match her best friend.
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Eva Mireles, 44.
A teacher of over 17 years, she was a beloved mother and wife. A bilingual special education teacher, she was known for going above and beyond to help her students and made sure her classroom was a space of fun and collaboration. Eva loved CrossFit and had a daughter in college who she called every day as soon as she was done teaching.
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Alithia Ramirez, 10.
She loved to draw and play soccer, and was known for her kind heart. Last year, her best friend Nico was killed in a car accident. While mourning the loss of her friend, Alithia regularly stayed in touch with Nico's parents to comfort them and sent paintings she made for them. They were devastated to learn that she was killed at school.
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Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10.
She was a third-grade honor roll student who was incredibly smart and loved school. Annabell liked music and adored her dog. She wanted to be a vet when she grew up. She was in the same class as her cousin Jackie and they were together when they both died. Annabell has a twin sister who was at home that day.
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Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, 10.
She was an honor roll student described by family as "sweet, smart," and "an angel." Maite's dream was to go to Texas A&M University and become a marine biologist. She was driven and hard-working and loved to play kickball.
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Alexandria Aniyah Rubio, 10.
Everyone called her Lexi. She was an honor roll student who wanted to be a lawyer when she grew up. She was shy but when stood up for others and was brave when she had a point she wanted to get across. Earlier that day she had received the "good citizen award" during the school awards ceremony. Her mother told the press through tears "Everyone keeps telling us that it's not time to be political, but it is. Don't let this happen to anybody else."
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Layla Salazar, 10.
She won six first place ribbons at Robb Elementary's Field Day earlier this year, and loved to sing "Sweet Child O'Mine" with her dad whenever he drove her to school. Her grandparents said Layla was their whole world. She was full of energy, climbing trees and swimming in the river with her friends. Layla was excited to see the newest Marvel movies this summer.
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Jaliah Nicole Silguero, 10.
She was always smiling and full of life. This year she ran the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. Jaliah and her cousin Jayce were in the same class when they were killed.
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Rojelio Torres, 10.
He was intelligent, hard-working, and always helping others. Rojelio was loving and friendly. His family waited 12 hours before learning he had been killed because he could not be identified without a DNA sample.
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OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL (2021)
MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL (02/14/2019)
SANTA FE HIGH SCHOOL
SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY

TOPS SUPERMARKET; BUFFALO, NY (2022)
VTA; SAN JOSE, CA (2021)
FEDEX GROUND; INDIANAPOLIS, IN (04/15/2021)
KING SOOPERS; BOULDER, CO (04/22/2021)
WALMART; EL PASO, TX (08/03/2019)
CHURCH; SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, TX
LAS VEGAS, NV
PULSE NIGHTCLUB; ORLANDO, FL (06/12/2016)

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SSI Penalty Elimination Act

About the SSI Penalty Elimination Act
Did you know we still don't have marriage equality in the United States? That's because disabled folks on SSI benefits can lose their benefits if they get married, which means many disabled people cannot marry the person they love. But that's not the only issue with SSI! In addition to the marriage penalty, disabled folk are penalized for obtaining part-time work, or for receiving support from family or friends (such as groceries or a place to live). There are also limits on how much money folks can save. If you have more than $2,000 in savings/assets as an individual, or more than $3,000 as a couple (which comes out to $1,500 per person - less than the amount individuals are allowed) you risk losing your benefits entirely. This amount hasn't been updated since 1989!
These outdated rules prevent disabled Americans from truly thriving by preventing those on benefits from getting married, receiving community support, saving money for emergencies, or attempting to become financially independent by working. If so many conservative politicians think people should try to get off benefits, why do they make it impossible for folks to survive when attempting to do so?
And the maximum amount folks on SSI can receive is only $794 monthly - that's HALF of the poverty level in the United States. Combined with the savings limits, disabled folks on benefits are forced to live in poverty, check to check. A motorized wheelchair costs between $700-$3,000+. The average rent for a 1 bedroom in the US is $1,098. A car repair can cost around $400-$900. The assets limits and low monthly payments prevent disabled folks from saving for emergencies or achieving financial independence. It's time to bring SSI into the 21st century, and the SSI Penalty Elimination Act is a huge step in the right direction.
THE BILL
- increases the monthly benefits maximum to match the federal poverty level and adjust for inflation
- changes the assets/savings allowance from $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for couples
- eliminates the marriage penalty bringing us closer to marriage equality
- eliminates penalties for folks receiving community support

SCRIPT
SENATORS
Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I'm a constituent from [YOUR TOWN]. I'm [CALLING/WRITING] to ask Senator [LAST NAME] to support S.2767, the SSI Penalty Elimination Act. This bill provides crucial changes to support disabled and elderly Americans receiving SSI benefits. Did you know that according to existing laws, disabled people on benefits can risk losing those benefits if they get married? They're also penalized for obtaining part-time work. Furthermore, the current laws forbid individuals on benefits from having more than $2000 in their savings, and couples are only allowed to have $3000 in savings. These restrictions prevent Americans with disabilities from marrying the person they love, saving money for emergencies, or finding work. They don't allow people to thrive on benefits or to reach a point where they are financially able to survive without benefits. Bill S.2767 eliminates the marriage penalty and gives people on benefits the opportunity to work to receive additional income. It also updates the savings allowance from $2000 to $10000 for individuals and from $3000 to $20000 for couples. These allowances haven't been updated since 1989, and a change is long overdue. I ask Senator [LAST NAME] to support disabled Americans by voting yes on this bill and giving [US/THEM] the opportunity to work, to love, and to thrive. Thank you for your time and have a great day.REPRESENTATIVES
Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME] and I'm a constituent from [YOUR TOWN]. I'm [CALLING/WRITING] to ask Representative [LAST NAME] to support H.R. 5408, the SSI Penalty Elimination Act. This bill provides crucial changes to support disabled and elderly Americans receiving SSI benefits. Did you know that according to existing laws, disabled people on benefits can risk losing those benefits if they get married? They're also penalized for obtaining part-time work. Furthermore, the current laws forbid individuals on benefits from having more than $2000 in their savings, and couples are only allowed to have $3000 in savings. These restrictions prevent Americans with disabilities from marrying the person they love, saving money for emergencies, or finding work. They don't allow people to thrive on benefits or to reach a point where they are financially able to survive without benefits. Bill H.R. 5408 eliminates the marriage penalty and gives people on benefits the opportunity to work to receive additional income. It also updates the savings allowance from $2000 to $10000 for individuals and from $3000 to $20000 for couples. These allowances haven't been updated since 1989, and a change is long overdue. I ask Representative [LAST NAME] to support disabled Americans by voting yes on this bill and giving [US/THEM] the opportunity to work, to love, and to thrive. Thank you for your time and have a great day.

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Mayor Eric Adams
Phone: 212-NEW-YORK
Email webform
City Council Members (NYC residents only)
Contact information
Dr. Ashwin Vasan, Comissioner of Health & Mental Hygeine
Email webform
Eva Wong, Mayor's Office of Community Mental Health
Email webform
Borough Presidents
Mark Levine, Manhhattan: (212) 669-8300, [email protected]
Antonio Reynoso, Brooklyn: (718) 802 – 3700
Vanessa Gibson, the Bronx: (718) 590-3557, [email protected]
Donovan Richards, Queens: https://queensbp.org/contact/
Vito Fossella, Staten Island: 718.816.2000CALL/EMAIL SCRIPT
Dear [MAYOR ADAMS/ OTHER OFFICIAL NAME],
I'm reaching out to [*if Eric Adams: demand you drop the plans / if not Eric Adams: ask you to speak out against Mayor Adams' plans] to force people with mental illness into involuntary hospitalizations. Institutionalizing people with developmental and psychiatric disabilities will not fix any of New York’s social problems. When people are hospitalized against their will, they cannot go to work so they lose their jobs, they cannot pay their bills or retain their spot in a shelter so they lose their housing, they cannot care for their children or families, they cannot receive other medical care they may need, and they are stripped of their support systems and communities. In light of these realities and the rampant abuse that occurs in many institutions, it is clear that forced hospitalizations only increase the harms that people with disabilities and mental illness suffer and perpetuate the root causes of issues like homelessness, crime, and mental health problems. This proposed policy will only make things worse.In 1999, the US Supreme Court in Olmstead v. L.C. ruled that disabled people have a right to receive treatment and care in the least restrictive setting possible. To forcibly hospitalize people against their will does not meet the standards imposed by the US constitution or the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is time to stop punishing and institutionalizing people with disabilities. I urge you to stop this effort and instead invest resources, time, and money, into providing accessible and affordable treatment options in communities that meet people where they are and allow them to thrive without being subject to further abuse or saddled with hospital bills they cannot possibly pay. Stop disappearing disabled people and instead listen to the disability advocates who are sharing their lived experiences. Look at the horrific history of institutions like Willowbrook School on Staten Island and know that forced hospitalization is not the answer. It’s not too late to do the right thing. I urge you strike down these policies and seek out solutions that will improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers.Thank you,
[YOUR NAME HERE]