One Big Not-Beautiful At All Bill Act (H.R. 1)

 

This blog is part of my ongoing effort to maintain a record of my written communication expressing concern about the actions of the current presidential administration that lead to unnecessary (and in some cases cruel) harm to others, to the U.S., or to the global community. 

I wrote the following letter to address H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act); while I focused my letter on the (highly) detrimental impact of the bill on the U.S. national debt, the impacts to the poor through cuts in Medicaid and other programs alongside tax cuts to the wealthy are not what America is nor what it should be. Feel free to copy any text in the letter below for your own communications.   

The text of H.R. 1 is here:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text

And a summary of the bill's impacts are here:

https://robertreich.substack.com/p/what-you-need-to-share-about-the

How to reach your U.S. Senators:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

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Dear Senator <Name>,

I am writing to strongly oppose the passage of H.R. 1., the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.  

​​​While there are many impacts to this bill that seem to unjustly punish poor working Americans and bless the rich, I am focusing this letter on the impact of the bill on the national debt. Does anyone in Congress really believe that we can survive another three to four trillion dollar increase in our national debt?   Does the recent downgrade in the U.S. credit rating not mean anything to Congress?  And what happened to the Republican Party?  Have all Republicans been kidnapped and duct taped or brainwashed to think that fiscal responsibility is no longer relevant?  necessary?  essential?   

The choice of words and alliteration in H.R. 1 mock the seriousness of the bill's profound, negative impacts. Groceries aren't beautiful. They are necessary.  H.R.1 is not beautiful.  It is not necessary and from a fiscal perspective... it is wildly irresponsible.  

I beg you to start over or take a leap backward on H.R. 1 -- to  thoughtfully consider what it will do, over short and long term, to harm "ordinary” Americans. I ask you to act, as a U.S. Senator, to prevent these harms.  

Please consider sacrificing politics, party, and individual advancement for the sake of those who vote for you, those who struggle to make ends meet, those who work hard every day to keep this country running, those who have sacrificed their lives to defend the country ... for the sake of every American who would like the United States of America to have a  bright and promising future.   

Sincerely, 

A Monday at the end of May

 

I am as guilty as many other Americans of making the last Monday in May a National Barbecue Day rather than the more serious and reflective day that it should be.  Too often, I allow the day to pass without even stopping to think about what it is really about.  Well, not this year. 

Don’t get me wrong.  We still barbecued.   Polish sausage (kielbasa) with the flavor that only comes from being on the grill sans foil.   Add to it -- pea salad, three bean salad, cucumber salad (do you see a theme here?), tater tots, and baked rockfish to top it all off. I am stuffed and content.  I love National Barbecue Day.  

But, I also love my country.   I’ve heard the following words over and over again throughout my life but especially on Memorial Day:

Remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms.   

It is truly a sad state of affairs when these words only truly sink in when our freedoms are in real danger of being extinguished, temporarily at best, and now possibly -- for the rest of my time on this earth.  I expect to be here for several more decades, but, like many, I am afraid of the future that my beloved country is now facing.   

In America, I have lived a life speaking my mind, never once considering the possibility of dire consequences for doing so.

In America, I've lived my life secure as a birthright citizen, never once considering that I would be sent to live in a country that is not the United States and is as foreign to me as Mars or Venus.   

In America, I have lived the upward mobility story -- rising not only from poverty to the middle class, but being transformed into a more thoughtful and capable person by a high quality college education – which has in turn better equipped to be a teacher and public servant.

In America, I have been free enough to practice free will. To grow in my faith along a haphazard, convoluted route that has led me closer to God and more able and willing to serve Him. 

Throughout the years I have lived and changed in the United States, I have become increasingly aware of my affluence as an American and of my responsibility to steward resources and share my privilege for the benefit of others.

At times, I have been spoiled.  At times, I have taken this all for granted.   At times, I have been oblivious to the needs of others. At times, I have been disparaging of what others have to say, even of what others are.  

None of these times am I proud of.  

I want to do better.  Resting on American ideals and values alongside my faith, I can do better.     

But here I am.   On Memorial Day 2025, I am contemplating with deep sadness all those who have died for this country while protecting freedoms that now seem to be rapidly slipping away from us.   

Stickies

Science has advanced the study of the brain by leaps and bounds in the past few decades. Yet so much of how the human brain works remains a big messy mystery.  Among the many mysteries that remain are the ones that make me think science will never really capture the whole picture... is the process of how memories are made, organized, stored, and retrieved.  Particularly when it comes to the pleasures and joys of vacationing.

So much of what I see, do, and experience on vacation gets lost somewhere in the deep caverns of memory, never to be seen again, unless a dream or a la-la land moment in my waking hours randomly retrieves them. Even then, the memories appear and disappear in a short window of time, never to be seen again, unless the random moment... randomly repeats itself.  Which is not probable.  

So over the past few years, I've had less focus on seeing as much as possible while on travel or on vacation (not that I was very good at that to begin with) and more focus on making Stickies.  Stickies are those memories that are easily retrievable, pinned on a special bulletin board in the brain reserved for all things easily retrieved.   

To my dismay, Stickies are not easy to make. They are on par with making sourdough bread. The outcome is highly desirable, but the process is not at all simple or easily repeatable.

For one, Stickies usually require stillness.  And, how easy is it to be still when you are at a viewpoint with a hundred other people and a comparable multitude of cars that exceed the number of parking spaces?  And so it goes ...  Hunt down parking spot.  Hustle to viewpoint. Squeeze into a spot along guard railing.  Take photographs.  Feel weird because you are focused on the landscape rather than a selfie.  Listen to chatter. Return to Car. Leave. What results is a very perfect recipe for remembering nothing beyond a snippet on a busy itinerary.  

There is a simple solution, right?  Just seek out stillness.  Breathe. Meditate.  Feel the wind. Slowly take in the sun, the clouds, the rain, the weather. Listen for birds, squirrels, or the flow of water.  Smell fresh air, nearby flowers, or that burger that someone took with them to the viewpoint (and is now drive everyone else crazy).  Don't think about food. Be in the moment.  Focus.  Breathe.  Ignore the child screaming because mom pulled him off the railing before he went over the edge. Ignore the multitude of languages that together elevate the volume of unintelligible background chatter.  

Not so simple.    But not impossible either.  Worth the intentional effort it takes to find the place and space to make those tricky Stickies.

I love Stickies.  I love them because even on the most stressful of days I can pick a Stickie and rest in it.  In a moment of chaos, I can return to the Loughrigg Fell (Ambleside UK) and find peace:

In a day that feels dead and lifeless, I can remember creatures full of curiosity:

During a moment mired in frustration, I can remember a scene of contentment:

On a dreary, rainy day that marks a pattern of the same over a week, two weeks, a month ... I can return to the sunshine. 

And that's just from a single, ten-day trip to England (a trip that is turning into quite the StickieFest). 

Stickies.   Worth more than ten cities in ten days. Worth more than the most expensive resort.   Worth more than a thousand photographs.   

Worth more than gold.   Although some gold would certainly help with expenses.   

Electricity for Those in Need

 

This blog is part of my ongoing effort to maintain a record of my written communication expressing concern about the actions of the current presidential administration that lead to unnecessary (and in some cases cruel) harm to others, to the U.S., or to the global community. 

I wrote the following letter to address cutting of all staff in the LIHEAP program which provides assistance to maintain electricity to individuals in need including but not limited to those requiring oxygen to breathe and those living in states that experience extreme temperatures in the winter or summer.  Feel free to copy and paste any of the following text for your own letters or other advocacy to protect vulnerable populations in the U.S.  

More about LIHEAP:

https://www.liheap.org/about

How to reach your U.S. Senators:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

How to reach your U.S. Representative:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

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Dear Senator <Name>,

Dear Representative <Name>,

I am writing to strongly encourage continued funding for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program).   

From the information that is available to me (and to the public), my understanding is that approximately 10% of the 2025 budget for LIHEAP has not yet been allocated because of a series of determinations involving certain (albeit extensive) calculations that need to be done by a LIHEAP staff member. Since all LIHEAP staff members were laid off recently, my understanding is also that the budget will remain unallocated because there is simply no one left to do the necessary work.   Further, it appears to me that the 2026 federal budget seeks to cut off LIHEAP entirely.   

Before voicing my thoughts on eliminating LIHEAP, I would like to communicate that my political views are moderate and lean only slightly left of center.  I am not a fan of proliferating entitlement programs just because they sound good on paper.  Instead, I am strongly in favor of programs that serve those who, through no fatal flaw or major fault of their own, are not earning enough money to maintain their basic needs.   

My understanding is that, before mass firings over the last several months, LIHEAP was run efficiently, channeling money directly to the states and directly to individuals vetted and approved for help with their home heating and cooling bills.  

In an era where temperatures are often reaching extremes of heat in the summer and extremes of cold in the winter, such aid is critical.  Temperature extremes can kill people when access to warm or cool spaces is cut off.  Individuals who need oxygen concentrators to breathe cannot survive when their electricity is turned off.  In an affluent country, is it wise or ethical to deny people access to electricity? Do we really want that to be a part of this administration’s legacy?

In addition to the immediate impacts of cutting LIHEAP funds, actions taken to curtail LIHEAP are an excellent example of where I believe the federal government is taking an ineffective approach to cutting waste and fraud that is fraught with ethical concerns. 

Instead of improving our methods for finding and pursuing those who pursue tax evasion, we promote tax evasion by making major cuts at the IRS.  Why?  

Instead of directing efforts towards the complicated issues of Medicare and Medicaid, cutting fraud which gives a real bang for the buck, we cut off energy assistance to very low-income individuals to save money. Why?

Instead of finding new ways to reduce food waste in this country, we cut off programs that distribute ugly produce and other surplus food to working families. Why?

And, in the end, after all these dramatic and highly damaging cuts that detrimentally impact the lives of so many individuals and families who have valid struggles, all the legal fees that result from the government’s hasty actions… reduce the resulting “savings” to negligible or even negative.  What on earth are we doing here?     

If LIHEAP is not being run efficiently, then with a sincerity of heart, I beg you to take action to fix it, not throw it away.  If there is waste in the food distribution network, find it and curtail it.  Please move away from "throwing out the baby with the bathwater" with these hasty, broad brush stroke actions that in the end, do more harm and good.   

It took us, as a country, a long time to get to the level of fraud and waste that now costs the federal government a mind-boggling amount of dollars every year.  These are complex problems that should be solved… but cannot be solved overnight.  

Thank you for considering my perspective. 

Sincerely,

A Peter Rabbit Kind of Day

I confess. I have a love-hate relationship with rabbits. 

Some days, they seem adorable -- a harmless delight. Catching sight of one bounding off into the brush with the bright white underside of its tail bobbing in harmony with its hopping -- makes me smile.  

Other days, I feel one step short of shooting any rabbit I see -- which will never really happen because I don't own a gun.  I typically have these homicidal impulses right after I discover some substantial or valued part of my garden has been gobbled up by the pesky critters.   

Still other days, I am neutral on the topic of rabbits.  On these days, in the war I wage with rabbits, I have won a battle or two and the many barriers I've put in place to keep them away from my garden are actually working.  Unfortunately, these days are few and far between because rabbits are very determined critters, taking second place only to beavers in the single-mindedness of their endeavors.  

Today was the first kind of day... the adorable Peter Rabbit arrived for a lengthy visit.  I had the privilege to visit Hill Top House in the Lakes District in England where Beatrix Potter did a great deal of her work in illustrating and writing children's stories in the early 1900's.  While Peter Rabbit was only one of her many characters, he is arguably the most well known... world famous no less.  

Fittingly, the day looked like a fairy tail (pun intended) from the very start.  The sun was out, joyfully announcing the arrival of spring.  The temperatures were ideal... not too cold, not too hot.  Once the morning chill evaporated, the temperature was just right (and it had nothing at all to do with porridge).   A multitude of lambs were out in pasture, enjoying the green grass with their mothers comfortably nearby.   A smattering of clouds in the sky moved against the bright blue backdrop fueling a seemingly endless sequence of unique landscapes.    

My friend Alice and I opted to drive less rather than more today... which drastically reduced the risk associated with the challenge of driving on the "wrong" side of the road amid narrow lanes and crazy fast drivers.  Driving less required a boat, so we drove from Ambleside (an adorable town that has the honor of being the biggest seller of outdoor clothing and supplies in England, despite its small size) to Windermere to catch a boat across the lake to our destination.   The boat in question was the cutest little ferry ever made with an eighteen car capacity that also held room for a handful of foot passengers like us.  Quite a contrast to the Washington State ferry (capacity between 90 and 144 cars) that we were accustomed to.  

In a short ten minutes, the ferry whisked us from the east side of Lake Windermere to the less populated west side. From the dock, we walked the landscape for what seemed like many miles even though the signs along the route continued to repeat for quite some time that it was only 1.5 miles further to Hill Top House.  Finally, the milepost signs started to drop to 3/4 miles, then 1/3 then 1/4.   I guess there had been a sale on 1.5 mile signs when the signposts were installed.   

We passed through wooded areas, pastures populated with contented sheep and new lambs, and a feast of old stone buildings, churches, and other structures that made it very clear we were no longer in the United States.   England and the Lakes District had offered us a perfect day with perfect landscapes and plenty to gawk at.  I thought for sure that arriving at Hill Top House would be anticlimactic. 

Not exactly.      

At Hill Top House, we were granted a moment of time to look into the window of the life of Beatrix Potter -- a window that extended well beyond Miss Potter, the movie and that left me wandering in musing and whimsy for the rest of the day.  The self-guided tour began in her gardens. Weeping wisteria, rhododendrons, azaleas, and a variety of other flowers had erupted in a rainbow of colors at the peak of spring bloom.  The flowers alone would have been enough to entertain me for an afternoon, but there was still the house to see.   

As we entered the house, I felt drawn to the window seat. Nestled in the seat and basking in sunshine, I picked up a copy of  "The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or The Roly-Poly Pudding" and was soon lost in the story.  As I read, I should have been horrified that two very large rats were busy trying to turn Tom Kitten into dinner, first tying him up, then slathering him in butter, then rolling him in dough... to make Roly-Poly pudding.  But with the clever illustrations and the rhythm of the story, it was hard to be disgusted by the rats (as I would certainly be in any real-life situation involving rats).  

Instead I laughed at the antics of Tom Kitten and breathed a sign of relief when he was rescued.  The rats were ultimately banished to Father Potato's barn (where they and their progeny apparently wreaked havoc for many years upon all nature of things stored in said barn).  And who knows what happened to Tom Kitten... precocious, mischievous little thing that was bound to find trouble every day of his feline life.     

Beatrix Potter had a way of spelling out the reality of predator-prey while simultaneously anthropomorphizing both and pulling it all together into a story suitable for children.  I could imagine that her Roly-Poly pudding was inspired when she heard rats scratching away in the walls of Hill Top House (as the tour informed us to be the case).  I am very impressed by this.  How you can create anything of artistic value when rodents are abounding in your home? That takes a level of character, drive, and strength that I will never have. Rats in my walls or in my attic (or anywhere in my vicinity) only inspire fear and homicidal impulses in my world.   Ugh.

Despite the fact that two of the main characters were large rats, Roly-Poly Pudding colored the rest of my time at Hill Top House in the most pleasant of ways. I felt that I had a little window into Ms. Potter's spirit and artistic flow and had a wonderful time soaking in the things she left behind in her home for us to better understand and know her.  

When leaving Hill Top House, I saw this sign in the road, cautioning us to be careful that Peter Rabbit might indeed spring out of the brush at any moment and hop onto the road.  In my whimsical state of mind, I didn't find it hard to imagine that he might just do that.     

More photos of the trek to Hill Top House, via slideshow:

https://youtu.be/9FQWB6JUNW4

SAVE access to voting rights

This blog is part of my ongoing effort to maintain a record of my written communication expressing concern about the actions of the current federal administration that (I sincerely believe) lead to unnecessary (and in some cases cruel) harm to others, to the U.S., or to the global community. 

If any of the text in this blog is helpful in your own efforts to reach your representatives or senators, please feel free to copy and paste.   

I wrote the following letter regarding concerns over HR22 (the SAVE act) which requires voters to show proof of U.S. citizenship in order to vote. The letter was sent to my U.S. Senators and Representative on May 6, 2025.  

More about the SAVE act is here:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/22

More about the real-life impacts of the SAVE act, if passed:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/31/congress-republicans-save-act-voting-rights

How to reach your U.S. Senators:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

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Dear Senator <Name>,

I am writing to strongly oppose the passage of HR22 as it is currently written.  While the premise of the SAVE act (requiring individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections) seems sound and reasonable, the bill as written will lead to restrictions in voting to certain populations of U.S. citizens, thereby leading to discrimination agains those populations.  This contradicts American values and ideals.

Restricting the right to vote among U.S. citizens, whether explicitly or implicitly, also runs contrary to the 14th, 155h, 17th, 19th, and 26th amendments of the U.S. Constitution.  The American people rely on our states and U.S. Congress to ensure that our right to vote, as U.S. citizens, is protected and available to all citizens regardless of their circumstance, geographical location, education level, or otherwise.   

For example, women often change their name when they marry.  With the passage of HR22, they will be required to track down copies of their birth certificate and their marriage certificate in order to vote.   This adds additional complications to already busy and burdened lives for women. I believe if Congress is insistent on passing HR22, it must also provide accessible means to access these legal documents at little to no expense and additional burden to the requestor .  Yet, these considerations are not included in HR22 and HR22 is therefore  incomplete. As it stands, HR22 is unfair and unjust to U.S. citizens who should be able to vote in a way that does not cause a disproportionate burden or expense to them.  

While HR22 does not impact those who carry a U.S. passport which I believe is still gold standard proof of U.S. citizenship, more than half of Americans do not have a passport.  How does HR22 enable U.S. citizens more practical access to a U.S. passport or other proof of citizenship? What resources are allocated to the states by this bill to serve the resulting increase in requests for passports or other documentation? How does HR22 allow for educating voters well in advance of elections to ensure that those who want to vote and who are eligible to vote...  can indeed vote?  

I strongly advocate for considering these important details prior to voting on the SAVE act.   Like so much else that has happened in the last few months,  decisions are being made and legislation passed in haste without thoughtful consideration of the multitude of impacts on the American people. This is threatening our democracy, adherence to our U.S. Constitution, and ultimately, the health of our country as a whole.  

Please take a step back and reconsider HR22 rather than passing it without sufficient safeguards to ensure that those who are entitled to vote in the United States can vote without undue or differential burden on them to do so.

Sincerely,

Tone Deaf Senators

This blog is part of my ongoing effort to maintain a record of my written communication expressing concern about the actions of the current presidential administration that lead to unnecessary (and in some cases cruel) harm to others, to the U.S., or to the global community. 

I try to be understanding of how busy my U.S. Senators and Representatives (and their respective staffs) must be, especially with the chaos in the current administration. But my patience has run thin with form letter responses that completely miss the mark and send the message that the people who are supposed to be representing me in the U.S. Congress are preoccupied with other agendas that have little to do with their constituents.  

Call me an idealist, but in the U.S. as it should be, what greater priority is there for a U.S. Senator or Representative than the voices of their constituents?   

How to reach your U.S. Senators:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

How to reach your U.S. Representative:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

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Senator Ashley Moody's response to my letter regarding the release of personal data to unelected and unvetted officials is copied below my response to her response at the end of this blog.   

Dear Senator Moody,

In mid-February 2025, I wrote you a letter protesting the inappropriate access to and use of my personal data and that of millions of Americans by DOGE.  In that letter, I ask you specifically to take clear and urgent steps to ensure that the extensive personal information we are required to provide the American government remain ... personal and confidential, to be accessed only by those who have been vetted and who fully and humbly understand their obligations to protect that information.  I simply ask that my personal data be protected as it has historically been protected, that is until the current administration took office.

In my letter, I did not argue against reducing fraud and waste in the U.S. government. However, in April of 2025, I received a response from you and your office that focused instead on the reduction of fraud and waste by DOGE and lauded your accomplishments as attorney general of Florida, but did not at all touch on my concerns regarding the release of my personal information  by the recent hasty and extensive acts of the federal government via DOGE.  I am writing this letter to say that I am deeply offended and concerned by the tone-deaf response I received.  

The release of my personal information (and that of millions of other Americans) in a manner that is wholly inconsistent with the trust we are asked to put in the federal government is unacceptable. This is not a trivial issue to be swept to the side by other agendas. 

I ask you, as part of your duty to provide effective, honest, and relevant oversight to the federal government, to take the protection of personal data much more seriously and make it more central to the future actions of DOGE and other government agencies.   

​​​​​

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Senator Moody's letter to me, sent electronically to my email on April 17, 2025

Dear Denise,

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts regarding the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Understanding your views helps me to better represent Florida in the United States Senate, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond.

For too long, our nation has been rife with waste, fraud and abuse at various levels of our government. The Government Accountability Office has found the federal government loses between $230 billion and $500 billion to fraud annually. Since 2003, it is estimated that the federal government has made over $2.3 trillion in incorrect payments without a way to track, mitigate, or recover those finances. As a hard-working taxpayer, it is unconscionable to believe how much of our money has been lost in recent years.

As the former Attorney General of Florida, I led multiple investigations that exposed the bad actors and their abuse of government finances. Most notably, I uncovered over $10 million in back payments targeting Medicaid that shortchanged the state’s program. These actions led to us recouping all the nearly lost funds. With the help of DOGE, we are working on eliminating those risks and putting your taxes to better use.

Most recently, I proudly cosponsored the Recover Fraudulent COVID Funds Act (S. 121), which was introduced by Senator Lankford (R-OK). This legislation would extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting and recovering stolen and fraudulently-obtained COVID funds and payments. Last year, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation unit released a report detailing nearly $9 billion in fraudulent COVID payments, totaling over 1,600 cases – most of which were uncovered over the last year. This legislation will allow us to recover fraudulent payments and hold bad actors accountable.

President Trump and all leaders in Washington understand the dangers to our nation if we do not get federal spending under control. Our debt has skyrocketed, and this leaves our children and grandchildren exposed to an unstable fiscal reality. We must ensure taxpayer funds are working as effectively as possible. Wasteful government practices have contributed to our enormous debt, which is one of the most pressing challenges we face as a nation. Cost-saving measures are required if we are going to ensure the long-term financial stability of the U.S.

My goal is to reduce the national debt, shrink the federal bureaucracy, and ensure that taxpayers actually benefit from any services paid for with their tax dollars.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me. If you would like to stay up to date on how I am serving Florida in the Senate, I encourage you to visit https://www.moody.senate.gov/ or https://x.com/SenAshleyMoody for more information.

Sincerely,

Ashley Moody

United States Senator

Where is my Voice going?

This blog is part of my ongoing effort to maintain a record of my written communication expressing concern about the actions of the current presidential administration that lead to unnecessary (and in some cases cruel) harm to others, to the U.S., or to the global community. 

I am deeply concerned that because of automated electronic contact forms used by most if not all offices of U.S. Senators and Representatives that there is a lack of widespread understanding of who is ignoring their constituents.  As a registered voter in Florida, I am unsure if the lack of town halls, the lack of response from my U.S. Representative (Anna Luna), and the tone-deaf responses from my U.S. Senators (Moody and Scott) are communicating that my voice is ignored, minimized, or something else.  

But I am certain that this is not the way it's supposed to go. My voice and that of other Americans is supposed to be top priority for those who represent me.  My concern prompted this letter, sent to multiple senators in other states, attempting to raise awareness of what is going on in other districts and U.S. States. It was sent via snail mail because it would have been automatically rejected had I tried to send it via electronic contact or email.   

How to reach your U.S. Senators:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

How to reach your U.S. Representative:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

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Dear Senator, 

I am deeply concerned that I am neither being represented by my representative in the U.S. House nor by my senators in the U.S. Senate.  I am a constituent in one of the many districts in the country represented by a Republican representative (Representative Anna Luna in Congressional District #13 in the state of Florida) who will not hold town halls, who will not respond to my appeals, who is not communicating with her constituency, and who overall, via her silence, has sent a clear message that in my district, democracy has gone dark.   My senators are similarly troubling.  Senator Ashely Moody (FL) does not respond to me at all and my other senator (Senator Rick Scott, FL) brags at length to me in his weekly emails about many actions he is taking that are blatantly contrary to my opinions on legislation as well as my appeals for a more balanced and functional democratic government.

Unfortunately, the digital age has ensured that contact with a senator outside my state or with a representative outside of my district is rejected outright.  Electronic contact forms simply do not allow communication from "outside" constituents to pass. Although I am not entirely certain of this, I believe this has created disturbing silos of representation, where senators from other states and representatives from other districts remain largely unaware of the sheer volume of voices that are being ignored, not tallied, and therefore not considered in Congress and in American government.   

I regret that I have no clear solutions to this problem.   I am sure, however, that our silenced voices combined with the disturbing actions of the current presidential administration are a clear and present danger to the continuation of democracy in this country.  When constituents are ignored or bombarded with tone-deaf messages, many give up, and some become unproductively hostile.  Only a few continue fighting via appropriate channels, but in the end, we, the American people, become less and less a force in the government of the U.S. as the days go by.  

I beg you not to simply toss my letter in the circular file (digital or otherwise) because I am not a constituent in your state or district.  While I continue to write letters to my representative and senators as a registered voter in Congressional District 13 in Florida, I ask you, on behalf of the many who are also writing letters and making calls, to help us understand how we can reclaim our voice.  

In an age where protests seem to fall on deaf ears and our representatives in Congress are turning away from us, what can we do as "ordinary" Americans to be heard and respected?  More importantly, what can we do to ensure that our collective voices are considered and acted upon?

Please help us to understand how our voices can be restored, and what we can do to support America returning to being America again.   

Two Halves of a Rabbit

On a beautiful summer day in 2024, both of my dogs were out romping on a little over eight acres of woods that we have been blessed to steward in the Pacific Northwest.   While they romped, I was "enjoying" yard work on the property (otherwise known as the ultimate in "free" gym and fitness experiences) when I noticed our older dog racing out of the brush at breakneck speed.  I also noticed a smaller creature with a round little cottontail racing out of the same brush at a slightly faster speed.  Much to my dismay, the smaller creature soon slowed down and my dog caught up to the poor little thing which led to a scene that I won't describe in detail.   

The rabbit did not survive the experience.  To make matters worse, my other dog wanted to get in on the action and we ended up with two halves of a recently thriving rabbit in the mouths of two different dogs, running in different directions around the yard.  There was absolutely nothing I could say to them, no matter what the level of my voice, that would persuade them to stop being so "cruel" to that poor rabbit.  Their brains had turned off and instinct had kicked in at full volume.  

In that moment of horror and dismay, I couldn't recognize the sweet, mild-mannered, playful, and affectionate dogs that I knew and that got  along with my two cats (also "prey") just fine.  In that moment, all I saw was two predators doing what predators do.  

Hunting and killing.

This, despite the fact that these two canines were guaranteed two full meals a day and ample treats that would never leave them truly hungry. This despite the fact that they were "trained" to behave without aggression. This despite the fact that there were at least a hundred other, quite fun things to do in the great outdoors. 

Anthropomorphizing them, however, wasn't the way to go. This behavior was their instinct. The fact that both dogs are part hound only strengthens their impulse to hunt, tree, and kill.  

I hated watching this scene unfold, but I gave up my first impulse to scold and yell at them to drop the rabbit and retreated to the house until it was over. I couldn't watch any more of it.  The image of those two halves will be etched in my memory forever.

The scene made me think about how as human beings, we are created differently. We have been granted the immense privilege of being able to override our instinct in favor of compassion.  And with that privilege, it seems that we have a responsibility to reject cruelty and choose kindness.  We have the potential for self control. We can choose not to be cruel.  If we have enough to eat, we can refrain from hunt and kill.  As omnivores, we have the technology and capacity to kill the animals we ultimately eat -- humanely and with respect.

Yet so often and in so many ways, we choose to do otherwise.  We choose cruelty. We choose to be unkind.  And often it appears to have nothing to do with instinct.  Sometimes... too often...we come up with new and horrifying ways to act.  We come up with unkind and ugly ways of being that are far beyond the capacity of two hound dogs.

They do what they do purely out of instinct. 

And what of human beings?  If our basic needs are fulfilled, why would we and why do we choose to be cruel? 

Unity rather than Division (SB100)

 This blog is part of my ongoing effort to maintain a record of my written communication expressing concern about what is presently going in the U.S.  

Florida has a bill up for consideration this legislative session (SB100) entitled Display of Flags by Government Entities:

Display of Flags by Governmental Entities; Defining the term “governmental entity”; prohibiting governmental entities from erecting or displaying certain flags; requiring governmental entities to remain neutral in certain circumstances; authorizing a current or retired member of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard to use reasonable force to prevent the desecration, destruction, or removal of the United States flag or to replace such flag to a position of prominence, etc.

Many people view this bill as an effort to keep Pride and Black Lives Matter flags out of government buildings.  In my view, the bill continues to shine the spotlight on divisiveness rather than on unity. I believe that unifying people is part of the responsibility of governments at all levels (local, state, national).   I oppose the bill because I think "objective" interpretation of political neutrality, in the current mood of Florida and the nation, is far more likely to lead to subjective and biased interpretation than objectivity.   The following letter was focused on promoting unity rather than further divisiveness in opposition to SB100.  

Written on March 3, 2025 to my FL state senator and FL state representative:

I am writing as one of your constituents to encourage you to vote against SB100 (Display of Flags by Governmental Entities).   I do not disagree with the premise of the bill which appears to be to preserve political neutrality in government buildings.   My concern is that what is or is not politically neutral is vulnerable to subjective interpretation and therefore, equally vulnerable to bias.  If the state of Florida continues to pass laws that are vulnerable to subjective interpretation, we risk inflaming or promoting further divisiveness. I grew up in Florida and this is not consistent with the Florida I know or the Florida I want.   

I would prefer that we consider bills that are more resistant to cultural or political bias, that focus on unifying rather than dividing. I may be naive on this, but why not simply restrict flags in Florida government buildings to the U.S. flag and the Florida flag with a clear message that reflects the mission of Florida government.  Perhaps, a statement along the lines of "Florida strives to protect, educate, and improve quality of life for all Floridians".  

I fully understand that sometimes the voices of underrepresented groups can seem too loud or too aggressive, but instead of responding in a hostile way to such messaging, I strongly support crafting a positive and neutral message.  As Floridians, we need  to do what we can to stop riding the negative wave that the current culture wars seem to be on.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Corporations are not people

This blog is part of my ongoing effort to maintain a record of my written communication expressing concern about the actions of the current presidential administration that lead to unnecessary (and in some cases cruel) harm to others, to the U.S., or to the global community. 

I wrote the following letter regarding concerns over the increasingly negative impact of the Supreme Court's 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission which ultimately gave more influence and power over our federal elections to corporations and the ultra wealthy few in the U.S.  

More about Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

While 2010 was quite a while ago, the increasing impact of the 2010 decision is being felt in a big and ultra concerning way in recent elections.   HJR 54 is a resolution to support a constitutional amendment that limits the rights protected by and stated in the U.S. constitution to natural persons only (and not to corporations).  

Information about HJR 54

How to reach your U.S. Senators:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

How to reach your U.S. Representative:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

***************************************************

Dear Senator <Name>,

Dear Representative <Name>,

As one of your constituents, I am writing to urge you to support HJR 54, the We the People Amendment, to ensure that the vote and will of the American people are the primary force behind selecting our leaders and guiding our norms, policies, and laws in the U.S.

Corporations are not people.  Money is not speech.  The Supreme Court's 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission handed a disproportionate and growing amount of influence and power in our elections to those who have money ... both corporations and the ultra wealthy few in the United States.

Money pays for propaganda and influence that the ordinary American cannot compete with.  And the transparency presumed to prevent the Citizens United decision from increasing corruption and limiting influence in American politics to a select few has not materialized.   Now more than ever, I am deeply concerned that our leaders and legislators are pressured into serving the interests of corporations and the ultra wealthy few instead of us, the people. Corporate interests, power, and greed have become far too influential in policy priorities and decisions. 

If not HJR54, then please act and act quickly to restore the balance in our democracy, so that the voice, vote and influence of ordinary Americans on our federal government is on par with the voice and influence of other entities and the wealthy. The U.S. Constitution makes no mention of corporations or other organized entities exerting power over the will of the people.  Yet, here we are, in exactly such a situation.  Money and power must not be the determining influences in our government; by definition, this denies us democracy.   

Sincerely,

<Name of Constituent>

The Crickets and the Oak Tree

Let's start with the fact that I don't like bugs.  Particularly bugs in tropical and subtropical climates (like Florida and related environs). They tend to be oversized, fly, bite, eat structural parts of houses, or any combination thereof. Palmetto Bugs. Termites. No-see-ums. Mosquitoes. Ugh.  

Crickets would be no exception to my general dislike of bugs, were it not for the fact that I never actually see them:

Crickets are nocturnal, pleasantly heard but not seen.  As importantly, they aren't aggressive and they don't bite.  The males rub their wings ceaselessly together in an effort to attract females.  Their collective chirping is a familiar sound at night, growing ever louder as the temperatures rise.  Their collective sound is impressive given that each cricket only weighs about half a gram (about the same as a raisin).  Among all bugs, crickets are among the best.  

Also among the best of Florida's impressive variety of species is the Live Oak, The Live Oak is so named, because it doesn't lose its leaves in winter, thereby appearing to be alive when other deciduous trees appear to be the opposite. According to Smithsonian magazine, the Live Oak "embodies the American ideal of individual resilience."  Sturdy, strong, solitary, and sprawling, the Live Oak has historically provided a safe harbor to people and animals during hurricanes and itself is largely invulnerable to hurricane-force winds.  Recently, the latest claim to fame for the Live Oak is its exceptional ability to absorb carbon in the atmosphere, making it a friend to anyone who believes in and fights against climate change.  As a tree hugger, I love the Live Oaks in Florida as much as I love western Red Cedars in the Pacific Northwest.   

It's not much of a surprise, given my love for both crickets and live oak trees, that they were the first thing that came to mind when the following questions were posed at my book club:

Where do you find your best “quiet and still” time to facilitate heartfelt prayer?  Is that time static (are you physically still) or dynamic (are you doing something) or a combination of both?  How can you tell when your spirit is becoming still enough that you will be able to hear "the still small voice" of God?

One of my biggest challenges to regular prayer is finding a place to calm my schedule and mind long enough to pray with sincerity. I can say the words and use the language that I've heard others in the church use but in the end, I often stop midway through these futile efforts to force prayer.  I realize that I am not fully attentive to what I'm saying, that at some level I am just going through the motions. so I just stop.  

Yoga helps me to center.  Even while twisting my body into various forms of a pretzel, I can focus more on meditating -- quieting the million things running to and fro in my mind and body long enough to get within sight of intimacy with God. More often than not, though, yoga class ends and reality returns before I get there from where I started. Hubbub and conversation erupts in the room immediately after class ends. To me, conversation is the last thing that I'm thinking about after an hour of connecting mind, heart, body.  I guess that's an introvert thing.  And from the looks of it, I guess I am one of very few introverts doing yoga these days.  

And so the search continues -- to find a proper centering place for meaningful prayer. It's out there -- but in the strangest of places.

While in Florida, I sleep in a bed that is surrounded by windows on all sides except for one (unfortunately, I have to get out of bed in the morning somehow).  Late in the evening, when my neighborhood has calmed down and the neighbors are asleep (as are their lawn tools, vehicles, and other noisemakers), the sole remaining sounds in the night air are courtesy of a convention of crickets.  To hear them better, I often stick my head out the open window as far as it can go without pushing the screen out (hence why this blog is not called "The Cricket, the Mosquitoes, and the Oak Tree") to hear them more easily.  While the crickets chirp in song, the two large oak trees in my postage stamp size backyard reach their massive canopy into the night sky, dappling the ambient city light onto the lawn below.   And these are my moments -- centered and still.  On the luckiest of nights, I also hear the still small voice of God.  

In those moments, it's the easiest thing in the world to pray.   

Weird.

   

Conflicts of Interest at DOGE

This blog is part of my ongoing effort to maintain a record of my written communication expressing concern about the actions of the current presidential administration that lead to unnecessary (and in some cases cruel) harm to others, to the U.S., or to the global community. 

I wrote the following letter regarding concerns over the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.  Feel free to copy any or all of this letter for use in communicating with your own elected officials.  

How to reach your U.S. Senators:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

How to reach your U.S. Representative:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

***************************************************

Dear Senator <Name>,

Dear Representative <Name>,

As one of your constituents, I am writing to ask that you work quickly to increase oversight and to eliminate the significant conflicts of interest that, at the present time, are clearly evident between the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the IRS, Treasury, Health and Human Services, and other government agencies to which DOGE has unacceptably broad access.  

I think we can all agree that DOGE must not illegally access, analyze, or misuse our private financial, medical, or personal records for political or other purposes that would give an unfair and disproportionate competitive advantage to any individual, corporation, or other entity in the United States.  Yet, by allowing Elon Musk to access this information without stringent oversight is the equivalent of giving the fox the keys to the henhouse.  And, we have enough problems with hens and eggs at the moment.  Let's not add to them.

Allowing Elon Musk access to the tax records of his competitors in the corporate/business world is the very definition of conflict of interest.  I have been a professor at a public university for over 25 years and every time I submit any kind of application for funding (grant, contract, or otherwise), I am required to sign a statement disclosing any financial conflict of interest (i.e.,  an investment in a business or other entity  that stands to benefit financially from subsequent funding).  Failure to disclose is grounds for immediate termination, despite the fact that I am tenured.   Yet, while I am held to such ethical standards by federal funding agencies (as well as by state government), a double standard seems to be in play now for Elon Musk. Why is it OK that he and his team can proceed with such obvious financial and other conflicts of interest while so many of us "ordinary Americans" engaged in public service and research are held to a tighter ethical standard?

I am deeply concerned that DOGE is likely to be forcing  its way into the government’s most tightly protected databases and systems, without consideration of the longstanding privacy safeguards mandated by the Privacy Act of 1974, the Internal Revenue Code, and other laws.  The lack of safeguards and transparency in combination with the speed that DOGE is moving forward all but guarantees that mistakes will be made and that information will be leaked, released, or abused.  

And if the OGE (Office of Government Ethics) is working to prevent these conflicts of interest as is its mission, it is time for more transparency in how such prevention is moving forward to keep pace with the conflicts of interest that are expanding every day in our current federal administration.  

As your constituent, I urge you to take strong action to ensure immediate and transparent oversight into DOGE’s actions and to do what ethically must be done -- prevent conflicts of interest that all but guarantee intrusive privacy invasions and misuse of information.  

Sincerely,

Roseate What?

While technically a subtropical rather than a true tropical climate, west central Florida (on the Gulf of Mexico) hosts a similarly impressive variety of species as tropical zones. According to the science, the high temperatures characteristic of tropical and subtropical zones cause metabolism, ecology, and evolution to move along at much higher rates than in temperate zones, leading to a step up in biodiversity compared to other climates.  

Of the many things that grow and thrive in my neck of the Florida woods (Clearwater, near Tampa), my favorites are the many different types of shorebirds that live along the ocean beaches, estuaries, and bays.   With the possible exception of the seagull (the oceanside relative of the camp robber), I like them all.  It seems impossible to pick a favorite shorebird.  Who doesn't feel awestruck by the sight of the solitary and majestic, great blue heron?

Or amused and amazed at the snowy egret with its bizarre mating plumage?

Or struck with cuteness at a gaggle of adorable little plovers motoring along the sand at a million miles an hour?

While all of these wonders of nature cause me to stop for a moment in this busy world and gawk, one shorebird in particular stimulates an exceptional case of the WOWs. The first time I saw this bird was in captivity at a spring about an hour north of Tampa Bay. Once a train station, then an exotic animal tourist attraction, and finally a state park, Homosassa  Springs State Park is perhaps best known for opportunities to view manatees who come to the springs in winter to escape the frigid Gulf waters.  But the park is also home to hundreds of birds who are no longer able to survive on their own in the wild.   And that is why and where I met my very first Roseate Spoonbill.  

A Roseate What???

Well, that's exactly what I said the first time I saw a few of these birds hanging out in the protected areas of Homosassa.  The Roseate Spoonbill is so named because it has a beak shaped like a spoon (that any sane person would tell you looks absolutely ridiculous). The utensil shaped bill is equipped with custom-made nerve endings that sense when prey has wandered too close and triggers the bird to snap its bill shut and swallow the prey whole.  Hence, a large number of hapless shrimp, crabs, and other crustaceans meet their demise while passing alongside a seemingly harmless utensil swaying back and forth in the ocean waters.  

After seeing a few of these odd birds at Homosassa, I assumed that I would never see one in the wild.   But, one day, while wandering down a trail along the bay in Clearwater, I looked up in the sky and what to my wondering eyes did appear?  A bird that I was fascinated by but for the life of me, could not remember what its full name was.  That glitch in memory didn't stop me from trying to draw my husband's attention to the pinkish flying spoon.   In the excitement of the moment, I couldn't recall the full name of this creature in flight over my head.  Instead, unable to control what was coming out of my mouth, I said:

"Look, Look!  Up there! It's a Roseate ... uh... umm.... oh, what is it... ugh... It's a Roseate Hootie Wooter"

From that moment, the poor Spoonbill earned a new nickname and on the rare occasion that I see one fishing or flying along the ocean shore, it remains a Roseate Hootie Wooter in my mind.  

The Roseate part of the Spoonbill's name comes from the fact that eating carotenoid-rich organisms (that is shrimp and related crustaceans, some algae) causes them to pink up. The more shrimp they eat, the pinker they get.  And they can get pretty high up there on the WOW! scale when they've had a sumptuous lunch replete with many shrimp.   The rich array of light pink, dark pink, and just pink colors on the wings of this odd bird is stunning.  

And unlike flamingos who also turn pink from what they eat, the Roseate Spoonbill is not a flying skunk (flamingoes have a nasty odor that derives from the fact that they urinate on their own legs to keep themselves cool in hot temperatures; thankfully, Spoonbills don't indulge in this practice). 

Every time I see a Roseate Spoonbill (or a Hootie Wooter, depending on how well my memory is working at any given moment), I have a WOW moment that adds a smile, laughter, and even joy to my day.  

The last time I enjoyed such a moment, I was watching the sun set over Clearwater Beach from the mainland side of old Clearwater Bay. I was lost in my own little world watching the last bit of sun disappear into the horizon. As I sat on my rock along the water, reluctant to get up even after the last light of sun had passed into the horizon, WOW came flying my way. Not one but THREE Roseate Spoonbills flew, north to south in the sky -- not a hundred feet from where I sat.  

This may sound like a weird WOW moment, but we all have our unique moments where our experiences on earth converge with God's presence, and we just stop where we are -- in silence and in awe. I may be weirder than most, but that's a topic for another day.   

Of course, I had to laugh first when I saw the flock of Spoonbills dashing across the sky, before settling into silence and awe.  

What was God thinking when He gave a bird a bill that looked just like a spoon?

Constitution over President

This blog is part of my ongoing effort to maintain a record of my written communication expressing concern about the actions of the current presidential administration that lead to unnecessary (and in some cases cruel) harm to others, to the U.S., or to the global community. 

I wrote the following letter for a friend in another state who wanted to communicate his concerns to his U.S. representative. I have since sent a modified version to the U.S. Senators in my state and my U.S. Representative.   Please feel free to copy any or all of this letter for use in communicating with your own elected officials.  

How to reach your U.S. Senators:

https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

How to reach your U.S. Representative:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

***************************************************

Dear Senator <Name>,

I am writing to appeal to you to resist the efforts of the current presidential administration to expand the power of the executive branch while reducing or stonewalling the power of the legislative branch and ignoring the judicial branch.   While in the short term, supporting these efforts may further specific political agendas or avoid retribution from a retaliatory President, the threat to American democracy and the abandonment of constitutional principles will only do harm to a vast majority of the American people over the long run.   

I strongly encourage you to vote against installing or confirming individuals into government positions who are more loyal to President Trump than the U.S. Constitution (and to take action to remove them quickly when the actions of those confirmed into these positions demonstrate such misdirected loyalty). If President Trump (or any other U.S President for that matter) shifts the loyalty of individuals in the military, FBI, etc from the U.S. constitution to him, you and other members of Congress will become puppets, no longer able to advocate for and support laws that protect your constituents. As I am certain you are aware, your loyalty to the people of <my state> is something I as a <my state> resident count on for a stable and productive livelihood.   

It is highly disturbing to me that the Trump administration is now moving to directly control the government whereas in the previous Trump administration, most actions were focused on influencing it. Laws like the 2001 AUMF which provide the executive branch disproportionate power have become highly dangerous and are to be nullified. Additional laws that allocate even more power to the executive branch must be avoided at all costs.  Congress must put party politics aside and reassert and recover its function to create, change, and maintain laws of the land that support all Americans, not just a wealthy few.  

As an <your occupation> in <your state> and an active citizen committed to this country’s principles and ideals, I respectfully ask that you consider and prioritize the larger picture at play here.  Once lost, our adherence to the U.S. Constitution will be difficult to recover and will become not only a national tragedy but a major global disruption.

I encourage you to consider impeaching Trump again or at the very least, working quickly to dispense with political divides and build a coalition within the <Senate or House of Representatives> willing to take forceful and major action as needed to protect ordinary Americans from a looming autocracy.   

Thank you for your time and consideration. I beg you to protect ordinary American citizens and especially the people of <your state> whom you represent. 

Sincerely,

<your name>

Inaction at the University of Washington

This blog is part of my ongoing effort to maintain a record of my written communication expressing concern to the actions of the current presidential administration that do unnecessary (and in some cases cruel) harm to others. 

I am guilty of being at best annoyed and at worst really angry about the lack of leadership coming from the central administration of my employer (University of Washington).  I had to write and rewrite the letter below many times in order to remove the over "emotive" words that might have caused my words to be ignored or dismissed altogether. I acknowledge that the administration may be doing something to protect the community, but I don't see it.  So, at the risk of sounding cliche, I wrote as I see it.  

Written on January 25, 2025, at the end of the first week of the second Trump Administration.  President Cauce issued a statement on this issue on January 27, 2025. The relevant text is provided at the bottom of this blog.  

Dear President Cauce and Provost Serio,

I am writing to advocate for more visible and substantial efforts by UW central administration to protect the UW community from the immigration policies and actions that are being pursued with disturbing speed by the new presidential administration.   While I appreciate the wealth of information and resources available on UW web pages including undocumented student resources and the undocumented students pages, I strongly believe that becoming substantially more proactive with regard to guiding and advising UW students, faculty, and staff has become urgent and necessary.  

While I respect the UW's desire to remain politically neutral, there is much that can be done while maintaining political neutrality.  Advising all students, faculty, and staff to carry copies of relevant documents on their person (U.S. passport, relevant visa, green card, etc.) would be welcome and helpful.  Encouragement to those who are eligible to obtain or update their U.S. passport (considered the gold standard of U.S. citizenship) would also be both timely and appropriate.  Advice regarding how to respond to immigration representatives who question those in our community with little or no notice would also be most helpful to many of us.  Words and tone matter in responding to those in power, particularly those with blanket mandates in hand.   Mentoring individuals in our community, whether documented or undocumented, with regard to best choices of how to respond to immigration officials can go a long way to reducing harm and injustice.   

I am no expert on best practices in the current situation.  As a birthright citizen, I am shocked that my citizenship as well as the status of others whose parents are or were not U.S. citizens has even come into question.  I am equally concerned about others in my community who are not U.S. citizens.  

Please help us.  Help our community.  We welcome your leadership.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

**********************************

The following is an excerpt of a letter sent via email to students, staff, faculty, and academic personnel in the University of Washington community on January 27, 2025.   Despite the many struggles and disappointments I've had during my career at the UW, I felt blessed to be part of a community that is standing up to protect students vulnerable to deportation without due process.   

Dear UW community,

Every change of U.S. presidential administration brings with it changes in federal policy. But the whirlwind of executive orders and policy directives of this last week, combined with rumors of more to come, have created anger and fear for many in our community, while eliciting support from others. Whether in favor or against, or some of each, rapid change and uncertainty can be a source of anxiety and distress, especially when it is still unclear what some of these orders will actually entail and how they may affect our students, faculty or staff and our University community more broadly. Please know that we are closely evaluating and monitoring these policies and the possible impacts they could have on members of our community and on our public values of access and excellence in teaching, research, service and patient care and are in the process of evaluating how to deal with various scenarios....

One area of special concern given our University and state’s ongoing commitment to the educational success of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and undocumented students is how to respond in the event that federal officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other representatives seek information about undocumented students and/or come to a UW campus or facility for an enforcement action.

 Washington state law prohibits the sharing of information or use of state resources, including University resources, to target Washington residents solely on the basis of race, religion, immigration, citizenship status, or national or ethnic origin. In addition, most student information is protected by federal law (FERPA). While immigration officials cannot enter a classroom, laboratory, campus residence or private office without an appropriate warrant or judicial order, we are not legally permitted to prevent federal immigration officials from coming into the public spaces of a UW campus or facility. And there might be instances when we will be required to respond to valid warrants or judicial orders.

If immigration officials come to your classroom, laboratory, campus residence or office, you must immediately contact the relevant safety office — their numbers are listed below. They’ll work with the Attorney General’s Office so that we can respond appropriately given relevant state and federal laws. Employees should also notify their supervisor. We would also appreciate it if you would contact your safety office if you become aware of immigration officials on a campus or at a UW facility more generally. Finally, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson today issued an executive order directing his administration to make preparations for supporting children whose caregivers are detained or deported, including working with the state’s colleges and universities to support students facing these situations. More directives or support from the state may be forthcoming....