Activity Request: Wednesday

[Note: As always any sample messages, letters, etc. that we provide are just that, “samples.” The samples are just what we’re sending out from this end and you are strongly encouraged to use your own judgment, voice and perspectives. Our prose, tone and approach can always be improved upon and quite frankly a good mix of perspectives is better than following our samples verbatim. We don’t do messaging for the group (nor do we aspire to) or ever speak for the group, but instead merely facilitate our members’ ability to speak at once for more power and volume. If you’re a “professional communicator” or would like to help with recruiting, research, administration, etc. shoot us a note and we’ll be happy to get you involved. There is no lack of work to be done.]

Outreach to the President

We know from the work of the administration's EEOC in regard to prosecution of workplace discrimination based on personal credit reports that the administration is generally supportive, but we have to raise the profile to get him to push Congress for HR3149. After you have used the link below to submit your letter, please push the link out to friends and family to have them add their voice.

Use White House link below, copy sample letter below, open link, paste in letter, edit to suit you, fill in the blanks and send. The form within the link allows for only 2500 characters MAX, we edited the sample letter below . . . it fits, so keep the length or your letter close to the sample provided.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

[SAMPLE LETTER]

Previous to the economic collapse, some estimates for Americans suffering “bad credit” were 70+ M which is 1/3 of the population between the ages of 20 and 75. Now, post-collapse, with the millions unemployed or under-employed the debt defaults, bankruptcies and foreclosure numbers are astronomical and growing larger every day as I’m sure you’re aware.

Since 50+ % of all jobs and 80+ % of all white collar jobs mandate a personal credit check previous to hiring and many companies conduct post-hiring checks to terminate – far more than 1/3 of the working population have been given a financial death sentence with no way out. Perhaps most alarming is the fact companies are increasing the practice instead of decreasing it – as our economy continues to decline along with Americans’ credit reports. The practice is simply wrong even in a good economy, but in this economy it is by far the most cruel and inhuman form of workplace discrimination possible.

For these millions of Americans there is one way out and only one way out: HR3149: The Equal Employment for All Act that has been sitting stalled in the House Committee on Financial Services since August 2009. With exceptions for specific financial positions, the legislation would make it illegal to use personal credit reports to hire and fire. The legislation is an easy quick fix that would allow millions of Americans to get a job or become more gainfully employed in order to fix their damaged credit. Unlike all the current jobs initiatives and those being discussed, this initiative is absolutely free to the American taxpayer and doesn’t add one penny to the deficit. Americans overwhelmingly support the legislation by as much as 90 percent. With at least 1/3 of the working population locked out of the workforce or barred from changing jobs and the massive number of unemployed, the fragile fabric holding American together cannot hold much longer. These people along with many of the 90 percent in favor of the legislation will vote in November based upon this legislation being passed or not passed. This is not a small number by any means, nor does this issue represent some isolated segment of the population.

This legislation will put millions of Americans back to work now and will correct a gross injustice that has gone on for far too long already. Everyone should have the right to work. The American people are suffering in huge numbers and must have relief and your push for HR3149 will bring relief to a huge number of them. I urge you to get behind this legislation and get it moving forward.

[END SAMPLE LETTER]