Letter from the Editor

Dear Member,

This is not lightly stated: the Republican party is blatantly pursuing an agenda to strip the rights and freedoms from women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and our youth. They have succeeded in the establishment of a conservative Supreme Court that is threatening the long fought-for protections of equality and rights. They are pursuing tactics that undermine the democratic practice of free and fair elections. They are doing this without full representation of the people and they are not heeding our cry!

We find ourselves at a pivotal moment in the course of deciding our future. The Global Women’s Caucus is preparing to mobilize our members to make sure we Get Out the Vote in November for the midterms. We have the chance to ensure that pro-choice and pro-equality candidates win their seats, and WE NEED YOU! 

As the GWC continues to grow, we need your help. Join our team for this very important midterm year. Consider volunteering with us, help friends and family register to vote, or donate! Make sure you’re registered to vote in 2022 here!

We hope you enjoy this edition, and we look forward to seeing you at our events!

Stayce Camparo, Communications Co-director, Global Women’s Caucus

 Join us

Senators Introduce Bill To Protect Reproductive Health Data: ‘My Body, My Data’

6/23/2022 by Carrie N. Baker in Ms. Magazine.

"Anti-abortion governments and private entities are already using cutting-edge digital technologies to surveil women’s search history, location data, messages, online purchases and social media activities. (Ivan Radic / Flickr)

The digital surveillance threats to women’s reproductive health information are likely to escalate dramatically if the Supreme Court repeals abortion rights in the coming days and states criminalize abortion. In response, U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Representative Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) introduced the My Body, My Data Act—a federal law protecting personal reproductive health data by minimizing the information that companies can collect and retain, for example through period tracking apps. The bill would prevent organizations from disclosing or misusing that information and create a new national standard to protect reproductive health data, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission."

Read the rest of the article here:  https://msmagazine.com/2022/06/23/reproductive-health-my-body-my-data-act/

Message from DA Spain Chair

My husband and I have been in the US for the past few weeks, traveling in California and Oregon. Two of our stops were in Yosemite and Crater Lake National Parks. The picture here shows the latter on a spectacularly sunny day. But this column isn’t just a catalog of how I’m spending my summer vacation; being in these lovely places has reminded me of the importance of progressive policies in American government.

Part of that is simply the fact that these beautiful places are here for us to enjoy. Nature gave us the scenery, of course, but preserving it requires planning and work. Roughly a century ago, the federal government chose to preserve these wild places by establishing the national park system, and the National Park Service protects them to this day. The clear blue sky exists in large part because of the Clean Air Act. Many of the animals in the parks survive because of the protections in the Endangered Species Act. Our government is at work here, caring for nature and allowing us to enjoy it.

But that’s not all. Progressive laws open this slice of America to many who could not have enjoyed it before. For example, thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act, ramps and smooth, broad trails now allow visitors with limited mobility to marvel at the views that once were inaccessible to them. Then too, civil rights legislation ensures that visitors of color will not be turned away from hotels and restaurants that were “Whites Only” for far too long. And female visitors can pay with their own credit cards, which would have been denied them before Fair Credit laws were enacted. I could go on, but you get the idea.

So I’ve recently been reminded of how much we all benefit from progressive government policies. But we can’t forget that many in our society would gleefully undo environmental protections, eliminate safeguards for our most vulnerable citizens, and take away personal freedoms from wide swaths of our population. So I’m recommitted to electing Democrats and, therefore, to the work of Democrats Abroad. I hope you’ll join me in that work.

Kathy Tullos (Chair) 

Message from DA Spain Chair

Is it ironic that I’m writing this column on Mother’s Day and that I spent the morning at the church where I first met Sarah Weddington, the lawyer who successfully argued Roe v. Wade? I refer, of course, to the topic of the leaked Supreme Court (SCOTUS) draft opinion that would overturn Roe if ultimately adopted. Such a ruling would do tremendous violence to the individual right of bodily autonomy as well as impede the delivery of the best practices in reproductive health care. Small wonder, then, that opposition to overturning Roe has been forceful and virtually instantaneous. Members of Democrats Abroad are already participating in this opposition. If you want to join that effort, please read on and follow DA Spain on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

But in addition to the drastic move backwards for American women portended by this draft opinion, the Supreme Court’s apparent willingness to overturn Roe signals two other significant dangers we ought to be aware of.

The first is that SCOTUS is expressing a potential willingness to curtail other rights delineated in historic opinions over the years. What does the fall of Roe mean for Obergefell, the opinion recognizing the right of same-sex couples to marry? Or for Lawrence, which struck down laws criminalizing homosexuality? Or Griswold, protecting the right of access to birth control? Or Gideon, requiring the provision of lawyers to indigent defendants in felony cases? Or Brown, ordering school desegregation? The list goes on and on, because a Court that overturns the expansion of rights in one area may have no compunctions about narrowing Constitutional rights in others.

The second danger is somewhat less obvious, but more far-reaching. It is explained very clearly in the book “How Fascism Works,” by Yale professor Jason Stanley. In the first chapter of this profoundly unsettling book (summarized in this video), Stanley argues that the first step in establishing a fascist regime is to invoke “a pure mythic past tragically destroyed.” Fascism claims that it, alone, can restore this perfect, fictional bygone era. In the pure, mythical past being heralded by the American right, women and other minorities were firmly under the control of men, both legally and physically. The Court’s promotion of this myth can be regarded as the first step on the path to a further unraveling of our democracy.

So what do we do? There’s no shortage of work, and for Democrats Abroad that means getting out the overseas vote for Democratic candidates. We must help American voters who live in Spain register to vote and then navigate the multi-step process of voting overseas. Without our efforts, thousands of votes for Democratic candidates — who will work to restore and expand our rights, not deny them to disfavored groups of Americans — will be lost.

So, over the next five months, let’s get out every Democratic vote we can! The stakes have never been higher.

Thanks for all that you do, 

Kathy Tullos (Chair)

Message from DA Spain Chair

Usually the fun fact in our newsletter appears at the end, but today we’re starting out with one, as well. Did you know that the average adult spends about 10 full months of their life talking about the weather?

As I write this, the weather here in our home in Torrevieja has been absolutely wild. March was the wettest it’s been in 95 years, and the wind has whipped the palms around so much I’m surprised the fronds aren’t in braids by now. On the plus side, local surfers are having a great time. And for good or ill, we entertained two sets of guests from the USA during this deluge. We apparently have hardy friends, because everybody just donned rain jackets and headed out to see the sights.

Our home country is experiencing heavy weather, too. In the midst of the world’s turbulence, we’re facing midterm elections in which forecasters say Democrats could lose up to 60 seats in the House of Representatives. SIXTY SEATS. Goodbye investigation of the attempted coup on January 6, and hello impeachment of Joe Biden for, well, being alive, along with anything else equally nefarious the Republicans can think up.

So Democrats Abroad Spain has to do its bit. Each of us has to do our bit. And here are the three things you can do:

1. Volunteer to phonebank. This is critical. We’re calling other members of DA to make sure they register to vote, request their ballots and return them. You use an online system that lets you know what to say, dials for you, and doesn’t tie up your own phone. Make five calls just to try it out; you’ll see how easy it is!  (See details below)
2. Tell other Americans abroad about the importance of voting from overseas. Guide them to votefromabroad.org, where up-to-date voting information about every US jurisdiction is available, along with individual help if users have questions. The vast majority of Americans who vote from abroad are Democrats, so your individual outreach can have a significant impact.
3. Help Democrats Abroad Spain find folks who are savvy about social media and who’d be willing to help DAS with its social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok) or otherwise help out with the communications team. Reach out to us at [email protected]. 

It’s time to pull on the raincoats, stuff our feet into rain boots, and get to work. We can’t change the weather, but we can change the outcome of our elections. So let’s get going!

Kathy Tullos (Chair) 

Message from DA Spain Chair

One of my favorite poems is Tennyson’s “Ulysses.” The work presents us with Ulysses many years after his odyssey ended, safe in Ithaca but still yearning for adventure. As part of his meditation on aging, the hero utters the classic line: “Tho’ much is taken, much abides.”

This line has been with me often in the last few tumultuous weeks. As you may have noticed, Democrats Abroad has not officially spoken on the top news story, the conflict in Ukraine. Many are asking why we are silent in the face of this unfolding drama. I wanted to talk with you today about why that’s so.

When I joined Democrats Abroad, I was surprised to learn that the organization has a strict policy not to discuss foreign policy in any way, shape, or form. I’ve been told that there are legal reasons for this prohibition, although I have no firsthand knowledge here. What does resonate with me is that DA has members in more than 200 countries around the globe, and some of those countries would surely take offense at almost any foreign policy-related comment we could make. So, for example, if we were to condemn Russian actions, Russia and its allies would probably take umbrage at our decision.

Now, even my nearest and dearest know that I’m personally not afraid of hurting someone’s feelings in furtherance of the greater good. If someone gets mad at me, so be it, but DA is in a different position. We have members in countries with wildly varying stances on the issues at hand. Some countries have been known to retaliate against individuals who belong to organizations that publicly disagree with them. And that potential retaliation can be–and, apparently in some cases, has been–quite serious.

So here we are. As an organization, we have a responsibility to keep our members safe. Thus, as an organization, we don’t comment on foreign policy. As you can imagine, this prohibition has sparked a lively debate inside DA, and those discussions are ongoing. But in the meantime, the rule stands, and we will abide by it.

But, as Ulysses observed, though we can’t do some things, we can still do others. I’m sure many of you, because you have the good taste and open hearts that led you to join DA, are doing wonderful, vital work on issues in DA’s no-go zone, and DA is doing its bit by fulfilling its core mission: electing Democrats.

So, if you will, abide with us as we move towards the midterms. Please take advantage of the many volunteer opportunities described in this newsletter. Register to vote, request your ballot, and cast your ballot. Encourage other US citizens to do likewise. Because, as Ulysses saw, there is still much for us to do. 

Kathy Tullos (Chair) 

Message from DA Spain Chair

It’s February, and I’m writing to you from my home state of Texas. Remarkably, it’s actually been cold here; we had an entire week of at- or below-freezing temperatures at night. (The electrical grid didn’t even threaten to collapse, which it actually did last winter, but Texans with cold weather PTSD have been quite twitchy for a few days.) Anyway, the cold inspired me to make a couple of batches of soup.

As I stood in our kitchen stirring a fragrant batch of bean soup, I recalled one of my favorite childhood books. Stone Soup told a story that resonates with what we are doing at Democrats Abroad Spain.  Read more about stone soup...

Here at DA Spain, we make a lot of our own sort of soup together. Of course, our dishes aren’t liquid, and you can’t eat them, but they are important all the same. Members make a few phone banking calls – potatoes. Members staff tables at voter registration drives – carrots. Members use their social media platforms to talk up DA and tell others about how US citizens can vote from abroad – tomatoes. Members contribute small amounts to DA to help us pay for phone banks, mailouts, banners for our voter registration tables, and the myriad other items that enable us to connect with Americans abroad – beans. Again, you get the idea.

I’m grateful to every one of you who helps us fill the pot. And I hope each of you will consider adding to DA’s soup. We’re not the tricksters that our travelers were, so all we can do is assure you that whatever you choose to add, matters. Your efforts promote and safeguard democracy. And that’s a delicacy beyond compare.

So if you’re interested in volunteering or contributing, please take a few minutes to fill out the Volunteer Interest Form.

Thank you, and buen provecho!

Kathy Tullos (Chair) 

Message from DA Spain Chair

I’ve read a lot of murder mysteries. A LOT. And my favorites are the cozy ones, where, even before you start the book, you know that everything will turn out all right. Of course, there’s always one chapter toward the end where the protagonist is cornered by the dastardly murderer. That’s the bit I read the fastest, because I just want to get to the happy ending and enjoy the part where the villain is no longer holding a dagger at the detective’s throat.

A different dagger is being held at the throat of our democracy, as President Biden recently reminded us, and the threat is not fictional. We see signs everywhere that our homeland could easily slip into autocracy, or worse. Voter suppression is rampant; lies about the integrity of our elections spread faster than Omicron; open calls for civil war are heard in public discourse and on social media. And sadly, we can’t simply read fast and skip to the part where everything turns out okay in the end.

That’s why we, overseas Democrats, must turn out in droves in the midterm elections. We have to register to vote, request ballots, and return those ballots in a timely fashion. We have to be the people who refuse to succumb to the second, more insidious Big Lie: that our votes won’t count, so there’s no point in voting in the first place. And we have to ensure that our American family members and friends do the same. This is the only sure way to defeat the threats to our democracy.

Look, I know that phone banking, staffing voter registration tables, and sending messages to US voters abroad may not be on your list of Top 10 Entertaining Things To Do in 2022. I’d rather be reading the aforementioned murder mysteries myself, but if we want our democracy to survive, we all have to pitch in. Please go to VoteFromAbroad.org for reliable information on how you can vote in the midterms. And click on our Volunteer Interest Form to find out how you can do your bit to help others vote. Finally, please share this information with your friends.

So while there is a dagger involved, this time there’s no mystery. Let’s get out there and fight for our country.

Kathy Tullos (Chair) 

Letter from the Editor

As we welcome yet another year, and hope that this new year brings more fortune, let’s not forget our strength and resolution as Democrats. We must not lose sight of the progress we’ve made, even in light of sideways, or even some backwards, steps. We are moving forward! -- and the Global Women’s Caucus is resolute on maintaining that movement. 

2022 is another important election year. As you read the GWC Newsletter, we hope you will be encouraged and encourage others to VOTE. Be sure to request your ballot at https://www.votefromabroad.org/. It's recommended to request your ballot every year. For those of you voting in Texas, the first primary is March 1st. Your vote matters.

The GWC is growing, and we need your help. Join our team for this very important midterm year. Consider volunteering with us, help friends and family register to vote, or donate! It’s the new year, so make sure you’re registered to vote here!

We hope you enjoy this edition, and we look forward to seeing you at our events!

Stayce Camparo, Communications Co-director, Global Women’s Caucus

Over 10,000 members and growing! Join us

Message from DA Spain Chair

It’s December, which means it’s holiday season once more. Many religions and cultures celebrate special days this time of year; for both of us, Christmas is the holiday of choice this month. And Christmas in Spain can teach us all a lot about what’s to come in the months ahead.

In the USA, of course, Christmas Day is pretty much an ending. It means presents get unwrapped and put away, carols stop ringing out of car radios and at shopping malls, and householders start eyeing the space they’ll regain in the living room when the tree finally gets taken down.

In Spain, though, December 25th is the beginning of the 12 days of Christmas, which will culminate in the coming of the three Wise Men on January 6th, el Día de Los Reyes. On that day, Spanish families celebrate the arrival of the Kings with gatherings, gifts, and parades. Here, Christmas Day is a beginning, not an end.

Democrats Abroad Spain goes through a similar push-me-pull-you with endings and beginnings this time of year. Certainly December is an ending for us, as we close out our books on the year. We tally up how many members we gained and lost this cycle, check our bank balance, and reflect on what worked and what didn’t in terms of programming and outreach.

But it’s also a time for us to contemplate what’s ahead. Next year is an election year, and predictions for the midterms aren’t pretty right now. Fortunately, we’ve got amazing folks working on Get Out The Vote programs, membership initiatives, and fundraising efforts to pay for all of the above (and more) in the year ahead. Having celebrated the past, we’re ready to move into the future.

With the elections and COVID-19 and heaven knows what else around the corner, we’re confident that 2022 will be yet another challenging year. But as they say in the Christian tradition, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Thanks to you all, whatever traditions you hold dearest, for being part of that light and for walking together through whatever lies ahead.

With best wishes for the holidays and the new year,

Kathy and Carlos

Living in Spain isn’t all fun in the sun, siestas and fiestas.

To kick off 2022, we welcome back Mr. Ignacio Pellicer and Mr. Pedro Heredia, from the law firm Pellicer and Heredia. This webinar will be held on January 12th, 2022, on the topic of residency and other matters related to immigration. Please note that the time of this webinar has been changed to 7:30 pm

To tailor these webinars to your needs, we ask that you send us any questions you might have ahead of time. We will pass them on to our speakers, so that they are aware of your concerns and can plan the talk accordingly. Send your questions to [email protected] by Monday, January 10th. 

If you would like a recording of the webinar but can’t make this session go ahead and send in an RSVP. We will send a link to the video to all who sign up. 

RSVP HERE  Residency visas and other matters related to immigration - Democrats Abroad

Mark your calendars! Future topics that have been confirmed are: 

• February 9th: Renters’ rights and buying property
• March 9th: Making a will, probate and inheritance
• April 6th: Litigation in Spain
• May (date to be announced) US citizen tax obligations while living abroad 

Still being organized: 

• Retirement and the agreement between the US Social Security and Spanish pension system 

We are looking for experts to talk about:

• Health care/hospice and growing old in Spain
• Education and raising bilingual children 
• Workers’ rights in Spain

Are there any other topics of interest? Do you know anyone willing to be a guest on one of our webinars?  Send your suggestions and ideas to [email protected]. 

Sign Up to receive ‘Living in Spain’ information directly to your mailbox. Send an email to [email protected] to request to be removed from the list.

Message from DA Spain Chair

It’s November, and we Americans are looking forward to celebrating this month’s revered national tradition — Black Friday! Seriously, though, Thanksgiving is upon us, and it’s time to focus on the three lessons that it can teach us. And I think we Democrats in Spain – indeed, Democrats across the globe – would do well to reflect on them.

First and foremost we have a lot to be grateful for. Are things perfect politically? Of course not. We hold both houses of Congress by razor-thin margins, and the loss in the Virginia gubernatorial race was a painful blow. But Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are in the White House, which beats the alternative by miles, and we’ve got thousands of volunteers across the globe who are ready to roll up their sleeves for the midterms. Is our country perfect? No, and that’s distressing; it’s distressing because we believe that the USA has a lot to offer us and the world. So there is much to be grateful for.

The second lesson is that we know how to be together, even when we disagree on some issues. This coming week, families of all stripes will gather at the Thanksgiving table and try hard to be nice to each other. Similarly, Democrats can – and do – work together for common goals. We need that kind of unity, that kind of “gather around the table” mentality, in our work as Democrats. Let’s focus on the many, many issues and concerns and dreams that unite us. This is how we win. This is how we progress.

The third and final lesson of Thanksgiving is that, historically, it’s a seriously mixed bag. European settlers prospered in America, but they did so at a terrible cost to indigenous people, people of color, and lots of others we could name. But we Democrats are at least willing to acknowledge both the good and the bad in our country’s past and work from that to craft a better future. If we work together, we can build on our successes and try to deal with our failures.

So happy Thanksgiving to all of you, and let’s all raise a fork to what we can accomplish together. And, on a personal level, please know that I’m grateful for all of you.

– Kathy Tullos, Chair, DA Spain

On October 31, Democrats Abroad Valencia drew a crowd of more than 360 people to a spooky evening of family fun and trick-or-treating. The packed house was entertained by a magician, played in a slime lab, and bounced away their cares in a castillo hinchable. Professional face painters created masterpieces, while hairdressers sprayed funky colors onto the heads of excited children. Adults were treated to an artisan fair, with beautifully handcrafted products, and a fortune teller. 

Arts-and-crafts tables were well-attended by children, who created fall décor under the supervision of adult volunteers. There was delicious Indian food, and drinks of all kinds were on tap. Democrats Abroad manned a table selling coveted American goodies such as Stove-Top Stuffing, Kraft mac’n’cheese, Rice Krispy Treats, and Goldfish crackers. 

Topping off the fun was an old-fashioned spooking of the streets, as costumed children trick-or-treated. With maps in hand, parents guided their children to businesses that had joined in the festivities and to DA volunteers who stood in the streets of Ruzafa with bags of goodies. 

Parents shared their heartfelt thanks for the opportunity to share this American childhood celebration with their children. Everyone looks forward to next year’s Halloween Festival. 

DA Spain Chair Kathy Tullos and her husband Mark drove to Valencia to help us make this event a success. Thank you, Kathy!

DAV would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the 60+ volunteers who helped to make an unforgettable evening for Americans in Valencia.

DA Valencia followed this month’s in-person chapter meeting with an expanded public town hall, where volunteers were invited to discuss the most pressing organizational needs, and signed up to assist with events aligning with their personal interests. The event drew 26 attendees to Plaza de La Virgen, where we enjoyed breakfast and chatted about politics, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, our monthly Coffee Mornings, and the neighborhood Voter Registration Drives which will begin in January. DA Valencia officers took turns explaining upcoming events for which they had taken the lead, followed by coordinated break-out sessions where attendees could sign up for specific volunteer tasks. We thank everyone who attended and volunteered to donate time to DAV. 

Thanksgiving Leftovers Picnic

Feeling nostalgic for those awkward Thanksgiving dinners with the in-laws? Don't despair! Consider us a sympathetic stand-in for Uncle Ralph and Cousin Francis. After you've had a satisfying feast at your own house, please bring your family and your leftover turkey sandwiches to the “río”! We'll catch up on all the gossip, and even exchange a few unpleasantries about bossy Aunt Dorothy.

Where: Turia Park, next to the soccer fields by Alameda Metro Station

When: November 27, 13:00-15:00h.  No need to RSVP. See you there!

Bring your own food and drinks! If you don't have Thanksgiving leftovers, bring whatever you can find in your fridge! Finally, if you're bringing children, consider bringing toys that all the kids can share (i.e., Frisbees, balls, jump ropes, sand toys, etc.).

Coffee with Democrats Abroad

DAV will be hosting a coffee social on the first Friday of every month, starting on December 3rd.

Please join us for a relaxing morning of coffee and conversation. You'll make new friends and meet old acquaintances. These events will not be moderated by DA and are simply designed to facilitate social interactions.

See you soon!

Maloney Launches Americans Abroad Caucus in the 117th Congress

Renews Efforts to Reform Tax Laws for Americans Living Overseas

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney is proud to announce the 117th iteration of the Americans Abroad Caucus with Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Dina Titus (D-NV) joining Maloney as co-chairs. Maloney also announced the introduction of two pieces of legislation, the Overseas Americans Financial Access Act and the Commission on Americans Living Overseas Act. These bills will help American citizens living abroad who are unfairly and disproportionately burdened by existing tax laws.

Millions of Americans, including military personnel and civilians, live and work across the world. Although they live overseas, many of these U.S. citizens continue to vote and pay taxes in the United States. Whether or not they work for American businesses overseas, they help increase exports of American goods and services because they traditionally buy American goods, sell American goods, and create business opportunities for U.S. companies and workers. Their role in strengthening the U.S. economy, creating jobs in the United States, and extending American influence around the globe is vital to the well-being of our nation.

Last month, the Caucus led a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting that the Biden Administration prioritize vaccinating Americans abroad while still working to fight COVID-19 at home.

“Americans living and working abroad are directly impacted by federal policy and it’s long past time that the federal government listened to their concerns,” said Rep. Maloney. “I’ve heard from countless constituents who have faced problems related to voting, immigration, access to financial institutions, and taxation. My goal with the launch of the Americans Abroad Caucus is to better understand these issues and be better equipped to coordinate with these communities towards more robust representation in Congress.”

“As the Congresswoman for Florida's 27th District, I represent thousands of American citizens who live and work abroad," said Rep. Salazar. "From deciphering complex tax laws to ensuring they have adequate healthcare access, Americans abroad face a unique set of challenges. I am honored to co-lead the Americans Abroad Caucus and look forward to continuing to serve as a voice in Congress for Americans living overseas."

“I’m honored to serve as co-chair of the Americans Abroad Caucus for the 117th Congress,” said Rep. Titus. “The millions of U.S. citizens who live and work overseas often face uniquely onerous tax burdens along with challenges ranging from banking and travel issues to health services and voting. This bipartisan Caucus provides an important forum to address the issues faced by Americans abroad and ensure they’re being provided appropriate representation.”

“ACA is pleased that Representative Salazar will be joining the Americans Abroad Caucus as Republican Co-Chair and working alongside Representative Maloney and Representative Titus, the Democratic Co-Chairs of the Caucus. The Caucus is an important voice for the community of Americans living and working overseas. ACA looks forward to continuing to work with Representative Maloney, Representative Titus, Representative Salazar and all the members of the Americans Abroad Caucus on bringing issues important to the community to the attention of Congress and the Administration,” said Marylouise Serrato, Executive Director of American Citizens Abroad.

“Democrats Abroad is delighted to see the Americans Abroad Caucus grow in numbers and in profile. Americans abroad face challenges in a great many areas - taxation, voting, access to COVID vaccines, US government agency and consular support - that require Congressional attention. We are grateful for Rep. Maloney's leadership on the Caucus and on these legislative initiatives that bring focus and solutions to our underserved community. Rep. Dina Titus has been a wonderful friend, constant advocate and greatly valued champion for Americans abroad for many years. We are excited to have her in the position of Caucus co-chair along with Rep. Maria Salazar. We look forward to getting to know Rep. Salazar and working with her to address our issues,” said Candice Kerestan, Democrats Abroad International Chair.

Background

In the 110th Congress, Congresswoman Maloney cofounded the Americans Abroad Caucus, which she now co-chairs with Representatives María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Dina Titus (D-NV). The purpose of this bi-partisan caucus is to provide a forum for discussion of the issues that are important to overseas Americans including citizenship, census, voting, banking access, and taxation.

The Overseas Americans Financial Access Act directs the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to exclude from Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) reporting financial accounts held by American citizens in countries where they are bona fide residents. This bill eliminates the unintended and excessive reporting burden imposed on overseas Americans by FATCA, enabling them to more easily open and maintain private bank accounts with foreign financial institutions (FFIs).

The Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act creates an Executive Commission comprised of a 10-member bipartisan panel to examine the concerns of U.S. citizens living and working abroad. The Commission would analyze, report on, and make appropriate recommendations to address the effects of activities, laws, and policies of the federal government on Americans citizens living overseas.

Learn more about the history and work of the Americans Abroad Caucus at our website here.

Bill text of the Overseas Americans Financial Access Act can be found here.

Bill text of the Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act can be found here.

Read the full letter on vaccinating Americans abroad here.

Letter from the Editor

There is not a day that goes by that the Global Women’s Caucus is not aware of the immense threats to the rights of women and girls all over the world, however the ability to act on every development, or appreciate every advance, is difficult to do. Awareness doesn’t always involve an act, per se, but rather also a clear intention to be well informed. By gathering information from reputable sources and understanding how to express that information, we can all be warriors against mis and disinformation. As we celebrate holidays, once again in person with our loved ones, the GWC invites you to practice awareness as we both recognize the threats to women all over the world and discuss ways to alleviate these threats.

This GWC newsletter is taking on a different look to accommodate our growing caucus, but some elements still remain. Check out our Artist’s Corner and read ERA excerpts written by our members.

We hope you enjoy this edition, and we look forward to seeing you at our events!

Stayce Camparo, Communications Co-director, Global Women’s Caucus

Over 10,000 members and growing! Join us

Message from DA Spain Chair and Vice-Chair 

It’s October, and for Americans that means Halloween. I’m all about the candy, but the horror and fright parts, not so much. In fact the last scary movie I saw was “The Shining” in the summer of 1980. I went to the movie with my roommate, and she and I slept with the lights on for two weeks after that.

So I know scary when I see it, and I see it in the news every day. My current nightmare is the polling numbers in the Virginia gubernatorial race. The Republican in this race is a Trump darling who refuses to state his positions on important issues such as women’s reproductive rights. He does think it’s a shame that Virginia expanded health coverage to more of its citizens, and that Virginia needs restrictions on voting despite little or no evidence of voting fraud in the state. Despite these derelictions, Youngkin and the Democratic candidate, former Governor Terry McAuliffe, are virtually in a dead heat at this point.

Democrats Abroad is working hard to elect McAuliffe, supporting him with social media initiatives, direct mailings, and phone banking. Many of our members in Spain have joined in this effort, and today I’m asking you to do the same. If you’re available to help, please reach out to us at [email protected]. We need you!

Thanks, Kathy and Carlos

Keep Virginia Blue! - VOTE November 2, 2021 Election!

We’re counting on you to help keep Virginia blue this Fall! Virginia state elections for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and State House of Delegates take place on November 2, 2021. 

Information for voting is available English version here and Spanish version here and includes details on how to:

• Register to vote and request your ballot; including deadlines
  
  
  • Go to www.votefromabroad.org and follow the prompts to fill out the form to request your ballot using the Federal Post Card Application form (FPCA)
    
    
• Eligibility to vote in the state election
  
  
• Fill out the Ballot and return your ballot (you must return your ballot by mail!)
  
  
• Confirm your Ballot was accepted

Coming Up! October 6-12: We’ll be phonebanking Virginia voters. 

Thank you in advance to the Phone Bankers making calls to VA members! Phone banking works. In the recent campaign for the California Recall, we connected with over 60% of the California members we called. And look at how that turned out.

Interested in becoming a phone bank volunteer? Find information and training materials at  www.democratsabroad.org/phonebanking_training.

If you're not a Virginia voter, please share this information with people you know who are Virginia voters, even if they reside back in the US.

Letter from the Editor

Books, pages, stone walls, and now tablets have the ability to convey thought across minds, cultures, and oceans. Humans have always used the written word to fantasize, persuade, and pose questions about our environment and way of life. It is how we connect, and this month we are practicing prose in action. As we organize ourselves to protect our reproductive rights from right-wing politicians or unite in recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we will honor the female authors who shook the writing world with a month-long literary festival. So join us in exercising our own creative and persuasive prose.

This October issue has important updates on the difficult work our action teams are doing in spite of unprecedented push-backs on reproductive rights. Don’t forget to check out our Artist’s Corner and take our September Newsletter quiz! Lastly, we love hearing from you and want your continued participation in our #MyStoryGWC campaign; this month we are asking you to share your October 2nd Reproductive Rights March stories, including from our #GWCMarch campaign.

We hope you enjoy this edition, and we look forward to seeing you at our events!

Stayce Camparo, Communications Co-director, Global Women’s Caucus

Over 10,000 members and growing! Join us

Mike Lindell’s highly criticized symposium in August failed to validate his belief that Biden did not win the election, but it did showcase attendees’ reluctance to engage with facts. One speaker began his remarks with, “…the CNNs of this world, you guys need to stop fact checking this and start reporting it.” Journalists and news organizations have a professional obligation to fact check and it is right that they do so, but facts alone don’t necessarily help to refute conspiracy theories and lies. Using facts as the main tool to convince someone that Covid vaccinations protect rather than harm, for example, can push conspiracists further into their own belief.  

This is because human beings have a built-in confirmation bias; we tune out facts that don’t confirm our existing beliefs.  Even when we present a climate change denier with geological evidence that today’s climate change is driven by humans and not part of a natural cycle, it’s highly unlikely to change their minds. It’s not because deniers are too dumb to understand the science; rather, a fact that doesn’t confirm what someone already believes tends to be either disregarded or rationalized away. Often it is the more intelligent who are the best at rationalizing a fact to fit their belief. Our brains resist evidence that goes against an opinion we’ve already formed. 

It’s not just our minds that resist belief-opposing-facts, our hearts do too. Peer pressure isn’t just powerful on the playground or behind the gym, it has a big influence as adults on which opinions matter to us, and the opinions that matter determine the facts that matter.  Political bodies have even used social media, enabled by bots (automated software) to successfully persuade voters in elections. The good news is that who we see as the “cool kids” can be influenced and can change. 

Storytelling, centered around facts and truth, based on deep commonalities is a very effective way to help people want to hang out with the science nerds rather than the kid with the biggest car.  You can show your uncle the figures proving cats kill more birds than windmills, or you can concede that windmills do kill some birds. Good, truthfulf storytelling can affect who we feel close to, and in turn whose opinions and what facts matter to us. It can dampen the flames of conspiracy theories and help seeds of consensus sprout in fresh ground.