"Democrats Abroad is relieved that the US has agreed to stay in the Universal Postal Union, but we remain vigilant,” said Julia Bryan, Global Chair of Democrats Abroad. “We will closely follow the situation as postal rate changes are announced. Due to the uncertainty of the impact of these price increases, we strongly encourage all US states to provide secure online ballot delivery options for their voters living outside the States."

Statement from Julia Bryan, Global Chair of Democrats Abroad:

"I applaud Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House as they move to hold the president accountable for his gross abuse of power. Congress must protect the Constitution and the rule of law in the United States. We must protect our democracy." 

Democrats Abroad is delighted to announce that Rep. Maloney and Rep. Beyer introduced two House bills today designed to support Americans abroad. The first helps mitigate the unintended harm that FATCA has on Americans' ability to open banking and savings accounts while living abroad, and the second bill is designed to ensure that such consequences are caught before they are baked into Federal law. We salute the Representatives and very much appreciate their efforts on our behalf.

"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 (FFI’s).

"The Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act of 2019" 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.

More information on the bills.  

Julia Bryan, the Global Chair of Democrats Abroad, issued the following statement today:

The Trump Administration is once again demonstrating that Donald Trump does not support those that serve our country, including military and government employees working and serving abroad. In a policy statement recently issued from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the administration declared that children born abroad to naturalized Americans will not receive automatic citizenship, nor will many children adopted by Americans abroad.

Naturalized Americans serving abroad are the unsung heroes of our military and government work. These are Americans who have become citizens as a result of their work for the U.S. - work which requires US citizenship and which often causes them to lose their original citizenship. Creating a policy that effectively renders their children stateless is cruel, unjust, and absolutely unpatriotic. 

For more information on this policy and its impact please view this fact sheet. 

Thank you for joining with Democrats Abroad as we came together in support of the vigils held across the US on July 12. Lights for Liberty aims to shed light on what is happening at the US southern border and across the country: undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers being held in detention centers, facing inhumane conditions and continuing to be separated from their families.

Looking for other ways to get involved? 

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time.” Barack Obama, 2008.

Those who fought for change generations ago knew this truth. We know it now. Working for change is our North Star, the reason Democrats Abroad volunteers do the work we do.

Democrats Abroad teams and caucuses have been busy! Check out what we've been up to, for the week of Monday June 9:

Last weekend, the Florida Democratic Party unanimously voted to adopt a resolution in support of Floridians abroad and the work that Democrats Abroad does to help both get out and protect the vote. 

If you experienced any issues voting in Georgia in 2018, Democrats Abroad and Fair Fight Action want to hear from you by June 15.