What to Do Wednesday
Your Weekly Guide to Staying Politically Active—From Abroad
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Welcome to another edition of "What to Do Wednesday," your weekly guide to staying engaged and making a difference from right here in Italy. As Americans living abroad, our commitment to democratic values is more critical than ever. We may be far from Washington, but our voices resonate just as loudly.
While the title sounds positive, this bill would drastically narrow the definition of “employee” and make it much easier for companies to classify workers as independent contractors. This threatens to strip millions of U.S. workers of fundamental protections like minimum wage, overtime pay, unemployment benefits, and the right to organize.
Why should we care? Even as Americans abroad, the labor standards that protect our families, friends, and communities back home are at risk. Weakening these protections damages the economy by increasing job insecurity, reducing consumer spending, and fostering unfair competitive practices. It undermines the foundation of fair work and dignity that the Democratic Party stands for.
We urge you to contact your members of Congress immediately and demand they stand against H.R. 1319. Let them know that voting for this bill would seriously harm workers and the economy. Together, we can protect the rights and dignity of American workers.
Your Call to Action: Contact Your Members of Congress!
Now more than ever, it's vital that we make our voices heard. Your Members of Congress need to know that Americans living abroad are paying attention and demanding action. Even from Italy, you have the power to influence policy.
How to contact your representatives:
- Find your Representative and Senators: Visit house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative and senate.gov/senators/index.htm to locate your specific elected officials. Most will have a contact form on their official website.
- Use tools like Democracy.io: This fantastic platform (https://democracy.io) allows you to easily find and contact your Members of Congress for free, providing a streamlined way to send your message.
- Find ready made call scripts with 5Calls: The 5 Calls app and website (5calls.org) provides scripts and contact information for your elected officials on pressing issues.
- Use our ready-made email templates: DA Italy Fights Back Template List!
Contact your Members of Congress today and demand that they:
- Oppose the bill at every legislative stage to prevent it from advancing to a floor vote or becoming law.
- Advocate for maintaining and strengthening worker protections such as minimum wage, overtime pay, unemployment insurance, and the right to organize
- Communicate clearly to their constituents that the bill harms workers and the economy by increasing job insecurity and exploitation.
What to Say:
I strongly oppose H.R. 1319, the Modern Worker Empowerment Act. This bill will strip countless workers of essential protections like minimum wage, overtime pay, and the right to unionize. It will increase worker exploitation and harm the economy by creating unstable, precarious jobs. Please do everything you can to block this bill. Protect American workers and uphold fair labor standards that benefit all of us.
Reminders: Get Involved with Democrats Abroad Italy!
The Resistance Quilt Project: Stitching Together Our Voices!
We are thrilled with the enthusiasm for our Resistance Quilt Project! This is a beautiful and meaningful way to visually represent our collective dedication to democracy. Each patch forms a powerful tapestry of resistance and hope. If you haven't yet contributed, there's still time! The deadline for patch submission is Monday, September 8, 2025. Your creativity will help build democracy by supporting our vital voter registration and assistance initiatives. There is still time to participate! For details on how to get involved and receive your unique design and instructions, please RSVP here
Annual Gala Fundraising Dinner: Dinner in Defense of Democracy
Mark your calendars! Our highly anticipated Annual Gala Fundraising Dinner, "Dinner in Defense of Democracy," is just around the corner, on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at a private villa above Antella just outside Florence. This inspiring evening is a vital opportunity to connect with fellow members, and significantly bolster our Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts for the crucial 2026 midterm elections. All proceeds from the gala directly support our essential voter outreach initiatives for U.S. citizens residing abroad. Your participation directly impacts our ability to mobilize the overseas vote. Click here for ticket information!
Volunteer with Democrats Abroad Italy! We Need Caucus Leaders!
Did you know that Democrats Abroad Global has a variety of caucuses dedicated to specific groups and causes? These caucuses are crucial for engaging members with particular interests and advocating for specific issues. They provide a platform for members to connect, organize, and make their voices heard on topics that matter most to them.
Democrats Abroad Global currently has the following caucuses:
- Global Asian American & Pacific Islander Caucus
- Global Black Caucus
- Global Disability Caucus
- Environment & Climate Crisis Council
- Global Hispanic Caucus
- Global LGBTQ+ Caucus
- Global Progressive Caucus
- Global Seniors Caucus
- Global Veterans & Military Families Caucus
- Global Women's Caucus
- Global Youth Caucus
We are looking for passionate members of Democrats Abroad Italy to step up and lead or actively participate in local chapters or initiatives related to these caucuses here in Italy! This is an incredible opportunity to shape our local efforts, organize events, and champion causes close to your heart. If you identify with one of these groups or are passionate about a specific cause and want to help build a vibrant community around it within Democrats Abroad Italy, please reach out!
If you're interested in lending a hand and becoming more deeply involved in our mission to help Americans in Italy vote and champion Democratic values, please don't hesitate to reach out! Email us at [email protected] and let us know how you'd like to contribute, especially if you're interested in leading or joining a caucus initiative.
Until next Wednesday, stay informed, stay vocal, and stay active. Change doesn't wait, and neither should we.
With gratitude and hope,
Leyani Redditi
Chair
Democrats Abroad Italy
Ps. Do you vote in New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Virginia? You have important state elections this year. Request your overseas ballot from Vote from Abroad today to make sure you receive your ballot on time! Our overseas votes can be the margin of victory in tight races!