What to Do Wednesday
Your Weekly Guide to Staying Politically Active—From Abroad
Wednesday 13 May 2026
Americans living overseas are too often overlooked but this week, we have a real opportunity to change that.
Representative Dina Titus (NV-01), Chair of the Americans Abroad Caucus, has reintroduced the Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act (H.R. 8561). This bipartisan bill would create a formal commission to study the real challenges faced by millions of U.S. citizens living outside the United States.
It’s not a cure-all, but it’s a critical first step. It means someone in Congress is paying attention. Now we need to make sure others do too.
Why This Matters
Americans abroad face a unique set of challenges that lawmakers in Washington often don’t fully understand, including:
- Double taxation and the burden of citizenship-based taxation
- Complex and punitive FBAR and FATCA reporting requirements
- Limited access to banking and financial services abroad
- Barriers to accessing Social Security and other earned benefits
- Difficulty investing, saving for retirement, or opening accounts
- Challenges voting from abroad and receiving ballots on time
- Lack of representation and visibility in policymaking
Among others!
A congressional commission would bring these issues into focus, gather data, and recommend real solutions. That’s how change begins.
Take Action Today
We need to show strong support so this bill gains traction in Congress.
- Read the bill: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8561/text
- Find the contact information for your Representative here: Members of the U.S. Congress | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
- Call your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 8561: Find information and a call script here.
- Write to your Representative using our email template.
Why Your Voice Matters
Members of Congress rarely hear from Americans living abroad. That means your call or email carries real weight.
If we want better policies, fairer taxation, and equal access to services, we need to speak up, loudly and consistently.
This commission won’t fix everything overnight. But it’s a meaningful step toward recognition, representation, and reform.
Let’s make sure Congress knows: Americans abroad count!
Democrats Abroad Italy Events
Be the reason an overseas voter votes in November! Join us for our Voting Assistant Training Sessions!
Sign up here to learn how to support US citizens to Register and Request their overseas ballots Tuesday May 26 @18:00
Sign up here to learn how to support US citizens to Receive & their Voted Ballots Wednesday 27 May @18:00
Check below to find out more about Democrats Abroad Italy Events:
Participate in a Democrats Abroad Italy monthly Country Committee meeting. Join us to find out about what is happening in each region and how you can get involved. Meetings are held monthly and last one hour. Friday 12 June @09:00
Join Democrats Abroad Italy for a special national fundraising event in the heart of Florence. Saturday May 30th @16:00.
It's fun. It's historic. It's a scavenger hunt in Milan! 6 June @14:40 YES. WE. VOTE. MILAN'S IWC SCAVENGER HUNT!!
Live near Venice? Join the Triveneto Precinct team as we staff a Vote From Abroad (VFA) station at the Santa Lucia Train Station in Venice 12 Jun Vote From Abroad outreach, Venice
An exciting opportunity for our graphically inclined members:
Do you like to design graphics? Would you like to see Democrats Abroad and Vote From Abroad on cool merch? We can use your talents. We are working with other country committees on a Democrats Abroad online store where people's donations get them cool swag like t-shirts, coffee mugs, hats, etc. Your designs could be seen by thousands of Americans living overseas and you could help in our efforts to restore democracy to the United States and fight fascism.
Please send your designs to Charles Ippoliti at [email protected]. Our committee will be pleased to review them. Thanks for helping to restore freedom.
Closing Thought:
'Democracy is not a spectator sport. - Marian Wright Edelman
As Americans living and voting from abroad, we don’t sit on the sidelines. We show up, speak up, and make our voices heard. Supporting the Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act is one concrete way to step onto the field and insist that our experiences, our challenges, and our votes truly count.
Thank you for taking action today.
With gratitude and determination,
Leyani Redditi
Chair
Democrats Abroad Italy
P.S. 15% of our members have already requested their ballots. Are you one of them? If not, help us get to 25% by the end of May!! Click the link below to go to Vote from Abroad or let us know you've already requested your ballot, or need some help. We’re here to make sure your vote counts!