1. Who is your audience? (US Congress) by Ms. Kopp

2. US Senator Barbara Boxer Democrat First elected in November 1992 Official website: http://boxer.senate.gov/index.cfm

3. Background Information Here is where you put the most important information about each official’s background Think about education, former jobs, committees (especially ones that relate to our topics), experience

4. Global Warming Environment America gave Boxer a 70% Add more organizations and their grade for the senator or representative

5. Darfur Go here for US Rep and Senator scores for Darfur: http://www.darfurscores.org/http://www.darfurscores.org/

6. Immigration Continue to add association scores, making sure they’re from 2008

7. US Senator Dianne Feinstein Here you will continue the same process as you did with Barbara Boxer

8. US Representative Henry Waxman Again, continue the same process

9. Who should I write? Looking at the three national issues, who should the class write about immigration, global warming, or Darfur? Should it be the senator or representative with the C or A score?

10. Solutions Here you put possible solutions for US Congress to consider. They need to be specific solutions. For example: Global Warming: The American Clean Energy and Security Act is a bill the full House will consider this summer. Darfur: The 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Bill provides $50 million to support peacekeepers, the peace process, and the new diplomatic team under the Special Envoy for Sudan. Darfur: House Resolution 241 comments International Criminal Court for issuing a warrant for the arrest of Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, President of the Republic of Sudan, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ask Rep. Waxman to cosponsor. Immigration: On March 26, 2009, the "Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act" was introduced in both the House and the Senate. Urge members of Congress to support and cosponsor.

11. Who is your audience? (State Legislative) by Ms. Kopp

12. Senator Fran Pavley

13. Background Information Here is where you put the most important information about each official’s background Think about education, former jobs, committees, (especially ones that relate to our topics), experience

14. California Economy Continue to add association scores... the statewide ones may be outdated (from 2006). Votesmart just added state reps and senators, so they’re a little older.

15. California Education Cuts

16. Overturning Prop 8

17. State Representative Mike Feuer Again, continue same process

18. Background Information

19. Who should I write? Looking at the three national issues, who should the class write about the economy, immigration, or same-sex marriage? Should it be the senator or representative with the C or A score?

20. Solutions Here you put possible solutions for the state to consider. They need to be specific solutions. For example: Prop 8: Urge your senator or representative to restore marriage rights to same-sex couples: http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2009/05/prop-8-decision- analysis/ http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2009/05/prop-8-decision- analysis/ California’s Economy: Ask your senator or representative to protect the CalWorks program, which serves more than 500,000 poor families with children, and Healthy Families, which provides medical coverage to 928,000 children and teens. Both programs face elimination to balance the budget. Education Cuts: Also potentially on the chopping block is CalGrants, a financial assistance program that offers cash grants to lower- and middle-income college students each year. Tell your senator or representative to keep this program. Education Cuts: Tell your senator or representative the consequences of cutting summer school programs.