Courage Campaign - Legislative Campaigns

Legislative Campaigns

Courage Campaign works extensively with California legislators in both Sacramento and Washington D.C. to pass progressive legislation in California.

• White House—Courage organized over 100 California leaders to convene at the White House in September 2011 and discuss progressive solutions to California’s needs on jobs, the environment and more. Speakers at the conference ranged from White House Chief of Staff William M. Daley to Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
• Dump DOMA—Courage Campaign organized its members to lobby U.S. Senators to support the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). As of December 2011, a record 32 Senators are co-sponsors of the Respect for Marriage Act. Courage Campaign also led the effort to win a successful first-ever Senate Judiciary Committee vote to repeal DOMA in November 2011. Courage Campaign members also lobbied President Obama to formally endorse the Respect for Marriage Act, which he did in a rare move for legislation that had yet to pass a committee of either house of Congress.
• Protecting the FAIR Education Act—Days after Governor Jerry Brown signed the Fair Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful Education Act (FAIR) in 2011, opponents launched a campaign to get it repealed. Courage Campaign responded by initiating a successful decline to sign campaign to convince voters not to sign for a ballot referendum. Ultimately, opponents failed to gather enough signatures.
• Homeowner Bill of Rights—In April 2012, following the introduction of the Homeowner Bill of Rights (SB 900 and AB 278) by Attorney General Harris and California legislative leaders, Courage Campaign launched an extensive organizing campaign of petitions, videos, and phone calls to rally support within the Legislature. A key element of this campaign was The Foreclosure Flashlight, a simple tool to shine a light on key California legislators, how foreclosures affected their districts, how much money they had taken from the banking industry, and where they stood on a pro-homeowner bill. On July 2, the Homeowner Bill of Rights passed both houses of the California Legislature. Governor Jerry Brown signed it into law, and it went into effect January 1, 2013. An immediate dip in foreclosures was reported, reducing the foreclosure rate nationwide.
• The California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program—Courage Campaign helped enact SB 1234, which provides low-wage workers whose employers don't offer a 401K plan with an alternative way to save for retirement.
• Election Day Voter Registration—Courage Campaign helped enact AB 1436, which allows voters to register up to and including Election Day and has the potential to increase voter turnout by 5% or 850,000 Californians.
• Signature gathering translation—Courage Campaign helped enact SB 1233, which requires that ballot measures be translated into the languages covered by the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, so voters not fluent in English can fully participate and protect themselves from misinformation. .
• Banning "reparative" therapy for LGBT youth—Courage Campaign helped enact SB 1172, which outlaws scientifically questionable programs to change a minor's sexual orientation. .
• Assault Weapons Ban—Following the shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, Courage Campaign began working with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on a campaign to restore the national ban on assault rifles, implement universal background checks for gun buyers, and limit high-capacity ammunition clips. In March 2012, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to ban assault weapons.