We've made it to week 10 of the 94th Arkansas General Assembly and legislators will be on Spring Break until March 27th. However, that doesn't mean our fight is put on hold!
Our hopes were raised when SB71 was tabled, only to have it brought back Wednesday evening. Having already passed in the Senate, this bill that would end affirmative action in Arkansas is now back on the deferred list of the House State Agencies & Govt'l Affairs Committee. It will likely be heard very soon after legislation is back in session.
This bill would criminalize any action by governmental entities that considers race, gender, ethnicity and nationality.
Not only does SB71 promote white supremacy, it attacks all currently-protected groups including all women, veterans and disabled Arkansans.
It will have far-reaching impacts on public employment, business and education.
It ignores data and opportunity for broad prosperity. Read more here.
We need y'all to help us flood Representatives with calls and emails, telling them to VOTE NO on SB71!
♦️Leave a message for your Representative at 501-682-6211
♦️ Call & email House State Agencies Committee members ⬇️
Learn more about SB71 & the need for affirmative action by watching this week's Friday Webinar presented by the Arkansas Public Policy Panel. Visit citizensfirst.org and follow us on social media for updates. More detailed Action Alert coming soon!
Anti-Affirmative Action Bill & The Black Community
Policy Director Kymara Seals, Elections Coordinator/Organizer Kwami Abdul-Bey, and Racial Equity Coordinator Osyrus Bolly speak against SB71, highlighting it's impact on the Arkansas' Black community. Don't miss the response to bill sponsor Sen. Dan Sullivan's racist comment, "Do you want qualified teachers or Black teachers?".
CFC PRIORITY LEGISLATION:
Increase Access to Healthy Food
HB1645: To Create The Arkansas Healthy Food Retail Act Of 2023; And To Provide Financial Incentives For Healthy Food Retailers In Underserved Communities.
Sponsor(s): Rep. Tippi McCullough (D)
Summary: This bill would create a Healthy Food Retailer Program. It will improve public health and economic opportunity in food deserts by increasing access to affordable and healthy fruits and vegetables in retail food outlets.
Why It Matters: Arkansas has a food desert crisis with a significant number of residents living in areas with poor access to healthy food.
About 400,000 Arkansans, including 138,400 children, don't know where their next meal will come from, according to a 2022 report by a governor-appointed group.Analysis by the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement found that 50 percent or more of the population had low access to healthy food in 2019. Arkansas has 1.7 grocery stores or produce vendors per 10,000 people compared with a national average of 2.1.
Unhealthy diets are linked to increased chronic health conditions. Arkansas ranks as one of the worst states for obesity (41th), high blood pressure (46th), cardiovascular disease (48th), diabetes (44th) and cancer (44th), according to the 2022 report.
Current Status: Filed March 15th and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development- House
Call to Action: Tell your legislators to support accessible, healthy food for all Arkansans.
>> House of Representative Message Board: 501-682-6211
>> Senate Message Board: 501-682-2902
Accepting Applications for LEARNS Rulemaking Work Groups
On March 8, 2023, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed Act 237, known as the Arkansas LEARNS Act, into law.
As is, this law is primed to fundamentally undermines public education through the costs of what would be the biggest voucher scheme in the country. However, there is still a chance for our voices to be heard in the implementation stage.
The Department of Education is inviting all Arkansans statewide to engage with the implementation of LEARNS. They're seeking volunteers to become part of working groups to provide ideas, expertise, and feedback to the Department of Education in the development of rules and policies. The work groups will submit recommendations to the ADE secretary for consideration.
Find Applications Here
You can view and share this week's #ARLEG Update and past weeks' updates on our website here.
Join us April 1 for
Arkansas Youth Civic Engagement Day!
Find more info & register here: shorturl.at/vwAS3
All ages are welcome but please share this event with youth and young adults in your network!
