1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I'm writing you today about two deeply personal topics: my love of civil participation and my love of small business. When I was in sixth grade, my teacher held a mock election. We went over policies and platforms. And at the tender age of 10, I voted for Al Gore. I love voting. I have always loved voting. I vote in every local election. Even the little ones with measures that only see a 15% turnout. I'm part of that 15% However, if the SAVE act passes, I will no longer be allowed to vote. As a transgender man, my legal name appears on all my legal paperwork. Even my social security card. But it does not appear on my birth certificate. Because my father proudly served our country for 20 years, I was born in Maryland. And Maryland does not allow name changes or gender changes without an affidavit from a doctor licensed in Maryland. So, as a longtime Washington resident, who does not have a healthcare provider in Maryland, the SAVE act will take away my right to vote. If that wasn't enough, I am also in danger of losing my small business. I'm a writer and artist. In 2016, along with my sister, I founded a small press that creates and publishes inclusive comicbooks and graphic novels. When I'm not writing or editing, I flex my artist muscles through design. Enamel pins, or brooches, are my medium of choice. Good quality, permanent art you can wear. In both instances, my goods are - proudly - made in China. My books print in China, because I'd have to charge 3x as much to afford American printing services. American printers that use Chinese printers and Chinese specialty papers. Because the smithing process is so heavily regulated in America, my enamel pins are made in China. 99% of all enamel pins are made in China. Have you ever been to a comic book convention? Perhaps Emerald City Comic Con that's held in Seattle every March. Take a moment and imagine what this annual event would look like if you allow these tariffs to stay in place. Books cost 3x as much. Local artists aren't selling pins or buttons or lanyards. We can't afford the tariffs. They can't be made in America. Or they're far too expensive to produce in America. Or the process is so subpar - flaking acrylic and washed out lanyards have been reported by my artist friends. The world is a global economy, and we would be fools to turn our backs on that to become a jack of all trades, and thus, a master of none. John Locke wrote that men had the right to life, liberty and property. You know these words because America adopted them in our creed promising life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. How can I have liberty if I cannot vote? How can I pursue happiness if my conventions are cancelled and my books held in customs due to tariffs? How can I have my life, if my business is choked to death? Put a stop to the SAVE act. Put an end to these tariffs. Thank you.