<div><br></div>From Barbara Lee's office:<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>Subject: Signers of bipartisan letter on Afghanistan<br><br><br><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple">
<div><p class="MsoNormal">All,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Check the list of co-signers to the letter to President Obama supporting 2013 completion of combat operations in Afghanistan (full text below).<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>GOP signers (9) are in <b>Bold</b>, and <u>non-sponsors</u> of HR 780 (33) are <u><span style="color:red">underlined and red</span></u>.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">
We should point to this letter in urging these <u><span style="color:red">33 Members</span></u> to join the out-of-Afghanistan bill.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Have great 3-day weekends all!<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">-Teddy<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u>Alphabetical Order <span style>(87</span><span style="color:#1f497d">)</span></u>:<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN">Justin Amash (MI)</span></b><span lang="EN"><br>Tammy Baldwin (WI)<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Roscoe G. Bartlett (MD)</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN"><br>
</span></b><span lang="EN">Earl Blumenauer (OR)<br><u><span style="color:red">Suzanne Bonamici (OR)</span></u><span style="color:red"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="color:red">Leonard Boswell (IA)<u></u><u></u></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="color:red">Robert Brady (PA)<u></u><u></u></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="color:red">Bruce Braley (IA)<br>Lois Capps (CA)<u></u><u></u></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Michael Capuano (MA)<br>Judy Chu (CA)<br><u><span style="color:red">David Cicilline (RI)</span></u><span style="color:red"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Hansen Clarke (MI)<u></u><u></u></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Howard Coble (NC)</span></u></b><b><span lang="EN"><br></span></b><span lang="EN">Steve Cohen (TN)<br>John Conyers, Jr. (MI)<span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Jerry Costello (IL)<u></u><u></u></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Joe Crowley (NY)<u></u><u></u></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Peter DeFazio (OR)<u></u><u></u></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Diana DeGette (CO)<span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="ES-CO" style>Rosa DeLauro (CT)<br>
</span><b><u><span lang="ES-CO" style="color:red">Jimmy Duncan, Jr. </span></u></b><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">(TN)</span></u></b><span lang="EN" style="color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN" style>Donna Edwards (MD)</span><span lang="EN"><br>Keith Ellison (MN)<span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Jo Ann Emerson (MO)<br>
</span></u></i></b><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Anna Eshoo (CA)</span></u><u><span lang="EN"><br></span></u><span lang="EN">Sam Farr (CA)<span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Chaka Fattah (PA)<br>Bob Filner (CA)<br>Barney Frank (MA)<br>John Garamendi (CA)<br><u><span style="color:red">Charlie Gonzalez (TX)</span><br></u>Raul Grijalva (AZ)<br>Janice Hahn (CA)<br><u><span style="color:red">Martin Heinrich (NM)</span></u><br>
Maurice Hinchey (NY) <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Mazie Hirono (HI)<span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style>Rush Holt (NJ)<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Mike Honda (CA)<br>Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL)<br>Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX)<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Hank Johnson (GA)<u></u><u></u></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Timothy Johnson (IL)</span></u></b><b><u><span lang="EN"><br></span></u></b><b><span lang="EN">Walter Jones (NC)<span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style>Dennis Kucinich (OH)<br></span><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Rick Larsen (WA)</span></u><span lang="EN"><br>Barbara Lee (CA)<br>John Lewis (GA)<span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">David Loebsack (IA)<br>Zoe Lofgren (CA)<br><u><span style="color:red">Ben Ray Luján (NM)</span><br></u>Carolyn Maloney (NY)<span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Betty McCollum (MN)</span></u><span lang="EN"><br>Jim McDermott (WA)<br>Jim McGovern (MA)<br>Michael Michaud (ME)<span style><u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Brad Miller (NC)<u></u><u></u></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">George Miller (CA)<br>Gwen Moore (WI)<br>Jerrold Nadler (NY)<br>Grace Napolitano (CA)<br><u><span style="color:red">Richard Neal (MA)</span><u></u><u></u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">John Olver (MA)<br>Donald Payne (NJ)<br><u><span style="color:red">Gary Peters (MI)</span><br></u>Chellie Pingree (ME)<br>Jared Polis (CO)<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">David Price (NC)<br>
Laura Richardson (CA)<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Dana Rohrabacher (CA)<br></span></u></b><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Mike Quigley (IL)</span></u><u><span lang="EN"> <br>
</span></u><span lang="EN">Jan Schakowsky (IL)<br><u><span style="color:red">Kurt Schrader (OR)</span><br></u>José Serrano (NY)<br>Louise Slaughter (NY)<br><u><span style="color:red">Adam Smith (WA)</span><br></u>Jackie Speier (CA)<br>
Pete Stark (CA)<br><u><span style="color:red">Mike Thompson (CA)<br>Paul Tonko (NY)</span><br></u>Ed Towns (NY)<br><u><span style="color:red">Niki Tsongas (MA)<br>Pete Visclosky (IN)</span><br></u>Henry Waxman (CA)<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN">Peter Welch (VT)<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span lang="EN" style="color:red">Ed Whitfield (KY)</span></u></b><b><u><span lang="EN"><br></span></u></b><span lang="EN">Lynn Woolsey (CA)<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style>(87</span>)<span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt">End U.S. Combat Operations in Afghanistan</span></b><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Sign Letter to President Obama in Support of February 1<sup>st</sup> Announcement<u></u><u></u></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style>Dear Colleague,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white">
<span style> <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style> On February 1<sup>st</sup>, the Administration announced that it would complete U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan by the end of 2013, shifting control to Afghanistan forces (<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/world/asia/panetta-moves-up-end-to-us-combat-role-in-afghanistan.html?_r=2" target="_blank">http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/world/asia/panetta-moves-up-end-to-us-combat-role-in-afghanistan.html?_r=2</a>). We ask you to join us on sending a letter to President Obama expressing support for this announcement and an accelerated end to U.S. military operations in Afghanistan.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style> <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white"><span style> <b><u>The deadline to sign onto this letter is NOON, Friday, February 17<sup>t</sup></u></b><u><sup>h</sup></u>. To sign onto the letter, please contact Cindy Buhl (McGovern) at 5-6101 or <a href="mailto:cindy.buhl@mail.house.gov" target="_blank">cindy.buhl@mail.house.gov</a> or Ray Celeste (Jones) at 5-3415 or <a href="mailto:raymond.celeste@mail.house.gov" target="_blank">raymond.celeste@mail.house.gov</a>. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">Sincerely,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"> James P. McGovern Walter B. Jones Barbara Lee<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"> John J. Duncan, Jr. John Garamendi Justin Amash<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">February 17, 2012<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Honorable Barack Obama<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">President<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">The White House<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Washington, D.C. 20500<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Dear Mr. President,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"> We write to express our support for the Administration’s announcement on February 1<sup>st</sup> that the United States will complete combat operations in Afghanistan by the end of next year. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"> From information reported in the media, the U.S. intends to transition from major combat operations in Afghanistan to a “training, advice and assist role” by the middle-to-latter part of 2013. We applaud this announcement by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to accelerate the transition away from combat operations, and it provides assurance that the timeframe outlined in your 2009 speech at West Point will be carried out. As you know, many of us support an even more rapid withdrawal of all our troops from Afghanistan. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"> The majority of Americans want a safe and orderly military withdrawal from Afghanistan as quickly as possible, as recent public opinion polls indicate. The desire by the American people for an accelerated transition in Afghanistan was reflected in votes taken in Congress last year, in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate during their respective debates on amendments offered by Representatives McGovern and Jones and by Senator Merkley to the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act. These votes show there is strong bipartisan political support to take bold steps regarding U.S. policy in Afghanistan. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"> The past 10 years have cost America dearly in the blood and sacrifice of our military servicemen and women and their families, and in our nation’s fiscal health and security. The United States intervened in Afghanistan to destroy al Qaeda’s safe haven, remove th Taliban government that sheltered al Qaeda, and pursue those who planned the September 11<sup>th</sup> attacks on the United States; those objectives have largely been met and no longer require a large presence of combat troops in Afghanistan. While questions remain about the details of the announced transition – when and how quickly U.S. troops will be coming home, the number and purpose of troops that might remain in Afghanistan and for how long a period, the costs and the savings of accelerating the completion of combat operations – the February 1<sup>st</sup> announcement clearly signals that now is the moment to initiate the transition, end the war in Afghanistan and bring our troops home.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Sincerely,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Members of Congress<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial Narrow","sans-serif";color:#002060">Connect with Congresswoman Barbara Lee<u></u><u></u></span></i></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p></div></div></div><br><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br>Robert Naiman<br>Policy Director<br>Just Foreign Policy<br><a href="http://www.justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">www.justforeignpolicy.org</a><br>
<a href="mailto:naiman@justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">naiman@justforeignpolicy.org</a><br><br> <br>