<html>
<head>
<style><!--
.hmmessage P
{
margin:0px;
padding:0px
}
body.hmmessage
{
font-size: 12pt;
font-family:Calibri
}
--></style></head>
<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'>Debra<BR> <BR>Now that I like: <BR> <BR>Second paragraph, first line, two words: "and oppose" added to the statement. Where do I sign?<BR> <BR><div>> Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 07:31:17 -0600<br>> To: carl@newsfromneptune.com<br>> CC: peace-discuss@anti-war.net; sf-core@yahoogroups.com; occupy.cu@gmail.com; peace@lists.chambana.net<br>> Subject: Re: [Peace-discuss] [Peace] Fwd: Two important issues before Congress<br>> From: peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net<br>> <br>> Just a note--Progressive Democrats of America members are in the<br>> process of delivering our monthly letters to Congressional district<br>> and DC offices, complete with follow-up calls to each office. Last<br>> month we delivered 391 letters, and expect to deliver a comparable<br>> number this month. Our House letters include requests on both of these<br>> issues and our Senate letter contains the following language:<br>> <br>> Demand a debate on, and oppose, U.S. military intervention against<br>> ISIS. Also, vote against any new or renewed Authorization for the Use<br>> of Military Force (AUMF) against ISIS. The Iraq War helped create<br>> ISIS. More warfare will only increase turmoil and bloodshed in the<br>> Middle East.<br>> <br>> To date, there is no Senate companion bill to Rep. Hank Johnson's HR 5478.<br>> <br>> We are also asking for opposition to the TTP, expansion of voting<br>> rights, jobs legislation, and other issues of vital national<br>> importance. If you would like to join our national phone bank team,<br>> please contact Mike Fox at mikefox@pdamerica.org. If you would like to<br>> become involved in local delivery of letters to Sens Durbin and Kirk<br>> and Reps Davis and Shimkus, please contact me at<br>> deb.pdamerica@gmail.com<br>> <br>> Deb<br>> <br>> On 11/19/14, C. G. Estabrook via Peace <peace@lists.chambana.net> wrote:<br>> > Begin forwarded message:<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> VFP Legislative Priorities<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> Current Bills Related to VFP Priorities<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> Why Work With Congress?<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> Building A Relationship With Congress<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> Preparing for a Meeting<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> Use GovTrack.us to Follow a Bill<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> Join VFP's Legislative Action Group<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> November, 2014<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> For VFP, there are two especially important issues before Congress in<br>> >> these last months of the year:<br>> >><br>> >> Stopping the U.S. war in Iraq and Syria<br>> >><br>> >> Stopping the militarization of U.S. police forces<br>> >> Contact your members of Congress with the information provided below.<br>> >> (Toll free: 1-877-429-0678)<br>> >><br>> >> Identify yourself as a member of Veterans For Peace.<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> Ask to speak to the legislative aide who handles military affairs.<br>> >><br>> >> Try to start a dialogue; ask for a response on these issues.<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> 1. Stop the U.S. war in Iraq and Syria<br>> >><br>> >> The White House claims they need Congress to approve $5.6 billion before<br>> >> they can send the 1,500 additional troops to Iraq that were announced<br>> >> earlier this month. There may also be votes to authorize these military<br>> >> interventions. Tell your member of Congress to oppose funding and oppose<br>> >> authorization of these new wars.<br>> >><br>> >> There are better ways to respond to the threat posed by ISIS, including:<br>> >><br>> >> accelerating humanitarian assistance for displaced people,<br>> >> halting the flow of US arms to the region,<br>> >> pressuring allies to halt the financing and the flow of weapons and IS<br>> >> personnel through their territories,<br>> >> prioritizing diplomatic intervention under United Nations auspices,<br>> >> insisting on a renewed peace process for Syria that includes all parties,<br>> >><br>> >> involving Iran and other regional actors in the negotiations over Iraq’s<br>> >> future, which include the diversity of groups within that country.<br>> >> While none of these options are fool-proof, an American war is a proven<br>> >> failure.<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> VFP Chapter 49 – Indianapolis has created a good two-page summary on<br>> >> alternative responses to crises in the Middle East.<br>> >><br>> >> 2. Stop militarization of police in the U.S.<br>> >> H.R. 5478: Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act<br>> >><br>> >> would help keep military hardware out of the hands of civilian police.<br>> >> Tell you Representative to co-sponsor this bill and call for hearings in<br>> >> the House Armed Services Committee.<br>> >> The gross militarization of the police as seen in Ferguson MO clearly<br>> >> shows that a review of the 1033 Weapons Transfer Program is immediately<br>> >> needed.<br>> >> Since its creation, the program has distributed at least $4 billion worth<br>> >> of equipment to local police departments.<br>> >> The program was suspended in 2012 because some states lost track of<br>> >> equipment! Unfortunately it was restarted in 2013.<br>> >> Police officers are not at war with American citizens - they are here to<br>> >> serve and protect us. It only makes sense that if we arm them like<br>> >> soldiers going into battle, they will think we want them to act like<br>> >> soldiers.<br>> >><br>> >> Thank you for raising the powerful veteran voice in Congress!<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> Sincerely,<br>> >><br>> >> Michael T. McPhearson Virginia<br>> >> Druhe<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> Veterans For Peace, 216 S. Meramec, St. Louis, MO 63105, 314-725-6005<br>> >> www.veteransforpeace.org<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> Make a tax-exempt donation to VFP today!<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> We also encourage you to join our ranks<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> >> Forward to a Friend<br>> >><br>> >> Unsubscribe<br>> >><br>> >><br>> >><br>> ><br>> ><br>> _______________________________________________<br>> Peace-discuss mailing list<br>> Peace-discuss@lists.chambana.net<br>> https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/peace-discuss<br></div> </div></body>
</html>