[Peace-discuss] Fwd: FCNL: Legislative Action Message (09/26/02)

Thu Sep 26 16:55:33 CDT 2002

>Date: Thu, 26 Sep 2002 15:34:31 -0400 (EDT)
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>Subject: FCNL: Legislative Action Message (09/26/02)
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>FCNL LEGISLATIVE ACTION MESSAGE - September 26, 2002
>
>The following action items from the Friends Committee on National
>Legislation (FCNL) focus on federal policy issues currently before Congress
>or the Administration.
>
>TOPIC: SUPPORT ALTERNATIVES TO WAR WITH IRAQ and A GROWING CHORUS FOR PEACE
>
>
>SUPPORT ALTERNATIVES TO WAR WITH IRAQ:  On Sept. 19, the White House sent to
>Congress a "discussion draft" for a congressional joint resolution to
>authorize the use of U.S. armed forces against Iraq.  If enacted as drafted
>by the White House, the resolution would grant the President a virtual blank
>check to wage a limitless war throughout the region using any means that he
>determines to be appropriate.  Members of the House and Senate leadership
>(including Reps. Hastert (IL), Hyde (IL) and Gephardt (MO) and Sens. Daschle
>(SD) and Lott (MS)) are now drafting an alternative joint resolution, which
>may come to the floor for debate as early as the week of September 30.
>FCNL's analysis of the White House "discussion draft," is posted on our web
>site at <http://www.fcnl.org/issues/int/sup/iraq_joint-resolution.htm>.
>
>Also on Sept. 19, Rep. Barbara Lee (CA) introduced House Concurrent
>Resolution 473 (H. Con. Res. 473), a non-binding resolution "expressing the
>sense of Congress with respect to the importance of the United States
>working through the United Nations to assure Iraq's compliance with United
>Nations Security Council resolutions and advance peace and security in the
>Persian Gulf region. . . through mechanisms such as the resumption of
>weapons inspections, negotiation, enquiry, mediation, regional arrangements,
>and other peaceful means."  The resolution currently has 26 cosponsors.
>
>ACTION:  Please contact your representative.  Let her or him know that you
>oppose going to war against Iraq.  Iraq does not pose an imminent threat to
>the U.S.  War is no way to advance peace and security in the region or for
>the U.S.  War will only provoke more violence and hatred and bring greater
>suffering to the peoples of Iraq and the region.  Urge your representative
>to cosponsor H. Con. Res. 473, which supports pursuing cooperative,
>multilateral approaches to dealing with Saddam Hussein's regime.
>
>MAKE LETTER-WRITING EASIER:  Start with the sample letter posted in our
>Legislative Action Center, personalize the language, then email or fax your
>message directly from our site.  You can also print it out and mail it.  To
>view the sample letter, click on the link below, then enter your zip code
>and click <Go> in the <Take Action Now> box.  Here is the link:
><http://capwiz.com/fconl/issues/alert/?alertid=576611&type=CO>.
>
>**********
>
>A GROWING CHORUS FOR PEACE:  Congressional offices are receiving tens of
>thousands of calls, emails, and faxes from citizens concerned about war with
>Iraq.  Thousands of emails and faxes have been sent from FCNL's legislative
>action center alone in recent weeks.  Some  congressional staff are
>reporting that constituent messages are running five to one, eight to one,
>ten to one, or much more against war with Iraq.  The reports are coming from
>congressional offices representing districts as diverse as rural South
>Carolina and Iowa and urban New York, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Berkeley.
>You have helped make this the top issue in congressional offices across the
>country.
>
>Please keep up the good work.  But there is much more to do.  Most members
>are still either sitting on the fence or leaning toward authorizing war.
>Few are saying no, but we can change that.  Please take the steps outlined
>below.  PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO FIVE FRIENDS.  Encourage them to take
>action and to forward the message to their friends.  Use the resources on
>FCNL's web site.  New materials are added almost every day.  Here is the
>link to the Iraq index page:
><http://www.fcnl.org/issues/int/iraindx.htm>.
>
>By taking these steps, you will help to grow our campaign for peace and help
>members of Congress hear the voice of the people of the U.S.
>
>* Write a letter to the editor opposing war and urging the U.S. to work
>through the United Nations.  Critique the positions of your legislators and
>their campaign opponents.
>
>* Call a radio talk show and voice your opposition to the war.
>
>* Organize a diverse delegation of community leaders to lobby your
>legislators in their local offices.  Try to arrange a meeting with your
>legislator.  Invite the press to come along.
>
>* Organize a press conference to present diverse community voices opposed to
>war and report on the positions of members of Congress and candidates.
>
>* Attend local campaign events.  Be the first to ask questions.  Ask about
>Iraq.  Give interviews to the press following the event.
>
>* Organize a peace rally or teach-in on Iraq.  Present diverse community
>voices opposed to war.  Invite candidates for Congress to come and
>participate.  Invite the press.
>
>* Clip and send press coverage to your members of Congress.  They need to
>know that there are lots of folks back home who will support them if they
>say no to the Bush Administration and no to war.
>
>**********
>
>CONTACTING LEGISLATORS
>
>Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
>
>Sen. ________
>U.S. Senate
>Washington, DC 20510
>
>Rep. ________
>U.S. House of Representatives
>Washington, DC 20515
>
>Information on your members is available on FCNL's web site:
>http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/directory/directory.dbq?command=congdi
>r
>
>CONTACTING THE ADMINISTRATION
>
>White House Comment Desk: 202-456-1111
>FAX: 202-456-2461
>E-MAIL: president at whitehouse.gov
>WEB PAGE: http://www.whitehouse.gov
>
>President George W. Bush
>The White House
>Washington, DC 20500
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>This message supplements other FCNL materials and does not reflect FCNL's
>complete policy position on any issue.  For further information, please
>contact FCNL.
>
>Mail: 245 Second Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795
>Email: fcnl at fcnl.org
>Phone: (202) 547-6000
>Toll Free: (800) 630-1330
>Fax: (202) 547-6019
>Web: http://www.fcnl.org
>
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>development at fcnl.org. Thank you.
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>We seek a world free of war and the threat of war
>We seek a society with equity and justice for all
>We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled We seek
>an earth restored...