[Peace-discuss] [Peace] Fwd: Two important issues before Congress

Thu Nov 20 10:32:09 EST 2014

Karen,
I will add your name to our letter to Rep. Rodney Davis and Sen. Kirk.
We delivered our letter to Sen. Durbin Tuesday. Opposition to wars and
occupations has been a cornerstone of PDA from its inception.
Thanks!
Deb

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