[Peace] Fwd: Two important issues before Congress

[Debra Schrishuhn via Peace]

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
>>
>>
>>
>> Forward to a Friend
>>
>> Unsubscribe
>>
>>
>>
>
>