[Peace] FWD: VFP Legislative Update: Peace at Home, Peace Abroad

[C. G. Estabrook via Peace]

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September, 2014

Dear C. G.,

There are several critical issues before Congress at this time for VFP to address.  You can most effectively establish a positive relationship in a person-to-person meeting with your legislator or their aide.  Members of the House of Representatives are in their districts this week (September 21 through 28) and then are campaigning and re-organizing from October 3 through November 10. 

When you call regarding a specific issue, ask to leave your message with the legislative aide for that area.  It will usually be the aide for military or foreign affairs.   Keep this aide’s name and phone number. It can be as important to work with them as to work with the legislator.  They are likely to have more time to hear you out and have a lot of influence on the member’s policies. 

If you have trouble getting meaningful contact with someone, raise your issue in a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and mention the name of your members of Congress in the letter.  They will be sure to see that.

CURRENT PRIORITIES

1. Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act.  Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) is seeking co-sponsors for this bill, which he will introduce this week.  The bill would prohibit the transfer to police of high caliber automatic weapons, armored vehicles, armed drones, aircraft, stun grenades, and silencers.  Here are reasons your Representative should become a cosponsor:

A hearing by the Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight has produced some startling information about problems in the existing program.

A VFP sponsored petition calling on Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to temporarily suspend the 1033 Weapons Transfer Program has more than 100,000 signatures.  If you have not yet signed, do it here.

VFP has a powerful statement on Mike Brown’s death and the militarization of police.


2.  Oppose U.S. military action in Iraq, Syria, Iran; bring all the troops home from Afghanistan.  While they are not getting much traction, there are several bills in the House that repeal or sunset the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq passed in 2002.  They are H.R. 2324, H.R. 3852and H.R. 4608.  Representatives can co-sponsor and call for hearings on these bills.  Senators can sponsor companion legislation.  

Again, VFP has a statement on alternatives to military action in Iraq and Syria.

53 religious communities, leaders, and academics issued an open letter to President Obama to propose more effective, more healthy and more humanizing ways to protect civilians and to engage this conflict

Reuters reports that already in late August operations in Iraq were averaging $7.5 million per day.  Aren’t there better uses for this money?

3. Audit the Pentagon.  Representative Barbara Lee has introduced H.R. 5126 to “instill a culture of accountability at the Department of Defense that supports the vast majority of dedicated members of the Armed Forces and civilians who want to ensure proper accounting and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.”  Limiting waste and fraud at the Pentagon can be an easier place to start the conversation on limiting military spending.  Ask your Representative to co-sponsor and/or support this bill.

Thank you for taking on this work and all you do for peace.

Sincerely,

                          Michael T. McPhearson                                        Virginia Druhe






Veterans For Peace, 216 S. Meramec, St. Louis, MO 63105, 314-725-6005            

 


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On Sep 15, 2014, at 2:17 PM, C. G. Estabrook via Peace <peace at lists.chambana.net> wrote:

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