Congress votes on a funding cut to the SOA/WHINSEC today

[roody]

Source: School of the Americas Watch




School of the Americas Watch
www.SOAW.org | 202-234-3440 |

Urgent Action Alert!
June 20, 2007

Congress Votes on a Funding Cut to the SOA/WHINSEC Today and We are Close to Winning!

Take Action - Call your Representative to ask her/him to Vote YES on the SOA/WHINSEC Amendment Now!
As early as this afternoon, Representatives Jim McGovern of Massachusetts and John Lewis of Georgia will introduce an amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill to cut funding for the School of the Americas, now called the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (SOA/WHINSEC)!
Tomorrow, this weekend, and next week you can relax, but we need you to make calls and send faxes NOW, even if you have already made a call. House Representatives often make decisions based on the volume of calls, so let's all call our Representatives and even call a few more!
The vote will happen today, possibly as late as 9 or 10 p.m. Keep an eye out for another email from SOA Watch - we'll let you know as soon as debate begins. You should be able to view or listen to that House debate on C-Span. (At the bottom of the page, click on "Live Stream")
It's very important that you continue to contact Congress today through telephone calls and faxes to let Members know they have constituents who support human rights and the closing of the SOA/ WHINSEC. See below for a sample script.
Click here to Email/Fax your Representative Now! It only takes a minute! (Be sure to click the "Send a Fax" box to have the fax sent)
Call Congress at 202-224-3121 Now!
Please take a few minutes today to call the DC office of your Representative through the Capitol Hill Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask to speak with the foreign affairs legislative assistant.
Calls to the DC office of your Representative are the most effective tool to make sure your voice is heard this week, so please take the time to call your Representative! We are hearing that the volume of calls you are making is overloading the House Switchboard number so if you cannot get through, please call their office directly. You can look up their phone number by accessing the Clerk of the House phone directory and note that all phone numbers have a "202" area code. Keep the calls coming and make a call every few hours before the vote happens on Wednesday afternoon!!!
Here is a suggested message for you to convey:

"I am calling Representative ________ to urge her/him to vote YES on the McGovern amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. This amendment is a cut in funding for the School of the Americas/ WHINSEC. New information indicates that WHINSEC has allowed known human rights abusers to instruct and receive training at the school. The governments of Costa Rica, Argentina and Uruguay have made public announcements they will no longer send students to the school, citing the negative image and history of this institution. Voting YES on this amendment sends a positive human rights message to Latin America and will help to improve the U.S. image abroad. As an elected official in Washington D.C., I hope you will represent me and vote YES on any amendment in the House that would cut funding for the school."
It's been a year since our last vote in Congress, and it's the work of so many people struggling for justice in the Americas that has gotten us to where we are today. DON'T SLOW DOWN NOW! We are so close.
For more information, visit the SOA Watch website and the Legislative Action Index.



Read more: www.soaw.org

[roody]

1. I just talked to my rep's legislative assistant,

and the vote may not come up until tonight. Please call even if you did so yesterday.

[Greeby]

2. To get an idea of who will be on board

Here are the co-sponsors for McGovern's stand-alone bill HR. 1707

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1707

To suspend the authority for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (the successor institution to the United States Army School of the Americas ) in the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

Rep Ackerman, Gary L. - 3/27/2007
Rep Allen, Thomas H. - 5/1/2007
Rep Altmire, Jason - 3/27/2007
Rep Baird, Brian - 3/27/2007
Rep Baldwin, Tammy - 3/27/2007
Rep Bean, Melissa L. - 4/18/2007
Rep Biggert, Judy - 3/27/2007
Rep Bishop, Timothy H. - 6/19/2007
Rep Blumenauer, Earl - 3/27/2007
Rep Boucher, Rick - 6/18/2007
Rep Capps, Lois - 3/27/2007
Rep Capuano, Michael E. - 3/27/2007
Rep Carnahan, Russ - 3/27/2007
Rep Carson, Julia - 3/27/2007
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy - 3/27/2007
Rep Cohen, Steve - 3/27/2007
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. - 3/27/2007
Rep Crowley, Joseph - 3/27/2007
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. - 3/27/2007
Rep Davis, Danny K. - 5/1/2007
Rep DeFazio, Peter A. - 3/27/2007
Rep DeGette, Diana - 5/9/2007
Rep Delahunt, William D. - 3/27/2007
Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. - 3/27/2007
Rep Doggett, Lloyd - 3/27/2007
Rep Doyle, Michael F. - 3/27/2007
Rep Ellison, Keith - 4/17/2007
Rep Emanuel, Rahm - 6/11/2007
Rep Eshoo, Anna G. - 3/27/2007
Rep Farr, Sam - 3/27/2007
Rep Fattah, Chaka - 3/27/2007
Rep Filner, Bob - 5/1/2007
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. - 3/27/2007
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. - 3/27/2007
Rep Higgins, Brian - 3/27/2007
Rep Hill, Baron P. - 6/19/2007
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. - 3/27/2007
Rep Holt, Rush D. - 3/27/2007
Rep Honda, Michael M. - 3/27/2007
Rep Inslee, Jay - 5/9/2007
Rep Israel, Steve - 3/27/2007
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. - 4/23/2007
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice - 5/1/2007
Rep Kaptur, Marcy - 3/27/2007
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. - 5/9/2007
Rep Kildee, Dale E. - 3/27/2007
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. - 5/14/2007
Rep Kind, Ron - 3/27/2007
Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. - 3/27/2007
Rep LaHood, Ray - 3/27/2007
Rep Lantos, Tom - 4/24/2007
Rep Larsen, Rick - 6/5/2007
Rep Larson, John B. - 3/27/2007
Rep Lee, Barbara - 4/17/2007
Rep Levin, Sander M. - 3/27/2007
Rep Lewis, John - 3/27/2007
Rep Loebsack, David - 5/14/2007
Rep Lofgren, Zoe - 3/27/2007
Rep Lynch, Stephen F. - 3/27/2007
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. - 3/27/2007
Rep Markey, Edward J. - 4/24/2007
Rep Matsui, Doris O. - 3/27/2007
Rep McCollum, Betty - 5/14/2007
Rep McDermott, Jim - 3/27/2007
Rep McNerney, Jerry - 4/17/2007
Rep McNulty, Michael R. - 3/27/2007
Rep Meehan, Martin T. - 3/27/2007
Rep Michaud, Michael H. - 5/7/2007
Rep Miller, George - 3/27/2007
Rep Moore, Dennis - 3/27/2007
Rep Moore, Gwen - 3/27/2007
Rep Moran, James P. - 6/12/2007
Rep Nadler, Jerrold - 6/5/2007
Rep Oberstar, James L. - 3/27/2007
Rep Olver, John W. - 3/27/2007
Rep Pallone, Frank, Jr. - 3/29/2007
Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. - 3/27/2007
Rep Pastor, Ed - 5/3/2007
Rep Paul, Ron - 3/27/2007
Rep Payne, Donald M. - 3/27/2007
Rep Petri, Thomas E. - 3/27/2007
Rep Platts, Todd Russell - 3/27/2007
Rep Price, David E. - 3/27/2007
Rep Rothman, Steven R. - 5/14/2007
Rep Rush, Bobby L. - 3/27/2007
Rep Ryan, Tim - 4/17/2007
Rep Sanchez, Linda T. - 3/27/2007
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. - 3/27/2007
Rep Serrano, Jose E. - 3/27/2007
Rep Shays, Christopher - 4/17/2007
Rep Slaughter, Louise McIntosh - 5/7/2007
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete - 3/27/2007
Rep Sutton, Betty - 6/12/2007
Rep Tierney, John F. - 5/7/2007
Rep Udall, Tom - 3/27/2007
Rep Van Hollen, Chris - 3/27/2007
Rep Walsh, James T. - 3/27/2007
Rep Waters, Maxine - 3/27/2007
Rep Watson, Diane E. - 3/27/2007
Rep Waxman, Henry A. - 3/27/2007
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. - 5/7/2007
Rep Welch, Peter - 4/23/2007
Rep Wexler, Robert - 3/27/2007
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. - 3/27/2007
Rep Wu, David - 6/11/2007
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell - 3/27/2007
Rep Yarmuth, John A. - 3/27/2007



http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:1:./temp/~c110jvT3hp::

[roody]

3. SOA Watch must be effective.

The gov did not allow this staffer to reenter the US after he made a trip to Germany. Here is his email from today.

Friends,
many offices are still undecided on how to vote on the McGovern/Lewis amendment that would cut funding for the School of the Americas/WHINSEC.
The Pentagon is out in force and we need you to make some last calls to your Representatives.
Thank you!
Hendrik
SOA Watch

--> CALL CONGRESS TODAY! - 202-224-3121 <--

Please take a few minutes today to call the DC office of your Representative through the Capitol Hill Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask to speak with the foreign affairs legislative assistant.

Calls to the DC office of your Representative are the most effective tool to make sure your voice is heard this week, so please take the time to call your Representative! We are hearing that the volume of calls you are making is overloading the House Switchboard number so if you cannot get through, please call their office directly. You can look up their phone number by accessing the Clerk of the House phone directory and note that all phone numbers have a "202" area code.
Keep the calls coming and make a call every few hours before the vote happens on Wednesday afternoon!!!

--> Clerk of the House phone directory -
http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/mcapdir.html

[redqueen]

4. I hope this goes well...

:kick:

[roody]

5. k

[Lilith Velkor]

6. k&r

[redqueen]

7. The vote has been postponed till today, according to a staffer...

Make some more calls!

:kick:

[slipslidingaway]

8. Kick n/t