Knowing that Members of Congress won't exercise better leadership on Iraq unless they hear from their constituents, United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) has created a legislative mail system to facilitate rapid communication with members of Congress. Just as we are keeping up the pressure in the streets, we need to keep up the pressure on Congress.  UFPJ is calling for a National Write-in/Call-in week May 31 to June 3 while Congress is in recess.

While none of us can be pleased with the continued funding of this illegal and immoral war and the further infringement on civil liberties through the Real ID provisions included in the bill, the grassroots outcry against the $82 billion helped produce two small victories. Amendments forbidding torture and funding for civilian victims were included in the final version of the legislation. In addition, a series of reporting requirements about the war were added, giving us new tools to hold the administration accountable for the failings  in Iraq.
 
We want to thank all of you who took the time to call your congresspeople about the Iraq supplemental bill. Don't stop now, turn up the heat!  While contacting your Representative on the $82 billion supplemental, let him or her know how you feel about Rep. Lynn Woolsey's  resolution calling for a withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq.  

Woolsey’s House Resolution calls for the President  to:
 
(1) develop and implement a plan to begin the immediate  withdrawal of United States Armed Forces from Iraq;
(2) develop and implement a plan for reconstructing Iraq's civil and economic  infrastructure;
(3) convene an emergency meeting of Iraq's leadership, Iraq's neighbors, the United Nations, and the Arab League to create an international peacekeeping force in Iraq and to replace United States Armed  Forces in Iraq with Iraqi police and Iraqi National Guard forces to ensure  Iraq's security; and
(4) take all steps necessary to provide the Iraqi  people with the opportunity to completely control their internal affairs.
 
For more details and to access UFPJ's new legislative action campaign section click on the following link: http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ufpj/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=737

This call-in week is part of a long-term campaign passed by UFPJ's National Assembly to hold elected officials accountable for their  positions on the war. Member groups of United for Peace and Justice that engage in legislative action and would like to have input into the formation of UFPJ's ongoing inside and outside strategy for pressuring elected officials are invited to join UFPJ's legislative action working group. Subscribe to our working group listserv by sending a blank email to ufpj-legislative-subscribe@lists.mayfirst.org .
 
Sincerely,
For  the UFPJ legislative action working group,
Gael Murphy
CODEPink Women  for Peace

ACTION:

1. Call toll-free Capital Switchboard: 1-877-762-8762 or call the local office of whatever Rep. or Sen. you wish. The script follows:

MISSOURI
Kit Bond: D.C. (202-224-5721)
KC office: 816-471-7141; fax: 816-471-7338

Jim Talent: D.C. ((202-224-6154)
KC office: 816-421-1639; fax: 816-421-2562

KANSAS
Sam Brownback: D.C.(202-224-6521)
Overland Park office: 913-492-6378; fax: 913-492-7253

Pat Roberts: D.C. (202-224-4774)
Overland Park office: 913-451-9343;  fax: 913-451-9446

REPRESENTATIVES
4th Dist. Ike Skelton: (202-225-2876)
Blue Springs: 816-228-4242; Sedalia: 660-826-2675

Dennis Moore: (202-225-2865)
Overland Park: 913-383-2013, fax: 913-383-2088
KCK: 913-621-0832, fax: 913-621-1533

5th Dist. Emmanuel Cleaver
KC & Indep. office: 816-842-4545
fax: 816-471-5215

6th Dist. Sam Graves
St. Joe: 816-233-9818, fax: 816-233-9848
Liberty: 816-792-3976, fax: 816-792-0694
 

SCRIPT:
Hi! I'm ___________ and I'm one of Sen/Rep _______'s constituents. I'm calling today because of the increased violence in Iraq. Larger and more sophisticated bombs are being used by the insurgents, and the carnage is growing. The killing of innocent civilians and American soldiers will continue as long as the U.S. is occupying that land.
 
 I’d like you to pass this message along to Sen/Rep _______; that the U.S. should abandon plans for permanent military bases in Iraq and pull out now!

Thanks for your time, and I'll be calling again next week. Have a nice day and goodbye! (or whatever you like to say to end a conversation)