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Date: June 01, 2005 at 12:16:57
From: UFPJ, [ool-18b96746.dyn.optonline.net]
Subject: Something concrete to do: Keep pressure on Congress by June 3


KEEP UP THE PRESSURE TO DEMAND WITHDRAWAL OF US TROOPS FROM IRAQ
* National Write-in/Call-in Week May 31- June 3 to hold elected officials accountable
* Lobby your Representative to co-sponsor Lynne Woolsey's H. Con. Res. 35

Thanks to Rep. Lynn Woolsey, on May 25 Congress debated an exit strategy from Iraq for the first time after two years of war! UFPJ learned about Woolsey's amendment to the Defense authorization bill asking President Bush for a plan to withdraw from Iraq earlier that same day and immediately put out an urgent email alert. In just a few hours, thousands of people responded by contacting their representatives telling them to vote "yes" on Woolsey's amendment. We were all pleasantly surprised when 128 members of the House voted in support of the Woolsey amendment.

We want to thank all of you who took the time to make those calls and, before that, on the Iraq supplemental bill. Now we need to keep up the pressure, it's starting to work.

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 THIS WEEK, week May 31 - June 3, while Congress is in recess. Your representatives should be in their home districts during this break, and it's a perfect time for them to hear from you!

Let them know what you think about how s/he voted on the Woolsey amendment, as well as the supplemental budget request in early May. And be sure to urge them to sign on to the Woolsey resolution calling for a withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq, H.Con.Res. H. Con. Res. 35.

Knowing that Members of Congress won't exercise better leadership on Iraq unless they hear from their constituents, we have created a legislative mail system to facilitate rapid communication with members of Congress. Click here to take action: find out who represents you, how s/he voted on the supplemental budget request, and if s/he has signed on to the Woolsey resolution. Hold your elected official accountable.

Call and/or send them an email between May 31 and June 3. Issues related to Iraq will be on the legislative agenda when members of Congress return to Washington, DC. Keep up the pressure, we're making a difference!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Background Information
The Woolsey amendment lost by a vote of 300 to 128 with 5 not voting, and we gained some Republican support. Five Republicans voted for the amendment, most notably Rep Walter Jones (R-NC) of "Freedom Fries" fame. (Some think that the March 19 Fayetteville protest, marking the second anniversary of the war, was a factor in achieving the NC votes.) There were some disappointments among "liberal" democrats including Rep. Cardin (D-MD), Rep. Stenny Hoyer (D-MD), Rep. Sanchez (D-CA) and Rep. Udall (D-CO) who all voted against the amendment, as well as House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi.

Find out how your representative voted (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll220.xml)on Woolsey's amendment in the Defense authorization bill.

The Woolsey amendment(http://www.woolsey.house.gov/newsarticle.asp?RecordID=401) was a significant departure from business as usual and has helped set the stage to build more pressure on Congress to bring the troops home. It is an important first step in a larger and longer campaign. Don't stop now.

Now is the time to build Congressional support for Rep. Lynn Woolsey's resolution (H.Con.Res. 35)(http://www.woolsey.house.gov/newsarticle.asp?RecordID=401) calling for a withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Iraq. This 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.

More info about the vote:
--from tompaine.com
--from antiwar.com


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