Legislative alerts from NETWORK

In session
May 2005

Legislative alerts from NETWORK
Legislation to close notorious School of the Americas achieves 100 cosponsors
Taking the moral view of CAFTA
Tell Congress NO to U.S. military aid to Guatemala!
USCCB opposes "Real ID Act"

Legislative alerts from NETWORK

1. Keep up pressure on Congress to defeat CAFTA
Continue to urge your Members of Congress to oppose passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and ask others to join you. For a letter, go to http://capwiz.com/networklobby/issues/alert/?alertid=7265116&type=CO and enter your ZIP Code in the “Take Action Now” box.

Action toward consideration and passage of CAFTA is fast heating up! The next few weeks are critical. The President plans to meet with Central American leaders here in DC on May 12 to press Congress for passage of the Agreement by Memorial Day.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), upon which CAFTA is modeled, has failed to deliver its promises and has hurt U.S. Workers. Further, entering into another flawed trade agreement at a time when the trade gap between China and the U.S. continues to widen is unwise.

NETWORK believes that CAFTA should be redesigned and renegotiated.

2. REAL ID calls needed now!
Tell your members of Congress to express his/her opposition to REAL ID Act to the conferees on the Iraq supplemental bill. We ask that people call and not send letters or faxes because this final decision will be made shortly and we are seeking the most rapid and effective form of lobbying.

NETWORK is strongly opposed to REAL ID because it will:

• erase all checks and balances on the construction of fences and other barriers along the border, hastening the militarization of the border;

• place undue burdens of people seeking political asylum in the U.S.; and

• restrict severely migrants access to drivers’ licenses, which are safety documents and not national ID cards.

If you’re short on time, just leave basic messages about your opposition to the REAL ID Act. Thanks for your help!

Closing the Loop
Congress Passes Irresponsible Budget Resolution **UPDATED LETTER**

This past Thursday, both the House and Senate passed a reckless final
budget resolution for fiscal year 2006. Thanks to your action, however,
211 Representatives and 47 Senators said “NO” to the mismatched
priorities of the budget resolution.

To see how your Members of Congress voted, go to the following links and
click on your state:

House:
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/issues/votes/?votenum=149&chamber=H&congr
ess=1091

Senate:
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/issues/votes/?votenum=114&chamber=S&congr
ess=1091

Your Members of Congress need to hear your reaction to this
irresponsible budget resolution. Thank them for their support of the
common good or express your disappointment for their vote by sending a
letter from the links above and entering your ZIP Code in the “Take
Action Now” box.

Over the next five years the budget calls for:
• $100 billion in tax cuts to the wealthy;
• $34.7 billion in cuts to mandatory spending programs including:
- $10 billion in cuts to Medicaid;
- $3 billion in cuts to agricultural programs such as food stamps;
and
• $212 billion in cuts to domestic discretionary spending which
could affect housing, education, child care, veteran’s benefits,
nutrition programs, and many other programs essential for vulnerable
populations.

It is immoral to pass billions in tax cuts while at the same time
slicing money from the programs that help children, the elderly,
immigrants, and people with disabilities. NETWORK will be following the
budget process through appropriations and will continue to keep you up
to date on actions to prevent more damage to the common good.

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** Action Using the Legislative Action Center since the last Legislative
Update **

1749 letters sent on the President’s FY06 Budget
886 letters sent on CAFTA
664 letters on REAL ID Act
410 letters on Social Security

4057 total letters sent on the Legislative Action Center

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** Reflection of the Week **

“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of
those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have
too little.”

– Franklin Delano Roosevelt

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The White House Comment line is 202-456-1111 or e-mail
<president@whitehouse.gov>.
Vice President Cheney at 202-456-7549 or e-mail
<vice-president@whitehouse.gov>.
Capitol Switchboard is 202-224-3121 or search for contact information at
http://capwiz.com/networklobby/dbq/officials/.

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