Legislation to close notorious School of the Americas achieves 100 cosponsors

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"

Legislation to close notorious School of the Americas achieves 100 cosponsors
From SOA Watch: Your efforts and the efforts of others in the School of the Americas Watch movement nationwide resulted in a new milestone: 100 cosponsors are signed on to Rep. McGovern's new bill, HR 1217, to suspend operations at the SOA/WHINSEC (Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, SOA's new moniker)! After only a few weeks of intensive lobbying, organized call-ins to the offices of your representatives, and letter writing campaigns, SOA Watch is building momentum towards a vote on HR 1217 in this 109th Congress.

With an approaching vote on this vital human rights legislation we need YOU to ACT NOW. Be a part of the victory to close the SOA/ WHINSEC.

Please do the following right away:

1] CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE! Each phone call a representative receives directly impacts whether he or she will cosponsor HR 1217 AND vote to suspend operations at the SOA/ WHINSEC. Please Call the Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121) and ask for the foreign policy legislative assistant of your representative (to find who your rep is visit http://www.house.gov/writerep/) and deliver the following message:

"I am calling Congressman/woman ________ to remind him/her that Rep. Jim McGovern has introduced HR 1217, The Latin America Military Training Review Act of 2005, which would suspend and investigate the School of the Americas, which now uses the acronym WHINSEC. I urge the member to contact Rep. McGovern's office to become a cosponsor of this bill. This would be one very concrete step to support human rights and promote peace and justice for the people of Latin America."

--To determine if your representative is a current supporter of HR 1217 so that you can call and thank them visit the bottom of the "Legislative Action" page at http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=96.

2] SCHEDULE A MEETING DURING THE MAY/JUNE DISTRICT WORK PERIOD! Schedule a meeting today for your group at the district office in your area during the next District Work Period, May 31 - June 3, when your representative is home. For more information, call the SOA Watch DC office (202-234-3440) or check out tips on our website at http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=456.

3] FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, COWORKERS AND COMMUNITIES! Spread the word about the importance of closing the SOA/WHINSEC with everyone who will listen and encourage them to contact their own representative and urge their support of HR 1217. Forward this email to everyone in your address book and encourage them to do the same!

Back to page top