Every year Congress has two chances to reduce Pentagon waste -- through appropriations bills and then through authorization bills. This week (May 19) the U.S. House of Representatives will be debating and voting on the military budget for FY 2015 in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
This bill will bring many issues that are important to VFP to a vote. So this week is a crucial time for the veteran peace voice to be heard. Congressional aides say that the volume of calls on an issue makes the difference. Your call matters.
Issues to Address at This Time
- Drones: Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Walter Jones (R-NC) are co-sponsoring H.R. 4372(Targeted Lethal Force Transparency Act) that would require an annual report detailing casualties from drone strikes, and a retroactive report on the last five years. Tell your Representative why you want them to co-sponsor and vote for this amendment.
- Ending the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF): Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) has introduced a bipartisan bill (H.R. 4608) to repeal the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF, which is the legal underpinning of the Afghanistan War but has also been used to justify the drone war, mass surveillance, Guantanamo and nearly every other abuse of the past decade plus of war. Tell your Representative why you want them to co-sponsor and vote for this amendment.
- Afghanistan: Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Walter Jones (R-NC) are expected to offer an amendment requiring an up or down vote in Congress for any US military mission in Afghanistan after 2014. Tell your Representative why you want them to co-sponsor and vote for this amendment.
- Iran: There are likely to be amendments undermining diplomacy with Iran and pushing for military response. We need to be alert to oppose such amendments when they are proposed. Tell your Representative why you want them toopposethis amendment.
How to Pressure Congress
- Send an email or call the local office of your Representative as an obvious first step.
- For more impact, call your Representative’s DC office. Ask for the Legislative Aide for Military Affairs. Express your concern about the issue at hand and ask that your Representative vote in specific ways. Be sure to keep this aide’s name and phone number so you can stay in touch on issues of concern to VFP.
- For the most impact,call the local Congressional office, tell them you are with Veterans For Peace and ask for a brief meeting with the Member of Congress and several of you during the next home visit to discuss issues of concern. The Congressperson should be in the district at least once a month. Check out a list of tips on preparing for a Congressional visit. [list attached here]
Sign Up VFP’s Legislative Updates
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With consistent efforts we can develop credibility and strengthen the veteran voice for peace in Washington!