Call Upon Congress to Sign the Congressional Declaration of Peace:
The purpose of this document is to assist you in securing your Congressional Representative’s signature on the Congressional Declaration of Peace to take action for a New Course in Iraq.
You and your organization(s) may use one or more of the following forums to let Congress members know you want them to sign on to the Congressional Declaration of Peace:
- Coordinated e-mail, write in and phone campaigns.
- Delegations to Congressional district offices
- Town Hall Meetings
- Public events (interfaith services; public reading of the names of U.S. and Iraqi war victims; processions; vigils).
- Confronting members of Congress at public appearances
Resource Highlights:
Iraq and Afghanistan Supplemental Spending 2008
by Jeff Leys of Voices for Creative Nonviolence
Iraq Supplemental Analysis
by By Erik Leaver of The Institute for Policy Studies (published March, 14 2007)
“A Fully Funded 6-month Withdrawal Plan”
by Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (published on January 17, 2007 in the San Francisco Chronicle)
“The Way Out of War” A blueprint for leaving Iraq now
by George McGovern & William Polk (published October 2006 in Harper’s Magazine)
What is the Congressional Declaration of Peace?
The Congressional Declaration of Peace is a commitment made by your Representative and Senators to work toward the Goals of the Declaration of Peace, and to co-sponsor legislation that will create momentum that will lead to defunding the Iraq war, end the U.S. occupation of Iraq, and establish a comprehensive Peace plan for Iraq.
The Congressional Declaration of Peace specifically calls upon members of Congress to:
- __ Vote “NO” on any appropriations that would continue or escalate U.S.military operations in Iraq.
- __ Co-sign all resolutions and bills that call for the rapid withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq, and the closure of all U.S. military bases and installations there.
- __ Work to establish a comprehensive plan for peace in Iraq, including support for an Iraqi-led peace process.
- __ Co-sponsor all resolutions and bills to stop any escalation of the war through the deployment of more U.S. troops to Iraq, as part of efforts to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq through the rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Contact your Representative and Senators: Ask them to sign the Congressional Declaration of Peace.
Remember that (unless you live in Washington, D.C. or one of the U.S. territories) you have one Representative and two Senators – you need to contact all three!
If you are not sure who represents you in the House and the Senate, Project Vote Smart can help you get the details. Simply go to http://www.vote-smart.org and enter your nine-digit zip code in the “Find Your Representative” box at the upper left-hand search box at the top of the page. (If you do not know your full zip code, the website provides you with an opportunity to find it.) By clicking on the names of legislators, you will be taken to a page with their background information as well as their contact details for both their Washington, D.C. and in-district offices.
Your initial contact should be a phone call.
Call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to reach any office (House or Senate). Tell the person who answers the phone that you’re a constituent from [your town], and you’d like to make a request regarding Iraq policy. Ask to speak to the Legislative Director or the Legislative Assistant on Iraq Policy. Since this is your initial contact, keep things brief and businesslike. This is not the time to argue with the staff person (that will probably come later!)
Sample script:
Identify yourself and your organization.
I am participating in the Declaration of Peace, and have committed myself to working for a comprehensive, concrete and rapid plan to end the U.S. war and occupation in Iraq, I would like Representative/Senator X to join me in this pledge. Can I fax you a copy of the Congressional Declaration of Peace for his/her consideration?
Should I send it directly to you?
What is your fax number?
Send a fax with a copy of the Congressional Declaration of Peace.
Next, send an email with a copy of the Congressional Declaration of Peace.
This will work best as part of a coordinated email campaign – get as many similar emails to each office as possible!
What is your email address?
(Make sure you get the name and the correct email of the person you should send the email to.)
Thank you.
Sample email
The U.S. war in Iraq is an endless fire consuming lives, resources, and the fragile possibilities of peace. Every day that Congress refuses to act to end the Iraq war, an average of 2 U.S. soldiers dies, along with dozens of innocent Iraqi people. Instead of quenching this fire, the U.S. occupation intensifies it. As Lt. Gen. William E. Odom, former director of the National Security Agency, put it in a recent sharply worded article in Foreign Policy, “America must withdraw from Iraq now.”
Most Americans, Iraqis, and even U.S. service members agree that the U.S. military needs to get out of Iraq.
I know that you support the U.S. troops and want them to come home safely. I ask you to show your commitment to ending the war in Iraq by signing the Congressional Declaration of Peace:
[you should include the Congressional Declaration of Peace in the text of the email and as an attachment]
I will call you next week to follow up on this request.
Thank you,
Your name, email and address
Follow-up
After one week, call your contact back and ask if the Rep./Sen. has signed the Congressional Declaration of Peace, or if they plan to sign it.
If yes – thank them and ask them what pieces of legislation they will co-sponsor (if they agree to sign this pledge, they have probably already signed on to most of the legislation!) Ask them to send you a copy of the pledge. Write a letter to the editor praising this politician for courage and leadership etc.
If no – ask why not, try to get specifics. This is important so that you can address their concerns if they are just minor. If the politician supports the war, make the staff person tell you why. Don’t argue! It will be frustrating, but you will have more power if you don’t argue now. Get as much information as you can on the Congressperson’s views, so that you can gather facts to counter them.
Please share with us the answer you get, at: info@declarationofpeace.org. Send an email that includes: (1) Your name; (2) Your organization; (3) Your Representative/Senator’s name; and (4) The answer you received, and their reasons why. This will help us track action and response.
If they Refuse to Sign the Congressional Declaration of Peace:
If your Representative and/or Senators refused to sign the Congressional Declaration of Peace – design a campaign to move them one, or two, or more steps closer to opposing the war. Consider using Constituent pressure along with Public pressure.
Forms of Constituent Pressure
Write:
Send letters or postcards to the LOCAL office (find the address at http://www.vote-smart.org). Keep the letters short, to the point and polite.
Email:
Organize an e-mail campaign, but remember that these are most effective if people use their own words, and if e-mails are sent via the Rep./Sen.’s own website.
Local meetings:
Call now to make an appointment to meet with them. You will have a better chance of getting a meeting with your Representative or Senator if you organize a strong delegation to attend the meeting. Invite veterans of the Iraq war or their family members, members of the clergy, the business community, and other community leaders.
You can find local contact information for your legislators at: Project Vote Smart .
Call the office that you want to visit and explain that you would like to meet with the legislator and why. Tell the person you speak to that you are a constituent. They will probably ask you to fax in or e-mail the request.
Additionally here is some guidance for an effective meeting:
Make an Appointment:
Contact the Congressional office to set up a meeting even with Congressional staff. This shows respect for their time, and makes it more likely that you will meet with the right person(s). When you request the meeting, be sure to give the name of the organization, the purpose of the meeting, and how many people will be attending it.
Plan Your Visit Carefully:
Know where your legislator stands on the war. The delegation should meet in advance of the meeting to assign a note taker, a facilitator, and decide who will speak when and to what issue. If you have a vet or a military family member, make sure they play a major role in the meeting and are able to tell their story.
Be Prompt and Patient:
When it is time to meet, be punctual and be patient. It is not uncommon in a busy legislator’s office to have to wait because of constantly changing schedules.
Be Prepared:
Whenever possible, bring to the meeting information and materials supporting your position.
Be Concrete:
Be clear on your “demand” and ask for a commitment to sign the Congressional Declaration of Peace. If they are not ready to sign the Declaration, ask them for a commitment to co-sponsor legislation.
Follow Up:
Follow up the meeting with a thank you letter that outlines the different points covered during the meeting, and send along any additional information and materials requested. If you asked for a commitment but did not get one, repeat the request and note that you look forward to a response.
Also follow up with a letter to the editor reporting on the meeting for all the constituents who were not there!