Fw: House Vote on Iraq War Wednesday or Thursday - FCNL

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kathy Guthrie" <kathyguthrie@fcnl.org>
To: "Miriam Vieni" <miriamvieni@optonline.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 5:11 PM
Subject: House Vote on Iraq War Wednesday or Thursday - FCNL

Your representative will have an opportunity this week to vote in favor
of legislation banning permanent U.S. military bases in Iraq. Rep Tom
Allen (ME) will introduce an amendment to the Iraq war supplemental
funding bill stating that no funds in that measure may be spent to
build permanent U.S. bases in Iraq. The Allen legislation would
essentially put FCNL's Iraq STEP Resolution into law. To read more
about the STEP Resolution visit
http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1353&issue_id=35

This could be the best opportunity yet to change U.S. policy in Iraq,
but we have to act in the next 24 to 48 hours. Please call your
representative now to ask for his or her support. If you can, please
forward this email to five other people who might make similar calls.

*Take Action Now*

Please call your representative's Washington, DC office today. Ask that
she or he vote in favor of an Allen amendment to ensure that funds will
not be spent on permanent bases in Iraq.

Use FCNL's web site to find your representative's phone number and
talking points to help you make your call. . You can also call the
Captiol Switchboard directly at 202-224-3121 and ask for your
representative by name.

*Background*

The administration is requesting $65 billion in additional funding this
year to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Debate on the fiscal
year 2006 (FY06) supplemental appropriations bill, which contains this
request, will begin on the House floor tomorrow, Wednesday, March 15.

FCNL opposes this supplemental funding legislation, but we expect it
will pass by a large majority. Rep. Allen has been a strong supporter
of FCNL's Sensible Transition to Enduring Peace (STEP) proposal. The
amendment that Rep. Allen is proposing is intended to block the
establishment of permanent U.S. bases in Iraq. The amendment states
simply: "None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be obligated or expended to construct
facilities for the permanent basing of United States Armed Forces in
Iraq."

Rep. Allen has asked FCNL and other groups for help to secure quick
grassroots calls to members of the House asking their support. Please
call today.

We expect that a number of other amendments aimed at restricting or
conditioning funds for the war in Iraq will also be offered to the Iraq
war supplemental funding request. Some members may oppose the measure
altogether because of the large amount of additional funding contained
in the bill for the war in Iraq. Ask your representative to vote in
favor of all measures that would bring a swift end to this costly and
explosive conflict.

*The beginning of the Iraq debate in Congress*

The House vote on the Iraq war supplemental funding legislation is the
first of several votes on U.S. policy in Iraq that may happen in the
next month. The Senate will begin voting on the Iraq war supplemental
at the end of March, right after senators return from the St. Patrick's
Day recess.

Your senators will be back in their home districts next week for the
St. Patrick's Day recess (March 18 - 26). This is an ideal time to
lobby your senators on Iraq. Take a group from your meeting, church, or
organization to a St. Patrick's Day event that your senators will also
attend. Hold up "War Is Not the Answer" signs
(http://www.fcnl.org/pdfs/wina_yardsign.pdf) and hand out FCNL's
special 3rd Anniversary of the Iraq War flier "No More Money for
Iraq War" (http://www.fcnl.org/pdfs/iraq/mar06flyer.pdf).

_______________________________________

The Next Step for Iraq: Join FCNL's Iraq Campaign, http://www.fcnl.org/iraq/

Contact Congress and the Administration:
http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/

Order FCNL publications and "War is Not the Answer" campaign
bumper stickers and yard signs:
http://www.fcnl.org/pubs/
http://www.fcnl.org/forms/forms.php?type=bump

Contribute to FCNL:
http://www.fcnl.org/donate/

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________________________________________

Friends Committee on National Legislation
245 Second St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-5795
fcnl@fcnl.org * http://www.fcnl.org
phone: (202)547-6000 * toll-free: (800)630-1330

We seek a world free of war and the threat of war
We seek a society with equity and justice for all
We seek a community where every person's potential may be fulfilled
We seek an earth restored.
http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1353&issue_id=35http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=1353&issue_id=35
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