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July 28, 2006

Ask Congress to Support H.Res. 945 Calling for Immediate Humanatarian Intervention in Lebanon

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas submitted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006, House Resolution 945 calling for Immediate Humanitarian Intervention in Lebanon. Thus far, the resolution has 13 original Co-Sponsors. Please contact your Members of Congress and ask your friends and family to contact their Members of Congress encouraging them to co-sponsor House Resolution 945. If your Representative has already co-sponsored this resolution, please call to thank him/her. For their contact information or to learn more about the bill's progress please visit http://www.congress.org/. See the full text of the resolution and names of the co-sponsors below. 109TH CONGRESS, 2D SESSION - H. Res. 945 Expressing deep concern at the ongoing violence in the Middle East, and particularly the current hostilities between the State of Israel and Hezbollah, which have intensified since July 12, 2006. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations RESOLUTION Expressing deep concern at the ongoing violence in the Middle East, and particularly the current hostilities between the State of Israel and Hezbollah, which have intensified since July 12, 2006. Whereas, since the commencement of hostilities, over 350 Lebanese civilians, one third of whom are children according to the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, and 17 Israeli civilians, have been killed; Whereas, vital infrastructure, including hospitals, power plants, bridges, roads, and food and milk factories in Lebanon have been destroyed; Whereas, over 600,000 people in Lebanon and hundreds of thousands of people in Israel have been displaced; Whereas, President George W. Bush has expressed great concern over the welfare of the people of Lebanon; Whereas, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has called for an immediate cease-fire, Whereas, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator has warned of a humanitarian disaster in Lebanon; Whereas, the Government of Lebanon has urgently appealed for an immediate cessation to hostilities; and Whereas, the international community has expressed support for a humanitarian corridor to Lebanon to be opened immediately to get desperately-needed humanitarian supplies to the suffering people of Lebanon: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives (1) calls for the cessation of the targeting by any side of infrastructure vital to non-combatants, which also increases the likelihood of the loss of innocent civilian life; (2) calls for a secure humanitarian corridor to be opened immediately via the seaports and airports of Lebanon to alleviate the unnecessary suffering of the people of Lebanon; (3) calls for an immediate cease-fire in line with the urgent appeals of the Government of Lebanon and the United Nations Secretary General; and (4) urges a comprehensive and just solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict to ensure that the peoples of the Middle East can live in peace, freedom, and prosperity. List of Current Co-Sponsors for H. Res. 945: Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-14] - 7/25/2006 * Rep Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] - 7/25/2006 * Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [D-NY-22] - 7/25/2006 * Rep Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9] - 7/25/2006 * Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [D-MI-13] - 7/25/2006 * Rep McDermott, Jim [D-WA-7] - 7/25/2006 * Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6] - 7/25/2006 * Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7] - 7/25/2006 * Rep Hall, Ralph M. [R-TX-4] - 7/25/2006 * Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30] - 7/25/2006 * Rep Kildee, Dale E. [D-MI-5] - 7/25/2006 * Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10] - 7/25/2006 * Rep Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10] - 7/25/2006 * *=original co-sponsor ---------------------------------------------- Tips for Writing Congress State your purpose for writing in the first sentence of the letter. For example: As your constituent, I am writing to urge your support for increased funding for health care. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it. And make sure that you are referencing the correct legislation to the correct body of Congress. House bills are H.R.____; Senate bills are designated as S.____. It is also important to know the status of the bill. Be courteous. If appropriate, include personal information about why the issue matters to you to make your point. Address only one issue in each email. Close your letter with a restatement of your purpose and indicate the response that you expect. Addressing Your Correspondence to a Senator: The Honorable [Jimmy Stewart]__(room number)__(name of) Senate Office Building United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator [Stewart]: ---------------------------------------------- Addressing Your Correspondence to a Representative: The Honorable [Jimmy Stewart]__(room number)__(name of) House Office Building United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative [Stewart]: ----------------------------------------------- Tips For Phoning Congress Telephone calls are usually taken by a staff member, not the member of Congress. Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue about which you wish to comment. (See guide to Congressional staff here.) After identifying yourself as a constituent, tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, such as: "Please tell Senator/Representative [Name] that I support/oppose [S.___/H.R.___]." State your reasons for support or opposition to the bill. Ask for your senators' or representative's position on the bill. You may also request a written response to your telephone call.

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