Church Women United - Legislative Office

 

Inform and Act

Fall 2007

On October 24, 2007, the U.N.'s birthday was once again celebrated with numerous events. Here in the Washington area, Anne Griffis (CWU Action/Global Concerns Chair) co-chaired the UNANCA "UN week" events. UNANCA is the United Nations Association of the National Capital area. One of those events includes an appearance by none other than the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. (Khalizad). Did you know that Church Women United is a member of the UNA Council of Organizations? The United Nations Association has chapters all over the U.S. and they sponsor many programs about the United Nations. These include the "Model UN" programs for young people.

The CWU Legislative Office has received numerous requests and questions about the duties of a Church Women United U.N. Liaison. Here are some suggested guidelines. Please share these widely with CWU members who are interested in the United Nations. If they seem overwhelming, try to focus on only one or two.

Suggested Guidelines for Church Women United U.N. Liaisons
(September 2007)

  1. Study the CWU Social Policies concerning the United Nations in your CWU Social Policy Book. (If you don't have one, you may order one from the CWU Legislative Office.) There are 26 different statements/resolutions on the U.N. in the Social Policy Book beginning on page 202.

  2. Network with local groups also concerned with the United Nations. For example, "The United Nations Association of the United States" has chapters in every state. Contact information can be found at www.unausa.org.

  3. Urge local and state agencies/governments to pass relevant resolutions related to the United Nations, e.g., The Millennium Development Goals.

  4. EDUCATE yourself and others about the United Nations! You can do this by studying and keeping up with the latest news—one good way to do this is by visiting the following websites frequently and placing your email address on their lists:

    (This list is not exhaustive but will get you started!)
     

  5. Make a list of government officials with their contact information to assist in your advocacy for and about the U.N.

  6. Write letters to the editor about U.N. issues (such as the Millennium Development Goals). You can find contact info for all kinds of media at www.congress.org; click on “media guide.”

  7. Be sure to give your name and contact information including email address to the CWU  Washington Legislative Office. Remember the Church Women United Legislative Office is here to help you in your work. As staff in the Washington Office, I am also the Staff Liaison to the CWU U.N. volunteers in New York. Send feedback and questions to the CWU Legislative Office in Washington DC.

    ADVOCACY GUIDELINES

As you know, the Quadrennial Priority for 2004-2008 has been “Strengthening Families Worldwide for the 21st Century” with seven facets covering a wide array of issues. During the last four years this office has urged the formation of Working Groups and Action Teams to address these issues. The following suggested guidelines will easily apply also for the next CWU Quadrennial priority which will be decided at Common Council in June 2008.

Suggested Guidelines for CWU Working Groups/Action Teams
  1. Network with local groups associated with your issue i.e.—find out what they are doing and join them or invite them to join you!

  2. Urge local and state agencies/governments to pass relevant resolutions or legislation on your topic.

  3. Study your issue in depth and keep up with the latest news—make a list of relevant web addresses to help you keep up.

  4. Make a list of relevant government officials to contact (share the complete contact information among yourselves). WRITE LETTERS ON CWU letterhead and sign it as the CWU Action Team (or Working Group) on ___. This will be more effective than a letter from one single individual.

  5. As a team, compose letters to the editor (again, put it on CWU letterhead) and send them out to local, state, and national newspapers. You can find contact information for all kinds of media at
    6. www.congress.org ; click on “media guide.”
  6. Share your activities with each other so that you are inspired and encouraged! Share them with me too so that I can inform CWU advocates around the country!

  7. Be sure to study the relevant CWU Social Policies in your CWU Social Policy Book.

    National Action/Global Concerns Committee
    is seeking     Social Policy Resolutions
    for Common Council 2008

Now is the time for you and your CWU unit to prepare and submit Social Policy Resolutions for consideration at the upcoming CWU Common Council. The Common Council will meet June 22-24, 2008 in Independence, Missouri. Please submit your resolutions by March 1, 2008 to the CWU Legislative Office.

What social issues need attention? What issues need action? What would you and your sisters advocate for and work on? Do we need social policy resolutions on health care in the U.S.? Poverty in the U.S.? Education in the U.S? Senate ratification of the UN’s Convention on the Rights of the Child? Care for the environment? Human Trafficking? The UN’s Millennium Development Goals? The Middle East? Others?

For guidance, carefully examine the existing social policies, resolutions and policy statements in the CWU Social Policy Book 1941-2004 (with updates). What, in fact, needs updating? What new issues need attention? What would be important to you and your CWU unit? (see page 7 for information on obtaining a Policy Book) For more information on the process, the format for resolutions and answers to other questions, please contact either: Anne Griffis, Chair Action/Global Concerns Committee (202/686-8618 or argriffis2@aol.com) or Patricia Burkhardt, Legislative Officer (202/544-8747 or pburkhardt@churchwomen.org).

THE DREAM ACT

The CWU Washington office has received numerous inquiries from CWU members concerning the Dream Act. Because immigration reform is such an important issue at this time, the Dream Act is more and more relevant. In fact, on October 24, 2007 it came to the floor of the Senate for a vote. (It was attached as an amendment to a larger bill HR 1585) Unfortunately, it was filibustered and the cloture vote (vote to cut off the filibuster) though very close was not adequate. Senator Durbin is the original sponsor and his staff informed me that they don’t expect immigration related legislation to come up again in the near future. However, it is very important that the voice for compassionate immigration reform be heard loud and clear. It is expected that the Dream Act will be at the top of the agenda when Congress takes up Immigration Reform again. It may yet come up again this fall. Let your Senators and Representative know how you feel about immigration reform and the Dream Act in particular.

The Dream Act is a bit complicated and I have chosen to quote from letters I received from Senator Ben Cardin and Mikulski in response to my emails concerning the Dream Act.

The Dream Act (Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act) would give a select group of undocumented students the chance to become permanent residents if they : 1) came to this country as children, 2) are long-term U.S. residents, 3) have good moral character, and 4) enlist in the military or attend college for at least two years. Currently our immigration laws prevent thousands of young people from pursuing their dreams and fully contributing to our nation’s future. Their parents brought them to the United States when they were children and for many, America is the only home they know. They simply want the opportunity to participate in the American dream.

The children eligible for benefits under the DREAM Act have demonstrated the kind of determination and commitment that makes them successful students and points the way to the significant contributions they will make in their lives. They are junior ROTC leaders, honor-roll students, and valedictorians. They are tomorrow’s soldiers, doctors, nurses, teachers, and Senators. This bill does not provide amnesty. It is designed to assist only a select group of young people who would be required to earn their way to legal status.

It is also true that the Dream Act would allow each state to decide whether or not to offer “in-state” tuition rates to undocumented immigrants who grew up in the U.S. and would like to attend state universities. This part of the Dream Act is sometimes deleted or changed in congressional negotiations.

You can find a detailed up-to-date description of the most recent developments of the Dream Act at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DREAM_Act. 

You are encouraged to send a letter to your Senators. The following sample letter could be edited by including the name of your state and community. You might also consider writing the letter as a CWU unit on CWU letterhead and having your CWU officers sign it with their titles included.

For example:

Yours sincerely,

________________

President
Church Women United of Cleveland, Ohio

SAMPLE LETTER for DREAM ACT

Dear __________,

Church Women United is a Christian Women’s Movement which began in 1941 and has advocated for peace with justice since then while bringing together women of diverse races, cultures and traditions. As a member of Church Women United I am writing to you about the DREAM Act. Church Women United is concerned with “Promoting quality education, with life long learning, effective and accessible education for all persons…” (CWU Quadrennial Priority 2004-2008).

Each year, over 50,000 undocumented students who have lived in the United States for at least five years graduate from U.S. high schools. Among these students are class valedictorians, straight-A students, and idealistic youth committed to bettering their communities. Yet, current federal law restricts states' ability to provide in-state tuition or higher education assistance to these students, who often have no recourse to regularize their immigration status. As a result, many such students are unable to pursue higher education and many drop out of high school because they know they will be unable to continue on to college. The loss to these students, and to society as a whole, is significant.

The DREAM Act will allow states to determine their own residency rules, thereby permitting them to offer in-state tuition and higher education benefits to undocumented students. In addition, the bill will allow undocumented students who have lived in the United States for at least five years and demonstrate good moral character to obtain special immigration relief.

Please do all you can to see to it that this legislation is enacted as soon as possible. I understand that it was recently brought out of Committee and offered as an amendment to a Defense bill. I am sure that debate on Immigration Reform will continue and I urge you to support the DREAM Act.

Promoting ways to diminish violence and hate against all God’s creation…” CWU Quadrennial Priority 2004-2008

CLUSTER BOMBS

On October 22, 2007, Patricia Burkhardt, (CWU Legislative Office staff) attended a briefing sponsored by FCNL (Friends Committee on National Legislation) and MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) on cluster bombs. At the briefing, civilians from Laos and Lebanon testified about the death of their children from cluster bombs and the dangers to civilians in their countries from these bombs.

What are Cluster bombs?

Cluster bombs—more technically called cluster munitions—open in mid-air and spew hundreds of small bomblets about the size of a soda can over a wide area. Each of these sub-munitions is supposed to detonate when it hits the ground, sending out deadly shrapnel. A typical cluster bomb, which contains between dozens and hundreds of bomblets, can kill or injure anyone in an area the size of one or two football fields. Cluster bombs are delivered by artillery or aircraft.

Why should we be concerned about them?

These weapons are designed to be used on a battlefield, against concentrations of soldiers or armored vehicles, but are in fact often used in civilian areas. This use could violate international humanitarian law’s prohibition on indiscriminate attacks. In addition, many of the bomblets—between 5 to 25 percent or more—do not explode as intended, becoming de facto landmines for many years to come. Because of these weapons’ double impact—causing casualties during a conflict and long after the conflict has subsided—cluster munitions are one of the most hazardous weapons to civilians used in wars today. Recent estimates suggest that 98 per cent of cluster bomb casualties are civilians, many of them children.

How does the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S. 594) help?

This common-sense bill would 1) prevent the U.S. military from using cluster bombs in civilian-populated areas; 2) prevent the export of cluster bombs for use in civilian-populated areas; and, 3) restrict all U.S. use and exports of cluster bombs except those that have a very low (1 percent or lower) dud rate. The dud rate describes what fraction of bomblets failed to explode. While it may sound like the dud rate requirement provides a technical loophole, the bill is a de facto ban on cluster bomb use and export because no cluster bombs in the U.S. arsenal meet this requirement.

In September the Senate took a major first step, passing a one-year moratorium on the export of cluster bombs. This success is, in part, a result of emails and messages from advocates. But this is only a partial success. The best way to build support for further restrictions on the use and export of cluster bombs is to urge your senators to cosponsor S. 594 (Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act). The support of Republican senators, in particular, is critical to show that this common-sense bill is a bi-partisan effort.

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Senator __________,

I am writing to you today concerning a grave and dangerous situation facing many children. The left-over unexploded “bombies” which come from Cluster Munitions are killing and injuring children and other civilians in Laos, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries. Some of these unexploded bombs have been “duds” “lying in wait” since the Vietnam War.

I am a member of Church Women United which is a Christian women’s movement that has been advocating for peace and justice since 1941. Most of us in Church Women United are mothers and grandmothers. Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones to these horrible weapons. We therefore implore you to do all you can to see to it that the U.S. ceases to be a purveyor and a user of cluster bombs.

Please consider co-sponsoring the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S. 594) and urge your colleagues to do the same. This “common-sense” bill would

  1. Prevent the U.S. military from using cluster bombs in civilian-populated areas;

  2. Prevent the export of cluster bombs for use in civilian-populated areas; and,

  3. Restrict all U.S. use and exports of cluster bombs except those that have a very low (1 percent or lower) dud rate. The dud rate describes what fraction of bomblets failed to explode.

Thank you for help on this important matter.

Sincerely,

DON’T FORGET TO SEND YOUR LETTER TO BOTH OF YOUR SENATORS

In the House of Representatives the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (H.R. 1755) is also in need of co-sponsors. You may edit the above letter for your Representative and send it to him/her also.

SUDAN ACCOUNTABILITY and DIVESTMENT Act

Urge Senators To Support Key Divestment Bill!

Thanks in part to Darfur activists, a crucial divestment bill is headed for a vote in the Senate possibly as early as next week. (written 11/13/07) This bill, which would put much-needed pressure on Sudan to end the violence, has already passed in the House. However, the bill will need widespread Senate support to ensure it becomes law. It still has many hurdles before it would reach the President’s desk. Please ask your senators to help pass the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act as soon as possible. Fax your letters if at all possible to your Senators office in Washington DC—for help obtaining fax numbers—call 1-800-298-5551 and leave a message for the CWU Legislative Office.

On October 17, 2007 the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee unanimously passed the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (SADA) by a vote of 21 –0. This original committee bill—championed by Senators Dodd and Shelby—will increase economic pressure on the government of Sudan to help end the ongoing genocide in Darfur. The House version of SADA, the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act (DADA), passed the U.S. House of Representatives in an extraordinary 418-1 vote on July 31, 2007.

SAMPLE LETTER

I am deeply concerned that the United States is not doing enough to stop the Sudanese government's campaign of murder, rape and displacement in Darfur. I am writing to urge you to support the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, in its strongest form, when it comes up for a vote on the Senate floor. The House version of this bill passed by a margin of 418 - 1 in July. Now it is time for the Senate to do its part to help the people of Darfur.

The Sudan Accountability and Divestment Authorization Act would protect the right of states to divest from foreign companies that help fund the Sudanese government's actions in Darfur, would prohibit U.S. government contracts with such companies, and would allow states to ban contracts with them. We know that the government of Sudan is responsive to economic pressure. Although the Sudanese government blocked deployment of U.N. peacekeepers in Darfur last year, it has agreed to another peacekeeping force this year, thanks in part to U.S. sanctions.

But peacekeepers are not on the ground yet, and it is unclear how genuine Sudan's commitments are. We must maintain economic pressure on Sudan until it allows peacekeepers to enter Darfur, withdraws support from genocidal militia, and participates fully in peace talks.

I urge you to support the swift passage of the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, including the amendments expected to be offered by Senator Dodd to make the bill stronger, and to oppose any and all attempts to weaken it.

Thank you for your time.

ORDER THE NEW
CHURCH WOMEN UNITED
SOCIAL POLICY BOOK 1941-2004

The new CWU Social Policy Book features Policy Statements, Resolutions, and Declarations covering the wide array of issues that have faced CWU members through the years. It includes the ten new resolutions adopted at CWU Common Council 2004. The Social Policy Book is especially recommended for CWU Ecumenical Action Chairs.

SEND ORDERS TO:

CWU 100 Maryland Ave NE RM 100
Washington DC 2002

$12 each for 1 to 10 copies
$10 each for 11 to 25 copies
($8 each for more than 25 copies)

Shipping is included in these prices.

Please include shipping address information with your order.

 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUBSCRIBE to
INFORM AND ACT newsletter?

Please send payment of $12 for one year/$24 for 2 years to cover the production and mailing of Inform and Act (published quarterly) to:

Church Women United
100 Maryland Avenue, NE Rm 100
Washington DC 20002