Head Off The Preventable Disaster (Hopefully!)

[Skyowl's Wife]

If you know all this, ignore!

Was talking to a fellow at work who I know is very pro-2nd amendment back when some travesty came up for legislation.

I asked him, “Well, did you contact your congress critters?” He responded, “I don’t know how.” OMG :eek:. This was one of those I-do-it-all-the-time-so-must-be-understanding-of-someone-who-doesn’t moments, and swallowed all of the exclamations that crossed my mind.

He continued that he didn’t think it would matter, and that he wasn’t even sure WHO to contact for what, or even who his reps ARE. But then he also said that the immigration shoot-down showed him that input from “the people” CAN affect the outcome. And then he asked how to do it (he shows promise!). :p

This is what I shared with him.

You would contact the President for EVERYTHING that is a national debate.
If something is “in committee”, or an “HR” (house resolution) is being debated, it’s at the Congress level. You would contact your Representative.
If something has “gone to the senate” or “passed the house” you would contact your Senator.
If something is being debated specifically for your State, like Montana’s recent sovereignty resolution, you would contact your State Representative.
If it has passed your State’s “house”, next step is to go to the Governor for signature, contact your Governor.

Go to http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml .

You can find who those people are at that site. You can select President, Senator, Representatives, State Governor, or State Legislator. Each of the different selections takes you to a different government site. To find out your congress critter, since the districts are so broken up (gerrymandered!), it wants ALL of your zip code, including the 4 digit extension. It has a lookup feature to find that, asking for your address and short zip code.

You may have to spelunk around a bit to find phone numbers, but they’ll be there somewhere. Calling one of their local offices is fine, you don't have to call D.C., but can if you want to!! :D

I’ve made contact cards for mine in my outlook address book, so it’s a one-click deal to email or find their phone number when I want to double-whammy them (they probably hate both the Owl and me! ;) GOOD!). I can fire something off within a minute of reading some crap.

I write and thank them when they do the right thing, too (unfortunately, that doesn't happen often enough:().

[Lostinoz]

Wife, I have called my reps so many times I think they now say, "Uh, it's her again." :D Definitely, everyone needs to stay on top of these matters and be pro-active, also REMEMBER who votes what, which way and remind them of these issues at the polls. ;)

[Skyowl's Wife]

Wife, I have called my reps so many times I think they now say, "Uh, it's her again." :D Definitely, everyone needs to stay on top of these matters and be pro-active, also REMEMBER who votes what, which way and remind them of these issues at the polls. ;)

LOL! They probably say, "Is it Skyowl's Wife or Lostinoz?" and start to cry!

[Lostinoz]

LOL! They probably say, "Is it Skyowl's Wife or Lostinoz?" and start to cry!

LOL, yep. One of mine made the mistake of giving me a pat on the head with a run along little girl smirk...

Yeah, I organized my little girl's club and we FLOODED his office with mail, phone calls and visits. Never should have underestimated this little girl. ;)

[Skyowl's Wife]

You GO girl!!!

[herbalpagan]

Once I get my addresses and who is who together, I'm making a couple of pages of address labels for them. I'm also going to keep a page of those labels with me since I've been asked by several people who to contact.

[Skyowl's Wife]

Once I get my addresses and who is who together, I'm making a couple of pages of address labels for them. I'm also going to keep a page of those labels with me since I've been asked by several people who to contact.

Good idea! Could also print out email addies and phone numbers on another label, give them one of each, and they have it all!

[Oscar Wilde]

]This is what I shared with him.
You would contact the President for EVERYTHING that is a national debate.
If something is “in committee”, or an “HR” (house resolution) is being debated, it’s at the Congress level. You would contact your Representative.
If something has “gone to the senate” or “passed the house” you would contact your Senator.
If something is being debated specifically for your State, like Montana’s recent sovereignty resolution, you would contact your State Representative.
If it has passed your State’s “house”, next step is to go to the Governor for signature, contact your Governor.

Go to http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml .

You can find who those people are at that site. You can select President, Senator, Representatives, State Governor, or State Legislator. Each of the different selections takes you to a different government site. To find out your congress critter, since the districts are so broken up (gerrymandered!), it wants ALL of your zip code, including the 4 digit extension. It has a lookup feature to find that, asking for your address and short zip code. [/INDENT]

You may have to spelunk around a bit to find phone numbers, but they’ll be there somewhere. Calling one of their local offices is fine, you don't have to call D.C., but can if you want to!! :D

I’ve made contact cards for mine in my outlook address book, so it’s a one-click deal to email or find their phone number when I want to double-whammy them (they probably hate both the Owl and me! ;) GOOD!). I can fire something off within a minute of reading some crap.

I write and thank them when they do the right thing, too (unfortunately, that doesn't happen often enough:().[/QUOTE


The patriot act was voted on and passed without discussion..... the bailout legislation was enacted with little or no scrutiny.....neither of these were to benefit our society.....our voices are heard but now they're paying closer attention to our grumblings of discontent.
O.W.

[Skyowl's Wife]

our voices are heard but now they're paying closer attention to our grumblings of discontent.
O.W.

Agree. We will be at any nearby tea party too. That includes the 3.5 hour trip to downtown Phoenix.

[Skyowl's Wife]

New Travesty!

Info on another one we need to write to all of them about!

The bill is titled, H.R. 2346: Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009.

Here's just a few portions ...

CHAPTER 7--HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary - public health and social services emergency fund

(including transfer of funds)

For an additional amount for ‘Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund’ to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic, including the development and purchase of vaccine, antivirals, necessary medical supplies, diagnostics, and other surveillance tools and to assist international efforts and respond to international needs relating to the 2009-H1N1 influenza outbreak, $1,850,000,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That no less than $350,000,000 shall be for upgrading State and local capacity: Provided further, That no less than $200,000,000 shall be transferred to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to carry out global and domestic disease surveillance, laboratory capacity and research, laboratory diagnostics, risk communication, rapid response, and quarantine: Provided further, That products purchased with these funds may, at the discretion of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (‘Secretary’), be deposited in the Strategic National Stockpile under section 319F-2 of the Public Health Service Act: Provided further, That notwithstanding section 496(b) of the Public Health Service Act, funds may be used for the construction or renovation of privately owned facilities for the production of pandemic influenza vaccine and other biologics, where the Secretary finds such a contract necessary to secure sufficient supplies of such vaccines or biologics: Provided further, That funds appropriated under this heading and not specifically designated under this heading may be transferred to, and merged with, other appropriation accounts of the Department of Health and Human Services and other Federal agencies, as determined by the Secretary to be appropriate, to be used for the purposes specified under this heading and to the fund authorized by section 319F-4 of the Public Health Service Act: ...

And another that covers vaccines ...

BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE - Funds Appropriated to the President

global health and child survival

For an additional amount for ‘Global Health and Child Survival’, $300,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That $200,000,000 shall be made available for pandemic preparedness and response: Provided further, That $100,000,000 shall be made available, notwithstanding any other provision of law, except for the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-25), for a United States contribution to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: Provided further, That the amounts made available under this heading in this chapter are in addition to amounts made available for such purpose in the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009 (division H of Public Law 111-8): Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, to include minimum funding requirements or funding directives, if the President determines and reports to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate that the human-to-human transmission of the H1N1 virus is efficient and sustained, and is spreading internationally, funds made available under the headings ‘Global Health and Child Survival’, ‘Development Assistance’, ‘Economic Support Fund’, and ‘Millennium Challenge Corporation’ in prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs may be made available to combat the H1N1 virus: Provided further, That funds made available pursuant to the authority of the previous proviso shall be subject to prior consultation with, and the regular notification procedures of, the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

international disaster assistance
For an additional amount for ‘International Disaster Assistance’, $200,000,000, to remain available until expended.

Department of State - international narcotics control and law enforcement

For an additional amount for ‘International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement’, $483,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010: Provided, That not less than $160,000,000 shall be made available for assistance for Mexico to combat drug trafficking and related violence and organized crime, and for judicial reform, institution building, anti-corruption, and rule of law activities, and shall be immediately available notwithstanding section 7045(e) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2009 (division H of Public Law 111-8): Provided further, That funds made available pursuant to the previous proviso shall be made available subject to prior consultation with, and the regular notification procedures of, the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, except that notifications shall be transmitted at least 5 days in advance of the obligation of any funds appropriated under this heading: Provided further, That of the funds appropriated under this heading, not more than $106,000,000 shall be made available for security assistance for the West Bank: Provided further, That not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, in classified form if necessary, on the use of assistance provided by the United States for the training of Palestinian security forces, including detailed descriptions of the training, curriculum, and equipment provided; and an assessment of the training and the performance of forces after training has been completed.

nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, demining and related programs

For an additional amount for ‘Nonproliferation, Anti-Terrorism, Demining and Related Programs’, $98,500,000, to remain available until September 30, 2010, of which up to $73,500,000 may be made available for the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to promote bilateral and multilateral activities relating to nonproliferation, disarmament and weapons destruction, and shall remain available until expended: Provided, That funds made available for the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund shall be subject to prior consultation with, and the regular notification procedures of, the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

migration and refugee assistance

For an additional amount for ‘Migration and Refugee Assistance’, $343,000,000, to remain available until expended. (???)

I think he's trying to exhaust us. I won't give up!