Fox Valley
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Take Action:
Iraq Sanctions:
Action Alert!
From EPIC:Representatives Conyers (D-MI), Sanders (I-VT), Velazquez (D-NY), Bonior (D-MI), Clay (D-MO), McKinney (D-GA), Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Jefferson (D-MS), Slaughter (D-NY), and Baldwin (D-WI) have introduced H.R. 742, the `Humanitarian Exports Leading to Peace Act of 2001.' If passed, H.R. 742 would change U.S. law to allow farmers, companies and relief groups to directly export food, medicine and agricultural goods to Iraq (bypassing the UN's sanctions bureaucracy). By reopening U.S.-Iraq trade relations, this important legislation would hasten an end to the economic embargo.
Furthermore, H.R. 742 states `the U.S. Government should take all necessary steps to end the suffering of innocent populations in Iraq' and instructs the President to report what steps the U.S. is taking, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to lift non-military sanctions on Iraq. Given the recent public statements of Sec. Powell and the shift in respected opinion regarding the negative consequences of sanctions, the timing of H.R. 742 is very auspicious. For additional talking points on the bill, visit EPIC's new home page for grassroots advocates at saveageneration.org/WaWatch.
What You Can Do: 1. Contact the Secretary of State and the President
Express support for the Secretary’s statements regarding the need to change U.S. policy in order to relieve the
miseries of ordinary Iraqis. Urge Secretary Powell and President Bush to work with the UN Security Council to
eliminate the 661 Committee and remove other obstacles to the economic rehabilitation of Iraq. Encourage them
to heed world opinion and consider alternatives to broad-based economic sanctions that have claimed the lives of
hundreds of thousands of children since 1991 (UNICEF).
U.S. Sec. of State Colin Powell
U.S. Department of State
2202 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
tel: 202/647-5291
fax: 202/267-6434
secretary@state.gov
cc: AskPublicAffairs@state.gov
President George Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
tel: 202/456-2580 or 202/456-1111
president@whitehouse.gov
cc: your elected representatives
cc: vice.president@whitehouse.gov
2. Contact your Members of Congress When calling the House, urge your Representative to co-sponsor H.R. 742, the “Humanitarian Exports Leading to Peace Act of 2001.” If your Representative has already co-sponsored H.R. 742, thank them for their support. When calling the Senate, don’t mention the bill. H.R. 742 has only been introduced in the House. Instead, ask your Senators to write the State Department encouraging changes in U.S. policy toward Iraq to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis AND publicly express support for the Sec. of State’s commitment to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people.
The Honorable (full name)
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Senator (full name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
You can reach the offices of all Members of Congress via the Congressional switchboard at 202/225-3121 or 202/224-3121. When calling, ask for the staffer who handles foreign policy. Be prepared to leave a brief voice message and your phone number if necessary.
3. Host a Letter Writing Party EPIC recommends designating a lobbying liason for your group - someone who can organize monthly pizza letter-writing parties and coordinate grassroots lobbying in your area. Writing one letter is helpful, but helping to generate dozens of targeted letters in one evening is beautiful! Use this action alert and organize a letter writing party in your community. In planning such an event, consider limiting your targets to one Senator, one Representative, one Administration official and one media outlet.
4. April 3 Call-in Day Join EPIC, Student Peace Action Network, Free Iraq Foundation, National Network to End the War Against Iraq (NNEWAI) and others in a national call-in day for Iraq. Calls should #1 target your Representative and #2 target Secretary of State Powell. For additional details, visit EPIC’s website or call (202) 543-6176.
- Links:
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- Iraqi Kids Campaign
- Two Iraqi girls, 11 and 12, are collecting postcards calling for an end to the sanctions. They will deliver them to the president when they get 1 million of them.