November Priorities Campaign

Take Action: Click Here

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The Problem:

This November, there’s an incredibly important bill in Congress that just doesn’t yet have the support it needs to move forward.

We’re betting that a small but critical mass of Christians can change that.  And that’s why we’re making this bill our top priority for November.

The Global Security Priorities Resolution (H.Res. 278) is a bipartisan bill that calls for reducing US and Russian nuclear arsenals to 1500 warheads per side–with the resulting savings split between efforts to combat nuclear terrorism and programs that encourage global child survival.

In case you’re wondering, there’s no catch. It’s a good, conservative step to build nuclear security, and it’ll mean that more kids around the world live to see adulthood.  That’s why the bill has been endorsed by, among others:

- President Reagan’s top arms control official

- the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

- Lutheran World Relief

- World Vision

…and, of course, 2FP.  Aside from its obvious merits, we’re supporting the bill because it’s a great way to help build bipartisan support for the arms reduction treaty currently being negotiated between the U.S. and Russia - which is a critical step toward a world without nuclear weapons.

The Solution:

To succeed, the Global Security Priorities Resolution needs 25 Members of Congress to sign-on as co-sponsors. Last week each Member got a letter from the main sponsors, Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Dan Lungren (R-CA), asking that they join them, but only 14 out of 435 have agreed to cosponsor! It’s clear that we - the voters - are the only ones who can make sure that request reaches the ears of our Representatives.

We’ve developed an plan for November that has just one action step per week.  For a quick breakdown of the steps, check out our campaign video on YouTube.

  • Week One: November 4-10

Get five or more friends who live near you to agree to participate  - the more, the better! Pick a day between Nov 4 and 10 when each of you will use this link to email your Representative and ask them to join as a co-sponsor.  Hit send, and sit back. Staffers definitely pay attention when they see a critical mass of folks from their district making the same request.

  • Week Two: November 11-18

If your Congressperson has co-sponsored, great!  Be sure to let us know. If not, you and your friends pick a day between Nov 11 to 18 to follow up on your email by calling their office.  (Remember, this is just for your Representative–the bill hasn’t yet hit the Senate.) Here’s a link you can use to find the Representative’s number.  And here are some tips for the call:

–You’ll likely be leaving a message for your Congressperson with the staffer who picks up the phone.  Keep your message short and simple, and be sure to mention that you live in the Congressperson’s district.  Be sure to be polite, and request a written response.

–Sample script: “Hi there.  My name is Jessica, and I’m a constituent from Houston, TX.  I noticed that Rep. Culberson hasn’t yet co-sponsored an important new bill, H. Res. 278, the Global Security Priorities Resolution.  Would it be possible for me to speak with a foreign policy staffer so that I can let them know why I’d like Rep. Culberson to take that step?”

If yes, great!  You’ll be able to speak directly to the person who helps advise the Congressperson on policy issues.  If the staffer’s not available, no worries. Just mention one of the reasons why you think the Representative should co-sponsor the bill, i.e. “This is a bipartisan bill that would help the U.S. take the first step toward our disarmament obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty” or “This is a bipartisan bill that allows the U.S. and Russia to reduce and secure unnecessary nuclear weapons.”

–Close the call with a direct request (politely phrased!): “I’d like to see Rep. Culberson sign on as a co-sponsor right away.  Can I leave my name and address so that I can receive a written response to this request from your office?  Thanks so much.”

  • Week Three: November 19-25

Have they co-sponsored yet?  No?  Outrageous: they work for you!  Pick a day between Nov 19 and 25 and hit the phones again. Remind your Representative’s staff that this bill is bipartisan, is good for security, and helps kids stay alive.  Ask what the objection to this bill is. Tell them that you and your friends vote and that this is a priority issue for you.  Extra credit: offer to email them a PDF copy of the Dear Colleague letter Rep. Lundgren and Rep. McGovern circulated about the bill.

  • Week Four: November 30

Have they co-sponsored yet? Check to see if they have under the bill’s list of cosponsors at opencongress.org.  Ask your friends to call on Monday, November 30 to make one final impression. Tell them this is their last chance to sign on, and that you and your voting friends are paying careful attention to their response.

More Information:

In March, Congressmen Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Dan Lungren (R-CA) introduced the Global Security Priorities Resolution (H. Res. 278). The resolution calls for reducing U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals to 1000 deployed/3000 total weapons each by 2015. It further stipulates that some of the financial savings from such a move would be redirected to the Nunn-Lugar program, as well as $6.5B to “child survival, hunger, and universal education” programs worldwide in an attempt to address the root causes of terrorism.

The resolution sets the proposed actions within the context of our NPT Article VI obligations to pursue nuclear weapons elimination. Moreover, the resolution will advance security measures that will enable further disarmament. The resolution also links disarmament with human security in a creative way that opens up support for our issue from a development/human rights standpoint.

Most importantly, the resolution represents a terrific step forward in the nonpartisan advancement of nuclear disarmament.  Click here to send a letter to your representative.

Notable Individual and Organizational Endorsements

  • U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
  • Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
  • U.S. Fund for UNICEF
  • William P. Clark, National Security Advisor/Reagan Administration
  • Major General (ret.) William F. Burns, Director, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency/Reagan Administration; Chief Negotiator with Russian Federation on Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Initiative/George H. W. Bush administration.
  • Dr. Lawrence J. Korb, Assistant Secretary of Defense/Reagan Administration; Senior Advisor, Center for Defense Information; Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
  • Union of Concerned Scientists
  • Leadership Conference of Women Religious
  • Friends Committee on National Legislation
  • Union for Reform Judaism
  • Conference of Major Superiors of Men
  • Evangelicals for Human Rights
  • U.S. Coalition for Child Survival
  • United Methodist Church -
    General Board of Church and Society
  • Catholic Relief Services
  • Friends of the World Food Program
  • Faithful Security: The National Religious Partnership on the Nuclear Weapons Danger
  • Council for a Livable World
  • British American Security Information Council (BASIC)
  • Mennonite Central Committee U.S./Washington Office
  • The Episcopal Church
  • The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),Washington Office
  • Islamic Society of North America
  • Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America
  • Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns