Action Alert
Representative James McGovern (MA) reintroduced the Latin America Military Training Review Act as HR 3368 on November 4, 2011 along with 21 other original co-sponsors. This legislation would suspend operations at the SOA/ WHINSEC, investigate torture manuals and human rights abuses associated with the school, and conduct an assessment of military training in Latin America.
Across the country, grassroots activists are working to add their Member of Congress as a cosponsor, or supporter, of this bill. Has your Representative cosponsored this bill? Check this list of HR 3368 cosponsors to find out.
Representative Rosa DeLauro is the only Connecticut Congress person to support this bill.
If your Representative is not on the list, be a part of the campaign and take action! If your Representative is a co-sponsor, be sure to thank them for their support.
Call or write your Representative and ask them to cosponsor HR 3368. (If they are a co-sponsor, call to say thank you!)
You can contact the DC office of your Representative by calling the Capitol Hill Switchboard toll free at 1-800-473-6711, (or 202-224-3121). You can also look up your Representative’s contact information on the House of Representatives website. Ask to speak with the foreign affairs legislative aide.
Here is a suggested message for you to convey:
“As a constituent living in _________, I am calling Congressman/woman ________ to urge him/her to contact Rep. McGovern and ask to be a cosponsor of the Latin America Military Training Review Act, also known as HR 3368. This legislation would suspend operations at the School of the Americas, renamed WHINSEC (Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation), and investigate the history of human rights abuses and failed policies of the institution.
Despite demands by Congress to have oversight over the curriculum and promote human rights, the Pentagon is now denying all requests to provide information to human rights organizations and the public about students and graduates of the school.
I urge you to contact Cindy Buhl in Congressman McGovern’s office and ask that Rep. ___________be added as a cosponsor of this legislation. I hope you will represent my views and support this bill.”
