On Tuesday, Dec. 11, the Senate will likely vote again on funding for the occupation

[Laura PourMeADrink]

Congress to Vote on Iraq Funds Tuesday, Dec. 11

Dear Friends,
We are still trying to get details on this impending vote, but we will probably not get them until Monday, but action is needed, so we are sending you this notice now.

On Tuesday, Dec. 11, the Senate will likely vote again on funding for the occupation. The funding will probably be tied to crucial domestic spending bills, and include no restrictions or troop withdrawal requirements. It is unclear whether the House leadership will bring Iraq funding to the floor also (after having promised not to).

Congress -- especially the Senate -- has to hear that we are fed up with their capitulation to Bush on funding for Iraq. We understand time is short, but we urge you to make your voices heard.

Choose the tactic that works best for you and your district:

Send a delegation to the offices of your Senators or Representative on Monday or Tuesday -- emphatically demand an end to the occupation. Your peaceful visit can be brief, or last long enough for your to read the names of every civilian and soldier killed in Iraq, or it can last until the member of Congress agrees to oppose all funding that is not tied to the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops and contractors. If you are able to organize a visit (please prioritize visits to your Senator(s) post notice of the visit here:
http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?sortby=&caltype=59 UFPJ will send out an alert to our full list driving people to the calendar to join you in your visit.

Flood your Legislators with phone calls: Reach both of your Senators and your Representative through the Capitol Hill switchboard: 202-224-3121
Message - vote NO to any funding for the occupation of Iraq that does not require the rapid withdrawal of all U.S. troops and contractors.

Background
Congress has not passed most of the Appropriations Bills necessary to fund the government and government services. The stopgap funding measure ('Continuing Resolution') that they passed last month expires on December 14, so they have to pass something before then in order to prevent a governmet shutdown. Pro-war legislators see this as an opportunity to force a vote on Iraq funding without any conditions. We are gettting conflicting reports from staff and the media about what is happening behind the scenes - but it looks likely that the Senate will consider some Iraq funding measure along with an omnibus spending bill (that rolls all the Appropriations bills for all Departments into one giant spending bill). In the House, Democratic leadership had been promising that they would not take up anymore Iraq funding bills until next year. They have made these statements repeatedly in the press and to other members of Congress. We don't know if they will keep this promise or not.

--
Sue Udry
Legislative Action Coordinator
United for Peace and Justice
301-565-4050 x315
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