CISPES Action Alert: Final DR-CAFTA Legislation Sent
to Congress!
July Vote Likely - Take Action During the July 4
Recess to Pressure Senators and Representatives
Call your Representative and Senators Today! Capitol
switchboard # is (202) 224-3121 (see below for toll
free option)
The Central American Free Trade Agreement (also known
as DR-CAFTA) is a devastating agreement that has been
relentlessly pushed on the countries of Costa Rica, El
Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, the
Dominican Republic by the Bush Administration. On June
23 President Bush delivered final implementing
legislation to the House and Senate. The Senate
Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means
Committee will hold their mark-ups before the July 4
recess, making the July 5-10 recess period the key
moment to take action to ensure that CAFTA is
rejected!
The fact that CAFTA has not yet come up for a vote is
a testament to the incredible mobilizing that has
taken place in the US, Central America, and the DR. A
vote is almost assured to happen in July in both the
House and the Senate and because of our great work we
have a chance to beat it! More and more Senators and
Representatives are realizing that CAFTA is a raw deal
for workers and a threat to the environment, public
health and safety, and local, participatory democracy.
CAFTA has already destabilized the region as thousands
of farmers, workers, students, women, indigenous
communities, and religious groups have taken to the
streets in protest, often meeting violent repression
from local law enforcement. CAFTA will also cause
rural displacement, reduced access to life-saving
medicines, and an erosion of labor and environmental
protections. CAFTA places profits over people,
corporate interests over worker rights, and trade laws
over local and national democracies - it will bring
devastation to the region!
ACTIONS
1. Contact your Senator or Representative and tell
them to vote NO on DR-CAFTA!
This is the decisive moment when we can stop CAFTA
altogether! To contact your Senator or Representative
call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or
visit www.house.gov or www.senate.gov for the local
contact information for your Representative or
Senator.
The United Steelworkers have provided a toll-free
number for general use to call Congress about CAFTA.
It is 866-340-9281. It will connect you to the Capitol
Switchboard, and at that point you simply ask the
operator to be connected to the Congressional office
of your choice.
When you talk with your Rep:
1. Ask to speak to the trade staffer, chief of staff
or legislative director.
2. Tell them you are a constituent and want to know
your Rep's position on CAFTA.
3. If the Rep is opposed to the agreement and will
vote against it, thank him/her. Ask if your Rep has
made his/her opposition public and encourage him/her
to do so. Always ask for a letter to you stating
his/her position.
4. If the Rep is undecided, ask your Rep (or staffer)
why and when they are planning on taking a position.
Let them know that you oppose CAFTA (any personal
stories related to how NAFTA hurt your region are
helpful) and urge them to vote no when CAFTA comes up.
5. If the Rep is planning to vote for CAFTA, urge them
to reconsider. Inform the office that you intend to
spread the word that the Rep is voting against their
constituents' interests.
For sample call scripts and suggestions on concerns to
raise, please visit www.stopcafta.org.
2. Organize a local action
When phone calls and meetings aren't enough, staging a
direct action is a powerful tool. For ideas on local
actions and assistance in organizing in your community
please visit the Stop-CAFTA website at
www.stopcafta.org.
CISPES
Committee In Solidarity With The People of El Salvador
8124 West 3rd Street L.A. Ca. 90048
323-852-0721
Founded: 1980 - 25 Years of Solidarity
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