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The Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers) takes the long term view of the world we seek, and the specific policies and legislative priorities we advocate. In our day-to-day lobbying work, we work to identify specific, practical steps individuals can take to persuade the federal government to advance our country toward our longer term objectives. For example:
- we believe U.S. troops should withdraw from Iraq, and FCNL lobbies for a comprehensive regional diplomatic initiative that will get the U.S. out of Iraq and prevent war with Iran;
- we support universal nuclear disarmament, and we continue to work to oppose new initiatives to build nuclear weapons, to support the global ban on cluster bombs, and to build structures within the U.S. government to prevent war.
Among our recent success stories:
Iran Blockade Legislation Fizzles
In June, House leaders reportedly pledged to "fast track" legislation that urged the president to initiate an international blockade on Iran, prevent Iranian diplomats from traveling, and possibly provoke a war. FCNL spent the next 4 months intensely lobbying against the bill, H. Con. Res. 362, and helped convince 5 representatives to remove their names from the legislation, a rare step. Despite gaining cosponsorship from more than half the House, the bill is now unlikely to pass the House this year. More information.
Congress Bans Cluster Bomb Exports for One Year
A one-year moratorium on cluster bomb exports was set to expire on September 30, 2008. In the waning hours of the 110th Congress, members included an extension of the ban on the export of most types of cluster bombs in a bill that will keep the government running through March 2009. While this extension is short term, it provides another clear victory for FCNL's campaign to ban cluster bombs. Congress still needs to approve legislation that would ban U.S. forces from using these weapons in civilian-populated areas. More information.
Congress Invests in Peace
The ability of the United States to help prevent and resolve conflicts was strengthened when Congress included legislation to create a civilian response corps in the 2009 military authorization bill. The corps could be sent to crisis-torn areas to help countries restore basic services to their citizens and support political and economic reconstruction. FCNL has been lobbying for the corps as part of the Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act (H.R. 1084), which had passed the House but not the Senate. While FCNL opposes authorizing and spending more money for war, Congress included some provisions that we support in the military authorization bill. More information.
The "War Is Not the Answer" Movement is Growing!
FCNL now has more than 460 "War Is Not the Answer" yard sign distributors and has sent out nearly 1 million "War Is Not the Answer" signs and bumper stickers in the past six years. We've distributed more signs and bumper stickers in 2008 than ever before. See where "War Is Not the Answer" is spreading across the country, order your own sign, and put yourself on the map!
More FCNL success stories!
More About FCNL
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