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More than 100 governments are gathering to negotiate a global treaty banning cluster bombs from May 19-30 in Dublin, Ireland. The United States won't be there. While the U.S. government sends the wrong message to the rest of the world, let's help Congress send the right message by generating additional cosponsors for the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act (S.594/H.R.1755).
Unexploded cluster bombs kill in horrible ways: children play with bomblets thinking they're toys, and farmers stumble across them tending their fields. During the last 40 years, the best research indicates that 98 percent of cluster bomb casualties have been civilians, including 12,000 civilian casualties in Laos and another 4,000 in Iraq. Cluster bombs just don't know when the war has ended.
Spread the Word
Stand with mothers around the world, like Lynn Bradach, who have lost a child to a cluster bomb. Urge your friends to call their senators.
Make Your Call
- Call your senators at 800-401-3641. Find out who already sponsored the bill (and doesn't need a call).
- This number connects you to the Capitol Switchboard. You will need to ask for your senator by name. Find out who your senators are.
- Once you are directed to the office, ask to speak to the legislative assistant who deals with foreign policy issues.
- After you call one senator's office, call back and ask for your other senator.
Script to Help You Make Your Call
Please feel free to improvise and add additional information.
- My name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY, STATE].Thanks for taking my call.
- I'm calling to encourage Senator [SENATOR'S NAME] to cosponsor S. 594, the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act. Will that be possible?
- Thank you.
Who Already Supports the Bill?
You don't need to call the senators on this list.
- California: Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer
- Iowa: Senator Tom Harkin
- Maine: Senator Olympia Snowe
- Maryland: Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski
- Massachusetts: Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry
- Michigan: Senator Debbie Stabenow
- New Jersey: Senator Robert Menendez
- New Mexico: Senator Jeff Bingaman
- Ohio: Senator Sherrod Brown
- Oregon: Senator Ron Wyden
- Pennsylvania: Senator Robert Casey
- Rhode Island: Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
- South Dakota: Senator Tim Johnson
- Vermont: Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders
- Washington: Senator Maria Cantwell
- Wisconsin: Senator Russ Feingold
Reviewed:
05/19/2008
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