LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT - Missile Defense, part 2

Visit our News page LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT!! MISSILE DEFENSE FUNDING – PART II by Lisa Piraneo, Director of Government Relations Dear Solstice, This is the second of two Legislative Action Alerts this week on the very important issue of Missile Defense. Margaret Thatcher is reported to have said, “First you win the argument; then you win the vote.” This week, due in large part to your efforts, we have begun to win the argument in Congress on the issue of missile defense funding. On Monday we asked you to make phone calls to 11 influential Members of the House Armed Services Committee – requesting that full funding be restored for our nation’s missile defense program – as they consider H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. I am happy to report that, as usual, the ACT! for America grassroots network sprang into action and within minutes, these 11 offices were inundated with phone calls. Our grassroots spoke and our elected officials had no option but to listen. Thank you for acting so very quickly! Update: On Tuesday evening, the full House Armed Services Committee considered H.R. 2647, the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization bill. The legislation included a $1.2 billion cut from last year’s ballistic missile defense appropriated level. While there has been increased funding for theatre missile defense, the proposed legislation REDUCES – by $500 million – the portion of the system that specifically protects the homeland from missiles from North Korea and Iran. If you are following the news lately, you may be perplexed at the timing of this funding reduction. I know I certainly am. Due to your calls earlier in the week, Committee members debated the issue of missile defense funding on Tuesday (only a small portion of what is contained in the full bill) for an incredible and unprecedented FOUR AND A HALF HOURS. Interestingly enough, nine of the 11 elected officials called by ACT! for America’s grassroots remained silent during this extensive debate. They did not join in with the others who spoke in opposition to funding restoration. In addition, according to Hill staff, two of the elected officials on the call list, Representatives Bobby Bright (AL) and Martin Heinrich (NM), voted at least once for amendments funding the missile defense program! As I have stated before, ACT! for America is growing in strength each day, and that strength includes becoming a powerful voice up on Capitol Hill. Your actions this week demonstrated that power. During Tuesday’s Committee consideration of H.R. 2647, there were several amendments offered which would have strengthened our nation’s missile defense program. Unfortunately, they were all defeated. However, in spite of the fact that we did not win the votes necessary to restore missile defense funding levels in this round, we made great progress. Hill staff unequivocally relayed to me that due to the efforts of ACT! for America, “the pro missile defense people hands down won the debate” in yesterday’s Committee discussion. Further, staff said, “winning the debate is 90 percent of the work. We made serious progress last night.” The bottom line: We need to continue to let the U.S. Congress know that we expect them to protect us from these very real threats. We expect full funding for the missile defense program that protects our homeland from missile attacks. THE FOLLOWING ACTION IS NEEDED FROM YOU, OUR ACT! FOR AMERICA GRASSROOTS ADVOCATE! Today’s Action Alert focuses on a newly-introduced piece of legislation, designed to protect our nation from North Korean and Iranian missiles. Representative Trent Franks (AZ), Founder and Co-chair of the Bi-Partisan Missile Defense Caucus (MDC) in the House of Representatives, has introduced a bipartisan proposal which will protect our nation from North Korean and Iranian missiles. H.R. 2845, the “Protect the Homeland from North Korean and Iranian Ballistic Missiles Act” is an important and straightforward piece of legislation, especially considering the many recent dangerous and provocative actions by both North Korea and Iran. THE FACTS ON H.R. 2845: 1. The legislation includes a Statement of Policy which expresses concern that North Korea’s and Iran’s long-range ballistic missile technology poses a real threat to the United States homeland. In addition, it notes that the U.S. Congress supports ballistic missile protection of the United States allies and forward deployed forces — but NOT at the expense of the protection of the United States Homeland. 2. The legislation directs the Secretary of Defense to deploy: Not less than 40 ground-based interceptors at Fort Greely, Alaska Not less than 4 ground-based interceptors at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California Such number of ground-based interceptors at such other locations as the President determines appropriate. 3. The legislation authorizes the appropriation for fiscal year 2010, in the amount of $500 million for the ground-based midcourse defense system of the Missile Defense Agency. This would restore the missile defense system up to last year’s appropriated level. Please take a moment TODAY to either call or e-mail your elected official in the U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Click here to locate your Representative. If calling your elected official, BE SURE TO ASK TO SPEAK WITH THE LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT WHO HANDLES MISSILE DEFENSE ISSUES. [NOTE: If you’d like to see some tips on how to be more effective in communicating, please log on to our website in the new legislative section: http://www.actforamerica.org/index.php/legislative-updates ] WHEN YOU CALL OR EMAIL EXPRESS YOUR VIEWS THAT: Your Representative CO-SPONSOR Representative Trent Franks’ legislation, H.R. 2845. (Ask your Representative to send you a written response as to whether or not he/she will support this proposal — and explaining what his/her positions are with regard to protecting our HOMELAND from North Korean and Iranian missiles.) Congress must restore the cuts to missile defense and fully fund our nation’s missile defense program. The threat from Iran and North Korea is real and imminent. The need for America to defend her people hasn’t changed and it is our elected leaders’ constitutional responsibility to keep us safe. REMEMBER, YOUR VOICE COUNTS! IF EACH OF US DOES JUST A LITTLE, TOGETHER WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A LOT! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACT for America P.O. Box 12765 Pensacola, FL 32591 http://www.actforamerica.org/ ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. We are only as strong as our supporters, and your volunteer and financial support is essential to our success. Thank you for helping us make America safer and more secure. HOW CAN I TELL OTHERS ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION? Send a personalized version of this message to your friends. HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOUR ORGANIZATION? Click here to give an online donation.