Department of Peace - Ideas for Change in America: Rep. Donna Edwards Supports a Department of Peace

Rep. Donna Edwards Supports a Department of Peace

Published June 06, 2009 @ 12:03PM PT

Washington, DC - June 4, 2009

Today, Congresswoman Donna Edwards from Maryland's 4th district became the 71st cosponsor of H.R. 808 - the Department of Peace act. Rep. Edwards joins Congressman Elijah Cummings (from District 7, a long time supporter of the Department of Peace bill) as the second cosponsor of the legislation from the great State of Maryland, which has eight congressional representatives.

Rep. Edwards won her seat in the 111th Congress by first defeating former Representative Albert Wynn in the primary elections of November 2008. Ms. Edwards ran on a very progressive platform, claiming that Mr. Wynn was not progressive enough for the people of the district. Mr. Wynn had been a previous supporter of H.R. 808 in the 110th Congress, so it's great to see that Congresswoman Edwards is continuing the tradition of support for violence reduction on behalf of the people of her district.

On a related note, Rep. Edwards is also a cosponsor of H.R. 1064 - the Youth PROMISE act to reduce youth violence. Rep. Edwards, who signed on as a cosponsor on May 12th, joins Reps. John Sarbanes (MD-04) and Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02) and Elijah Cummings (all signed on when the bill was introduced on 2/13/09) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-08), who signed on May 18. With a total of 129 cosponsors and bipartisan support, the Youth PROMISE act is well on it's way to becoming law and improving the lives of at-risk youth.

Please join me in thanking Congresswoman Edwards - 202-225-8699 - for her leadership in support of the Department of Peace and Youth PROMISE legislation.

Also, if you live in the district of any of these Maryland Representatives, please contact them and let them know that you want there support for:

Rep. Frank Kratovil (MD-01) - Please support H.R. 808 (as did your predecessor) and H.R. 1064.

Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02) - Thanks for supprting H.R. 1064, now please also support H.R. 808

Rep. John Sarbanes (MD-03) - Thanks for supprting H.R. 1064, now please also support H.R. 808

Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD-05) - Please support H.R. 808 and H.R. 1064

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (MD-06) - Please support H.R. 808 and H.R. 1064

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-08) - Thanks for supprting H.R. 1064, now please also support H.R. 808

Comments

Have you ever read the book "1984". In the book the government had a "Ministry of Peace" but what it really was was the war department.

War is Peace, Ignorance is Strength, Slavery is Freedom.

That was their motto. Kind of like how Obama was supposed to be the peace candidate. Many of you voted for him because he was for peace and against war. Well we now have more troops in the middle east now than when he took office. Either they're trying to change the definition of peace, or they're just lying to us. Many of the things in that book are beginning to come to pass.

Posted by Adrian Stevens on 06/07/2009 @ 01:58AM PT
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Hey Adrian-

Being a fan of the book "1984" myself, I can understand your concern about the title of the proposed "Department of Peace". However, if you read the legislation (http://bit.ly/pJ9nC) you'll see nothing along the lines of the Orwellian facade that you voice concern about. This legislation - H.R. 808 - contains very practical and proven means for reducing violence, both domestically and internationally. The existing structures in our government are not doiing this, because it's nobody's responsibility. The Department of Peace would make violence reduction a priority at the highest levels. I think it deserves a chance to make the positive impact we all expect it to have.

New Motto:
"Peace is Strength"

Posted by Ted Nunn on 06/08/2009 @ 08:03AM PT
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