Week 22 of Letter Writing- Dont give up. This does work!

Why This Is Important

Every week, Out4Immigration targets members of Congress who we think understand 
and supports our issue, but hasn't signed on to co-sponsor the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) yet.  We have now increased our efforts by writing to 5 Congress people and their staffers.

We are going to try to get support from Republicans as well.   This week we have

 added  2 Republicans  based on their past support on other important LGBT issues.

We are encourage in knowing that several of the Congress people we have written

 to signed on as co-sponsors  soon after we wrote to them! 

Here is why we picked these Congress people.

Senator Al Franken (D-MN)
• Has a history of supporting LGBT organizations, both within Minnesota, as well as nationally
• New member of Senate Judiciary Committee
• Campaign said he would support repeal of DADT and would support ENDA
• Hopefully can convince Sen. Klobuchar to support
• Won't be up for re-election until 2014

Senator Mark Begich (D-AK)
• History of supporting LGBT issues while in Anchorage Assembly and mayor of Anchorage
• Won't be up for re-election until 2014

Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN)
• 60% HRC Scorecard rating - very high for Senate Republican
• We need Republican support in Senate for this bill
• If Sen. Lugar supports, would be easier for Blue Dogs to support, such as Sen. Bayh from Indiana

Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA-District 8)
• 90% HRC Scorecard rating
• New lead sponsor of DADT bill and on HRC speaking tour about this (H.R. 1283)
• Co-sponsor of ENDA (H.R. 3017)
• We need more support in Pennsylvania

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX-District 14)
• 44% HRC Scorecard rating - decent for Republican
• Libertarian Republican, believes government has no business in people's private lives
• Growing clout on Capital Hill because of strength of his Federal Reserve Audit Bill (H.R. 1207)
• 2008 Presidential Campaign Manager was gay - Kent Snyder
• On record saying LGBT people should be allowed to get married
• We need more Republican and Texas support

(If the whole email addresses for the staffers do not  publishing correctly and in full

on your screen here are the directions.

In the below addresses:

1. if you need to reach someone in the house, after the @ it should read:

mail.house.gov

2. If you need to reach someone in the senate, after the @ it should read:

senatorname. senate.gov

This week we will be contacting:

Senator Al Franken (D-MN)

320 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510

Staffer:

 Mr. Alvaro Bedoya (Judiciary Aide)
Alvaro_Bedoya@ franken.senate. gov

Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)

144 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
f. (202) 224-2354

Staffer:

Mr. John Richards (Judiciary Aide)
john_richards@ begich.senate. gov
Ms. Diane DiSanto (Child/Family Issues Aide)
diane_disanto@ begich.senate. gov

Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN)

306 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington DC 20510

202-228-0360

Staffer:

Mr. Andrew Mills (Judiciary Aide)
andrew_mills@ lugar.senate. gov
Ms. Liz Bartlett (Child/Family Issues Aide)
liz_bartlett@ lugar.senate. gov

Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA-District 8)

1609 Longworth HOB

Washington, DC 20515

Fax: (202) 225-9511

Staffer:

 Ms. Libby Masiuk (Judiciary Aide)
Libby.Masiuk@ mail.house. gov
Ms. Sara Schaumburg (Child/Family Issues Aide)
Sara.Schaumburg@ mail..house. gov

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX-District 14)

203 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Staffer:

Mr. Norman Singleton (Judiciary & Child/Family Issues Aide)
Norman.Singleton@ mail.house. gov

Please remember, after sending your fax AND your e-mails to the staffers, be sure to mail your handwritten letter  to the members of Congress we are targeting. In the era of electronic communication and social media,  handwritten letters are still a very effective means of reaching our members of Congress, and should be used as the final finishing touch of our weekly efforts. 

[Today's Date]

Dear [Senator][Represent ative] [Staffer] ,

I am writing to you to ask for [your] [ Congresswoman/ man…..] support by
becoming a co-sponsor of the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA; S. 424/H.R. 1024) sponsored in
the Senate by Sen. Patrick Leahy and in the House by Rep. Jerrold Nadler.

I am part of a group called Out4Immigration. [I am] [I know people who
are] directly affected by the current unfair immigration policies in
this country that deny gay and lesbian Americans in same-sex
binational relationships the right to sponsor their permanent partner
to live with them in the United States.

As you may be aware, these Americans in loving and committed
relationships are often forced to make heartbreaking decisions to
maintain their relationship. More often than not, these include having
to leave the United States in order to be with the person they love.
These American citizens are forced to give up careers, leave behind
aging parents and young adult children who rely on them and leave a
community which benefits from their ongoing and active participation.

The Uniting American Families Act simply seeks to provide gay and
lesbian U.S. citizens and permanent residents the right to sponsor
their partners for immigration. It includes the same process and
penalties as applied in heterosexual sponsorship applications. By
co-sponsoring the UAFA you are showing your dedication to equality and
the belief that no American should be forced to choose between their
country and the person they love.

Thank you for your time on this important matter. I hope that
[your] [Congresswoman/ man …] name will be added to the list co-sponsors on
this bill and support the UAFA in any discussions concerning Comprehensive Immigration Reform.

Respectfully,

[NAME]
[ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL]
Out4Immigration

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