US Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Bombs

U S C B L e - a c t i o n
m a r c h 2 0 0 9
Tell the Senate to Give Cluster Bombs the Boot!
Join the National Call-in Day on Monday, March 30th
Toll-Free Number: 1-800-590-6313
U S C B L e - a c t i o n
m a r c h 2 0 0 9
Tell the Senate to Give Cluster Bombs the Boot!
Join the National Call-in Day on Monday, March 30th
Toll-Free Number: 1-800-590-6313
Two weeks ago Congress and the president permanently outlawed exports of nearly all U.S. cluster munitions because these weapons always end up harming more civilians than soldiers. Now, USCBL is organizing a national call-in day to help Congress take the next step: making sure the U.S. military never again uses its vast arsenal of nearly 700 million cluster submunitions.
The Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2009 (S. 416/H.R. 981) would block use of cluster munitions that leave behind more than one percent of their submunitions as landmine-like duds, and any use in areas where civilians live. Since only a very tiny fraction of the U.S. arsenal meets this reliability standard, the bill would effectively ban U.S. use. S. 416 was introduced a month ago and has already gathered 24 Senate co-sponsors from both parties. Increasing co-sponsorhip of this legislation will show President Obama that there is widespread support for him to join more than half the world's nations in signing the treaty banning these weapons.
Help save a life or limb by making a free phone call on Monday, March 30.
Together, we can generate hundreds of calls to senators who have not yet cosponsored the legislation. It's as simple as 1,2,3...
1. Before the 30th
Before March 30, tell five friends about the call-in day, forward this alert to your activists and e-mail lists, and/or post something about the call-in day on your website. You can use the graphic at the bottom of this e-mail.
2. Whom to Call
Are you from California, Maine, Maryland, Oregon, Washington, or Vermont? Both of your senators are already on board! You can still call your representative and urge her or him to cosponsor the companion bill in the House, H.R. 981.
Are you from Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, West Virginia, or Wisconsin? One of your senators is already co-sponsoring, so you need only call one! These senators still need calls: Chuck Grassley (IA), John Kerry (MA), Carl Levin (MI), Frank Lautenberg (NJ), Tom Udall (NM), Arlen Specter (PA), George Voinovich (OH), Jack Reed (RI), John Thune (SD), John Rockefeller (WV), Herb Kohl (WI).
Do you live in any other state? You should call both of your senators and ask them to cosponsor the bill! Find out who your senators are. http://capwiz.com/fconl/dbq/officials/

3. How to Make the Calls
Call 1-800-590-6313. This number will redirect you to the Capitol Switchboard for free. Ask for your senator by name. Check the list above to see which of your senators already support the bill.
Once you are directed to the office, identify yourself as a constituent, and ask to speak to the legislative assistant who deals with foreign or military policy issues.
Follow the script below, if you'd like.
After you call one senator's office, call the switchboard again and ask for your other senator (unless your other senator is already a cosponsor).
Note: if the receptionist tells you that the person is not available, you can either give the below information to the receptionist, or ask for the legislative aide’s answering machine and leave your message there.
Script for your call (feel free to improve and add additional information!)
My name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY, STATE]. Thanks for taking my call.
I am calling to encourage Senator [SENATOR’S NAME] to cosponsor S. 416, the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act.
Senator [NAME]’s co-sponsorship of this bill will help align U.S. policy with that of our closest NATO allies and ensure that we no longer use weapons that are known to have a record of killing more civilians than soldiers.
Will co-sponsorship of this bill be possible? (Give your phone number if you would like a call back.)
Thank you.