Kinijit for Unity and Democracy
ቅንጅት ለአንድነት እና ለዲሞክራሲ
August 16, 2007
The highest priority in Washington remains enactment of HR 2003, the Ethiopia Democracy, and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2007. We have received some favorable attention in the media, including an article that was posted to a website that is read by over 6 million Americans (http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,104784,00.html). There has been progress this week, with more new co-sponsors signing on and an announcement from Rep. Chris Smith that he will co-sponsor and actively campaign for enactment of the legislation. The most recent list of co-sponsors follows.
If your member of Congress is not on this list, contact him or her. Especially Tom Lantos, chairman of the House International Relations. Reports have it that there is a possibility Lantos might not put forward the legislation (HR 2003)for a markup in September, Lantos is getting a lot of pressure from both sides State Department and the regime lobbist. Lantos, a survivor of the European Holocaust, normally champions of human rights. He should understand that the State Department is support for Ethiopian regime does not advance the cause of human rights. So we need to ask him politely to move the bill forward so that the House of Representatives could vote on it. To contact your member of Congress go to http://www.house.gov/writerep/ And follow the directions. Members of Congress have a huge number of issues to think about and there is little chance that they will know about or support HR 2003 unless someone brings it to their attention. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Donald Payne (R-N.J.) has done his part to publicize it and to convince his colleagues. Now it is our turn.
Write your member of Congress, send and e-mail or fax, and if possible meet them in person when they hold public meetings. Tell them in your own words by HR 2003 is important to you and why they should support legislation that will promote human rights and democracy in Ethiopia. You can mention this bill is not a partisan issue, its goals should be embraced by every American: the released of political prisoners who have committed no crimes and were held in deplorable conditions; support for democratic institutions and an independent judiciary; and economic policies that will break the cycle of poverty and famine. Much of the hard work will have to be done by Ethiopians. It is important for Ethiopians, especially those living abroad, to focus on what can be done, to propose positive steps. And it is the responsibility of anyone advocating specific measures to announce what they personally are willing to do. Too much time and attention is being wasted on people who contribute nothing beyond their opinions and criticism. Anyone can sit in the comfort of their home and type criticisms and blast them out over the Internet. This doesn't help anyone, all it does is help the regime by creating dissension within the opposition and divert precious time and resources from positive action. Sen. Patrick Leahy (Vermont) have written very strong statement summarizing the present situation in Ethiopia and spoke on the senate floor asking President Bush to intervene. Please let us concentrate on the big picture, on helping to save the live of many Ethiopians by pushing this legislation that will commit the U.S. to fight for democracy, justice, development, freedom and the immediate
release of political prisoners in Ethiopia.
Current co-sponsors of HR 2003 are:
Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 4/23/2007
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 4/23/2007
Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 4/23/2007
Rep Clay, Wm. Lacy [MO-1] - 4/23/2007
Rep Wu, David [OR-1] - 6/19/2007
Rep Capuano, Michael E. [MA-8] - 6/20/2007
Rep Schakowsky, Janice D. [IL-9] - 6/20/2007
Rep Brown, Corrine [FL-3] - 6/20/2007
Rep Woolsey, Lynn C. [CA-6] - 6/20/2007
Rep Blumenauer, Earl [OR-3] - 6/20/2007
Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12] - 6/20/2007
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 6/26/2007
Rep Delahunt, William D. [MA-10] - 6/26/2007
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] - 7/10/2007
Rep Matsui, Doris O. [CA-5] - 7/10/2007
Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] - 7/10/2007
Rep Lewis, John [GA-5] - 7/10/2007
Rep Fattah, Chaka [PA-2] - 7/10/2007
Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] - 7/10/2007
Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15] - 7/10/2007
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 7/13/2007
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 7/13/2007
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] - 7/13/2007
Rep Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [OH-11] - 7/13/2007
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 7/13/2007
Rep Wynn, Albert Russell [MD-4] - 7/13/2007
Rep Thompson, Bennie G. [MS-2] - 7/13/2007
Rep Clyburn, James E. [SC-6] - 7/13/2007
Rep Moore, Gwen [WI-4] - 7/13/2007
Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] - 7/13/2007
Rep Pastor, Ed [AZ-4] - 7/13/2007
Rep Rothman, Steven R. [NJ-9] - 7/13/2007
Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 7/13/2007
Rep Miller, Brad [NC-13] - 7/13/2007
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 7/13/2007
Rep Solis, Hilda L. [CA-32] - 7/13/2007
Rep Olver, John W. [MA-1] - 7/13/2007
Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3] - 7/13/2007
Rep Frank, Barney [MA-4] - 7/13/2007
Rep Sires, Albio [NJ-13] - 7/13/2007
Rep McDermott, Jim [WA-7] - 7/13/2007
Rep Capps, Lois [CA-23] - 7/13/2007
Rep Tauscher, Ellen O. [CA-10] - 7/13/2007
Rep Farr, Sam [CA-17] - 7/13/2007
Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 7/13/2007
Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] - 7/13/2007
Rep Crowley, Joseph [NY-7] - 7/13/2007
Rep Nadler, Jerrold [NY-8] - 7/13/2007
Rep Weiner, Anthony D. [NY-9] - 7/13/2007
Rep Velazquez, Nydia M. [NY-12] - 7/13/2007
Rep Gutierrez, Luis V. [IL-4] - 7/13/2007
Rep McCollum, Betty [MN-4] - 7/13/2007
Rep Hirono, Mazie K. [HI-2] - 7/13/2007
Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] - 7/13/2007
Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] - 7/13/2007
Rep Ellison, Keith [MN-5] - 7/13/2007
Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] - 7/13/2007
Rep Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [GA-4] - 7/13/2007
Rep Clarke, Yvette D. [NY-11] - 7/13/2007
Rep Carson, Julia [IN-7] - 7/13/2007
Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7] - 7/13/2007
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] - 7/13/2007
Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7] - 7/13/2007
Rep Meek, Kendrick B. [FL-17] - 7/13/2007
Rep Waters, Maxine [CA-35] - 7/13/2007
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 7/13/2007
Rep Scott, David [GA-13] - 7/13/2007
Rep Price, David E. [NC-4] - 7/13/2007
Rep Lofgren, Zoe [CA-16] - 7/13/2007
Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5] - 7/13/2007
Rep Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. [IL-2] - 7/13/2007
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 7/13/2007
Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] - 7/13/2007
Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 7/13/2007
Rep Watt, Melvin L. [NC-12] - 7/13/2007
Rep Jefferson, William J. [LA-2] - 7/16/2007
