In the last Congress, we had over 100 cosponsors from the House of Representatives for the bill to close the School of the Americas (now called the Western Hemispheric Institute for Security Cooperation -- New Name, Same Shame!). Now there is a new Congress and Representative McGovern of Massachusetts will be introducing a new bill in mid-March. The new bill again calls for investigation into past training at the SOA and suspension of operations at the WHINSEC. Amnesty International and SOA Watch are supporting this bill.

We need your help.

ACTION
Please call Congress Tuesday, Feb. 22nd, the SOA Watch National Call In Day!!

WHAT TO DO
1. To find the name of your Member of Congress, go to www.congress.org and enter your zip code.

2. Call the Capital Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to your Representative.

3.Ask to be connected to their Foreign Policy Staffer.

WHAT TO SAY
When you get them or their voice mail, leave the following message:

“My name is _________ and I live in the Representative’s district. I am calling today to ask her/him to support upcoming legislation to suspend operations at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly the School of the Americas. Rep. McGovern of Massachusetts will be introducing a bill, supported by SOA Watch and Amnesty International that calls for investigation into past SOA atrocities and suspension of operations at the WHINSEC.

I am a strong supporter of this important human rights legislation and I am calling to ask the Representative to become an initial cosponsor of this bill, before it is introduced.~Please call Cindy Buhl in Rep. McGovern’s office to sign on. I would appreciate hearing the Representative’s position on this issue. Please call me at _________. This is an important issue to me and I will be keeping track of the Representative’s work on this. Thank you.”

More talking points can be found on School of the Americas Watch website www.soaw.org..

PHONING ON A CALL-IN DAY IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE TIME TO CALL YOUR REP! SO MARK YOUR CALENDAR TO MAKE THIS CALL TUESDAY!

Thank you for taking the time to be a part of this effort!!