SOA WATCH ALERT

Next week, the week of June 5, Congress will vote on an amendment to close the SOA / WHINSEC.
Rep. McGovern (MA) will introduce an amendment to the Foreign Operations appropriations bill to
cut funding for the SOA / WHINSEC.

We expect a close vote and need as many people as possible flooding the offices of the House of
Representatives with calls in support of a YES vote on the amendment. This is it! And it's the people
power of our movement that will get this amendment passed! Visit the Legislative Action Index at
http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=96 for more information.

We are urging readers to contact their Congresspersons telling them that you don’t want your tax
dollars to be used for training of repressive foreign militaries. .

ACTION
Call the DC office of your Representative through the Capitol Hill Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or
toll free at 1-888-355-3588. Ask to speak with the foreign affairs legislative assistant. Here is a
suggested message for you to convey:

I am calling Congressman/woman ________ to urge him/her to vote YES on the McGovern
amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. This amendment is a cut in funding for the
School of the Americas/ WHINSEC. New information indicates that WHINSEC has allowed known
human rights abusers to instruct and receive training at the school. Argentina and Uruguay are two more
countries that have made public announcements they will no longer send students to the school, citing
the negative image and history of this institution. Voting YES on this amendment sends a positive human
rights message to Latin America and will help to improve the U.S. image abroad. As an elected official
in Washington D.C., I hope you will represent me and vote YES on any amendment in the House that
would cut funding for the school.