FUSsa-talk Mailing List: Fw: Please Call Tuesday - National TVRA Call-In Day

[Carol Koepp (carolkoepp]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "National Religious Campaign Against Torture" <nrcatlist [at] nrcat.org>
To: <carolkoepp [at] comcast.net>
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 3:37 PM
Subject: Please Call Tuesday - National TVRA Call-In Day


> Dear Friends:
>
> On February 24th NRCAT is one of several organizations joining the Center 
> for Victims of Torture for a national call-in day to encourage Members of 
> Congress to co-sponsor the Torture Victims Relief Act (TVRA).  TVRA 
> authorizes funding for treatment centers that help victims of torture 
> recover from the abuse they suffered.  By passing TVRA, our nation can 
> begin to atone for its recent use of torture during interrogations.
>
> Please call your Members of Congress on Tuesday, February 24th, and ask 
> them to co-sponsor TVRA.  You can reach the office of your Members of 
> Congress by calling the Capitol switchboard at (202-224-3121) and asking 
> to speak with your Representative and your Senators. If you can only speak 
> to one or two offices, that is fine.
>
> Here are talking points you can use when speaking with the staff of one of 
> your Members.
>
>    * Introduce yourself and indicate that you are from the Member's 
> district or state and that you're calling on behalf of NRCAT.
>
>    * Inform the staff member you are speaking with that you would like 
> your Member to co-sponsor the Torture Victims Relief Act (TVRA), which 
> authorizes funds for torture treatment programs in the U.S. and abroad.
>
>    * Since TVRA does not yet have a bill number, ask your Representative 
> to contact Rep. Smith (R-NJ) or Rep. Oberstar (D-MN) and your Senators to 
> contact Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN) in order to be added as co-sponsors.
>
>    * For several years, funding for torture rehabilitation centers has 
> remained stagnant.  Several treatment centers have been forced to close or 
> drastically scale back services, and those that remain open report long 
> waiting lists for services.  Co-sponsoring TVRA can help change this.
>
> Thank you for your help.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Linda Gustitus, President, NRCAT
> Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director, NRCAT