Tools/Action Ideas for local or statewide actions -- ideas from UFPJ member groups. Click on the links for creative ideas and resources to carry out campaigns in your community:

• Statewide Call-in Campaign (California Calling model) -- work with peace groups around your state to intitiate some statewide call-in days. Make sure every member of your state's congressional delegation feels the heat. Resource includes campaign description, press release and flyer.
• Colorado Pledge Campaign -- motivate people to increase their activism by asking them to sign a pledge to take certain actions to end the war. Resource includes campaign description and model pledge.
• Phone-a-thon how-to -- 70% of the people agree the war should end -- but they don't know what to do to stop it. Bring your cell phone to the streets/farmers markets/summer fairs and get your neighbors to call their members of Congress.
• Funding the War is Klling the Troops -- from Veterans for Peace - send a flag to your member of Congress, highlighting the absurdity and moral bankruptcy of the claim the that they are not funding the war, they are funding the troops.
• Certificate of Ownership of the War -- from Military Families Speak Out, a certificate of ownership for members of congress who have voted to continue funding the war.
• The People's Emergency Funding Bill -- Congress will vote in September on whether to continue funding the Iraq war ($145 billion more). Here is an alternative funding bill they should support.

Flyers from around the country:

 Funding the War is Killing the Troops - Iraq Vets Tri-Fold flag campaign

  Not One More Death, Dollar, Day - flyer from U.S. Labor Against War

No War on Iran (myths vs. reality) -- from Women Against War, Albany, NY

Peace Surge -- a call for immediate withdrawal from Iraq -- from the Syracuse Peace Council, NY

Postcards -- demand an end to war funding -- from PDX Peace, Portland OR

National Campaigns:

• Declaration of Peace
• Occupation Project
• CodePink Peace Surge in DC
• Resources on Impeachment

Resources:

Guidelines for meetings with House and Senate

Showdown letter -- text of bipartisan letter from representatives pledging to vote against future war funding, and list of current signers

"Strategic Reset" -- Center for American Progress plan for complete withdrawal from Iraq (use with Democrats!)

Analysis of Iraq Working Group Recommendations

White House "Initial Benchmark Assesment Report" (7/12/07)

Filibuster for Peace Petition

Talking Points on H.R.508, "Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2007"

UFPJ July 11 Press Release -- download here.

Notes from July 10 Legislative Action Conference Call -- download here.

Click here for a chart of co-sponsors of current UFPJ priority legislation on Iraq and Iran in the House.

Click here for a chart of co-sponsors of current UFPJ priority legislation on Iraq and Iran in the Senate.

Click here or scroll down for a list of priority legislation.

Votes on the last War Spending bill: See how your representative voted here; see how your senators voted here.

Contacting Congress:
Find out who your representative and senators are by clicking here.

Capitol Hill Switchboard: 202-224-3121 -- ask for the office of the member you wish to contact.

A directory of Staff, fax numbers, district office addresses and more is available here.

A grassroots lobbying toolkit is available from Friends Committee on National Legislation.

The Cost of the Iraq War:
"Brother can you spare a dime? Iraq War spending in fiscal year 2007" by Jeff Leys, Voices for Creative Nonviolence

Cost of the Iraq War to your state and community
More from National Priorities Project

Legislation
IRAQ: UFPJ Priority Legislation on Iraq. Ask your members of Congress to support these bills:

House of Representatives:
H.R.508, "Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2007" (Woolsey, Lee, Waters). Text of bill; co-sponsor list.

H.R.746, "Safe and Orderly Withdrawal from Iraq Act" (McGovern, D-MA). Text of bill; co-sponsor list.

Senate:
S.448, "Iraq Redeployment Act of 2007" (Feingold, D-WI). Text of bill; co-sponsor list.

There are other good pieces of legislation on Iraq in this session of Congress, for an up-to-date list of all legislative initiatives on Iraq (including those we do NOT support), visit the Council for a Livable World website.

IRAN: UFPJ Priority Legislation on Iran. Ask your members of Congress to support these bills:

House of Representatives:
H.R.770, "Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation Act" (Lee, D-CA). Text of bill; co-sponsor list.
H.J.Res.14,"Concerning the use of military force against Iran" (Jones, R-NC). Text of resolution; co-sponsor list.
H.Con.Res.33, Expressing the sense of Congress that the President should not initiate military action against Iran without first obtaining authorization from Congress (DeFazio, D-OR). Text of resolution; co-sponsor list.

Senate:
S.Res.39, "Expressing the sense of the Senate on the need for approval by the Congress before any offensive military action by the United States against another nation" (Byrd, D-WV). Text of resolution; co-sponsor list.

For a complete list of legislation on Iran, click here.

Voting Records on Iraq:
-- Voting Record on Iraq War, courtesy of Voices for Creative Nonviolence (view online and download as PDF)

-- Voting Record on Iraq War (including initial authorization to go to war) -- Excel spreadsheet