Last weekend, thousands of people gathered across the world in support of Myanmar’s new National Unity Government. In Washington, DC, thousands rallied outside the White House and then marched to Congress to demand that it introduce a new Burma bill.
In the past week, we have together ramped up our email, phone calls, and Zoom meetings with our Members of Congress. Because of your pressure, Senator Ben Cardin and Representative Gregory Meeks are hearing from your elected officials asking to co-sponsor the upcoming Burma bill. Thanks to your work, Senator Cardin and Rep. Meeks are now planning to introduce the Burma bills as early as next month.
Lead sponsored by Senator Ben Cardin and Rep. Gregory Meeks, the new Burma bill will, not only hold accountable the Myanmar military but also provide much-needed humanitarian assistance directly to the Myanmar people. Now, let’s make the final push to get this bill introduced!
Would you follow up with your senators directly and ask them to contact Senator Cardin’s office regarding co-sponsoring the bill?
Follow up #1: email your senators’ staffer
All Senate staffers’ email addresses follow this format: [email protected]
Start your message with a mention of where you live in the state. Feel free to include a sentence or two on why you care about human rights and Myanmar in particular. Please use or adapt the following text in your email. Please blind copy (bcc) us on your email at [email protected].
I ask that my senator co-sponsor and support the new Burma bill to be introduced by Senator Ben Cardin and Rep. Gregory Meeks. To ensure that you are an original co-sponsor of the bill, please contact Senator Cardin’s office today.
The US. Congress must show leadership in forcing the Burmese army to stand down from its coup d’etat and release all civilian government and civil society figures from detention.
Please write back and tell me what actions my senator will take in response to the Myanmar military’s coup d’etat. Thank you.
Follow up #2: call your senators’ staffer
- When you reach their office, ask to be connected directly to the staffer.
- Simply tell the staffer – in person or on their voicemail – you want your senator to co-sponsor and support the new Burma bill once it is introduced. (Mention that the lead sponsors of the bills are Senator Ben Cardin and Representative Gregory Meeks.)
- Leave your name, number, and city of residence to indicate that you live in the state or congressional district.
- Follow up with an email to the staffer and blind copy (bcc) us at [email protected]
- Email us at [email protected] and tell us how your calls went. (And please tell us of any changes in your senators’ staffers.)
Just one email or phone call from a constituent can make a difference. Your Members of Congress need to know that you want Congress to act. The people of Myanmar can’t wait any longer. Thank you so much,
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For Further Reading:
“Rubio Joins Merkley, Colleagues in Urging Biden Administration Impose New Sanctions on Myanmar’s Military Regime,” 27 April 2021
“Chevron Lobbies to Head Off New Sanctions on Myanmar,” New York Times, 22 April 2021
“Open letter: Chevron’s business operations in Myanmar,” 23 March 2021
“How Oil and Gas Majors Bankroll the Myanmar Military Regime,” Justice For Myanmar, 8 February 2021
“French Oil Giant Still Bankrolling Myanmar Junta,” Myanmar Now, 15 April 2021
Follow the up-to-the-minute news on Twitter using these hashtags: #CivilDisobedienceMovement #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #JusticeForMyanmar
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