On July 29, 2011, the US House passed HR440 with overwhelming bi-partisan support. The bill calls for the appointment of a “Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia.” The Special Envoy would carry the rank of Ambassador. This is an important position through which the United States can regain world leadership in fighting these human rights abuses. The bill was sent to the Senate as S1245, and it now rests with the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. You can read the text of the bill here.

Passage of the bill and a prominent presence by this US Envoy in standing up for the oppressed will give hope to many who until now have been without it. My own strategy regarding the Bangladeshi Hindus is being affected by how quickly the measure is passed and the Special Envoy begins work. That is where you come in and can help millions in a very simple way.

There are 19 members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and we need voters in their state to call them and (1) urge them to co-sponsor S1245; (2) support S1245 in the Foreign Relations Committee; and (3) make sure the measure is advanced at the next committee meeting (possibly in September. If you want to note how this will help stop oppression of the Bangladeshi Hindus or other oppressed groups when you call, that would help, too. (And you can always feel free to mention my name.) Here are the Senators, states, phone, and fax numbers. Please call or fax for your message to do any good. Do not send it by email or post.

Democrats

John Kerry (Massachusetts); 202-224-2742; 202-224-8525
Barbara Boxer (California); 202-224-3553; 202-224-0454
Robert Menendez (New Jersey); 202-224-4744; 202-228-2197
Benjamin Cardin (Maryland); 202-224-4524; 202-224-1651
Robert Casey (Pennsylvania); 202-224-6324; 202-228-0604
Jim Webb (Virginia); 202-224-4024; 202-228-6363
Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire); 202-224-2841; 202-228-3194
Chris Coons (Delaware); 202-224-5042; 202-228-3075
Dick Durbin (Illinois); 202-224-2152; 202-228-0400
Tom Udall (New Mexico); 202-224-6621; 202-228-3261

Republicans

Richard Lugar (Indiana); 202-224-4814; 202-228-0360
Bob Corker (Tennessee); 202-224-3344; 202-228-0566
James Risch (Idaho);202-224-2752; 202-224-2573
Marco Rubio (Florida); 202-224-3041; 202-228-0285
James Imhofe (Oklahoma); 202-224-4721; 202-228-0380
Jim DeMint (South Carolina); 202-224-6121; 202-228-5143
Johnny Isakson (Georgia); 202-224-3643; 202-228-0724
John Barrasso (Wyoming); 202-224-6441; 202-224-1724
Mike Lee (Utah); 202-224-5444; 202-228-1168

You might or might not mention that the allocation for this enterprise is very low—in Washington terms; one million dollars. More importantly, through this position, the United States can do more good than it can with the billions of dollars we now spend for much less effect.

If you need or want more information, a “script” for a call or fax, please make sure to contact mefor it.

Thank you so much!


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