| The Honor Roll |
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One way that Peace Action works to build momentum on our key issues
is by encouraging members of Congress to be proactive and cosponsor
positive legislation. Through our direct lobbying and grassroots
organizing, we have raised awareness about helpful bills. While many
are not voted on, cosponsorships draw attention to important issues and
demonstrate congressional support. If they have support, portions of
these bills can end up as amendments or written into other
legislation. It is also a good way for us to measure a member of
Congress’ position on our issues and their willingness to take
leadership. These bills are still open for members of Congress to
cosponsor throughout 2008. (Cosponsors are those listed as of 2/21/08). The House of Representatives Sponsor: Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) The strongest bill offered on the war in Iraq, HR 508 would require a withdrawal of US troops and contractors from Iraq within 6 months and cut off funding for military operations after the withdrawal ends. The bill also includes sending an international stabilization force, funds for reconstruction in Iraq and a prohibition on permanent US military bases. Cosponsors: Abercrombie (D-HI), Brady (D-PA), Brown (D-FL), Capuano (D-MA), Carson (D-IN), Clarke (D-NY), Clay (D-MO), Cleaver (D-MO), Cohen (D-TN), Conyers (D-MI), Cummings (D-MD), Davis (D-IL), Ellison (D-MN), Farr (D-CA), Fattah (D-PA), Filner (D-CA), Frank (D-MA), Grijalva (D-AZ), Gutierrez (D-IL), Hare (D-IL), Hinchey (D-NY), Honda (D-CA), Jackson (D-IL), Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Johnson (D-TX), Johnson (D-GA), Kilpatrick (D-MI), Kucinich (D-OH), Lee (D-CA), Lewis (D-GA), Loebsack (D-IA), Maloney (D-NY), McGovern (D-MA), McNerney (D-CA), Moran (D-VA), Nadler (D-NY), Oberstar (D-MN), Olver (D-MA), Pastor (D-AZ), Payne (D-NJ), Rothman (D-NJ), Rush (D-IL), Schakowsky (D-IL), Serrano (D-NY), Solis (D-CA), Stark (D-CA), Towns (D-NY), Velazquez (D-NY), Waters (D-CA), Watson (D-CA), Watt (D-NC), Welch (D-VT) Sponsor: Mike Thompson (D-CA) Rep. Thompson’s bill would have required withdrawal of US combat brigades from Iraq starting on May 1, 2007, to be completed by March 31, 2008. Cosponsors: Abercrombie (D-HI), Baca (D-CA), Becerra (D-CA), Brady (D-PA), Braley (D-IA), Brown (D-FL), Capuano (D- MA), Carney (D-PA), Carson (D-IN), Clarke (D-NY), Cohen (D-TN), Conyers (D-MI), Davis (D-IL), DeFazio (D-OR), Delahunt (D-MA), Doggett (D-TX), Doyle (D-PA), Duncan (R-TN), Ellison (D-MN), Emanuel (D-IL), Eshoo (D-CA), Fattah (D-PA), Filner (D-CA), Gilchrest (R-MD), Hare (D-IL), Hirono (D-HI), Jackson (D-IL), Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Jefferson (D-LA), Johnson (D-GA), Jones (D-OH), Jones (R-NC), Kanjorski (D-PA), Kaptur (D-OH), Larson (D-CT), Lewis (D-GA), Lofgren (D-CA), Matsui (D-CA), McDermott (D-WA), McNerney (D-CA), Michaud (D-ME), Miller (D-CA), Moore (D-WI), Moran (D-VA), Murphy (D-PA), Oberstar (D-MN), Pascrell (D-NJ), Paul (R-TX), Payne (D-NJ), Ryan(D-OH), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Schakowsky (D-IL), Sires (D-NJ), Solis (D-CA), Stark (D-CA), Walz (D-MN), Welch (D-VT),Wexler (D-FL), Wynn (D-MD) Sponsor: Peter DeFazio (D-OR) H Con Res 33 clarifies that the resolution authorizing force in Iraq does not explicitly or implicitly authorize military action against Iran, and states that the president is constitutionally mandated to come to Congress for authorization prior to initiating military action against Iran. DeFazio’s bill was voted on as an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill, but did not pass (see House bill descriptions). Cosponsors: Andrews (D-NJ), Baldwin (D-WI), Blumenauer (D-OR), Boswell (D-IA), Boucher (D-VA), Brady (D-PA), Braley (D-IA), Brown (D-FL), Capuano (D-MA), Conyers (D-MI), Cummings (D-MD), Delahunt (D-MA), Doggett (D-TX), Farr (D-CA), Fattah (D-PA), Filner (D-CA), Frank (D-MA), Grijalva (D-AZ), Hinchey (D-NY), Hirono (D-HI), Holt (D-NJ), Honda (D-CA), Hooley (D-OR), Inslee (D-WA), Johnson (D-TX), Kaptur (D-OH), Kucinich (D-OH), Larson (D-CT), Lee (D-CA), Lofgren (D-CA), Maloney (D-NY), Matsui (D-CA), McCollum (D-MN), McGovern (D-MA), McNulty (D-NY), Meehan (D-MA), Miller (D-CA), Moran (D-VA), Murtha (D-PA), Oberstar (D-MN), Olver (D-MA), Pastor (D-AZ), Payne (D-NJ), Price (D-NC), Rahall (D-WV), Rothman (D-NJ), Schakowsky (D-IL), Sires (D-NJ), Stark (D-CA), Thompson (D-CA), Tierney (D-MA), Watson (D-CA), Welch (D-VT), Woolsey (D-CA), Wu (D-OR), Yarmuth (D-KY) Sponsor: Walter Jones (R-NC) Rep. Jones’ bill emphasizes that no previous law can be construed to authorize military action against Iran, and barring a demonstrably imminent attack by Iran, the president must receive authorization from Congress prior to initiating military action against Iran. Cosponsors: Abercrombie (D-HI), Allen (D-ME), Andrews (D-NJ), Bartlett (R-MD), Bishop (D-NY), Blumenauer (D-OR), Boswell (D-IA), Brady (D-PA), Braley (D-IA), Capps (D-CA), Capuano (D-MA), Carson (D-IN), Clay (D-MO), Cohen (D-TN), Davis (D-CA), DeFazio (D-OR), Delahunt (D-MA), Duncan (R-TN), Ellison (D-MN), Farr (D-CA), Fattah (D-PA), Filner (D-CA), Frank (D-MA), Gilchrest (R-MD), Gonzalez (D-TX), Hare (D-IL), Hodes (D-NH), Holt (D-NJ), Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Johnson (D-GA), Jones (D-OH), Kaptur (D-OH), Kennedy (D-RI), Kucinich (D-OH), Langevin (D-RI), Larson (D-CT), Maloney (D-NY), Markey (D-MA), McCollum (D-MN), McDermott (D-WA), McGovern (D-MA), McIntyre (D-NC), McNulty (D-NY), Meehan (D-MA), Meeks (D-NY), Michaud (D-ME), Moran (D-VA), Murphy (D-CT), Murtha (D-PA), Napolitano (D-CA), Neal (D-MA), Olver (D-MA), Pascrell (D-NJ), Paul (R-TX), Rahall (D-WV), Schakowsky (D-IL), Shea-Porter (D-NH), Smith (D-WA), Stark (D-CA), Taylor (D-MS), Towns (D-NY), Visclosky (D-IN), Wu (D-OR), Wynn (D-MD) Sponsor: Barbara Lee (D-CA) This bill acknowledges that the concerns about Iran’s nuclear program need to be addressed, but emphasizes that military action would be disastrous and would not be effective in deterring Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Like the other bills in this section, HR 770 clarifies that authorization for military action against Iran does not exist, and prohibits funds for any military action against Iran that has not been authorized by Congress. Cosponsors: Clarke (D-NY), Conyers (D-MI), Davis (D-IL), DeFazio (D-OR), Doggett (D-TX), Farr (D-CA), Filner (D-CA), Grijalva (D-AZ), Jefferson (D-LA), Kucinich (D-OH), Markey (D-MA), McGovern (D-MA), Olver (D-MA), Stark (D-CA), Waters (D-CA), Watson (D-CA), Watt (D-NC), Woolsey (D-CA) Sponsor: Mark Udall (D-CO) HR 3119 states that no funds appropriated in any act may be used for military operations in Iran without approval from Congress. Sponsor: Howard Berman (D-CA) The dangerous US-India nuclear cooperation deal passed Congress in 2006, despite concerns raised about trading nuclear technology with a nuclear weapons state that has not signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The Bush administration appears to be attempting to negotiate a deal that has fewer restrictions than what Congress originally passed. This resolution calls on the administration not to pass a deal through the Nuclear Suppliers Group that has special exceptions for India inconsistent with the legislation passed by Congress. Cosponsors: Fortenberry (R-NE), McGovern (D-MA), Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Tauscher (D-CA) Sponsor: Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) The US signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty outlawing nuclear tests in 1996, but has never ratified the treaty. Ratification of the CTBT is a critical step toward improving the US’s role in the global community as a leader on nuclear nonproliferation. This bill expresses the sense of the House that the Senate should begin a bipartisan process to ratify the treaty. Cosponsors: Abercrombie (D-HI), Ackerman (D-NY), Allen (D-ME), Berman (D-CA), Blumenauer (D-OR), Brady (D-PA), Capps (D-CA), Crowley (D-NY), Delahunt (D-MA), Doggett (D-TX), Farr (D-CA), Fattah (D-PA), Filner (D-CA), Frank (D-MA), Grijalva (D-AZ), Holt (D-NJ), Johnson (D-GA), Lantos (D-CA), Lee (D-CA), Loebsack (D-IA), Lofgren (D-CA), Markey (D-MA), Matsui (D-CA), McCollum (D-MN), McDermott (D-WA), McGovern (D-MA), Rothman (D-NJ), Schakowsky (D-IL), Schiff (D-CA), Serrano (D-NY), Shays (R-CT), Skelton (D-MO), Sutton (D-OH), Van Hollen (D-MD), Watson (D-CA), Woolsey (D-CA), Wu (D-OR) Sponsor: Barack Obama (D-IL) S 433 is the companion bill to HR 787, and would have started withdrawal of US combat troops May 1, 2007 and required the withdrawal to end by March 31, 2008. Cosponsors: Durbin (D-IL), Leahy (D-VT), Sanders (I-VT) Sponsor: Russ Feingold (D-WI) This bill would require a withdrawal of US troops from Iraq within 6 months and would cut off funds for military operations at that point. Senator Feingold offered several withdrawal amendments that were voted on by the Senate throughout 2007 (see Senate bill descriptions). Cosponsors: Boxer (D-CA), Leahy (D-VT), Sanders (I-VT) Sponsor: Jim Webb (D-VA) S 759 is a companion bill of HR 3119 and would prohibit any funds for military operations in Iran without congressional authorization. Sponsor: Richard Durbin (D-IL) The bill states that any offensive military action against Iran must be explicitly approved by Congress. Cosponsors: Akaka (D-HI), Bingaman (D-NM), Brown (D-OH), Byrd (D-WV), Clinton (D-NY), Dodd (D-CT), Dorgan (D-ND), Feinstein (D-CA), Johnson (D-SD), Murray (D-WA), Sanders (I-VT), Stabenow (D-MI), Whitehouse (D-RI) Sponsor: Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) S 1914 prohibits funds for the Reliable Replacement Warhead program until at least 2010, and requires a new Nuclear Posture Review examining the role of nuclear weapons in US security strategy be submitted in the interim. Cosponsors: Casey (D-PA), Clinton (D-NY), Collins (R-ME), Durbin (D-IL), Feingold (D-WI), Kennedy (D-MA), Kerry (D-MA), Menendez (D-NJ), Mikulski (D-MD) Sponsor: Barack Obama (D-IL) This is a comprehensive bill that provides for sustained US leadership in a cooperative global effort to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, stop the spread of nuclear weapons and related material, and support the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear technology. Cosponsors: Durbin (D-IL), Hagel (R-NE) Sponsor: Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) This is the companion bill to HR 1755, and puts limitations on the use, sale and transfer of cluster bombs. Some of the language from this bill was inserted in the omnibus appropriations bill Congress passed in December (see Best and Worst of Congress). Cosponsors: Bingaman (D-NM), Boxer (D-CA), Brown (D-OH), Cantwell (D-WA), Cardin (D-MD), Casey (D-PA), Feingold (D-WI), Harkin (D-IA), Kennedy (D-MA), Kerry (D-MA), Leahy (D-VT), Mikulski (D-MD), Sanders (I-VT), Whitehouse (D-RI), Wyden (D-OR) Sponsor: Richard Durbin (D-IL) S 1175 is the companion bill to HR 2620 and prohibits military aid to countries that the State Department has identified as states that use child soldiers. Some of these provisions were included in the omnibus appropriations bill passed in December (see Best and Worst of Congress). Cosponsors: Bennett (R-UT), Bingaman (D-NM), Boxer (D-CA), Brownback (R-KS), Cantwell (D-WA), Cardin (D-MD), Casey (D-PA), Coburn (R-OK), Cochran (R-MS), Collins (R-ME), Craig (R-ID), Crapo (R-ID), Dodd (D-CT), Feingold (D-WI), Feinstein (D-CA), Hagel (R-NE), Johnson (D-SD), Kerry (D-MA), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Lincoln (D-AR), Martinez (R-FL), Menendez (D-NJ), Mikulski (D-MD), Murray (D-WA), Nelson (D-FL), Obama (D-IL), Reed (D-RI), Reid (D-NV), Roberts (R-KS), Snowe (R-ME), Stabenow (D-MI), Whitehouse (D-RI) |
