It would be interesting to know what contacting "these three" does for anyone ? After their response could you please get back with us and let us know.

Thank You :-)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jennifer Groves on September 18, 2012 at 12:35pm

WH, Stabenow, Levin, and Upton so far just take mssgs, but Act! has said the switchboards are getting a lot of calls. One thing's for sure--silence is interpreted as acceptance.

Upton is our only rep who could really push for de-funding--what are the odds? He's not conservative.

ACT! suggests calling these other numbers as well:

White House		202-456-1414
State Department		202-647-4000
House Leadership
	Speaker John Boehner	Speaker’s Office: 202-225-0600 Personal Office: 202-225-6205
	Majority Leader Eric Cantor	202-225-2815
	Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy	202-225-2915
	Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi	202-225-0100
	Minority Whip Steny Hoyer	202-225-4131
Senate Leadership
	Majority Leader Harry Reid	202-224-3542
	Majority Whip Richard Durbin	Leadership Office: 202-224-9447 Personal Office: 202-224-2152
	Minority Leader Mitch McConnell	Leadership Office: 202-224-3135 Personal Office: 202-224-2541
	Minority Whip Jon Kyl	Leadership Office: 202-224-2708 Personal Office: 202-224-4521

You're welcome, Rita!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rita Adair on September 20, 2012 at 7:58pm

There seems to be a controversy in congress, specifically the Senate about the consequences of cutting aid to Egypt, Libya and Pakistan. This is what I found.

Lindsey Graham Slams Rand Paul on Foreign Aid Cut Proposal

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Thursday criticized a fellow Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, for proposing to end aid to Libya, Egypt and Pakistan, suggesting the cuts could damage U.S. national security.

"Rand Paul is one nice fellow, but I bet you he's never talked with CIA Director General Petraeus about what would happen if we cut our aid off to Pakistan," said Graham at a Politico event at the Newseum. "It's 90 percent popular, but I can show you things in history that were 100 percent popular that were really bad ideas."

Paul has threatened to block a six-month government funding bill because he wants to cut off U.S. aid to Pakistan unless the country stops "openly thwarting our objectives in the region" and releases a Pakistani doctor who helped in the search for Osama bin Laden. He urged aid to be cut to Egypt and Libya, unless those countries show "full cooperation" in bringing those to justice who stormed U.S. diplomatic facilities last week. The attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three colleagues.

Paul told fellow senators in a letter on Tuesday that if a full cutoff in aid could not be passed, "significant cuts that are less than the full amount of foreign aid could be considered, coupled with redirecting a portion of the money into the improvement of security at our diplomatic facilities. If these countries cannot secure American lives and property, our increased cost of doing so must come out of the money set aside for aid."

In the State-Foreign Operations budget for the 2013 fiscal year, the Obama administration requested $2.2 billion in foreign aid to Pakistan and $1.56 billion for Egypt, according to a Congressional Research Service report obtained by the Federation of American Scientists.

Graham told those gathered at the Newseum on Thursday that the U.S. should continue to engage with the Mideast to try to shape the region as it goes through political turmoil.

"Here's what I convey to my colleagues: don't be indifferent: the people I want to give the aid to and support to are the ones that I have some hope that I can live with in peace," Graham said. "The radical Islamists know that they cannot win if we stay in the region."

September 19, 2012, 6:13 PM Wall Street Journal

Rand Paul Holds Up Funding Bill Over Aid

By Corey Boles

WASHINGTON–The U.S. Senate easily overcame an initial procedural hurdle on a $500 billion bill to fund the federal government for six months, but the legislation is being held up by a lone Republican lawmaker who wants a vote on a measure cutting aid to Pakistan, Egypt and Libya......

Mr. Paul has been pushing for months to have a vote on a bill cutting aid to Pakistan. In the wake of the violent protests in Egypt and Libya against the U.S., he has expanded his targets to include those countries.

If the matter does come up for a vote, it has very little chance of being added to the bill, but the freshman lawmaker has so far refused to back down on the matter. A single senator can’t prevent the Senate from acting on a bill, but can insist on the maximum debate time, dragging work on legislation out for several days. If Mr. Paul doesn’t relent, he can’t permanently derail the bill, but senators could be forced to remain in Washington until Sunday for a final vote.

Spending bill advances, but Rand Paul objects

By DAVID ROGERS | 9/19/12 3:58 PM EDT Updated: 9/20/12 9:53 AM EDT

Standing in the way still is Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has insisted on a vote first on his amendment to withhold U.S. aid to Egypt, Libya and Pakistan in light of recent attacks on American diplomatic facilities and the imprisonment of a Pakistan physician accused of helping the CIA locate Osama bin Laden.

The physician, Dr. Shakil Afridi, was convicted by a tribal court in northwestern Pakistan on charges of treason last spring, a decision that infuriated many in Congress and that Paul has adopted as a personal cause.

For months the Kentucky maverick and tea party favorite has pressed for a vote on Pakistan aid, an amendment he has now broadened to include Egypt and Libya as well.

The White House and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) are confident that Paul can be defeated with bipartisan support. And this may indeed be the outcome.

“Do we really think it is in our interest to see the economy of Egypt collapse?” Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) told POLITICO. “I don’t think so.”

Nonetheless, orchestrating the vote remains difficult given all the bruised feelings at this stage in the Senate. The administration has been reluctant to allow such a high-profile showdown given the tense U.S. relations with Islamabad and Cairo — important allies in the Muslim world.

Many Republicans appear torn as well, given the pressure from tea party forces to side with Paul. And when Reid made a consent request late Wednesday to give Paul a vote, the Democratic leader even found himself attacked by McCain, who complained that not enough time was allowed for the debate.

“Rand Paul isn’t holding anything up. The Republicans are,” Reid said, accusing the GOP of hiding behind Paul.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rita Adair on October 7, 2012 at 7:28pm

I have received a reply from Senator Carl Levin. This is what he says:

Dear Ms. Adair:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the recent protests in the Middle East and the deadly attack on Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans in Libya.

Like Americans across the nation, I was deeply saddened by news of the tragic deaths of Ambassador Stevens and his colleagues. Ambassador Chris Stevens and his colleagues were the very best expressions of what it means to be an American: hard-working, energetic, optimistic, dedicated not just to furthering the interests of their own nation, but to ensuring that others could enjoy the same freedom and opportunity that we hold so dear. The United States, along with the people that Ambassador Stevens and his colleagues worked to help around the world, will always honor their tireless service and deep commitment to peace and democracy.

In the aftermath of these heinous events, some have argued that the United States should cease all aid to nations where the riots and protests took place. I believe such an action would undercut efforts, such as those championed by Ambassador Stevens, to facilitate stability and democracy in the region.

As these events and continuing global terrorist activities have shown, our domestic security is inextricably linked to the economic and political stability of other nations. U.S. foreign aid, which accounts for approximately 1% of the annual U.S. budget, supports democracy and economic development by assisting in humanitarian relief efforts, fighting AIDS and other diseases, and combating threats such as terrorism and drug trafficking. These funds help nations around the world ensure a better future for their citizens and, in doing so, promote global stability and America’s security.

I support U.S. foreign aid because it preserves our nation’s security and is a crucial component of our responsibility as a world leader to support democracy and promote human rights. I will keep your views in mind as Congress continues to consider issues concerning U.S. foreign affairs programs.