Can you sign this letter?/Can you join us at 4:30 PM at Sarbanes' Towson office on September 18?

Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore, 325 East 25th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 Rep. John Sarbanes 600 Baltimore Ave. Suite 303 Baltimore, MD 21204 September 18, 2013 Dear Representative Sarbanes, Members of the Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore are voters and supporters of Progressive Democrats of America. Citizens of the United States have spoken clearly: we support forceful diplomacy, not a military strike against Syria. Fortunately, the president has decided to delay the authorization for use of military force votes in Congress, and is taking promising steps seeking a diplomatic solution. We ask you to support diplomacy by cosponsoring Congresswoman Barbara Lee's H.Con.Res. 53 "Urging all parties to the conflict in Syria to work through the United Nations and with the international community to hold the Assad regime accountable and resolve the crisis in Syria through a negotiated political settlement." Please contact her staff at Jirair.Ratevosian@mail.house.gov to cosponsor H.Con.Res. 53 without delay. We cannot afford to risk involvement in yet another armed conflict. The Obama Administration is expecting the Congress to grant the president "Fast Track” authority on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)--a new “free trade” agreement. The negotiations for the TPP have been conducted in secret--without Congressional or public input or participation. With “Fast Track” authority, the president, not Congress, would control the legislative process for the TPP. "Debate" would last a few hours. No amendments--only an up or down vote--would be allowed. Trade officials revealed that as currently negotiated, the TPP would give foreign and multinational corporations wide and unprecedented power. These foreign entities could file claims against us over any regulations and laws they claim might infringe on profitability--attacking protections for the environment, employees, and consumers. This is unacceptable. We strongly urge you to vote against “Fast Track” for the Trans-Pacific Partnership. We need full debate, committee review, and public input on this agreement that goes far beyond trade issues. We also strongly urge you to oppose the TPP, and to only support international agreements that are negotiated openly and vetted fully by the Congress and the public. Finally, we are seeking an end to the use of killer drone strikes, which we believe to be illegal and unconstitutional. We ask you to speak out against this assassination program, which ignores any veneer of due process. Consider as well a request for the full, unclassified release of information surrounding the administration’s drone policy. Rep. Barbara Lee, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Peace and Security Task Force, has reminded the president that he has full reign to protect the United States as Commander in Chief, but Congress has a vital oversight role in this issue. We look forward to your response. And when you are ready, we would like to meet with you, preferably in Baltimore. But if necessary, we will travel to your D.C. office. Thank you for your time and attention. Peace, Max Obuszewski, on behalf of Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore/Fund Our Communities