Can you sign the letter to Rep. Sarbanes?/Can you help deliver it on Wednesday, October 21 at 4:30 PM?

Rep. John Sarbanes

600 Baltimore Ave.

Suite 303

Towson, MD 21204

October 21, 2015


Dear Representative Sarbanes:

 Some members of the Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore are voters and supporters of People Demanding Action. Some of us live in District 3. Please work to reverse or halt unwise “trade” and other policies, and to protect U.S. jobs, the Postal Service, and economic, social, and voting rights. 

Please vote no on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the multinational corporate / commercial deal that would serve special interests while exporting U.S. jobs and undermining our economy. The TTP was negotiated in secret by special interests. Most of the TPP has nothing to do with trade, but would undermine local and state policies, and federal sovereignty. Congress must vote on the TPP within the next few months under expedited “fast track” Trade Authority—with limited debate and no capacity for amendments. Stand with the people and vote against clandestine deals including the TPP. 

Because protecting the right to vote is essential to our system of government, we urge you to cosponsor the Voting Rights Advancement Act (HR 2867) that would amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise the criteria for determining which States and political subdivisions are subject to Section 4 of the Act. Please contact Rep. Terri Sewell’s office at (202)-225-2665 to cosponsor.

Because Justice is another essential American value, we urge you to cosponsor the Justice is Not For Sale Act (H.R. 3543) to improve Federal sentencing and corrections practices. Please contact Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s office at (202)-225-2435 to cosponsor.

Because the repeal of legislation that prevented financial institutions from irresponsibly gambling with federally insured funds undermined economic stability and cost taxpayers $trillions, we urge you to cosponsor legislation to protect against such reckless speculation, specifically:

• The 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act (H.R. 3054)—please contact Rep. Michael Capuano’s office at (202) 225-5111 to cosponsor.
• The Return to Prudent Banking Act (H.R. 381)—please contact Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s office at (202)-225-4146 to cosponsor.
  
  
  Because the United States Postal Service delivers essential services to the American people, it’s imperative that you cosponsor key bipartisan legislation to protect and restore adequate levels of service, specifically: 

• H.Res. 12, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the U.S.P.S. should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of its 6-day mail delivery service. Please contact Rep. Sam Graves’ office at (202)-225-7041 to cosponsor.
• H.Res. 54, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the U.S.P.S. should take all appropriate measures to restore service standards in effect as of July 1, 2012. Please contact Rep. David McKinley’s office at (202) 225-4172 to cosponsor.

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. 


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.  We thank you for your consideration regarding these critically important issues, and look forward to ongoing discussion and engagement with you in the coming months.


Peace,


Max Obuszewski, on behalf of Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore/Fund Our Communities -- Apt. 206, 431 Notre Dame Lane, Baltimore 21212

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski [at] verizon.net. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/

"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs