Tips for Writing Letters to Congress
Why Congressional action is appropriate now:
First, Ukraine has fully met the requirements of Jackson-Vanik.
Congress enacted the Jackson-Vanik Amendment in 1974 to promote human
rights in the USSR. Today, independent Ukraine has an exemplary emigration
record, acknowledged by Presidents Clinton and Bush.
Ukraine has built a long record of open emigration, and has created
conditions in which religious minorities can freely practice their faith.
Second, graduation would be a big political win for President Yushchenko
in the run-up to Ukraine's March 2006 parliamentary elections.
We want to support Yushchenko, who offers Ukraine its best chance to
develop as a democratic market-economy and integrate into Europe - which
is very much in America's national interest.
Graduation (and receipt of permanent normal-trade-relations status)
will be an important boost for Ukraine's business and investment climate.
Third, graduating Ukraine from Jackson-Vanik meets one of the key
U.S. commitments from the April 4 Bush-Yushchenko Joint Statement.
Finally, graduating Ukraine from Jackson-Vanik is the right thing
to do.
The Senate has already passed legislation to graduate Ukraine (S. 632
on Nov. 18th, 2005.) Now it is time for the House to act.
Ukraine's record is every bit as good as those of Moldova, Armenia
and Kyrgyzstan when they were graduated from Jackson-Vanik.
Congressional action is supported by a broad coalition of Ukrainian-American
groups, Jewish-American groups, American business and NGOs.
HOW TO CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
If you know who your Representative is you can call the U.S. Capitol
telephone
operator at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to their
office. The offices
of all 435 Representatives and 100 Senators can
be
contacted through this
one telephone number.
You can ask to talk with your Representative's appropriate staff person
who handles
Jackson-Vanik legislation. This is also one way to obtain
the fax number you need.
You can also find your Representatives contact information by
selecting their name
from the Representative web sites list at the House
of Representatives website
www.house.gov.
Once you select your Representative click "go" and you will
be redirected to your
Representative's website. The contact information for your
Representative's
Washington, DC and district offices will be posted
on
the site. It is important to find
the fax number.
If you do not know who your Representative is visit the House of
Representatives
website at www.house.gov. To find your Representative
on the House website type
your ZIP+4 code in the appropriate boxes and
click "go".
HOW TO FIND YOUR ZIP+4 CODE
If you do not know your ZIP+4 code visit the United States
Postal Service website
at www.usps.com. Click on the "Find a Zip Code" section and
enter your address, city,
and state information, then click "submit".
WE RECOMMEND THAT LETTERS BE FAXED
Due to tight security/screening requirements, regular mail to Congress
can be significantly
delayed (like up to two weeks or more); we therefore recommend that
letters be faxed.
