Request from Nat'l Religious Campaign Against Torture: House of Reps to vote on Amendment

[annm4peace]

Dear Friends,

We have just learned that later this week the House of Representatives is very likely to vote on an amendment to the FY 2011 National Defense Authorization Act that would require government agencies to provide the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with access to all detainees. As you know, this will be an important step toward codifying a crucial piece of the President's executive order on interrogations. The ICRC plays a critical role in monitoring the treatment of detainees and thereby helps to prevent torture.

While we are optimistic, a positive vote on this amendment is not guaranteed. Please contact your Representative immediately to ask him or her to vote for the ICRC amendment. We have prepared a model email for your use which is available on our website at: http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2162/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=2647. Please feel free to personalize the email.

Thank you so much for your help!

Sincerely,

Rev. Richard Killmer
Executive Director, NRCAT

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(here is the letter you can send, on the link above)

Dear Member of Congress:

As a person of faith, I strongly believe that no person should be tortured or abused. For that reason, I believe that our country should allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) access to all detainees. This is current practice, since President Obama, on January 22, 2009, issued an executive order that requires all government agencies to provide the ICRC with access to detainees in a manner consistent with that of the military. However, it is not yet law. I believe that we should codify this practice into law.

Please work to pass legislation requiring that all government agencies report detainees to the ICRC and allow access to them. Doing so will ensure objective oversight of their treatment while in confinement. It is also in line with our morals as a nation - we should not be a nation that "disappears" people.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,