Making+Your+Views+Known

=Making Your Views Known=
 * **Complete the following simulation module**

=How a Member of Congress Decides to Vote= Members of Congress have many influences to draw upon when deciding how to vote for a bill: their conscience, input from constituents, party loyalty, and perhaps, pressure from the administration. In this module, you are a Member of Congress who will soon have to vote on a proposed Constitutional amendment to ban flag desecration. You will meet with all of the types of people who typically try to influence your thinking on a bill, including Members of your party, constituents, special interests, and the administration.

Cut/paste the following outline into a google doc. Complete the simulation and writing assignment. Share the doc with me at gsagan@gmail.com. Create a log of your experiences as a Member of Congress voting on an Amendment. You should include the key points, and vocabulary described in the simulation along with a personal narrative of your experiences.


 * 1) Hear from former Congressman Lee Hamilton
 * 2) Select a viewpoint that describes yourself an beliefs
 * 3) Become familiar with the Flag Desecration Amendment. What does it say?
 * 4) What are the major arguments pro/con about the Amendment?
 * 5) Attend meetings with experts, other members of Congress, people from your home district (your constituents) and special interest groups. You are required to attend at least four meetings with representatives from each side of the issue. Record who you met with and their position on the issue.
 * 6) What meetings were most helpful in the formation of your position on the amendment?
 * 7) Vote yea or nay on the amendment
 * 8) See how your vote compared with actual votes in Congress
 * 9) Hear from two Members who actually voted on the amendment. What did each member of Congress have to say about the amendment?
 * 10) Get a brief wrap-up of the exercise from Congressman Hamilton. How has your understanding of the daily life of a member of Congress changed?

Texas V Johnson Background Summary & Questions Texas V Johnson Lesson

Pennsylvania General Assembly =The United States House of Representatives, 111th congress, 2nd Session= =The United States Senate=

Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010
=Where does health care reform stand?=

=**US healthcare bills: House v Senate**=

=The Demi Brae Cuccia Awareness Organization =

Dear George: This bill will now go to the Senate Educational Com. It remains House Bill 2026 and we need it to be voted "as Amended" meaning no amendments!!! out of the Senate. No we do not have a sponsor but we are trying to get a couple republicans and a couple dems. to push this bill through the senate. I am personaly calling every senator on the educational commitee to get their support, Which has been very positive so far, If any senator attaches an amendment to this bill or changes the language by one word it will have to go back to the house and that would potentially kill the bill.. If we can get this voted out of the senate ed. commitee then it would go to the senate floor, we could have the Gov. sign this into law within a few weeks. Thank you for all your help. Dr. Gary Cuccia = = = = =How to Write a Powerful Letter to Congress=
 * Many citizens do not take the time to write to their representatives in Congress because they don't know how or don't believe that their letters will make a difference. Here is substantive guidance on how to write an effective letter, including a sample letter .**

To increase the impact of your letters to Congressmen, write legibly or use a computer and include your name and address so your congressman can respond.

Limit your letter to one page and address a single topic.

In general, letters should be three short paragraphs. The first paragraph should state that you support or oppose a position or piece of legislation. The second paragraph should explain, briefly, the reasons for your support or opposition. The third paragraph should ask the Congressman to write back explaining his position on the legislation. Avoid exaggeration and, when appropriate, document your position with an accompanying article or editorial. State your view firmly, but avoid name-calling or making threats. Try to be reasonable, factual, and friendly. Even if you disagree with your? your Representatives on most issues, be sure to commend them if they have done something right. It will establish that you are fair and will encourage them to pay closer attention to subsequent complaints about their performance.

Whenever possible, refer to bills and resolutions by number. It will help your Congressman to determine exactly which measure you are interested in and will demonstrate that you know what you are talking about. Finally, time your letters to arrive at mid-week, rather than on Monday, when deliveries are heaviest, or on Friday, when the weekend rush hits.

It is a good idea to follow-up your Congressman's response, or lack thereof, with another brief letter - regardless of the position he takes. If the Congressman agrees with you, send a one or two sentence letter of thanks for his stand in favor of limited, Constitutional government. If the Congressman disagrees with your position, reply with a brief letter quoting the section of his letter with which you take issue and restate your position.

Elected officials listen most intently to letters from voters in their own districts, and hardly listen at all to voices from outside of their districts. In most cases, it is not worth the trouble to write to officials who do not represent your state and district. The majority of Congressional offices automatically forward non-constituent letters to the Congressional office representing the letter-writer. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Your letters to members of Congress or to the President may be addressed this way: The President of the United States The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President:
 * The President**

The Honorable Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator ___:__
 * A Senator**

The Honorable House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Mr. _:
 * A Representative**

Jason Altmire 724-378-0928 www.altmire.house.gov

The Honorable Capital Bldg. Harrisburg, Pa. 17120
 * Pennsylvania General Assembly**

Jane C. Orie 40th State Congressional District jorie@pasen.gov 412-630-9466

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May 4, 2001

Dear Member of Congress: The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), representing the commissioners, secretaries, and directors of agriculture in the fifty states and four territories, urges you to support the "Pesticide Harmonization Act" currently before Congress.

Estimates show that our farmers pay 40 to 50 percent more than their Canadian counterparts for identical crop protection products. This disparity exists, even though these farmers are competing in the same marketplace.

The "Pesticide Harmonization Act" (H.R. 1084 and S. 532) amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to grant states the authority to issue state registrations for certain Canadian pesticides. The Act will only apply to pesticides whose composition is identical or substantially similar to a U.S. domestically-registered pesticide.

This legislation was written with the cooperation of the Environmental Protection Agency, who administers FIFRA. It will not weaken or endanger the current registration process for domestic pesticides nor will it allow unsafe pesticides to enter our markets. The Pesticide Harmonization Act will provide our farmers with a level playing field and equal access to crop protection products currently available to their counterparts in Canada. We urge you to cosponsor this important legislation.

Sincerely, Leon C. Graves, Commissioner Vermont Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets President of NASDA