Sample Call Script for June 23 Call-in Day

Take Action!

Call your representative before the House of Representatives votes on renewing Plan Colombia! A vote is likely the week of June 27. Thursday, June 23 is the national call-in day, but if you can't make your call on Thursday, you can make your voice heard any time before the actual vote.

You can reach your congressional representative by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Ask to speak with the foreign policy aide.

If you do not know who your representative is, click here and type in your zip code. Demand a cut in military aid to Colombia in 2006!

Here's a sample script for the call - modify it to personalize your message.

I am a constituent calling about Colombia legislation on the upcoming foreign operations appropriations bill. I would like Representative ________ to support a new policy toward Colombia, and I urge him/her to vote YES on any amendments that cut military aid to Colombia, or that cut military aid and transfer it to social aid. Plan Colombia is supposed to end this year, and given its failures, I believe it should be replaced by a policy that works. Drug crop fumigation in Colombia has not helped lessen the price or availability of drugs on U.S. streets, and direct human rights violations by the Colombian military have increased since U.S. aid began in 2000. We need a major shift away from fumigation and military aid, and toward alternative development programs and aid to displaced families. I would like Representative _______ to vote to change this policy, and to prioritize social assistance instead of military aid.