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Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America
funding: Washington, DC (JBANC) --- Despite growing support among House members for the measure, the continuation of International Broadcasting to Central and East Europe was not discussed on the House floor and the bill does not include the necessary funding for those foreign language services. Action now moves to the Senate with the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and State to mark up the bill. With the approaching summer recess, set to begin August 4, it is expected that a subcommittee mark up will take place the first week of September. The bill moves then to the full Appropriations committee, followed by a vote on the Senate floor. In this five-week timeframe, it is essential that calls be made to Senate Appropriations Committee members to ask that funding for these broadcasts be restored. Please send fax, letter, or telephone Senate appropriators to help preserve VOA and RFE/RL being heard in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Your help is necessary to have funding for these broadcasts alive. See sample letters below: The Honorable "FirstName" "LastName" United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 RE: Restoring funding for VOA and RFE/RL Dear Senator "LastName": 1) I urge you to support the restoration of funding for Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Baltic language services. It is vital that America's voice continue to be heard. Baltic language broadcasting offers much needed objective news and analysis about America and the world. 2) I ask for your support for the restoration of funding to Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Baltic language services. To close or cut back the European services is to invite serious misunderstandings about the American people and their policies. This broadcasting offers objective news and analysis about America and the world at a relatively low cost. 3) It takes time for democracy and other concepts of freedom to flourish after decades of totalitarianism. The media in the Baltic region are still at times uncertain. It is for these reasons that I ask for your support in restoring funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Voice of America (VOA) Baltic language services. They are a vital tool in maintaining a free and responsible media in Lithuania and its neighboring countries. 4) As a constituent, I urge you to support the restoration of funding to Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Baltic language services. To close these European services invites a loss of U.S. presence and prestige in the region. The broadcasts should remain until the Baltic countries are fully and formally members of NATO. 5) Please support the restoration of funding to Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Baltic language services. Certain U.S. government agencies acted prematurely in seeking to close all the Baltic broadcast services, not fully realizing the damage to U.S. prestige and public image in the Baltics that would result by the abrupt pull-out of the services. These broadcasts are the most effective and direct way of communicating about America to the people of Europe. Sincerely, * Senate Appropriations Commerce/Justice/State Subcommittee Members to
Contact: Best results can be obtained by contacting Senators from your state and Congressmen from your district.
Chicago/Washington - A critical NATO enlargement vote took place in the U.S. Senate on May 17th. The Senate by 85 to 6 approved the long-pending Freedom Consolidation Act (S. 1572). This crucial legislation assured 20 million dollars in military aid for NATO enlargement for Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. ACTION REQUIRED Please mail, phone, fax and/or e-mail the offices of both U.S. Senators and thank them for this endorsement of NATO enlargement. Here is the key message point: -Thank the senators for voting for the Freedom Consolidation Act (S. 1572) How to Contact Your Senators: PHONE CALLS can be directed to the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Ask for your senator's office. Once connected, explain that you are a constituent, politely convey your position. E-MAIL addresses for each senator are available from the Senate website at www.senate.gov. Be sure to include your regular mailing address in the text of your e-mails, so that the senators know that the message comes from their constituents. FAXES can be sent to Senate offices that publish a fax number (see www.senate.gov). REGULAR MAIL can be sent to: Senator [Name] |
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