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PLEASE FOLLOW UP ON THIS LEGISLATIVE ALERT PRIOR TO JULY 26th, 2012
(based on a text prepared by Tina Minkowitz with minor edits by Myra Kovary)
Please take action and pass the word through email lists and networks:
(based on a text prepared by Tina Minkowitz with minor edits by Myra Kovary)
Please take action and pass the word through email lists and networks:
The
United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD),
the first human rights treaty that has a chance of ratification, is
fighting to get out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
without any new RUDs (reservations, understandings and declarations).
There is a good chance it will be ratified by the full Senate if it gets out of committee.
The issues inflaming opponents right now are abortion (which the treaty
doesn't take a stand on either way, though it does accord the same rights to
women with disabilities as other women have with regard to reproductive health) and
parental rights (which the treaty doesn't affect other than to assert that parents with disabilities have the same rights as parents without disabilities).
The CRPD is important for people with disabilities in this country and doesn't threaten U.S. sovereignty. Rather, it calls for dialogue about how to fulfill the human rights of people with disabilities and encourages cooperation between government and civil society.
Here is a sample letter to send to the Senators:
The CRPD is important for people with disabilities in this country and doesn't threaten U.S. sovereignty. Rather, it calls for dialogue about how to fulfill the human rights of people with disabilities and encourages cooperation between government and civil society.
Here is a sample letter to send to the Senators:
"I am a person with a disability (or I have a family
member with a disability, etc.) and I support ratification of the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Please support
the CRPD in the Committee meeting on July 26th and vote in favor of the
treaty in Committee without any new reservations, understandings or
declarations, and move it forward to a full floor vote in the Senate.
We would like to have the treaty ratified by the anniversary of the
Americans with Disabilities Act at the end of July."
Legislative alert originally prepared by:
Tina Minkowitz, Esq.
CONTACT:
Chairman: Senator John Kerry (D-MA) SUPPORTS CRPD!
Chief counsel: Andrew Keller andrew_keller@foreign.
Ranking Member: Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN)
Chief counsel: Michael Mattler michael_mattler@foreign.
Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) COSPONSOR OF CRPD!!
Foreign Relations Legislative Aide: Amber Bland ( amber_bland@barrasso.senate.
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Foreign Relations Legislative Aide: Ann Norris ( ann_norris@boxer.senate.gov) OR
Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) SUPPORTS CRPD!
Foreign Relations Legislative Aide: Katharine Beamer ( katharine_beamer@cardin.
Senator Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA)
Foreign LA: Damian Murphy ( damian_murphy@casey.senate.
Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) COSPONSOR OF CRPD!!!
Foreign LA: Halie Soifer ( halie_soifer@coons.senate.
Senator Bob Corker (R-TN)
Foreign LA: Stacie Oliver ( stacie_oliver@corker.senate.
Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)
Foreign LA: Lydia Morgan ( lydia_morgan@demint.senate.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) COSPONSOR OF CRPD!!!
Foreign LA: Chris Homan ( chris_homan@durbin.senate.
Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
Foreign LA: Joel Starr ( joel_starr@inhofe.senate.gov
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Foreign LA: Chris Sullivan ( chris_sullivan@isakson.
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT)
Foreign LA: Miriam Harmer ( miriam_harmer@lee.senate.gov
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
Foreign LA: Jodi Herman ( jodi_herman@menendez.senate.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Foreign LA: Victor Cervino ( victor_cervino@rubio.senate.
Senator Jim Risch (R-ID)
Foreign LA: Chris Socha ( chris_socha@risch.senate.gov
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) SUPPORTS CRPD!
Foreign LA: Chad Kreikmeier ( chad_kreikemeier@shaheen.
Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) COSPONSOR OF CRPD!!!
Foreign LA: Matt Padilla ( matthew_padilla@tomudall.
Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) SUPPORTS CRPD!
Foreign LA: Marta Ross ( marta_mclellanross@webb.
Legislative alert originally prepared by:
Tina Minkowitz, Esq.
Center for the Human Rights of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry
International Representative
World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry
