CURB AMERICAN MILITARISM AND DEFENSE SPENDING

Daily Action
Written By Dick Thompson

Voting on the bloated National Defense Authorization Bill (NDAA) gives Congress the chance to reassert its power to declare war, end US support for the Saudi war against Yemen, and cut unnecessary defense spending.

QUICK READ: Now that we’ve left Afghanistan, there’s no justification for maintaining, much less increasing, military expenditures. In debating the defense budget, our MoCs must ensure that taxpayer dollars support families, not military contractors; that our complicity in the Saudi’s brutal war on Yemen cease; and that existing presidential war powers be repealed. 

TAKE ACTION NOW:

BACKGROUND

This week the Senate’s taking up the bloated National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), whose annual cost—$25 billion more than Biden requested, and $35 billion more than last year’s—is almost five times the BBB’s diminished price tag. 

680 amendments have been introduced. Choosing those receiving votes will determine both its cost and our military priorities. 

The House-passed NDAA, for the first time in decades, restricts US weapons sales to corrupt, undemocratic regimes that have caused significant harm, strengthens monitoring of US security assistance, and prevents aid to known human rights abusers. Another provision ends US complicity in the Saudis’ brutal war on Yemen, which Trump vetoed last year. The Senate must support all of these.

It must also limit the president’s power to unilaterally engage in war by repealing all 4 existing AUMFs [authorization of use of military force]. The House separately repealed the 1957, 1991, and 2002 but not the one most frequently used, the 2001 war-on-terror AUMF. The Senate, by NDAA amendment, must repeal them all.

Now that we’ve left Afghanistan, there’s no justification for maintaining, much less increasing, military expenditures. Our MoCs must lead the way, ensuring that taxpayer dollars support families, not military contractors.

ACTION One: Call the Senate.

Script for Oregon Senators

SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753

My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Now that we’ve left Afghanistan, there’s no justification for maintaining, much less increasing, military expenditures. I’m asking you to take the lead in ensuring that the NDAA that passes the Senate

  • cuts unnecessary defense spending
  • restricts weapons sales and security assistance to bad actors
  • ends US support for the Saudi war against Yemen
  • reasserts Congress’ power to declare war by repealing all 4 AUMFs.

SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Now that we’ve left Afghanistan, there’s no justification for maintaining, much less increasing, military expenditures. I’m asking you to take the lead in ensuring that the NDAA that passes the Senate

  • cuts unnecessary defense spending
  • restricts weapons sales and security assistance to bad actors
  • ends US support for the Saudi war against Yemen
  • reasserts Congress’ power to declare war by repealing all 4 AUMFs.

Script for Republican Senators

D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].

There is bipartisan support in the Senate to end US support for the Saudi war against Yemen and to repeal the authorizations for use of military force. Your constituents want them included in the final text of the NDAA.

ACTION TWO: Call the House.

Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)

Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Thank you for voting to repeal the AUMFs. When the NDAA returns to the House, please ensure that it

  • cuts unnecessary defense spending
  • restricts weapons sales and security assistance to bad actors
  • ends US support for the Saudi war against Yemen
  • reasserts Congress’ power to declare war by repealing all 4 AUMFs.

Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)

Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

When voting for the NDAA in the House, you had no qualms about its cost, even though its price tag is five times that of the infrastructure bills you oppose. It is shameful that you unthinkingly support welfare for military contractors but are unwilling to commit funds for the human and physical needs of your constituents.

Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Thank you for voting to repeal the AUMFs. When the NDAA returns to the House, please ensure that it

  • cuts unnecessary defense spending
  • restricts weapons sales and security assistance to bad actors
  • ends US support for the Saudi war against Yemen
  • reasserts Congress’ power to declare war by repealing all 4 AUMFs.

Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)

Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Thank you for voting to repeal the AUMFs. When the NDAA returns to the House, please ensure that it

  • cuts unnecessary defense spending
  • restricts weapons sales and security assistance to bad actors
  • ends US support for the Saudi war against Yemen
  • reasserts Congress’ power to declare war by repealing all 4 AUMFs.

Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)

Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].

Thank you for voting to repeal the AUMFs. When the NDAA returns to the House, please ensure that it

  • cuts unnecessary defense spending
  • restricts weapons sales and security assistance to bad actors
  • ends US support for the Saudi war against Yemen
  • reasserts Congress’ power to declare war by repealing all 4 AUMFs.

Action 3:

Dick Thompson
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