Date: Fri, 11 Jul 97 16:07:35 EDT From: "communications" Subject: HRC Action Alert: Meet With Lawmakers When Congress Recesses ________________________________________________________ ACTION ALERT COLUMN from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: hrc@hrc.org WWW: http://www.hrc.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, July 11, 1997 CONGRESS COMES HOME FOR AUGUST Set Up A Meeting With Your Lawmakers While They're in Your Neighborhood; It's Easy and Essential Your U.S. senators and representatives are coming home to their districts for the August congressional recess, so now is a perfect time to set up a meeting with them about the issues you care about. Meeting with our lawmakers is both easy and essential in working to end discrimination, secure equal rights and protect the health and safety of our families. And remember -- when Congress isn't hearing from us, they are hearing from anti-gay groups seeking to promote discrimination against us. There is a great deal to discuss with your members of Congress: cosponsoring the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill to protect Americans from job discrimination based on sexual orientation; amending federal hate crimes laws to include sexual orientation; securing adequate funding to fight HIV/AIDS; and addressing lesbian health concerns. Hearing from you when they are at home helps your lawmakers do the right thing when they return to Washington -- so get out your appointment book! Set Up a Meeting 1.) Contact the Human Rights Campaign's Field Department for free information on the issues and a lobbying manual that makes it easy to set up and conduct an effective meeting with your lawmakers: * Call (202) 628-4160 and ask for the Field Department; * Write to the Human Rights Campaign, Field Department, 1101 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20005; or * Look for the manual through HRC's Online Action Center at http://www.hrc.org/congress/lobby.html 2.) Then call Congress at (202) 224-3121 and ask for the office of the senator or representative you want to meet with. When you are connected, ask for the scheduler so you can set up a constituent meeting with your lawmaker during the August recess. The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. To join, call (800) 777-4723. - 30 -