Seven hundred retired Military Special Operations professionals from the organization “Special Operations Speaks” sent a letter to the House of Representatives urging members to support H.Res 36, which will create a House Select Committee to investigate last September’s deadly terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya.
“It appears that many of the facts and details surrounding the terrorist attack which resulted in four American deaths and an undetermined number of American casualties have not yet been ascertained by previous hearings and inquiries,” the letter states. It continues further, ”Additional information is now slowly surfacing in the media, which makes a comprehensive bipartisan inquiry an imperative. Many questions have not been answered thus far.” The letter puts forth over twenty unanswered questions the select committee should address.
Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA), a sub-committee chairman on the House Appropriations Committee, issued a resolution for a House Select Committee to investigate issues surrounding the Benghazi Attack last November in the 112th Congress. He re-issued his resolution for the select committee when the 113th Congress began. The resolution currently has over 60 co–sponsors.
Only Speaker John Boehner (R–OH) can appoint a Select Committee and Boehner appears to mainly rely on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence to investigate the Benghazi attack. However, any information that may be garnered from that committee will, as always, remain classified.
It is very important to get movement on this before the 2014 elections. The answers to remaining questions on what happened in Benghazi could potentially affect the balance of power in the House and maybe even the Senate. Please contact your representatives!
Recently, Representative Frank Wolf (VA) introduced H. Res. 824, legislation that creates a special Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives to conduct a thorough investigation into the terrorist attack in Benghazi. As you will recall, this heinous act against our nation resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens.
Representative Wolf believes—and we wholeheartedly agree—that the families of the victims, as well as the American people, deserve to know what transpired last September 11th in Libya. It has been over 80 days since the attack and the American people still have not been provided answers to serious questions. This is unacceptable. It is critical that this special Committee be convened when the 113th Congress commences in January and that will only happen if the American people register their support NOW.
The more cosponsors Representative Wolf’s legislation receives, the more it will be clear to the members of the House of Representatives—and in particular the leadership there—that the American people are demanding answers regarding the Benghazi attack. Will you devote just a minute of your time today to ask your U.S. Representative to cosponsor Rep. Wolf’s bill? It only takes a moment, but when joined with thousands of others, it makes quite a roar—and it gets results. ACT! for America’s grassroots are getting a solid reputation on Capitol Hill for being folks who “get the job done.” As but one example, recently we asked our members to call their legislators and ask that they sign an important letter that was being circulated on the Hill. Within 48 hours of our calls, the number of legislators who signed the letter went from 25 to 97. A Hill staffer even contacted Lisa Piraneo, our Director of Government Relations, to let us know that the phones were ringing off the hook. Your actions are WORKING.
If you’d like to lend your voice to today’s important cause, please follow these easy steps:
** IMPORTANT ACTION ITEM **
Today, please call YOUR member of the U.S. House of Representatives and ask him/her to sign on to H. Res. 824, Representative Frank Wolf’s legislation creating a special Committee to investigate the Benghazi attack. Further, please circulate this Action Alert to everyone you know and post it on your social media sites!
NOTE: If you need help locating your elected official, visit our Contact Congress page by clicking HERE. Type in your zip code where indicated to locate your U.S. legislators. Click on your Representative and you can then see his/her contact information, including the phone number of the Washington, DC office.
If you know the name of your U.S. Representative, you also can call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be put through to that particular office. Please make your call NOW! Politely let your Representative know about H. Res. 824, Rep. Wolf’s bill, and ask that he/she sign on as a cosponsor. (Be clear that you are a constituent!)
Thank you for all that you do. Together, we are making a difference.
REMEMBER, YOUR VOICE COUNTS! IF EACH OF US DOES JUST A LITTLE, TOGETHER WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A LOT!
ACT! for America is the largest national security grassroots organization in America, ACT! for America reached nearly 240,000 members and over 700 local chapters by 2012.
*** LEGISLATIVE UPDATE! *** A REPORT ON THE 112TH CONGRESS: TOP U.S. LEGISLATORS TAKING ON RADICAL ISLAM by Lisa Piraneo, Director of Government Relations
As the 112th Congress winds down (it officially ends on January 3, 2013), we thought you might be interested in a review of the Members of Congress who have been particularly strong on national security issues over the past two years and, in particular, staunch defenders against the threat of radical Islam to our nation.
NOTE: You will be able to track the national security grade we’ve given to YOUR individual Member of Congress via our soon-to-be-released Congressional Scorecard. Stay tuned!
We feel that the following Members of Congress are at the top tier when it comes to consistently stepping up to the plate in the fight against radical Islam in the United States. Here’s why:
Congressman Peter King (NY-3) – As Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Congressman King has a history of being active in the fight against radical Islam, but particularly during the 112th Congress. Over the last two years, Chairman King has held five hearings on various aspects of Islamic radicalization. In addition, he has been a guest on the ACT! for America TV show, a speaker on one of our monthly Chapter Leader conference calls, and has actively participated in our annual Legislative Briefings. Chairman King is a sponsor of two legislative priorities of ours, H.R. 495, the “See Something, Say Something Act” and H.R. 2623, the “9/11 Commission Review Act.” He has been a recipient of multiple ACT! for America awards, including the National Security Eagle Award, our highest legislative honor. http://peteking.house.gov/
Congressman Allen West (FL-22) – Congressman Allen West, a freshman in the 112th Congress, hit the ground running on our issues. Already well-educated on radical Islam, he has consistently spoken out about the threat, and what our nation must do about it. The Congressman is a sponsor of one of our legislative priorities: H.R. 1142, the “Global Combat Zone Recognition Act” which would award the Purple Heart to victims of the Ft. Hood and Little Rock Arkansas jihadist attacks. He also has been a guest on the ACT! for America TV show, a speaker on one of our monthly Chapter Leader conference calls, a participant in our annual Legislative Briefings, the Keynote Speaker at a National Conference Gala Dinner and the Keynote speaker at this year’s Congressional Awards Luncheon. Congressman West has also received the National Security Eagle Award for two consecutive years, our highest legislative honor. http://west.house.gov/
Congressman Louie Gohmert (TX-1) – Congressman Louie Gohmert has been a strong ally in the defense against radical Islam. A former federal judge, the Congressman has spent much time on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives educating his colleagues and C-SPAN viewers about these issues. In addition, earlier this year, Congressman Gohmert introduced an ACT! for America petition into the Congressional Record. The petition was signed by thousands of Americans expressing their concerns about changes to government counter terrorism training materials. The Congressman has been a guest on a monthly Chapter Leader conference call, has participated in our annual Legislative Briefings, and has received our National Security Eagle Award, our highest legislative honor. http://gohmert.house.gov/
Congresswoman Sue Myrick (NC-9) – Congresswoman Sue Myrick was one of the first in the U.S. Congress to take a public stand against radical Islam. She was a co-founder of the House Anti-terrorism Caucus and addressed the issue of radical Islam in the House Intelligence Committee, where she led a hearing on the Muslim Brotherhood. Congresswoman Myrick has been a steadfast ally of ACT! for America. She is a sponsor of H.R. 504, the “First Responders Fighting Terrorism Protection Act,” one of our legislative priorities; she has participated in our annual Legislative Briefings, and has appeared as a guest on the ACT! for America TV show. The Congresswoman has received multiple awards including the National Security Eagle Award, our highest legislative honor for three consecutive years. Congresswoman Myrick is retiring from the U.S. Congress at the end of this year, but we know she will continue her crusade to protect our nation as a private citizen. http://myrick.house.gov/
Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-2) – Congressman Trent Franks has been a strong ally of ACT! for America for years, speaking out in defense of our nation’s religious and democratic freedoms and against the threat of radical Islam. Through these actions and as a sponsor of H.R. 668, the SHIELD Act, legislation that would protect our nation against the threat of an Electro Magnetic Pulse (EMP) attack (one of ACT! for America’s legislative priorities), the Congressman has demonstrated consistent leadership in the area of national security. Congressman Franks has been a speaker on a Chapter Leader conference call; he has appeared as a guest on the ACT! for America TV show, and he has participated in our annual Legislative Briefings. Mr. Franks also has received our National Security Patriot Award for four consecutive years. http://www.franks.house.gov/
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-6) – A participant in the Republican Presidential primary race, Congresswoman Bachmann has demonstrated time and again her leadership in the fight against radical Islam. She has taken the time to become educated on the threat (even attending some sessions of our annual National Conference on her personal time) and recently joined four of her colleagues in the House of Representatives to call for Inspector General-level investigations into whether the Muslim Brotherhood has impacted some of our federal agencies. Despite a vicious attack against her by the mainstream media and even some of her Republican colleagues, the Congresswoman did not back down. Mrs. Bachmann has been a guest speaker on a Chapter Leader conference call and has attended our annual Legislative Briefings. http://bachmann.house.gov/
Congressman Dan Lungren (CA-3) – Congressman Lungren, a former California Attorney General, has made national security issues a priority during the 112th Congress, in particular, the issue of radical Islam’s threat to our democratic freedoms. Particularly in his work on the House Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees, the Congressman has consistently grilled Administration officials on these matters, holding their feet to the fire. If you missed the Congressman’s grilling of Paul Stockton, Assistant Defense Secretary for Homeland Defense, you can view it by clicking HERE (trust us, it’s worth watching). Congressman Lungren has taken the time to get educated on the issue of radical Islam and further, has not been timid about speaking out about it. The Congressman addressed our members at the 2012 ACT! for America Legislative Briefing and was a recipient of this year’s National Security Patriot Award. http://lungren.house.gov/
Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21) – As Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and a member of the Homeland Security Committee, Congressman Smith has spent the 112th Congress focusing on many issues concerning our nation’s security—in particular strengthening our nation’s borders and ports. One of the bills that he introduced during this Congress, H.R. 1741, the Secure Visas Act, is a legislative priority of ACT! for America and he included an ACT! for America letter of support for the bill into the official Judiciary Committee Record. Congressman Smith has been a consistent ally of ACT! for America. He has participated in our annual Legislative Briefings and has been a recipient of the National Security Patriot Award for multiple years. http://lamarsmith.house.gov/
Congressman Jeff Duncan (SC-3) – A freshman member of the 112th Congress, Congressman Duncan was another federal legislator who “hit the ground running” on national security issues, immediately educating himself on the threat of radical Islam and then aggressively addressing that threat through his work on both the House Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees. Congressman Duncan is a sponsor of H.R. 3783, the “Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act” one of ACT! for America’s High Priority legislative proposals. In addition, he has sponsored one of our Hill Staff Briefings (on the issue of the Muslim Brotherhood), has addressed our members during our annual Legislative Briefings and has been a recipient of our National Security Patriot Award for the last two years. http://jeffduncan.house.gov/
Congressman Chip Cravaack (MN-8) – A freshman member of the 112th Congress, Congressman Cravaack has made national security issues a top priority, educating himself on Islamic radicalization and addressing this issue through his work in the House Homeland Security Committee. As both a former pilot and veteran, the Congressman has focused in particular on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Congressman Cravaack has been a guest speaker on a monthly Chapter Leader conference call, has spoken at our annual Legislative Briefing, and has been a recipient of our National Security Patriot Award for two consecutive years. http://cravaack.house.gov/
Congressman Frank Wolf (VA-10) – As Chairman of a House Appropriations Subcommittee that funds key counterterrorism agencies, the Congressman has a history of being focused on national security issues. He has been a vocal critic of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and was a witness at Congressman Peter King’s first hearing on Islamic radicalization. Congressman Wolf is the sponsor of H.R. 1502, the Team B Act, one of ACT! for America’s legislative priorities, and a co-author (with Chairman King) of legislation that would bring back the Co-Chairs of the 9/11 Commission to evaluate the implementation of their recommendations. In addition the Congressman has been a guest speaker on one of our monthly Chapter Leader conference calls and has spoken at our annual Legislative Briefings. He has also received our National Security Patriot Award for multiple years. http://wolf.house.gov/
Senator Joseph Lieberman (CT) – As Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, Senator Lieberman has been consistent in his focus on the threat of radical Islam. Under his leadership, the committee has investigated violent Islamist radicalization through multiple hearings (including a joint House Senate Hearing he held with Chairman King), and he ordered a formal investigation into the federal government’s conduct with regard to the Ft. Hood attack. The Senator has been a past recipient of the National Security Patriot Award. http://www.lieberman.senate.gov/
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Remember, as an ACT! for America grassroots activist, you are a crucial member of the resistance against radical Islam. Our country’s citizens are preparing to determine the makeup of the 113th Congress, as well as who will lead our country in the White House over the next four years. These are incredibly important decisions. Over the next two months, it is critical that you educate yourself on how the candidates running for elected offices in your community feel about the important issues—especially those relating to our national security.
Again, please look out for our upcoming Congressional Scorecard, which will grade your members of the U.S. Congress based on some key national security votes. We hope this information will be helpful to you as you decide who you will support on Election Day this November.
Again, thank you for all that you do. With your help, we ARE making a difference—both in your state and across the nation.
REMEMBER, YOUR VOICE COUNTS! IF EACH OF US DOES JUST A LITTLE, TOGETHER WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A LOT!
by KERRY PICKET:
