Sample Letter on a Current Issue
Support the Pro-life Provisions in Spending Bills
The Jordan/Shuler Letter That was Signed by 180 Members of Congress  

You can still send an e-mail similar to the letter that 180 members of Congress signed. The letter that was sent to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and two committee chairpersons. Personalize the below sample e-mail or send it as is. A link to each representative's online e-mail form is at the beginning of the e-mail.

In addition, you might use the below letter or the other sample letters on this issue and the other resources related to it, please put a letter in your own words (or use a sample letter as is), and mail it to your federal House representative, your two federal senators, and President Obama. It's much better to send a form letter than not to send a letter at all.

Two pro-life representatives, Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Heath Shuler (D-NC), circulated in Congress the letter that asked Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Rules Committees to either include all current abortion funding restrictions in upcoming spending bills or to allow floor votes on any such restrictions deleted in committee.

Source in HTML: http://www.priestsforlife.org/legislation/shuler.htm
PDF copy of actual letter with signatures:
http://blog.aulaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/pro-life_riders_letter_final_w_signatures.pdf
(The below sample letter has been edited so that an individual can send it.)

Send the below e-mail to the three following three recipients:

John Doe
12345 Main St
Minneapolis MN 55418-3209

February 18, 2009

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House

The Honorable David Obey, Chairman, Appropriations Committee

The Honorable Louise Slaughter, Chairwoman, Rules Committee

Dear Madam Speaker, Mr. Chairman, and Madam Chairwoman:

Subject: Please Retain All Pro-life Riders in Appropriations Bills

I join the many House representatives writing to you about critical pro-life policies that may become contentious in the upcoming appropriations process. As you know, for many years pro-life measures have been added to the various appropriations bills to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to promote or perform abortion, protect the consciences of health care professionals, and prevent funding for unethical human embryo experiments. Often referred to as pro-life riders, each year these provisions are included in legislation reported out of Appropriations subcommittees.

Some of these measures have been in place for over thirty years. The Hyde Amendment, for example, has been in effect since 1976. Enacted under a Democratic Congress, the Hyde Amendment has been renewed by administrations and congresses regardless of party control. Members of both parties have expressed strong support for these measures, which reflect the moral concerns of many Americans who do not wish to see their tax dollars used for any organization that provides abortion services.

I respectfully request that the pro-life riders be included in any legislation reported out of the Appropriations Committee. I believe that failure to include all of the current policies with regard to the right to life will mark a radical departure from a policy a majority of Americans support. If you choose to take such action, then I ask that the Rules Committee report a rule that allows for consideration of any deleted riders on the floor of House of Representatives. The magnitude of this issue and the history associated with it require no less. If this Congress intends to rescind these riders, at a minimum, the American people deserve a full debate with an up-or-down vote.

Thank you for your time and consideration of my request.

I would appreciate a response to my letter.

Sincerely,

[Signature]
John Doe

Related Pages
Ending Abortion
How You Can Help in Any of a Number of Ways
Contact Your Elected Officials
Sample Letters on Current Issues
Support the Pro-life Provisions in Spending Bills