Ecuador Forum

OceanHideaway
Joined 2010
Posts: 6876

11 years ago

Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act

11 years ago

Help us get HR 597 passed. It’s our time to show who we are as U.S. citizens abroad.

To date, many of the harmful effects of federal laws and policies on Americans abroad have been unintentional.

With the passage HR 597 lawmakers would be much better informed about those unintended consequences. Congress would have a better idea of who we are, where we live, and the impact of Federal law on us on issues like taxation, immigration, voting rights, and access to financial institutions.

Our good friend in Congress, Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY and Chair of the Congressional Americans Abroad Caucus) said Americans living and working abroad "are our country’s informal ambassadors around the globe and help strengthen the U.S. economy and promote American influence. Their concerns about how their government interacts with them deserve to be heard -- and paid attention to -- here in Washington."

Representative Maloney just introduced HR 597 with Reps. Honda (D-CA) and Napolitano (D-CA) as co-sponsors. The bill was first introduced in the last Congress, but it did not get on any Committee agenda for lack of multiple co-sponsors. A reasonable strategy for Democrats Abroad would be to get another dozen sponsors this year, including a few Republicans.

Congresswoman Maloney is now seeking co-sponsorship for the bill from other members of the House -- on both sides of aisle! We need your help. Contact your representatives to help in the cause. A letter from you now, asking your Representative to sponsor HR 597, will help move the bill through the legislative process.

A short letter will be enough to draw attention to this important bill. Here's an example:

"Dear ___________: As one of your constituents, I ask that you co-sponsor bill HR 597, the Commission on Americans Living Abroad Act, to examine the range of issues faced by the 6 million Americans who live outside the United States. Such a Commission would be extremely helpful in recognizing our contribution to the American political process and the U.S. economy. I am a proud US citizen living in ________ (your country)."

( It's always a good idea to add a personal appeal, if you have time.)

If you do not know the name of your Representative or his or her address, please go to http://www.house.gov/ and submit your U.S. voting address.

Address the letter to The Honorable ___________, United States House of Representation, Washington. DC 20515

Your letter always gets more notice if you enclose a $1 -- it goes into a different pile for review.

Help us get HR 597 passed. It’s our time to show who we are as U.S. citizens abroad.

The bill can be found at;

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr597/text

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