PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Action Alert
by WPA-SOAW Thursday, Mar. 04, 2004 at 7:06 AM
info_wpasoaw@yahoo.com

03.01.04 Melissa Hart's Confusing Legislative Tendencies

On February 19th, 2004, two members of WPA-SOAW attended a short presentation at the World Affairs Council. The presentation was given by Representative Melissa Hart (R-PA 4th). The talk was roughly based on the proposed trade agreements, such as FTAA, CAFTA, etc. and centered on Rep. Hart's recent experiences while abroad.

The Congressional delegation went on a whirlwind tour of South America (including Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Uraguay) that included meeting with US Ambassadors, Heads of State, and members from the private sector. In her presentation, Rep. Hart stressed her desire to "take steps to help those countries move forward."

On 9.11.03, Rep Hart cosigned House Resolution 911 which seeks to "authorize the establishment of a memorial to victims who died as a result of terrorist acts against the US or its people at home or abroad."

Although Rep. Hart has taken such noted and vigorous stances on anti-terrorism,j she is also a staunch supporter of the School of the Americas (now known as the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, or WHISC. For simplicity we refer to it as SOA/WHISC), a tax-payer funded combat school located at Fort Benning, Georgia. In addition to other serious human rights atrocities, SOA/WHISC trainees were responsible for the murder of four American churchwomen in El Salvador, 2 December, 1980. SOA/WHISC has been called the "biggest base of destabilization in Latin America" by former Panamanian President Jorges Illueca.

However, on the 19th of February, Rep. Hart refused to answer questions from the WPA-SOAW organizers as to why she continues to support the SOA/WHISC, yet call to "take steps to help those countries move forward."

Why is Rep. Hart not answering questions about the contradiction in her legislative history?

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Write Rep. Hart and ask her why she would not answer the questions about SOA/WHISC. Ask her if she plans to suggest that a memorial be built in honor of the churchwomen, as HR 911 states. Ask her if she will build the biggest memorial of all, and cosign HR 1258, legislation to close the SOA/WHISC and stop the training of these proficient killers.

As always, please remembers that you are taken more seriously if you maintain a polite tone. Please CC all correspondence to info_wpasoaw@yahoo.com so that we can track correspondence to use in future legislative meetings.

REPRESENTATIVE HART

Allegheny/Butler/Westmoreland Counties
4655 Route 8, Suite 124G
Coventry Square Shopping Center
Allison Park, PA 15101
Ph.412-492-0161
Fx.412-492-0178

Ellwood City Office
501 Lawrence Avenue
Ellwood City, PA 16117
Ph. 724-752-0490
Fx. 724-752-0494

Washington, DC Office
1508 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Ph. 202-225-2565
Fx. 202-226-2274

Email: http://www.hart.house.gov/contact.asp Rep. Hart doesn't have direct email, so you will have to go to this link.

WPA-SOAW: Serves the Western PA region, and is a coalition of students, religious and labor activists dedicated to shutting down the School of the Americas.

www.thomasmertoncenter.org/soa

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