Message-ID: <002501c5c06c$804e8e40$26670445@DCLT2V21> From: "John & Liz Webster" <webjljt@triwest.net> Subject: Good News!!! Department of Peace Introduced in the Senate Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2005 13:27:48 -0500
September 22, 2005
Press Release from the Office of Minnesota Senator Mark Dayton
Dayton Introduces Legislation to Establish U.S. Department of Peace and
Nonviolence
Bill would elevate Reagan-established "Institute of Peace" to
Cabinet-level department
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Mark Dayton today introduced legislation
that would elevate the current, nonpartisan, federally-funded Institute
of Peace to a Cabinet-level department, dedicated to the study and
development of policies to promote peace and expand human rights.
Dayton's Department of Peace and Nonviolence Act is the Senate
counterpart to House legislation (H.R. 3760) introduced by
Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and cosponsored by 59 members of
Congress.
Speaking from the Senate floor, Dayton said, "If we are to remain the
world's leader, and if we are to lead the world into a more secure and
more prosperous future, we must become better known and more respected
for our peacemaking successes than for our military forces. Peace, to
have any lasting value, must be advanced, expanded and strengthened
continuously. Doing so requires skill, dedication, persistence,
resources, and, most importantly, people."
In addition to making it a Cabinet department, Dayton's legislation
would expand the focus of the Institute of Peace, which was established
by President Reagan in 1984, to include domestic issues. The Department
of Peace and Nonviolence would serve as a preventive counterpart to the
Department of State and the Department of Defense, which resolve
international conflicts and defend the nation from attacks.
Currently, the U.S. spends $400 billion on national defense, not
including the hundreds of billions being spent on the Iraq War. The
Department of Peace budget would be $8 billion annually, equivalent to 2
percent of total defense spending.
Appropriately, Dayton's legislation coincides with the 44th anniversary
of the nation's oldest federal agency dedicated to peace. On this day,
in 1961, President Kennedy signed legislation that created the Peace
Corps, an idea originally proposed by Senator Hubert Humphrey in 1957.
Hello Peace People of Wisconsin,
This is great news. We have been waiting for some one to introduce
the Department of Peace and Nonviolence legislation in the U. S. Senate.
Let us thank Senator Dayton and the people of Minnesota who helped to
make this possible.
Let us now contact our own Senators and urge them to co-sponsor the
Department of Peace and Nonviolence legislation. (S, 1756)
Senator Russ Feingold Senator Herb
Kohl
La Crosse Office: La Crosse
Office:
425 State St., Room 225 425 State St.,
Suite 202
La Cross, WI 54601-3341 La Crosse, WI
54601
(608-782-5585)
(608-796-0045)
Washington Office: Washington
Office:
506 Hart Senate Office Building 330 Hart Senate
Office Building
Washington DC, 20510-4904 Washington DC, 20510
(202-224-5323)
(202-224-5653)
Hope to see many of you Saturday at the La Crosse Peace Rally.
Say Yes to Peace Rally
September 24, 2005, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
La Crosse, WI, Cameron Park (5th and King)
5:00 PM - Open Mic for Peace (audience invited to speak out for peace)
6:00 PM - Invited Speakers
7:00 PM - Candlelight Peace March
8:00 PM - Candlelight Vigil and Peace Sing
Speakers include:
Bethany Jacobson (Mom of Soldier recently returned from Iraq)
John Medinger, former Mayor of La Crosse
Reverend Daniel C. Bruch, retired Lutheran minister
Senator Russ Feingold (invited)
Sponsors:
La Crosse Coalition for Peace and Justice
La Crosse Chapter of Women in Black
UWL Chapter of Women in Black
Interfaith Peace and Justice Network
UWL Students for Peace
Viterbo Students for Peace
La Crosse Baha'i Group
La Crosse Green Party
UWL Green Bikes
Department of Peace, WI Congressional District 3 Chapter
This is a sister rally to the peace event in Washington, DC on September
24, 2005. Bring peace signs, candles, lawn chairs, flashlights. Water
will be provided.
For more information contact Chris at createpeace@centurytel.net