US ACTION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS
Efforts are underway in the United
States to limit the use of cluster munitions. While the US government is
not formally supporting the international convention to ban cluster
munitions, much is being done at the national level.
Members of the
Senate and the House have introduced legislation that will, if enacted,
ban the use, production and sale of cluster munitions by the United
States.
This legislation
will:
-
Prohibit the
U.S. government from using, selling or transferring cluster munitions
with less than a 99 percent functioning rate.
-
Prohibit the
use of U.S.-made cluster munitions in civilian-populated areas and,
-
Require that
if cluster munitions are used the President must submit to Congress
within 30 days a plan for cleaning up unexploded sub-munitions.
This legislation,
titled the
Cluster
Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2007, was introduced in the
Senate as S.594 on February 14th 2007, and in the House of
Representatives as H.R. 1755 on April 18, 2007. These two proposed bills
are currently being discussed in subcommittees in both houses of Congress.
Co-sponsors continue to be
added as support for this legislation grows.
Your
participation can make a difference.
Contact your
Senator or
Congressperson and urge them to cosponsor or support Cluster Munitions
Civilian Protection Act of 2007 (S. 594) and (H.R. 1755).
U.S. Capitol Switchboard
(202)224-3121:
Ask for your specific Senator or
Congressperson's office. Remember that
telephone calls are usually taken by a staff member, not the member of Congress. Once connected, ask to speak with the aide who handles cluster munitions and new legislation issues.
After identifying yourself, tell the aide you
would like to leave a brief message, such as: "Please tell
Senator/Representative (Name) that I support (S.594/H.R.1755) the Cluster
Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2007."
You will want to state reasons for your support
of the act. You may also ask for your senator's or representative's
position on the bill and/or request a written response to your telephone
call.
US
Committee to Ban Landmines (USCBL) Takes on Cluster Bombs.
