Saturday, May 18, 2013

Care About Your City? Write to Your Congressmen.

I'm incredibly green and naive when it comes to all things political, but in light of this week's Dr. Douglas Karpen allegations, I'm trying to humbly take action nonetheless. So I just emailed my local congressional representative.

If you care about the welfare of your city and the vulnerable within its walls, maybe you want to take a stab at writing your rep, too? It's pretty simple.

I fired off a quick message asking my district rep to support H.R. 1797, the bill protecting fetuses against late-term abortions, post-20-weeks—the point in the gestation period when fetuses are known to feel pain. The bill will go before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice THIS THURSDAY. I don't know much about the proposed legislation, but I wanted to let Texas District 9 Rep. Al Green know I care about his attention to the marginalized and tell him I support his service to our city.

Maybe it won't do any good, but I hear "people who think members of Congress pay little or no attention to constituent mail, are plain wrong. Concise, well thought out personal letters are one of the most effective ways Americans have of influencing law-makers."

Want to try it?

1. Find your local representative with this house.gov ZIP search.
2. Read these tips on writing an effective three-paragraph message.
3. Submit your letter via your representative's online contact form, making sure to include your mailing and email addresses.

Not sure how well my attempt successfully fits the format above, but I've copied it below as an example. Do you have mad congressional-communication skills? I'd love some tips! Send 'em my way, because I hope today's episode is just the first in a long line of pesky—yet, positive—political pings.


Dear Honorable Representative Green:

I am a new-to-Texas transplant and work for an international, Houston-based non-profit. I hope to learn more about advocating for the vulnerable in the developing world—and our own city. That's why I was shocked to learn of this week's allegations against one of Harris County's own, Dr. Douglas Karpen. I'm grieved at the possibility that these allegations could be true of abortion clinics anywhere, but especially in the city I now call home.

This Thursday, May 23, Arizona Rep. Trent Franks' "Unborn Child Protection Act" will go before the  House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice as H.R. 1797. If passed, it would help protect post-20-week fetuses from late-term abortions. This is the gestation period at which fetuses are known to feel pain. I am encouraged by this bill's existence and think, if instated, it will directly affect unborn children in Harris County.

Please consider co-sponsoring H.R. 1797 with your signature. And thank you for your continued service to our great city.

Meredith Maines

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