The time has come to rally together. Call your State Senators and Representatives and ask them to vote for SB233.
The Bill was just given this number and will be entered into the log on April 8th. It will probably be assigned to the Senate Finance committee. They can release the bill for vote or hold it in committee. It is important to reach those senators and tell them to approve SB233 and get it to the Senate floor for vote.
Finance Committee:
Nancy Cook- District 15 Kenton, south of Smyrna, Marydel, Hartley, Frederica, out to Maryland line nancy.cook@state.de.us 744-4237

Steven Amick- District 10 Glassglow south, south of canal above Middletown. Steven.amick@state.de.us 744-4138

Catherine Clouter- District 5 Heather brook, Claymont, Arden up to PA line Catherine.cloutier@state.de.us 744-4137 or wilm-577-8517

Margaret Rose Henry- District 2 City of Wilmington margaretrose.henry@state.de.us 7444191 or wilm 577-8719

David McBride- District 13 Newport and Newcastle david.mcbride@state.de.us 744-4167 or 577-8744

Bruce Ennis- District 14 Clayton, Delaware City, Townsend, Middletown 744-4237

These six people need to get emails, letters and phone calls from people in their districts and people in the State. If you know of anyone, schools, churches, businesses, organizations, clubs anyone who can join us and help call these people it is imperative that we let them know how important this issue is. These six people can hold the bill in committee and never have it released for a vote. We need to get it out on the Senate floor for a vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now is the time to get support for Senate Bill 233.

The Delaware Legislature was in session briefly in January. At that time Max Croes from the Genocide Intervention Network and myself met with key Senators and Representatives to discuss Delaware's divestment from the Sudan. The exchange of information was successful. Currently we have a number of key sponsors in the House and Senate.

Representative Don Blakey who originally established the resolution in the House is a key sponsor of the new Senate legislation which has yet to be signed a Bill number. Senator Harris McDowell is he lead in the Senate and is working to get legislation passed in Delaware. We expect a bill number to be assigned in early March when the legislature is in session. When the BILL is assigned a number that is the time to make phone calls to your representatives and senators asking them to support divestment from Sudan. I will keep you posted.

Yesterday Max Croes of the Genocide Intervention Network met with about 45 student at the University of Delaware to discuss divestment. That was a great turn out at the U of D. Keep up the good work.

Today Max met with a representative from Senator McDowells office in Wilmington to discuss the current senate bill and the proposed model legislation for Delaware Pension Fund Divestment from Sudan. The meeting went well and we are hopeful. The State pension board is reviewing the document and we hope to get Max back to Delaware to speak with them in the near future.

Max and I met with a representative from Speaker of the House Terry Spence's office at Legislative Hall in Dover today. They will examine the proposed legislation and be prepared for it when it reaches the Delaware House of Representatives after it passes in the Senate in the beginning of the year.

Now is the time to contact your State Senators and Representatives and ask them to be co-sponsors on the proposed legislation to Divest Delaware Pension funds from companies that are supporting the Sudanese government.

If you have friends that are state employees they need to call the State pension board and tell them they do not want their money invested in companies supporting the Sudanese government. Now is the time to create the wave that builds up to the surge in January when the legislation hits the Senate floor in Delaware. We need to let our Senators and Representatives know how we feel about Delaware money being used to fund to fund the genocide in Darfur.

Please urge others to call as activists for Darfur the State's elected officials need to hear your voice.

Best to all of you,

Robin

Hello all, Thanks to those of you that made phone calls.


Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) had said he would propose an amendment giving President Bush the authority to veto state and local divestment measures -- rendering the bill toothless. Activists across the country called Senate offices yesterday to express concern over this amendment, which he withdrew at the last minute. Thank you!

This came from GI network today. PLEASE CALL SENATOR CARPERS OFFICE TODAY. Lets not pass a bad bill as a token. Lets make sure they do it right in Washington. See talking points and phone number below.

A heartfelt thanks for your help. Robin

For the past six months, advocates have been working with the Genocide Intervention Network and our partner organizations to ensure passage of the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act (DADA).

Tomorrow, the Senate Banking Committee will vote on its version of this legislation, the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act (SADA). Senator Chuck Hagel has introduced an amendment that would make the bill toothless and ineffective.

Please call Senator Carper today at (302) 573-6291 and ask him to vote "NO" on the Hagel amendment.



Talking Points:

As a member of the Banking Committee, Senator Carper must vote down the Hagel amendment and support the passage of a strong SADA.
The Hagel amendment would not allow states to effectively divest from foreign companies helping to fuel the genocide.
A strong SADA will protect states that divest from the worst offending companies in Sudan as well as prohibit U.S. government contracts with companies fueling the genocide.


A strong bill must pass the Committee before it can be considered by the entire Senate.

Ask Senator Carper to vote "NO" to the Hagel amendment by calling (302) 573-6291.

-- Sam, Allyson and the GI-Net team

On June 28,2007 the Delaware Legislatures House of Representatives unanimously passed House Joint Resolution 9. The key sponsors were Rep. D. Blakey, Rep. M. Marshall, Sen. Henry, Rep. P. Thornburg and Rep. N. Wagner.

It states: BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the 144th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, with the approval of the Governor, that we condemn the genocide occurring in the Darfur region of Sudan and urge President George W. Bush and the Delaware Congressional Delegation to continue to work with the international community to halt these human rights violations, to impose appropriate economic sanctions, and to bring humanitarian assistance and lasting peace to the Darfur region.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Delaware Public Employees Retirement System should divest from foreign companies that have a business relationship with the government of Sudan, fail to support Sudanese civilians, fail to have a corporate governance policy regarding Darfur and are unresponsive to shareholder engagement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution be sent to President George W. Bush, the members of the Delaware Congressional Delegation and all state and local Chambers of Commerce.   Read More »