Every November, thousands of persons of conscience gather at Ft. Benning, Georgia, to stand in solidarity with those affected by the atrocities committed by SOA graduates. This annual vigil serves as a powerful reminder of the work that can be accomplished by those who care enough to take a stand and take action. On January 17, 2001, the School of the Americas was renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. This was the result of a Department of Defense proposal included in the Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal Year 2001. The measure passed when the House of Representatives defeated a bipartisan amendment to close the school and conduct a congressional investigation by a narrow 10-vote margin. We at Sojourners urge you to look into the SOA/WHISC and to become a voice for the voiceless, to speak out in the name of those who no longer can. Please use our sample letter to contact your congressperson and urge him or her to support HR 1258, a bill to officially close the SOA, form a joint committee to investigate the school and determine whether or not it is appropriate for the U.S. military to conduct this kind of training of foreign soldiers, and prevent another cosmetic remake of the SOA. The full text of HR 1258 and its co-sponsors follows. For more information, visit School of the Americas Watch at: http://www.soaw.org/

HR 1258: (Latin American Military Training Review Act)

Text:
To repeal the statutory authority for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (the successor institution to the United States Army School of the Americas) in the Department of Defense, to provide for the establishment of a joint congressional task force to conduct an assessment of the kind of education and training that is appropriate for the Department of Defense to provide to military personnel of Latin American nations, and for other purposes.

CLOSURE OF INSTITUTE - The Secretary of the Army shall close the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.

Repeal: (1) Section 2166 of title 10, United States Code, is repealed.

Limitation on establishment of new education and training facility: No training or education facility may be established in the Department of Defense for Latin American military personnel (as a successor to the United States Army School of the Americas, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, or otherwise) until the end of the 10-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.

Establishment of a Joint Congressional Task Force:

There is established a joint congressional task force to conduct an assessment of the kind of education and training that is appropriate for the Department of Defense to provide to military personnel of Latin American nations.

Report:

Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the task force shall submit to Congress a report on its assessment under subsection (a). The report shall include--
(1) a critical assessment of courses, curriculum, and procedures appropriate for such education and training; and
(2) an evaluation of the effect of such education and training on the performance of Latin American military personnel in the areas of human rights and adherence to democratic principles and the rule of law.

Latest List of Co-Sponsors:

Name - Sign-on date [State - District]
(128 + McGovern as of 7/20/04)
Rep. Abercrombie, Neil - 11/21/2003 [HI-1]
Rep. Ackerman, Gary L. - 7/9/2004 [NY-5]
Rep. Allen, Thomas H. - 3/13/2003 [ME-1]
Rep. Andrews, Robert E. - 10/2/2003 [NJ-1]
Rep. Baca, Joe - 7/19/2004 [CA-43]
Rep. Baldwin, Tammy - 3/13/2003 [WI-2]
Rep. Bell, Chris - 10/28/2003 [TX-25]
Rep. Biggert, Judy - 7/25/2003 [IL-13]
Rep. Bishop, Timothy H. - 5/15/2003 [NY-1]
Rep. Blumenauer, Earl - 3/13/2003 [OR-3]
Rep. Boehlert, Sherwood L. - 3/13/2003 [NY-24]
Rep. Boucher, Rick - 3/19/2003 [VA-9]
Rep. Brown, Sherrod - 3/26/2003 [OH-13]
Rep. Capps, Lois - 4/30/2003 [CA-23]
Rep. Capuano, Michael E. - 3/13/2003 [MA-8]
Rep. Carson, Julia - 4/30/2003 [IN-7]
Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy - 6/12/2003 [MO-1]
Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. - 3/31/2004 [MI-14]
Rep. Costello, Jerry F. - 3/13/2003 [IL-12]
Rep. Crowley, Joseph - 3/18/2004 [NY-7]
Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. - 6/12/2003 [MD-7]
Rep. Davis, Danny K. - 4/10/2003 [IL-7]
Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. - 3/13/2003 [OR-4]
Rep. DeGette, Diana - 5/11/2004 [CO-1]
Rep. Delahunt, William D. - 3/13/2003 [MA-10]
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. - 3/26/2003 [CT-3]
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd - 3/13/2003 [TX-10]
Rep. Doyle, Michael F. - 4/11/2003 [PA-14]
Rep. Emanuel, Rahm - 10/29/2003 [IL-5]
Rep. Engel, Eliot L. - 4/3/2003 [NY-17]
Rep. English, Phil - 3/13/2003 [PA-3]
Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. - 9/10/2003 [CA-14]
Rep. Evans, Lane - 3/13/2003 [IL-17]
Rep. Farr, Sam - 11/7/2003 [CA-17]
Rep. Fattah, Chaka - 6/3/2004 [PA-2]
Rep. Filner, Bob - 3/10/2004 [CA-51]
Rep. Frank, Barney - 3/13/2003 [MA-4]
Rep. Gordon, Bart - 3/2/2004 [TN-6]
Rep. Green, Gene - 10/28/2003 [TX-29]
Rep. Grijalva, Raul M. - 3/13/2003 [AZ-7]
Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. - 3/13/2003 [IL-4]
Rep. Hinchey, Maurice D. - 3/13/2003 [NY-22]
Rep. Hinojosa, Ruben - 4/10/2003 [TX-15]
Rep. Hoeffel, Joseph M. - 4/3/2003 [PA-13]
Rep. Honda, Michael M. - 4/2/2004 [CA-15]
Rep. Holt, Rush D. - 3/13/2003 [NJ-12]
Rep. Hooley, Darlene - 3/13/2003 [OR-5]
Rep. Israel, Steve - 3/10/2004 [NY-2]
Rep. Jackson, Jesse L., Jr. - 10/28/2003 [IL-2]
Rep. Jackson-Lee, Sheila - 9/24/2003 [TX-18]
Rep. Jefferson, William J. - 3/31/2004 [LA-2]
Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice - 7/14/2004 [TX-30]
Rep. Jones, Stephanie Tubbs - 6/3/2004 [OH-11]
Rep. Kennedy, Patrick J. - 4/11/2003 [RI-1]
Rep. Kildee, Dale E. - 3/13/2003 [MI-5]
Rep. Kilpatrick, Carolyn Cheeks 7/7/2004 [MI-13]
Rep. Kind, Ron - 6/3/2003 [WI-3]
Rep. Kleczka, Gerald D. - 3/13/2003 [WI-4]
Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. - 3/13/2003 [OH-10]
Rep. LaHood, Ray - 3/13/2003 [IL-18]
Rep. Lampson, Nick - 3/2/2004 [TX-9]
Rep. Lantos, Tom - 7/10/2003 [CA-12]
Rep. Larsen, Rick - 1/28/2004 [WA-2]
Rep. Larson, John B. - 9/3/2003 [CT-1]
Rep. Lee, Barbara - 3/13/2003 [CA-9]
Rep. Levin, Sander M. - 3/13/2003 [MI-12]
Rep. Lewis, John - 3/31/2004 [GA-5]
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe - 3/13/2003 [CA-16]
Rep. Lowey, Nita M. - 10/30/2003 [NY-18]
Rep. Lucas, Ken - 9/24/2003 [KY-4]
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. - 3/13/2003 [MA-9]
Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. - 1/20/2004 [NY-14]
Rep. Markey, Edward J. - 3/13/2003 [MA-7]
Rep. Matsui, Robert T. - 5/15/2003 [CA-5]
Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn - 4/30/2003 [NY-4]
Rep. McCarthy, Karen - 7/7/2004 [MO-5]
Rep. McCollum, Betty - 3/13/2003 [MN-4]
Rep. McDermott, Jim - 3/13/2003 [WA-7]
Rep. McNulty, Michael R. - 3/13/2003 [NY-21]
Rep. Meehan, Martin T. - 1/20/2004 [MA-5]
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. - 4/1/2004 [NY-6]
Rep. Miller, George - 3/13/2003 [CA-7]
Rep. Moore, Dennis - 3/13/2003 [KS-3]
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold - 4/10/2003 [NY-8]
Rep. Neal, Richard E. - 9/24/2003 [MA-2]
Rep. Norton, Eleanor Holmes - 3/13/2003 [DC]
Rep. Nussle, Jim - 9/9/2003 [IA-1]
Rep. Oberstar, James L. - 3/13/2003 [MN-8]
Rep. Olver, John W. - 3/13/2003 [MA-1]
Rep. Owens, Major R. - 10/28/2003 [NY-11]
Rep. Pallone, Frank, Jr. - 3/13/2003 [NJ-6]
Rep. Paul, Ron - 3/13/2003 [TX-14]
Rep. Payne, Donald M. - 3/31/2004 [NJ-10]
Rep. Peterson, Collin C. - 3/26/2003 [MN-7]
Rep. Price, David E. - 3/27/2003 [NC-4]
Rep. Quinn, Jack - 3/13/2003 [NY-27]
Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II - 3/13/2003 [WV-3]
Rep. Rangel, Charles B. - 12/8/2003 [NY-15]
Rep. Rothman, Steve R. - 11/18/2003 [NJ-9]
Rep. Rush, Bobby L. - 3/13/2003 [IL-1]
Rep. Ryan, Tim - 3/16/2004 [OH-17]
Rep. Sabo, Martin Olav - 3/13/2003 [MN-5]
Rep. Sanchez, Linda T. - 5/15/2003 [CA-39]
Rep. Sanders, Bernard - 3/13/2003 [VT]
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. - 3/13/2003 [IL-9]
Rep. Serrano, Jose E. - 3/13/2003 [NY-16]
Rep. Shays, Christopher - 3/13/2003 [CT-4]
Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh - 3/13/2003 [NY-28]
Rep. Smith, Adam - 10/7/2003 [WA-9]
Rep. Stark, Fortney Pete - 4/3/2003 [CA-13]
Rep. Strickland, Ted - 3/2/2004 [OH-6]
Rep. Stupak, Bart - 4/30/2003 [MI-1]
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. - 4/30/2003 [MS-2]
Rep. Tierney, John F. - 5/15/2003 [MA-6]
Rep. Towns, Edolphus - 4/10/2003 [NY-10]
Rep. Udall, Mark - 3/13/2003 [CO-2]
Rep. Udall, Tom - 4/3/2003 [NM-3]
Rep. Van Hollen, Chris - 11/18/2003 [MD-8]
Rep. Velazquez, Nydia M. - 3/31/2004 [NY-12]
Rep. Walsh, James T. - 4/30/2003 [NY-25]
Rep. Waters, Maxine - 6/3/2003 [CA-35]
Rep. Watt, Melvin L. - 3/13/2003 [NC-12]
Rep. Waxman, Henry A. - 4/3/2003 [CA-30]
Rep. Weiner, Anthony D. - 1/20/2004 [NY-9]
Rep. Wexler, Robert - 3/13/2003 [FL-19]
Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. - 3/13/2003 [CA-6]
Rep. Wu, David - 4/10/2003 [OR-1]
Rep. Wynn, Albert Russell - 10/30/2003 [MD-4]