Two Saudi sailors have been killed by Houthi rebels in Yemen in what Saudi Arabia has called a suicide boat attack and Houthis rebels have called a missile attack. [1] Fox News reported that the Pentagon believes the attack was meant for a US warship. [2] Trump Administration national security adviser Michael Flynn blamed Iran and threatened unspecified retaliation against Iran. [3] This dangerous situation was anticipated by Congress when it passed the War Powers Resolution during the Vietnam War. U.S. military forces are participating in the Saudi war in Yemen. There is a significant risk that U.S. forces will be drawn deeper into military conflict against Houthi rebels and possibly even against Iran. Yet Congress has never authorized the use of force against Houthi forces in Yemen, nor against Iran. Under the War Powers Resolution, a single Member of Congress can force a debate and vote on the deployment of U.S. forces to a conflict that has not been authorized by Congress. [4] Urge your Representative and Senators to invoke the War Powers Resolution to force a debate and vote on U.S. participation in the Saudi war in Yemen before further U.S. military escalation by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.yahoo.com/news/2-saudis-killed-yemen-rebel-sea-strike-coalition-060300258.html 2. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/01/31/exclusive-pentagon-believes-attack-on-saudi-frigate-meant-for-us-warship.html 3. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/01/iran-trump-michael-flynn-on-notice 4. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/warpower.asp

President Trump's anti-Muslim immigration executive order has sparked outrage worldwide. But one government has kept strangely silent: the government of Saudi Arabia. The New York Times reported: "King Salman of Saudi Arabia, home of Islam’s holiest sites, spoke to Mr. Trump by telephone on Sunday but made no public comment...Even the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a group of 57 nations that considers itself the collective voice of the Muslim world, kept quiet." The Times noted that in issuing is order, "Trump invoked the Sept. 11 attacks three times. Yet Saudi Arabia, which was home to 15 of the 19 attackers, was not included on the list of countries whose citizens would be shut out." [1] The Organization of Islamic Cooperation is based in Saudi Arabia, which might have something to do with the silence of this purported "collective voice of the Muslim world." The Saudi government markets itself in the Islamic world as "protector of the Muslims," even as it bombs and blockades Muslim civilians in Yemen with U.S. participation. Urge Members of Congress to demand the Saudi government end its silence on Trump's #MuslimBan by signing our petition. References 1. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/world/middleeast/donald-trump-muslims-reaction.html

We need the leaders of the world to stand up to, and not appease, a global bully and the architect of his hate-full policies.

Steve Bannon is a dangerous right-wing extremist, and Donald Trump just gave him a seat at the most powerful table in the world. The National Security Council is a group of the president's most senior military, diplomatic, and intelligence advisors, or at least it's supposed to be. Under a directive issued on Saturday by Donald Trump, Steve Bannon—the "alt-right," white-nationalist chief strategist to the president—has been appointed to the inner circle of the NSC, while the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the director of national intelligence have been relegated to attend NSC meetings on an "as needed" basis. This unprecedented move politicizes our national security far beyond what George W. Bush and Karl Rove did, and it opens the door to even more disastrous efforts like the Iraq War and the Patriot Act—or much worse. Thankfully, Congress has the power to stop this. Congress created the National Security Council and as recently as last year passed legislation regulating it. Right now, members of Congress are drafting legislation to keep Steve Bannon off the National Security Council and protect the independence of our national security from Donald Trump's political meddling. This isn't just about sending a message. Bannon is reportedly the driving force behind the extreme, un-American executive orders Trump has issued in his first week in office. In fact, according to CNN, Bannon personally spearheaded Trump's order banning all immigrants and visa holders from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S., and slamming America's door to all refugees indefinitely. Congress must immediately undo this politicization of America's national security. Bannon represents the worst of the Trump administration's hardliners. He has made a career out of facilitating the rise of white nationalism, argued that being perceived as evil is a source of political power, has been praised by the KKK and neo-Nazis, and more. All signs suggest that Bannon believes deeply in the so-called clash of civilizations and that the United States needs to be made into a hub for a new kind of right-wing populism centering on white identity politics. We cannot let this vision be the beating heart of our nation's national security policy. We know that this is terrifying. But the amazing mobilization of our movement over the past 10 days shows that we have the power to stop this. Millions of us have taken to the streets: from the unprecedented Women's March to the actions across the country at airports that helped reunite families torn apart by Trump's Muslim ban. Now it's time to keep the architect of Donald Trump's hateful and dangerous agenda away from America's national security. Take two minutes to make sure your members of Congress hear loudly and clearly that they must act.

We the people of the State of California herby request that you do everything in your collective and individual power not to allow construction of a wall along our border with Mexico. We also request that you come out and speak publicly denouncing any attempt at overreach from President Trump or any branch the Federal Government in construction of this wall. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, 408,870 persons were caught crossing the California/Mexico Border in 2015. That same Agency reports that 1.1 million persons were caught crossing the California/Mexico Border, on annual average, between 1980 and 2008. The Pew Research Center reports that we are at a 50 year low in illegal border crossings. Let us state again, "A 50 YEAR LOW!" We thank you in advance for your leadership, courage, and good representation of the voters of our great State. It is also our ardent hope that the other U.S./Mexico Border States follow our lead in denying construction of this completely absurd and unnecessary wall along the border of our neighbors to the south.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin has blocked a Senate resolution that would condemn UN Security Council Resolution 2334 against Israeli settlements in the West Bank. New Mexico Senator Tom Udall has said that if Senator Durbin were to lift his hold on Rubio-Cardin's S. Res. 6, Senator Udall would place his own hold. [1] Thank Senator Durbin and Senator Udall for standing up for peace by signing our petition. References: 1. http://forward.com/fast-forward/361245/dick-durbin-blocks-senate-move-to-condemn-un-resolution-on-israeli-settleme/

Not only is this an expensive and flawed solution, the wall would infringe upon private property - AND would violate over 30 laws - including the Endangered Species Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. John F Kelly, the Secretary of Homeland Security, says - "It won't work. A physical barrier will not do the job, it has to be a layered defense."

Stopping refugee resettlement, for any period of time for any group of people, would undermine our nation’s founding principles of being a beacon of freedom and hope. An announcement restricting access to resettlement from primarily Muslim countries is tantamount to the Muslim ban that President Trump threatened during his campaign. This is a clear case of discrimination based on religion and nationality and must be decried as such. This is a program that saves hundreds of lives every day, and strengthens our communities and our nation. Stopping refugee resettlement will have profound and detrimental consequences. Lives will be lost and our national interests and security will be at risk. The United States can – and must – continue to welcome refugees while continuing to ensure our own security. Our history has proven you don’t need to make a choice, and we should continue to do both. We urge President Trump to not stop refugee resettlement for any period of time, lower the amount of refugees we resettle, or stop resettlement based on religion or country of origin.

Pulling out of the United Nations would have detrimental effects on our relationships with other countries including our allies. Tell congress we won't stand for this!

On January 5, freshman Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin [MD-8], widely seen as a progressive champion, cast a breathtaking vote in support of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. He voted for the Royce-Engel H. Res. 11, which attacked UN Security Council Resolution 2334 for restating the opposition of the international community to illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. [1] These illegal settlements are an existential threat to hopes for a diplomatic resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict. But now Jamie has an opportunity to make restitution for his vote in support of illegal settlements. He can join Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and dozens of other Senators and Representatives in supporting the candidacy of Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Keith Ellison to lead the Democratic National Committee. [2] Unlike Jamie - but like Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi - Keith voted no on the Royce-Engel pro-settlements resolution. [3] Join us in pressing Jamie to support Keith by signing our petition. References: 1. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll011.xml 2. https://keithfordnc.org/endorsements/ 3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/01/05/keith-ellison-votes-against-gops-israel-resolution/

The United Nations is necessarily an imperfect human institution. It's basically a parliament whose members are governments. If the governments are far from Heaven, the UN isn't going to be magically angelic. But as Henny Youngman asked: "Compared to what?" Before the UN existed, the world was not better off. It was worse off. Some people in Washington are having an outrage festival because the UN Security Council - with the support of the Obama Administration - criticized illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. During her confirmation hearing to be the next U.S. ambassador to the UN, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley harshly condemned the Obama administration for allowing the UN Security Council to criticize Israel and pledged to never let it happen again if confirmed. She also said the U.S. should threaten to cut U.S. funding to the UN, which would violate a U.S. treaty obligation. [1] Senators Marco Rubio and Ben Cardin are pushing the same attack in S. Res. 6: bashing the UN Security Council for restating the international community's longstanding opposition to illegal Israeli settlements. [2] Insisting that the UN can't say anything about the Israel-Palestine conflict is an unrealistic fantasy. The UN has to represent the whole world, not just the pro-settlements lobby in the United States. Urge Senators to push back against the Haley-Rubio-Cardin attack on the UN and oppose S. Res. 6 by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-nominee-nikki-haley-set-to-show-skepticism-about-value-of-un/2017/01/17/4558615a-dcf0-11e6-acdf-14da832ae861_story.html 2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-resolution/6/cosponsors

The Saudi war in Yemen has caused a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, [1] with over 10,000 killed and 80% of the population in need of humanitarian assistance, including 14 million people who can't afford adequate food for their families. The U.S. has assisted Saudi Arabia's reckless airstrikes that frequently hit unlawful civilian targets. [2] These attacks have placed U.S. personnel at legal risk of aiding and abetting possible war crimes. [3] Following a Saudi airstrike on a funeral procession that killed 155 people, [4] the U.S. decided to withhold the sale of precision-guided munitions but continue refueling Saudi aircraft. [5] This sent a mixed signal and did not protect civilian lives. If we continue to refuel the Saudi aircraft that bomb civilians, our condemnation of those Saudi airstrikes will become cruel hypocrisy. Reps. Ted Lieu [D-CA] and John Conyers [D-MI] are circulating a letter to President Obama urging him to stop the refueling of Saudi warplanes that are bombing civilians in Yemen. Urge your Representative to sign the Lieu-Conyers letter by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-34011187 2. https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/09/22/urgent-need-international-inquiry-yemen 3. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/11/opinion/americas-moral-duty-in-yemen.html 4. http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/15/middleeast/yemen-funeral-strike-saudi-arabia/ 5. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/12/13/with-small-changes-u-s-maintains-military-aid-to-saudi-arabia-despite-rebukes-over-yemen-carnage/