Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) have introduced [1] legislation that would impose new restrictions on U.S. military support for Saudi Arabia (S.J.R. 32). [2] Companion legislation in the House (H.J.R. 90) [3] has been introduced [4] by Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL). Bernie Sanders surrogate Larry Korb has indicated that Senator Sanders would support the bill. [5] The legislation would require the President to certify that Saudi Arabia is cooperating with the U.S. against terrorism and protecting civilians in its war in Yemen before U.S. weapons could be transferred to Saudi Arabia. Urge your Senators and Representative to co-sponsor this legislation by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-paul-introduce-legislation-to-set-new-conditions-for-us-military-support-to-saudi-arabia- 2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/32 3. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-joint-resolution/90 4. https://lieu.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-lieu-introduces-bi-partisan-bill-establish-new-guidelines 5. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/larry-korb-sanders-would_b_9760510.html

I regard drones as cowards' weapons, responsible for many collateral deaths and lasting destruction of families and communities. Being morally opposed to their use I need that information before supporting a candidate.

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) have initiated a bipartisan letter to President Obama urging him to maintain his policy of refusing to transfer shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles (“Manpads”) to Syrian combatants. This letter highlights the repeated votes by the House of Representatives in 2015 and 2016 that prohibited the use of any DOD funds to transfer Manpads to any party in the Syrian Civil War. Manpads can be fired at aircraft by individuals on the ground and easily hidden or transported in the trunk of a car. U.S. and Israeli officials have expressed concern that they could be used by terrorists to bring down commercial airliners. Since their first use against a civilian aircraft in 1978, thirty fatal MANPAD attacks have resulted in almost 1,000 civilian deaths. While the Obama Administration had previously opposed the transfer of MANPADs to parties in Syria, according to the Wall Street Journal, “Saudi Arabia and Turkey have increased pressure on Washington to up the ante in support of the moderate opposition in part by calling for the introduction of weapons systems that they know are a red line for Mr. Obama, such as Manpads.” [1] The transfer of these dangerous weapons to any non-state actor would be irresponsible, but the transfer to opposition groups in Syria could be particularly dangerous. Weapons transferred to Syrian insurgents in the past have wound up being used by insurgents in Iraq against the U.S.-backed Iraqi army and have been captured by terrorist groups Al-Nusra and ISIS. Urge your Representative to sign the Conyers-Yoho letter against sending Manpads to Syria by signing our petition. 1. http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-readies-plan-b-to-arm-syria-rebels-1460509400

Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) have introduced legislation to prevent the U.S. from continuing to support Saudi-led military campaigns in places like Yemen where Saudi Arabia’s year-long campaign has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis and a security vacuum that has empowered our terrorist enemies al Qaeda and ISIS. The Murphy-Paul bipartisan legislation will require the President to formally certify that the government of Saudi Arabia is demonstrating an ongoing effort to target terrorist groups, minimize harm to civilians, and facilitate humanitarian assistance before Congress can consider the sale or transfer of air-to-ground munitions to Saudi Arabia. [1] “I have yet to see evidence that the civil war we’re supplying and supporting in Yemen advances our national security. The more it drags on, the clearer it becomes that our military involvement on behalf of the Saudi-led coalition is prolonging human suffering in Yemen and aiding the very groups that are intent on attacking us,” Senator Murphy said. “I believe, along with Sen. Murphy, that the U.S. should halt the sale of air-to-ground munitions to Saudi Arabia until Congress has conducted proper oversight and ensured that such munitions are being used in a way that is consistent with our country’s national security strategy and values,” Senator Paul said. The Murphy-Paul legislation will require the President to attest that Saudi Arabia is concretely demonstrating its anti-terror efforts and protection of civilians before Congress can consider a sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia. [2] Urge the Senate to support the Murphy-Paul bill for greater oversight of U.S. weapons sales to Saudi Arabia by signing our petition. References: 1. http://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-paul-introduce-legislation-to-set-new-conditions-for-us-military-support-to-saudi-arabia- 2. https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/32

Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Keith Ellison, a high-profile supporter of Bernie Sanders, and former State Department official Huma Abedin, a high-profile supporter of Hillary Clinton, are two of the most prominent Muslim Americans in American politics. Apparently, the anti-American terrorist group Daesh ("ISIS") has a problem with the involvement of Keith Ellison and Huma Abedin in American political life. Apparently, that contradicts the anti-American Daesh propaganda line that there's no place for Muslims in America. Apparently, that's why Daesh has issued death threats against Keith Ellison and Huma Abedin. [1] Urge Congress to pass a resolution condemning Daesh death threats against Keith Ellison and Huma Abedin by signing our petition. References: 1. https://twitter.com/keithellison/status/720347634624524288

Americans for Peace Now - the US affiliate of the mainstream Israeli peace movement Shalom Achshav (Peace Now) - is calling for President Obama to support action in the United Nations Security Council to help bring about a diplomatic resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict. [1] This is common sense: when the big powers want to resolve conflicts diplomatically, the United Nations Security Council is where they go to do it. That's how we got a diplomatic agreement on Iran's nuclear program; that's how we got a diplomatic agreement for a ceasefire in Syria. Unfortunately, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee [AIPAC] is lobbying Congress in the opposite direction, urging its activists to "encourage your senators and representative to oppose efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the U.N. and other international bodies." AIPAC doesn't want the UN Security Council to take any action because AIPAC doesn't want the Israel-Palestine conflict to be resolved diplomatically. AIPAC wants to maintain the cruel and unjust status quo, which is guaranteed to produce more violence and unnecessary suffering for Israelis and Palestinians. Urge Congress to stand with Americans for Peace Now in favor of a diplomatic resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict by signing our petition. References: 1. http://peacenow.org/entry.php?id=17702

As a part of a school project I was encouraged to take global action on the topic of animal abuse. My goal is to get the US government to talk to other nations about animal rights and how animals should be treated. Specifically, my goal is to enact an international law that requires all pet stores to sell only animals that are in local animal shelters.

The Obama administration is weighing whether to sell dozens of advanced U.S. fighter jets to Qatar, a country that has been publicly rebuked by the U.S. Treasury Department for failing to take decisive action against Qataris who are providing funds to anti-American terrorist groups, including the al Qaeda-backed al-Nusra Front in Syria. Delaware Democratic Senator Chris Coons says the deal should not go forward until Qatar shows concrete evidence of a change in behavior. “The Qataris have shown a tolerance for extremism among the groups they have supported within Syria that has caused some real friction with our other regional allies and with the United States,” Sen. Coons said. [1] Urge President Obama and Congress to hold up the deal until Qatar makes concrete progress on cutting off money from Qatar for Al Qaeda in Syria. References: 1. http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/03/29/qatar-wants-to-buy-dozens-of-u-s-warplanes-why-wont-washington-sell-them/

CIA-backed armed groups in Syria have been attacking Syrian Kurdish forces that the Pentagon supports because they are fighting against ISIS. According to the Los Angeles Times, CIA-backed groups that have attacked Syrian Kurds include Fursan al Haq and the Suqour Al-Jabal brigade. [1] Urge Congress to cut off all U.S. assistance to armed groups in Syria that have attacked Syrian Kurds by signing our petition. 1. http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-cia-pentagon-isis-20160327-story.html

We must remove all products and divest from all companies directly supporting the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestine. Israel illegally confiscates privately owned Palestinian property; imprisons Palestinian citizens for years without charge; and uses checkpoints to restrict the movement of Palestinians, even during childbirths and medical emergencies. In Gaza, the situation is even worse because citizens are denied access to food and medicine due to the Israeli-imposed blockade. The infrastructure also has not been rebuilt since the 51-day assault on Gaza in 2014, Operation Protective Edge, which killed nearly 1,500 civilians. Since its recognition as a state in 1949, Israel has violated over 30 United Nations Security Council resolution, which are legally binding. In 2015, the United States gave Israel $10.2 million a day in military aid alone. That means that last year the US spent nearly $4 billion on Israel’s military. This funding, provided by American taxpayers, allows the military to maintain it’s illegal occupation of Palestine, carry out military assaults on Gaza, and use military grade weaponry to “police” Palestinian territory. The city council has the opportunity to make known their grave concern regarding Israel’s official system of segregation and repression of non-white Jewish Israeli citizens, Israeli citizens of Palestinian descent, and Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza. New Orleans should no longer be party to contracts, licenses, or investments with the apartheid state of Israel. Consumer goods contributing to the illegal Israeli occupation must also be banned. Sign here to urge city council to act now to declare New Orleans an Apartheid-Free City. يجب علينا إزالة جميع المنتجات والتخلص من جميع الشركات الداعمة مباشرة للاحتلال الإسرائيلي غير الشرعي لفلسطين إسرائيل بشكل غير قانوني نصادر ممتلكات فلسطينية خاصةو تسجن المواطنين الفلسطينيين لسنوات دون تهمة,وتستخدم نقاط التفتيش لتقييد حركة الفلسطينيين، حتى أثناء الولادة وحالات الطوارئ الطبية في غزة، فإن الوضع أسوأ من ذلك لأن المواطنين محرومون من الحصول على الطعام والدواء بسبب الحصار الذي تفرضه إسرائيل. وأيضا لم يتم بناؤها منذ الهجوم لمدة 51 يوما على قطاع غزة في عام 2014 البنية التحتية، عملية وقائية الحافة، والتي قتل فيها نحو 1500 مدنيا. منذ الاعتراف باسرائيل كدولة في عام 1949، انتهكت إسرائيل أكثر من 30 قرار مجلس الأمن التابع للأمم المتحدة، التي هي ملزمة قانونيا في عام 2015، أعطت الولايات المتحدة إسرائيل 10200000 $ يوميا في المساعدات العسكرية وحدها. وهذا يعني أنه في العام الماضي في الولايات المتحدة أنفقت ما يقرب من 4 مليارات $ على الجيش الاسرائيلي. هذا التمويل المقدم من قبل دافعي الضرائب الأميركيين، يسمح الجيش للحفاظ عليه من الاحتلال غير الشرعي لفلسطين، تنفيذ الهجمات العسكرية على غزة، واستخدام الصف الأسلحة العسكرية إلى "الشرطة" الأراضي الفلسطينية مجلس المدينة لديه الفرصة للتعريف عن بالغ قلقهم بشأن النظام الرسمي اسرائيل من التفرقة والقمع من غير البيض المواطنين اليهود الإسرائيليين المواطنين الإسرائيليين من أصل فلسطيني، والفلسطينيين الذين يعيشون في الضفة الغربية وقطاع غزة. يجب نيو اورليانز لن يكون طرفا في العقود والتراخيص، أو الاستثمارات مع دولة الفصل العنصري في إسرائيل. السلع الاستهلاكية المساهمة للاحتلال الإسرائيلي غير الشرعي يجب أن تكون محظورة التوقيع هنا : لحث مجلس المدينة أن نتحرك الآن لإعلان نيو اورليانز في مدينة الفصل العنصري مجاني

The US and California Constitutions clearly prohibit the UC Regents from restricting campus speech critical of the Israeli Government. The LA Times recently exposed the folly of censoring political speech under the guise of a tolerance policy. http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-uc-intolerance-20160316-story.html

The Saudi attack has caused thousands of civilian deaths, turned cities to ruins and has brought hunger to millions. Al-Qaeda has exploited the chaos in Yemen as an opportunity to expand. The Saudi monarchy demands total obedience in the name of religion and enforces its will with beheadings and other cruel punishments. It is spending tens of billions to spread its extremist ideas worldwide and we see the result from Iraq to Afghanistan to San Bernardino. No more U.S. support for this Saudi monarchy.