PROJECT: HR 1940 International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2011

[M.Capestro]

The current Congress is in session until the end of 2012. We have until then to get the bill passed.

[StrngConviction]

The current Congress is in session until the end of 2012. We have until then to get the bill passed.

:yeahthat :yeahthat :yeahthat :yeahthat :yeahthat :yeahthat :yeahthat :yeahthat :yeahthat :yeahthat :yeahthat :yeahthat :yeahthat :yeahthat :yeahthat

[lovellboys]

It's part of my daily routine.....get up, go to work, call my Congressman....yada yada.....

[Diane]

Called, emailed and sent a snail mail to my Congressman. (Again)  Is it just me or does it seem like NOTHING of consequence gets passed anymore.   I also asked AGAIN, to have a personal meeting with Congressman Huizenga.   We have to at least make a giant effort again.  Perhaps with the Christmas spirit, they might find this issue more compelling and it should reach across party lines. 

[StrngConviction]

this is letter i sent Vickey Hartzler

My Son Dylan Warren( NCIC# M898970669 with National Center for Missing and Exploited Children) was abducted by his non- custodial Mother  Elizabeth Barker and taken to The Republic of Ireland. I need your support  and ask you to not only support the Bill that Chris Smith has before congress to pass , but to contact the State Department in support of having my Son returned under the Hague Convention guidelines.
    I have sole legal and physical custody , I have jumped through loops of fire to present Ireland with Affidavits of Law and Judges orders to have him returned , Article 15 Declarations that state this was a violation of MO. laws and is considered a parental kidnapping and child abduction and after all thhis I find out she is living in a homeless shelter for her drug use and domestic lifestyle that left her and the children homeless and abused. AND IRELAND IS STILL REFUSING TO SEND MY SON BACK UNDER HAGUE GUIDELINES.  but in fact is housing her and giving her what she needs to survive and keep this lifestyle going on. I beg you to please support this bill mentioned in this email and contact my OCI officer in the DOS , Mr. Worden at 1-202-647-4886. or email him at WordenN@state.gov
BELOW IS A LIST OF CONGRESSMAN IN SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION , PLEASE JOIN THEM !

As you may already know, Congressman Chris Smith re-introduced his bill on international child abduction on the eve of the May 24th hearing. The bill has a new number and name, although it is very similar to the 2009 bill which had been introduced in the previous Congress (HR 3240).

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-1940

Of the original 48 co-sponsors, 11 are no longer in Congress so we have 37 carry-overs (listed below) who were co-sponsors of the last bill. Certainly we should focus on asking them to co-sponsor the new bill in addition to reaching out to other members of Congress.

I will be checking in with Chris Smith's office this week to find out what, if anything, is different about the new bill.

Eleanor Norton [D-DC]
Marsha Blackburn [R-TN7]
Dan Burton [R-IN5]
Ken Calvert [R-CA44]
Steve Cohen [D-TN9]
John Duncan [R-TN2]
Jo Ann Emerson [R-MO8]
Jeffrey Fortenberry [R-NE1]
Trent Franks [R-AZ2]
Scott Garrett [R-NJ5]
Kay Granger [R-TX12]
Luis Gutiérrez [D-IL4]
Maurice Hinchey [D-NY22]
Timothy Johnson [R-IL15]
Leonard Lance [R-NJ7]
Thomas Latham [R-IA4]
Frank LoBiondo [R-NJ2]
Daniel Lungren [R-CA3]
Thaddeus McCotter [R-MI11]
Cathy McMorris Rodgers [R-WA5]
Gary Miller [R-CA42]
Jeff Miller [R-FL1]
James Moran [D-VA8]
Pete Olson [R-TX22]
Ted Poe [R-TX2]
Steven Rothman [D-NJ9]
Loretta Sanchez [D-CA47]
Aaron Schock [R-IL18]
James Sensenbrenner [R-WI5]
John Shimkus [R-IL19]
William Shuster [R-PA9]
Glenn Thompson [R-PA5]
John Tierney [D-MA6]
Michael Turner [R-OH3]
Maxine Waters [D-CA35]
Rob Wittman [R-VA1]
Frank Wolf [R-VA10] - Co-sponsor May 23, 2011
Allen West [R-FL22] - Co-sponsor

[StrngConviction]

Vickey Hartzlers DC office called me today that they are sponsoring it , and that she is handing my case over to her office that handles childrens issues but plans on calling the OCI in support of my cause ....guess we will see , she knew alot about the times it came up and referred to it as 3240 and knew it was up last May and is again up in AUG.

[ANALE]

Just sent my representative another e-mail.  Have never gotten a reply from any of the others.  I probably just have to make a pest of myself.

[StrngConviction]

i JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE with Vickie Hartzler's office( 3rd conference call with them in the last 2 years). Missouri congress woman, her office says that she is not on any of the committees that this bill is in front of. I said does that stop her from co-sponsoring it? All it takes is for her to make a phone call, explained my story and said that my son has already been refused , this is not for my son , this is for your son , your grandchildren , maybe even your great grandchildren. It only takes a phone call , a signature , to get this legislation co- sponsored , you say its a good piece of legislation , if you think so , why don't i see her name as one of the co- sponsors? Again , they will get in touch with Chris Smiths office and see where they stand with the bill and see where Vickie Hartzler wants to stand. I could only say , i will be watching the HR1940 site and hope to see her name as a cosponsor.

[StrngConviction]

Good afternoon, Mr. Warren:

I wanted to let you know that Congresswoman Hartzler had an opportunity to review H.R. 1940, the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2011, last week, and we are in the process of being added as a co-sponsor of the bill.

The Congresswoman was very concerned to hear of your story and struggle with the country of Ireland to have your son returned home. Our understanding is that H.R. 1940 is a priority of Chairman Chris Smith and his Subcommittee and that he will be pressing for a Full Committee hearing and mark up of the bill later this year. We are hopeful that passage of the bill would put in place tools to prevent any similar tragedy from occurring in the future.

Thanks again for reaching out to us and sharing a bit about your story. Feel free to let myself of Janna (copied on this email) know if there is any other way we can be of assistance.

Best regards,

[size=0pt]Leanna J. Baumer [/size]
[size=0pt]Legislative Aide [/size]
[size=0pt]Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4)[/size]
[size=0pt]1023 Longworth House Office Building[/size]
[size=0pt](202) 225-2876 | fax: (202) 225-0148[/size][size=0pt]http://hartzler.house.gov


Amazing how slow these people work, but even though I have been fighting a losing case , I am hoping that the fight i fight now for ALL  kids and LBPs in this situation now and in the future can reap the benefits of us LBPs that take the initiative to push this forward no matter what happens in our own cases.
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[M.Capestro]

Well done! That's great news!

[ANALE]

I am STILL working on my congresswoman.

[StrngConviction]

I am STILL working on my congresswoman.

That is awesome as well !

[pam.in.ny]

Thanks you strongconviction for your great efforts. Rep. Hartzler is NOW a cosponsor. WHOOP! WHOOP!!!!!!!
Thank you Rep Hartzler! New Cosponsor H.R. 1940: International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2011 Rep. Vicky Hartzler [R-MO4]

[StrngConviction]

Thanks you strongconviction for your great efforts. Rep. Hartzler is NOW a cosponsor. WHOOP! WHOOP!!!!!!!
Thank you Rep Hartzler! New Cosponsor H.R. 1940: International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2011 Rep. Vicky Hartzler [R-MO4]

that is wonderful! Rawrrrrrr!

[Bree]

I just read somewhere that there's 33 days till recess. 
Is that all the time we have left?