On September 22, CODEPINK along with over 20 national and local organizations met with Representative Mark Pocan to discuss Redirecting Pentagon spending to pay for social programs including healthcare, green jobs, and infrastructure.
During the meeting, representatives from peace groups:
✅ Discussed reducing Pentagon spending and investing in human needs
✅ Asked Representative Mark Pocan to co-sponsor H.Res. 476, legislation to cut the Pentagon budget by $350 billion
✅Asked Representative Mark Pocan to vote against any National Defense Authorization Act that did not cut Pentagon funding by 10%.
✅ Asked Representative Mark Pocan how groups can grow the Congressional Defense Spending Reduction Caucus
This discussion included important information about spending tradeoffs and the myth that Pentagon spending is the best way to create jobs. Attendees also discussed the monetary and human costs of the F-35 fighter jet program.
The meeting was a great success!
Representative Mark Pocan Committed to:
🎉Becoming an original Co-sponsor on House Resolution 476 to cut the Pentagon budget by $350 billion
🎉Vote for legislation to cut the Pentagon budget by 10%
🎉Vote against the National Defense Authorization Act that fails to cut the Pentagon budget by 10%.
Get involved
These important victories were only made possible because constituents and member groups organized a meeting with their representative. If you're interested in learning how to set up a meeting with your Congressional representative and receiving support from CODEPINK members, become a CODEPINK Congress liaison! Sign up here.
You can also reach out to your representative to ask them to support H. Res. 476 to cut the Pentagon budget by $350 billion!
The full list of Organizations that participated by signing on to a letter to Representative Mark Pocan include:
Peace Action WI
Poor People's Campaign, WI
Women's International League for Peace & Freedom - Milwaukee Branch
Wisconsin Resources Protection Council
Interfaith Peace Working Group
Kickpoo Peace Circle
Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice
Madison-Rafah Sister City Project
First Unitarian Society - Madison Justice Ministry
Physicians for Social Responsibility, Wisconsin
CODEPINK
Progressive Democrats of America
Wisconsin Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars
Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes
Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice
United Nations Association of Dane County
United Nations Association - Greater Milwaukee
Quaker Meeting Madison, WI
Veterans For Peace/Milwaukee Chapter 102
Safe Skies, Clean Water Wisconsin