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NEWINGTON, CT, Feb 14, 2003--The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act has again been introduced in the US House of Representatives. The measure is an ARRL legislative initiative. Florida Rep Michael Bilirakis put the latest version of the bill, HR 713, into the legislative
hopper on February 12. It has been referred to the House Committee on Energy
and Commerce. When last introduced in 2001, the measure was known as HR 817.
Full Story
The text of the bill is available at the Thomas Web site:
S. 537
HR 713
Many members of Congress will not consider co-sponsorship of comparatively small, technical bills like HR 713/ S 537 without concrete evidence of support from their own constituents. So if you'd like to help Amateur Radio make a statement on The Hill, consider sending him or her a letter. Too busy to send a letter? Send a QSL card that simply says "Support Amateur Radio. Cosponsor HR 713/ S 537." Don't wait for someone else to do it, because they may not, and then your state and district will not be represented. When you write, you can use the following sample as a starting point. Then insert your own, localized information about emergency activities or other benefits to the state and congressional district.
To E-Mail Your Member of Congress, see:
http://www.house.gov/writerep/ Representatives.
http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index.cfm Senators.
Via The US Postal Service:
Office of (Name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Office of (Name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
NOTE: Please send a copy of your correspondence to us via e-mail, specbill03@arrl.org
Use this version to write to your congressperson (US Representative) regarding HR 713. You may customize this letter. A version for your US Senator follows.
<YOUR
NAME>
<YOUR
ADDRESS>
<CITY,
STATE ZIP>
Dear Rep ____________
As one of the nation's more than 670,000 federally licensed radio amateurs, I urge you to co-sponsor HR 713, the "Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003," sponsored by Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-FL).
This bill is a nonpartisan, non-controversial measure designed to help protect the radio frequencies used by Amateur Radio volunteers throughout our nation in providing emergency communications assistance during times of disaster. Most recently, radio amateurs have aided government and private relief agencies after the terrorist attacks of September 2001 and during the severe forest fires which engulfed many parts of the Western United States last summer.
Your cosponsorship of HR 713 will help ensure that Amateur Radio operators have access to the needed spectrum, essential to their public service role.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Use this version to write to your senator regarding S 537. You may customize this letter.
<YOUR
NAME>
<YOUR
ADDRESS>
<CITY,
STATE ZIP>
Dear Sen ____________
As one of the nation's more than 670,000 federally licensed radio amateurs, I urge you to co-sponsor S 537, the "Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003," sponsored by Sen Michael Crapo (R-ID).
This bill is a nonpartisan, non-controversial measure designed to help protect the radio frequencies used by Amateur Radio volunteers throughout our nation in providing emergency communications assistance during times of disaster. Most recently, radio amateurs have aided government and private relief agencies after the terrorist attacks of September 2001 and during the severe forest fires which engulfed many parts of the Western United States last summer.
Your cosponsorship of S 537 will help ensure that Amateur Radio operators have access to the needed spectrum, essential to their public service role.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,