Dear Tahrir,

The Assyrian American National Coalition would like to give special thanks to Representatives Sander Levin (MI-12), Robert Dold (IL-10), Gary Peters (MI-9), and Anna Eshoo (CA-14) for circulating a Dear Colleague letter that endorses language on the 2012 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill to target assistance for ethno-religious minorities in Iraq to ensure their continued survival, particularly in the Nineveh Plain.  The November 29^th letter was joined by an additional 15 members of the House. 
 
The proposed language would require the State Department to develop a comprehensive, forward-looking policy to assist Assyrians, including Chaldeans and Syriacs, and other minorities in Iraq.  The language endorses US assistance to these communities in realizing their rights for self-administration under Article 125 of the Iraqi Constitution.  In addition, the language calls for support of policing and non-governmental organizations in the Nineveh Plains.
 
We are particularly pleased to see support grow in Congress for Article 125.  We have steadfastly held that implementation of Article 125 is critical to securing and realizing our rights in our homeland, and we welcome the growing consensus that is emerging in our larger community that Article 125, first and foremost, is the right way forward. 
 
All aspects of this language reflect underlying tenets of the Nineveh Plain Province Solution that the Assyrian American National Coalition has been promoting since this Spring.  Since passage of similar language in the Senate, AANC has been aggressively seeking inclusion of such language in the House version of the bill so that these policies are realized in the final legislation.  Over the last month, we launched another campaign and have traveled to Washington to meet with many Congressional offices in order to convince members of the House to embrace language similar to that passed by the Senate.  Many of you have used our website to send your Representative this important message.  And it's working!
 
This Dear Colleague letter reflects an important step forward that is a clear result of your own advocacy, but we are not done yet. 
 
If you have not yet contacted your Congressperson to express your support for inclusion of this important language in the Appropriations bill, it’s not too late.  And, it’s easy.  Just follow this link to send your fax letter of support now:


 

 

And if you’ve already done that, you’re still not done yet.  You must talk to your friends and family.  Get them to go online as well and send the electronic fax.  Post it on facebook and twitter.
 
We’re very close to getting some very important legislation passed.  But we need you to keep pushing.


Thank you,
The Assyrian American National Coalition