Email Your Representative and Senators to Reject the COLA Provision

#KeepYourPromise

SAMPLE EMAIL FOR REPRESENTATIVES & SENATORS

Step 1: Follow “Protect..Military Benefits”  or  “Keep Your Promise” to keep abreast of the latest changes.  Recommended Language for emails and Facebook (thanks for the help from MOAA) and a big thanks to Jeremy Hilton, the 2012 Military Spouse of the Year, for putting together this fantastic resource.

Step 2:  Write the following email to your Representative or Senator by using MOAA’s Automated Email System a quick letter to Congress.

If you have a few additional moments, please use the email below and please make sure that you fill in the blanks to make the letter fit your family (scroll down to locate your Representative’s or Senator’s email below).

 

Dear Representative/Senator {insert name},

We are a military family and your constituents. We are writing to ask you to join with us in defending our military men and women, our veterans, and the families that support them. Our servicemembers were made promises by our government when they swore an oath to defend the Constitution. That oath must be honored just as they honored their commitment to our great nation.

Our family asks that you take action to ensure that Section 403 of H.J. Res 59 is repealed immediately. In addition to significantly slashing the value of earned retirement benefits for current and future military retirees, disabled retirees, and surviving family members, this provision threatens long term readiness and retention in the uniformed services. We’ve included two recent articles which illustrate how our military and supporters are reacting to the vote to reduce military retirement COLA. These will provide you with a sense of the outrage and betrayal our community is feeling:

• Business Insider: http://www.businessinsider.com/paul-ryan-budget-veterans-pensions-2013-12
• Homefront United: http://homefrontunited.com/2013/12/dear-service-member-letter-congress/
• John Q Public: http://www.jqpublic-blog.com/?p=616

With the New Year, we hope you will start it off right by indicating your support for our military, our veterans, and their families by ensuring this provision is repealed immediately. We have had your back for more than a decade of war. Your vote to repeal this provision will determine whether or not you have ours and whether or not you will have our vote the next time you are up for reelection.

As a constituent, I am requesting you inform me of your position on this issue.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely, {Insert your name} [Consider including a family picture]

 

SAMPLE LANGUAGE FOR TWITTER

Step 3: Follow up with Tweet:

Insert Representative’s/Senator’s Twitter Handle} Keep faith with military families and REPEAL Section 403 of H.J. Res 59 for COLA retirement #KeepYourPromise #NeverForget

Click for Representative Twitter Handles — Senators Twitter Handles are below.

CLICK TO FIND YOUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE

Due to the number of House Representatives, we are unable to list them below, but you can click the link above and discover your local representative’s contact information today.

FIND YOUR SENATOR CONTACTS FOR EMAIL, TWITTER, and FACEBOOK

Step 4: Locate your state below to find your local Senate Representatives. Senators (Bolded means the Senator is up for reelection in 2014). Let them know that your vote in 2014 depends on how they vote next week!

ALASKA

• Begich, Mark – (D – AK), (202) 224-3004, https://twitter.com/SenatorBegich, @SenatorBegich https://www.facebook.com/Begich, david_ramseur@begich.senate.gov
• Murkowski, Lisa – (R – AK), (202) 224-6665, https://twitter.com/lisamurkowski, @lisamurkowski https://www.facebook.com/SenLisaMurkowski, edward_hild@murkowski.senate.gov

ALABAMA

• Sessions, Jeff – (R – AL), (202) 224-4124, https://twitter.com/SenatorSessions, @SenatorSessions https://www.facebook.com/jeffsessions, rick_dearborn@sessions.senate.gov
• Shelby, Richard C. – (R – AL), (202) 224-5744, https://twitter.com/SenShelby, @SenShelby https://www.facebook.com/RichardShelby, alan_hanson@shelby.senate.gov

ARKANSAS

• Boozman, John – (R – AR), (202) 224-4843, https://twitter.com/JohnBoozman, @JohnBoozman, https://www.facebook.com/JohnBoozman, helen_tolar@boozman.senate.gov
• Pryor, Mark L. – (D – AR), (202) 224-2353, https://twitter.com/SenMarkPryor, @SenMarkPryor, https://www.facebook.com/MarkPryor, andy_york@pryor.senate.gov

ARIZONA

• Flake, Jeff – (R – AZ), (202) 224-4521, https://twitter.com/JeffFlake, @JeffFlake, https://www.facebook.com/senatorjeffflake, steve_voeller@flake.senate.gov
• McCain, John – (R – AZ), (202) 224-2235, https://twitter.com/SenJohnMcCain, @SenJohnMcCain, https://www.facebook.com/johnmccain, pablo_carrillo@mccain.senate.gov

CALIFORNIA

• Boxer, Barbara – (D – CA), (202) 224-3553, https://twitter.com/SenatorBoxer, @SenatorBoxer, https://www.facebook.com/senatorboxer, laura_schiller@boxer.senate.gov
• Feinstein, Dianne – (D – CA), (202) 224-3841, https://twitter.com/SenFeinstein, @SenFeinstein, https://www.facebook.com/DianneFeinstein, j_duck@feinstein.senate.gov

COLORADO

• Bennet, Michael F. – (D – CO), (202) 224-5852, https://twitter.com/SenBennetCO, @SenBennetCO, https://www.facebook.com/senatorbennet, jonathan_davidson@bennet.senate.gov
• Udall, Mark – (D – CO), (202) 224-5941, https://twitter.com/MarkUdall, @MarkUdall, https://www.facebook.com/markudall, michael_sozan@markudall.senate.gov

CONNECTICUT

• Blumenthal, Richard – (D – CT), (202) 224-2823, https://twitter.com/SenBlumenthal, @SenBlumenthal, https://www.facebook.com/dickblumenthal, laurie_rubiner@blumenthal.senate.gov
• Murphy, Christopher – (D – CT), (202) 224-4041, https://twitter.com/ChrisMurphyCT, @ChrisMurphyCT, https://www.facebook.com/ChrisMurphyCT, francis_creighton@murphy.senate.gov

DELAWARE

• Carper, Thomas R. – (D – DE), (202) 224-2441, https://twitter.com/SenatorCarper, @SenatorCarper, https://www.facebook.com/tomcarper, jim_reilly@carper.senate.gov
• Coons, Christopher A.(D – DE), (202) 224-5042, https://twitter.com/SenCoonsOffice, @SenCoonsOffice, https://www.facebook.com/chriscoons, todd_webster@coons.senate.gov

FLORIDA

• Nelson, Bill – (D – FL), (202) 224-5274, https://twitter.com/SenBillNelson, @SenBillNelson, https://www.facebook.com/billnelson, pete_mitchell@billnelson.senate.gov
• Rubio, Marco – (R – FL), (202) 224-3041, https://twitter.com/SenRubioPress, @SenRubioPress, cesar_conda@rubio.senate.gov

GEORGIA

• Chambliss, Saxby – (R – GA), (202) 224-3521, https://twitter.com/SaxbyChambliss, @SaxbyChambliss, https://www.facebook.com/SaxbyChambliss, camila_knowles@chambliss.senate.gov
• Isakson, Johnny – (R – GA), (202) 224-3643, https://twitter.com/SenatorIsakson, @SenatorIsakson, https://www.facebook.com/isakson, joan_kirchner@isakson.senate.gov

HAWAII

• Hirono, Mazie K. – (D – HI), (202) 224-6361, https://twitter.com/maziehirono, @maziehirono, https://www.facebook.com/mazie.hirono, betsy_lin@hirono.senate.gov
• Schatz, Brian – (D – HI), (202) 224-3934, https://twitter.com/SenBrianSchatz, @SenBrianSchatz, https://www.facebook.com/Hawaiischatz, andrew_winer@schatz.senate.gov

IOWA

• Grassley, Chuck – (R – IA), (202) 224-3744, https://twitter.com/ChuckGrassley, @ChuckGrassley, https://www.facebook.com/grassley, jill_kozeny@grassley.senate.gov
• Harkin, Tom – (D – IA), (202) 224-3254, https://twitter.com/SenatorHarkin, @SenatorHarkin, https://www.facebook.com/tomharkin, brian_ahlberg@harkin.senate.gov

IDAHO

• Crapo, Mike – (R – ID), (202) 224-6142, https://twitter.com/MikeCrapo, @MikeCrapo, https://www.facebook.com/mikecrapo, susan_wheeler@crapo.senate.gov
• Risch, James E. – (R – ID), (202) 224-2752, https://twitter.com/SenatorRisch, @SenatorRisch, john_sandy@risch.senate.gov

ILLINOIS

• Durbin, Richard J. – (D – IL), (202) 224-2152, https://twitter.com/SenatorDurbin, @SenatorDurbin, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorDurbin, dena_morris@durbin.senate.gov
• Kirk, Mark – (R – IL), (202) 224-2854, https://twitter.com/SenatorKirk, @SenatorKirk, https://www.facebook.com/KirkForSenate, kate_dickens@kirk.senate.gov

INDIANA

• Coats, Daniel – (R – IN), (202) 224-5623, https://twitter.com/SenDanCoats, @SenDanCoats, https://www.facebook.com/CoatsforIndiana, viraj_mirani@coats.senate.gov
• Donnelly, Joe – (D – IN), (202) 224-4814, https://twitter.com/SenDonnelly, @SenDonnelly, https://www.facebook.com/senatordonnelly, joel_elliott@donnelly.senate.gov

KANSAS

• Roberts, Pat – (R – KS), (202) 224-4774, https://twitter.com/SenPatRoberts, @SenPatRoberts, jackie_cottrell@roberts.senate.gov
• Moran, Jerry – (R – KS), (202) 224-6521, https://twitter.com/JerryMoran, @JerryMoran, https://www.facebook.com/jerrymoran, todd_novascone@moran.senate.gov

KENTUCKY

• McConnell, Mitch – (R – KY), (202) 224-2541, https://twitter.com/McConnellPress, @McConnellPress, https://www.facebook.com/mitchmcconnell, reb_brownell@mcconnell.senate.gov
• Paul, Rand – (R – KY), (202) 224-4343, https://twitter.com/SenRandPaul, @SenRandPaul, https://www.facebook.com/RandPaul, william_henderson@paul.senate.gov

LOUISIANA

• Landrieu, Mary L. – (D – LA), (202) 224-5824, https://twitter.com/SenLandrieu, @SenLandrieu, https://www.facebook.com/senatormarylandrieu, donald_cravins@landrieu.senate.gov
• Vitter, David – (R – LA), (202) 224-4623, https://twitter.com/DavidVitter, @DavidVitter, https://www.facebook.com/DavidVitter, kyle_ruckert@vitter.senate.gov

MASSACHUSETTS

• Markey, Edward J. – (D – MA), (202) 224-2742, https://twitter.com/MarkeyMemo, @MarkeyMemo, https://www.facebook.com/EdJMarkey, jeff_duncan@markey.senate.gov
• Warren, Elizabeth – (D – MA), (202) 224-4543, https://twitter.com/SenWarren, @SenWarren, https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethWarren, mindy_myers@warren.senate.gov

MARYLAND

• Cardin, Benjamin L. – (D – MD), (202) 224-4524, https://twitter.com/SenatorCardin, @SenatorCardin, https://www.facebook.com/senatorbencardin, chris_lynch@cardin.senate.gov
• Mikulski, Barbara A. – (D – MD) (202) 224-4654, https://twitter.com/SenatorBarb, @SenatorBarb, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorMikulski, shannon_kula@mikulski.senate.gov

MAINE

• Collins, Susan M. – (R – ME) (202) 224-2523, https://twitter.com/SenatorCollins, @SenatorCollins, https://www.facebook.com/susancollins, steve_abbott@collins.senate.gov
• King, Angus S., Jr. – (I – ME) (202) 224-5344, https://twitter.com/SenAngusKing, @SenAngusKing, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorAngusSKingJr, kay_rand@king.senate.gov

MICHIGAN

• Levin, Carl – (D – MI) (202) 224-6221, https://twitter.com/SenCarlLevin, @SenCarlLevin, https://www.facebook.com/carllevin, jack_danielson@levin.senate.gov
• Stabenow, Debbie – (D – MI), (202) 224-4822, https://twitter.com/StabenowPress, @StabenowPress, https://www.facebook.com/stabenow, bill_sweeney@stabenow.senate.gov

MINNESOTA

• Franken, Al – (D – MN), (202) 224-5641, https://twitter.com/alfranken, @alfranken, https://www.facebook.com/Sen.Franken, casey_aden-wansbury@franken.senate.gov
• Klobuchar, Amy – (D – MN), (202) 224-3244, https://twitter.com/amyklobuchar, @amyklobuchar, https://www.facebook.com/amyklobuchar, rose_baumann@klobuchar.senate.gov

MISSOURI

• Blunt, Roy – (R – MO), (202) 224-5721, https://twitter.com/RoyBlunt, @RoyBlunt, https://www.facebook.com/RoyForMissouri, glen_chambers@blunt.senate.gov
• McCaskill, Claire – (D – MO), (202) 224-6154, https://twitter.com/McCaskillOffice, @McCaskillOffice, https://www.facebook.com/senatormccaskill, julie_dwyer@mccaskill.senate.gov

MISSISSIPPI

• Cochran, Thad – (R – MS), (202) 224-5054, https://twitter.com/SenThadCochran, @SenThadCochran, bruce_evans@cochran.senate.gov
• Wicker, Roger F. – (R – MS), (202) 224-6253, https://twitter.com/SenatorWicker, @SenatorWicker, https://www.facebook.com/wicker, michelle_barlow@wicker.senate.gov

MONTANA

• Baucus, Max – (D – MT), (202) 224-2651, https://twitter.com/MaxBaucus, @MaxBaucus, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorBaucus, paul_wilkins@baucus.senate.gov
• Tester, Jon – (D – MT), (202) 224-2644, https://twitter.com/TesterPress, @TesterPress, https://www.facebook.com/senatortester, tom_lopach@tester.senate.gov

NORTH CAROLINA

• Burr, Richard – (R – NC), (202) 224-3154, https://twitter.com/SenatorBurr, @SenatorBurr, https://www.facebook.com/senatorburr, chris_joyner@burr.senate.gov
• Hagan, Kay R. – (D – NC), (202) 224-6342, https://twitter.com/SenatorHagan, @SenatorHagan, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorHagan, mike_harney@hagan.senate.gov

NORTH DAKOTA

• Heitkamp, Heidi – (D – ND), (202) 224-2043, https://twitter.com/SenatorHeitkamp, @SenatorHeitkamp, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorHeidiHeitkamp, tessa_gould@heitkamp.senate.gov
• Hoeven, John – (R – ND), (202) 224-2551, https://twitter.com/SenJohnHoeven, @SenJohnHoeven, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorJohnHoeven, ryan_bernstein@hoeven.senate.gov

NEBRASKA

• Fischer, Deb – (R – NE), (202) 224-6551, https://twitter.com/SenatorFischer, @SenatorFischer, https://www.facebook.com/senatordebfischer, mike_hybl@fischer.senate.gov
• Johanns, Mike – (R – NE), (202) 224-4224, https://twitter.com/Mike_Johanns, @Mike_Johanns, https://www.facebook.com/MikeJohanns, terri_moore@johanns.senate.gov

NEW HAMPSHIRE

• Ayotte, Kelly – (R – NH), (202) 224-3324, https://twitter.com/KellyAyotte, @KellyAyotte, https://www.facebook.com/kellyayottenh, john_easton@ayotte.senate.gov
• Shaheen, Jeanne – (D – NH), (202) 224-2841, https://twitter.com/SenatorShaheen, @SenatorShaheen, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorShaheen, maura_keefe@shaheen.senate.gov

NEW JERSEY

• Booker, Cory A. – (D – NJ), (202) 224-3224, https://twitter.com/SenBookerOfc, @SenBookerOfc, https://www.facebook.com/corybooker, Louisa_Terrell@booker.senate.gov and matt_thomson@booker.senate.gov
• Menendez, Robert – (D – NJ), (202) 224-4744, https://twitter.com/SenatorMenendez, @SenatorMenendez, https://www.facebook.com/senatormenendez, danny_o’brien@menendez.senate.gov

NEW MEXICO

• Heinrich, Martin – (D – NM), (202) 224-5521, https://twitter.com/MartinHeinrich, @MartinHeinrich, https://www.facebook.com/MartinHeinrich, steve_haro@heinrich.senate.gov
• Udall, Tom – (D – NM), (202) 224-6621, https://twitter.com/SenatorTomUdall, @SenatorTomUdall, https://www.facebook.com/senatortomudall, michael_collins@tomudall.senate.gov

NEVADA

• Heller, Dean – (R – NV), (202) 224-6244, https://twitter.com/SenDeanHeller, @SenDeanHeller, https://www.facebook.com/DeanHeller, mac_abrams@heller.senate.gov
• Reid, Harry – (D – NV), (202) 224-3542, https://twitter.com/SenatorReid, @SenatorReid, https://www.facebook.com/HarryReid, david_krone@reid.senate.gov

NEW YORK

• Gillibrand, Kirsten E. – (D – NY), (202) 224-4451, https://twitter.com/SenGillibrand, @SenGillibrand, https://www.facebook.com/KirstenGillibrand, jess_fassler@gillibrand.senate.gov
• Schumer, Charles E. – (D – NY), (202) 224-6542, https://twitter.com/SenSchumer, @SenSchumer, https://www.facebook.com/chuckschumer, mike_lynch@schumer.senate.gov

OHIO

• Brown, Sherrod – (D – OH), (202) 224-2315, https://twitter.com/SenSherrodBrown, @SenSherrodBrown, https://www.facebook.com/sherrod, mark_powden@brown.senate.gov
• Portman, Rob – (R – OH) , (202) 224-3353, https://twitter.com/robportman, @robportman, https://www.facebook.com/robportman, rob_lehman@portman.senate.gov

OKLAHOMA

• Coburn, Tom – (R – OK), (202) 224-5754, https://twitter.com/TomCoburn, @TomCoburn, https://www.facebook.com/teamcoburn, brian_treat@coburn.senate.gov
• Inhofe, James M. – (R – OK), (202) 224-4721, https://twitter.com/InhofePress, @InhofePress, https://www.facebook.com/jiminhofe, ryan_jackson@inhofe.senate.gov

OREGON

• Merkley, Jeff – (D – OR), (202) 224-3753, https://twitter.com/SenJeffMerkley, @SenJeffMerkley, https://www.facebook.com/jeffmerkley, michael_zamore@merkley.senate.gov
• Wyden, Ron – (D – OR), (202) 224-5244, https://twitter.com/RonWyden, @RonWyden, https://www.facebook.com/wyden, jeff_michels@wyden.senate.gov

PENNSYLVANIA

• Casey, Robert P., Jr. – (D – PA), (202) 224-6324, https://twitter.com/SenBobCasey, @SenBobCasey, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorBobCasey, james_brown@casey.senate.gov
• Toomey, Patrick J. – (R – PA), (202) 224-4254, https://twitter.com/SenToomey, @SenToomey, https://www.facebook.com/patricktoomey, christopher_gahan@toomey.senate.gov

RHODE ISLAND

• Reed, Jack – (D – RI), (202) 224-4642, https://twitter.com/SenJackReed, @SenJackReed, https://www.facebook.com/SenJackReed, neil_campbell@reed.senate.gov
• Whitehouse, Sheldon – (D – RI), (202) 224-2921, https://twitter.com/SenWhitehouse, @SenWhitehouse, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorWhitehouse, sam_goodstein@whitehouse.senate.gov

SOUTH CAROLINA

• Graham, Lindsey – (R – SC), (202) 224-5972, https://twitter.com/GrahamBlog, @GrahamBlog, https://www.facebook.com/USSenatorLindseyGraham, richard_perry@lgraham.senate.gov
• Scott, Tim – (R – SC), (202) 224-6121, https://twitter.com/SenatorTimScott, @SenatorTimScott, https://www.facebook.com/votetimscott, mike_bennett@scott.senate.gov

SOUTH DAKOTA

• Johnson, Tim – (D – SD), (202) 224-5842, https://twitter.com/SenJohnsonSD, @SenJohnsonSD, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorTimJohnson, drey_samuelson@johnson.senate.gov
• Thune, John – (R – SD), (202) 224-2321, https://twitter.com/SenJohnThune, @SenJohnThune, https://www.facebook.com/johnthune, ryan_nelson@thune.senate.gov

TENNESSEE

• Alexander, Lamar – (R – TN), (202) 224-4944, https://twitter.com/SenAlexander, @SenAlexander, https://www.facebook.com/senatorlamar, alexander david_cleary@help.senate.gov
• Corker, Bob – (R – TN), (202) 224-3344, https://twitter.com/SenBobCorker, @SenBobCorker, https://www.facebook.com/bobcorker, todd_womack@corker.senate.gov

TEXAS

• Cornyn, John – (R – TX), (202) 224-2934, https://twitter.com/JohnCornyn, @JohnCornyn, https://www.facebook.com/Sen.JohnCornyn, beth_jafari@cornyn.senate.gov
• Cruz, Ted – (R – TX), (202) 224-5922, https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz, @SenTedCruz, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorTedCruz, brooke_bacak@cruz.senate.gov

UTAH

• Hatch, Orrin G. – (R – UT), (202) 224-5251, https://twitter.com/SenOrrinHatch, @SenOrrinHatch, https://www.facebook.com/OrrinHatch, michael_kennedy@hatch.senate.gov  
• Lee, Mike – (R – UT), (202) 224-5444, https://twitter.com/SenMikeLee, @SenMikeLee, https://www.facebook.com/senatormikelee, boyd_matheson@lee.senate.gov

VIRGINIA

• Warner, Mark R. – (D – VA), (202) 224-2023, https://twitter.com/MarkWarner, @MarkWarner, https://www.facebook.com/MarkRWarner, luke_albee@warner.senate.gov
• Kaine, Tim – (D – VA), (202) 224-4024, https://twitter.com/SenKaineOffice, @SenKaineOffice, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorKaine, mike_henry@kaine.senate.gov

VERMONT

• Leahy, Patrick J. – (D – VT), (202) 224-4242, https://twitter.com/SenatorLeahy, @SenatorLeahy, https://www.facebook.com/SenatorPatrickLeahy, john_dowd@leahy.senate.gov
• Sanders, Bernard – (I – VT), (202) 224-5141, https://twitter.com/SenSanders, @SenSanders, https://www.facebook.com/senatorsanders, michaeleen_crowell@sanders.senate.gov

WASHINGTON

• Cantwell, Maria – (D – WA), (202) 224-3441, https://twitter.com/CantwellPress, @CantwellPress, https://www.facebook.com/senatorcantwell, jamie_fleet@cantwell.senate.gov  
• Murray, Patty – (D – WA), (202) 224-2621, https://twitter.com/PattyMurray, @PattyMurray, https://www.facebook.com/pattymurray, mike_spahn@murray.senate.gov

WISCONSIN

• Baldwin, Tammy – (D – WI), (202) 224-5653, https://twitter.com/SenatorBaldwin, @SenatorBaldwin, https://www.facebook.com/TammyBaldwin, bill_murat@baldwin.senate.gov
• Johnson, Ron – (R – WI), (202) 224-5323, https://twitter.com/SenRonJohnson, @SenRonJohnson, https://www.facebook.com/senronjohnson, tony_blando@ronjohnson.senate.gov

WEST VIRGINIA

• Manchin, Joe, III – (D – WV), (202) 224-3954, https://twitter.com/Sen_JoeManchin, @Sen_JoeManchin, https://www.facebook.com/JoeManchinIII, hayden_rogers@manchin.senate.gov
• Rockefeller, John D., (D – WV), (202) 224-6472, https://twitter.com/SenRockefeller, @SenRockefeller, https://www.facebook.com/SenRockefeller, kerry_ates@rockefeller.senate.gov

WYOMING

• Barrasso, John – (R – WY), (202) 224-6441, https://twitter.com/SenJohnBarrasso, @SenJohnBarrasso, https://www.facebook.com/johnbarrasso, dan_kunsman@barrasso.senate.gov
• Enzi, Michael B. – (R – WY), (202) 224-3424, https://twitter.com/SenatorEnzi, @SenatorEnzi, https://www.facebook.com/mikeenzi, flip_mcconnaughey@enzi.senate.gov