By Kevin Mahmalji, NORML Outreach Coordinator
Summary:
NORML’s Legislative Fly-in is scheduled for May 20th & 21st. For those not able to attend I have put together a list of marijuana-related bills currently pending in Congress as well as the names and Twitter accounts associated with members of specific committees that we plan to target during our social media campaign. By using social media, we will be able to add another layer to our lobbying efforts and will also provide each and every one of our members a chance to have their voice heard on these issues. I encourage all of you to start promoting our Twitter campaign to your networks as soon as possible.
Objective:
Apply pressure on members of the House Subcommittee on Health, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary and the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations by engaging them through a coordinated social media campaign using specific messaging and hash tags to track our activity. Using the #NORML hash tag gives us the power to bring attention to and mobilize a larger and more diverse coalition of social media activists to support and/or join our efforts. Also, it’s important that we stay on message so please avoid altering the language provided. By maintaining a consistent message, we will be able to present a coordinated and disciplined effort.
Directions:
Simply cut and paste the Twitter handle and language provided below into your Twitter account and hit send. Please make sure that you use the directory so that you contact each representative directly. I’ve provided an example of what each tweet should look like for each bill. I recommend coordinating specific times with your organization and its membership to maximize our efforts.
Language:
H.R. 1013: “[Insert Twitter Handle] I urge you to support House Resolution 1013, the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act. It’s time for a new approach! #NORML”
S.683: “[Insert Twitter Handle] I urge you to support the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act. America is ready! #NORML”
H.R. 667: “[Insert Twitter Handle] I urge you to support House Resolution 667, the Veterans Equal Access Act. America’s veterans deserve better! #NORML
1. H.R. 1013: Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act
Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations
Members & Twitter Accounts:
- Chairman – Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (@JimPressOffice) – IL
- Rep. Steve Chabot (@RepSteveChabot) – OH
- Rep. Randy Forbes (@Randy_Forbes) – VA
- Rep. Ted Poe (@JudgeTedPoe) – TX
- Rep. Jason E Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) – UT
- Rep. Trey Gowdy (@TGowdySC) – SC
- Rep. Raúl Labrador (@Raul_Labrador) – ID
- Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) – CO
- Rep. Rob” Bishop (@RepRobBishop) – UT
- Rep. Rep. Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) – TX
- Rep. Pedro Pierluisi (@pedropierluisi) – PR
- Rep. Judy Chu (@RepJudyChu) – CA
- Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (@RepGutierrez) – IL
- Rep. Karen Bass (@RepKarenBass) – CA
- Rep. Cedric Richmond (@RepRichmond) – LA
Example:
2. S. 683 – Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act
Committee on the Judiciary
Members & Twitter Accounts:
- Chairman – Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) – IA
- Senator Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) – VT
- Senator Orrin G. Hatch (@OrrinHatch) – UT
- Senator Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) – CA
- Senator Jeff Sessions (@SenatorSessions) – AL
- Senator Lindsey Graham (@GrahamBlog) – SC
- Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) – TX
- Senator Michael S. Lee (@SenMikeLee) – UT
- Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) – TX
- Senator Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) – AZ
- Senator David Vitter (@DavidVitter) – LA
- Senator David Perdue (@Perduesenate) – GA
- Senator Thom Tillis (@ThomTillis) – NC
- Senator Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) – CT
- Senator Christopher A. Coons (@ChrisCoons) – DE
- Senator Al Franken (@alfranken) -MN
- Senator Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) – MN
- Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) – RI
- Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) – IL
- Senator Charles Schumer (@SenSchumer) – NY
Example:
3. H.R. 667: Veterans Equal Access Act
Subcommittee on Health
Members & Twitter Accounts:
- Chairman – Rep. Dan Benishek (@CongressmanDan) – MI
- Rep. Gus Bilirakis (@RepGusBilirakis) – FL
- Rep. Phil Roe (@DrPhilRoe) – TN
- Rep. Tim Huelskamp (@CongHuelskamp) – KS
- Rep. Mike Coffman (@RepMikeCoffman) – CO
- Rep. Beto O’Rourke (@RepBetoORourke) – TX
- Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (@RepAnnieKuster) – NH
- Rep. Raul Ruiz (@CongressmanRuiz) – CA
- Rep. Brad Wenstrup (@RepBradWenstrup) – OH
- Rep. Ralph Abraham (@RepAbraham) – LA
- Rep. Mark Takano (@RepMarkTakano) – CA
- Rep. Julia Brownley (@JuliaBrownley26) – CA
Example:
Via:: Norml News