Diocesan Social Action

Catholic Charities, Diocese of Cleveland

Legislative Hotline

March 13, 2014

Sponsored by the 5 Catholic Commissions and the Campaign for Human Development

In This Issue

Ways You Can Advocate

Clemency for Arthur Tyler

Support for Second Chance Act

Ways You Can Advocate for Issues

1. Call the district office with a supporting message.

2. Arrange a district office visit when Congress is in recess. Use links for the Hill Visits.

3. Use email contact forms to send the messages. Contact information for senators is below as well as website link to find your representative.

4. Put information in your parish bulletins encouraging others to support our message. You can use the background and message links that have been prepared. The message sheets can be left with the local offices if you do office visits.

5. Go to the Diocesan Social Action website page for more tips on Advocacy.

US Congress Contacts
Senator Brown: Washington, DC: (202) 224-2315 Ohio: Toll Free: 1-888-896-OHIO (6446) or Cleveland: (216) 522-7272 Lorain: (440) 242-4100 Email Sen. Brown Senator Portman: Washington, DC : 202-224-3353 Ohio: Toll-Free: 1-800-205-6446 (OHIO) Cleveland: 216-522-7095 *Email Sen. Portman* Find your US Representative

Ohio General Assembly Contacts
Governor John Kasich Riffe Center, 30th Floor 77 S. High Street Columbus, OH 43215-6117 (614)466-3555 Email Gov. Kasich Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor Riffe Center, 30th Floor 77 S. High Street Columbus, OH 43215-6117 Ohio House of Representatives *Ohio State Senate*

Dear Friends,

Water is essential in the life of humanity and holds a special significance for Christians. We must have water to sustain life. Water is also a symbol of new life and renewal. It is a key element in the Sacrament of Baptism. On March 22nd we celebrate World Water Day. The best way to celebrate this is to advocate for those who do not have access to this most vital resource.

There is a bill in the House of Representatives (HR 2901) that provides access to water for the most poor and vulnerable in the world. This bill could improve the lives of millions of people. We encourage you to contact your representatives over the next week and ask them to co-sponsor this bill.

Also, Congress is in recess next week. It's a wonderful opportunity for us to let our representatives know that we believe everyone has a right to clean water. Its a great time to set up a meeting or call and let them know your opinion.

Thanks for all you do!

Sr. Kathleen Ryan, Diane Zbasnik, Pat O'Bryan, Kelly Davis, Rachel Schmidt and Ann Coplan

Just Issued Action Alerts

Urgent Action Needed Now!

Tell Congress:

Water is Essential for Life

There is no worse affront to human life and dignity than the shocking reality that

millions of our brothers and sisters go without safe drinking water and proper

sanitation every day. You can change these dire statistics in a real and tangible way by calling on your Representative to support the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013, H.R. 2901.

The Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2013 is bipartisan legislation focused on making the most of existing investments in these lifesaving programs without spending new money. The legislation focuses on efficiency and transparency. It also builds on what we have learned about effective water programs so that we can continue to save lives and create greater opportunities for people worldwide. Most importantly, H.R. 2901 seeks to ensure that U.S. Government funding for water development is specifically directed to the poor and most vulnerable.

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CCGP Action Alert Page

Clemency for Arthur Tyler

Arthur Tyler will be executed on May 28th, 2014 unless the Governor intervenes. The co-defendant in the case, Leroy Head, confessed no less than eleven times that he killed the victim, Sander Leach. Today Leroy Head is a free man while Mr. Tyler awaits the death penalty.

The clemency phase is Mr. Tyler's last chance to receive a fair sentence. In a case so riddled with doubt and inconsistencies, the Governor would be more than justified to ensure the integrity of our criminal justice system by commuting Mr. Tyler's sentence.

Write Governor Kasich today and urge him to grant clemency for Arthur Tyler.

USCCB and Catholic Charities USA Urge Support of the Second Chance Act

Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Fr. Larry Snyder, President of Catholic Charities USA, recently called on Congress to pass the Second Chance Act to assist those leaving incarceration with important support programs to provide employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring, victim support and other needed services. Every year, more than 650,000 men, women and juveniles reenter society from federal and state prisons, local jails, and detention centers and they face significant challenges. Second Chance helps them reenter society in healthy and productive ways that keeps communities safe while promoting healing and restoration.