HR. 2625 is one of the most important legislative struggles in Congress today. It would create an independent commission to hold a more open investigation of intelligence used by our government leading and during the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Currently the issue is being taken up, mostly behind closed doors, by the House & Senate Select Committees on Intelligence completely dominated by Republicans. Among other things HR2625 would even the playing field much more.

In June Rep. Kucinich attempted to break through the Republican led coverup with HRes 260 which called on the White House to report to the House International Affairs on specific controversial statements. Its cosponsors grew to 41 before the Republican leadership killed it in committee saying the Select Committes on Intelligence were already reviewing the issue. All the no votes were Republican, all the yes votes were Democrat, with two from each party refusing to vote.

In July the MoveOn organization took up the issue of an independent commission and mobilized over 400,000 to pressure congress for a commission. The effort supports HR 2625 authored by Rep. Henry Waxman, who introduced it along with other Democrats who had voted for the use of force resolution on Iraq last October. Progressive and other peace Congresspersons are rallying to the issue. There were 110 cosonsors when Congress recessed until labor day July 25.

This gives people a chance to pressure their representatives while they are in their districts during the recess. To my knowledge the only Representatives in Los Angeles County who are not cosponsors already are Howard Berman (D), Jane Harman (D), and David Dreir (R).

Harman is the ranking Democrat on the House Select Committee on Intelligence and a principal mainstay of bipartisan support for keeping the inquiry in the Republican dominated pane. Bermans office says Howard is hoping Weapons of Mass Destrucion will be found in Iraq soon. Frankly I haven't checked on Dreir other than leave a message with an aide, hopefully his position is better than Berman's.

I am involved with some other veterana/os of the original Chicano Moratorium Committee pushing for Latino support on this issue. Among our concerns are the disproportionate amount of our youth in the more hazardous military tasks and the use of the stereodype of people of color carrying concealed weapons on a global scale.

We also involve ourselves in demonstrations, civil disobedience, electoral struggle, and other forms of struggle for demanding an end to the occupation, quartering the military budget, etc. We feel that legislative struggle is mportant on this and other issues. If we don't exercise our democracy it will atrophy. We see this effort as one way of raising the flag of government of, for & by the people to see who salutes as the November 2004 elections get closer. We ask for your support in this effort, Call your own Reps and urge them to cosponsor HR 2625 if they have not and congratulate those that have. Just as any citizen can run for Congress in any district we feel and person can call any Congressperson, any where as well. Give Harman, Berman, and Dreir a call or drop into their offices. You can reach their D.C. offices toll free at the Congressional switch board 800-839-5276. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is also deserving of call. Si Se Puede! Rosalio Munoz