40 Grassroots Organizations Tell Congress: Back the Deal

Today, the deadline for a final nuclear agreement with Iran was extended one week to July 7. Recent indications from the negotiating team suggest that the P5+1 nations and Iran will be able to seal the deal by that date. The greater question at this point is whether the agreement will survive Congress.

As most have come to understand, this deal is about more than preventing Iran from getting nuclear weapons. It is about charting a course for peace. A vote in Congress against this nuclear deal would be a vote to bring us closer to war with Iran.

Today, 40 organizations representing millions of Americans sent a letter to Congress urging a vote for peace. Your voice will be amplified if you call Congress today and ask that they support the deal. The Capitol switchboard is 1-202-224-3121. The switchboard operator will connect you with the office you request.

Text of the letter is below:

June 30, 2015

To: Members of the U.S. Congress:

The following organizations, representing millions of Americans, urge you to support the strong nuclear deal being negotiated currently between world powers and Iran, to vote in favor of an agreement when it comes before Congress and to commit to vote to uphold a Presidential veto should Congress vote against the agreement.

The United States and its partners in the P5+1 expect to secure a final deal with Iran to limit its nuclear program in the coming weeks. Congress may vote on a deal as soon as next month. Your vote will determine whether the U.S. secures peace and cuts off Iran’s pathways to a nuclear weapon, or rejects diplomacy in favor of an unconstrained Iranian nuclear program and a new push for war.

This will be among the most consequential national security votes taken by Congress since the decision to authorize the invasion of Iraq.

The American public overwhelmingly supports a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear standoff with Iran and does not want another war. We do not want to see the critical progress that American diplomacy has achieved over the past two years be derailed by some in Congress who prefer military adventurism over diplomatic solutions.

Our organizations will be working in states and Congressional districts across the country to ensure that you and your colleagues hear from your constituents on this critical issue and will hold you accountable for your vote. We hope you will consider this matter carefully and vote for peace.

Sincerely,

American Family Voices

American Friends Service Committee

American Values Network

Americans for Democratic Action

Americans for Peace Now

Avaaz

Church of the Brethren, Office of Public Witness

Citizens for Global Solutions

CODEPINK

Conference of Major Superiors of Men

Council for a Livable World

CREDO

Daily Kos

Democracy for America

Friends Committee on National Legislation

Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ

Global Zero

Historians Against the War

Institute for Policy Studies

Jewish Voice for Peace

Just Foreign Policy

Mennonite Central Committee U.S.

MoveOn.Org

National Iranian American Council

National Priorities Project

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation

Pax Christi International

Peace Action

Peace Action West

Physicians for Social Responsibility

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Progressive Democrats of America

Sojourners

U.S. Labor Against the War

United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries

United for Peace and Justice

United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society

USAction

Win Without War