Pakistani American Community - Day on the Hill
PAL-C (Pakistani American Leadership Center), PAKPAC (Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee), APPNA (Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America), Rising Leaders, National PSA, OPEN (Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs of North America (National), NAPA (National Association of Pakistani Americans, PAANA (Pakistani American Association of North America ), COPAA (Council of Pakistani American Affairs), AOPP (Association of Pakistani Professionals), APSENA (Association of Pakistani Scientists and Engineers of North America) and PAC (Pakistani American Congress)
Present
A DAY ON THE HILL
Garnering US support behind relief for Earthquake in Pakistan
November 17, 2005
Join the Pakistani-American community in Washington D.C on November 17 for a “Day on the Hill” to bring attention to the dire situation in ’s earthquake affected area. While international support has lagged and media attention dwindled, Pakistani-Americans still register the urgency of the disaster and the desperate need for relief assisstance. “A Day on the Hill” is a concerted effort by Pakistani-Americans to lobby the U.S government in taking a leadership role in relief and reconstruction. To join the nationwide effort, please make an appointment in advance with your Representative of Congress for November 17th in his/her DC office. When you are scheduling your appointment, urge your Congressman to join you at the Breakfast Reception (from 7am-10:00 am in Room 2237 of Rayburn) in order to show his/her support for the victims of the earthquake and the efforts of the Pakistani-American community. During your individual meeting with your Representative, you will be able to present the Pakistani-American community’s concerns to your Member of Congress, as well as the draft resolution (read below) that asks the U.S. Congress to appropriate $1 billion in aid to Pakistan over the next three years. The end goals of the Day are to successfully organize the Pakistani-American community and to garner support for long-term relief and reconstruction efforts in Pakistan.
Program:
7 am-10 am
Breakfast Reception with Congressmen
Rayburn House Office Building Room 2237
10 am-4:30 pm
Individual Meetings with Congressmen
Washington D.C. Offices
5 pm
Reception/Dinner hosted by the Ambassador of Pakistan
Embassy of Pakistan, Washington D.C.
Contact Dr. Saud Anwar, Chief Coordinator of the event and Secretary General of the Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee for special inquiries at dayonhill@pakpac.net.
Contact Aisha Chapra, the DC Event Coordinator for information on arranging accommodations and general questions at 202-675-2004. All messages will be answered.
Contact Fauzia Tariq, the Media Coordinator, with any questions regarding press passes and media coverage of the event at RisingLeaders@gmail.com.
Contact Azmat Khan, Executive Assistant for PAL-C to RSVP with your name, email address, affiliation and your Member of Congress at info@palc.us. We will reply with a confirmation.
For complete details about the event, please visit the Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee website Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee
Sample Letter to Member of Congress
Dear [Member of Congress],
On behalf of the Pakistani-American community, I would like to invite you to a Breakfast Reception in Room 2237 of Rayburn House Building at 8 am on November 17, 2005. The community would greatly appreciate your support for the victims of the disastrous earthquake in Pakistan.
The devastation in caused by the October 8 earthquake instilled a sense of urgency for many in the community. Pakistani-Americans felt the need for a greater disaster relief response on the part of international leaders such as the United States. The “Day on the Hill” is a concerted effort by members of the community and leading community organizations to garner more support in the U.S. Congress and to urge them to take a lead in international earthquake relief and reconstruction efforts.
I have attached a proposed resolution that requests $1 billion in relief and reconstruction assistance for over the next three years. I will be in Washington D.C. on November 17 and would greatly appreciate a meeting with you to discuss the matter further.
I sincerely hope that you will be able to attend and support this community initiative. I will be following up with a call to your office to schedule a meeting, however, if you have any questions about the event or the resolution, please feel free to contact me at [INSERT YOUR PHONE NUMBER].
Kind regards,
[Your Name and Affiliation]
Suggested Draft Resolution on the Earthquake in Pakistan
109th Congress
1st Session
Commending the United States Government and Armed Forces for providing assistance to for relief from the October 8, 2005 earthquake and urging the Administration to request an emergency supplemental of $1 billion over three years for humanitarian relief and reconstruction for the people of , and for other purposes.
Whereas on October 8, 2005 a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Pakistan, India and Afghanistan according to the U.S. Geological survey;
Whereas the epicenter of the earthquake was located near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, and approximately 60 miles north-northeast of Islamabad;
Whereas aftershocks and landslides continue in the affected areas;
Whereas the delivery of humanitarian assistance is constricted by the mountainous area, cold weather, and damaged or collapsed infrastructure;
Whereas the most affected areas are the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Northern Punjab, Pakistani-administered Kashmir, and Indian-administered Kashmir ;
Whereas over 75,000 people have died, almost 80,000 are injured and approximately 3.3 million people are homeless as a result of the earthquake;
Whereas on October 31, the Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that more than 17,000 children died in the October 8 earthquake and approximately 1.6-2.2 million children have been affected;
Whereas the United Nations has made a Flash Appeal for $550 million for earthquake relief;
Whereas the U.S. Government (USG) has pledged a total of $156,000,000: $50,000,000 for humanitarian relief, $50,000,000 for reconstruction, and $56,000,000 to support U.S. Department of Defense relief operations;
Whereas the total U.S. Agency for International Development Humanitarian Assistance Committed to is over $40,000,000;
Whereas the U.S. Department of Defense has deployed approximately 875 servicemembers and 31 helicopters to aid in the earthquake relief efforts;
Whereas since October 8, 2005, helicopters have flown 885 missions, evacuated 3,138 people, and delivered almost 3.5 million pounds of supplies;
Whereas: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), that it is the sense of the Congress
(1) To commend the United States Government and the Armed Forces for taking swift action to assist the earthquake victims of Pakistan ;
(2) That the world community and the United States must do much more to assist the people of Pakistan during this perilous period where millions are suffering and could die; and
(3) Urges the Administration to request that Congress approve an emergency supplemental of $1 billion over three years for earthquake relief and reconstruction for the people of Pakistan .
Hotel Accommodations
2 Blocks from Courthouse Metro on Orange Line (10 stops, 15 min to Capitol South)
Quality Hotel Inn. Please call 703-524-4000 and ask for the group rate for "The Day on the Hill" conference, group code PAKSN.
http://qi-arlington-va.chidirect.com/tbc/index.shtml
Please make reservations by November 10, 2005
