National Alliance of Families

For The Return of America's Missing Servicemen

+ World War II + Korea + Cold War + Vietnam +


BITS 'N' PIECES - JULY 29th, 2000

Dolores Apodaca Alfond

National Chairperson - (dolores@nationalalliance.org)

Voice/Fax 425-881-1499


Lynn O'Shea

New York State Director - (lynn@nationalalliance.org)

Voice/Fax 718-846-4350




Your Right To Know Is In Danger - Section 1045, of the 2001 Defense Authorization Act, allows the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to exempt its operational files from review under FOIA (Freedom of Information Act)laws. Should section 1045 be allowed to stand, it will severely limit information available to POW/MIA family members and researchers, searching for the truth regarding our POW/MIAs.


While our concern is how Section 1045 effects the POW/MIA issue, this legislation has broader impact. It would limit access to information on all intelligence matters under DIA jurisdiction. Should Section 1045 become law, our right to know, will be severely limited.


In an effort to sneak this legislation by, Section 1045 was buried deep within the Senate version of the 2001 Defense Authorization Bill. That bill, S. 2549, passed the Senate two weeks ago. A House version of the bill is now under consideration. As of this date, the House version contains no provision comparable to Section 1045. When the House passes their Defense Authorization Bill, the two versions of the legislation will be sent to a conference committee. It is in that committee that the two versions will be debated until one version of the 2001 Defense Authorization Bill is agreed upon. That version of the legislation will be sent back to the Senate and House of Representatives for a vote.


Section 1045 can not survive the conference committee. If it does, DIA will be allowed to exempt their operational files from FOIA review. This will set a dangerous precedent, opening the door for other intelligence gathering agencies to request laws protecting them from FOIA.


We can not allow the weakening of the FOIA laws and we certainly can not allow further limiting of access to POW/MIA documentation.


How do we stop this? We must target the members of the House Committee on Armed Services. Members from that committee will make up the conference committee. Ask them to stand fast against the weakening of the FOIA laws.


In reviewing the list of House Armed Services Committee members, we find members who have supported us in the past. With their help we have a good chance of stopping Section 1045.


Here are the members of the House Armed Services Committee, along with their addresses, phone and fax numbers. It is very important that these congressional representatives be contacted, IMMEDIATELY!!! Please write your letters and make your phone calls. We must stop Section 1045.


Conference Committee Members Dealing Directly with Section 1045 -


Dan Burton - (R-IN)

2185 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC 20515

202-225-2276

202-225-0016

Joe Scarborough (R-FL)

127 Cannon Bldg.

Washington DC 20515

202-225-4136

202-225-3414

Henry A. Waxman (D-CA)

2204 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC 20515

202-225-3976

202-225-4099


Members of the House Armed Services Committee

Floyd Spence(R-SC)

2405 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC 20515

202-225-2452

202-225-2455

Ike Skelton (D-MO)

2206 Rayburn Bldg

Washington DC. 205151,

202-225-28763

202-225-269

Bob Stump (R-AZ)

211 Cannon Bldg

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-4576

202-225-6328

Norman Sisisky (D-VA)

2371 Rayburn Bldg

Washington DC 20515

202-225-5531

202-225-1170

Ducan Hunter (R-CA)

2265 Rayburn Bldg

Washington DC 20515

202-225-5672

202-225-0235

John M. Spratt, Jr (D-SC)

1536 Longworth Bldg.

Washington DC 20515

202-225-5501

202-225-0464

John R. Kasich (R-OH)

1111 Longworth Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-5355

202-225-7695

Solomon P. Ortiz (D-TX)

2136 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-7742

202-226-1134

Herbert H. Bateman (R-VA)

211 Rayburn Bldg

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-4261

202-225-4382

Stephen Buyer (R-IN)

227 Cannon Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-5037

N/A

Tom Allen (D-ME)

1717 Longworth Bldg

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-6116

202-225-5590

Neil Abercrombie (D-HI)

1502 Longworth Bldg

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-2726

202-225-4580

Roscoe G. Barlett (R-MD)

2412 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-2721

202-225-2193

Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)

1019 Longworth Bldg

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-6531

202-225-3013

R. Terry Everett (R-AL)

2312 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-2901

N/A

Tillie Fowler (R-FL)

106 Cannon Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-2501

202-225-9318

John Hostettler (R-IN)

1507 Longworth Bldg

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-4636

202-225-3284

Joel Hefley (R-CO)

2230 Rayburn Bldg

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-4422

202-225-1942

James V. Hansen (R-UT)

242 Cannon Bldg

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-0453

202-225-5857

Curt Weldon (R-PA)

2452 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-2011

202-225-8137

Jim Saxton (R-NJ)

339 Cannon Bldg

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-4765

202-225-0778

John McHugh (R-NY)

2441 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-4611

202-226-0621

James M. Talent (R-MO)

1022 Longworth Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-2561

202-225-2563

Howard (Buck) McKeon (R-CA)

2242 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-1956

202-226-0683

J.C. Watts (R-OK)

1210 Longworth Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-6165

202-225-3512

Mac Thornberry (R-TX)

131 Cannon Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-3706

202-225-3486

Owen Pickett (D-VA)

2133 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-4215

202-225-4818

Lane Evans (D-IL)

2335 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-5905

202-225-5396

Gene Taylor (R-MS)

2311 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-5772

202-225-7074

Martin T. Meehan (D-MA)

2434 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-3411

202-226-0771

Robert Underwood (D-Guam)

2418 Rayburn Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-1188

202-226-0341

Victor F. Snyder (D-ARK)

1319 Longworth Bldg.

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-2506

202-225-6281

James H. Maloney (D-CT)

1213 Longworth Bldg

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-3822

202-225-5746

Mike McIntyre (D-NC)

1605 Longworth Bldg

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-2731

202-225-5573

Ellen Tauscher (D-CA)

1239 Longworth Bldg

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-1880

202-225-5914

Mike Thompson (D-CA)

415 Cannon Bldg

Washington DC. 20515

202-225-3311

202-225-4335

>There is no justification for DIA's request to exempt its operational files from FOIA laws.


Send Your Letter And Make Your Phone Calls -- NOW!


In the acknowledgment of contributors published in the Forum 2000 program, VVA Union County Chapter 688, of West Field New Jersey, was accidentally omitted. We regret this error and extent our thanks to the membership of VVA Chapter 688 for their continued support. It is much appreciated.


Why does Johnnie Webb still have a job????????


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