Mayor [INSERT MAYOR’S NAME]
[INSERT CITY NAME] City Council Members
[STREET ADDRESS]
[CITY, ST ZIP CODE]


[DATE]

[LIST NAMES OF MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, PRECEDED BY THEIR TITLES]

Recommendation:
That the [INSERT CITY NAME HERE] City Council approve a resolution (draft attached) that:

(1)    Supports the establishment of a federal, cabinet-level Department of Peace and Nonviolence; and
(2)    Urges other local Representatives and Senators in Congress to support it

Hon. Mayor [LAST NAME], Council President, Council President Pro Tem, and Council Members:

    On February 5, 2007 House Resolution HR 808 was introduced in the United States House of Representatives to create a cabinet-level Department of Peace and Nonviolence, which will be headed by a Secretary who reports to the President.

    This legislation holds peace as an organizing principle in our society by elevating domestic and international peace policies to the highest levels of the federal government. This proposed legislation would be beneficial to our community as a whole.

    The Department of Peace and Nonviolence will assist in the design, dissemination, establishment, and funding of community-based violence prevention programs, including violence prevention counseling and peer mediation in schools, in areas such as:

•    Domestic violence and child abuse
•    School and gang violence
•    Crime, punishment and rehabilitation
•    Violence related to race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation
•    Drug and alcohol abuse

In summary, the people of [INSERT CITY NAME HERE] will benefit from a federal Department of Peace and Nonviolence through the availability of increased funding for local violence and crime prevention programs and for the teaching of nonviolent conflict resolution in the schools. It will also increase support for research on and communication of best practices across the country, and support the development of necessary polices and practices to reduce the threat of war and terrorism to our citizens.

There are currently [INSERT CURRENT NUMBER HERE] Congressional co-sponsors of this legislation of which [INSERT CURRENT NUMBER HERE, IF APPLICABLE] represent districts in [INSERT YOUR STATE NAME]. [INSERT APPROPRIATE NUMBER IF APPLICABLE] [INSERT YOUR STATE NAME] Congressional co-sponsors represent residents in the city of [INSERT YOUR CITY NAME]. (Please see the attached list.)

[INSERT CURRENT NUMBER HERE] city councils across the country have passed measures endorsing the legislation, of which [INSERT APPROPRIATE NUMBER IF APPLICABLE] city councils are in [INSERT YOUR STATE NAME]. (Please see attached list.)

As residents of [INSERT CITY NAME], we request that Your Honorable Body adopt a resolution in support of HR 808, and encouraging our local Representatives and Senators to support the establishment of a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence.

We would be happy to make a presentation to Your Honorable Body to provide further information, and in support of a discussion of this important issue.

Attached for your review is a copy both of HR 808 and of the proposed Resolution. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact those signed below.



Respectfully,


[Your names and signatures, and contact information]



Join the campaign to establish a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence. Visit www.thepeacealliance.org
 

Download RTF file of this letter HERE.