On January 29, 2020 women state legislators from across the country sent a letter to Congress urging them to vote in favor of restraining any future unauthorized hostilities. 

The letter signed by 50 women state legislators encourages Congress to "... uphold its constitutional duty and enact legislation that prevents any further escalation of conflict with Iran. The United States cannot afford the costs of another disastrous war in the Middle East." 

The letter is signed from state legislators from 29 states:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington

Click here to view a PDF of the letter. 

​

 

​

 

​

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To all U.S. Senators and Representatives:

As state legislators, we are gravely concerned that the recent escalation with Iran is leading our country to the brink of another needless and costly war. We call on you to ensure that the United States de-escalates tensions in Iran and prevents further hostilities.

Only Congress can decide whether American forces should be put in harm's way. Bipartisan majorities in both chambers, backed by vast grassroots support, sought to block this type of offensive executive military action against Iran in the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. But the language was stripped out of the bill during negotiations. Every American citizen now sees the results of that dereliction of duty.

The costs of war run high: human costs, environmental costs, and financial costs. 

 

Since 2001 more than 7,000 American soldiers died in the Middle East, as well as 244,000 civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. An entire generation, here and abroad, has grown up knowing nothing but war and conflict. 

 

The U.S. military is a bigger polluter than 100 nations combined. As we face a mounting climate crisis our resources should be directed to solving, not exacerbating, this issue which will impact everyone for decades to come. 

 

As a nation, we have already spent $4.9 trillion on endless wars since 2001. We cannot afford to add another decades-long war to our nation’s conscience and credit card. With the federal debt hitting a record high of $22 trillion this past February, government spending should reflect efforts to reduce costs—not prepare for more unnecessary wars.
 

If we don’t stop this cycle of aggression now, the unfortunate conclusion will be the total destruction of our standing in the world, a dramatic increase in our national debt, and a tragic loss of life. Congress must uphold its constitutional duty and enact legislation that prevents any further escalation of conflict with Iran. The United States cannot afford the costs of another disastrous war in the Middle East. 

 

Sincerely, 

 

Alabama State Representative Merika Coleman
Alaska State Representative Harriett Drummond
Arizona State Senator Lela Alston

Connecticut State Representative Christine Palm 

Georgia State Senator Nan Grogan Orrock

Georgia State Representative Park Cannon

Georgia State Representative Michele Henson

Illinois    State Representative Carol Ammons

Illinois State Representative Rita Mayfield

Iowa State Representative Marti Anderson

Kansas    State Representative Sydney Carlin

Maine State Senator Rebecca Millett

Maryland State Delegate  Pamela Queen

Massachusetts State Senator Jo Comerford

Massachusetts State Senator Pat Jehlen

Massachusetts State Representative Natalie Higgins

Massachusetts State Representative Kay Khan

Minnesota State Representative Tina Liebling

Minnesota State Representative Mary Kunesh-Podein

Minnesota State Representative Connie Bernardy

Mississippi Former Representative Kathy Sykes

Missouri State Representative Ingrid Burnett

Missouri State Representative LaDonna Appelbaum

Montana State Representative Mary Ann Dunwell

Montana State Representative Jasmine Krotkov

Nebraska State Senator Megan Hunt

North Carolina State Representative  Evelyn A Terry

New Hampshire State Representative  Kathryn Stack

New Hampshire State Representative Lee Oxenham

New Hampshire State Representative Judith T Spang

New Hampshire State Representative Julie Radhakrishnan

New Hampshire Majority Floor Leader Mary Heath

New Hampshire State Representative  Francesca G. Diggs

New Mexico State Representative  Liz Thomson 

Ohio State Senator Nickie J. Antonio

Oregon State Representative Tiffiny Mitchell

Oregon State Representative Alissa Keny-Guyer

Oregon State Representative Andrea Salinas
Pennsylvania Representative Wendy Ullman
Pennsylvania State Senator Katie Muth

Rhode Island State Senator Dawn Euer

South Dakota State Senator Susan Wismer
Tennessee State Representative London Lamar

Texas State Representative  Toni Rose

Utah State Representative Elizabeth Weight

Utah State Representative Marsha Judkins

Vermont  State Representative Mary Sullivan

Vermont State Representative Kimberly Jessup 

Vermont State Representative Sara Coffey

Washington State Senator Patty Kuderer

​

​

​