Jeanne Bergman 212‑925‑9618 JUIY 27, 1996 6:49PM

DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE WELFARE BILL

JULY 29, 1996

WASHINGTON, DC

10 30‑11 am: Arrive and disembark at East Entrance of the US Capitol Building.

Gather on grass at south‑east corner of the Capitol (marked "A" on the map).

Teams meet together, concretize plans.

11:15 am: Rally/press conference on lawn.

11:40 am: Brief rally on steps (just a photo op: rallies are not permitted there).

Marked "B" on map.

11:45 am: Lobbying visits to members of Conference Committee:

Russell and Hart Senate Office Buildings;

Rayburn, Longworth, Madison House Office Buildings.

See your team assignment sheet for exact office locations.

I:30 pm: Head back to ROTUNDA‑‑YOU NEED TO BE THERE ON TIME!

1:45 pm: Entire group reunites in Rotunda area of Capitol Building (marked "C" on

map). Brief rally: march out of Capitol with much noise.

Head north‑east towards Russell and Hart Senate Office Buildings.

2:15 pm: Busses meet us at corner of Constitution Avenue and First Street for ride to White

House (corner is marked "D" on map).

2:25 pm: Busses actually leave for White House.

2:30 pm: Rally/press conference in front of White House, Pennsylvania Avenue

entrance.

3 30 pm: Reboard busses exactly where they dropped us off; return to Philadelphia.

TIPS FOR LOBBYING TEAMS

For these meetings, talking about your personal experience is very important: tell the people we are meeting with how this bill will personally affect you and those you care about.

The main point of this bill is that millions and millions of people—mainly women and children—will no longer be able to get monthly welfare checks. Food stamps will also be harder to get. These programs are used by many low‑income people living with AIDS, as well as other vulnerable groups like single moms.

We are demanding that the president veto this bill; we are telling people in Congress so they will tell other Congresspeople, and also tell the President.

In this meeting, talk about how programs like welfare and food stamps have helped you or someone you know, if you feel OK about that. Give the staffer you are meeting with an idea of the truth about people who are on welfare, and how important these programs are. You aren't supposed to be a professional: the idea is to let people in Congress know how the people who use welfare programs will be affected.

TIPS FOR MEETING WITH CONGRESSPEOPLE

It is a good idea for team captains to lead the meeting

Before going into the office, each person may want to think of an example he or she will bring up in the meeting. If time allows, ask your team captain to hear you out so that you can get practice talking about the issue.

At the meeting, begin by introducing yourself; tell what state and organization you are from. Describe your organization briefly.

Next, the meeting leader will explain why we are here: we want to explain our concerns about the bill, urge the congressperson to oppose it and to tell other congresspeople to do the same, and to tell the president to veto it altogether.

Here are three aspects of the bill that people can focus on in the meetings:

.Welfare programs provide poor people with basic resources that keep them housed and fed. This bill ends benefits for millions and millions of vulnerable people—families living with AIDS and other disabilities, people in recovery and who use, single moms—and pushes people who are already poor deeper into poverty. The majority of families that would be cut off by this bill are families already far below the poverty level.

.This bill takes away the safety net for millions of adults and children. This bill gives no guarantee that people who get kicked off benefits will get jobs. It only guarantees that people's safety and health will be in jeopardy without access to the federal programs they need.

.Under this bill, states would be able to say who can get welfare and who can't. Many states, like

Pennsylvania, will use this as an opportunity to deny millions of families basic support. By allowing

states to put extreme time limits on welfare benefits, this bill attacks America's most vulnerable people: children. poor people, sick people.

After the meeting leader introduces one point, other people can tell their stories that back up the idea that this bill can is an attack on poor families, and must be stopped.

Don't forget to ask for the staffer's business card before you leave, so we can follow up once we are home.