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Hi Everyone,
Bad news… Conyers, Berman and the House leadership are in active discussions to pass the House bill NOW. We had a scare earlier tonight when we thought that the bill would be put on the suspension calendar this evening (which means it would be voted on), but now it looks as though it will be tomorrow morning unless we can do something to prevent it!
After consulting with Brad Holland, Cynthia Turner and the other team leaders, here’s the strategy:
We need to get to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and ask them NOT to allow H.R. 5889 to go on the calendar.
We also need to get to 4 critical members of the House Judiciary Committee and tell them NOT to abandon their version of the bill and accept the Senate version.
This is SO important that we are asking everyone to phone, fax AND e-mail these six people IMMEDIATELY. Perhaps if they all get 10,000+ messages between now and tomorrow morning it will have an impact.
Here is the contact information, followed by sample letters that you may use as is, or edit as you see fit. Please be aware that some of the representatives only accept e-mails from constituents.
If you have trouble getting through on their individual lines, you can also CALL CONGRESS: 1-800-828-0498. Tell the U.S. Capitol Switchboard Operator "I would like to leave a message for Congressperson __________ that I oppose the Orphan Works Act." They will switch you through to the lawmaker's office and often take a message which also gets passed on to the lawmaker. Once you're put through give the same message.
USE LETTER #1 FOR:
Rep. Nancy Pelosi AmericanVoices@mail.house.
Phone: (202) 225 4965 Fax (202) 225-8259
Phone: (415) 556-4862 (San Francisco office)
Rep. Steny Hoyer steny.hoyer@mail.house.gov
Phone: (202) 225 4131 Fax (202) 225-4300
Phone: (301) 474-0119 (Greenbelt office)
Phone: (301-843-1577 (Waldorf office)
USE LETTER #2 FOR:
Rep. John Conyers, Jr. john.conyers@mail.house.gov
Phone: (202) 225-5126 Fax: (202) 225-0072
Phone: (313) 961-5670 Fax: (313) 226-2085
Rep. William Delahunt william.delahunt@mail.house.gov
Phone (202) 225 3111 Fax (202) 225-5658
Phone: (617) 770-3700 Fax: (617) 770-2984
Rep. Jerrold Nadler jerrold.nadler@mail.house.gov
Phone: (202) 225-5635 Fax: (202) 225-6923
Phone: (212) 367-7350 Fax: (212) 367-7356
Rep. Howard Berman howard.berman@mail.house.gov
Phone: (202) 225-4695 Fax: (202) 225-3196
Phone: (818) 994-7200 Fax: (818) 994-1050
LETTER #1:
Dear Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi/ House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer:
Please, please, help me. For months I have been contacting members of Congress regarding my opposition to H.R. 5889, the Orphan Works Act of 2008. This legislation, if passed as written, will have devastating consequences for millions of copyright holders. On Friday, the Senate passed their version of the Orphan Works bill, and my worst fears will be realized if the House follows suit.
I am in total disbelief that now—
*UNDER COVER OF NIGHT
* UNDER COVER OF AN ECONOMIC CRISIS
* UNDER COVER OF ANOTHER TELEVISED DEBATE
… when we were led to believe that the bill would not be passed by the 110th Congress… NOW is when certain members of Congress are trying to get their special interest bill passed.
I am part of a loosely formed alliance of 75 organizations representing over 500,000 artists, photographers, musicians and writers—AND WE WANT OUR VOICES HEARD. We want to have a voice in crafting appropriate Orphan Works legislation which will not devastate multiple industries-- in the 111th Congress. Please help us make that happen by not allowing H.R. 5889 to appear on the schedule for the rest of this session.
This radical change to copyright law is not in the best interests of our country—especially given the economic crisis we are facing. Surely Congress has more important things to worry about right now than passing a highly contested radical piece of copyright legislation.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Your name
LETTER #2:
Dear Rep. (Conyers, Delahunt, Nadler, Berman),
Please, please, help me. For months I have been contacting members of Congress regarding my opposition to H.R. 5889, the Orphan Works Act of 2008. This legislation, if passed as written, will have devastating consequences for millions of copyright holders. On Friday, the Senate passed their version of the Orphan Works bill, and my worst fears will be realized if the House follows suit.
I am totally outraged that now—
*UNDER COVER OF NIGHT
* UNDER COVER OF AN ECONOMIC CRISIS
* UNDER COVER OF ANOTHER TELEVISED DEBATE
… when we were led to believe that the bill would not be passed by the 110th Congress… NOW is when Congress is trying to re-write our copyright laws.
I am part of a loosely formed alliance of 75 organizations representing over 500,000 artists, photographers, musicians and writers—AND WE WANT OUR VOICES HEARD. Please do NOT allow this bill to pass now— and do NOT adopt the Senate version of the bill. This radical change to copyright law is not in the best interests of our country—especially given the economic crisis we are facing. In the upcoming election this will be a vote-deciding issue for me and many artists like me. We want to have a voice in crafting appropriate Orphan Works legislation which will not devastate multiple industries, and despite what you may have been told we have not been given that opportunity. Please help us make that happen—in the 111th Congress.
I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Your name
THANK YOU FOR DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE THIS LEGISLATION DOES NOT PASS.
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