Home Page : News: Write a letter to your Senators and Representatives Last Updated June 10, 2009 Write letters to your US Senators and Representatives This concerns two resolutions introduced in Congress on May 21, 2009, by Senator Harry Reid and Congresswoman Shelley Berkley. The purpose for these resolutions is "to require the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report to Congress on retirement benefits for former employees of Air America and for other purposes." The resolutions can be seen online at the following websites: House Resolution 2577 Senate Resolution 1126 Senator Charles Schumer (NY) has signed on as a cosponsor of the Senate Resolution and Congressman Peter Visclosky (IN) is a cosponsor of the House Resolution. Senator Reid has asked that we all contact our individual Senators and Representatives and ask them to also sign on as cosponsors as this will help assure passage of these resolutions in this session. We expect if it does not occur in this session it may not ever take place at all. It would be appreciated if each member of Air America would write letters to your Congressional Representatives in both Houses and ask them to sign on as cosponsors and support these resolutions. The addresses for your Senators and Representatives can be found at: Find your Representatives Find your Senators
Below is a sample letter you can use if you would like to ask for this
support. Please feel free to forward this information to anyone who you
think will give us support, especially other former employees and their
surviving wives and children. We hope this is the last session where you are being
asked to contact Congress. __________________________ The Honorable John Smith (Date) Dear Senator/Congressman/Congresswoman (name): On May 21, 2009, Senator Harry Reid introduced S.1126 and Congresswoman Shelley Berkley introduced H.R. 2577, which are the first steps in providing civil service retirement benefits to former employees of Air America, Inc., and its associated companies. These companies were owned and operated by the CIA during the period of 1950-1975. Under the applicable law at the time, such U.S. citizen employees were Federal civil service employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System. As Senator Reid states in his explanatory statement, located on page S5825 of the May 21, 2009, Congressional Record, Air America employees were not able to claim these benefits when their employment ceased because the true ownership of the company was classified. By the time the personnel could openly state they were actually CIA employees, the Office of Personnel Management had changed it regulations retroactively, thus penalizing these personnel unfairly. This retirement credit will benefit some 400 former employees or their widows. The CIA advises that "Air America has lost 240 pilots and crew members due to hostile fire." This resulted from flight operations conducted on behalf of our nation in Asia during the Korean War, during secret missions over China in 1952, during the Dien Bien Phu airlift of 1954, and during the Vietnam war. Senator Reid correctly notes in the Congressional Record that his legislation will "correct an injustice for those who served our country during times of crisis. These great Americans have earned these benefits and the gratitude of a thankful Nation. Now is our chance to honor their service and begin recognizing their sacrifices." I am enclosing a summary, prepared by a former Air America employee, which explains the background of the bill and why it is needed at this time. As a constituent of yours and a former employee of Air America I solicit your support for this bill and ask that you join Senator Reid as a cosponsor of S.1126 and Congresswoman Berkley as a cosponsor of H.R. 2577. Thank you for your favorable consideration of this request. Sincerely, (signed by you) (Your name typed here) _______________________ Special Note: The second to last sentence can be changed from "and a former employee" to "and the widow of a former employee" if appropriate, or something similar if you are not a former employee. We also think it would be helpful if some crew members recounted some flight experiences with Air America. Although this draft letter and attachment refers to Air America, the resolutions themselves include CAT, SAT, and any other corporate entity associated with Air America.
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