Quote of the Day: "The law will never make men free; it is men who have got to make the law free." -- Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) Source: Slavery in Massachusetts (1854)

Subject: Good news on the Enumerated Powers Act

The Enumerated Powers Act (HR 450) would require Congress to identify the Constitutional authority for each law it passes. We think this requirement is an important step on the long road to restoring Constitutional limits and the Bill of Rights.

When we last reported to you the bill had 32 co-sponsors in the House. Now it has 48.

Better yet, there's now a companion bill in the Senate (S. 1319), and it already has 21 co-sponsors! 

We think DC Downsizers have played a big role in making this happen. You have constantly asked for new co-sponsors on this legislation, and the number of co-sponsors has constantly grown. Let's keep pushing.

First, check the lists below to see if one or more members of your Congressional delegation is already co-sponsoring this legislation. Then, use our Educate the Powerful System (sm) to write a letter to your delegation, thanking or requesting participation, as the case may be.

Here's the list of House co-sponsors of HR 450 . . .

Bachmann, Michele [MN-6] -- Barrett, J. Gresham [SC-3] -- Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] -- Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] -- Bishop, Rob [UT-1] -- Blackburn, Marsha [TN-7] -- Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] -- Broun, Paul C. [GA-10] -- Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] -- Culberson, John Abney [TX-7] -- Davis, Geoff [KY-4] -- Deal, Nathan [GA-9] -- Flake, Jeff [AZ-6] -- Forbes, J. Randy [VA-4] -- Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] -- Franks, Trent [AZ-2] -- Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] -- Gohmert, Louie [TX-1] -- Goodlatte, Bob [VA-6] -- Heller, Dean [NV-2] -- Herger, Wally [CA-2] -- Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] -- Hunter, Duncan D. [CA-52] -- Johnson, Sam [TX-3] -- Kline, John [MN-2] -- Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] -- Mack, Connie [FL-14] -- McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] -- McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] -- McHenry, Patrick T. [NC-10] -- Miller, Jeff [FL-1] -- Moran, Jerry [KS-1] -- Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] -- Neugebauer, Randy [TX-19] -- Olson, Pete [TX-22] -- Paul, Ron [TX-14] -- Poe, Ted [TX-2] -- Posey, Bill [FL-15] -- Price, Tom [GA-6] -- Roe, David P. [TN-1] -- Ryan, Paul [WI-1] -- Sessions, Pete [TX-32] -- Smith, Lamar [TX-21] -- Terry, Lee [NE-2] -- Thompson, Glenn [PA-5] -- Wamp, Zach [TN-3] -- Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] -- Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1]

Here's the list of Senate co-sponsors for S. 1319 . . .

Barrasso, John [WY] -- Brownback, Sam [KS] -- Bunning, Jim [KY] -- Burr, Richard [NC] -- Chambliss, Saxby [GA] -- Crapo, Mike [ID] -- DeMint, Jim [SC] -- Ensign, John [NV] -- Enzi, Michael B. [WY] -- Graham, Lindsey [SC] -- Grassley, Chuck [IA] -- Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] -- Inhofe, James M. [OK] -- Isakson, Johnny [GA] -- Kyl, Jon [AZ] -- McCain, John [AZ] -- McConnell, Mitch [KY] -- Risch, James E. [ID] -- Thune, John [SD] -- Vitter, David [LA] -- Wicker, Roger F. [MS]

Use DownsizeDC.org's campagin for the Enumerated Powers Act to send your letter to Congress.

My two Senators are already co-sponsors, but my House Representative is not, so here's what I said in my personal comments:

"I applaud my Senators, McCain and Kyl, for co-sponsoring this bill, and urge my Representative, Ms. Giffords, to join them by co-sponsoring the House version, HR 450. I view support for this bill as evidence that you want to walk-the-talk of your oath to serve, protect, and defend the Constitution."

You can send your letter to Congress here.

To stay on pace to exceed the 50,802 messages Downsizers sent to Congress last month we must send 2,620 messages today.

Thank you for being a part of the growing Downsize DC Army. To see the latest members of the Read the Bills Act Coalition, and see exactly how fast your army is growing, please check out the Keeping Score report below my signature.

Perry Willis
Communications Director
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

KEEPING SCORE REPORT

New Read the Bills Act Coalition members: Resident Bush, Reality's Bitch, Strike The Root!, Craig W. Wright

If you're a blog or talk show and want to join the coalition, visit DownsizeDC.org.

We grew by 17 net new members yesterday. This brings us to 3,440 net new members for the year. The Downsize DC Army now stands at 27,789 -- nearly 79% of the way between 27,000 and 28,000!

YOU can make the army grow even faster by following our quick and easy instructions for personalized recruiting.

We can also grow faster by spreading the word through the media. Please help us do this by starting a monthly credit card pledge -- it can be as low as $5 a month (which is just 17 cents per day). You can start your pledge using our secure online contribution form.

Please let us know if its okay to advertise your support here:

NEW MONTHLY PLEDGERS IN AUGUST: Gary J Leidy, David Bergland, Gary T Gorski, Don J Crites, 2 unlisted -- (6 total) FROM JULY: Barbara Greenhouse, Henry Wood, Donald B. Fox, Mickey Adams, Mary E Sullivan, Raul A., Michael Jones, Alan Farrar, Emma Flores, Michael S Gerlica, John C Matthews, Cheston E Unnewehr, Val Grayson, Arlene Aquino, Susan Varey, Chris Sengenberger, John DiLiberto, 3 unlisted -- 20 total.

Or, you could make a one-time donation. Please let us know on our secure contribution form if its okay to advertise your support here:

NEW ONE TIME DONORS IN AUGUST: Douglas Steinschneider, Lily Riker, Nicholas C. Beason, Mr. Marlin, Edward J. Krieger, Lynnette Thompson, 5 unlisted (11 total) FROM JULY: Robert Lonaberger, Lucy Cole, Donald E Forward, Steven J Lavelle, Karen Glasgow, Brian Keith, Susan Thomas, Chelsea Moller, Michael Herman, Bonnie Hofer, Anita Binns, Brian O'Neill, Richard E Camp, Travis Walston, Donald Grahn, Sonja Thompson, 16 unlisted -- 32 total.

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