Sample Letter to a Legislator

The Honorable      (full name)            
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Senator        (last name)           ,

I urge you to sign on as a cosponsor of the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act (HR 1813 or S 854) and to support full appropriations funding to implement to the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998.

Approximately 500,000 torture survivors live in the United States. Nineteen states have treatment centers but many large cities lack torture treatment programs including Honolulu, Miami, Hartford, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Cleveland, St. Louis, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. Centers are able to provide trained psychiatrists, physicians, and staffers and appropriate medication for treatment. These centers have helped many survivors overcome debilitating psychological and physical effects of torture.

Adoption of the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act (HR 1813 or S 854) and passage of the relevant appropriations supports individuals who in their own countries have stood for the democratic principles that embody the American legacy. I urge you to co-sponsor and pass this important legislation. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Your name
Your address