(The Adorers are supportive members.)

Dear USCSAHT Members,

Monday, April 25 marked the beginning of our eight-week campaign to persuade senators, especially our women senators, to cosponsor S. 1968, the Business Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act of 2015. The campaign will include emails, phone calls, letters, social media, and visits with staff in Washington and in the Senators’ home states. USCSAHT representatives will receive email alerts and related materials as each phase of this campaign unfolds. This is the first of four action alerts which you will receive between now and May 30.

During the next two weeks, we urge you, along with the members of your congregations, associates, co-ministers, family members and friends, to contact both of your senators via e-mail (link provided below) requesting that they co sponsor S. 1968.

Action: http://www.ipjc.org/legislation/action_center.html?vvsrc=%2fcampaigns%2f46030%2frespond

Since our senators are NOT co-sponsors of S 1968, use the first e-mail message on the page. (Note that the Action Alert on the page offers additional language to add to the message going to women members of the Senate.)

These Senators are co-sponsors of S 1968: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT); Co-sponsors: Senators Edward Markey (D-MA); Al Franken (D-MN); Kirsten Gillebrand (D-NY). You can use the second e-mail message to write and express your gratitude to him/her.

Here are links to additional information that will be helpful to you in this phase of our campaign:

Campaign Overview: http://www.sistersagainsttrafficking.org/take-action/legislative-action/women-senate-campaign/campaign-overview/

Background Information on S. 1968: http://www.sistersagainsttrafficking.org/take-action/legislative-action/women-senate-campaign/legislation-backgrounder-s-1968/

Action Alert: April 25 - May 8: http://www.sistersagainsttrafficking.org/take-action/legislative-action/women-senate-campaign/2016-spring-action-alert-april-25-may-8/

Thank you for your participation in this first phase of our campaign. Materials for Phase 2 will be e-mailed to you on Monday, May 4.

Gratefully,

Members of the USCSAHT Legislative Advocacy Working Group

Ann Scholz, SSND (Chair), Elisabetta Berghold, Jeanne Christensen, RSM, Teresita Hinnegan, MMS, Sharee Hurtgen, SSM, Patricia Lowery, MMS, Sarah Nash, Ann Oestreich, IHM, Rose Mary Sullivan, CND

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SAMPLE LETTER:

I am, ______, a constituent and a Catholic (Sister). As a member of this faith community and a faithful citizen and voter, I urge you to support the Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act (S. 1968) (U.S.-114). The bill, if enacted, would require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to implement rules that require companies with annual worldwide gross receipts exceeding $100 million to ensure their supply chains are free of slavery and human trafficking.

The report would include what they are doing to: enforce policies that seek to identify, evaluate, and eliminate the risks of forced labor, human trafficking, and child labor within their supply chains; prohibit employees from engaging in commercial sex acts with minors; maintain accountability for employees or contractors that fail to meet these human rights standards; provide training to identify human trafficking for employees who are directly responsible for supply chain management; ensure that labor recruitment complies with corporate policies or efforts to eliminate practices that contribute to human trafficking; and ensure that remediation is provided to those who have been identified as victims of human trafficking.

The reports would allow consumers to hold companies accountable if they are not working to eradicate human trafficking in their supply chains, and make informed decisions when purchasing products. Not only does this increase the awareness of consumers, but creates market competition to improve how businesses are addressing human trafficking.

Human trafficking is a crime against the human dignity of a person. Please consider the estimated 27 million people that are currently trapped in modern day slavery, and continue our country's commitment to stopping the demand for human trafficking.

I hope you will feel the moral, economic and political obligation to support this bill.

(YOUR SIGNATURE)