Congressman Jim McDermott of Washington and a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Congressman Brian Bilbray of California, Co-Chairman of the US-Philippine Friendship Caucus introduced the SAVE Our Industries Act (H. R. 3039) on June 25, 2009.
Senators Daniel Inouye of Hawaii and Christopher Bond of Missouri followed suit and introduced the SAVE Our Industries Act (S. 3170) to revitalize the United States textile and the Philippine apparel industries on March 25, 2010.
The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and the Confederation of Garment Exporters of the Philippines (CONGEP) estimates that these legislations can save and create thousands of jobs in the US textile manufacturing and Philippine apparel sewing industries, as well as provide for the first time a meaningful opportunity for US textile manufacturers to export fabrics to Asia.
This initiative can increase the current number of export-related jobs in the U. S. textile industry by some five percent, and support up to $500 million in new U. S. textile exports.
YOUR ACTION: Write and call your U. S. Senators and Representatives and urge them to co-sponsor the Save Our Industries Act (S. 3170 and H. R. 3039).
Take Action Now:
Write or email your U. S. Senators and urge them to support the Save Our Industries Act (S. 3170), legislation to help save and create thousands of jobs in the US textile manufacturing and Philippine apparel sewing industries. Learn more about S. 3170 at www.saveourindustriesact.org.
- Personalize the following sample letter and send by email or transfer to your letterhead and mail:
Dear Senator ________: (click to find your senator (Senate website) and then find the link on your senator’s website on how to email or for the mailing address if you prefer to mail your letter)
Subject: Support the Save Our Industries Act (S. 3170)
I am writing to urge your support of the Save Our Industries Act (S. 3170) introduced by Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Christopher Bond (R-MO) which would create and save thousands of jobs in the US textile manufacturing industries. This legislation will also create opportunities of up to $500 million in new US textile exports.
The jobs created and saved by S. 3170 will help the struggling textile manufacturing companies, put money in the pockets of working families, spur demand in the economy and prevent the unemployment lines from growing even longer.
The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and the Confederation of Garment Exporters of the Philippines (CONGEP) have indicated that this legislation will provide the US textile manufacturers a competitive edge in the fashion market in Asia. The SAVE Act (S. 3170) will promote the sale of U. S. yarns and fabrics to the Philippines.
US textile exports to the Philippines, only $20 million in 2008, can increase 10 times by the second year of implementation if the legislation passes. Direct manufacturing jobs in the US are expected to grow by 5% and in labor-intensive Philippine apparel cut & sew industry by 30%. Philippine apparel exports to the US, about $18 million in 2009, can gain by one third in the same period.
I am an American of Filipino ethnicity and I urge you to co-sponsor the SAVE Our Industries Act (S. 1370). This will greatly improve the well-being of the citizens of both my native and adopted countries. The SAVE Act is a win-win legislation that would represent the first significant Philippine-US bilateral trade enhancement and cooperation initiative.
Sincerely,
(YOUR NAME AND CONTACT INFO)
- Call your own senator at 202-224-3121 and the operator at the Capitol switchboard will connect you to senator’s office. It is important to let them know why you are calling and what issue you are calling about.
More often you will speak to a staff person whose job is to keep track of how many people called and their positions on issues and provide a summary to the senator. Often times, you will be directed to a voicemail—do not be discouraged. Read the script below and leave it on voicemail.
Your call counts, even if you are not able to speak directory to your senator.
You can also find the direct number to any senator’s office on the Senate phone list.
Use the following phone script:
My name is (your name) and I am a constituent of Senator (find your senator’s name).
I am an American of Filipino ethnicity and I am calling to urge my Senator to co-sponsor the SAVE Our Industries Act (S. 1370) introduced by Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Christopher Bond (R-MO).
This legislation will create and save thousands of jobs in the US textile manufacturing industries. It will also create opportunities of up to $500 million in new US textile exports.
The jobs created and saved by S. 3170 will help the struggling textile manufacturing companies, put money in the pockets of working families, spur demand in the economy and prevent the unemployment lines from growing even longer.
This will greatly improve the well-being of the citizens of both my native and adopted countries. The SAVE Act is a win-win legislation that would represent the first significant Philippine-US bilateral trade enhancement and cooperation initiative.
ADD the following, if you are leaving a message or to inform the staff member.
The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and the Confederation of Garment Exporters of the Philippines (CONGEP) have indicated that this legislation will provide the US textile manufacturers a competitive edge in the fashion market in Asia. The SAVE Act (S. 3170) will promote the sale of U. S. yarns and fabrics to the Philippines.
US textile exports to the Philippines, only $20 million in 2008, can increase 10 times by the second year of implementation if the legislation passes. Direct manufacturing jobs in the US are expected to grow by 5% and in labor-intensive Philippine apparel cut & sew industry by 30%. Philippine apparel exports to the US, about $18 million in 2009, can gain by one third in the same period.
END with the following statement, expressing your thanks.
Again, my name is ___________ and I urge you to co-sponsor the SAVE Our Industries Act (S. 3170). You can contact me at (your phone no. and/or email address).
Thank you in advance for your support.
Take Action Now:
Write or email your U. S. Representatives and urge them to support the Save Our Industries Act (H. R. 3039), legislation to help save and create thousands of jobs in the US textile manufacturing and Philippine apparel sewing industries. Learn more about H. R. 3039 at www.saveourindustriesact.org.
- Personalize the following sample letter and send by email or transfer to your letterhead and mail:
Dear Representative ________: click to find your representative (House of Representatives website) and then find the link on your representative’s website on how to email or for the mailing address if you prefer to mail your letter
Subject: Support the Save Our Industries Act (H. R. 3039)
I am writing to urge your support of the Save Our Industries Act (H. R. 3039) introduced by Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), a senior member of the House Ways & Means Trade Subcommittee and Congressman Brian P. Bilbray (R-CA), Co-Chairman of the US-Philippine Friendship Caucus.
This legislation would create and save thousands of jobs in the US textile manufacturing industries. This legislation will also create opportunities of up to $500 million in new US textile exports.
The jobs created and saved by H. R. 3039 will help the struggling textile manufacturing companies, put money in the pockets of working families, spur demand in the economy and prevent the unemployment lines from growing even longer.
The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and the Confederation of Garment Exporters of the Philippines (CONGEP) have indicated that this legislation will provide the US textile manufacturers a competitive edge in the fashion market in Asia. The SAVE Act (H. R. 3039) will promote the sale of U. S. yarns and fabrics to the Philippines.
US textile exports to the Philippines, only $20 million in 2008, can increase 10 times by the second year of implementation if the legislation passes. Direct manufacturing jobs in the US are expected to grow by 5% and in labor-intensive Philippine apparel cut & sew industry by 30%. Philippine apparel exports to the US, about $18 million in 2009, can gain by one third in the same period.
I am an American of Filipino ethnicity and I urge you to co-sponsor the SAVE Our Industries Act (H. R. 3039). This will greatly improve the well-being of the citizens of both my native and adopted countries. The SAVE Act is a win-win legislation that would represent the first significant Philippine-US bilateral trade enhancement and cooperation initiative.
Sincerely,
(YOUR NAME AND CONTACT INFO)
- Call your representative at 202-224-3121 and the operator at the Capitol switchboard will connect you to representative’s office. It is important to let them know why you are calling and what issue you are calling about.
More often you will speak to a staff person whose job is to keep track of how many people called and their positions on issues and provide a summary to your representative. Often times, you will be directed to a voicemail—do not be discouraged. Read the script below and leave it on voicemail.
Your call counts, even if you are not able to speak directory to your senator.
You can also find the direct number to any senator’s office on the House phone list.
Use the following phone script:
My name is (state your name) and I am a constituent of Representative (find your representative’s name).
I am an American of Filipino ethnicity and I am calling to urge my Representative to co-sponsor the SAVE Our Industries Act (H. R. 3039) introduced by Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), a senior member of the House Ways & Means Trade Subcommittee and Congressman Brian P. Bilbray (R-CA), Co-Chairman of the US-Philippine Friendship Caucus.
This legislation will create and save thousands of jobs in the US textile manufacturing industries. It will also create opportunities of up to $500 million in new US textile exports.
The jobs created and saved by H. R. 3039 will help the struggling textile manufacturing companies, put money in the pockets of working families, spur demand in the economy and prevent the unemployment lines from growing even longer.
This will greatly improve the well-being of the citizens of both my native and adopted countries. The SAVE Act is a win-win legislation that would represent the first significant Philippine-US bilateral trade enhancement and cooperation initiative.
ADD the following, if you are leaving a message or to inform the staff member.
The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and the Confederation of Garment Exporters of the Philippines (CONGEP) have indicated that this legislation will provide the US textile manufacturers a competitive edge in the fashion market in Asia. The SAVE Act (S. 3170) will promote the sale of U. S. yarns and fabrics to the Philippines.
US textile exports to the Philippines, only $20 million in 2008, can increase 10 times by the second year of implementation if the legislation passes. Direct manufacturing jobs in the US are expected to grow by 5% and in labor-intensive Philippine apparel cut & sew industry by 30%. Philippine apparel exports to the US, about $18 million in 2009, can gain by one third in the same period.
END with the following statement, expressing your thanks.
Again, my name is ___________ and I urge you to co-sponsor the SAVE Our Industries Act (H. R. 3039). You can contact me at (state your phone no. and/or email address).
Thank you in advance for your support.
Resources you can use*
- How to call your U. S. Senator or Representative
- Get to know your senator or representative—how to meet up with them
- Congressional Voting Record—positions your members of Congress have on civil rights issues that matter to you
- Civil Rights Glossary
*source: The Leadership Conference