New GI Bill !!!
In July 2008, Congress enacted a new GI Bill over President Bush's veto! Claims against the new GI Bill may be made by Post-911 veterans any time beginning on August 1, 2009. A two page fact sheet about the new bill can be downloaded by clicking on the PDF symbol in the frame to the right.
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New GI Bill Fact Sheet |
H. RES. 1045
Recognizing the paramount need to address the threat of international terrorism
and protect the global security of the United States by reducing
the number and accessibility of nuclear weapons and preventing their
proliferation, and directing a portion of the resulting savings towards
child survival, hunger, and universal education, and calling on the President
to take action to achieve these goals.
The bill can be downloaded by clicking on the PDF symbol to the right ----->
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Global Security Priorities Resolution |
MEMORIAL DAY
On the Plaza
Monday, May 26, 2008
Iraq/Afghanistan Memorial Installation
Series of 93 banners (900 feet) with the names, faces and
brief military biographies of those killed in these wars.
“Eyes Wide Open”
Military boots representing the New Mexico fallen and a collection of civilian shoes symbolizing the many deaths of Iraqis. A project of the American Friends Service Committee
2:00 Spiritual Perspectives with Interfaith Speakers at the Plaza Gazebo
Speakers from various faith communities with
brief reminders of the relevance of the day.
3:00 Solemn Procession from the Plaza
to the National Cemetery
To pay respects to the fallen
7:30 “Body of War”
Documentary of the human face of war. CCA, Old Pecos Trail
Sponsored by Veterans for Peace
Joan Duffy Chapter, Santa Fe, NM
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Santa Fe City Council Passes Resolution to End the Iraq War
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CITY OF SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO
RESOLUTION NO. 2007-______
INTRODUCED BY: MAYOR PRO TEM MIGUEL CHAVEZ
AND MAYOR DAVID COSS
A RESOLUTION
CALLING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO PETITION
THE PRESIDENT AND THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS
TO IMMEDIATELY CEASE COMBAT OPERATIONS IN IRAQ,
END THE OCCUPATION,
AND SAFELY BRING HOME ALL AMERICAN TROOPS
WHEREAS, the citizens of the City of Santa Fe and their local elected officials have the constitutional right to petition the federal government on matters of grave concern to our community; and
WHEREAS, Santa Fe is The City of Holy Faith, whose residents hold high the sanctity of human life; and
WHEREAS, war is not a humane or effective means of resolving international conflicts; it dehumanizes all people; it causes destruction and waste on an unprecedented scale; and it creates environmental and ecological devastation that takes decades if not centuries to correct; and
WHEREAS, the country and people of Iraq have at no time posed any threat to the United States or its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Santa Fe City Council, on October 30, 2002, passed Resolution No. 2002-69 voicing its opposition to a preemptive attack on Iraq and urging the exhaustion of all diplomatic avenues in order to avert a war; and
WHEREAS, in February 2003 Virginia Miller, representing the City of Santa Fe, as part of a contingent of 160 Cities for Peace, went to New York City and Washington, D.C. to present Santa Fe’s Resolution opposing U.S. preemptive action against Iraq; and
WHEREAS, the federal government invaded Iraq in violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the rule of international law, all of which the City of Santa Fe has affirmed and endorsed; and
WHEREAS, this use of military force will not provide Americans with the safety and security they need; and
WHEREAS, this senseless war has brought incalculable misery, death and destruction; and
WHEREAS, the war in Iraq, now in its fifth year, has caused the deaths of more than 3,500 U.S. service personnel and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis; the physical and psychological wounding and disabling of more than 25,000 U.S. service personnel and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis; the destruction of the homes, communities, and livelihoods of more than 1.7 million Iraqis; and the creation of more than 2 million Iraqi refugees; and
WHEREAS, the economic cost of this war now exceeds $450 billion (with estimates of the total cost exceeding $2 trillion), while the basic services of government in this country have been cut, limiting access to health care, education, housing, infrastructure needs, and public safety for our citizens; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Priorities Project, the funds spent by Santa Fe taxpayers alone on the war and occupation equal more than $56,200,000, which instead could have provided enough money for the hiring of 279 school teachers, OR 1,751 Head Start places for young children, OR 588 affordable housing units, OR 3,922 four-year scholarships at public universities, OR health care coverage for 4,167 people each year since the war began; and
WHEREAS, Santa Fe citizens have held many protests and local peace organizations and citizens have been demonstrating against the Iraq War every Friday at the intersection of Cerrillos Road and St. Francis Drive since August of 2002 urging the U.S. government to bring our troops home now; and
WHEREAS, with this resolution Santa Fe will join more than 255 other cities around the country that have passed similar resolutions; and
WHEREAS, this resolution is supported by the following Santa Fe organizations and religious leaders: Veterans for Peace, Peace Action New Mexico, People for Peace, the New Mexico Department of Peace Initiative, the Network of Spiritual Progressives, Women in Black, Cranes for Peace, the Los Alamos Peace Project, Pax Christi New Mexico, Code Pink, Sister Penny McMullen (Sisters of Loretto), the Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Church, the Forum Committee of the Unitarian Church, Deacon Anthony Trujillo (Guadalupe Church), Rabbi Malka Drucker, Father Richard Murphy, Father Adam Lee Ortega y Ortiz (Santa María de la Paz Catholic Community), Santa Fe Friends Meeting (Quakers), Father John Dear, Azher Saleh (Board of Trustees of the Islamic Society of Northern New Mexico), New Mexico Conference of Churches,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF SANTA FE, that the City Council on behalf of the citizens of Santa Fe urges the United States government to immediately commence an orderly and rapid withdrawal of United States military personnel from Iraq; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the returning troops be ensured compensation and care including full mental and physical health care, education, housing, employment, and disability and rehabilitation benefits; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the financial resources used to prosecute the war be redirected to address the urgent needs of the most vulnerable portions of our population in the areas of housing, health care, job creation, and education; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded immediately to George W. Bush, President of the United States, and all members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this _____ day of ____________, 2007.
___________________________ DAVID COSS, MAYOR
ATTEST:
_________________________________
YOLANDA Y. VIGIL, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________________
FRANK KATZ, CITY ATTORNEY
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