recipient: 30 GOP Senators who voted against amendment; CC: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
On October 7, 30 Republican senators opposed an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill that would prohibit defense contractors like Halliburton/KBR from getting federal money "if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court."
Senator Al Franken introduced the amendment to the appropriations bill to prevent a complete disregard for the rights of rape victims after hearing the story of a Halliburton/KBR employee who claimed she was gang raped but her employment contract prevented her from taking legal action.
Ten GOP Senators voted for the amendment, and it passed -- but the 30 others must know how outraged we are that they didn't vote for giving legal rights to rape victims! These senators are: Alexander (R-TN), Barrasso (R-WY), Bond (R-MO), Brownback (R-KS), Bunning (R-KY), Burr (R-NC), Chambliss (R-GA), Coburn (R-OK), Cochran (R-MS), Corker (R-TN), Cornyn (R-TX), Crapo (R-ID), DeMint (R-SC), Ensign (R-NV), Enzi (R-WY), Graham (R-SC), Gregg (R-NH), Inhofe (R-OK), Isakson (R-GA), Johanns (R-NE), Kyl (R-AZ), McCain (R-AZ), McConnell (R-KY), Risch (R-ID), Roberts (R-KS), Sessions (R-AL), Shelby (R-AL), Thune (R-SD), Vitter (R-LA) and Wicker (R-MS).
If you are a constituent of one of these senators, we'll send your letter directly to him. If your senators both voted for the amendment, we'll send your letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell -- who also voted against it and leads the GOP in the Senate. Sign today!
I am appalled that you joined 29 of your male Republican colleagues in voting against Senator Al Franken's Defense Appropriations amendment that would prohibit federal defense contractors like Halliburton/KBR from getting money "if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court."
Senator Franken's floor speech referenced the story of Jamie Leigh Jones, who was gang-raped by her coworkers at Halliburton/KBR but was unable to bring charges in court because her employment contract stipulated sexual assault allegations could only be addressed in private.
This amendment was an important step in giving rights to rape victims -- and I am appalled that you would oppose it. This is taking obstructionism too far.
