Want to keep military bands funded? You Must Act Now

The short version:

If you want to preserve military bands, write to the Personnel Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Forces Committee right now. Scroll down to the section "HOW." Do it now. Later is too late.

The fuller version:

The National Defense Authorization Act that will provide the budget for—or decimation of—military bands will be finalized in the Senate within days. Subcommittees of the Senate Armed Services Committee are going into "markup" for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This means changes to the military budget are being "marked up"; in other words, finalized.

Here's the schedule:

-- Subcommittees are in markup Tuesday, June 14 and early Wednesday, June 15. On that first day, the Personnel Committee is in markup. It has oversight of Morale, Welfare and Recreation services, so I'm guessing this is the subcommittee that will set the budget for military bands.

-- The full Senate Armed Forces Committee is in markup late Wednesday, June 15, and Thursday, June 16.

What this means: write now. Not later in the week. Now.

To whom? At this point, everyone on the full committee and Personnel Subcommittee, or any one of them.

HOW?

Pick a senator from the list below. Find his or her name on this page ,click on his or her name, and you'll be given an online form. In the box, write a clear, short message. Like,

I urge you to maintain funding for military bands in the Defense Authorization Act. Here's why: XXXX. Thank you, signed, Your Name.

(At this point, be smart and copy your message to your clipboard.)

Now, send your message. Feel good about yourself for five seconds, then go back to this page again
. Pick another senator, and paste The Same Message from you clipboard. Send and repeat as needed.
- - - - - - - -
Subcommittee on Personnel – Meets Tuesday
Senator Webb --Chairman
Senator Graham -- Ranking Member
Senator Lieberman
Senator Akaka
Senator McCaskill
Senator Hagan
Senator Begich
Senator Blumenthal
Senator Chambliss
Senator Brown (Scott)
Senator Ayotte
Senator Collins
Senator Vitter

Full Committee—meets late Wednesday and Thursday
Carl Levin -- Chairman
John McCain--
Joseph I. Lieberman
Jack Reed
Daniel K. Akaka
Ben Nelson
Jim Webb
Claire McCaskill
Mark Udall
Kay R. Hagan
Mark Begich
Joe Manchin III
Jeanne Shaheen
Kirsten E. Gillibrand
Richard Blumenthal
James M. Inhofe
Jeff Sessions
Saxby Chambliss
Roger F. Wicker
Scott P. Brown
Rob Portman
Kelly Ayotte
Susan M. Collins
Lindsey Graham
John Cornyn
David Vitter