Dear Friends,

It is not a surprise that Russia – unable to achieve any of its dastardly and illegal objectives – has turned to a private paramilitary force, which uses brutal tactics in a desperate effort to overpower the outgunned but courageous and thus far successful Ukrainian army. What’s surprising is that Congress and the Biden Administration has not yet recognized these tactics as acts of terrorism – pure and simple.

There is a solution. The Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries (HARM) Act (H.R. 506 / S. 416), bipartisan legislation that would require the Secretary of State to designate the Russian-based Wagner Group (and its affiliates and successors) as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), has just been reintroduced. Designating Wagner an FTO would result in immediate material and criminal consequences for Wagner and its affiliates. It would also be the first legal designation by the United States acknowledging Russian terrorist campaigns in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion, helping pave the way for other designations and accountability measures.

Congress has also reintroduced a resolution recognizing Russian actions in Ukraine as genocide (H.Res.154 / S.Res.72). The passage of this resolution will signal to Americans the moral imperative to support Ukraine by acknowledging Russia’s genocidal intent.

Please take 5 minutes to SEND A NOTE AND/OR OR CALL NOW to your Senators and Congressional Representatives in support of these bills. Below is the template message (feel free to personalize it). Let’s remind our elected representatives that the only HARM in not acting on these bills quickly is giving time to Putin and his paramilitary forces to continue to wreak even more havoc in our native homeland.

Dear [SENATOR {Last name of the Senator}, or REPRESENTATIVE {Last name of the Representative}],

[Please add 1-2 sentences about you and why this issue is important to you]

Not a night goes by that we are not awakened to the horrid news of Putin’s increasingly brazen (if that is even possible) attacks on innocent civilians. Russia’s state-sanctioned terror has been indiscriminate in murdering in cold blood both those in the primes of their lives and those who were trying to live out their golden years in dignity. To this we must ask: what’s the HARM in declaring Putin’s paramilitary forces a foreign terrorist organization? Please pass the Holding Accountable Russian Mercenaries (HARM) Act (H.R. 506 / S. 416), bipartisan legislation that would require the Secretary of State to designate the Russian-based Wagner Group (and its affiliates and successors) as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), has just been reintroduced. Designating Wagner an FTO would result in immediate material and criminal consequences for Wagner and its affiliates and ensure accountability for their brutal, inhumane, and murderous acts. Please also pass a resolution recognizing Russian actions in Ukraine as genocide (H.Res.154 / S.Res.72). The passage of this resolution will signal to Americans the moral imperative to support Ukraine by acknowledging Russia’s genocidal intent.

Please pass both of these bills TODAY. The only HARM in not acting on these bills quickly is giving time to Putin and his paramilitary forces to continue to wreak even more havoc in my native homeland.

Dyakuyu (thank you),
[Your Name]
[Your Address]

Step 1: If you live in California, contact Senator Alex Padilla here (click on “Share your opinion or comments on bills or other issues” in the pull-down menu and start typing).

Step 2: If you live in California, Contact Senator Dianne Feinstein (if you live in California) here (click on “Foreign Affairs” in the menu and start typing).

Step 3: Find your Congressional Representative here (if you don’t know it) by entering your zip code.

Step 4: Click on the email or letter box that shows up and follow the steps similar to Steps 1 and 2 to contact your Congressional Representative.

Step 5: If you live in states other than California, you can find your Senators/Representatives here.