#306 Motivate Rep. Mark Souder

Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2005
Subject: #306 Motivate Rep. Mark Souder

MOTIVATE REP. MARK SOUDER

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DrugSense FOCUS Alert #306 – Monday, 11 Apr 2005

On Saturday, Apr 9, the Ft Wayne Journal Gazette (IN) ran an excellent
commentary written by a college junior at Cal State Fullerton. Her
target? The horribly misguided ‘drug provision’ in the Higher
Education Act of 1998, which penalizes applicants who have a drug
conviction of any kind in their background.

This column is extra notable because it was carried in the J-G, the
hometown paper for cited U.S. Congressman Mark Souder (R-IN). Souder
was the primary author of this provision, passed over six years ago,
that has since adversely impacted over 160,000 American college-bound
youth.

Author Marisa Garcia accurately notes that Mr. Souder has spoken out
several times in criticism of his own legislation – as passed in 1998
– but he has of yet failed to demonstrate the needed backbone when it
comes to stepping up to the plate and repealing the HEA ‘drug
provision’ from student financial aid applications.

Please consider writing a short, succinct Letter to the Editor to the
Journal-Gazette in support of Ms Garcia’s commentary and in criticism
of Mr. Souder’s staunch inaction in righting this legislative wrong
which he himself admits is a reality. Please include an appeal to Mr.
Souder that he stop dragging his heels and now demonstrate the
political leadership needed to make this repeal possible.

Thanks for your effort and support.

It’s not what others do it’s what YOU do

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CONTACT INFO: letters@jg.net

You can read the article in full, here: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05.n578.a11.html

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If you would like input or ideas on how to compose your letter, feel
welcome to contact MAP’s Media Activism Facilitator, Steve Heath
heath@mapinc.org

Additional suggestions for writing letters to the editor are
at:

Writer’s Resources http://www.mapinc.org/resource/

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Prepared by: Stephen Heath on behalf of SSDP http://www.ssdp.org/
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