DRAFT LETTERS TO MEMBER OF CONGRESS
(PLACE ON LOCAL JEWELER LETTERHEAD)
SAMPLE 1:
Date
Representative (name) -or- Senator (name)
U.S. House of Representatives United States Senate
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20510
(with copy to local office) (with copy to local office)
Dear Representative (name) -or- Senator (name):
I am writing to urge your support for legislation that is very important to me as a (small, local, independent) jeweler in (town, state or district). The bill is the Clean Diamond Trade Act, and its passage would ban the importation of conflict diamonds into the United States.
Rebel groups in conflict-ridden parts of Africa, such as Sierra Leone, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, have used the proceeds from illegally mined diamonds to purchase arms and terrorize innocent civilians. As a retail jeweler, I want to guarantee my customers that the diamonds cherished as symbols of love and beauty are not contributing to acts of violence.
If passed, the Clean Diamond Trade Act – HR 2722 and S 1084 – will allow me to make that guarantee. The legislation would ensure that the U.S. imports diamonds and diamond jewelry only from countries that have established a system of controls to keep illicit conflict stones from entering the legitimate diamond marketplace. Because the origin of a diamond cannot be determined after a stone is cut and polished, this tracking system, which includes sealed containers and certificates of origin, is essential to keeping conflict stones out of the legitimate supply.
My customers have come to my store for (number of) years to purchase diamonds, and I take pride in playing an important role in milestone events in their lives. (Add details about business. In cases of several stores or relatively large staff, mention number of employees.) The quick passage of HR 2722 and S 1084 will ensure that my customers buy diamonds that are free from conflict and still a symbol of love, joy and beauty.
I urge you to support HR 2722 and S 1084 to put an end to the insidious trade in conflict diamonds.
Yours truly,
SAMPLE 2:
Date
Representative (name) -or- Senator (name)
U.S. House of Representatives United States Senate
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20510
(with copy to local office) (with copy to local office)
Dear Representative (name) -or- Senator (name):
Please support HR 2722 and its Senate companion S 1084, bills that will stop the import of conflict diamonds into the United States.
As a longtime local jeweler (embellish with details of location and longevity; in cases of several stores or relatively large staff, mention number of employees), this issue is particularly important to me and to my customers. As you know, rebel movements in some parts of Africa finance their brutal activities through illegal diamond sales. Since no one can tell where a diamond comes from once it has been cut and polished, those of us who sell diamonds want to be able to assure our customers with certainty that our stones have not contributed to atrocious acts of violence.
This legislation is an essential step in providing those assurances. Under the bills, the only diamonds that would be allowed into the United States are those from countries that have in place a system of controls, including sealed containers and certificates of origin, that will guarantee their diamonds are from legitimate sources. Since the United States is the world’s largest purchaser of diamonds, mandating this system here will give a tremendous boost to international efforts to put these controls in place.
I have been selling diamonds for (number of) years and have seen first hand the happiness they can bring to my customers in (name of city or town). Diamonds mark joyous occasions – engagements, weddings, birthdays and Valentine’s Day. I and my fellow jewelers want to ensure that our diamonds remain a symbol of beauty and enjoyment, untarnished by shadows of violence.
I hope we can count on your support for HR 2722 and S 1084 to help stamp out the trade in conflict diamonds.
Warmest regards,
SAMPLE 3:
Date
Representative (name) -or- Senator (name)
U.S. House of Representatives United States Senate
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20510
(with copy to local office) (with copy to local office)
Dear Representative (name) -or- Senator (name):
As a constituent of yours from (city or town), I am writing to seek your help in dealing with a problem that is very important to local jewelers like me. We are supporting legislation – HR 2722 and S 1084 – to bar the importation of conflict diamonds into the United States. I hope you will do the same.
Conflict diamonds are so named because they come from areas of Africa where insurgencies are under way. Rebel groups steal and smuggle diamonds, then use the proceeds to buy arms and commit horrible acts of violence. Diamonds in this country are symbols of love and happiness, but in these areas of Africa their symbolism has been twisted to be just the opposite.
I have been doing business in (city or town – embellish with details of location and longevity; in cases of several stores or relatively large staff, mention number of employees. Also mention previous support for the Member of Congress if appropriate).
I want to be able to assure my customers that the diamonds they are getting come only from legitimate sources.
Passage of HR 2722 and S 1084 will be a major step forward in reaching this goal. Under the bills, the U.S. will be able to import diamonds and diamond jewelry only from countries that have a control system in place to ensure that conflict diamonds are kept out of the legitimate diamond stream. Controls of this kind will provide considerable peace of mind to jewelers like me.
The jewelry business like so many others is built on trust, quality merchandise and good relationships with our customers. But those qualities are in jeopardy if our patrons have doubts about the origins of our products. I want to be able to assert with confidence that the diamonds I carry really are symbols of joy.
I urge you to join me in supporting HR 2722 and S 1084 to keep conflict diamonds out of the United States.
Sincerely,