[cooldude]

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR SENATORS
TELEPHONE: You can directly dial your Senators office using the number shown for them above,
or you can dial 1-202-224-3121 (this is a toll call, there is no toll-free number to Congress) to be
connected with a Capitol Switchboard Operator. Simply ask the Operator to connect you with your
Senators Office. Time is crucial at this point, so a phone call is by far the best choice for
contacting your Senators.

*** urgent action needed ***
THE SITUATION: Right now there is legislation pending in the United States Senate - the
Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009 (“PACT Act”) (S.1147) which contains, among other
bad ideas, a provision to make ALL cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products nonmailable.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU: By making all cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products
nonmailable, the Senate is ensuring you will no longer be able to purchase these products by
mail-order, telephone order, and/or the Internet because the United States Postal Service will be
prohibited from delivering your orders to you. Taking away your options means forcing you back
to buying over-priced tobacco products from your local retailer once again.
THEY’VE TRIED THIS BEFORE: The PACT Act is not new. Different versions of the PACT Act
were introduced in 2003, 2006 and 2007. No prior version became a law. We’ve defeated the PACT
Act before and with your help we can defeat it again.
WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP: Native American cigarette and tobacco sellers are committed to
doing everything we can to stop the PACT Act but we need your help. Your Senators work for you
and as their constituents, it is your voice and your vote that counts!
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Contact your Senators and tell them not to pass the PACT Act. Your
Senators should be protecting your interests, but it is up to you to let them know what you think
about the PACT Act. There are three easy ways to contact your Senators - by telephone, email,
or regular mail - all of which are explained below. Every state has two Senators - please remember
to contact BOTH Senators for your state. At this point time is a big factor, so a phone call is
by far the best means to use.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS YOUR OPINION: As an American Citizen, it is your right
to let your Senators know how you feel about any action Congress takes. You elected your Senators
to represent you and they can only do this if you tell them what you want. When you contact your
Senator you do not need to identify yourself as a smoker or as someone who purchases cigarettes
and/or smokeless tobacco products by mail-order, telephone-order, and/or the Internet. You only
need to identify yourself as a resident of the state they represent.
SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE PACT ACT TO DISCUSS WITH YOUR SENATORS:
THE POSTAL SERVICE: The price of stamps is being raised practically every year. The PACT
Act will take an entire class of legal, non-hazardous goods and make them nonmailable. What this
means is a huge loss of business (potentially hundreds of millions of dollars) for the Postal Service.
Will they continue to raise the price of stamps and other mail services to compensate for their lost
income? The United States Postal Service is already suffering a fiscal crisis due to the downturn
in the economy. If the PACT Act is passed and millions of dollars of revenue are taken away, there
could be serious consequences for consumers, including reducing the number of delivery days
from 6 per week down to 5 or perhaps only 4 days per week.
COST: When the PACT Act of 2003 (S.1177) passed the Senate, the Congressional Budget Office
prepared a Cost Estimate for the Bill. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the PACT Act
of 2003 would cost about $140 MILLION over the 2004-2008 period to enforce. $140 Million over
four years - and that estimate is already six years old. How much will the PACT Act of 2009 cost
to enforce? Isn’t there a better way to spend our tax dollars?
TWO IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR SENATORS:
1.
2.
CONTACT YOUR UNITED STATES SENATORS
Tell your Senators that you are one of their constituents and provide an address so
they know where in the state you are from. Since anyone can contact a Senator, it is
important that you let your Senators know that you live and vote in their home state. Because
the Senators receive so much mail, mail from their constituents always takes priority.
Make it clear to your Senators that you DO NOT want them to pass the PACT Act of
2009 (S.1147). Let your Senators know that if they don’t support you - you won’t support
them.

HOW TO CONTACT YOUR SENATORS
TELEPHONE: You can directly dial your Senators office using the number shown for them above,
or you can dial 1-202-224-3121 (this is a toll call, there is no toll-free number to Congress) to be
connected with a Capitol Switchboard Operator. Simply ask the Operator to connect you with your
Senators Office. Time is crucial at this point, so a phone call is by far the best choice for
contacting your Senators.