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RIF's Dear Colleague Letter
 Each February, members of both parties in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate co-author letters on behalf of RIF to the general membership of Congress. The letters highlight RIF's services and accomplishments from the previous year and request RIF's federal funding for the upcoming fiscal year.
In the letters, the co-authors ask their colleagues—other members of Congress—to sign their name in support of RIF's appropriation's request for the upcoming fiscal year. Circulating these letters among the general membership of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate has proven to be an effective strategy for building support for RIF's funding needs among the general members of Congress.
The signed Dear Colleague letters are submitted to the appropriations subcommittees to show this smaller congressional group the support RIF receives from the general membership. The subcommittees' decision regarding RIF's funding is critical for RIF ultimately getting funded at the requested level.
Dear Colleague 08 Quick Stats
House Totals
*FY08 Co-signers: 64
Returning Co-signers: 45
FY07 Co-signers: 166
FY06 Co-signers: 99
*A large number of freshman representatives in the 110th Congress and the passage of the House Ethics bill were contributing factors to the smaller number of representatives signing the Dear Colleague letter this year in the House of Representatives.
Senate Totals
FY08 Co-signers: 47
Returning Co-signers: 36
FY07 Co-signers: 49
FY06 Co-signers: 37
RIF's Dear Colleague Sponsors
For the third consecutive year, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) are the authors of RIF’s Senate Dear Colleague letter. In the House of Representatives, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas-30) and Representative Don Young (R-Alaska-At Large) are the co-authors.
   
Whether your legislator is a new supporter or a continuing supporter, let them know that their work is appreciated. Please take a moment to see if your member of Congress is on the co-signer list. |
