*** 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 non-mailable.

WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU: By making all cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products non-mailable, 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.

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.

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.

EMAIL: Simply go to each of your two Senators’ websites shown above and find the Senators’ contact form. Fill in the required information, type your message and click the “Send” button.

REGULAR MAIL: Send a letter to your Senator at their LOCAL offices nearest you. You can find the addresses for local offices on the Senators’ websites or by looking in your telephone book’s government section. It is important that you send your letter to your Senators’ local office since mail often takes months to reach a Senators’ Washington, DC office due to increased security at the Capitol.

EVERY EMAIL, TELEPHONE CALL AND LETTER MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
YOUR SENATORS NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE.