January 18, 2018
Signatures updated 1/19/18
Washington, D.C.
The recent revelation of a Congressional “hush fund” that paid settlements to victims of sexual harassment by Members of Congress and their staffs is shocking, offensive and profoundly wrong.
At least nine public polls taken in November and December confirm that the American public is revulsed, not only by the acts of harassment themselves, but also by the practice of buying the victims’ silence with settlements paid for with taxpayers’ money and hidden from the public through non-disclosure agreements. Conservatives must seize the moral high ground on this issue. It is not enough merely to demand the resignations of offenders. We must lead the effort to condemn the offenses unambiguously and support structural changes in the way Congress deals with these situations so that the public trust in our legislators can be restored.
One effort to ensure that Congress addresses this issue effectively is H.R. 4494, the Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Elimination Act, introduced by Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL). It has already garnered nearly 100 cosponsors (74 Republicans and 25 Democrats). The conservative movement should conduct a grassroots campaign among our organizations’ supporters to put pressure on their Members of Congress to take an active role in ensuring that the problem and the legislation that seeks to address it are given prompt consideration and passage.
Congress will act when constituents demand it, even if the inappropriate behavior of some Congressional allies is exposed as a consequence. No one knows how many settlements are involved, but any honest observer knows intuitively that secrecy is no solution to scandal. Strong, committed leadership is required, and if the conservative movement does not provide that leadership, we will be looked upon as part of the problem rather than as part of the solution and it will undermine our moral authority as a movement.
We, the undersigned leaders of conservative organizations have pledged to encourage our supporters and members to contact their Member of Congress and urge prompt and serious action. Toward that end, a website has been established that will facilitate communication with Congress. The address is www.NoTaxesForHushMoney.com. The site has a tool to identify the constituent’s Member of Congress based upon their home address. A suggested letter with editable text will allow constituents to write directly to their Member’s own webform, the means of communication that most Members prefer.
There is no cost to use the website, and if your group chooses to take part, your logo will be shown on the website along with the other groups who have chosen likewise.
Thank you for your consideration.
| The Honorable Edwin Meese III Former Attorney General President Ronald Reagan |
The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop Chairman, Conservative Action Project Former White House Advisor, President Ronald Reagan |
| The Honorable Colin A. Hanna President Let Freedom Ring, Inc. |
The Honorable David McIntosh President Club for Growth |
| Alfred S. Regnery Chairman Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund |
David Bozell President ForAmerica |
| Diana Banister President and Partner Shirley & Banister Public Affairs |
Adam Brandon President FreedomWorks |
| Lisa B. Nelson Chief Executive Officer American Legislative Exchange Council |
Ed Corrigan Former Executive Director Senate Steering Committee |
| Rachel Bovard Former Policy Director Senate Steering Committee |
The Honorable T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Former Chief Domestic Advisor President Ronald Reagan |
| Jenny Beth Martin Chairman Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund |
Thomas E. McClusky President March for Life Action |
| The Honorable Tony Perkins President, Family Research Council President, Council for National Policy |
William L. Walton Chairman CNP Action, Inc. |
| Cleta Mitchell, Esq. | The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell Chairman Constitutional Congress, Inc. |
| Marjorie Dannenfelser President Susan B. Anthony List |
Rebecca Hagelin Secretary, Council for National Policy Board of Directors, FamilyTalk |
| Penny Young Nance CEO & President Concerned Women for America |
Larry Beasley President and CEO The Washington Times |
| David N. Bossie President Citizens United |
The Honorable Mike Spence Founding President Conservative Republicans of California |
| Floyd Brown Chairman Western Center for Journalism |
Roxanne Phillips Member, Executive Committee Council for National Policy |
| Anne Schlafly Cori Chairman Eagle Forum |
The Honorable James C. Miller III Director, Office of Management & Budget President Ronald Reagan (1985-1988) |
| The Honorable Kenneth Cuccinelli President Senate Conservatives Fund |
The Honorable Gary Bauer President American Values |
| The Honorable Charles J. Cooper Former Assistant Attorney General, Ronald Reagan Administration Cooper & Kirk, PLLC |
Randall S. Page Chief of Staff Bob Jones University |
| Bob Adams President Revive America PAC |
The Honorable Timothy Echols PSC Commissioner State of Georgia |
| Dean B. Nelson Chairman Frederick Douglass Foundation |
David Williams President Taxpayers Protection Alliance |
| Dr. Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D. Washington Bureau Chief Infowars.com |
Kevin D. Freeman Founder NSIC Institute |
| James N. Clymer Former National Chairman, Constitution Party Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund |
Joseph A. Morris Partner Morris & De La Rosa |
| Robert K. Fischer Meeting Coordinator Conservatives of Faith |
Allen Hebert Chairman American-Chinese Fellowship of Houston |
| Peggy Dau Special Liasion Representative Voice of the Martyrs |
Dr. Ted Baehr Chairman MOVIEGUIDE® |
| C. Preston Noell III President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
Ralph Schmidt Owner Schmidt Land and Cattle Co |
| Patrick A. Trueman President & CEO National Center on Sexual Exploitation |
Peter J. Thomas Chairman The Conservative Caucus |
| Charlie Gerow CEO Quantum Communications |
Kathleeen Patten President and CEO American Target Advertising |
| Willes K. Lee President National Federation of Republican Assemblies |
The Honorable Mica Mosbacher Author Mosbacher Interests LLC |
| Lee A. Beaman CEO & Owner Beaman Automotive Group |
Rod Vandenbos CEO Buzzbox |
| Ann Drexel Member, Board of Governors Council for National Policy |
Norman Singleton President Campaign for Liberty |
| Joe Calvert President Ramon-Calvert Interests |
Melvin Adams Past President Renewanation |
| Judson Phillips Founder Tea Party Nation |
Lou Cordia President, Cordia & Associates, and Executive Director, President Reagan’s Alumni Association |
| Ron Robinson President Young America’s Foundation |
James L. Martin Founder & Chairman 60 Plus Association |
| Robert D. Thompson Former Administrator The Weyrich Lunch |
Maggie Briones Administrative Good News Communication |
| Ali Alexander President First Freedoms |
Ali Akbar Senior Advisor Black Conservatives Fund |
| Sean Noble President American Encore |
Heather R. Higgins President and CEO Independent Women’s Voice |
| The Honorable Belden Bell Co-Chair Legacy Society The Heritage Foundation |
Penna Dexter Co-Host Point of View Radio |
| Andrea Lafferty President Traditional Values Coalition |
Lew Uhler President NTLC |
| William Shaker President Washington Marketing Group |
Kay R. Daly President Coalition for a Fair Judiciary |
| Elaine Donnelly President Center for Military Readiness |
Francis X. DeLuca President Civitas Institute |
| William Mills President Mills Energy |
Gerrye Johnston Founder/CEO Men and Women for a Representative Democracy in America |
| Ralph A. Rebandt, II Senior Pastor / Chaplain Oakland Hills Community Church/Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police |
All organizations listed for IDENTIFICATION purposes only.
