• In the last six weeks, 30 members of Congress have announced their opposition to permanent normal trade relations for China—even though they supported annual renewals of China's free trade status in the past. Unlike the announcements from supporters of a blank check for China, these are real pick-ups. Since the April recess, 11 members have announced their opposition to the China trade deal: Reps. Nick Lampson (D-TX), Ronnie Shows (D-MS), Gene Green (D-TX), Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), David Phelps (D-IL), Thomas Barrett (D-WI), Bob Clement (D-TN), Jerry Kleczka (D-WI), Joe Crowley (D-NY), John Conyers (D-MI) and Sam Farr (D-CA).

• Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, issued a statement opposing permanent normal trade relations for China, stating, "Rather than reward Beijing's tragic repression of its own people, Congress should hold the Chinese government accountable when it violates internationally agreed-upon codes of behavior."
  
  
• The Canton, Ohio, City Council passed a resolution (10-1) opposing permanent NTR, citing China's "abysmal record of human rights, imprisoning those whose religious or political beliefs differ from those of the regime. China ignores the rights of its workers and intimidates and imprisons those who seek to improve labor conditions in the country."
  
  
• More than 15,000 calls have been made by working men and women into the district offices of 30 members of Congress.

Upcoming Events:

• The Steelworkers have joined other local unions to set up "Camp Cramer" in a pup tent outside Democratic Rep. Bud Cramer's district office in a round-the-clock operation to encourage him to declare his opposition to permanent NTR.
  Ongoing, Rep. Cramer's District Office, 403 Franklin St., Huntsville, Ala.

• The American Legion, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, AMVETS and the Naval Reserve Association will join House Democratic Whip David Bonior (D-MI), Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), Vice Chairman of Veterans Affairs Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) and ranking member of Veterans' Affairs Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL) to call on Congress to oppose permanent NTR for China.
  Wednesday, May 17 at noon, House Triangle, U.S. Capitol

• Workers from Milton Bradley will join other union members to deliver a 50^th anniversary commemorative version of Milton Bradley's children's game, Candyland, to Rep. Richard Neal's (D-MA) district office with the message: "This is not candy land—don't let China have a monopoly on our jobs." Milton Bradley makes many of its board games and toys, including Monopoly and Candyland, in China.
  Wednesday, May 17 at 9 a.m., Rep. Neal's District Office, 1550 Main St., Springfield, Mass.

• On May 17, after a teach-in at the Steelworkers' union hall, workers will march to Rep. Ralph Regula's (R-OH) district office, where they will hold a "Remembrance Rally" to urge him to remember his 1991 statement, "It's easy to be for free trade when your job is not on the line," and to vote "no" on permanent NTR for China.
  Wednesday, May 17 at 3:30 p.m., United Steelworkers of America Sub-District Office, 4069 Bradley Circle, N.W., Canton, Ohio

• More than 60 Chinese human rights leaders will hold a press conference on the Capitol steps to ask Congress to reject permanent and unconditional NTR for China. Exiles say permanent trade privileges for China would be a devastating blow to human rights struggles.
  Thursday, May 18, 9:45 a.m., east front grassy area at the Capitol, next to the House Triangle

• A "Cell Phone Drill Team" will perform skits and make calls to Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) in front of Markey's district office.
  Thursday, May 18 at 3:30 p.m., in front of Rep. Markey's district office, 188 Concord St., Framingham, Mass.

• Working families and their unions will join environmentalists and human rights and religious leaders at a rally in front of Rep. Peter Deutsch's (D-FL) district office.
  Thursday, May 18 at 10 a.m., 10100 Pine Ave., Pembroke Pines, Fla.

• Workers also will join community groups to rally and deliver mock blank checks imprinted with the message "No Blank Check for China" and signed by workers to Rep. Karen Thurman's (D-FL) district office.
  Thursday, May 18 at noon, Rep. Thurman's District Office, 5700 SW 34^th St., Gainesville, Fla.

• In Rep. Paul Kanjorski's (D-PA) district, working families and religious leaders will hold a candlelight vigil outside the Roxanne swimwear plant in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., where 80 workers lost their jobs when the plant shipped production overseas.
  Thursday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m., Roxanne Plant, 44 Carrie Ave., Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

• A delegation of union and community leaders will meet with Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) while workers participate in a rally outside his district office.
  Saturday, May 20 at 8 a.m., Century Building, Room 104, 100 Fountain Ave., Paducah, Ky.

• At next week's SEIU convention in Pittsburgh, hundreds of union members will use cell phones to contact their members of Congress to urge them to vote against a blank check for China, immediately after the speech by AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney.
  Monday, May 22 at 10 a.m., David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh

• On Sunday, churches all over the country will include a bulletin insert on religious persecution in China, which urges people of faith to call their member of Congress to oppose the trade deal.

For more information: Naomi Walker, 202-637-5093, or Deborah Dion, 202-637-5036