January 10, 2000 Vol.2, No. 2

This Week in Washington...

For more information, contact Reva Price, Washington Representative at rprice@thejcpa.org

OYEZ, OYEZ: The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday in Brzonkala v. Virginia Polytechnic Institute, an important case involving the constitutionality of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Among other things, VAWA provides a civil remedy for victims of gender-based violence against their attackers. The Court is reviewing a ruling by the 4^th Circuit holding that Congress lacked authority under both the Commerce Clause and the 14^th Amendment to enact this law. The decision in this case could impact other legislation that is based on Commerce Clause and/or the 14^th Amendment authority, including the Hate Crimes Prevention Act and many of the seminal civil rights laws passed in this country over the last 35 years. The JCPA, along with AJCongress, ADL, AJCommittee, Hadassah, NCJW, and other coalition partners filed an amicus brief urging the Court to reverse the 4^th Circuit’s decision. Contact gfsiegel@thejcpa.org with questions.

FORMER SOVIET UNION = FORMER ANTI-SEMITISM? Rep. Nita Lowey (NY) is circulating a letter to House members urging Acting President Vladimir V. Putin to continue the fight against anti-Semitism. The letter states that "as concerned members of the House of Representatives, we encourage you to make fighting anti-Semitism one of the priorities of your new administration…" JCPA member agencies are urged to contact their representative(s) and urge that they sign on to this letter. The deadline is January 18, 2000.

COME TO YOUR CENSUS: Census offices around the country are looking for people to help conduct the 2000 census. Before the census begins in March, the Census Bureau must print 200 million census forms, open and staff 520 local census offices and fill more than 860,000 temporary positions. In addition to paid staff, the Census Bureau is looking for help in getting people to return their forms and understand the importance of the endeavor. Census forms will be mailed to most American households in advance of Census Day on April 1, 2000. Census takers will begin to visit the estimated 46 million households who experts predict will not complete the mailed form. The Census is no April Fools joke: information gathered directly affects decisions on all matters of national and local importance, including education, transportation and housing. The distribution of billions of dollars in critical services and reapportionment of congressional districts are also affected by census data. For more information, check out www.census.gov and www.census2000.org.

This Week in New York...

For more information, contact Benita Gayle-Almeleh, Senior Community Consultant at bga@thejcpa.org

SHALOM U’LIHITRAOT: Departing Israeli Ambassador Zalman Shoval is being honored for his service at a number of farewell parties. JCPA Washington Representative Reva Price attended a reception at the Shoval residence this past Saturday evening, and JCPA Chair Steve Schwarz and Executive Vice Chairman Larry Rubin will join other members of the Conference of Presidents at a reception this evening at the home of Conference chairman Ronald Lauder.

CONFERENCES, CALLS AND MEETINGS A-PLENTY: Leebie Mallin (Program Associate, Domestic Concerns), Estee Yaari and Nava Edelman (Program Assistants, Israel and International Concerns) are participating in an ADL-World Jewish Congress-Tel Aviv University sponsored conference on "Extremism and Anti-Semitism on the Eve of the New Millennium."…Karen Senter and Guila Franklin Siegel joined representatives of the National Council of Churches to discuss a possible July 2001 convocation on local interfaith and ecumenical social justice programs… A conference call briefing to discuss Holocaust Assets Restitution, slave labor and insurance is scheduled for Thursday, January 13, 2000, 4:00 p.m. We will be joined by Karen Heilig, Director of Special Projects and Assistant Legal Counsel for the Claims Conference. Contact lmallin@thejcpa.org for more information.

PUBLIC POLICY FORMULATION MARK-UP NEARS: Comments by JCPA member agencies to the draft 2000-2001 propositions will be reviewed by the Committee on Public Policy Formulation on January 18^th. The Committee will determine the Agenda for Action which will be debated on the Plenum floor during Monday’s public policy formulation session. Contact bga@thejcpa.org for more information.

NOMINATIONS DUE: The deadline for nominations for community members of the JCPA Board is Monday, February 14^th. Contact lrubin@thejcpa.org with any questions.