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May 16, 2000 Vol. 2, No. 16 This Week in Washington... For more information, contact Reva Price, Washington Representative at rprice@thejcpa.org Focus on VAWA: The Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization (HR 1248) is scheduled to come before the full House Judiciary Committee by week’s end. Funding for this historic program addressing violence against women, domestic violence and other relevant issues is set to expire at the end of this fiscal year (see JCPA Action Alert, April 12, 2000). In its ruling today in Brzonkala v. Morrison, the United States Supreme Court invalidated the provision in VAWA that allowed rape victims to sue attackers in federal court. The Court found that fiscal justice in the case of rape and violence against women is the jurisdiction of the state. Speaking for the Court, in a 5-4 decision to throw out the case, Chief Justice William Rehnquist declared, "If the allegations here are true, no civilized system of justice could fail to provide her a remedy…. But under our federal system that remedy must be provided by the commonwealth of Virginia, and not by the United States." Look for additional information and analysis in the next few days. Contact rprice@thejcpa or gfsiegel@thejcpa.org.
In the House: Several authorization and spending bills are up for consideration this week in the House. One possibly contentious issue is a provision of the Transportation bill which would bar the administration from even studying an update on the corporate average fuel economy (café) standards. The Subcommittee on the Courts and Intellectual Property is scheduled to hold hearings on legislation to establish a commission to focus on privacy protection in several areas including electronic communications on the Internet. The International Relations Committee will meet to examine issues relating to the famine in Ethiopia. House Judiciary Committee will consider legislation to increase the number of "H1B" visas for foreign workers, removing the current cap of 15,000 such visas for three years. Currently, those who receive H1B visas are allowed to stay and work in the US for up to six years. The Senate This Week: Despite two weeks of deliberation, the Senate is yet to conclude its work on the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Senator Lott has signaled his intention to use a "dual track" approach to the calendar which technically would keep the bill on the floor but allow action in other areas, most specifically appropriations bills. It is still unclear whether the Senate will return to consideration of the ESEA this year. The Senate might also consider the Agriculture and Foreign Operations Appropriations (read: foreign aid for Israel). The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on religious freedom in China, Russia and the Sudan. Rabbi David Saperstein, Chairman of the Commission for International Religious Freedom (and Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism), is scheduled to testify. Senator Diane Feinstein (CA) is scheduled to introduce the "Immigration Services and Infrastructure Improvements Act of 2000." The legislation would provide the INS with the resources it needs to eliminate the serious backlog in naturalization, adjustment of status and other immigration benefits. This Week in New York... For more information, contact Benita Gayle-Almeleh, Senior Community Consultant at bga@thejcpa.org
Iran Update: The trials of the 13 Jews accused of espionage in Iran continue. Thus far, eight of the prisoners have "confessed" and one has denied the charges. The trials remain closed to all observers, and have been described as "[owing] more to Stalin and the Spanish Inquisition than to anything approximating due process" (Time.com, May 5). The JCPA is convening a conference call on the situation on Tuesday, May 16, at 4:45 p.m. (EDT). For information contact eyaari@thejcpa.org. JCPA - NCC Consultation: JCPA will meet this Wednesday with counterparts from the National Council of Churches to identify areas of mutual concern and discuss potential areas for collaborative work. The meeting is the first with newly-elected NCC General Secretary Robert Edgar, who in a previous professional incarnation served as a member of Congress from the Philadelphia area. Deadline: JCPA member agencies are reminded to return recommendations for task force membership by email or fax by May 17th.
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