October 10, 2000, Vol. 2, No. 34

This Week in Washington...

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

Rally around Israel: Communities around the country are planning solidarity with Israel rallies for later this week. The JCPA has been in touch with CRCs and Federations coast to coast and reports the following gatherings are in the works: New York (in cooperation with JCPA, UJC and NY UJA Federation); Boston; Chicago; Houston; Miami; Philadelphia; St. Louis; Seattle South Palm Beach County, FL; West Palm Beach. Please contact bga@thejcpa.org with information concerning your own community’s plans. Contact mraffel@thejcpa.org for further analysis and information.

Hill Speaks Out on Middle East Violence: Last week Representatives Lazio (NY): Gilman (NY) and Reynolds (NY) introduced House Concurrent Resolution 418 expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the current level of violence between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The Senate has yet to take up the "Peace through Negotiations Act" already passed by the House. The legislation (S.2938) introduced by Senators Schumer (NY) and Brownback (KS) would make it clear that it is U.S. policy to oppose the unilateral declaration of independence by the Palestinian Authority. Other legislative proposals and statements concerning the current state of affairs in the Middle East are sure to emerge in the coming days. Contact rprice@thejcpa.org to stay up to date.

We Have Some Good News and Bad News: With the current continuing resolution keeping the government from running out of money expiring on Saturday, it is still unclear whether Congress can finish work on the remaining 9 appropriations bills by the deadline - or if a third "cr" will need to be adopted. Although legislators expect that some of the work can be completed quickly, at least three of the spending bills, Commerce-Justice-State; Foreign Operations and Labor-HHS-Education include policy issues that might result in presidential vetoes. In this, the season of "cheshbon ha-nefesh" (soul searching), and as Congress works frantically to complete its 106^th session, it is appropriate to review what has happened regarding issues near and dear to us:

• The House passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization bill (371-1) as part of a House-Senate Sex Trafficking Conference Report last week. Although the House already passed VAWA Reauthorization (415-3) as a stand alone bill on September 26, the measure was folded into the Conference Report at the request of Senate and House leaders so that the Senate would consider the measure before the end of the 106th Congress. It now goes to the Senate, with a vote is expected on Wednesday. JCPA member agencies are urged to contact Senators (Capitol Switchboard #202-224-3121) to ensure a floor vote on the Sex Trafficking Conference Report really happens!

• Conferees to the Department of Defense Authorization bill chose to strip the Hate Crimes provision from the bill, despite a 232-192 vote in the House to instruct the conferees to keep this important provision in the final bill. Enacting this legislation remains a high priority for the Administration, and member agencies are urged to call the White House (202-456-1414) to thank the Administration for their commitment and urge that this promise be kept.

• The Agricultural Appropriations Conferees finished work on their conference, including two provisions from the Hunger Relief Act (S1805/HR3192): the vehicle allowance and the shelter cap. Under current law, families who own a vehicle worth more than $4,650 are subject to disqualification from the food stamp program. With the passage of the vehicle provision of the Hunger Relief Act, families could own a reliable car and still receive food stamp benefits. With the extension of the shelter cap, low-income people who spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing would be allowed to receive food stamp benefits at a level that more accurately reflects their need. Unfortunately, the HRA provision to extend food stamp benefits to all legal immigrants was not included in the agriculture bill. (See JCPA Action Alert, June 13, 2000)

This Week in New York…

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

JCPA Leaders To Be Honored: We know them as leaders of national stature (and former NJCRAC chairs), but Lynn Lyss of St. Louis and Lew Cole of Louisville will be honored in their home communities for their dedication and achievement. Lynn will receive the St. Louis Bar Association’s Award for Community Leader of the Year, and Lew will be the first recipient of the Jewish Community Federation of Louisville’s B’nai Tzedek Award. Ya’asher kochachem!!!