November 5, 2001 Vol. 3, No.34

This Week in WASHINGTON

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

Efforts to Fight Terror Continue: President George W. Bush will address the nation this week about Homeland Security issues. The UN General Assembly (not to be confused with UJC’s General Assembly, also scheduled to begin this weekend) was originally to have met in New York City September 24-October 5^th but was rescheduled due security concerns in the wake of the terrorist attacks. The President is scheduled to attend the debate, deliver a speech and meet with key allies to discuss the anti-terrorism effort. From there, the President will travel to his ranch in Crawford, Texas where he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and their discussion will also likely focus on the fight against terror. Among the issues on Congress’ agenda is an initiative expected to be unveiled this week by Senators Kennedy (MA) and Frist (TN, and the Senate’s only physician) to bolster the nation’s public health defense against bio-terrorism. Legislators are also expected to discuss germs and toxins as domestic terrorist threats; protecting the public from chemical attack; the medical readiness of the Department of Defense for chemical or biological attack; and preventing identity theft by terrorists.

Terror List Expanded: In a positive move, the U.S. State Department has widened the scope of the campaign to seize terrorist assets to include organizations that target Israel. The decision places Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine on a par with the Al Qaida network of Osama bin Laden. Now, all groups listed as foreign terrorist

organizations are subject to the executive order President Bush signed soon after the Sept. 11 attacks, meaning that the Treasury Department can impound the assets of these terrorist organizations and of individuals who are suspected of providing financial aid to with them.

Show Them the Money: As we begin this work week, the Senate Hart Office Building, House Ford building and three offices in the House Longworth Building remain closed as officials attempt to decontaminate the areas found to contain evidence of anthrax. Despite the inconvenience and dislocations, work continues to try and pass the 13 Appropriations bills. These bills define how much we will spend as a nation and which programs will be funded. Since the original completion date was to have been October 1, the government has been operating under a "continuing resolution", or CR, set to expire November 16. Even with a full-court press to finish the remaining 8 spending bills, given all the disruptions on Capitol Hill, it is not likely that legislators will finish their work before Thanksgiving.

Whatever Happened to Election Reform? With local elections taking place on Tuesday, we are reminded that this week marks the one year anniversary of the 2000 election. With just a year to go before the next national election (November 5, 2001) Congress has yet to pass legislation dealing with any of the failings in the system exposed last year. Advocates on behalf of the millions of Americans where were denied their rights to cast a vote or have that vote be counted are using this week to remind Congress that it should undertake work to ensure that comprehensive reforms are in place before next year’s election. Among the list of pending legislation on the issue, The Equal Protection of Voting Rights Act of 2001 (S.565/HR1170) contains many of the needed elements cited by the February 2000 JCPA resolution as items necessary for a free and fair election. (click here for text) These include updating outmoded equipment; federal financial assistance to states to assist with modernization of voting equipment; consideration of efforts which encourages and facilitates the exercise of a persons right to vote including extended polling hours; training and educating poll workers; and the development of provisional ballots.

Elsewhere on Capitol Hill: The House Government Reform Committee, chaired by Rep. Burton (IN) with the assistance of ranking minority member Henry Waxman (CA) will hold a hearing on the status of insurance restitution for Holocaust victims and their heirs. The hearing will pay particular attention to the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims (ICHEIC) to determine whether or not they are fulfilling their mandate. The Senate Agriculture Committee is expected to resume work on an omnibus farm bill. Of particular concern to the JCPA are the nutrition provisions in the bill. Sen. Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry introduced a proposal which included $6.2 billion in new funding for nutrition programs over the next 10 years. The bill would reauthorize the Food Stamp program for five years and restore benefits for certain vulnerable legal immigrants. The Harkin nutrition title would provide significantly more dollars than the $3.6 billion in the farm bill passed last month by the House (HR2646), but less than the $10 billion proposed in Senator Richard Lugar's (IN) legislation (S1571). For more information please visit www.frac.org.

Istook, Redux: Rep. Ernest Istook (OK) is circulating a letter to his colleagues asking that they join him in introducing legislation calling for an Amendment to the Constitution which would allow prayer in the public schools. JCPA will monitor these developments closely.

This Week in NEW YORK

Rapid Response Team: Here is a best practice that our colleagues in San Francisco have instituted. In the last year, the JCRC in conjunction with AIPAC built up a "Rapid Response Team" now comprising some 200 volunteers who, after undergoing some training, write letters to the editor, call radio talk-shows and go to anti-Israel lectures (that matter, such as a forum sponsored by a mainstream group such as the World Affairs Council). They have used the Internet via emails to activate RRT volunteers, and have met with some fairly good results. For more information, contact ysantis@jcrc.org

GA Bound: JCPA leadership and staff will be participating in the GA. Have you let us know you’ll be there, too? We are available for individual consultation on a variety of issues. Contact bga@thejcpa.org

Plenum 2002: We have handsome brochures available in bulk to assist you in promoting the Plenum. Let us know how we can help you recruit your leadership!

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