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November 29, 1999 | Vol.1, No. 30 This Week in Washington¼ For more information, contact Reva Price, Washington Representative at rprice@thejcpa.org You Win Some, You Lose Some…and Some Just Get Held Over for the Next Session: The adjournment of the 106th Congress left a decidedly mixed trail of significant legislation enacted, defeated, and carried over. Of particular interest to the JCPA, and highlighted in previous issues of the Insider. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act: despite concerted Jewish community efforts, impassioned support by the President and visits to Washington by families impacted by hate crimes, passed the Senate as part of the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations bill but was not included in the final measure. If we have any hope of enacting this important legislation in the 106th Congress, we will need to work with legislators in both the House and Senate and again make a strong case to Congressional leadership. Little headway was made at the end of the year by House and Senate Conferees in reconciling differing versions of the Juvenile Justice Bill. The legislation contains a number of problematic areas: the posting of the Ten Commandments, charitable choice language, and evisceration of important federal initiatives aimed at protecting juveniles in the criminal justice system. The Senate version of the bill includes modest gun control provisions we would like enacted, whether in this bill or another initiative later in the session. These provisions include background checks for individuals purchasing guns at gun shows, the requirement that trigger locks be sold with handguns and banning importation of ammunition magazines with a capacity of more than ten rounds. Legislators need to hear from constituents on these gun control measures as well as licensing and registration of handguns. Managed Care Health Plans: The House and Senate both passed legislation aimed at giving patients new protections in dealing with their health plans. However, the bills are very different, leading some to question whether the conference committee charged with reconciling the two versions will be able to come to consensus. The good news: the House passed the reauthorization bill for Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act this fall. The bad news: the "Straight A's bill" which would create a 10 state pilot program to convert Title I and other ESEA funds into block grants was attached to the bill. The Senate will start its work on ESEA Reauthorization on its return in January. We will need to intensify efforts to insure that the reauthorization process continues and guard against the possibility that voucher-like programs will be proposed which will take critical money and resources away from the public schools. It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over: While increasing the minimum wage seemed like a "sure thing" earlier this session, the issue ended up embroiled in controversy. In dispute: whether the minimum wage should increase by one dollar over a 24 or 36 month period, and the trade-off of the tax credits which might be necessary to bring business to the table on this issue. A minimum wage provision passed the Senate as part of the Bankruptcy Bill, but that bill has been "filibustered" and is still pending. Punitive measures aimed at nations (including Russia) assisting Iran's weapons development passed the House this fall but fell victim to a procedural vote in the Senate. Senator Trent Lott (MS) will likely introduce new, tougher sanctions legislation similar to the bill passed in 1998, supported by the JCPA, but vetoed by the President. The Administration had hoped at the time that the Russians would stop the weapons transfer without sanctions by the United States. Garden State to Nation's Capital: The JCPA Washington Office looks forward to the December 1, 1999 visit by a delegation of state elected officials and lay leaders and staff from four communities in New Jersey. This
Week in New York... COEJL Director Mark X. Jacobs will make several presentations about Judaism and the environment at the Parliament of World Religions in Cape Town, South Africa, December 1-8. The parliament is expected to draw several thousand delegates from around the world representing all major faith communities. Issues to be discussed include inter-religious relations, eradication of poverty, environmental protection and human rights. December 18th is the deadline for the Plenum registration discount. Registration information is available from Natalie P. Shear Associates at (800) 833-2420. JCPA leadership is ready to speak with any leaders who need a little extra convincing of the value of being at the plenum in Baltimore from February 26th-March 1st. For details, contact Benita Gayle-Almeleh (ext. 220 or bga@thejcpa.org).
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