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December
18, 2001 Volume 3, No. 40
This
Week in WASHINGTON
For more information, contact Reva Price, JCPA
Washington Representative, at rprice@thejcpa.org.
Will They Finish Before the End of the Year?: Federal
legislators have just a few days left to complete their work for
the year and get the three remaining Fiscal Year 2002 spending bills
to the President. If they do not complete work on the appropriations
bill by December 21, legislators will need to pass an eighth continuing
resolution to keep the government operating. Negotiators are working
feverishly to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the Defense
Appropriations bill together with $20 billion in supplemental security
spending for defense, homeland security, and New York's reconstruction.
Also on the "must do" lists are the Labor-HHS-Education and Foreign
Operations appropriations bills. The Labor-HHS-Education spending
bill was delayed while legislators completed work on an education
overhaul plan which they expect to send to the President for his
signature this week. This new bill gives Congress the authority
to offer states 20 percent more for education spending in Fiscal
Year 2002 than last year. In a controversy which has become an annual
event, the Foreign Operations bill is being held up over funding
for international family planning programs.
Terrorism Related Work Continues: Congress will work until
the final days of the calendar year on issues related to the fight
against terrorism. The House Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims
is scheduled to hold an oversight hearing on the immigration detention
policies of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Executive
Office for Immigration. The hearing will explore whether those policies
adequately protect national security and public safety. The Senate
is expected to consider legislation this week that would set conditions
under which the government would help cover insurance claims following
a terrorist attack.
This Week in NEW YORK
For more information, contact Gaby Berger, JCPA
Executive Assistant, at gberger@thejcpa.org.
"Israel Perspectives" Teleconference Series: The JCPA/UJC
"Israel Perspectives" teleconference series continued on Tuesday,
December 18th with Jonathan Livny, who has served in numerous important
legal positions in Israel, including as legal advisor to the Knesset.
Livny discussed the reality of living with terror in Jerusalem.
He said that many Israelis are in despair, as they now realize peace
is not around the corner. Barak's generous offer did not bring peace,
he asserted, but more violence. Many in Jerusalem fear for their
lives, he maintained, and Israeli children know far too much about
death and the pain of losing friends. Israelis feel isolated, he
observed, and therefore it is now more important than ever for Jews
to visit Israel to show support and partnership.
Plenum 2002, Getting the Word Out: Due to interruptions in
mail service since September 11, some agencies have experienced
delivery delays or reported missing packages. Please contact the
JCPA at jcpainfo@thejcpa.org if you have not received Plenum 2002
brochures or if you would like additional brochures to distribute
to your community. Plenum brochures are also online in a printable
format at www.jewishpublicaffairs.org
The Plenum is now only 59 days away! Join us in Washington D.C.,
Saturday evening February 16, through Tuesday afternoon, February
19. Program information can be obtained from the JCPA website at
www.jewishpublicaffairs.org or by calling JCPA at 212 684-6950.
Early bird registration ends January 7, 2002, so sign up now!
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
443 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10016
info@thejcpa.org
www.jewishpublicaffairs.org
212-684-6950 212-686-1353 fax
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