April 23, 2001 Vol. 3, No. 10

This Week in Washington...

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

Education Debate Comes to the Senate Floor:  Work begins  in the Senate this week on "S-1" legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  The bill, which has been reauthorized every five years since 1965, historically has taken the Senate several weeks to complete, and this year will be no exception. One of the most contentious issues is funding.  ESEA programs currently receive about $17.5 billion.  The Administration wants to increase the funding by $1.6 billion, while Democrats would like to see a $15 billion increase. A central component of the Administration’s plan would require testing every year from 3rd-8th grade with consequences for low performing schools.  Amendments are expected to be offered which would allow for school vouchers.  The House committee on Education and the Workplace is expected to mark up its version of the bill soon, possibly next week.

Big Week for Discussions on "FBI:"  Look for a focus this week on issues relating to the President’s proposals on Faith Based and Community Initiatives. The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution will hold a hearing on Tuesday to discuss state and local implementation of existing charitable choice programs.  On Thursday, the House Government Reform Committee’s Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources will hold a hearing on plans and goals of the White House Office on FBI, and will explore community organizations and the delivery of social service. John J. DiIulio, Jr., Director of the White House Office and his colleague Don Eberly will be among those testifying.  The big day for this issue will be Wednesday, with a "Summit" on Faith Based and Community Initiatives hosted by Representative J.C. Watts (OK) and Senator Rick Santorum (PA). From the JCPA’s "family,"  Burt Siegel, Philadelphia JCRC director, was invited to attend the proceedings by his Senator and the OU’s Nathan Diament is part of the program’s Advisory Committee.

Ask Senators to sign-on to letter about Hadassah, at the UN!  Senators Gordon Smith (OR) and Barbara Boxer (CA) are circulating a letter to Secretary of State Colin Powell urging him to put US support behind Hadassah's application for consultative status as a non-governmental organization at the United Nations. It is anticipated that the UN Economic and Social Council will consider Hadassah's application for a final decision this July 2001 when it meets in full, but it is possible that the application may come up sooner. The Council is comprised of 54 member states, many of which receive U.S. foreign aid. For more information and to encourage your senator to sign onto the Smith-Boxer letter, visit www.hadassah.org and follow the link for advocacy, and then, " Israel, Zionist and International Affairs" and the "Legislative Action Center". You may also call the Capitol Switchboard directly at (202) 224-3121.

Here and There on Capitol Hill:  Senators Barbara Boxer (CA) and Arlen Specter (PA) hope to introduce a Senate Resolution later this week designating April as National Sexual Awareness Month.  More cosponsors are needed. Member agencies are urged to contact legislators. Calls should also be made to President Bush (at the White House Comment Line, 202-456-1111) urging that the president to make this declaration himself. On Wednesday, the House Administration Committee will hold a hearing to look into ways to improve election procedures and voting equipment.  Katherine Harris, Secretary of State of Florida, will be among those testifying.  The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the "Unborn Victims of Violence Act" this week. The bill will make it a crime, at any stage of pregnancy, to harm an embryo or fetus while committing any one of 68 federal offenses, but it never addresses violence against women. Under the guise of protection for pregnant women, this bill is really an effort to undermine reproductive rights. More information can be found on the NCJW website at www.ncjw.org.