May 7, 2001 Vol. 3, No. 12

This Week in Washington...

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

 Readin’, Writin’, and Debatin’: The reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) will continue to be debated this week on the Senate floor. The House Education Committee is also scheduled to continue "marking up" its version of the bill this week. A Senate vote last week in support of full funding for Title I programs to help disadvantaged students is a welcome development. School vouchers, charitable choice for after school programs, funding levels and experimental "Straight A’s" programs are still very much in play. (See JCPA Action Alert, May 1, 2001) The JCPA policy on public education can be found at our website www.jewishpublicaffairs.org.

State Department Authorization Bill Status: The House takes up the State Department Authorization bill later this week. The Global Democracy Promotion Act offered as an amendment by Rep. Barbara Lee (CA) passed in the House International Relations Committee, would ensure that overseas NGO’s cannot be denied US family planning aid based on restriction of medical services or information ,or on the exercise of free speech rights that do not also apply to US based groups. Efforts to remove this amendment from the bill are likely during the floor debate. The JCPA has a long-standing commitment to a woman’s right to choose, and opposes efforts which would limit access to the full range of women’s health services. Contact rprice@thejcpa.org for more information.

Elsewhere on Capitol Hill: The House Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee chaired by Rep. Jim Kolbe (AZ) will hold a hearing this week to discuss programs which fall under its jurisdiction such as foreign aid. Secretary of State Colin Powell is scheduled to speak to the critical appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over aid to Israel… Big news on the voting and the election process front: the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee chaired by Sen. John McCain (AZ) will hold a hearing on the reliability of current and future voting technologies; the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee chaired by Sen. Fred Thompson (TN) will hold a hearing on federal election practices and procedures; and the House Administration Committee, chaired by Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) will hold hearings on improving the election process. (See JCPA Resolution on Election Reform)

This Week in New York...

Good to Go on NGO: Hadassah: The Women's Zionist Organization of America has received final approval for consultative status in the U.N.'s Economic and Social Council. The decision – opposed by Arab groups because of Hadassah's ties to Zionism -- will enable the group to enhance its work with other nongovernmental organizations around the world on humanitarian issues. Mazel Tov!

eBay Does the Right Thing: The JCPA commends eBay’s decision to prohibit the sale of memorabilia promoting hate. According to a statement issued by the internet auction company, eBay "will judiciously disallow listings or items that promote or glorify hatred, violence, or racial intolerance, or items that promote organizations (such as the KKK, Nazis, neo-Nazis, and Aryan Nation) with such views . . . (including) items that bear the marks of such organizations, such as relics from the KKK or Nazi helmets." You may wish to email eBay president Meg Whitman (meg@ebay.com) to express your appreciation for this decision. Contact efelson@thejcpa.org for more information.