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May 10, 1999 Vol.1, No. 5 This Week in Washington…
DISASTER RELIEF, "OFFSETS" TO BE DEBATED: House and Senate Conferees will meet Tuesday to reconcile differing versions of the Disaster Relief Supplemental (HR 1141, see INSIDER 4/12, 4/19), and to attach a variation of the House defense supplemental (H1664) to provide military spending for the US role in the Balkans. Reconciling work is expected to be difficult, as there are major discrepancies. The Senate version of disaster relief provides funding by using "offsets" from domestic programs that the JCPA has urged not be cut. The House version of the defense spending bill calls for nearly $13 billion in spending, but Senate leadership has promised a significant reduction. Appropriators are also considering adding $1 billion for school safety programs to the legislation. SENATE TO DEBATE JUVENILE JUSTICE BILL: Tragic events in Littleton, CO have moved up debate on the Violent and Repeat Juvenile Offender Accountability and Rehabilitation Act of 1999 (S.254) to Tuesday. Although somewhat better than last year's version, S. 254 contains several problematic provisions, including weakening of current law requiring the separation of adult and juvenile inmates. Of special concern to the JCPA is attachment of charitable choice language. Look for Sen. Ted Kennedy's (MA) introduction of an amendment urging that the term "religious organization" be changed to "religiously affiliated organizations that are not pervasively sectarian". Democrats hope to attach numerous gun control amendments including proposals which would require gun safety locks; ban sales of semi-automatic weapons to minors; and increase regulation of weapons sales at gun shows and on the Internet. Discussion takes place on the heels of today's White House summit on youth. HATE CRIMES UPDATE: Judy Shepard, mother of murdered Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, will testify Tuesday as the Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings on the response of the federal government to hate crimes. A press conference convened by supporters of the Hate Crimes Protection Act (S. 622) will be held immediately preceding the hearing. In a letter circulated to the Senate urging passage of the HCPA, JCPA Chair Steve Schwarz and JCPA Executive Vice Chairman Larry Rubin asserted that "all Americans have an intensified responsibility to advocate for effective responses to violent bigotry." RLPA HEARINGS IN HOUSE: Following introduction of the Religious Liberty Protection Act (RLPA) last week (HR 1691), the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee will review the legislation in a hearing Wednesday. This Week in New York…
ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO BRIEF JCPA LEADERSHIP: Zalman Shoval, Israel's Ambassador to the United States, will be our guest on Wednesday, May 12 to discuss such issues as the peace process, the upcoming election, Israel - Diaspora relations and Ethiopian Jewry. "CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE NEXT GENERATION": JCPA's Guila Franklin Siegel, Assistant Director for Domestic Concerns, will participate in a dialogue Monday in Washington with local area high school students about increasing the civil rights community's relevance to the life of young adults. Part of "Working Towards One America", the conference is being held in conjunction with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. ISRAELI ELECTION RESULTS VIDEOCONFERENCE: Plans are underway to provide communities with a unique opportunity to participate in an interactive, same-day videoconference on Israeli elections results with noted Israeli and American political analysts. Communities can still sign up for this Monday, May 17th program. Contact nava@thejcpa.org or mraffel@thejcpa.org for more information.
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