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May 3, 1999 Vol.1, No. 4 This Week in Washington…
CONGRESS CONTINUES DEBATE ON BALKAN POLICY The Senate is scheduled to vote late this afternoon on Sen. John McCain's initiative (SJRes2O) which, if passed, would authorize the Administration to use "all necessary force" to achieve NATO's goals in Yugoslavia. Conventional wisdom has it that the initiative will be tabled immediately to avoid the appearance of either supporting the Administration or harming NATO's efforts. The House will begin debate Thursday on a supplemental spending bill to finance military and humanitarian operations in the Balkans through September 30, 1999. The bill calls for $12.9 billion in emergency funding for the Balkans and lumps in other spending, such as military pay and benefits increases and military construction projects in Europe and Asia. MOVEMENT ON HATE CRIMES PROTECTION ACT Senate Judiciary Committee hearings are scheduled for May 11th on the federal government response to Hate Crimes. The HCPA expands the federal criminal civil rights statute on hate crimes by removing unnecessary obstacles to federal prosecution and by providing authority for federal involvement in crimes directed at individuals because of their race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability or sexual orientation. The JCPA and 30 other coalition members sent letters to the full Senate urging passage of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999 (S 622). Communities should communicate their support of this landmark legislation utilizing the points raised in the March 22, 1999 JCPA Memorandum. JCPA SALUTES WIC With our coalition partners, the JCPA is marking WIC's silver anniversary (25 years of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children) by urging Congressional support for a $181 million increase in this profoundly successful program. In a press release issued today, JCPA Chair Steven Schwarz noted that, "The contribution that WIC has made to the well being of our nation's children is seen in the success and health of the program's participants. The JCPA will continue to support initiatives and funding that strengthen this vanguard program, thereby giving more of our nation's children a chance to grow up healthy." This Week in New York…
UPDATES ON KOSOVO, ETHIOPIA A system-wide conference call is scheduled for Tuesday, May 4th to review political developments and the Jewish community's response to the ongoing crisis. Briefings by HIAS and JDC representatives are planned. To participate, contact nava@thejcpa.org. Members of the JCPA Committee on World Jewry and International Human Rights will be briefed on the latest developments concerning the Quara Jews and Falash Mura during a conference call scheduled for Thursday, May 6th. MAY 17 ISRAELI ELECTION ANALYSIS Communities will have a unique same-day opportunity to discuss the implications of the Israeli election in a videoconference scheduled for May 17th from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. EDT. JCPA is working with the Israel Democracy Institute to assemble a panel of experts who will discuss the election's results and implications for the peace process, US-Israel relations and religious status issues. More information about the interactive program is available from mraffel@thejcpa.org. WEST COAST CONCLAVE The JCPA Task Force and Board of Directors meetings will take place Sunday, June 13th and Monday, June 14th in San Francisco. The deadline for hotel reservations at the Westin St. Francis is Friday, May 19th. For more information, contact marny@thejcpa.org. The Minkoff Institute for Professional Development will take place Monday, June 14th - Thursday, June 17th at Seascape Resort. Contact bga@thejcpa.org for details.
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