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June 1, 1999 Vol.1, No. 8 This Week in Washington…
THE ISTOOK AMENDMENT: IT'S BAAA-AACK? A "dear colleague" letter circulated by Congressman Joe Pitts (PA) announces that the Religious Freedom Amendment will be reintroduced by Congressman Istook (OK) "in the coming days." The proposed Amendment to the Constitution, which failed last year to garner the 2/3 vote of the House needed for passage, would seriously compromise church-state separation. For background information, contact Reva Price at jcpa-dc@jon.cjfny.org, or Guila Franklin Siegel at gfsiegel@thejcpa.org. INVEST IN AMERICA CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED: The JCPA has joined with over 200 national, state and local organizations in the Invest in America Campaign, which focuses on the need to increase resources for domestic investment. The campaign will be launched through press events in early June in strategic states including New York and Pennsylvania. The coalition is looking for people to help coordinate press events in Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware and New Jersey. Contact Reva at jcpa-dc@jon.cjfny.org for more information. NO AGREEMENT ON SPENDING, HOUSE RECESSES: Failing to complete work on three spending bills, members of the House of Representatives left Washington for Memorial Day Recess, and are scheduled to return on June 7th. Congress watchers suggest that the Appropriations process has been paralyzed by FY 2000 Budget Resolution spending limits, and concern is being expressed how - and whether - Congress will live within these tight restrictions. INTENSIFY ACTION IN SUPPORT OF WIC: Following the House's failure last week to pass the Agriculture Appropriations bill, anti-hunger advocates are urged to intensify their grassroots mobilization (see JCPA action alert 5/20/99) in support of WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children). Continued action is necessary to redress the anticipated shortfall in funding. This Week in New York…
INTERIM REPORT TO BE DISCUSSED: Members of JCPA's Committee on Race, Ethnicity and Public Policy will convene by phone this week to consider the interim report issued at the half-way point of this two-year study, which will now move on to address the concerns of other ethnic groups, focusing on Latino and Asian Americans. The committee will meet on Sunday, June 13th preceding the JCPA Task Force meetings in San Francisco to hear presentations by Marta Jimenez, Executive Director and Managing Attorney of Public Advocates and former regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), and Theodore Wang, Policy Director, Chinese for Affirmative Action. Contact ksenter@thejcpa.org or koded@thejcpa.org for more information. COLE REPORTS TO THE NATION: JCPA Vice Chair Dr. Leonard Cole's report detailing his participation in a recent UJC mission to Albania, Bulgaria and Israel was reprinted in the May 25 Congressional record at the initiative of Rep. Steven R. Rothman (NJ). Copies are available from nava@thejcpa.org. JCPA, BALTIMORE GEAR UP FOR PLENUM 2000: Work begins in earnest this week with the JCPA and leaders of the Baltimore Jewish community discussing special events which will take place in connection with the 2000 Plenum. The Plenum Planning Committee will meet on Monday morning, June 14th in San Francisco. Mark your calendars and plan to join us at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Harbor, Saturday evening February 26 - Wednesday, March 1!
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