JCPA Insider: July 2, 2001

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

Quote of the Week: "I think this is the time for all sides, all of us, to lower our rhetoric, and move forward -- move forward to find peace. Violence will not solve this crisis for either side, and continuing down the path of violence gets us nowhere except more funerals, more destruction, destruction of the livelihood of people. So this is the time to talk about peace. This is the time to talk about the end of violence. This is the time to talk about discussing with one another in fruitful, open, candid negotiations how one moves forward, and how one finds a solution to these difficult issues that must be resolved in order for these two people to live in peace in this one land."

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, Remarks to the Press, Ramallah, June 28, 2001

After the Recess Bell: Congress is in recess to celebrate Independence Day. The Senate is planning to return on the 9^th, and the House on the 10^th. When the Senate returns, the Democrats will assume full control of Senate Committees. After several weeks of negotiations that followed the change in party leadership, the Senate agreed to give Democrats one-seat majorities on committees and to preserve the existing committee staff and space agreements. Completion of the deal allows Majority Leader Tom Daschle (ND) and Minority Leader Trent Lott (MS) to reappoint freshmen Senators to the committee seats held at the beginning of the Congress.

Foreign Aid Spending Bill Takes First Step: Late last week, the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee chaired by Rep. Jim Kolbe (AZ) marked up its Appropriation bill, which by and large followed the Administration’s request for aid to the Middle East. The spending bill provides $2 billion in military aid and $720 million in economic assistance to Israel; $1.3 billion in military aid and $665 million in economic aid to Egypt; and $75 million in military aid and $150 million in economic assistance to Jordan. Included in the spending bill were the provisions of the Middle East Compliance Act or MEPCA. (See JCPA Middle East Update, May 22, 2001) The bill would require that the Palestinians demonstrate "substantial compliance" with their commitment to renounce the use of terrorism or face possible sanction. The Administration has requested $75 million in aid to the Palestinians. The bill does not include the $800 million supplemental aid for Israel requested by former President Clinton, as the Bush Administration has said they don’t want to provide the extra funds while they are negotiating to defuse tensions in the region. JCPA members are urged to meet with members of Congress during the July 4^th recess and urge that MEPCA be included in the final version of the bill. Full Committee consideration is expected shortly after the recess.

Charitable Choice Legislation Clears Hurdle: In a marathon session last week the House Judiciary Committee completed work on HR 7, the Community Solutions Act of 2001. The markup failed to make significant changes in the charitable choice provisions contained in the bill that would allow pervasively religious organizations to apply for federal dollars. The House Ways and Means Committee is expected to review the bill during the week of July 9^th. Bill supporters hope that the legislation will come to the House floor before the August recess. Again, JCPA member agencies are urged to meet with members during recess to explain our reservations about the legislation. While we support the tax benefits contained in the bill, we continue to have serious concerns with the charitable choice components. (See www.jewishpublicaffairs.org for an exchange between JCPA Exec Hannah Rosenthal and Dr. John DiIulio, Jr. on charitable choice)

For more information, contact Benita Gayle-Almeleh, Director of Community Relations and Special Projects at bga@thejcpa.org

Eye on Israel: The JCPA is working closely with United Jewish Communities on Solidarity September, which is intended to demonstrate North American Jewry's support for Israel as the crisis in the Middle East continues. A major national solidarity rally is planned for Sunday, September 23 in New York City. A media tour to twenty major American cities with Israeli political and military experts is planned for September 4-14. The JCPA is organizing a special community relations solidarity mission for CRC leaders and non-Jewish friends of Israel in conjunction with the UJC's September 9-14 Journey I mega-mission. (The JCPA's regular leadership mission to Israel is scheduled for October 22-29.) In addition, we are working with the UJC to develop Israel education and advocacy sessions at the General Assembly in Washington, DC (November 11-13).

Plenum 2002: Plenum Co-Chairs Lois Frank and David Luchins are hard at work developing the framework of Plenum 2002 after consulting with members of the Planning Committee. We are pleased to note that Natan Sharansky has accepted JCPA Chair Leonard Cole's invitation to address the Plenum in Washington. Len was in Jerusalem last month for UJC's Solidarity Shabbaton and meetings of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Got a suggestion for a plenum speaker or session you’d like to share? Contact bga@thejcpa.org.

Heard from the Field: Rochester’s CRC has developed a low-cost, almost no-cost approach to raising awareness about domestic violence within the Jewish community. Contact Isobel Goldman at igoldman@jewishrochester.org for more information, or bga@thejcpa.org for a written profile.