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July 26, 1999 Vol.1, No. 14 This Week in Washington…
The "How" in Wye: The House will take up the Fiscal 2000 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill this week amid concerns that it lacks key provisions. As written, the bill does not include most of the $1.2 billion promised to participants in the Wye peace agreement and reiterated by President Clinton during Prime Minister Barak's visit to the US last week. The bill does include $100 million from the agreement destined for Jordan. Some experts suggest the extra money will have to be included in a supplemental agreement negotiated later in the year. Given the current climate of concern over a proposed tax cut and tight budget caps, such funding may prove difficult. Similar legislation has already passed the Senate. The Russians Are Coming: JCPA Chairman Steve Schwarz joins other Jewish leaders on Tuesday to meet with new Russian Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin. The meeting, arranged by the National Conference on Soviet Jewry, follows a letter to the Prime Minister signed by 54 House Members thanking him for his past efforts in combating extremism. The House letter expresses concern about the recent attack on Leopold Kaimovsky, business manager of the Moscow Jewish Arts Center and asks that the Prime Minister, silent to date on this cowardly attack, condemn this latest manifestation of violence and extremism. HCPA Passed Unanimously by Senate: Sixty Jewish and African American House Members have signed onto a statement condemning the recent outbreak of racism and bigotry. On Thursday the same group, with JCPA participation, will gather in support of the Hate Crimes Protection Act (HCPA). Hats off to our colleagues around the country who, through letters, action alerts and op-ed pieces made passage of this much-needed legislation possible. The measure has already been introduced in the House (H.R. 1082). See JCPA Action Alert on Senate Passage of HCPA, July 23, 1999. Expected Around "the Hill"…A "charitable choice" provision is included in the Senate Substance Abuse and Mental Health Reauthorization Act (SAMHSA) scheduled for mark-up mid week. Senator Ted Kennedy (MA) will offer an amendment denying funds to any organization that coerces or proselytizes beneficiaries. It will also delete the portion allowing federally funded employment discrimination… On Wednesday, a coalition of groups concerned with immigrant rights will launch a national campaign aimed at ameliorating the harsh 1996 laws affecting immigrants. Entitled B "Fix '96: Restore America's Tradition as a Nation of Immigrants and A Nation of Just Laws," the effort will spotlight three laws on immigration, welfare and anti-terrorism enacted in 1996 which have contributed to the most dramatic crackdown on immigrants in 70 years. This Week in New York…
Holocaust Assets Restitution: The deadline for Holocaust survivors to submit forms as part of the Swiss Bank settlement notification process is October 22, 1999. For more information and forms, please call, toll free, 1-888-635-5483, or log on to www.swissbanksclaims.com. Please refer to JCPA memo of July 15, 1999 for additional details.
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