August 2, 1999 Vol.1, No. 14

This Week in Washington…
For more information, contact Reva Price, Washington Representative

Next Hurdle for Hate Crimes Legislation: As reported in last week's INSIDER, JCPA participated in a very successful press conference with 22 Jewish and African-American members of Congress which urged passage of the HCPA (HR 1082). On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee will hold hearings on HCPA and hate violence in general. This legislation passed the Senate two weeks ago and currently has 180 co-sponsors. Those CRCs with members who serve on the House Judiciary Committee should be in touch with their Congressional office early this week, urging swift passage of this initiative. For more information, contact reva@jcpa-dc@jon.cjfny.org.

Foreign Operations Appropriations Loaded With Veto-Bait: The House will try to finish work on the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill today, and send it to conference. The White House has threatened a veto because as written, the bill is $2 billion below the President's request, maintaining funding at this year's level of $12.7 billion. Surfacing again: the inclusion of "Mexico City" language prohibiting aid to international planning groups that perform abortions. The bill includes foreign aid dollars for Israel in the amount agreed to by both countries, although it does not include money for Israel to help with the implementation of the Wye Accords. The JCPA supports the full Wye supplemental that includes $1.2 billion for Israel as well as funding for Jordan and the Palestinians as a tangible expression of Congressional support for Israel and the peace process.

Juvenile Justice Moves to Next Phase: Just days after the tragic violence in Atlanta, the House and Senate finally appointed conferees to the Juvenile Justice bill. The House enacted a nonbinding resolution by a vote of 305-84 instructing conferees to include background checks for people purchasing firearms at gun shows. Gun provisions are still likely to be a major sticking point for conferees. CRCs are urged to review JCPA's July 2nd Action Alert on this issue, and contact Members of Congress to urge that the final conference report include the gun control provisions provided for in the Senate version of the bill; excludes a provision allowing the Ten Commandments to be displayed on or within public property; and does not include provisions that would weaken efforts to protect and rehabilitate juveniles in the criminal justice system. For more information, contact reva@jcpa-dc@jon.cjfny.org.

This Week in New York…
For more information, contact Benita Gayle-Almeleh, Senior Community Consultant at bga@thejcpa.org

In a series of meetings last week in Washington, JCPA Chair Steve Schwarz met with members of Congress, Israeli Ambassador Zalman Shoval, and Russian Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin.

Of note: after meeting with leaders of the organized Jewish community, Stepashin publicly condemned recent acts of anti-Semitism… JCPA Executive Vice Chairman Larry Rubin has been elected to the Executive Committee of the Jewish Communal Service Association…The Plenum is coming! Mark your personal and organizational calendars and plan to join us for Plenum 2000 in Baltimore, February 26th - March 1st. Information concerning registration and program will be available in early fall.