September 12, 2000 Vol. 2, No. 30

This Week in Washington...

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

House Hate Crimes Vote This Week!: In an effort to move the issue along, Rep. Barney Frank (MA) has filed a motion to instruct House conferees to vote for inclusion of the HCPA (renamed the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act) as part of the Department of Defense Authorizations bill. It now appears likely that the vote will occur late today (Tuesday, September 12) or Wednesday morning. Please take note: this may be the only time the House will vote on this measure in this Congress! Make sure legislators get the message: to retain the HCPA as part of the Department of Defense Authorization bill, legislators must vote in support of the motion to instruct the conference committee. Congress must not adjourn before approving this necessary legislation.

Calls Needed on Refugee Funding: For more than 14 million refugees and 21 million internally displaced people worldwide, the United States refugee program provides refugee resettlement and provision of life-saving assistance. The Administration proposed $658 million for Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA) account for FY 2001. This funding level necessitates cuts of nearly 9,000 refugee admissions as well as $14 million in assistance to African refugees from the FY 2000 level. Congressional appropriations for this vital refugee program total even less than the Administration’s request. Register your opinion with the White House comment line (202-456-1111), Majority Leader Trent Lott (202-224-3135), Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (202-225-0600) and your Members of Congress and request that the MRA account be funded at the highest level possible. Conferees are expected to consider the Foreign Operations Appropriations sometime this week.

Around the Hill: Last week’s efforts to refocus attention on the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) reauthorization have measurably increased momentum on the issue. Coalition members are hoping for votes in both houses this week on VAWA reauthorization. Heads Up On Charitable Choice: Representative Bobby Scott (VA) will hold a forum on Thursday to discuss the civil rights implications of "Charitable Choice." The program will be part of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference. "Charitable Choice" provisions were passed in the House last week as part of the Child Support Distribution Act despite Rep. Scott’s efforts to amend the bill by banning hiring discrimination and efforts by employees and volunteers in faith-based programs to make clients participate in religious worship or instruction. Today (Tuesday, September 12), the House will consider the "Literacy Involves Families Together Act" which also has a "charitable choice" component.

This Week in New York…

For more information, contact Benita Gayle-Almeleh, Senior Community Consultant at bga@thejcpa.org

Keep Watching in Cyberspace: A summary of yesterday’s JCPA Ad Hoc Committee on Constitutional Freedoms in the Age of Cybertechnology will be available shortly. Religion in the Public Arena: A conference call to discuss issues surrounding Lieberman nomination, issues of faith and politics, and recent ADL statements will be discussed in a conference call today at 1:30 p.m. Contact lmallin@thejcpa.org for information. JCPA October Meetings: Information concerning the 10/29 Task Force and 10/30 Board meetings is being mailed this week. Plenum 2001: Mark your calendars and start checking for airfares! The Plenum will be held February 24-28 in Washington, D.C. Promotional materials will be available shortly.

"Daring to Resist: Three Women Face the Holocaust," a documentary about three Jewish teenage girls who fought the Nazis, will air on PBS stations beginning September 21. The Daring to Resist website is www.pbs.org/daringtoresist; consult your local newspaper for the time and date of the broadcast. Daring to Resist is distributed by Women Make Movies (212-962-0606) or wmm.com on the Internet.