September 18, 2000 Vol. 2, No. 31

This Week in Washington...

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

Efforts to Pass Hate Crimes Legislation Not Over Yet: As we reported last week, the House passed a nonbinding motion to instruct conferees to the Department of Defense (DOD) Authorization bill to include the Senate passed Hate Crimes Amendment in the final legislation. We should all be proud of our successful vote on Wednesday. However, more work remains to be done. Coalition partners are being asked to send thank you letters to those members who supported the Conyers motion and letters of disappointment to those legislators who voted against the motion. In addition, please contact the conferees and tell them to support the majorities in both houses of Congress and maintain the hate-crimes provision in the final DOD authorization bill. Please contact JCPA Washington Representative Reva Price for those lists.

Immigration Initiative Needs Phone Calls: A national "call-in" day has been scheduled by the National Immigration Forum for Tuesday, September 19^th. Please call your legislators and urge them and the White House to enact the Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act or its components – Central American Parity, a change in the registry cutoff date, and the restoration of section 245(I) of the Immigration Act. The Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act (S. 2912) combines these three separate measures that target certain groups of immigrants who have broad "equities" in the United States. That is, certain defined groups of immigrants who are already here and already working would be given the opportunity to adjust their status, putting them on track for full participation in our society. Contact JCPA staff for talking points. ( See JCPA Policy of June 13, 2000.)

Here and There Around the Hill: JCPA is working together with the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women to convene a rally on Friday September 22, 2000 to "Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Now!!! The legislation, which needs to be reauthorized this year, has hit some "snags" in the House, however efforts are underway to break the logjam. With barely two weeks left until the end of the fiscal year, two of the 13 appropriations bills have been enacted, seven others have been passed by both chambers and are awaiting completion by conference committees and four have yet to be completed by the Senate. The Conference Committee attempting to reconcile both House and Senate versions of the Foreign Aid Appropriations bill has had some new problems over the past few weeks. Some legislators would like to add more spending for Israel and Lebanon, extra funds for Columbia as well as funds for combatting the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Voter Registration Manual Completed: By late this week the "2000 Get Out the Vote Program Plan and Action Manual" will be posted on the JCPA website. The manual was prepared by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism in conjunction with the JCPA, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. The 20 plus page document includes sample bulletin articles, flyers, sermons and letters to encourage voter participation as well as national voter registration rules and mail-in forms.

This Week in New York…

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

JCPA October Meetings: Mark your calendars for the JCPA Task Force meetings, Sunday October 29^th and the JCPA Board of Directors Meeting, Monday October 30^th in New York City. Participants are urged to make hotel reservations and meeting arrangements as soon as possible. Hotel blocks are being held until September 28th. Contact Hluftig@thejcpa.org for more information.