September 24, 2001 Vol. 3, No. 29

This Week in WASHINGTON

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

Responding to Terrorism: Both Houses of Congress plan far-reaching discussions this week regarding America’s fight against terrorism. The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing today to discuss many of the proposals made last week by Attorney General Ashcroft. They are hoping to mark-up the bill on Tuesday and bring it to the House floor soon after. The Senate Judiciary Committee will follow with Senator Leahy’s version of the bill on Tuesday. Both bills are expected to authorize and fund the office for Counterterrorism and Homeland Security as spelled out by President Bush last week; create a terrorism fund; and expand authority to intercept wire, oral and electronic communications. For updated information on the House’s working draft, contact rprice@thejcpa.org. The Senate version of the bill can be found on Senator Leahy’s (VT) website at www.senate.gov/~leahy/. House and Senate Select Committees on Intelligence will also review related issues on Monday, with the House International Relations Committee examining US foreign policy in the fight against international terrorism and the House Financial Services Committee exploring the impact on the securities and insurance industries. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing to discuss psychological trauma resulting from the recent terrorist attacks and ways to ensure Americans receive the support and treatment they need.

Elsewhere on Capitol Hill: Because it is unlikely that work will be completed on the 13 remaining appropriations bills before the end of FY 2001, the House will consider a two week continuing resolution (CR) to enable the government to continue functioning. The House is also scheduled to approve the payment of back dues to the United Nations. The Senate will begin the week with consideration of legislation which would implement a new trade agreement with Jordan. The House International Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday afternoon to discuss US policy toward the Palestinians. The Subcommittee, chaired by Representative Gilman (NY) will hear from former ambassadors Dennis Ross ( Washington Institute for Near East Policy),and Martin Indyk (Brookings Institute), as well as Edward Walker of the Middle East Institute.

This Week in NEW YORK

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

Update from Buenos Aires: JCPA Chair Leonard Cole and Martin Raffel will be reporting later today via conference call from Buenos Aires on the opening of a trial against Argentinean policemen accused of helping to carry out the 1994 terrorist bombing of the AMIA Jewish community building. Cole and Raffel (who as of this morning had tickets to the opening session of the trial, set to begin at 2 pm today) traveled to Buenos Aires to convey support to the Argentine Jewish community as this difficult and much-anticipated trial begins. To connect with the call, which is scheduled for 5 pm EST today, dial 1-877-797-1770.