sncrom@cdp.uucp (09/18/89)
FCNL TELEPHONE TAPE - 9/15/89
This is the Friends Committee on National Legislation, with updated
legislative information. To speak directly with a staff member, call
(202) 547-6000.
This message was prepared at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 15. It
contains information and action suggestions on the following subjects:
APPROPRIATIONS FOR REDRESS FOR JAPANESE AMERICAN INTERNEES, EL SALVADOR,
and INTERNATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING.
REDRESS FOR INTERNEES: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on
Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary allowed NO funds for the coming
year for compensation to Americans of Japanese descent who were interned
during World War II. In spite of the fact that Congress agreed to this
compensation just last year, the Senate, so far, is refusing to carry
out the mandate.
ACTION: If one of your Senators is on the Commerce, Justice, State and
Judiciary Subcommittee, a letter expressing your distress at this action
is in order. If one of your Senators is on the FULL Appropriations
Committee, please call the Senator's office very soon to urge full
funding of this federal obligation. Also urge members of the
appropriations committee to approve Senator Inouye's proposal to make
redress payments an "entitlement" program next year, so that they will
not have to compete with discretionary programs for funding.
EL SALVADOR: The Senate is expected to vote as early as Wednesday,
September 20, on aid to El Salvador, as part of its consideration of the
foreign aid appropriations bill. During its consideration of the bill
yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a cap on
military aid to El Salvador at $85 million, which would be divided into
thirds and released in four-month installments. The bill requires
reports from the Bush administration on January 15 and April 15
regarding progress in El Salvador toward a ceasefire, a negotiated
solution to the war, improvements in human rights, and political
pluralism. Most significantly, in order for the final third of the aid
to be released, the administration must request it by May 15, and any of
the chairs of the four committees on foreign aid issues can block the
request. We expect an amendment to remove these provisions will be
offered when the full Senate considers the bill this week. An amendment
to remove the current ban on aid to police forces in El Salvador is also
likely. The votes on these issues will be very close and pressure from
constituents is critical if we are to have any chance of keeping even
these small limits on aid in the bill.
ACTION: CALL your senators before Wednesday and urge them to oppose any
amendments which would weaken the conditions on aid to El Salvador which
are currently in the foreign aid appropriations bill. Also, urge them
to oppose any amendment to remove current restrictions on police aid.
BREAKTHROUGH ON INTERNATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING. Thanks to an amendment
offered by Senator Mikulski MD, the U.S. may soon rejoin the United
Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA). The U.S. withdrew
financial support from UNFPA in 1986 to protest China's population
policy. The lack of U.S. funding has severely hurt UNFPA's family
planning efforts around the world. The Mikulski amendment, attached to
the Foreign Aid Appropriations bill approved by the Appropriations
Committee this week, would provide $15 million for UNFPA, with the
requirement that the money would not be used in the still-controversial
Chinese program.
ACTION: An effort to remove the Mikulski amendment will be made when
the Foreign Aid Appropriation comes to a floor vote, possibly in the
next week. However, with strong grass-roots support, there is a good
chance that the Mikulski language can be saved. Phone your senators
and ask them to oppose any amendments to strike out the Mikulski
language.
This concludes our message. For more information, please write to the
Friends Committee on National Legislation, 245 Second St., NE,
Washington, DC 20002.
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Patt Haring | United Nations | FAX: 212-787-1726
patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | BBS: 201-795-0733
patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange | (3/12/24/9600 Baud)
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