A number of issues in which many of us have an interest will still be under consideration as Congress tries to finish its work for the year – including budget cuts that would hurt those least able to afford them; funding for African Union peacekeepers in Darfur; banning US use of torture (which according to late reports may have been resolved); and punitive policies against undocumented immigrants.

This information, dated December 14, 2005, comes from Mark Koenig of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program

As Congress seeks to complete its work for the year, key issues remain. Visit http://capwiz.com/pcusa/dbq/officials/ for contact information (including phone numbers) for your Senators and Representative.


BUDGET (from the Presbyterian Washington Office and the Washington Post)

A House-passed budget-cutting measure that would save $50 billion over five years by trimming food stamp rolls, imposing new fees on Medicaid recipients, squeezing student lenders, cutting child-support enforcement funds and paring agriculture programs. House negotiators are trying to reach accord with senators who passed a more modest $35 billion bill that largely spares programs for the poor.

House and Senate negotiators are also working through differences on a tax-cutting measure that is likely to include an extension of cuts in the tax rate on dividends and capital gains.

See http://capwiz.com/pcusa/issues/alert/?alertid=8278201&type=CO for more information.

DARFUR (from Save Darfur Coalition)

Efforts continue to restore funding for AU peacekeepers. Various groups are asking that $50 million in funding for the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) be included in the final version of the military appropriations bill. Formal conferees have yet to be named, but messages of support to all defense appropriations subcommittee members*in particular, Senators Stevens, Cochran, and McConnell's and Rep. Young's offices--are strongly encouraged as negotiations continue.

Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Members:
Representatives Young (FL), Murtha (PA), Hobson (OH), Dicks (WA), Bonilla (TX), Sabo (MN), Visclosky (IN), Frelinghuysen (NJ), Moran (VA), Tiahrt (KS), Kaptur (OH), Wicker (MS), Kingston (GA), and Granger (TX)

Senators Stevens (AK), Cochran (MS), Specter (PA), Domenici (NM), Bond (MO), McConnell (KY), Shelby (AL), Gregg (NH), Hutchison (TX), Burns (MT), Inouye (HI), Byrd (WV), Leahy (VT), Harkin (IA), Dorgan (ND), Durbin (IL), Reid (NV), Feinstein (CA), and Mikulski (MD)

Additionally, negotiations are continuing this week on the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act. Please urge your members of Congress to pass the DPAA with the strongest possible language in the bill before the end of the year.

TORTURE (from the Presbyterian Washington Office and the Friends Committee on National Legislation)

Calls to Congress in support of banning torture are needed. The issue is addressed in the Defense Appropriations Bill and the Defense Authorization Bill. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) has offered an amendment, passed by the Senate, which would ban torture. There are efforts to provide exceptions from the ban. Call the Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121) and ask to be connected to your Senators and Representative by name. Urge them to support the McCain Amendment with no exceptions, waivers, exemptions, or weakening.   More information on the PCUSA Capwiz site.

NOTE from your WebWeaver: On Dec. 15, MoveOn reported that "in a 308-122 vote, the House of Representatives approved the torture ban late yesterday. And today, after both chambers of Congress voted to take torture off the table, even the White House caved. After months of resistance, Vice President Cheney and the administration will accept the ban."

They link to two New York Times reports:

"House Backs McCain on Detainees, Defying Bush"

"White House Said to Agree with McCain on Detainees"
 

IMMIGRATION (from the Presbyterian Washington Office and several immigration advocacy groups based in Washington)

The House is expected to vote today or tomorrow on the bill authored by James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Peter King (R-NY), H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act. This bill would criminalize unlawful presence; strip judicial review; gut due process for aliens, permanent residents, and U.S. citizens; broaden expedited removal; expand criminal liability to reach family members, employers, and immigrant advocates; increase mandatory detention; place restrictions on naturalization; and create new grounds of deportability.
http://capwiz.com/pcusa/issues/alert/?alertid=8310696&type=CU