Home
Asian-
American
Candidates
Asian-
American
Issues
Key
Contests
Close
Contests
Presidential
Election
Voting
Records
Hot Topics
Write Your
Politician
News
Hate Crimes
Statistics
Reverse
Discrimination
Wen Ho Lee
Hall of Shame
Colleges
Medical
School
Law Schools
Law Firms
Veterans Free the
North Koreans
Links
Stop Being
a Sap Legal
Disclaimers
Who Is
This Guy? | |
10/20/03
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ANNOUNCE LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE FOR ASIAN
AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS
CAPAC Members co-sponsor important legislation to reduce minority health care
disparities
WASHINGTON, DC -- Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus (CAPAC) joined the House and Senate Democratic Leadership in
announcing legislation today to improve health care for Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders, and other minority groups.
The Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act of 2003 aims
to reduce the proven disparities in health care and access to medical service
between minority communities and other Americans.
CAPAC members David Wu (D-OR), Mike Honda (D-CA), and
Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), joined Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the
Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Native American Caucus, and the
Democratic Leadership in announcing the legislation today.
"Language barriers within the APA community make it
difficult for people to interact with health care providers and social service
agencies effectively," said Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), Vice Chairman of
CAPAC. "The bill we are announcing today will address this and other health
care obstacles for limited English proficient Asian Pacific Americans."
"For too long, disparities in health care between Asian
Pacific Americans and other Americans have been diagnosed, but gone
untreated," said CAPAC Chairman David Wu (D-OR). "All Americans
deserve the same quality of health care and access to medical services, and this
legislation will take an important step toward that goal."
"Americans residing in the Pacific Island territories
face additional barriers in accessing health care. As a result of the caps in
Medicaid and social welfare program allocations, territorial governments are
restrained in their ability to access resources to provide adequate health care
and social services," said Congresswoman Bordallo (D-GU). "This bill
removes the Medicaid cap and provides funding to improve public health
facilities and services in the Pacific Island territories so that all Americans
receive high-quality health care."
Persistent disparities in health care between Asian American
and other populations are well documented. For instance, according to a June
2003 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, Asian Pacific Americans are less
likely than white Americans to have medical insurance, to lack a usual source of
health care, or to have visited a health care professional in the last year.
Also, limited data on Pacific Islander health disparities make it challenging to
address what evidence suggests are growing needs within their communities.
The Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act of 2003 seeks
to reduce these disparities and improve the quality of health care for minority
communities by:
- Removing language and cultural barriers. Approximately
one-third of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders live in linguistic isolation.
Because language and cultural differences create barriers to health care, the
bill would help Asian American and Pacific Islander patients, including those
with limited English proficiency, with provisions such as codifying existing
standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate health care, assisting
health care professionals provide cultural and language services, and increasing
federal reimbursement for these services.
- Improving data collection. Asian Pacific Americans are an
ethnically and linguistically diverse community with widely varying health
needs. Better information is needed to identify the sources of health
disparities, implement effective solutions, and monitor improvement. With
appropriate safeguards to protect privacy, the bill would require federal
agencies and recipients of federal funds to collect and report data on race,
ethnicity, and primary language.
- Strengthening health institutions that serve minority
populations. Many areas with high concentrations of Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders lack adequate health care services and health care facilities. The
bill would establish loan and grant programs as well as quality improvement
initiatives for health institutions that provide substantial care to minority
populations.
- Expanding health coverage. To reduce the number of
minorities without health insurance, the bill would give states the option to
expand eligibility and streamline enrollment in Medicaid and the State
Children's Health Insurance Program. This will expand health insurance coverage
for Asian American and Pacific Islander immigrant populations.
10/11/03: Asian-Americans on Arnold
Schwarzenegger Transition Committee. The Transition Committee is comprised
of 65 members who are leaders in their respective fields and are drawn from a
broad range of professional, community, and academic backgrounds. http://www.joinarnold.com/en/transition/
Viet Dinh
Currently, a professor of law and Deputy Director of Asian Law and Policy
Studies at Georgetown University Law Center, Mr. Dinh has had a distinguished
career in the field of legal policy. Prior to his current position, he was the
Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy at the U.S. Justice
Department. Mr. Dinh was a law clerk to Judge Laurence H. Silberman of the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra
Day O'Connor. He also served as Associate Special Counsel to the U.S. Senate
Whitewater Committee. He is a member of the District of Columbia and U.S.
Supreme Court bars. Washington, D.C.
Matt Fong
An attorney and business leader, Mr. Fong is president of Strategic Advisory
Group and serves on various corporate boards and advisory groups. Mr. Fong was
the State Treasurer from 1995-1999. From 1991 and 1995 he served on the State
Board of Equalization. In 1998 he was the Republican nominee for the United
States Senate. He graduated the USAF Academy and continues to serve as a Lt.
Col. In the USAF Reserves. His MBA is from Pepperdine University; J.D. from
Southwestern University. Los Angeles.
Sean Liou
President of Always Best Tours and Travel. Previously he served as President and
COO of Keylinus, Inc., a global solutions provider of enterprise storage
networking systems software and services, and CEO of Hi-Tech USA, a leading
high-volume PC systems integrator and provider of Linux solutions, integrated
software and services from 1989-2000. He is a member of President Bush's
Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. He holds a Masters
in Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts, Fremont.
Safi Qureshey
Mr. Qureshey is founder and chairman emeritus of AST Computers. Mr. Qureshey is
the patron in chief of Forbes International Pvt. Limited and a seasoned
businessman, having diversified business experiences in computer hardware,
software, internet service provider and credit cards. Orange County.
Dr. Sophie C. Wong
She is a well-respected leader in the Asian Community and has extensive reach
into the education and small business communities surrounding the Monterey Park
area of Southern California. She has served on the U.S. Small Business
Administration Advisory Council, Board of Medical Quality Review for the State
of California and co-founded the Chinese Elected Officials as well as the Asian
Pacific Islander School Board Member Association. Los Angeles.
9/26/03: Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans Launches Anti-Recall Website
AsianAmericansAgainstRecall.org features more than 150 APA leaders opposed to
recall
On the Web: http://www.asianamericansagainstrecall.org/media/
San Francisco - The Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA)
today launched www.AsianAmericansAgainstRecall.org, a Web site asking Asian
Pacific Americans (APA) to vote "no" on the recall of Gov. Gray Davis.
The site includes information on why the recall is threat to APAs in California,
lists more than 150 APA leaders opposed to the recall and asks supporters to
pledge their "no" vote on the site.
The recall opponents include Congressman Bob Matsui, Congressman
Mike Honda, State Board of Equalization member John Chiang, state Assembly
majority leader Wilma Chan, Assemblywoman Carol Liu, Assemblywoman Judy Chu,
Assemblyman George Nakano, Assemblyman Leland Yee and Appointments Secretary
Michael Yamaki - and community leader such as Dr. Stanley M. Toy, Jr., chair of
Chinese Americans Against the Recall, and California Arts Council member Dr.
Jerrold Hiura.
APA leaders such as Dale Minami and Maeley Tom formed CAPA as a
registered political action committee in 1989 to fight for better APA
representation in California issues, politics and government.
"APAs can play a pivotal role in this close election and
should not remain silent when their own future is at stake," said Dale
Minami, CAPA president. "Not only is this election an affront to our
democracy and a waste of tens of millions of dollars better spent on education
and social services, but APAs need to recognize that Gov. Davis has proven to be
an ally and supporter of our issues and for the fair representation of APAs in
government and politics.
"Because of the way the recall works, the next governor could
be elected by 20 percent of the vote, or even less," said Maeley Tom, a
CAPA co-founder. "There is no guarantee that the next governor who would
immediately take office the next day has the experience to solve the problems
facing the state. Why should Californians take such a risk?"
Highest Number of APA Appointments to Key Government Positions
Gov. Davis' historic contribution to empower the APA community
includes appointing a greater percentage of outstanding Asian Pacific Americans
to key state government positions than any previous governor, with more than 280
APA appointments, including:
. the first APA cabinet member, Lon Hatamiya, as the Secretary of the
Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency;
. Michael Yamaki as the Governor's Appointments Secretary;
. Judge Harry Low as the Insurance Commissioner in 2000;
. Betty Yee as Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Finance;
. Darryl Young as the Director of the Department of Conservation;
. Agnes Lee as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health & Human
Services;
. Randall Iwasaki as the first APA Deputy Director of CalTrans;
. Joy Higa as the first APA Deputy Director of the Department of Managed Health
Care; and . Maeley Tom as the first APA State Personnel Board Member.
Gov. Davis' historic judicial appointments include
- the first Vietnamese American Superior Court Judge, Nho Trong Nguyen,
- the first Vietnamese American female Superior Court Judge, Jacqueline H.
Nguyen, and
- the first Korean American female Superior Court Judge, Tammy Chung Ryu.
Gov. Davis has also:
. Greatly increased funding for the country's largest K-12 English-Language
Learners Program from $328.6 million in 1997-98 to $535.3 million in 2001-2002,
a 63% increase;
. Expanded the Healthy Families program among APA children by more than 366%
(21,260 to 77,800) with outreach information campaign in major APA languages;
and
. Created merit scholarships for high-achieving high school students and
expanded the Cal-Grant program to help disadvantaged students who need financial
assistance to pay for college.
Gov. Davis has signed numerous bills empowering the APA community:
. Creating an Asian Pacific Islander Anti-Hate Crimes Program within the
Department of Justice to provide information and training in the APA community;
. Improving consumer protection in the APA community by requiring businesses
that negotiate contracts with Asian-language speakers to provide the contract in
the consumers' native language;
. Establishing the first Californian Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander
American Affairs;
. Authorizing high school districts, unified school districts, or county office
of educations, to retroactively grant high school diplomas to persons who were
interned during World War II;
. Preserving the traditional serving of Korean rice cakes at room temperature;
. Enabling Filipino World War II veterans to return to their homeland without
forfeiting their state benefit payments; and
. Provided funding for preservation of Asian Pacific American history at the
Korean American Museum, Museum of Chinese American History and Japanese American
National Museum.
Unfairness and Destructiveness of the Recall
The illegitimate use of recall shows a complete disregard for the
democratic electoral process. The voters' clearly expressed will last November
would be overturned for purely partisan maneuvering. If this recall succeeds, it
will open a Pandora's Box that will be very destructive to the stability of
California's political system. If the recall prevails, the next Governor could
be elected with as little as 15% of the votes. The recall is not a solution to
the challenges that California faces. Forty-seven states and the federal
government are all facing budget deficits and a slowing economy. The recall will
further erode California's economy and its credit rating. The $70 million of
taxpayers' money that will be spent on the recall election could be better spent
on education, health care, and public safety.
Also important to note is that proponents of the recall are ardent
supporters of Prop 187, seeking to overturn the progressive, pro-APA,
pro-immigrant agenda of Gov. Davis.
Supporters can contact CAPA through the Web site,
www.AsianAmericansAgainstRecall.org, by email at info@AsianAmericansAgainstRecall.org,
or by phone at 415-379-3893.
Contact: Keith Kamisugi (for CAPA) keith@AsianAmericansAgainstRecall.org
(877) 835-5679
9/9/03 press release: "NAPALC Supports Legislation Recognizing Native
Hawaiians,"
Washington, D.C.-The National Asian Pacific American Legal
Consortium announces its support for legislation sponsored by Sen. Daniel Akaka
(D-HI), granting federal recognition of Native Hawaiians.
Senate Bill 344, known as the "Akaka Bill," would
give federal recognition to Native Hawaiians as an indigenous group, qualifying
them for health and welfare initiatives currently focused on Native American and
Native Alaskan groups. This legislation also establishes a process for the
formation of a sovereign entity representing Native Hawaiian interests in a
government-to-government relationship with the United States.
"Passage of the Akaka Bill is vital to the preservation
of the Hawaiian people and their culture and would continue the reconciliation
process between the U.S. Government and the Native Hawaiian people, as
authorized in the 1993 Apology Bill," said Karen K. Narasaki, President and
Executive Director of NAPALC
"This legislation extends the federal policy of
self-determination and self-governance to Native Hawaiians. It authorizes a
process of reorganization of a Native Hawaiian government for the purposes of a
federally recognized government-to-government relationship with the United
States," said Sen. Akaka. "This measure establishes parity in federal
policies toward American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. I commend
NAPALC for joining the impressive coalition of organizations supporting this
important legislation."
8/22/03 Wall Street Journal
Human rights aside, encouraging refugees is also a political
strategy. Word of a safe harbor overseas would surely spread throughout the
North, creating more internal pressure on the already troubled Kim regime.
That's why Kansas Senator Sam Brownback (R) has written a letter urging
President Bush to declare such a safe harbor. He also supports, as do we, a plan
under consideration by the Bush Administration to admit 30,000 North Korean
refugees currently in China. The U.S. could also put more pressure on China to
let the United Nations help the nearly 300,000 North Koreans who may already be
hiding there.
Mr. Brownback proposes to expand the S-2 visa for aliens who
provide assistance in the wars on terror and drugs. The number of "snitch
visas" should be increased to 3,500 from the current 250 a year, he says,
with eligibility extended to people offering information about rogue-state WMD
programs. The mere chance that this would induce operatives in Pyongyang's WMD
programs to defect is worth a try.
6/5/03 press release from Japanese American Citizens League: "Stuart
Ishimaru Recommended to EEOC by Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle JACL
commends Senator Daschle for his consistent and continued commitment to ensuring
that the APA community is represented on civil rights commissions San
Francisco"
The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nations
oldest and largest Asian Pacific American (APA) civil rights organization, lauds
and expresses its deepest gratitude to Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle for
his consistent and continued commitment to ensuring that the APA community is
represented on civil rights commissions by recommending Paul Igasaki for re-
nomination to his seat at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
last year and now by recommending Stuart Ishimaru for the vacancy.
The JACL urges the White House to act on Democratic Leader
Daschles recommendation and promptly move Mr. Ishimarus candidacy forward.
We applaud Democratic Leader Daschles decision to
recommend Stuart Ishimaru for the EEOC, stated JACL National President Floyd
Mori. Senator Daschle clearly understands the importance of having qualified
people of diverse backgrounds bring their voices and experience to the federal
civil rights commissions, and Mr. Ishimaru is an outstanding choice for the EEOC.
Stuart Ishimarus credentials are impeccable, added
John Tateishi, JACL National Executive Director. He will bring years of
experience and keen insight to the Commission. The Asian Pacific American
community is fortunate to have public officials of such caliber as former
commissioner Paul Igasaki and Stuart Ishimaru, and we thank them for their
service and steadfast commitment to issues of concern to our community. The JACL
urges the White House to act on this recommendation immediately.
Stuart Ishimaru, a long-time JACL member, received his BA
from the University of California, Berkeley (1980) and his JD from the National
Law Center, George Washington University (1983). He has long years of federal
and community service and in the field of civil rights, including: research
assistant to U.S. Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians
(1981); assistant to the director at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights
Under Law (1982-83); graduate course instructor in Equal Employment Opportunity
at American University; assistant counsel to Committee on the Judiciary
(1984-91) and professional staff to Committee on Armed Services (1991-93) for
the U.S. House of Representatives; acting staff director for U.S. Commission on
Civil Rights (1993-94); counsel to Assistant Attorney General (1994-99) and
Deputy Assistant Attorney General (1999-2001) in the Civil Rights Division of
the U.S. Department of Justice.
Stuart Ishimaru is the second name recommended during this
administration by Democratic Leader Daschle. Last year, after eight years of
service on the EEOC, Paul Igasakis candidacy languished at the White House
for months and failed to receive the administrations support. The JACL
encourages its members and friends to express their appreciation to Senator
Daschle for putting forward Stuart Ishimarus name for the EEOC (email: tom_daschle@daschle.senate.gov)
and to urge the White House to act on this recommendation using the JACL website
at: http://capwiz.com/jacl/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=2483051
.
5/28/03 Associated
Press: "Law That Helped Hmong Veterans Become
Citizens Expires"
A special law, which more than 3,000 Hmong veterans in Minnesota used
to become citizens, expired Monday. The Hmong Veterans Naturalization
Act of 2000 gave up to 45,000 Hmong veterans and their wives and widows
the chance to take the U.S. citizenship test in their own language rather than
in English. It also eased civics tests for applicants, though they still
must
meet other typical citizenship requirements. Nationwide, only 5,331 people
became citizens under the law. With support from the late Sen. Paul
Wellstone and Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., an 18-month extension was
given to veterans.
5/1/03: U.S. Senators Edward M.
Kennedy (D-MA), Gordon Smith (R-OR), Arlen Specter (R-PA), Daniel K. Akaka
(D-HI), Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) and other Senators co-sponsored the
re-introduction of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act, a bill that seeks
to strengthen existing federal hate crimes statutes. LLEEA adds actual or
perceived gender, sexual orientation and disability to the list of federally
protected categories, and gives the Justice Department jurisdiction over hate
crimes involving bodily injury. The bill authorizes federal grants for
state and local law enforcement officials incurring expenses investigating and
prosecuting hate crimes.
4/20/03 South
Florida Sun-Sentinel
"Rights group, legislators work to end anti-Japanese bias, law"
A national civil rights group and local political leaders are
trying to get rid of vestiges of World War II discrimination still visible on
Florida billboards and in its constitution.
At issue is the proliferation of auto repair signs using the
slur "Jap" from Miami to Jacksonville, the word's use in countless
Bell South phone books and in newspaper ads.
Florida is also one of the last states in the nation with a
constitutional provision created to ban Japanese immigrants from owning
property.
State Sen. Steve Geller of Hallandale Beach and state Rep.
Phillip Brutus of North Miami, both Democrats, introduced legislation in
February to seek voter approval for a constitutional amendment that would
eliminate the "Alien Land Law."
First adopted in California in 1913, the law was designed to
keep Japanese immigrants from settling. It was added to Article 1 of the Florida
Constitution in 1926 and lays out basic rights such as land ownership -- except
in the case of "aliens ineligible for citizenship."
State Sen. Jim Sebesta, R-St. Petersburg, wants
language in the bill that keeps "illegal aliens" from owning land.
Geller, who did not expect an "anti-immigrant
backlash," said he hopes to work out a compromise. "I'm doing my best
to ensure we take the offensive language out of the constitution," Geller
said. "I could've done this before 9/11 with no problem, but the war has
made it even worse."
12/10/02 Associated Press: "Pataki
Criticized for Ignoring Hard-Hit
Chinatown Business,"
Albany, NY -- A sharp geographic and partisan dispute has
broken
out over the awarding of the latest state Empire Zones, a designation
designed to promote job growth through tax cuts and other business-
friendly incentives.
New York City Democrats say they are angry that the sixth and
final
zone selected under the latest round of awards went to upstate
Rensselaer County. The Democrats were pushing for Chinatown, in
lower Manhattan, to help rejuvenate an area that Democratic state
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says has suffered more than any
other in the city due to the destruction of the World Trade Center towers.
``This was a blatantly political move by the governor to
reward his
re-election supporters,'' contended Gifford Miller, the Democratic
speaker of the New York City Council. ``Apparently, a neighborhood
that's only a stone's throw away from Ground Zero takes a back seat to
ones located in Rensselaer County.''
Rensselaer County is also home base to state Sen. Joseph
Bruno,
the leader of the Republican majority in the Senate and a usual ally of
Republican Gov. George Pataki in Albany.
New York City Council member John Liu, a Queens Democrat,
said
the governor ``pretended to care about Asian-American business
owners'' during Pataki's successful re-election campaign in 2002 to a
third term as governor.
``But now that he has won the truth has come out, the plight
of
immigrant businesses are not a priority,'' Liu said.
Pataki said the Democratic criticism was wrong. He and the
Legislature expects to create more Empire Zones in the future, he said.
``We have put in place good solid economic development
programs
to help Chinatown and we're going to continue to look to do more as
well,'' Pataki said.
The City Council and Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg had
jointly endorsed a request of the state to designate areas of Chinatown
and the Lower East Side of Manhattan as Empire Zone.
The Democrats complained that all six of the most recently
authorized
zones went to upstate areas, and that 62 of 72 zones awarded in the
16-year history of the program are outside New York City.
Silver also criticized the decision not to put an Empire Zone
in
Chinatown. He said the predominantly Asian enclave was particularly
hard hit by Sept. 11 because tourism was devastated by the virtual
inability to get to Chinatown for weeks after the World Trade Center was
destroyed. And the area's famed restaurants were highly reliant on the
brokerages wiped out or displaced by the attack.
``It's unfortunate that it didn't happen,'' Silver said.
``It's unfortunate
that, once again, the governor has designated an Empire Zone in an
area that's dominated by Republicans and much of the designation of
the Empire Zone has been influenced by that.''
Mark Hansen, a spokesman for Bruno, said Senate Republicans
pushed a bill earlier this year that would have expanded the Empire Zone program
so that every county upstate would get at least one zone and
every downstate zone would be expanded.
``Unfortunately, our proposal was strongly opposed by the
Assembly Democrats who, by opposing the proposal to expand the program,
created a competition that essentially set the Chinatown application up
for failure,'' Hansen said.
The zones are selected by a nine-member board that includes
two
designees of Pataki and three of Pataki's commissioners. The other
members are picked by the Legislature, including Silver. The zones are
approved through majority votes of the board.
Pataki noted that Silver's representative on the board,
Democratic Assemblyman Robin Schimminger of Erie County, voted for the latest
zone designations.
10/25/02: AsianWeek Endorses Davis for Re-Election
AsianWeek noted Davis has empowered the APA community through
"an incredible number of Asian Pacific American appointments, from high-
ranking state positions like Insurance Commissioner Harry Low to the
recent appointments of the first Korean American and Vietnamese
American women judges in Southern California." The newsweekly adds,
"Davis has also accomplished a fair amount in terms of reforming hate
crimes legislation, including supporting a bill that would create an Asian
Pacific Islander Anti-Hate Crimes Program."
Davis Endorsed by Asian Pacific Islander Group
The Asian Pacific Islander American Political Association (APAPA) today
announced its endorsement of Governor Gray Davis re-election. "Governor
Davis has appointed more than 200 Asian Pacific Americans to office,
including many "firsts" for the APA community. Among the breakthrough
appointments are Lon Hatamiya, Secretary of the Technology, Trade & Commerce
Agency, and the first Korean female superior court judge, Tammy Chung Ryu.
Measures have also been taken to empower Asian Pacific-owned small businesses.
During 2000-01, the State awarded 57 construction
contracts through Catrans to certified Asian Pacific American-owned
businesses."
9/19/02 politicalcircus.com:
"Leaders Question Simon's Commitment,"
"In just three years, the Governor [Gray Davis] has
already appointed the first Asian Pacific American to a Cabinet position, the
first Vietnamese American to
a judgeship and the first Asian American Insurance Commissioner in California's
storied history," said Rep. Robert Matsui. "The Governor has proven
that he is one of the most ardent and loyal supporters for the advancement of
California's growing Asian Pacific Islander community," he added.
In addition, Davis also named the first Asian American
gubernatorial appointments secretary, Michael Yamaki. Most recently, the
Governor made history again by appointing the first female Vietnamese American
judge, Jacqueline H. Nguyen, and the first female Korean American judge, Tammy
Chung Ryu.
On the contrary, "How many Asian Pacific Americans has
[Republican
nominee for Governor Bill] Simon appointed to positions of authority in his
various business ventures? What has he ever done for the APA community that
deserved our support?" Equalization Member John Chiang asked.
10/13/02 Los Angeles Times: "Davis'
Picks Look a Lot Like Wilson's: Appointees requiring Senate approval are fairly
alike in terms of gender
and race, records show"
Of Governor Gray Davis' (D) 592 appointees requiring Senate
confirmation, 28.9% were women, 10.6% were Latino, 7.3% were African American
and 6.6% were Asian American.
Former Governor Pete Wilson's (R) first-term appointees were
similar:
28.4% women, 9% Latino, 6.1% African American, and 4.2% of Asian
descent. One difference is that Wilson was more partisan; 90% of his
appointees were Republicans and 80% of Davis' appointees are
Democrats.
Davis' appointments secretary Michael Yamaki counters that
the
Senate figures ignore large numbers of appointees who required no
confirmation.
His statistics include posts that require Senate
confirmation, plus
Cabinet jobs, judgeships, many professional boards and others,
including nearly 500 county fair board members.
The administration's numbers show that Davis' full list of
appointees
is 40% women, 7.4% Asian Americans, 7.3% African Americans, and
10.9% Latinos. Wilson, according to the Davis administration,
appointed 38% women, 4.7% Asian Americans, 4.8% African
Americans and 6.3% Latinos.
9/19/02 Associated
Press: "Colorado Governor Criticized for Not
Appointing Asian-American Judge,"
Denver -- Minority bar associations are criticizing Gov. Bill
Owens for
rejecting an Asian-American lawyer for a judgeship, saying the move will
discourage other minority lawyers from applying to the bench.
Kerry Hada said he was dumped from what appeared to be a sure
appointment after advisers told Owens his views were left of center.
``What is most disturbing is now you don't know who's running
the
confirmation process,'' said Democratic senator and lawyer Penfield Tate.
``You don't know who is whispering to who, saying, `This is what we want
on the bench.'''
Owens' spokesman, Dan Hopkins, said Hada was not appointed
after
an interview and an extensive background check.
He added that the governor has an ``aggressive track record
of
appointing minorities'' when they are nominated by the judicial nominating
commissions.
He said that of the 21 Hispanic nominees the governor has
received, he
has appointed 10. Hopkins said the governor has received only three black
nominees and has appointed one. The nominating commissions have recommended only
one Asian-American, and that was Hada, 52.
The former Airborne Ranger was one of four finalists who met
with Owens
last week. He was considered a finalist for one of four district court
vacancies in Arapahoe County.
Last Wednesday, the four finalists, Nancy Hopf, Marc Hannen,
Mike
Spear and Hada, met with Owens.
Hada, in a memo circulated to many federal and state judges,
said Owens
told him he was highly praised by both people inside and outside the legal
profession and that he had passed two nominating commissions with flying colors.
``However, Gov. Owens said there was a problem. He said that
he had
heard from key advisers that I might be judicially left of center,'' Hada wrote.
Owens asked Hada to prepare a ``position paper'' overnight
and send it to
him the next day, Thursday.
On Friday, Hada said Owens' assistant telephoned him to
report that Magistrate Marilyn Leonard of Jefferson County had been picked for
the
position.
``It's a slight to the minority bar,'' said Wayne Vaden,
chair of the Sam
Cary Judicial Committee, an organization of black lawyers. ``Kerry is an
Asian and really a big advocate in the minority community.
Hada, who grew up in Denver, practices domestic law, personal
injury,
and criminal defense in state and federal courts.
6/20/02 National
Immigration Law Center: "Immigrant Student Bill Passes
Senate Judiciary Committee,"
On Thursday, June 20th, immigrant rights advocates,
educators, and
students won a significant victory when the Senate Judiciary Committee
passed S. 1291, the DREAM Act, sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT).
Before approving the DREAM Act, the committee made important
changes in the bill in the form of a substitute amendment proposed by Sen.
Richard Durbin (D-IL) and supported by Sen. Hatch. As a result, the bill was
able to pass out of committee with strong bipartisan support that bodes well for
eventual passage.
As amended in the committee, the DREAM Act repeals the
provision of
federal law that discourages states from providing in-state tuition to
undocumented immigrants, and it permits long-time resident immigrant young
people with good moral character to obtain lawful permanent resident status
once they graduate from high school. In addition to Sens. Hatch and Durbin, the
amended DREAM Act now enjoys the co-sponsorship, among others, of Senators Ted
Kennedy (D-MA) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) who are, respectively, the chair and
ranking minority members of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee.
The committee session engendered more back and forth among
the senators than usual, but in the end the amended bill passed by a voice vote.
Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Durbin, and Hatch all spoke movingly about young
people in their states whom they had heard from and who would benefit from the
DREAM Act. Other senators vocalizing their support included Joseph Biden (D-DE),
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the chair of the committee.
All of these senators pointed out that the young people who
would benefit from the DREAM Act have grown up in the country and have a lot to
contribute if freed to do so. They also emphasized that the states where these
young people live should not be blocked by federal law from providing them with
an education.
Sens. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) spoke in
opposition to the amended bill. They argued that it would reward lawbreakers,
provide an
incentive for more immigrants to come to the country illegally, and permit young
people who had committed drug crimes and vandalism to legalize their status.
Theoretically, the next step towards passage of the DREAM Act
would be Senate floor consideration. But there is very little floor time left
before the end of this session of Congress. Advocates will have to build
momentum for the bill if they hope to enact the DREAM Act before Congress
adjourns in October 2002.
Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah has sponsored a similar bill in
the House.
6/11/02, Roll call vote 147: S. 625. the Local Law Enforcement
Enhancement Act (LLEEA) would have given federal prosecutors more authority to
assist state and local authorities with hate crimes, and the Act would have
covered hate crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, and disability.
Currently, federal hate crime law covers crimes based on race, national origin,
and religion. 60 votes were required to close debate. In a 54 to 43
vote, the Senate declined to close debate, blocking consideration of the bill.
YEAs --- 54
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Breaux (D-LA)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carnahan (D-MO)
Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI)
Cleland (D-GA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Corzine (D-NJ)
Dayton (D-MN)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Edwards (D-NC)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Graham (D-FL)
Harkin (D-IA)
Hollings (D-SC)
Inouye (D-HI)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Miller (D-GA)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Torricelli (D-NJ)
Wellstone (D-MN)
Wyden (D-OR)
NAYs --- 43
Allard (R-CO)
Allen (R-VA)
Bennett (R-UT)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burns (R-MT)
Campbell (R-CO)
Cochran (R-MS)
Craig (R-ID)
Daschle (D-SD)*
DeWine (R-OH)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Fitzgerald (R-IL)
Frist (R-TN)
Gramm (R-TX)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchinson (R-AR)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Nickles (R-OK)
Roberts (R-KS)
Santorum (R-PA)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-NH)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thompson (R-TN)
Thurmond (R-SC)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Not Voting --- 3
Bond (R-MO)
Crapo (R-ID)
Helms (R-NC)
* Senator Daschle (D-SD) changed his vote to NO as they were closing the
count as procedural vote to ensure he could at a later time ask for a motion for
further consideration.
4/24/02 Dallas
Morning News: Non-binding resolution instructs House conferees to accept a
Senate passed food stamp restoration that would help an estimated 400,000 legal
immigrants.
The Senate proposal would cost $2.5 billion over 10 years,
would help immigrants who can prove they have worked for 4 years, refugees and
asylum seekers, legal immigrant children and the disabled.
The Bush Administration proposal would cost $2.1 billion and
assist 363,000 immigrants who have lived here at least 5 years.
All eight House Republican conferees had voted for Rep.
Robert Goodlatte's (R-VA) plan to require immigrants to prove they have worked
at least 5 years to gain 2 years of food stamp eligibility. The Food
Research and Action Center, a group that fights hunger, estimates that plan
would cost $450 million, helping far fewer people than either the Senate or
White House plans.
Final Vote Results for Roll Call 106, April 23, 2002
(Republicans in roman; Democrats in italic; Independents underlined)
H R 2646 YEA-AND-NAY 23-APR-2002 7:16 PM
QUESTION: On Motion to Instruct Conferees
BILL TITLE: Farm Security Act
|
|
YEAS |
NAYS |
PRES |
NV |
|
REPUBLICAN |
47 |
165 |
|
9 |
|
DEMOCRATIC |
196 |
5 |
|
10 |
|
INDEPENDENT |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
TOTALS |
244 |
171 |
|
19 |
--- YEAS 244 ---
|
Abercrombie
|
Harman |
Oberstar |
|
Ackerman |
Hastings (FL) |
Obey |
|
Allen |
Hill |
Olver |
|
Andrews |
Hilliard |
Ortiz |
|
Baca |
Hinchey |
Osborne |
|
Baird |
Hinojosa |
Ose |
|
Baldacci |
Hoeffel |
Owens |
|
Baldwin |
Holden |
Pallone |
|
Barcia |
Holt |
Pascrell |
|
Barrett |
Honda |
Pastor |
|
Becerra |
Hooley |
Payne |
|
Bentsen |
Horn |
Pelosi |
|
Berkley |
Hoyer |
Peterson (MN) |
|
Berman |
Hulshof |
Phelps |
|
Berry |
Inslee |
Pomeroy |
|
Biggert |
Israel |
Price (NC) |
|
Bishop |
Jackson (IL) |
Quinn |
|
Blumenauer |
Jackson-Lee (TX) |
Rahall |
|
Boehlert |
Jefferson |
Ramstad |
|
Bono |
John |
Rangel |
|
Borski |
Johnson (CT) |
Reyes |
|
Boswell |
Johnson (IL) |
Rivers |
|
Boucher |
Johnson, E. B. |
Roemer |
|
Boyd |
Jones (OH) |
Ros-Lehtinen |
|
Brady (PA) |
Kanjorski |
Ross |
|
Brown (FL) |
Kaptur |
Rothman |
|
Brown (OH) |
Kelly |
Roybal-Allard |
|
Capps |
Kennedy (RI) |
Rush |
|
Capuano |
Kildee |
Sabo |
|
Cardin |
Kind (WI) |
Sanchez |
|
Carson (IN) |
King (NY) |
Sanders |
|
Carson (OK) |
Kirk |
Sandlin |
|
Castle |
Kleczka |
Sawyer |
|
Clay |
Kolbe |
Schakowsky |
|
Clayton |
Kucinich |
Schiff |
|
Clement |
LaFalce |
Scott |
|
Clyburn |
Lampson |
Serrano |
|
Conyers |
Langevin |
Shaw |
|
Costello |
Lantos |
Shays |
|
Coyne |
Larsen (WA) |
Sherman |
|
Crowley |
Larson (CT) |
Sherwood |
|
Cummings |
Latham |
Simmons |
|
Davis (CA) |
Leach |
Skeen |
|
Davis (FL) |
Lee |
Skelton |
|
Davis (IL) |
Levin |
Slaughter |
|
Davis, Tom |
Lewis (CA) |
Smith (NJ) |
|
DeFazio |
Lewis (GA) |
Snyder |
|
Delahunt |
Lipinski |
Solis |
|
DeLauro |
LoBiondo |
Souder |
|
Deutsch |
Lofgren |
Stark |
|
Diaz-Balart |
Lowey |
Stenholm |
|
Dicks |
Luther |
Strickland |
|
Dingell |
Lynch |
Stupak |
|
Doggett |
Maloney (CT) |
Sweeney |
|
Dooley |
Maloney (NY) |
Tanner |
|
Doyle |
Markey |
Tauscher |
|
Dreier |
Mascara |
Thompson (CA) |
|
Edwards |
Matheson |
Thompson (MS) |
|
Ehlers |
Matsui |
Thune |
|
Engel |
McCarthy (MO) |
Thurman |
|
Eshoo |
McCarthy (NY) |
Tiahrt |
|
Etheridge |
McCollum |
Tierney |
|
Evans |
McDermott |
Towns |
|
Farr |
McGovern |
Turner |
|
Fattah |
McHugh |
Udall (CO) |
|
Ferguson |
McKinney |
Udall (NM) |
|
Filner |
McNulty |
Velazquez |
|
Foley |
Meehan |
Visclosky |
|
Ford |
Meek (FL) |
Walsh |
|
Frank |
Menendez |
Waters |
|
Frost |
Millender-McDonald |
Watson (CA) |
|
Gekas |
Miller, George |
Watt (NC) |
|
Gephardt |
Mink |
Waxman |
|
Gillmor |
Mollohan |
Weiner |
|
Gilman |
Moore |
Weller |
|
Gonzalez |
Moran (KS) |
Wexler |
|
Gordon |
Moran (VA) |
Wilson (NM) |
|
Green (TX) |
Morella |
Woolsey |
|
Grucci |
Murtha |
Wu |
|
Gutierrez |
Nadler |
Wynn |
|
Hall (OH) |
Napolitano |
|
|
Hall (TX) |
Neal |
|
--- NAYS 171 ---
|
Aderholt
|
Goode |
Peterson (PA) |
|
Akin |
Goodlatte |
Petri |
|
Armey |
Goss |
Pickering |
|
Bachus |
Graham |
Pitts |
|
Baker |
Granger |
Platts |
|
Ballenger |
Graves |
Pombo |
|
Barr |
Green (WI) |
Portman |
|
Bartlett |
Greenwood |
Putnam |
|
Barton |
Gutknecht |
Regula |
|
Bass |
Hansen |
Rehberg |
|
Bereuter |
Hart |
Reynolds |
|
Bilirakis |
Hastings (WA) |
Rogers (KY) |
|
Blunt |
Hayes |
Rogers (MI) |
|
Boehner |
Hayworth |
Rohrabacher |
|
Bonilla |
Hefley |
Roukema |
|
Boozman |
Herger |
Royce |
|
Brady (TX) |
Hilleary |
Ryan (WI) |
|
Brown (SC) |
Hobson |
Ryun (KS) |
|
Bryant |
Hoekstra |
Saxton |
|
Burr |
Hostettler |
Schaffer |
|
Burton |
Hunter |
Schrock |
|
Buyer |
Hyde |
Sensenbrenner |
|
Callahan |
Isakson |
Sessions |
|
Calvert |
Issa |
Shadegg |
|
Camp |
Istook |
Shimkus |
|
Cannon |
Jenkins |
Shows |
|
Cantor |
Johnson, Sam |
Shuster |
|
Capito |
Jones (NC) |
Simpson |
|
Chabot |
Keller |
Smith (MI) |
|
Chambliss |
Kennedy (MN) |
Smith (TX) |
|
Coble |
Kerns |
Stearns |
|
Collins |
Kingston |
Stump |
|
Combest |
Knollenberg |
Sullivan |
|
Cooksey |
LaHood |
Sununu |
|
Cox |
Lewis (KY) |
Tancredo |
|
Cramer |
Linder |
Tauzin |
|
Crenshaw |
Lucas (KY) |
Taylor (MS) |
|
Cubin |
Lucas (OK) |
Taylor (NC) |
|
Culberson |
Manzullo |
Terry |
|
Cunningham |
McCrery |
Thomas |
|
Davis, Jo Ann |
McInnis |
Thornberry |
|
Deal |
McIntyre |
Tiberi |
|
DeLay |
McKeon |
Toomey |
|
DeMint |
Mica |
Upton |
|
Doolittle |
Miller, Dan |
Vitter |
|
Duncan |
Miller, Gary |
Walden |
|
Dunn |
Miller, Jeff |
Wamp |
|
Ehrlich |
Myrick |
Watkins (OK) |
|
English |
Nethercutt |
Watts (OK) |
|
Everett |
Ney |
Weldon (FL) |
|
Flake |
Northup |
Weldon (PA) |
|
Fletcher |
Norwood |
Whitfield |
|
Forbes |
Nussle |
Wicker |
|
Fossella |
Otter |
Wilson (SC) |
|
Frelinghuysen |
Oxley |
Wolf |
|
Gallegly |
Paul |
Young (AK) |
|
Gibbons |
Pence |
Young (FL) |
--- NOT VOTING 19 ---
|
Blagojevich
|
Gilchrest |
Riley |
|
Bonior |
Houghton |
Rodriguez |
|
Condit |
Kilpatrick |
Smith (WA) |
|
Crane |
LaTourette |
Spratt |
|
DeGette |
Meeks (NY) |
Traficant |
|
Emerson |
Pryce (OH) |
|
|
Ganske |
Radanovich |
|
4/11/02 Wall Street Journal: "Farm Bill Talks Meet Roadblock in House GOP
Food-Stamp Vote,"
On an 8-6 party-line vote, House GOP members of the conference committee
rejected President Bush's request to restore food-stamp benefits for hundreds of
thousands of legal aliens cut from the rolls when welfare rules were altered in
1996.
Larry Combest (R-TX)
John Boehner (R-OH)
Bob Goodlatte (R-VA.)
Richard Pombo (R-CA)
Terry Everett (R-AL)
Frank Lucas (R-OK)
Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Charlie Stenholm (D-TX)
Gary Condit (D-CA)
Collin Peterson (D-MN)
Cal Dooley (D-CA)
Eva Clayton (D-NC)
Tim Holden (D-PA).
The Local Law Enforcement
Enhancement Act (LLEEA), S.625, previously known as the Hate Crimes Prevention
Act, was introduced in the Senate on March 27, 2001. Sponsors:
Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. SPECTER, Mr. DASCHLE, Mr. SMITH of Oregon, Mr.
LEAHY, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. JEFFORDS, Mr.
SCHUMER, Mr. CHAFEE, Mr. AKAKA, Mr. ENSIGN, Mr. BAYH, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. BINGAMAN,
Mrs. BOXER, Mr. BREAUX, Ms. CANTWELL, Mrs. CARNAHAN, Mr. CARPER, Mr. CLELAND,
Mrs. CLINTON, Mr. CORZINE, Mr. DAYTON, Mr. DODD, Mr. DORGAN, Mr. DURBIN, Mr.
EDWARDS, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr.
KERRY, Ms. LANDRIEU, Mr. LEVIN, Mrs. LINCOLN, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mr. MILLER, Mrs.
MURRAY, Mr. NELSON of Nebraska, Mr. NELSON of Florida, Mr. REED, Mr. REID, Mr.
ROCKEFELLER, Mr. SARBANES, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. TORRICELLI, and Mr. WELLSTONE)
The Local Law Enforcement
Enhancement Act (LLEEA), H.R. 1343, previously known as the Hate Crimes
Prevention Act, was introduced in the House on April 3, 2001. Sponsors:
Mr. CONYERS (for himself, Mrs. MORELLA, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. FRANK, Mr. GEPHARDT,
Mr. SKELTON, Mr. KOLBE, Mr. FOLEY, Mr. SHAYS, Mrs. KELLY, Mr. BERMAN, Mr.
BOUCHER, Mr. NADLER, Ms. LOFGREN, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. MEEHAN, Mr.
DELAHUNT, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. WEINER, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr.
ALLEN, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. BACA, Mr. BAIRD, Mr. BALDACCI, Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin,
Mr. BECERRA, Mr. BENTSEN, Ms. BERKLEY, Mrs. BIGGERT, Mr. BISHOP, Mr. BLAGOJEVICH,
Mr. BLUMENAUER, Mr. BOEHLERT, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. BORSKI, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. BRADY of
Pennsylvania, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. CAPUANO,
Mr. CARDIN, Ms. CARSON of Indiana, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. CLAY, Mrs. CLAYTON, Mr.
CLYBURN, Mr. COYNE, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr.
DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. DEFAZIO, Ms. DEGETTE, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. DEUTSCH, Mr.
DICKS, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. DOOLEY of California, Mr. ENGEL, Ms. ESHOO,
Mr. EVANS, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. FARR of California, Mr. FILNER, Mr. FORD, Mr.
FRELINGHUYSEN, Mr. FROST, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. GREENWOOD, Mr.
GUTIERREZ, Mr. HALL of Ohio, Ms. HARMAN, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HILLIARD,
Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. HOEFFEL, Mr. HOLT, Mr. HONDA, Ms. HOOLEY of
Oregon, Mr. HORN, Mr. HOYER, Mr. INSLEE, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois,
Mr. JEFFERSON, Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas,
Mrs. JONES of Ohio, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. KILDEE, Ms.
KILPATRICK, Mr. KIND, Mr. KIRK, Mr. KLECZKA, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. LAMPSON, Mr.
LANGEVIN, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr.
LEACH, Ms. LEE, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. LUTHER, Mr.
MALONEY of Connecticut, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. MATSUI, Ms.
MCCARTHY of Missouri, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MCDERMOTT,
Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr. MCNULTY, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Mr. MEEKS of New
York, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California,
Mrs. MINK of Hawaii, Mr. MOAKLEY, Mr. MOORE, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mrs.
NAPOLITANO, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, Ms. NORTON, Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. OLVER, Mr.
OWENS, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. PASTOR, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. PRICE
of North Carolina, Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, Mr. QUINN, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. REYES, Ms.
RIVERS, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. ROTHMAN, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. RUSH, Mr. SABO, Ms.
SANCHEZ, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. SANDLIN, Mr. SAWYER, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. SERRANO, Mr.
SHERMAN, Mr. SIMMONS, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. SNYDER, Ms.
SOLIS, Mr. STARK, Mr. STRICKLAND, Mrs. TAUSCHER, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Mr.
THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mrs. THURMAN, Mr. TIERNEY, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. UDALL of
Colorado, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Ms. VELAZQUEZ, Mr. VISCLOSKY,
Mr. WALSH, Mr. WAXMAN, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. WU, and Mr. WYNN)
Congressman John Cooksey (R-LA)
On or about 9/21/01: "If I see someone (who) comes in that's got a diaper
on his head and a fan belt wrapped around the diaper on his head, that guy needs
to be pulled over," said Congressman John Cooksey, a Republican member from
Louisiana who sits on the International Relations Subcommittee for the Middle
East and South Asia. Link to full story:
http://www.theadvocate.com/news/story.asp?StoryID=24605
In this time of national sorrow, we need national unity.
Congress and the administration have demonstrated leadership by delivering a
message of tolerance towards others, that scapegoating will not be permitted -
but now we hear a voice from our political leadership who is tearing the fabric
of our society.
Do not let his ignorant message fuel others' bigotry!
We continue to hear reports about Sikhs who are harassed and
murdered. The DoJ has a growing list of hate crime cases from this past week.
We've already had too much violence and hate.
ACT NOW
CALL: Congressman John Cooksey's Office at 202-225-8490
FAX: 202-225-5639
WRITE: 113 Cannon House Office Building,
Washington, D.C. 20515
WEB: http://www.house.gov/cooksey/
MESSAGE:
His intolerant comments reflect not just ignorance but also
religious bigotry. In this time when our nation -- a land of immigrants is
suffering, he should be encouraging us to come together, not calling for the
erosion of our civil rights and liberties and providing license for
hate-motivated violence.
BACKGROUND:
Louisiana Rep. John Cooksey advocates that racial profiling
should be employed, and he is pushing for this in the upcoming counter terrorism
legislation. Please take 5 minutes today and call his office to express outrage
over his bigoted remarks. His staff is apologizing over the phone but he has not
issued a public apology.
According to an August 13, 2001 e-mail from Gem P. Daus, Legislative and
Governmental Affairs Coordinator of the Asian and Pacific Islander American
Health Forum, the following supported funding for the White House Initiative on
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and co-signed a letter from the
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
David Wu (D- Oregon)
Chairman, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Michael Honda (D-California)
Vice Chairman, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
Daniel Inouye, U.S. Senator (D-Hawaii)
Daniel Akaka, U.S. Senator (D-Hawaii)
Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa)
Robert Underwood (D-Guam)
California:
Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)
Bob Filner (D-CA)
Tom Lantos (D-CA)
Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
Robert Matsui (D-CA)
Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA)
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)
Hilda Solis Fortney (D-CA)
Pete Stark (D-CA)
Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii)
Patsy Mink (D-Hawaii)
Constance Morella (R-Maryland)
Shelley Berkley (D-Nevada)
Rush D. Holt (D-New Jersey)
Nydia M. Velazquez (D-New York)
Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas)
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas)
Robert C. Scott (D-Virginia)
Jim McDermott (D-Washington)
7/23/01 Associated Press: "Senator Taps Own Money To Pay Asian Community
Liaison Salary,"
Sen. Mark Dayton (D-MN) is using $28,000 from his personal
funds to pay the salary of Seng Vang, a staffer who can't be paid with federal
funds because she's not a U.S. citizen. Vang, 21, a a Laotian citizen and
member of the Hmong ethnic group, is the office's connection to Minnesota's
Asian community. The state is home to an estimated 60,000 Hmong.
''Once she becomes a U.S. citizen, she will be added to the
Senate payroll,'' said Dayton spokesman Marc Kimball, adding that Vang has
applied for citizenship.
''Because she's a young, talented person and a tremendous
asset to Minnesota's rapidly growing Asian community, we have made this
temporary arrangement, because we didn't want to lose her and her talent,''
Kimball said. Vang declined to be interviewed for this story.
Federal funds can't be used to pay non-citizens unless they
fall into one of several exceptions, which Vang does not meet.
June 2001: U.S. senator Dianne
Feinstein (D) delivers a Senate floor
speech warning of "The Growing Web of Suspicion of Asian Americans,"
citing the affronts to Wu, Fong, and Chao and calling for top-down leadership
in confronting Asian stereotyping: "How can we question the loyalty of any
American because of his or her race or ethnic background? To put it simply,
this is un-American and must be stopped...We must redouble our efforts to
eliminate racial stereotypes that strike at the heart of American values and
shame us all."
May 22, 2001 Gannett News Service:
"2nd chance for immigrants? House OKs bill to extend time, "
Thousands of illegal immigrants who missed the April 30
deadline to file for legal residency without having to leave the country likely
will get a second chance to apply. But a new deadline remains a topic of debate
in Congress.
Late Monday, the House approved a bill to extend the deadline
four months, with the new deadline dependent on when a final measure is signed
into law.
"This is a compassionate compromise to a contentious
issue," said Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis, a co-sponsor of the bill
introduced by Rep. George Gekas, R-Pa.
The measure now goes to the Senate where Sen. Chuck Hagel,
R-Neb., has gathered 20 co-sponsors of his bill to extend the deadline a full
year to April 30, 2002.
Hagel said he has met with White House officials who, he
said, indicated they favor a minimum six-month extension.
The bickering over a new deadline stems from a bill signed
into law by then-President Clinton in December. It temporarily allowed
certain illegal immigrants to apply for permanent residency without having to
leave the country. Clinton and Congress set an April 30 deadline to apply.
Before passage of the law, immigrants had to return to their
native country to await a decision by the Immigration and Naturalization
Service, which often took years.
Just days after the deadline expired, President Bush asked
Congress to extend it. Bush said the INS had given thousands of immigrants too
little time to complete the process because it did not issue application rules
until March 26.
Section 245(i) Extension Act of
2001, H.R. 1885 IH, May 21, 2001. Roll call vote no. 127: yeas 336, nays 43, not
voting 53:
YEAS: 336
Ackerman, Akin, Allen, Andrews, Armey
Baca, Baird, Baldacci, Baldwin, Barcia, Barrett, Barton,
Bass, Becerra, Bentsen, Berman, Berry, Biggert, Bilirakis, Bishop, Blagojevich,
Blunt, Boehlert, Boehner, Bonilla, Bonior, Bono, Borski, Boswell, Boucher, Boyd,
Brady (PA), Brady (TX), Brown (FL), Brown (OH), Brown (SC), Bryant, Burr, Buyer
Callahan, Calvert, Camp, Cannon, Cantor, Capito, Capps,
Capuano, Cardin, Carson (IN), Carson (OK), Castle, Chabot, Clayton, Clement,
Clyburn, Collins, Condit, Conyers, Cooksey, Costello, Cramer, Crane, Crenshaw,
Crowley, Cummings, Cunningham
Davis (CA), Davis (FL), Davis (IL), Davis, Jo Ann, Davis,
Tom, DeFazio, DeGette, Delahunt, DeLauro, DeLay, DeMint, Deutsch, Diaz-Balart,
Dicks, Dingell, Doggett, Dooley, Doolittle, Doyle, Dreier, Dunn
Edwards, Ehlers, Ehrlich, Engel, English, Eshoo, Etheridge,
Evans
Farr, Fattah, Ferguson, Filner, Flake, Fletcher, Foley, Ford,
Frank, Frelinghuysen, Frost
Gallegly, Gekas, Gephardt, Gibbons, Gilchrest, Gillmor,
Gilman, Gonzalez, Goss, Graham, Granger, Green (TX), Green (WI), Greenwood,
Grucci, Gutierrez
Hall (OH), Hall (TX), Harman, Hastings (FL), Hastings (WA),
Hayworth, Hilliard, Hinojosa, Hoeffel, Hoekstra, Holden, Holt, Honda, Hooley,
Horn, Houghton, Hoyer, Hutchinson, Hyde
Inslee, Isakson, Israel, Issa, Istook
Jackson (IL), Jackson-Lee (TX), Jefferson, Jenkins, John,
Johnson (CT), Johnson (IL), Johnson, E. B., Jones (OH)
Kanjorski, Kaptur, Keller, Kennedy (MN), Kennedy (RI), Kildee,
Kilpatrick, Kind (WI), King, (NY), Kirk, Kleczka, Knollenberg, Kolbe, Kucinich
LaFalce, LaHood, Lampson, Langevin, Larsen (WA), Larson (CT),
Latham, LaTourette, Leach, Lee, Lewis (CA), Lewis (KY), Linder, Lipinski,
Lofgren, Lowey, Lucas (KY), Lucas (OK), Luther
Maloney (CT), Maloney (NY), Manzullo, Markey, Mascara,
Matheson, Matsui, McCarthy (MO), McCarthy (NY), McCollum, McCrery, McDermott,
McGovern, McHugh, McInnis, McIntyre, McKeon, McKinney, McNulty, Meehan, Meek
(FL), Meeks (NY), Menendez, Millender-McDonald, Miller (FL), Miller, Gary,
Miller, George, Mink, Moore, Moran (KS), Moran (VA), Morella, Murtha, Myrick
Nadler, Napolitano, Northup, Nussle
Oberstar, Obey, Olver, Ortiz, Osborne, Ose, Otter, Oxley
Pallone, Pastor, Paul, Payne, Pelosi, Pence, Peterson (MN),
Petri, Pickering, Pitts, Platts, Pombo, Pomeroy, Portman, Price (NC), Pryce (OH)
Quinn
Radanovich, Ramstad, Rangel, Regula, Rehberg, Reyes,
Reynolds, Rivers, Rodriguez, Roemer, Rogers (MI), Ros-Lehtinen, Ross, Rothman,
Roybal-Allard, Rush, Ryan (WI), Ryun (KS)
Sabo, Sandlin, Sawyer, Schakowsky, Schiff, Schrock, Scott,
Sensenbrenner, Serrano, Shadegg, Shaw, Shays, Sherman, Sherwood, Shimkus, Shows,
Shuster, Simmons, Skeen, Skelton, Slaughter, Smith (MI), Smith (NJ), Smith (TX),
Smith (WA), Snyder, Solis, Souder, Spratt, Stark, Stenholm, Stupak, Sununu
Tanner, Tauscher, Tauzin, Terry, Thomas, Thompson (CA),
Thompson (MS), Thornberry, Thurman, Tiahrt, Tierney, Traficant, Turner
Udall (CO), Udall (NM), Upton
Velazquez, Vitter
Walden, Walsh, Watkins, Watt (NC), Weldon (PA), Weller,
Wexler, Whitfield, Wicker, Wilson, Wolf , Woolsey, Wu, Wynn
Young (AK), Young (FL)
NAYS--43
Aderholt
Bachus, Baker, Ballenger, Bartlett, Bereuter, Burton
Chambliss, Coble, Combest, Culberson
Deal, Duncan
Everett
Goode, Goodlatte, Graves, Gutknecht
Hayes, Hefley, Herger, Hunter
Johnson, Sam, Jones (NC)
Kerns
LoBiondo
Mica
Nethercutt, Norwood
Putnam
Rohrabacher, Roukema, Royce
Saxton, Schaffer, Sessions, Spence, Stearns, Stump
Tancredo, Taylor (MS)
Visclosky
Weldon (FL)
NOT VOTING--53
Abercrombie
Barr, Berkley, Blumenauer
Clay, Cox, Coyne, Cubin
Emerson
Fossella
Ganske, Gordon
Hansen, Hart, Hill, Hilleary, Hinchey, Hobson, Hostettler, Hulshof
Kelly, Kingston
Lantos, Largent, Levin, Lewis (GA)
Moakley, Mollohan
Neal, Ney
Owens
Pascrell, Peterson (PA), Phelps
Rahall, Riley, Rogers (KY)
Sanchez, Sanders, Scarborough, Simpson, Strickland, Sweeney
Taylor (NC), Thune, Tiberi, Toomey, Towns
Wamp, Waters, Watts (OK), Waxman, Weiner
Ms. Schakowky and Mrs. Jones of Ohio changed their vote from ``nay'' to ``yea.''
So (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the
bill was passed. The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
See "A New China
Crisis": Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) chaired a hearing before the House
International Relations Committee about Communist China's imprisonment of
Americans. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced a bill in the House calling
on the president to send a special envoy to Beijing immediately to
"reiterate deep concern."
4/19/01 Sacramento Bee: "Racial Policy at UC targeted: Cruz
Bustamante says he'll ask regents to overturn the racial preferences ban,"
Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante said he will push for University of
California regents to vote on a repeal of the system's controversial ban on
using racial preferences in admissions at its May meeting. If the regents
were to eliminate the policy, the UC still would be bound by Proposition 209,
the state's prohibition of affirmative action. But without the policy,
known as SP 1, campuses would no longer be required to comply with rules that
require 50% to 75% of students to be admitted solely based on grades and SAT
scores. Since the regents passed SP 1, the number of African American,
Latino and American Indian students enrolled at a UC have declined. At UC
Berkeley they have declined 45%.
3/27/01 Reuters: "Lawmakers Renew Push for Hate-Crimes
Measure," Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR)
introduced hate crime legislation which would give the U.S. Justice Department
jurisdiction over crimes of violence motivated by sexual orientation, gender or
disability. Current law only covers hate crimes based on race, religion and
national origin. In addition to strengthening federal hate crime laws, the
legislation would provide financial assistance and federal expertise to state
and local authorities investigating hate crime cases and provide training
assistance to local authorities. More than 50,000 hate crimes have been reported
over the last five years. In the House, supporters said they should be able to
garner the votes for passage, but conceded it would prove difficult overcoming
opposition from Republican congressional leaders, who blocked a similar measure
last year. During the presidential campaign, President Bush backed a narrower
version of the legislation sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) that critics say
would not protect gays and lesbians. Republican opponents questioned whether the
legislation was needed, asserting that current law was adequate in most cases
and that an expansion would tread on state prerogatives.
On March 8, 2001, Rep. Bob Stump
(R-AZ) introduced H.R. 969, which seeks to "provide that Executive Order
13166 shall have no force or effect, and to prohibit the use of funds for
certain purposes." It includes a provision that prohibits Federal
funds from being used to "promulgate or enforce any executive order that
creates an entitlement to services provided in any language other than
English."
Dan Lundgren, Republican candidate for governor of California in 1998, opposed
giving reparations to Japanese-Americans interned during World War II.
"Vietnamese Jumping GOP's Ship. Politics: Party registration now
almost even in Orange County's formerly conservative immigrant community,"
12/24/00 Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com)
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/natpol/20001224/t000122637.html
Dec. 25, 2000: In their native Laos, Hmong guerrillas fought a losing war
against communism, battling North Vietnamese troops along the Ho Chi
Minh Trail while rescuing downed American pilots. After their defeat in 1975,
more than 100,000 Hmong tribesmen became refugees in the United States. About
2,000 live in Orange County.
"Their service during the Vietnam War probably saved
thousands
of American lives," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach, who
co-sponsored a new law that allows Hmong war veterans to become U.S. citizens
without taking a required English language exam. "They provided such
extraordinary service at such a high cost that they should be extended a special
privilege."
"Justice moves a little closer for the Hmong. Immigration: U.S.
citizenship is now within reach, and police are on the trail of a woman
accused of scamming them," 12/25/00 Orange County Register (www.ocregister.com)
http://www.ocregister.com/community/crimecourts/hmong01224cci.shtml
June 23, 2000: Congressman Xavier
Becerra (D-Ca) introduced the Wartime Parity and Justice Act of 2000 to provide
redress to individuals of Japanese ancestry who were abducted by the U.S. from
Latin American countries and interned in the U.S. during World War II. The
U.S. abducted over 2,200 individuals of Japanese ancestry living in Latin
American countries and imprisoned them in internment camps during the war. When
the war ended, many were denied re-entry to their Latin home countries. The U.S.
declared them "illegal aliens" and deported many of them against their
will to Japan. A few hundred eventually were allowed to remain in the U.S.
June 20, 2000. The Senate
voted 57 to 42 to strengthen federal hate-crime law by extending
protections to include violence based on gender, sexual orientation and
disabilities. The proposal was sponsored by Sens. Edward M. Kennedy
(D-Mass.) and Gordon H. Smith (R-Ore.). The current hate crimes law covers
only crimes involving race, color, religion or national origin. The
Kennedy-Smith proposal would drop a current restriction limiting federal
intervention to cases where victims are engaged in federally protected
activities, such as voting, serving on a jury or attending school.
Advocates of the new measure argued that these restrictions make it difficult to
prosecute under the existing law and exclude many serious hate crimes. In
addition, the proposal would provide federal assistance for state and local
authorities in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, along with training
grants to help local authorities deal with hate crimes. The Senate
approved similar legislation as part of an appropriations bill last year, only
to see it die in conference with the House.
Rollcall Vote No. 136 Leg. Amendment No. 3473 to the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001; Congressional Record,
June 20, 2000, Page S5410-S5435.
YEAS--57
Akaka, Daniel (D - HI)
Baucus, Max (D - MT), Bayh, Evan (D - IN), Biden Jr, Joseph (D - DE),
Bingaman, Jeff (D - NM), Boxer, Barbara (D - CA), Breaux, John (D - LA), Bryan,
Richard (D - NV), Burns, Conrad (R - MT)
Chafee, Lincoln (R - RI), Cleland, Max (D - GA), Collins, Susan (R - ME)
Conrad, Kent (D - ND)
Daschle, Thomas (D - SD), DeWine, Mike (R - OH), Dodd, Christopher (D - CT),
Dorgan, Byron (D - ND), Durbin, Richard (D - IL)
Edwards, John (D - NC)
Feingold, Russell (D - WI), Feinstein, Dianne (D - CA)
Graham, Bob (D - FL)
Harkin, Tom (D - IA), Hollings, Ernest (D - SC)
Inouye, Daniel (D - HI)
Jeffords, James (R - VT), Johnson, Tim (D - SD)
Kennedy, Edward (D - MA), Kerrey, Robert (D - NE), Kerry, John (D - MA), Kohl,
Herb (D - WI)
Landrieu, Mary (D - LA), Lautenberg, Frank (D - NJ), Leahy, Patrick (D - VT),
Levin, Carl (D - MI), Lieberman, Joseph (D - CT), Lincoln, Blanche (D - AR),
Lugar, Richard (R - IN)
Mack, Connie (R - FL), Mikulski, Barbara (D - MD), Moynihan, Daniel (D - NY),
Murray, Patty (D - WA)
Reed, Jack (D - RI), Reid, Harry (D - NV), Robb, Charles (D - VA),
Rockefeller IV, John (D - WV), Roth Jr, William (R - DE)
Sarbanes, Paul (D - MD), Schumer, Charles (D - NY), Smith, Gordon (R - OR),
Snowe, Olympia (R - ME), Specter, Arlen (R - PA), Stevens, Ted (R - AK)
Torricelli, Robert (D - NJ)
Voinovich, George (R - OH)
Wellstone, Paul (D - MN), Wyden, Ron (D - OR)
NAYS--42
Abraham, Spencer (R - MI), Allard, Wayne (R - CO), Ashcroft, John (R - MO)
Bennett, Robert (R - UT), Bond, Christopher (R - MO), Brownback, Sam (R - KS),
Bunning, Jim (R - KY), Byrd, Robert (D - WV)
Campbell, Ben Nighthorse (R - CO), Cochran, Thad (R - MS), Coverdell, Paul (R -
GA), Craig, Larry (R - ID), Crapo, Mike (R - ID)
Domenici, Pete (R - NM)
Enzi, Mike (R - WY)
Fitzgerald, Peter (R - IL), Frist, William (R - TN)
Gorton, Slade (R - WA), Gramm, Phil (R - TX), Grams, Rod (R - MN), Grassley,
Chuck (R - IA), Gregg, Judd (R - NH)
Hagel, Charles (R - NE), Hatch, Orrin (R - UT), Helms, Jesse (R - NC),
Hutchinson, Tim (R - AR), Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R - TX)
Kyl, Jon (R - AZ)
Lott, Trent (R - MS)
McCain, John (R - AZ), McConnell, Mitch (R - KY), Murkowski, Frank (R - AK)
Nickles, Don (R - OK)
Roberts, Pat (R - KS)
Santorum, Rick (R - PA), Sessions, Jeff (R - AL), Shelby, Richard (R - AL),
Smith, Bob (R - NH)
Thomas, Craig (R - WY), Thompson, Fred (R - TN), Thurmond, Strom (R - SC)
Warner, John (R - VA)
NOT VOTING - Inhofe, James (R - OK)
Hmong Veterans' Naturalization Act, H.R. 371 and S. 890. Eases U.S.
citizenship requirements for up to 45,000 Hmong veterans, their widows and
spouses. Recompensed the Hmong who allied themselves with U.S. forces
during the Vietnam War. 50,000 Hmong live in the Central Valley of
California and 60,000 in Minnesota.
House passed on voice vote? on 5/2/00
Senate passed with voice vote on 5/18/00
Representative Bruce Vento
Senator Wellstone (D-MN) co-sponsor
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Russ Feingold (D-WI)
Grams (MN)
Herb Kohl (WI)
Grassley
Hagel
McCain (R-AZ)
House co-sponsors:
Mr. ABERCROMBIE,
Mr. BACHUS, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. BARCIA, Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin, Mr.
BERMAN, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BLAGOJEVICH, Mr. BONIOR, Mrs. BONO, Mr.
BORSKI, Ms. BROWN of Florida, Mr. BURTON of Indiana
Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. CONDIT, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. CUNNINGHAM,
Mr. DELAHUNT, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. DOOLEY of California
Mr. ENGLISH,
Mr. FORBES, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. FROST,
Mr. GEKAS, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. GUTIERREZ
Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr. HERGER, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. HORN, Mr.
HUNTER, Mr. HUTCHINSON, Mr. HYDE,
Mr. INSLEE, Mr. ISAKSON,
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. JEFFERSON, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mrs.
JONES of Ohio, Mr. JONES of North Carolina,
Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. KILDEE, Ms. KILPATRICK, Mr. KIND of
Wisconsin, Mr. KLECZKA, Mr. KOLBE, Mr. Kuykendall,
Mr. LANTOS, Mr. LEACH, Ms. LEE, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. LIPINSKI, Ms. LOFGREN,
Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma, Mr. LUTHER,
Mr. MATSUI, Mr. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MCNULTY,
Mr. MEEHAN, Mrs. MEEK of Florida, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. GEORGE MILLER
of California, Mr. MINGE, Mrs. MINK of Hawai, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mrs.
MYRICK,
Mr. NADLER,
Mr. OBERSTAR, Mr. OBEY, Mr. OLVER
Mr. PASTOR, Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota, Mr. PETRI, Mr. PITTS, Mr.
POMBO,
Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mr. ROGAN, Mr. ROHRABACHER
Mr. SABO, Ms. SANCHEZ, Mr. SAWYER, Mr. SCARBOROUGH, Mr. SHAYS,
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. SOUDER, Ms. STABENOW, Mr.
SWEENEY,
Mr. TALENT, Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina, Mr. TIAHRT,
Mr. UNDERWOOD,
Ms. WATERS, Mr. WATT of North Carolina, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, Mr. WEINER, Mr.
WELDON of Pennsylvania, Mr. WEYGAND, Mr. WOLF, Ms. WOOLSEY,
January 25, 2000: Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) threatened to derail the
confirmation of all pending Federal judicial nominees if President Clinton,
during a Congressional recess, re-appointed Bill Lann Lee as Assistant Attorney
General for Civil Rights.
S.622.IS, the Hate Crimes Prevention
Act of 1999, passed unanimously by the Senate, but House Republicans killed it
in committee. Current law covers crimes motivated by the victim's race,
color, religion, or national origin, and the federal government can prosecute if
the victim was on federal property or engaged in a federally protected activity
such as going to school. The proposed law included people victimized
because of their sexual orientation, gender or disability, and covered any
incident related to interstate commerce, such as use of a gun made in another
state. 7/23/99 Dallas Morning News, p. 14A, 8/10/99 DMN, p. 15A,
1/16/00 DMN, p. 8A.
Co-Sponsors of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 1999
Sponsor: Sen Kennedy, Edward M. (introduced 03/16/99)
Co-Sponsors (37):
Sen Akaka, Daniel K.
Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr., Sen Bingaman, Jeff, Sen Boxer, Barbara,
Sen Bryan, Richard
Sen Chafee, John H., Sen Cleland, Max
Sen Daschle, Thomas, Sen Dodd, Christopher J., Sen Durbin, Richard
Sen Feinstein, Dianne
Sen Graham, Bob
Sen Harkin, Tom
Sen Inouye, Daniel K.
Sen Jeffords, James, Sen Johnson, Tim,
Sen Kerrey, J. Robert, Sen Kerry, John F.
Sen Landrieu, Mary, Sen Lautenberg, Frank R., Sen Leahy, Patrick J, Sen Levin,
Carl, Sen Lieberman, Joseph I.
Sen Mikulski, Barbara A., Sen Murray, Patty
Sen Reed, Jack, Sen Reid, Harry M., Sen Robb, Charles, Sen Rockefeller, John D.,
IV
Sen Sarbanes, Paul, Sen Schumer, Charles, Sen Smith, Gordon, Sen Snowe, Olympia,
Sen Specter, Arlen
Sen Torricelli, Robert
Sen Wellstone, Paul, Sen Wyden, Ron
A bill to combat hate crimes. S.1406. Does not include homosexuals.
Sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R- Utah). Also passed by voice vote.
In September of 1999, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 417, the
Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 1999. On Sept. 14, 1999, Rep.
Doug Bereuter (R-NE) offered Amendment 453 (H.Amdt.453) that would have
prohibited legal permanent residents from making campaign contributions to
federal elections. In Roll Call 414, the House voted 242-181 (10 not
voting) in favor of the amendment. A similar amendment was not added to
the Senate bill, which was defeated.
Ayes (Democrats in italics)
Aderholt Archer Armey
Bachus Baker Baldacci Ballenger Barcia Barr Barrett (NE) Bartlett
Barton Bass Bateman Bentsen Bereuter Berkley Biggert Bilbray
Bilirakis Bliley Blunt Boehner Bonilla Bono Boswell Boucher Brady (TX)
Bryant Burr Buyer
Callahan Calvert Camp Campbell Canady Cannon Chabot Chambliss Chenoweth Clement
Coble Coburn Collins Combest Condit Cook Cooksey Costello Cox Cramer
Crane Cubin Cunningham
Danner DeLay DeMint Dickey Duncan Dunn
Edwards Emerson English Evans Everett Ewing
Fletcher Fossella Fowler Franks (NJ)
Gallegly Ganske Gekas Gibbons Gillmor Gilman Goode Goodlatte Goodling Gordon
Goss Graham Granger Green (TX) Green (WI) Greenwood Gutknecht
Hall (TX) Hansen Hastings (WA) Hayes Hayworth Hefley Herger Hill (MT)
Hilleary Hobson Hoekstra Holden Hostettler Hulshof Hunter Hyde
Inslee Isakson Istook
Jenkins John Johnson, Sam Jones (NC)
Kaptur Kasich Kelly Kildee Knollenberg Kolbe Kucinich Kuykendall
LaFalce LaHood Largent Latham LaTourette Leach Lewis (CA) Lewis (KY) Linder Lipinski
LoBiondo Lucas (KY) Lucas OK) Luther
Maloney (CT) Manzullo Markey Mascara McCarthy (MO) McCollum McCrery
McHugh McInnis McIntosh McIntyre McKeon Metcalf Mica Miller (FL) Miller,
Gary Moran (KS) Myrick
Nethercutt Ney Northup Norwood Nussle
Obey Oxley
Packard Paul Pease Peterson (MN) Peterson (PA) Petri Phelps Pickering
Pickett Pitts Pomeroy Portman
Radanovich Ramstad Regula Reynolds Riley Roemer Rogan Rogers Rohrabacher Rothman
Roukema Royce Ryan (WI) Ryun (KS)
Salmon Sandlin Sanford Saxton Scarborough Schaffer Sensenbrenner Sessions
Shadegg Sherman Sherwood Shimkus Shows Shuster Simpson Sisisky Skeen
Smith (MI) Smith (NJ) Smith (TX) Smith (WA) Souder Spence Stabenow
Stearns Stenholm Strickland Stump Stupak Sununu Sweeney
Tancredo Tauzin Taylor (MS) Taylor (NC) Terry Thomas Thornberry Thune Thurman
Tiahrt Toomey Traficant Turner
Upton
Visclosky Vitter
Walden Wamp Watkins Watts (OK) Weldon (FL) Weldon (PA) Weller Whitfield Wicker Wise
Wolf
Young (AK)
Nays
Abercrombie Ackerman Allen Andrews
Baird Baldwin Barrett (WI) Becerra Berman Berry Bishop Blagojevich Blumenauer Boehlert
Bonior Borski Boyd Brady (PA) Brown (FL) Brown (OH) Burton
Capps Capuano Cardin Carson Castle Clay Clayton Clyburn Conyers Coyne
Crowley Cummings
Davis (FL) Davis (IL) Davis (VA) Deal DeFazio DeGette Delahunt DeLauro
Deutsch Diaz-Balart Dicks Dingell Dixon Doggett Dooley Doolittle Doyle
Dreier
Ehlers Ehrlich Engel Eshoo Etheridge
Farr Fattah Filner Foley Frank (MA) Frelinghuysen Frost
Gejdenson Gephardt Gilchrest Gonzalez Gutierrez
Hall (OH) Hill (IN) Hilliard Hinchey Hinojosa Hoeffel Holt Hooley Horn
Houghton Hoyer Hutchinson
Jackson (IL) Jackson-Lee (TX) Jefferson Johnson (CT) Johnson, E. B.,
Jones (OH)
Kanjorski Kennedy Kilpatrick Kind (WI) King (NY) Kleczka Klink
Lampson Lantos Larson Lee Levin Lewis (GA) Lofgren Lowey
Maloney (NY) Martinez Matsui McCarthy (NY) McDermott McGovern McKinney McNulty
Meehan Meek (FL) Meeks (NY) Menendez Millender-McDonald Miller, George Minge
Mink Moakley Mollohan Moore Moran (VA) Morella Murtha
Nadler Napolitano Neal
Oberstar Olver Ortiz Ose Owens
Pallone Pascrell Pastor Payne Pelosi Pombo Price
(NC)
Quinn
Rahall Rangel Reyes Rivers Rodriguez Roybal-Allard Rush
Sabo Sanchez Sanders Sawyer Schakowsky Scott Serrano
Shays Skelton Slaughter Snyder Spratt Stark
Talent Tanner Tauscher Thompson (CA) Thompson (MS) Tierney Towns
Udall (CO) Udall (NM)
Velazquez Vento
Walsh Waters Watt (NC) Waxman Weiner Wexler Weygand Wilson Woolsey
Wu Wynn
Not Voting 10
Forbes Ford Hastings (FL) Kingston Lazio Porter Pryce (OH) Shaw Young (FL)
Ros-Lehtinen
House Concurrent Resolution 124.
5/27/99. Spying scandal at Los Alamos should not be used to discriminate
against Asian- Americans. Introduced by David Wu (D-OR) and Tom Campbell
(R-CA). Supported by:
Neil Abercrombie (D-HI)
Gary Ackerman (D-NY)
David Bonior (D-MI)
Christopher Cox (R-CA)
Patsy Mink (D-HI)
Curt Weldon (R-PA)
INS Reorganization and Reform Act of
1999. Split INS into two agencies, one for law enforcement, one for
providing services for legal residents. Sponsored by
Silvestre Reyes (D-El Paso, TX)
Lamar Smith (R-San Antonio, TX)
Hal Rogers (R -KY)
Senate Judiciary Committee blocks Senate vote on confirmation of Bill Lann
Lee as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. All Republicans,
except Arlen Spector (R-PA), vote against sending Lee's nomination to the full
Senate for a vote:
Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Chair
Strom Thurmond (R-SC)
Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
Mike DeWine (R-OH)
John Ashcroft (R-MO)
Spencer Abraham (R-MI)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Bob Smith (R-NH)
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) Ranking Member
Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Joseph Biden (D-DE)
Herb Kohl (D-WI)
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Russell Feingold (D-WI)
Robert Torricelli (D-NJ)
Charles Schumer (D-NY)
On June 23, 1998, the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Act of
1998 was enacted, including $818 million in food stamps for legal immigrants.
The new law restored food stamps to 250,000 of the over 900,000 legal immigrants
cut off food stamps in the 1996 welfare reform law.
Specifically, the bill restored benefits as of November 1,
1998 to refugees and asylees (for their first seven years in the country),
Hmong, and cross border Native Americans. It also covered several categories of
people who were in the United States on the day the new welfare reform law was
passed, August 22, 1996: children under 18, elderly who were over 65, and people
who were disabled then or have since become disabled.
The Clinton Administration had proposed restoration of
benefits to 730,000 of the legal immigrants but had to settle for benefits for
250,000 of them due to opposition from conservatives.
The Senate approved the conference report for bill S.1150 by
92-8 (vote 129, May 12, 1998). The eight Senators who voted against it:
Phil Gramm (R-TX)
Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Jesse Helms (R-NC)
James Inhofe (R-OK)
Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
Don Nickles (R-OK)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Bob Smith (R-NH)
The Ayes:
|
Abraham (MI)
|
|
Akaka (HI)
|
|
Allard (CO)
|
|
Ashcroft (MO)
|
|
Baucus (MT)
|
|
Bennett (UT)
|
|
Biden (DE)
|
|
Bingaman (NM)
|
|
Bond (MO)
|
|
Boxer (CA)
|
|
Breaux (LA)
|
|
Brownback (KS)
|
|
Bryan (NV)
|
|
Bumpers (AR)
|
|
Burns (MT)
|
|
Byrd (WV)
|
|
Campbell (CO)
|
|
Chafee (RI)
|
|
Cleland (GA)
|
|
Coats (IN)
|
|
Cochran (MS)
|
|
Collins (ME)
|
|
Conrad (ND)
|
|
Coverdell (GA)
|
|
Craig (ID)
|
|
D'Amato (NY)
|
|
Daschle (SD)
|
|
DeWine (OH)
|
|
Dodd (CT)
|
|
Domenici (NM)
|
|
Dorgan (ND)
|
|
|
Durbin (IL)
|
|
Enzi (WY)
|
|
Faircloth (NC)
|
|
Feingold (WI)
|
|
Feinstein (CA)
|
|
Ford (KY)
|
|
Frist (TN)
|
|
Glenn (OH)
|
|
Gorton (WA)
|
|
Graham (FL)
|
|
Grams (MN)
|
|
Grassley (IA)
|
|
Hagel (NE)
|
|
Harkin (IA)
|
|
Hatch (UT)
|
|
Hollings (SC)
|
|
Hutchinson (AR)
|
|
Hutchison (TX)
|
|
Inouye (HI)
|
|
Jeffords (VT)
|
|
Johnson (SD)
|
|
Kempthorne (ID)
|
|
Kennedy (MA)
|
|
Kerrey (NE)
|
|
Kerry (MA)
|
|
Kohl (WI)
|
|
Landrieu (LA)
|
|
Lautenberg (NJ)
|
|
Leahy (VT)
|
|
Levin (MI)
|
|
Lieberman (CT)
|
|
|
Lott (MS)
|
|
Lugar (IN)
|
|
Mack (FL)
|
|
McCain (AZ)
|
|
McConnell (KY)
|
|
Mikulski (MD)
|
|
Moseley-Braun (IL)
|
|
Moynihan (NY)
|
|
Murkowski (AK)
|
|
Murray (WA)
|
|
Reed (RI)
|
|
Reid (NV)
|
|
Robb (VA)
|
|
Roberts (KS)
|
|
Rockefeller (WV)
|
|
Roth (DE)
|
|
Santorum (PA)
|
|
Sarbanes (MD)
|
|
Shelby (AL)
|
|
Smith (OR)
|
|
Snowe (ME)
|
|
Specter (PA)
|
|
Stevens (AK)
|
|
Thomas (WY)
|
|
Thompson (TN)
|
|
Thurmond (SC)
|
|
Torricelli (NJ)
|
|
Warner (VA)
|
|
Wellstone (MN)
|
|
Wyden (OR)
|
|
The Senate rejected 77-23 an effort
to send the conference report back to conference. (bill S.1150, vote 128, May
12, 1998). The 23 Senators who voted against the conference report:
Spencer Abraham (R-MI)
Wayne Allard (R-CO)
John Ashcroft (R-MO)
Mike Enzi (R-WY)
Faircloth (NC) (no longer in Senate)
Phil Gramm (R-TX)
Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Jesse Helms (R-NC)
Ernest Hollings (D-SC)
Tim Hutchinson (R-AR)
Kay Hutchison (R-TX)
James Inhofe (R-OK)
Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
Trent Lott (R-MS)
John McCain (R-AZ)
Don Nickles (R-OK)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Bob Smith (R-NH)
Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Craig Thomas (R-WY)
Fred Thompson (R-TN)
Strom Thurmond (R-SC)
The House approved the Conference Report on S.1150 by 364 to 50 (Roll Call 204,
June 4, 1998).
YEAS (Democrats in italics)
|
Abercrombie
|
Gillmor
|
Oberstar
|
|
Ackerman
|
Gilman
|
Obey
|
|
Aderholt
|
Goodling
|
Olver
|
|
Allen
|
Gordon
|
Ortiz
|
|
Andrews
|
Graham
|
Owens
|
|
Armey
|
Granger
|
Oxley
|
|
Bachus
|
Green
|
Packard
|
|
Baesler
|
Gutierrez
|
Pallone
|
|
Baker
|
Gutknecht
|
Parker
|
|
Baldacci
|
Hall (OH)
|
Pascrell
|
|
Ballenger
|
Hall (TX)
|
Pastor
|
|
Barcia
|
Hamilton
|
Paxon
|
|
Barrett (NE)
|
Hansen
|
Payne
|
|
Barrett (WI)
|
Hastert
|
Pease
|
|
Becerra
|
Hastings (FL)
|
Pelosi
|
|
Bentsen
|
Hastings (WA)
|
Peterson (MN)
|
|
Bereuter
|
Hayworth
|
Peterson (PA)
|
|
Berman
|
Hefner
|
Petri
|
|
Berry
|
Hill
|
Pickering
|
|
Bilbray
|
Hilleary
|
Pickett
|
|
Bilirakis
|
Hilliard
|
Pitts
|
|
Bishop
|
Hinchey
|
Pombo
|
|
Blagojevich
|
Hinojosa
|
Pomeroy
|
|
Blumenauer
|
Hobson
|
Porter
|
|
Boehlert
|
Hoekstra
|
Portman
|
|
Boehner
|
Holden
|
Poshard
|
|
Bonilla
|
Hooley
|
Price (NC)
|
|
Bonior
|
Horn
|
Quinn
|
|
Bono
|
Houghton
|
Radanovich
|
|
Borski
|
Hoyer
|
Rahall
|
|
Boswell
|
Hulshof
|
Ramstad
|
|
Boucher
|
Hutchinson
|
Rangel
|
|
Boyd
|
Hyde
|
Redmond
|
|
Brady (PA)
|
Inglis
|
Regula
|
|
Brown (CA)
|
Jackson (IL)
|
Riggs
|
|
Brown (FL)
|
Jackson-Lee (TX)
|
Riley
|
|
Brown (OH)
|
Jefferson
|
Rivers
|
|
Bryant
|
Jenkins
|
Rodriguez
|
|
Bunning
|
John
|
Roemer
|
|
Burton
|
Johnson (CT)
|
Rogan
|
|
Buyer
|
Johnson (WI)
|
Rogers
|
|
Callahan
|
Johnson, E. B.
|
Rothman
|
|
Calvert
|
Jones
|
Roybal-Allard
|
|
Camp
|
Kanjorski
|
Rush
|
|
Campbell
|
Kaptur
|
Ryun
|
|
Canady
|
Kasich
|
Sabo
|
|
Capps
|
Kelly
|
Sanchez
|
|
Cardin
|
Kennedy (MA)
|
Sanders
|
|
Carson
|
Kennedy (RI)
|
Sandlin
|
|
Castle
|
Kennelly
|
Sawyer
|
|
Chambliss
|
Kildee
|
Schaffer, Bob
|
|
Chenoweth
|
Kilpatrick
|
Schumer
|
|
Christensen
|
Kim
|
Scott
|
|
Clay
|
Kind (WI)
|
Serrano
|
|
Clayton
|
King (NY)
|
Sessions
|
|
Clement
|
Kleczka
|
Shaw
|
|
Clyburn
|
Klink
|
Shays
|
|
Coble
|
Klug
|
Sherman
|
|
Combest
|
Knollenberg
|
Shimkus
|
|
Condit
|
Kolbe
|
Shuster
|
|
Conyers
|
Kucinich
|
Sisisky
|
|
Cook
|
LaFalce
|
Skaggs
|
|
Cooksey
|
LaHood
|
Skeen
|
|
Costello
|
Lampson
|
Skelton
|
|
Cox
|
Lantos
|
Slaughter
|
|
Coyne
|
Latham
|
Smith (MI)
|
|
Cramer
|
LaTourette
|
Smith (NJ)
|
|
Crapo
|
Lazio
|
Smith (OR)
|
|
Cubin
|
Leach
|
Smith (TX)
|
|
Cummings
|
Lee
|
Smith, Adam
|
|
Cunningham
|
Levin
|
Smith, Linda
|
|
Danner
|
Lewis (CA)
|
Snowbarger
|
|
Davis (FL)
|
Lewis (KY)
|
Snyder
|
|
Davis (IL)
|
Linder
|
Souder
|
|
Davis (VA)
|
Lipinski
|
Spence
|
|
DeFazio
|
Livingston
|
Spratt
|
|
DeGette
|
LoBiondo
|
Stabenow
|
|
Delahunt
|
Lofgren
|
Stark
|
|
DeLauro
|
Lowey
|
Stenholm
|
|
Deutsch
|
Lucas
|
Stokes
|
|
Diaz-Balart
|
Luther
|
Strickland
|
|
Dickey
|
Maloney (CT)
|
Stupak
|
|
Dicks
|
Maloney (NY)
|
Tanner
|
|
Dingell
|
Manton
|
Tauscher
|
|
Dixon
|
Markey
|
Tauzin
|
|
Doggett
|
Mascara
|
Taylor (NC)
|
|
Dooley
|
Matsui
|
Thomas
|
|
Doyle
|
McCarthy (MO)
|
Thompson
|
|
Dreier
|
McCarthy (NY)
|
Thornberry
|
|
Duncan
|
McCollum
|
Thune
|
|
Dunn
|
McCrery
|
Thurman
|
|
Edwards
|
McDermott
|
Tierney
|
|
Ehlers
|
McGovern
|
Torres
|
|
Ehrlich
|
McHale
|
Towns
|
|
Emerson
|
McHugh
|
Traficant
|
|
English
|
McInnis
|
Turner
|
|
Eshoo
|
McIntosh
|
Upton
|
|
Etheridge
|
McIntyre
|
Velazquez
|
|
Evans
|
McKeon
|
Vento
|
|
Everett
|
McKinney
|
Visclosky
|
|
Ewing
|
McNulty
|
Walsh
|
|
Farr
|
Meehan
|
Wamp
|
|
Fattah
|
Meek (FL)
|
Waters
|
|
Fawell
|
Meeks (NY)
|
Watkins
|
|
Fazio
|
Menendez
|
Watt (NC)
|
|
Filner
|
Metcalf
|
Watts (OK)
|
|
Foley
|
Mica
|
Waxman
|
|
Forbes
|
Millender-McDonald
|
Weldon (PA)
|
|
Ford
|
Miller (CA)
|
Weller
|
|
Fossella
|
Minge
|
Wexler
|
|
Fowler
|
Mink
|
Weygand
|
|
Fox
|
Moakley
|
White
|
|
Franks (NJ)
|
Moran (KS)
|
Whitfield
|
|
Frelinghuysen
|
Morella
|
Wicker
|
|
Frost
|
Murtha
|
Wise
|
|
Gallegly
|
Nadler
|
Wolf
|
|
Ganske
|
Neal
|
Woolsey
|
|
Gejdenson
|
Nethercutt
|
Wynn
|
|
Gekas
|
Ney
|
Young (AK)
|
|
Gephardt
|
Northup
|
Young (FL)
|
|
Gibbons
|
Norwood
|
|
|
Gilchrest
|
Nussle
|
NAYS:
Bill Archer (R-TX)
Bob Barr (R-GA), Joe Barton (R-TX), Charles Bass (R-NH), Tom Bliley (R-VA), Roy
Blunt (R-MO), Kevin Brady (R-TX)
Chris Cannon (R-UT), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Mac Collins (R-GA),
Philip Crane (R-IL)
Nathan Deal (R-GA), Tom DeLay (R-TX), John Doolittle (R-CA)
Ensign (out of office)
Virgil Goode, Jr. (D-VA), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Porter Goss (R-FL), James
Greenwood (R-PA)
Joel Hefley (R-CO), Wally Herger (R-CA), John Hostettler (R-IN), Duncan Hunter
(R-CA)
Ernest Istook, Jr. (R-OK)
Sam Johnson (R-TX)
Jack Kingston (R-GA)
Steve Largent (R-OK)
Donald Manzullo (R-IL), Dan Miller (R-FL)
Neumann (out of office)
Pappas (out of office), Ron Paul (R-TX)
Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Marge Roukema (R-NJ), Edward Royce (R-CA)
Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Marshall Sanford (R-SC), Jim Saxton (R-NJ)
Joe Scarborough (R-FL), Schaefer (out of office), James Sensenbrenner, Jr.
(R-WI), John Shadegg (R-AZ), Solomon (out of office)
Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Bob Stump (R-AZ), John Sununu (R-NH)
Gene Taylor (D-MS), Todd Tiahrt (R-KS)
Dave Weldon (R-FL)
Roll Call on Act to Cut Off Welfare Benefits for Legal Immigrants, 1996
Justice for Wards Cove Workers Act,
H.R. 658, introduced 1/24/95 (104th Congress) by Rep. James McDermott (D-WA).
Referred to committees where it died.
Co- sponsored by current officeholders:
Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI)
Rep. Thomas Barrett (D-WI), Rep. David Bonior (D-Mich), Rep. John Bryant (D-TX)
Rep. Dellums
Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Rep. Martin Frost (D-TX)
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)
Rep. Matthew Martinez (D-CA), Rep. Robert Matsui (D-CA), Rep. James McDermott
(D-WA), Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Rep. Norman Mineta (D-CA), Rep. Patsy Mink
(D-CA), Rep. Constance Morella (R-MD)
Rep. John Olver (D-MA)
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY), Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI)
Rep. Torricelli (NJ)
Rep. Robert Underwood (Guam)
Rep. Bruce Vento (D- MN)
Rep. Melvin Watt (D-NC), Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA)
Vote to Fund Japanese-American Reparations
101st Congress, 1st Session, Sept 29, 1989, page S-12225 Temp. Record, Vote No.
219
Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary,
and Related Agencies Appropriation Bill for FY 1990 . . . H.R. 2991. Hollings
motion to waive section 303(a) of the 1974 Budget Act with respect to an
excepted committee amendment on page 41, lines 4-10, of the bill. Motion
Agreed to, 74 - 22. Pertinent votes on this legislation include vote Nos.
218-221, 278, and 280.
YEAs:
Adams (D)
Bentsen (D), Biden (D), Bingaman (D), Boren (D), Boschwitz (R), Bradley (D),
Breaux (D), Bryan (D), Bumpers (D), Burdick (D), Byrd (D)
Chafee (R), Cochran (R), Cohen (R), Cranston (D)
D'Amato (R), Daschle (D), DeConcini (D), Dixon (D), Dodd (D), Dole (R)
Domenici (R), Durenberger (R)
Exon (D)
Ford (D), Fowler (D)
Glenn (D), Gore (D), Gorton (R), Graham (D)
Harkin (D), Hatch (R), Hatfield (R), Heinz (R), Hollings (D)
Inouye (D)
Johnston (D)
Kasten (R), Kennedy (D), Kerrey (D), Kerry (D), Kohl (D)
Lautenberg (D), Leahy (D), Levin (D), Lieberman (D), Lugar (R)
McClure (R), Metzenbaum (D), Mikulski (D), Mitchell (D), Moynihan (D)
Murkowski (R)
Nunn (D)
Packwood (R), Pell (D), Pryor (D)
Reid (D), Riegle (D), Robb (D), Rockefeller (D), Rudman (R)
Sanford (D), Sarbanes (D), Sasser (D), Simon (D), Simpson (R), Specter (R),
Stevens (R)
Thurmond (R)
Warner (R), Wilson (R), Wirth (D)
NAYS:
Baucus (D), Bond (R), Burns (R)
Coats (R), Conrad (D)
Danforth (R)
Garn (R), Grassley (R)
Heflin (D), Helms (R), Humphrey (R)
Kassebaum (R)
Lott (R)
Mack (R), McCain (R), McConnell (R)
Nickles (R)
Pressler (R)
Roth (R)
Shelby (D), Symms (R)
Wallop (R)
NOT VOTING:
Armstrong (R)
Gramm (R)
Jeffords (R)
Matsunaga (D)
Those favoring the waiver contended:
There are times when the Senate must act in light of fiscal
reality, but there are also times when the Senate must put fiscal reality aside
to meet the imperative of correct action. This is one of those rare times when
the Senate should set fiscal reality aside, and support what little our country
can do to right a terrible wrong.
In early 1942, over 120,000 Americans of Japanese descent
were given notice to settle their accounts and businesses and make provisions
for their property, before being bused off to barracks and makeshift camps in
distant parts of the United States. History has found no evidence of any
activities by these people inimical to the United States. Their only
"crime" was their Japanese ancestry. Detained for over three years
while their sons and brothers fought valiantly for the United States, these
people were crammed into substandard housing behind barbed wire, completely
denied their civil rights. Returning home in 1945, they found their houses
vandalized, and their land and businesses stolen. For over forty years, the
United States preferred to forget the internment of Japanese-Americans during
World War II. Last year, though, Congress recognized the error this country made
in 1942, and offered what little it could to set things right, in the Civil
Liberties Act of 1988--tax free compensation of $20,000 to all surviving
internees.
By establishing a fund to compensate former internees, the
Congress decided that compensation would be paid as the budget permitted. The
budget deficit, however, gobbled up funds for the compensation program in FY
1989, and again in FY 1990. Given the probability of budget deficits for years
to come, this compensation program might never be funded--and many elderly
internees may never receive their just recompense. Altering the provisions of
the 1988 Civil Liberties Act to make these payments part of an entitlement
program will ensure their allocation to all deserving internees.
The budget procedure is not one to be lightly waived. In this
instance, however, given our responsibility for the wrong-headed internment of
Japanese Americans in World War II, we urge our colleagues to support the motion
to waive the Budget Act.
Those opposing the waiver contended:
With great reluctance, we oppose this motion to waive the
Budget Act. When the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 was considered in committee
last year, an amendment was added specifically to make payments under the bill
subject to the availability of appropriations. We do not believe that this bill
would have been approved had the Senate believed it was creating a new
entitlement program, and we do not believe that the Senate should waive the
Budget Act and create an entitlement program that, it is estimated, will add
$500 million to the FY 1991 deficit.
As well, the Congress has already done much to address the
financial inconveniences of internment. In 1948, Congress passed the
American-Japanese Claims Act, which authorized compensation to
Japanese-Americans for losses incurred as a result of internment. Over $37
million was paid out for 26,568 claims. In 1972, Congress amended the Social
Security Act so that Japanese-Americans over the age of 18 would be deemed to
have earned and contributed to the Social Security system during their
detention. Federal civil service retirement provisions were amended in 1978 to
allow Japanese-Americans credit for the time they were interned after the age of
18.
We have already done much to redress the wrongs of
internment, and cannot afford an entitlement program to do more. The motion to
waive the Budget Act should be defeated.
The Civil Liberties Act of 1988, H.R. 442, enacted August 10, 1988, provided for
reparations for Japanese-Americans interned during World War II. Nov. 1989
appropriations bill provided the funds. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan
signed the Civil Liberties Act, which offered a governmental apology and $20,000
in redress to more than 81,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated or
otherwise deprived of civil liberties during the war. The Civil Liberties Act of
1988 also included a public education fund to teach the lessons of the
internment experience.
|