Subject: * SSI ALERT UPDATE JUly 1999
*******************
The House of Representatives today approved the
Gilman/Campbell amendment to H.R. 2415, the American Embassy
Security Act, by a vote of 221 - 198. The amendment
authorizes a US contribution of $25 million to the United
Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with a dollar-for-dollar
reduction equal to the amount UNFPA spends in China. This
amendment overrides another offered by Rep. Chris Smith (R-
NJ), which would have eliminated all funding for UNFPA.
Thanks to all of you who contributed to this significant
victory! We received many blind copies of letters to
Representatives which were well-written and made a
compelling case for reinstating funding for this important
program.
To view a transcript of the one-hour debate on the issue
that occurred last night, visit
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?r106:H19JY9-390:chive/nals.html-idhtm>
If you would like to know how your Representative voted
on this issue, visit
<http://clerkweb.house.gov/evs/1999/index.asp19JY9-390:chive/nals.html-idhtm> .
Although it has not yet been posted, a roll call on this
amendment should be available there soon.
The next major population-related vote in Congress is likely
to be the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, which the
House Appropriations Committee is considering today. SSI
will keep you posted as those details unfold.
*********************************************************
****************** EXECUTIVE SUMMARY *******************
ISSUE: The House of Representatives is expected to vote next
week on the FY2000 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill,
which would allocate $385 million for international family
planning funding and $25 million for the United Nations
Population Fund (UNFPA). However, family planning opponents
in the House are likely to try to reduce or restrict family
planning aid and eliminate funding for UNFPA when the bill
reaches the House floor.
ACTION: Call, fax, or email your Representative.
MAIN MESSAGE: Reject any amendment to the FY2000 Foreign
Operations Appropriations bill, including those offered by
Representatives Smith and Pitts, that would eliminate or
restrict funds for UNFPA and other international family
planning programs.
DEADLINE: Contact your Representative by Wed., July 28.
*********************************************************
*** THE ISSUE ***
The House of Representatives is expected to vote next week
on the FY2000 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill (this
bill has not yet been assigned a number), which would
allocate $385 million for international family planning
funding and $25 million for the United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA). However, family planning opponents in the
House are likely to try to reduce or restrict family
planning aid and eliminate funding for UNFPA when the bill
reaches the House floor.
This vote follows on the heels of a significant population-
related victory that occurred in the House earlier this
week, when the Gilman/Campbell amendment to H.R. 2415, the
American Embassy Security Act, was approved by a vote of 221
- 198 on July 20. The amendment authorizes a US contribution
of $25 million to UNFPA, with a dollar-for-dollar reduction
equal to the amount UNFPA spends in China.
The House floor win on the Gilman/Campbell amendment is just
the first step in the process to refund UNFPA. Now that a
UNFPA contribution has been authorized, the House must vote
to actually appropriate that funding, along with funding for
other major population assistance programs, through the
FY2000 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.
In the Appropriations Committee markup on this bill (also on
July 20), Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was successful in
inserting the same pro-UNFPA language that appeared in the
American Embassy Security Act. The committee approved this
language by a vote of 30 to 26, another significant pro-
family planning victory.
However, when the Appropriations bill reaches the House
floor, family planning opponents are expected to offer two
troubling amendments:
* Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) is expected to offer a combined
amendment to 1) cut all funding to UNFPA and 2) impose the
"global gag rule," which would restrict the activities and
free speech of foreign reproductive health programs that
receive US funds. (See Supporting Messages for more
details.)
* Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA) is likely to offer an amendment to
cut $100 million from international family planning funds
and divert it to children's health programs. This amendment
literally attempts to pit children's health against family
planning. Groups like the Global Health Council, which
represents global health and development practitioners
and experts, strongly oppose the Pitts amendment. (See
the SSI Info Update of 7/12/99 for more information.)
Both the Smith and Pitts amendments are serious threats to
international family planning funding. The full House is
expected to consider and vote on the FY2000 Foreign
Operations Appropriations bill next week.
*** THE ACTION ***
CALL, FAX OR EMAIL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE.
Like the vote on the American Embassy Security Act, the
Appropriations vote is expected to be very close.
Check for your Rep's vote in the roll call for the
Gilman/Campell amendment to the American Embassy Security
Act, which will follow in a separate email message. Key
swing voters are marked with an asterisk. You should thank
your Representative for his or her support, or encourage
them to reconsider their stance, in your message about the
upcoming Appropriations vote.
You can send a personalized email message through the House
website (http://www.house.gov/writerep/1999/index.asp19JY9-390:chive/nals.html-idhtm) or you can reach
your Rep's office by phone through the Capitol switchboard
(202-224-3121).
Remember that if you send an email message, include your
home address prominently in the message so that your
Representative knows you are a constituent.
MAIN MESSAGE: REJECT ANY AMENDMENT TO THE FY2000 FOREIGN
OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS BILL, INCLUDING THOSE OFFERED BY
REPRESETATIVES SMITH AND PITTS, THAT WOULD ELIMINATE OR
RESTRICT FUNDING FOR UNFPA AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL FAMILY
PLANNING PROGRAMS
DEADLINE: Contact your Representative by Wed., July 28.
*** SUPPORTING MESSAGES ***
-- American voluntary family planning programs have made a
proven 30-year contribution to reducing population growth
and poverty and enhancing human and environmental welfare
around the world. They are an important, positive and cost-
effective part of us foreign policy.
--Remind your Representative that thousands of families are
dependent on the voluntary family planning programs UNFPA
operates in more than 140 developing countries. UNFPA is
committed to freedom of individual choice in family
planning, opposes coercion in any form, and is working
toward these goals in China.
-- The "global gag" rule would impose a broad ban on all
overseas organizations that, with their own non-US funds,
lobby for changes in abortion laws, sponsor conferences and
workshops on abortion laws, publicly speak out about the
deaths and injuries to women from unsafe abortions, or draft
and distribute materials or public statements regarding
abortion. The gag rule would either silence or de-fund many
of the most capable and experienced family planning
organizations in the world.
-- World population continues to grow by about 80 million
people each year and compounds global warming, soil erosion,
water quality, deforestation, and other ecological problems.
-- The United States made a commitment at the United Nations
Population Conference in Cairo in 1994 to support
international family planning efforts. The U.S. re-affirmed
that commitment on July 2, 1999 at a Special Session of the
United Nations. The United States should re-establish a
leadership role in family planning funding and set an
example for both donor and recipient countries. Other
developed countries have recently cut back their population
aid. This makes US leadership even more important.
[Refer to the July 12 SSI Information Update, July 13 Action
Alert, and the UCS Web-Site for additional material for
messages.]
**************************
Note: Please send us an e-mail message that tells us what
action you took. If you send a letter, please send us a
"blind copy." (A blind copy simply means that you do not
indicate anywhere on your letter that you are sending a copy
to us.) Send to: ssi@ucsusa.org.
*** Supplemental Information for SSI Alert on FY2000 Foreign
Operations Appropriations bill ***
ROLL CALL for the Gilman/Campbell amendment to H.R. 2415,
the American Embassy Security Act (this amendment authorized
funding for UNFPA). Key swing voters on this issue are
marked with an asterisk (*); new members are marked with two
asterisks (**).
Passed, 221-198
Y: Yes, vote in favor of amendment (this is the pro-
population assistance vote)
N: No, vote opposed to amendment
NV: no vote, member was absent and did not vote
AK
Don Young R-at large N
AL
Sonny Callahan R-01 N
Terry Everett R-02 N
Bob Riley R-03 N
Robert Aderholt R-04 N
*Bud Cramer D-05 Y
Spencer Bachus R-06 N
Earl Hilliard D-07 Y
AR
*Marion Berry D-01 Y
Vic Snyder D-02 Y
Asa Hutchinson R-03 N
Jay Dickey R-04 N
AZ
Matt Salmon R-01 N
Ed Pastor D-02 Y
Bob Stump R-03 N
John Shadegg R-04 N
Jim Kolbe R-05 Y
J.D. Hayworth R-06 N
CA
**Mike Thompson D-01 Y
Wally Herger R-02 N
**Douglas Ose R-03 Y
John Doolittle R-04 N
Robert Matsui D-05 Y
Lynn Woolsey D-06 Y
George Miller D-07 Y
Nancy Pelosi D-08 Y
Barbara Lee D-09 Y
Ellen Tauscher D-10 Y
Richard Pombo R-11 N
Tom Lantos D-12 Y
Pete Stark D-13 NV
Anna Eshoo D-14 Y
Tom Campbell R-15 Y
Zoe Lofgren D-16 Y
Sam Farr D-17 Y
Gary Condit D-18 Y
George Radanovich R-19 N
Calvin Dooley D-20 Y
William Thomas R-21 Y
Lois Capps D-22 Y
Elton Gallegly R-23 N
Brad Sherman D-24 Y
Howard McKeon R-25 N
Howard Berman D-26 Y
James Rogan R-27 N
David Dreier R-28 N
Henry Waxman D-29 Y
Xavier Becerra D-30 Y
Matthew Martinez D-31 Y
Julian Dixon D-32 Y
Lucille Roybal-Allard D-33 Y
**Grace Napolitano D-34 Y
Maxine Waters D-35 Y
**Steven Kuykendall R-36 Y
Juanita Millender-McDonald D-37 Y
Steve Horn R-38 Y
Ed Royce R-39 N
*Jerry Lewis R-40 Y
**Gary Miller R-41 N
George Brown R-42 N
Ken Calvert R-43 N
*Mary Bono D-44 Y
Dana Rohrabacher R-45 N
Loretta Sanchez D-46 Y
Christopher Cox R-47 N
Ron Packard R-48 N
Brian Bilbray R-49 Y
Bob Filner D-50 Y
Randy Cunningham R-51 N
Duncan Hunter R-52 N
CO
Dianna DeGette D-01 Y
**Mark Udall D-02 Y
Scott McInnis R-03 N
Bob Schaffer R-04 N
Joel Hefley R-05 N
**Tom Tancredo R-06 N
CT
**John Larson D-01 Y
Sam Gejdenson D-02 Y
Rosa DeLauro D-03 Y
Christopher Shays R-04 Y
James Maloney D-05 Y
Nancy Johnson R-06 Y
DE
Michael Castle R-01 Y
FL
Joe Scarborough R-01 N
Allen Boyd D-02 Y
Corrine Brown D-03 Y
*Tillie Fowler R-04 Y
Karen Thurman D-05 Y
Clifford Stearns R-06 N
John Mica R-07 N
Bill McCollum R-08 N
Michael Bilirakis R-09 N
C. W. Young R-10 N
Jim Davis D-11 Y
Charles Canady R-12 N
*Dan Miller R-13 Y
Porter Goss R-14 N
Dave Weldon R-15 N
*Mark Foley R-16 Y
Carrie Meek D-17 Y
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen R-18 N
Robert Wexler D-19 Y
Peter Deutsch D-20 Y
Lincoln Di ðBalart R-21 N
*Clay E. Shaw R-22 Y
Alcee Hastings D-23 N
GA
Jack Kingston R-01 N
Sanford Bishop D-02 Y
Michael Collins R-03 N
Cynthia McKinney D-04 Y
John Lewis D-05 NV
**Johnny Isakson R-06 Y
Bob Barr R-07 N
Saxby Chambliss R-08 N
Nathan Deal R-09 N
Charlie Norwood R-10 N
John Linder D-11 Y
HI
Neil Abercrombie D-01 Y
Patsy Mink D-02 Y
IA
Jim Leach R-01 Y
Jim Nussle R-02 N
Leonard Boswell D-03 Y
*Greg Ganske R-04 Y
Tom Latham R-05 N
ID
Helen Chenoweth R-01 N
**Mike Simpson R-02 N
IL
Bobby Rush D-01 Y
Jesse Jackson D-02 Y
William Lipinski D-03 N
Luis Gutierrez D-04 Y
Rod Blagojevich D-05 Y
Henry Hyde R-06 N
Danny Davis D-07 Y
Philip Crane R-08 N
**Janice Schakowsky D-09 Y
John Porter R-10 Y
Jerry Weller R-11 N
Jerry Costello D-12 N
**Judy Biggert R-13 Y
J. Hastert R-14 N
Thomas Ewing R-15 N
Donald Manzullo R-16 N
Lane Evans D-17 Y
Ray LaHood R-18 N
**David Phelps D-19 N
John Shimkus R-20 N
IN
Peter Visclosky D-01 Y
David McIntosh R-02 N
Tim Roemer D-03 N
Mark Souder R-04 N
Stephen Buyer R-05 N
Dan Burton R-06 N
Ed Pease R-07 N
John Hostettler R-08 N
**Baron Hill D-09 Y
Julia Carson D-10 Y
KS
Jerry Moran R-01 N
Jim Ryun R-02 N
**Dennis Moore D-03 Y
Todd Tiahrt R-04 N
KY
Edward Whitfield R-01 N
Ron Lewis R-02 N
Anne Northup R-03 N
**Kenneth Lucas D-04 N
Harold Rogers R-05 N
**Ernie Fletcher R-06 N
LA
David Vitter R-01 N
William Jefferson D-02 NV
W. (Billy) Tauzin R-03 N
Jim McCrery R-04 N
*John Cooksey R-05 Y
Richard Baker R-06 NV
Christopher John D-07 N
MA
John Olver D-01 Y
*Richard Neal D-02 Y
James McGovern D-03 Y
Barney Frank D-04 Y
Martin Meehan D-05 Y
John Tierney D-06 Y
Edward Markey D-07 Y
**Michael Capuano D-08 Y
*Joe Moakley D-09 Y
William Delahunt D-10 Y
MD
Wayne Gilchrest R-01 Y
Robert Ehrlich R-02 Y
Benjamin Cardin D-03 Y
Albert Wynn D-04 Y
Steny Hoyer D-05 Y
Roscoe Bartlett R-06 N
Elijah Cummings D-07 Y
Constance Morella R-08 Y
ME
Thomas Allen D-01 Y
John Baldacci D-02 Y
MI
Bart Stupak D-01 N
Peter Hoekstra R-2 N
Vern Ehlers R-03 N
Dave Camp R-04 N
James Barcia D-05 N
Fred Upton R-06 Y
Nick Smith R-07 N
Debbie Stabenow D-08 Y
Dale Kildee D-09 N
*David Bonior D-10 Y
Joe Knollenberg R-11 N
Sander Levin D-12 Y
Lynn Rivers D-13 Y
John Conyers D-14 Y
Carolyn Kilpatrick D-15 Y
John Dingell D-16 Y
MN
Gil Gutknecht R-01 N
David Minge D-02 Y
Jim Ramstad R-03 Y
Bruce Vento D-04 Y
Martin Sabo D-05 Y
William Luther D-06 Y
Collin Peterson D-07 N
*James Oberstar D-08 Y
MO
William Clay D-01 Y
James Talent R-02 N
Richard Gephardt D-03 Y
Ike Skelton D-04 N
Karen McCarthy D-05 Y
*Pat Danner D-06 N
Roy Blunt R-07 N
Jo Anne Emerson R-08 N
Kenny Hulshof R-09 N
MS
Roger Wicker R-01 N
Bennie Thompson D-02 Y
Charles Pickering R-03 N
**Ronnie Shows D-04 N
Gene Taylor D-05 N
MT
Rick Hill R-at large N
NC
Eva Clayton D-01 Y
Bob Etheridge D-02 Y
Walter Jones R-03 N
David Price D-04 Y
Richard Burr R-05 N
Howard Coble R-06 NV
Mike McIntyre D-07 N
**Robert Hayes R-08 N
Sue Myrick R-09 N
Cass Ballenger R-10 N
Charles Taylor R-11 N
Melvin Watt D-12 Y
ND
Earl Pomeroy D-01 Y
NE
*Doug Bereuter R-01 Y
**Lee Terry R-02 N
Bill Barrett R-03 N
NH
John Sununu R-01 N
Charles Bass R-02 Y
NJ
Robert Andrews D-01 Y
Frank LoBiondo R-02 N
Jim Saxton R-03 N
Christopher Smith R-04 N
Marge Roukema R-05 Y
Frank Pallone D-06 Y
Bob Franks R-07 Y
Bill Pascrell D-08 Y
Steven Rothman D-09 Y
Donald Payne D-10 Y
Rodney Frelinghuysen R-11 Y
**Rush Holt D-12 Y
Robert Menendez D-13 U
NM
*Heather Wilson R-01 Y
*Joe Skeen R-02 N
**Thomas Udall D-03 Y
NV
**Shelley Berkley D-01 Y
*Jim Gibbons R-02 Y
NY
Michael Forbes D-01 N
Rick Lazio R-02 Y
Peter King R-03 N
Carolyn McCarthy D-04 Y
Gary Ackerman D-05 Y
Gregory Meeks D-06 Y
**Joseph Crowley D-07 Y
Jerrold Nadler D-08 Y
**Anthony Weiner D-09 Y
Edolphus Towns D-10 NV
Major Owens D-11 Y
Nydia Velazquez D-12 Y
Vito Fossella R-13 N
Carolyn Maloney D-14 Y
Charles Rangel D-15 Y
Jose Serrano D-16 Y
Eliot Engel D-17 Y
Nita Lowey D-18 Y
Sue Kelly R-19 Y
Benjamin Gilman R-20 Y
*Michael McNulty D-21 Y
**John Sweeney R-22 Y
Sherwood Boehlert R-23 Y
John McHugh R-24 N
James Walsh R-25 N
Maurice Hinchey D-26 NV
**Thomas Reynolds R-27 N
Louise Slaughter D-28 Y
John LaFalce D-29 N
Jack Quinn R-30 N
Amo Houghton R-31 Y
OH
Steve Chabot R-01 N
Rob Portman R-02 N
*Tony Hall D-03 N
Michael Oxley R-04 N
Paul Gillmor R-05 N
Ted Strickland D-06 Y
David Hobson R-07 Y
John Boehner R-08 N
*Marcy Kaptur D-09 Y
Dennis Kucinich D-10 N
**Stephanie Tubbs Jones D-11 Y
John Kasich R-12 N
Sherrod Brown D-13 Y
Thomas Sawyer D-14 Y
Deborah Pryce R-15 Y
*Ralph Regula R-16 Y
*James Traficant D-17 N
Bob Ney R-18 N
*Steven LaTourette R-19 Y
OK
Steve Largent R-01 N
Tom Coburn R-02 N
Wes Watkins R-03 N
J.C. Watts R-04 N
Ernest Istook R-05 N
Frank Lucas R-06 N
OR
**David Wu D-01 Y
**Greg Walden R-02 N
Earl Blumenauer D-03 Y
Peter DeF io D-04 Y
Darlene Hooley D-05 Y
PA
Robert Brady D-01 Y
Chaka Fattah D-02 Y
*Robert Borski D-03 Y
*Ron Klink D-04 Y
John Peterson R-05 NV
Tim Holden D-06 NV
Curt Weldon R-07 N
Jim Greenwood R-08 Y
Bud Shuster R-09 N
**Donald Sherwood R-10 N
*Paul Kanjorski D-11 Y
*John Murtha D-12 Y
**Joseph Hoeffel D-13 Y
William Coyne D-14 Y
**Patrick Toomey R-15 N
Joseph Pitts R-16 N
*George Gekas R-17 N
*Mike Doyle D-18 Y
William Goodling R-19 N
Frank Mascara D-20 N
Phil English R-21 NV
RI
Patrick Kennedy D-01 NV
Robert Weygand D-02 N
SC
Mark Sanford R-01 N
Floyd Spence R-02 N
Lindsey Graham R-03 N
**James DeMint R-04 N
John Spratt D-05 Y
James Clyburn D-06 Y
SD
John Thune R-at large N
TN
William Jenkins R-01 N
John Duncan R-02 N
Zach Wamp R-03 N
Van Hilleary R-04 N
Bob Clement D-05 Y
Bart Gordon D-06 Y
Ed Bryant R-07 N
*John Tanner D-08 Y
Harold Ford D-09 Y
TX
Max Sandlin D-01 Y
Jim Turner D-02 Y
Sam Johnson R-03 N
Ralph Hall D-04 N
Pete Sessions R-05 N
Joe Barton R-06 N
Bill Archer R-07 N
Kevin Brady R-08 N
Nick Lampson D-09 Y
Lloyd Doggett D-10 Y
Chet Edwards D-11 Y
*Kay Granger R-12 Y
William Thornberry R-13 N
Ron Paul R-14 N
Ruben Hinojosa D-15 Y
Silvestre Reyes D-16 Y
Charles Stenholm D-17 N
Sheila Jackson Lee D-18 Y
Larry Combest R-19 NV
**Charlie Gonzalez D-20 Y
Lamar Smith R-21 N
Tom DeLay R-22 N
Henry Bonilla R-23 N
Martin Frost D-24 Y
Ken Bentsen D-25 Y
Richard Armey R-26 N
Solomon Ortiz D-27 NV
Ciro Rodriguez D-28 Y
Gene Green D-29 Y
Eddie Bernice Johnson D-30 Y
UT
James Hansen R-01 N
Merrill Cook R-02 N
ChrisCannon R-03 N
VA
Herbert Bateman R-01 N
*Owen Pickett D-02 N
Robert Scott D-03 N
Norman Sisisky D-04 N
Virgil Goode D-05 N
Robert Goodlatte R-06 N
Thomas Bliley R-07 N
James Moran D-08 Y
Rick Boucher D-09 Y
Frank Wolf R-10 N
Tom Davis R-11 Y
VT
Bernard Sanders I at large Y
WA
*Jay Inslee D-01 Y
Jack Metcalf R-02 N
**Brian Baird D-03 Y
Richard Hastings R-04 N
George Nethercutt R-05 N
Norman Dicks D-06 Y
Jim McDermott D-07 NV
*Jennifer Dunn R-08 N
Adam Smith D-09 Y
WI
**Paul Ryan R-01 N
**Tammy Baldwin D-02 Y
Ron Kind D-03 Y
*Gerald Kleczka D-04 Y
Thomas Barrett D-05 Y
Thomas Petri R-06 N
David Obey D-07 Y
**Mark Green R-08 N
F. Sensenbrenner R-09 N
WV
Alan Mollohan D-01 N
Bob Wise D-02 Y
Nick Rahall D-03 N
WY
Barbara Cubin R-at large N
**************************
You can send a personalized email message through the House
website (http://www.house.gov/writerep/1999/index.asp19JY9-390:chive/nals.html-idhtm) or you can reach
your Rep's office by phone through the Capitol switchboard
(202-224-3121).
Note: Please send us an e-mail message that tells us what
action you took. Send to: ssi@ucsusa.org.
********************** ALERT UPDATE ***********************
As stated in the 7/23/99 SSI Alert, the House of
Representatives is expected to vote on the FY2000 Foreign
Operations Appropriations bill, H.R. 2606, tomorrow
(Thursday, July 29). This bill would allocate $385 million
for international family planning funding and $25 million
for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Once again,
we have received copies of many well-written letters to
Representatives - thanks to all of you who responded! For
those of you who have not yet taken action, there is still
time.
There are some important new developments regarding
amendments to the Appropriations bill which we thought you
would like to know about:
First, the good news: Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) has
abandoned his attempt to eliminate funding for UNFPA,
presumably because he realizes he would lose the vote.
Therefore, the final bill will retain a provision for a $25
million contribution to UNFPA, a major family planning
victory. However, Smith will still offer his "global gag
rule" amendment, which would restrict the activities and
free speech of foreign reproductive health programs that
receive US funds.
Because the Smith amendment may pass, Representatives Jim
Greenwood (R-PA) and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will offer a pro-
family planning amendment which would soften the negative
effects of the Smith Amendment.
Finally, Representative Joe Pitts (R-PA) has changed his
amendment as described in the 7/23/99 SSI Alert. Instead of
proposing to shift funding from family planning to child
survival programs, Rep. Pitts will offer an amendment that
puts a "fire wall" around child survival foreign assistance
and prohibits programs that receive it from engaging in any
kind of family planning activities with the exception of
breast-feeding.
The votes on Thursday are expected to be close. If you have
not already done so, NOW IS THE TIME to contact your
Representative. You can send a personalized email message
through the House website (http://www.house.gov/writerep/1999/index.asp19JY9-390:chive/nals.html-idhtm)
or you can reach your Rep's office by phone through the
Capitol switchboard (202-224-3121). It is particularly
important that members vote "YES" for the Greenwood/Pelosi
Amendment.
MAIN MESSAGE: When considering the FY2000 Foreign Operations
Appropriations Bill, vote "NO" on the Smith and Pitts
amendments which would restrict international family
planning and child survival programs. Vote "YES" the pro-
family planning Greenwood/Pelosi amendment.
Please refer to the 7/23/99 SSI Alert and Alert Addition:
Roll Call, and the 7/12/99 SSI Info Update for further
information.
{***Correction: In the SSI Alert: Roll Call on UNFPA
Amendment sent 7/23/99, the roll call contained three
errors: First, Rep. George Brown (D-CA) was listed
erroneously. Sadly, Rep. Brown, a staunch supporter of
population programs and the environment, recently passed
away. Second, Mary Bono of CA is a Republican, not a
Democrat. Finally, Rep. Menendez of NJ voted "Y". Our
apologies for these errors.)
**************************
Note: Please send us an e-mail message that tells us what
action you took. If you send a letter, please send us a
"blind copy." (A blind copy simply means that you do not
indicate anywhere on your letter that you are sending a copy
to us.) Send to: ssi@ucsusa.org.
********** EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ***************
ISSUE: The Senate is expected to vote in the next few days
on the Interior Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2000,
which contains many anti-environmental "riders" concerning
National Forests and other public lands. Votes are expected
on several amendments aimed at eliminating riders and
reallocating funds towards programs that protect
biodiversity.
ACTION: Call, fax or email both of your two Senators.
MAIN MESSAGE: Support all the amendments presented on the
Senate floor that will eliminate riders from the Interior
Appropriations bill. Also support the Bryan amendment that
will shift funds in the timber program to support
environmental protection.
DEADLINE: Contact your Senator no later than Friday July 30,
if at all possible.
*******************************************************
*** THE ISSUE ***
The vote on the Senate Interior Appropriations bill is one
of a few key biodiversity-related legislative votes expected
in this Congress. Scientists' voices at this strategic
juncture in the legislative process can make an important
difference to the overall near-term outcome of biodiversity
protection on public lands.
In initial debate on the Interior Appropriations bill on
Tuesday July 27th, the Senate defeated an environmental
amendment on a rider on mining waste dumps. The vote,
however, was close, and influential Senators such as John
Chafee (R-RI) have subsequently indicated that they will
side with environmental and scientific groups on some of the
rider votes. Thus just a few Senators can make the
difference on many of the possible votes.
*Background on the "Rider" Strategy. In recent years, and
especially last fall, anti-environmental Senators have used
the Interior Department and Related Agencies Appropriations
bill as a vehicle to delay, undermine, or obstruct
enforcement of the nation's environmental laws. They have
done this by attaching "riders" to this bill, which funds
the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest
Service, and other agencies with responsibility for
protecting biodiversity. "Riders" are provisions unrelated
to appropriating money that could not pass if presented on
their own and debated openly.
Last year, this attempt backfired. The riders did not pass
unnoticed but rather provoked a strong reaction from the
public -- including SSI members! The public attention and
fierce debate that resulted finally led to the Senate
Republican leadership withdrawing the bill. Most although
not all of riders were blocked from passage, and it was
thought that the tactic might not be tried again this year.
Unfortunately, this was not to be. The Senate Appropriations
committee added many riders to its version of the bill again
this June, and once again only a strong public reaction can
block them from going through. A variety of groups concerned
about the adverse environmental impacts of these riders are
mobilizing to put pressure on the Senate to strip the riders
from the bill. The pressure is also intended to reallocate
funds away from activities dangerous to biodiversity, such
as timber cutting, and toward the protection of wildlife and
endangered species.
* Up-to-the-Minute Developments. In the last few days, the
outlook for the debate has been changed by a vote modifying
the rules under which the Senate considers appropriations
bills. The flood of riders in the last few years -- on the
Interior Appropriations bills as well as others -- was let
loose by a change in 1995. During a vote on a parliamentary
ruling concerning a provision obstructing enforcement of the
Endangered Species Act that year, the Senate effectively
gutted its Rule 16, which had restricted legislative riders
on appropriations bills.
On July 26, 1999 the Senate reversed its 1995 action and
partly reinstated Rule 16. This change had the immediate
effect of forcing the Senate leadership to delete four
riders from the Interior Appropriations bill, including one
that would have given the governors of Idaho and Montana
veto power over programs to reintroduce the grizzly bear in
their states. It also makes it possible for Senators to
force other riders to be dropped by a raising a point of
order during floor debate. On the other hand, it is possible
that some of the riders could be reattached to the bill by
rewriting them so that they are not vulnerable to a point of
order under Rule 16.
These developments make it somewhat uncertain exactly which
riders in the bill will come to a vote. However the basic
principle remains the same: all the riders -- "stealth"
attempts to block environmental protection -- should be
taken out of the bill.
* Of Particular Interest to Scientists. Section 329 of the
Interior Appropriations bill is a rider that restricts the
Forest Service's use of the most recent scientific
information in developing plans for wildlife conservation
and land management in the National Forests. This goes
directly counter to the recent report of the Committee of
Scientists appointed to advise the Forest Service. Senators
Chuck Robb (D-VA) and Max Cleland (D-GA) are expected to
offer an amendment to eliminate this rider, and their effort
should be supported.
Amendments that shift funds away from environmentally
destructive activities such as timber cutting in the
National Forests and reallocate funds to environmental
protection are expected to be introduced on the floor. Such
amendments deserve support from scientists. In particular,
one amendment to be offered by Senator Richard Bryan (D-NV)
would reduce the timber cutting budget by $34 million and
increase funds for fish and wildlife protection and road
maintenance by $21 million. Just to be clear: The Bryan
amendment is not on a rider -- it actually does deal with
appropriating money. The amendment is important because it
shifts priorities away from timber cutting and toward
environmental protection.
*** ACTION ***
CALL, FAX or EMAIL both of your two Senators immediately.
For your Senator's contact information, refer to the
Congressional Directory at <http://congress.orgv/writerep/1999/index.asp19JY9-390:chive/nals.html-idhtm>. By typing
in your zip code, district, or Senator's name, you will
access all of your Senator's contact information. You can
also reach your Senator's office by calling the Capitol
switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
Remember, if you send an email message, be sure to include
your full home address in the text, so your Senator can
confirm that you are indeed a constituent in her/his
district.
MAIN MESSAGE: SUPPORT ALL THE AMENDMENTS PRESENTED ON THE
SENATE FLOOR THAT WILL ELIMINATE RIDERS FROM THE INTERIOR
APPROPRIATIONS BILL. ALSO SUPPORT THE BRYAN AMENDMENT THAT
WILL SHIFT FUNDS IN THE TIMBER PROGRAM TO SUPPORT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
Since it is not clear which riders will remain in the
bill and which of those will actually come to a vote, it's a
better strategy simply to press your Senators to oppose all
the riders on all votes taken, rather than to specify
particular amendments to support. Furthermore, because of
the recent Rule 16 change, votes on points of order may be
just as crucial as votes on amendments.
*** DEADLINE ***
Please contact your Senators immediately upon receiving this
message.
The Senate began preliminary debate on the Interior
Appropriations bill on Tuesday July 27, and then put it
aside for a few days to debate tax cut proposals. However
the Senate is expected to return to the bill shortly,
perhaps as early as Friday July 30th or Monday August 2nd.
Remember: predicting when congressional votes will
actually happen is always risky business. The projected date
of a July 30 vote is based on the best information we
currently have available. If we learn that the vote is
delayed, we may send an update with revised information and
may suggest once again that you contact your senators.
*** SUPPORTING MESSAGES ***
-- The riders are an underhanded attempt to obstruct
enforcement of the nation's laws protecting biodiversity.
They prevent government agencies from managing our public
lands according to the best scientific information and
should be opposed on all votes --both on amendments to
strike them and on points of order.
-- Support the Robb-Cleland amendment to eliminate the rider
that restricts the use of scientific information for
wildlife conservation and land management in National Forest
planning.
-- The Bryan amendment reduces funding for timber cutting
and increases funding for fish and wildlife protection, and
should be supported.
*** SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ***
-- In the debate about the riders, the underlying purpose of
the Interior Appropriations bill -- to appropriate money for
government agencies -- has tended to fade into the
background. The funding in the bill totals $13.924 billion.
This amount is $19 million below this year's level, and
$1.125 billion less than the Administration's request. The
FY2000 funding level is not good for biodiversity. The
numbers, however, are partly the result of the Balanced
Budget agreement between the President and the Congressional
leadership struck three years ago, and there is not likely
to be any attempt to increase them substantially.
***************************************************
NOTE: Please send us an email message that tells us what
action you took. If you send an email, please send us a
"blind copy." (A blind copy simply means that you do not
indicate anywhere on your letter that you are sending a copy
to us.) Send to: ssi@ucsusa.org or UCS, 2 Brattle Square,
Cambridge, MA 02238-9105 (attn. Katie Mogelgaard).