From: Christic Institute <christic@igc.apc.org>
Subject: CUANES Congress Update 9-14-92
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 22:39:42 GMT

/* Written  1:47 pm  Sep 14, 1992 by cuanes in cdp:carnet.alerts */
/* ---------- "CUANES Congress Update 9-14-92" ---------- */
CUANES CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE 9-14-92

The following is from the National Agenda for Peace in El Salvador.
Their hotline will have up to date information on the legislative
process in both the House and the Senate: 202-544-3057.

Immediate Action Needed for Senate Mark Up

It now seems likely that the Senate Foreign Operations Subcommittee
will mark up the Foreign Aid Appropriations bill this week.  The
earliest possible date for a mark up would be Tuesday, September 15.
We expect Senator Leahy to write a bill which includes these points:

  1) transferring all military aid to demobilization fund:
  2) rededicating the demobilization fund to its original conception of
     demobilizingng and reintegrating combatants of both sides; and
  3) that reconstruction money be spent in a pluralistic, non-partisan
        fashion that promotes national reconciliation.

Once the Subcommittee mark up takes place, we expect the full Committee
mark up and the floor vote to follow quickly.  Once the bill is
approved by the Senate, it will go to a conference committee with the
House bill that was passed in June.  The possible obstacles we
anticipate are:

1. On the floor of the Senate, Republicans could offer an amendment to
   restore the military aid.  In addition, there could be an amendment
   either on the floor or in the Appropriations Committee to condition
   Nicagargua economic aid in order to isolate the FSLN.  We do not
   anticipate any controversy in the Committee over El Salvador.

2. If good language passes the Senate, Sen. Leahy and Rep. Obey will
   negotiate the two versions in the conference committee.  The House
   version contains $11 million in military aid. The natural
   inclination will be to split the difference.  From our point of view
   no aid to the Salvadoran military is acceptable.

Between now and the end of the month (or the President signing the bill
into law, which ever comes first) the priorities for grassroots action
are:

1. ALL SENATORS SHOULD OPPOSE ANY FLOOR AMENDMENTS TO THE FOREIGN
   OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS BILL ON EITHER EL SALVADOR OR NICARAGUA.

2. ALL REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD TALK TO REP. OBEY NOW, AND URGE HIM TO
   ALLOW ALL MILITARY AID TO EL SALVADOR TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THE
   DEMOBILIZATION FUND IN THE CONFERENCE BILL.  IT IS ESPECIALLY
   IMPORTANT THAT HE HEAR FROM OTHER MEMBERS OF THE APPROPRIATIONS
   COMMITTEE AND THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP.

Until the Senate Appropriations Committee marks up, it will be
important to continue to gather signatures on the DeConcini-Specter
Dear Colleague letter, which reflects what we expect to be the content
of Sen. Leahy's bill.  There are currently 17 signers on the letter.
They are: Cranston (CA), Daschle (D-SD), Dodd (D-Ct), Ford (KY),
Inouye (HI), Jeffords (VT), Kennedy (MA), Kerrey (NE), Kerry (MA).
Kohl (WI), Pell (RI), Riegle (MI), Sanford (NC), Sasser (TN),
Simon (IL), Wellstone (MN), Wofford (PA).

It is especially important to pressure the Senate swing votes to
support the position in the DeConcini-Specter letter.  The key swings
are:

Alabama: SHELLY; Georgia: FOWLER, NUNN; Iowa: GRASSLEY;
Kansas: KASSEBAUM; Louisiana: JOHNSTON, BREAUX; Maine: COHEN;
Minnesota: DURENRBERGER; Missouri: DANFORTH; New Hampshire: RUDMAN;
New York:  D'AMATO; New Mexico: DOMENICI; North Carolina: SANFORD;
Oklahoma: BOREN; Oregon: PACKWOOD; Rhode Island: CHAFFEE;
South Carolina: HOLLINGS: South Dakota: PRESSLER; Tennessee: GORE;
Texas: BENTSEN; Virginia: ROBB, WARNER.

Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive