From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: FCNL Legislative Update 4/10/92
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 23:38:07 GMT

/** fcnl.updates: 13.0 **/
** Topic: FCNL Legislative Update 4/10/92 **
** Written  1:16 pm  Apr 10, 1992 by fcnl in cdp:fcnl.updates **
     FCNL LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -- 4\10\92

This is the Friends Committee on National Legislation,
with updated legislative information.  To speak with a
staff member, call (202) 547-6000.

This message was prepared at 6 p.m. on Friday, April
10.  It contains information and action suggestions on
the following subjects:  CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM,
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, and MILITARY SPENDING.

Congress will be in recess from April 13th until April
27th.  Many Senators and Representatives will spend
the majority of this recess at home.  We suggest that
you take this opportunity to contact them at their
home offices with your concerns, including the
following.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM.  On April 9th, the House of
Representatives voted 259 to 165 to adopt the report
of the House and Senate conference committee on
campaign finance reform.  The Senate is expected to
vote on the report soon after the Easter recess.  The
report will then be sent to President Bush.  The
President has said that he will veto any campaign
finance reform legislation like this that contains
voluntary spending limits and public financing.    

ACTION:  There are three things you can do. (1) If 
your representative voted in favor of campaign finance
reform, thank him or her. (2) Urge your Senators to
adopt the conference report when they return from the
Easter recess. (3) Call the White House Comment Desk
at (202) 456-1111 and ask President Bush not to veto
this important reform legislation.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM:  The recess offers an opportunity
to speak to your representatives about H.R. 2797, the
Religious Freedom Restoration Act.  This bill,
introduced by Rep. Solarz NY in June 1991, would
restore the "compelling interest" standard abandoned
by the Supreme Court in its Oregon v. Smith decision
in 1990.  H.R. 2797 now has 175 co-sponsors.  This is
encouraging.  On the Senate side we are still awaiting
the introduction of a companion bill by Senators Biden
DE and Hatch UT.

ACTION:  If your representative is not already a co-
sponsor of H.R. 2797, please use the recess to visit
him or her and stress the need to sign on to the bill. 
If your representative IS a co-sponsor, thank him or
her.
          Please use the recess to visit your senators
and encourage them to become original co-sponsors of
the Senate Religious Freedom Restoration Act when it
is introduced.  If you live in Delaware, Senator Biden
needs to hear your concerns.  Please urge him not to
delay any longer on introducing this important
legislation.
 
If you do not know how your representative voted on
the campaign finance reform bill mentioned in this
update, or whether he or she is a co-sponsor of the
Religious Freedom Restoration Act, you can, (1) send
FCNL a self addressed stamped envelope for a copy of
these lists, or (2) phone the office at (202) 547-6000
and ask about your representative's position.

MILITARY SPENDING.  Both the Senate and the House have
approved overall military budget proposals for FY93. 
On April 9, the Senate voted by 50 to 45 AGAINST
further reductions in military spending this year. 
The Senate has approved the President's proposed $281
billion military budget, while the House approved a
military budget of $274 billion in early March.  The
differences between these figures will now be worked
out in conference.  

Despite this disappointing outcome for the overall
budget picture, we must not give up on efforts to
reduce military spending .  Rather, these efforts must
be shifted to the committees that AUTHORIZE and
APPROPRIATE specific Department of Defense spending
items.  In each chamber of Congress, the Armed
Services Committee will authorize (set policy on) most
of the weapons systems, troop levels, and so on, while
the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense
appropriates the funds.  Both committees are expected
to act on military spending beginning in late spring
or early summer, so it's not too soon to begin
expressing your concerns.  

ACTION.  Please call or write your representative or
senators, especially if they are members of the Armed
Services or Appropriations Committee's defense
subcommittee.  Urge them to slash funding for
unnecessary weapons programs and high troop levels.   


This concludes our message.  For more information,
please write to the Friends Committee on National
Legislation, 245 Second St., NE, Washington, DC 20002. 
** End of text from cdp:fcnl.updates **
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive