From: ifcss@WAM.UMD.EDU (IFCSS HQ)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.china
Subject: IFCSS HQ Special Report 4014: Status of Protection Bill
Date: 27 Jul 92 19:52:38 GMT


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IFCSS Headquarters Special Report No. 4014       July 27, 1992
              STATUS OF THE PROTECTION BILL
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Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars (IFCSS)
   733 15th Street, N.W., Suite 440, Washington, D.C.20005
         Tel. (202)347-0017  Fax: (202)347-0018
                Email: ifcss@wam.umd.edu


            Status of the Protection Bill
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Dear IFCSS Members:

     Many people have contacted the HQ asking for further
information and instructions regarding the 1992 Protection 
Bill. After calling House offices and consulting with
IFCSS attorneys, we have prepared a formal report to
answer the most commonly asked questions. Please contact
HQ if you still have questions.

     1. THE NUMBER OF THE BILL: The bill now considered
by the House is INDEED S1216. It was passed by the Senate
and sent to the House for consent, so it keeps its original
number indicating that it is originated in the Senate.
The House has its own bill which has not been picked up.

     2. WHERE IS IT NOW: The bill is still in the House
Judiciary Committee. It will likely be sent to the Rules
Committee During this week.

     3. THE HATIAN AMENDMENT: The Hatian amendment 
proposed by Michigan Congressman Conyers has been
rejected by the Chair of House Judiciary Committee on
the ground that it is not german (which means 
IRREELEVANT to the protection of Chinese students).
So it will not cause any trouble in the Judiciary
Committee. 

     However, when the bill comes to the House floor,
the amendment may still be proposed. There are two
chances to defeat that amendment: A. When the bill 
comes to the Rules Committee, the committee makes it
a CLOSED BILL which cannot accept amendments. B. If it
remains open and when it is raised in the whole House,
it may be ruled NOT GERMAN and thus be rejected. 

     4. OUR STRATEGY:

     A. Continue sending petitions to House Judiciary 
Committee until it is passed by the Committee. We will
give instructions as to when to stop lobbying the 
Judiciary Committee.

     B. Start and continue sending messages to the Rules
Committee asking for CLOSED RULE ON THE S1216 PROTECTION
BILL. The rules committee is responsible only for making
the House schedules and agenda.

     C. The MOST important: Continue sending petitions
to your local Congressmens' offices (in local or D.C.).
Ask for their support, point out the urgency and ask
them to reject irrelevant amendments. When the bill
comes to the whole House, no matter it is a closed or
not, the House vote will be the final battle in Congress.

     5. WHAT TO SAY TO CONGRESSMEN:

     This should be divided into two levels: Individual and
institutional. Individually, the message should be very
brief and simple. One sentence is enough. To the Judiciary,
ask for support; To the Rules Committee, ask for CLOSED
RULE; To the Congressmen, express your concern and ask for
support. Congressmen receive tens or hundreds calls a day
on a certain issue, they do not remember who said what.
They just keep a record of how many messages received
on a bill and how many support and how many oppose the bill.
On this level, the NUMBER of calls is the key.

     Institutionally, local schools or groups may send
formal petition letters to Cogressional offices. A sample
letter will be posted later.

     6. COME TO D.C. TO LOBBY?

     There is no such a need at this time. But be prepared.
When the House receives the bill, we will call for lobby
groups to come to D.C. 

     7. WILL PRESIDENT BUSH VETO IT?

     Unlikely. First, the administration cannot prove that
it is safe for Chinese students to return to China. (The
State Department has been criticizing the human rights
records of the Chinese government.) Second, the President
cannot withdraw protection and send the students back to
China. Third, the United States has been heraled as the
"land of the free and asylum of the oppressed." United
States has given Permanent Residency to peoples from
several countries in the past after Presidential
protection orders are expired. The president must have
strong arguments to reverse such a tradition. Fourth, it
is a presidential election year. Bush would prefer to
avoid public controversy. 

     According to sources from Congressional staffs, 
President Bush has indicated in an occasion that he
will sign the bill if it is passed by Congress. (Not
confirmed through other sources.)

     We are optimistic. But we have do our best to
support the bill. We should not relax until the bill
is signed into law. 

     Thanks for you attention.

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         IFCSS Headquarters Office    Signature
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