Washington Wire
June, 2005 Vol. 7, No. 2

The OU/IPA has been working intensively to promote and represent the interests of the Orthodox Jewish community in the public policy arena. A great deal has occurred since the last edition of this newsletter; we will update you in a brief fashion here and direct you to relevant internet links where you can access additional information on issues of particular interest to you.

PRIORITY LEGISLATIVE ISSUES

Religious Liberty - ‘WRFA’: The Workplace Religious Freedom Act remains a top priority on our policy agenda. The bill was introduced in March by a critical group of bipartisan members of Congress. Lead sponsors in the Senate are Rick Santorum (R-PA) and John Kerry (D-MA); in the House are Mark Souder (R-IN) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY); they have been joined by many other senators and representatives committed to religious liberty. We are working with these members and a broad coalition of allies to bring WRFA to a committee hearing in the near term and then on to passage. For further information, visit http://www.ou.org/public/Publib/work.htm

Appropriation of Homeland Security Funding Assistance – In the wake of the events of 9/11/01 and subsequent events around the globe, the Jewish community and its institutions have become much more concerned with their physical security and their ability to withstand, God forbid, a terrorist attack. Over the past year, the OU/IPA joined with United Jewish Communities and other concerned groups to develop an initiative under which federal funds would be made available through the Dept. of Homeland Security to assist non-profit institutions – including synagogues and day schools – in improving their physical security. Last year, we succeeded, with the assistance of critical allies including Rep. Eric Cantor, Senators Specter and Mikulski, in seeing $25 million appropriated specifically for the purpose of assisting nonprofits at risk of terrorist attack. We are continuing this effort in Congress this year, for next year’s federal budget and, to date, are making positive progress. In the meantime, the funds already appropriated are in the pipeline to applicant organizations. At the cutting edge of this effort at the state level is Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich who has distributed millions of dollars in homeland security funds to synagogues, schools and other entities in our community. See http://www.ou.org/public/statements/2005/n13.htm

Jerusalem Resolution – The OU/IPA is working with Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and other allies to again promote Jerusalem as the eternal and indivisible capitol of the State of Israel. Sen. Brownback has introduced S.J.Res. 14 which will require that the United States recognize the indivisibility of Jerusalem and relocate the American embassy to that city prior to the possible recognition of a Palestinian state.

Education – Last year we succeeded in having legislation enacted with the purpose of garnering greater equity for special needs children the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), the federal government’s primary funding program for special education services. Too often, children with special ed. needs who attend religious schools are underserved by this federally funded program. Working with allies in Congress and from other constituency groups, the revised IDEA statute, which President Bush signed in December, 2004 contains provisions which will force local authorities administering IDEA
funds to deliver more and better services to our community’s learning disabled children. The U.S. Dept. of Education on the implementing regulations for these provisions.
See http://www.ou.org/public/publib/speced-idea.htm for more details.

Faith Based Initiative - To our disappointment, the bipartisan proposal known as the CARE Act (a package of tax incentives for increased charitable giving plus a $1.5 billion increase in federal social service grant funding) failed to pass congress last year. We will be supporting efforts to pass this legislation again. We are also working with allies in congress toward having some of the key “faith friendly” policy changes put in place by President Bush via Executive Order codified into federal law. Our first effort on that front is to have codified the policy that a religious building which suffers damage in a natural disaster may not be denied federal disaster funds administered by FEMA solely because of its religious affiliation.

Public Funding for Stem Cell Research - In consultation with a distinguished task force comprised of rabbis, Orthodox scientists and community leaders, the OU endorsed government funding for stem cell research in 2001. This issue has returned to the center of political debate as bipartisan members of Congress seek to pass legislation which would extend federal funding for such research beyond the narrow scope which President Bush has allowed (by executive order) to date. In May, the U.S. House passed the bipartisan Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which is consistent with the OU’s policy position; the measure now awaits Senate action. For further details on this complex issue, see:
http://www.ou.org/public/Publib/cloning.htm

JUDICIAL DOCKET
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld the constitutionality of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”). The OU/IPA worked intensively with a broad coalition of organizations to have this law enacted in 2000 in the wake of an earlier Supreme Court decision striking down the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. RLUIPA contains 2 provisions: one protects houses of worship from common forms of unfair treatment through abuse of zoning and land use rules; the other provides prison inmates with an additional measure of protection for their religious liberties. The case before the court related to the prison provision. See http://www.ou.org/public/statements/2005/n12.htm

We await a ruling from the Supreme Court in cases reviewing public displays of the 10 Commandments in which the OU joined in an amicus brief, see http://www.ou.org/pdf/5765/draft10comm012705.pdf

In an important lower court ruling in which the OU/IPA participated, the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled in the case of Meshel v. Ohev Shalom that it would not be a violation of the Establishment Clause for a civil court to enforce a synagogue bylaws provision requiring disputes to be settled by a Beit Din. See the court’s opinion at: http://www.dcappeals.gov/dccourts/appeals/pdf/03-CV-952.PDF

MISSION TO WASHINGTON

The annual Leadership Mission to Washington for OU officers, directors and commission members is took place on April 6-7, 2005. As in past years, this exciting event included high-level briefings at The White House, a luncheon at the Capitol with senators and visits with other key policymakers. For further information and photos, see http://www.ou.org/events/5765/mission65.htm

OU NATIONAL DINNER

The IPA played an important role in the 107th Annual Dinner of the Orthodox Union by facilitating the participation of the Hon. Alberto Gonzales – Attorney General of the United States as the keynote speaker for the dinner. Through the IPA, the OU has had a close and productive relationship with the Department of Justice on issues of great interest to the community. You can view photos of the event here http://www.ou.org/oupr/2005/postdinner65.htm and read Mr. Gonzales’ speech at:
http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/speeches/2005/06052005jewishcongregationdinner.htm

BRUCHIM HABA’IM

In late March, Mr. Howard Beigelman joined the professional staff of the OU/IPA as deputy director. Based in our New York office, Mr. Beigelman is spearheading our efforts to increase the OU/IPA’s connections with our grassroots members and lead policy initiatives in targeted state and local legislatures and executive branch offices. Prior to joining the OU/IPA staff, Mr. Beigelman worked as a senior aide to New York Governor George Pataki.

SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Twenty-seven college students are participating in this year’s OU/IPA Congressional Summer Internship Program. They are placed in a range of Senate, House and advocacy organization offices and learning the world of policy and advocacy first-hand. The program is being coordinated by Mr. Seth Jacobson.

 

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