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APN Legislative Round-Up - September 19, 2008

I. Bills and Resolutions; II. Update -- Iran and the Defense Authorization Bill (S. 3001); III. Keeping an Eye on H. Con. Res. 362/S. Res. 580; IV. APN Campaign: "Responsibility Over Rhetoric"

...for the week ending September 19, 2008

I.   Bills and Resolutions
II.  Update -- Iran and the Defense Authorization Bill (S. 3001)
III.  Keeping an Eye on H. Con. Res. 362/S. Res. 580
IV. APN Campaign: "Responsibility Over Rhetoric"


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I. BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
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(IRAN) HR 6951: Introduced 9/18/08 by Rep. Lee (D-CA) and 6 cosponsors, "To prohibit the use of funds by the Central Intelligence Agency or the Department of Defense to provide covert or clandestine assistance for the purpose of overthrowing the Government of Iran." Referred to the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select).

(ANTI-ISLAM HYSTERIA) HR 6975:  Introduced 9/18/08 by Rep. Tancredo (R-CO) and no cosponsors, "To require aliens to attest that they will not advocate installing a Sharia law system in the United States as a condition for admission, and for other purposes." Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

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II. UPDATE -- IRAN AND THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL (S. 3001) =============================================================

As discussed in last week's Round-Up, the Department of Defense Authorization Bill (S. 3001), one of the few must-pass (or probably-must-pass) pieces of legislation that will be dealt with by Congress before the Presidential election, has become the focus of a number of Iran-related initiatives (listed in detail in last week's Round-Up). In the end, the Senate did indeed pass S. 3001 on 9/17/08 by a vote of 88-8. None of the Iran-related amendments, including the Dodd (D-CT) amendment -- which would have inserted far-reaching Iran sanctions language into the bill -- made it into the final text. Senator Dodd's Iran language, as well as several other Iran-related amendments, was part of a managers' package that was to be offered as a single (consolidated) amendment to the bill. This amendment was eventually withdrawn, apparently because of unresolved differences between Democrats and Republicans over other amendments (amendments not included in the negotiated package).  Senator Dodd subsequently spoke on the Senate floor in support of his amendment and asking that it be taken up separately. Sen. Warner (R-VA) objected to this suggestion (noting at the same time that he did not personally object to the Dodd amendment itself). The Senate then voted to adopt the base text.  The relevant excerpt from the Congressional Record is included here:

Mr. DODD: Madam President, I know the Senator from Michigan is maybe doing so, but as I understand it, there was objection raised to the consideration of a managers' amendment regarding, I guess, 100 amendments. One of those amendments is a proposal of Senator Shelby and I, along with a unanimous vote of our Banking Committee, after lengthy discussion. It was the Iran sanctions proposal, which took a lot of work and effort to put together. This was a comprehensive package, widely endorsed across the country by organizations to give us the kind of leverage necessary for us to bring Iran to the negotiating table diplomatically to reduce the threat that their potential nuclear arsenal poses to us, our allies, the State of Israel and others.

I appreciate the fact that the managers of this bill had included this amendment in their managers' package. It would be a great travesty, in my view, for us to leave here having the other body having adopted similar language. This is the one opportunity for this body to embrace an economic sanctions proposal which would give us tremendous leverage in our efforts to bring Iran to that table.

To lose that opportunity would be a serious loss of opportunity for this country. So, again, my dear friend from Virginia was here. Therefore, on behalf of those of us on the committee, unanimously, the Dodd-Shelby Iran sanctions divestment nonproliferation amendment to the DOD authorization bill, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding any agreement with respect to S. 3001, it be in order for the Senate to consider amendment No. 5572 and that the amendment be considered and agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table.

The PRESIDING OFFICER: Is there objection?

Mr. WARNER: Reserving the right to object, and I will object, I wish to advise the Senator that the vote to take place right now is on final passage. It has been agreed to by unanimous consent. Prior thereto, the distinguished chairman raised the question of the package to which you refer.  I, personally, approved of putting in the amendment. It had been my hope, I say it is now no longer my hope, my disappointment, that that could not be achieved along with about 100 other amendments from both sides of the aisle. So at this time I have to object and ask the Chair for regular order for the vote.

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III. KEEPING AN EYE ON H. CON. RES. 362/S. RES. 580 =============================================

As the clock runs down on the 110th Congress, concerns persist that there may be a last-ditch effort to pass H. Con. Res. 362 and S. Res. 580, resolutions that are viewed by many as supporting a blockade of Iran .

There was not action in Congress on either resolution this week and no new cosponsors were added to S. Res. 580. However, four more House members signed on as cosponsors to H. Con. Res. 362 -- Pryce (R-OH), Weldon (R-FL), Levin (D-MI), and McNerney (D-CA). This brings the total number of cosponsors to 276 (including the primary sponsor, Rep. Ackerman).

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IV. APN CAMPAIGN: "RESPONSIBILITY OVER RHETORIC" ====================================================

On 9/11/08 APN launched a new initiative, aimed at the Obama and McCain campaigns, entitled "Responsibility over Rhetoric." APN believes that Israel and related issues have a legitimate place in the debate and discourse of a U.S. election. This place is as part of a serious discussion of how, if elected, the candidates would advance the non-partisan goals of promoting Israeli-Palestinian and Arab-Israeli peace. Unfortunately, during U.S. elections there are often people who want to play politics with the issue - using Israel and related issues to score political points. This is a cynical tactic that comes at the expense of the best interests of both the U.S. and Israel.

The first installment of this campaign (issued 9/11/08) addresses the U.S. role in the quest for Israeli-Arab peace. The second installment (issued 9/18/08) addresses the U.S. and the Israel-Syria peace track. Forthcoming issues will address Iran, Jerusalem, and other topics. To view all parts of this campaign, please visit the special APN Campaign 2008 section of our website: http://www.peacenow.org/campaign2008/index.asp


Americans for Peace Now promotes Israeli security through the peace process and supports the Israeli Peace Now movement.  For more information, contact Lara Friedman, APN Director of Policy and Government Relations, at 202/728-1893, or at lfriedman@peacenow.org.