[Announce-DAN] ALERT: Save the Human Rights Subcommittee

["John M.Miller" <buildingbridges@mindspring.com> (by way of Mark Cohen <buildingbridges@mindspring.com>)]

East Timor ACTION ALERT
Save the Human Rights Subcommittee
New International Relations Committee Chair May Seek
to Dissolve Key House Subcommittee
Take Action Today

THE INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS SUBCOMMITTEE MAY BE 
ELIMINATED. This subcommittee of the House of Representatives International 
Relations (IR) Committee has been a leading advocate for human rights in 
East Timor, Indonesia and elsewhere. Human Rights Subcommittee Chair Chris 
Smith (R-NJ) and Ranking Member Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) have introduced, 
co-sponsored, and passed through their subcommittee legislation crucial for 
upholding human rights. This subcommittee is vital to ensure human rights 
are a primary consideration in congressional action on U.S. foreign policy.

As Rep. Ben Gilman (R-NY) completes his term as IR Committee Chair, his 
replacement is likely to try to eliminate the Human Rights Subcommittee in 
order to make space for a new subcommittee (under current rules, there can 
only be five). One easy remedy would be a waiver allowing for a sixth 
subcommittee. In any case, we cannot afford to lose this critical venue. 
Human rights deserve separate subcommittee consideration; dissolving the 
subcommittee would represent a setback for human rights around the world.

Call Today!

Call or fax current House leaders:
·       Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert (IL) at 202-225-2976 or 225-0697 
(fax)

·       Republican Majority Leader Dick Armey (TX) at 202-225-7772 or 
225-7614 (fax)

·       Republican International Relations Committee Chair Ben Gilman (NY) 
at 202-225-3776 or 225-2541 (fax)

·       Democratic Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (MO) at 202-225-2671 or 
202-225-7452 (fax)

·       Democratic Minority Whip David Bonior (MI) at 202-225-2106 or 
226-1169 (fax)

·       Democratic Ranking Member of the International Relations Committee 
Sam Gejdenson (CT) at 202-225-2076 or 225-4977 (fax)

·       Your own Representative. (If you don’t know who that is, call your 
local League of Women Voters or visit www.capweb.net/classic/index.morph 
and type in your zip code.)

Ask for the foreign policy staffer. Register your support for the Human 
Rights Subcommittee and your opposition to its elimination for any reason.

For more information, contact Karen Orenstein at East Timor Action 
Network’s Washington office at karen@etan.org or 202-544-6911.


December 4, 2000


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John M. Miller         Internet: john@etan.org
Media & Outreach Coordinator, East Timor Action Network
48 Duffield St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA
Phone: (718)596-7668      Fax: (718)222-4097
Mobile: (917)690-4391
Web site: http://www.etan.org

Send a blank e-mail message to info@etan.org  to find out how to learn
more about East Timor on the Internet
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