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Show T AKE AC T I O N NOW! FROM LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE UNITED STATES THE CIVIL RIGHTS RESTORATION ACT OF 1985 The House Judiciary Committee and Education and Labor Committee both • ~ave approved the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1985 by lopsided votes. However, the legislation was approved.in different forms, set~tng the stage for~ major floor fight. The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1985, HR 700, would reverse the impact of the Supreme Court's 1984 Grove Citv College v. Bell decision, which significantly weakened several key civil rights statues that prohibit discrimination on the basis o+ sex, race, age, and disability in institutions receiving federal funds. Two amendments ~ere attached to the bill in the Education and Labor Committee that endanger its effectiveness. One, introduced by Rep. Tom Tauhe <Rt IA> would purport to make the legislation "abortion neutral". In fact, the amendment would restrict rights~ and will endanger passage of fhe bill. Another amendment, introduced by Reps. Tauke and James Jeffords <R, VT> would effectively exempt hundreds of institutions from coverage by civil rights laws because of ties even if they ar·e ver:t; loose -- to religious institutions. Both are unacceptable to the League. Rep. Don Edwards <Dt CA> has introduce(. an alternative to Tauke's abortion amendment that is truly abortion neutral. It would protect exist;ng ~ights, and while the League would prefer NO amendments to the bill, we prefer the Edwards amendment to the Tauke amendment. A House floor vote is expected soon. Ple~se contact your Members of Congress and urge them to support the Edwards amendment over the Tauke abortion amendment and to vote down the Jeffords-Tauke religious tenets exemption amendment. The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1985 is too important to be side-tracked. Passage of a strong and effective bill is critical to the protection of civil rights for all Americans. ~~~-~---~~----~~~---~~~~--~----~~~---~~-----~~~------~-~~-~----~--~~-~~-~~WW ---~--~--~-~-~-~-~--~~----~~-~~~~~~~----~-~--~-~--~-~~~-~--~~~~--~~~ -~--~~- THE STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE Major House floor fights are looming over the President's Strategic Defense Initiative, or "Star Wars" proposal. The battles are expected be continued throughout the congressional authorizat;on and appropriation process. The League opposes the Strategic Defense Initiative CSDI> because it would lead to abrogation the Anti Ballistic Missile (ABM> Treaty and threaten to unleash an arms race of epic proportions. We support trimming the SDI budget to $1~1 billion, consistent with ~unding levels for strategic defensive weapons research spending before the SDI. Amendments to restrict funding for SDI are expected to be offered in both houses. Please contact your Member of Congress and urge them to restrict SDI funding to the $1.l billion level and to prohibit demonstration projects. The SDI program must not be permitted to abrogate the ABM T~eaty, particularly while we are engaged ;n arms control negotiations with the Soviet Union. SAlw T LAKE VOTER - 5 - SUMMER 1985 |
