Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 15:52:38 -0400 From: IFCSS HQ Subject: IFCSS HQ Special Report 4014: Status of Protection Bill To: Multiple recipients of list CHINA-NT ************************************************************** IFCSS Headquarters Special Report No. 4014 July 27, 1992 STATUS OF THE PROTECTION BILL ************************************************************** 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 ============================= 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. *************************************************************** IFCSS Headquarters Office Signature ***************************************************************