Subject: IFCSS HQ SR-4029: Legislation Alert on S.1216, the Protection Bill

From: IFCSS HQ <ifcss>
Date: Thu, 6 Aug 92 12:56:53 -0400

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IFCSS Headquarters Special Report No. 4029      August 6, 1992
        LEGISLATIVE ALERT CONCERNING THE PROTECTION BILL
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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: [email-masked]

          Legislative Alert Concerning S.1216
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From:     IFCSS/CCSA
Re:       Legislative Alert on S.1216, Protection Bill
Date:     August 4, 1992

Dear IFCSS Members:

     As Congress nears its August recess, now scheduled
for August 13th, it is time to turn our attention to
the entire membership of the House of Representatives.

     The normal process is for the Rules Committee to
vote a "rule" for the debate and consideration of
S.1216. For that reason, the individual members of the
Rules Committee should continue to receive special
attention. However, the possibility remains that S.1216
could be taken up directly by the full House (under
"Suspension of the Rules") without going through the
formal Rules Committee process first. We cannot wait to
see what happens, but must be ready for any alternative
by communicating simultaneously with the House
Leadership (Speaker Foley, Minority Leader Gephardt,
Minority Whip Bonior, Minority Leader Michel, Minority
Whip Gingrich, Democratic Cacus Chairman Hoyer, and
Republican Conference Chairman Jerry Lewis), with the
Rules Committee members (individually), and with each
Member of Congress. 

     Please contact the Representative from your
District, and make a special effort to get your
American friends and colleagues to register their
support for S.1216 as well. Rules Committee members and
the Leadership should be given special attention.

     We are continuing to urge members of the Rules
Committee to offer a "closed rule", which would
preclude amendments to the bill. The reasons why we
seek a closed rule are:

     1.  We have worked hard with the Majority and
Minority in the House and Senate Judiciary Committees
to formulate the needed language, and do not want it
changed.
     2.  Unrelated amendments can complicate the bill,
making enactment more difficult.
     3.  While we realize that there are many other
matters of legitimate concern, we hope Congress can
find ways of addressing them without placing at risk
the strong bipatisan support for Chinese student
protection legislation.

     Your requests for a closed rule should not in any
way mention other nations or ethnic groups. For
example, while previous E-Mail mentioned an earlier
efford to amend S.1216 for the benefit of Haitians, it
is extremely important that our calls and letters not
mention Haitians at all. If we do, it can create the
false perception that Chinese students are either
selfish or against Haitians.

     Although we do not want to see amendments added to
the bill because that could complicate the bill and
possibly reduce its chances of being enacted, we must
remember that many of our strongest allies in Congress
are also trying to fashion legislation to solve other
problems. We should not place them in the position of
having to choose between Chinese students and other
deserving groups.

     Please consult the previous E-mail immigration
lobbying package for sample letters and talking points,
or call IFCSS headquarters for a copy.      

[Received June 6, 1992, 10:05 am]

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         IFCSS Headquarters Office    Signature
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