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HOW CONGRESS WORKS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN NORTHERN IRELAND:

AN ANALYSIS OF HOUSE CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION 152

by Dan VanDeMortel

G21 Guest Contributor

Northern Ireland Alert

To read this article in Deutsch, Francaise, Italiano, Portuguese, Espanol, copy and paste the complete URL("http://www.g21.net/irish15.htm") and enter it in the box after you click through.
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Map of Ireland.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: James J. Brosnahan or Dan VanDeMortel

August 4, 1998 Morrison & Foerster llp

(415) 268-7000

PRESS RELEASE [Edited by G21--Ed.]

San Francisco --- The human rights organization Northern Ireland Alert today issued its second annual Northern Ireland Congressional Scorecard and called for the defeat in the next relevant election of the following Congresspersons due to their lack of interest in Northern Ireland, a primary United States foreign policy initiative:

Bennett, Robert (R - UT),* Armey, Richard (R - TX),* Inglis, Bob (R - SC)
Brownback, Sam (R - KS),* Barr, Bob (R - GA),* McIntosh, David (R - IN)
McCain, John (R - AZ),* Doolittle, John (R - CA),* Parker, Mike (R - MS)
,* Hastings, Richard (R - WA),* Paul, Ron (R - TX), Hefner, W.G. (D - NC),* Turner, James (D - TX).

The scorecard, which records actions taken by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, ranks Congressional members on 27 activities taken from January 1997 through May 1998. Categories of action include involvement in the peace process, expressions of concern pertaining to human rights abuses, sponsorship of pending Irish-related resolutions and bills, calls for release or leniency regarding political prisoners, and encouragement of Irish cultural concerns. The Congresspersons for which Northern Ireland Alert has requested removal have displayed little or no public interest or action in support of any of the 27 categories. Consequently, they should be considered UNINTERESTED in Northern Ireland affairs. After carefully collecting and evaluating news articles, Internet sites, legislative histories, hearing transcripts, and assorted other publicly -available documents on Northern Ireland Congressional action, Northern Ireland Alert evaluated all Congresspersons and found the following to be DEDICATED PARTICIPANTS on Northern Ireland-related issues:

Amato, Alfonse (R - NY),* Ackerman, Gary (D - NY),* Manton, Thomas (D - NY) (will resign in Nov.)
Dodd, Christopher (D - CT),* Coyne, William (D - PA),* Menendez, Robert (D - NJ)
Kennedy, Edward (D - MA),* Engel, Eliot L. (D - NY),* Neal, Richard (D - MA)
Torricelli, Robert (D-NJ),* Gilman, Benjamin (R - NY),* Payne, Donald (D - NJ), Kennedy, Joseph II (will resign in Nov.),* Walsh, James (R - NY), King, Peter (R-NY),

The following Congresspersons also are VERY ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS:

Leahy, Patrick (D - VT),* Borski, Robert (D - PA),* McCarthy, Carolyn (D - NY)
Mack, Connie (R - FL),* Doyle, Michael (D - PA),* McGovern, James (D - MA)
Moseley - Braun, Carol (D - IL),* Hinchey, Maurice (D - NY),* McHugh, John (R - NY)
Moynihan, Daniel Patrick (D - NY),* Holden, Tim (D - PA),* McNulty, Michael (D - NY), Kelly, Sue (R - NY),* Meehan, Martin (D - MA), Lantos, Thomas (D - CA),* Moran, James, Jr. (D - VA), Lazio, Rick (R - NY),* Olver, John (D - MA), Lipinski, William (D - IL),* Pascrell Jr., William (D - NJ), Lowey, Nita (D - NY),* Quinn, Jack (R - NY), Maloney, Carolyn (D - NY),* Smith, Christopher (R - NJ)

The following Congresspersons are ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS:

Biden, Joseph, Jr. (D - DE),* Abercrombie, Neil (D - HI),* LoBiondo, Frank (R - NJ)
Cochran, Thad (R - MS),* Barrett, Thomas (D - WI),* Lofgren, Zoe (D - CA)
Durbin, Richard (D - IL),* Blumenauer, Earl (D - OR),* Luther, William (D - MN)
Hatch, Orrin (R - UT),* Boehlert, Sherwood (R - NY),* Maloney, James (D - CT)
Inouye, Daniel (D - HI),* Bonior, David (D - MI),* Markey, Edward (D - MA)
Jeffords, James (R - VT),* Brown Jr., George (D - CA),* Martinez, Matthew (D - CA)
Kerry, John (D - MA),* Brown, Sherrod (D - OH),* Mascara, Frank (D - PA)
Landrieu, Mary (D - LA),* Christensen, Jon (R - NE),* McCarthy, Karen (D - MO)
Lautenberg, Frank (D - NJ),* Clay, William (D - MO),* McDermott, James (D - WA)
Lieberman, Joseph (D - CT),* Conyers Jr., John (D - MI),* Meek, Carrie (D - FL)
Murkowski, Frank (R - AK),* Costello, Jerry (D - IL),* Miller, George (D - CA)
Snowe, Olympia (R - ME),* Danner, Pat (D - MO),* Moakley, Joseph (D - MA)
Specter, Arlen (R - PA),* Davis, Thomas (R - VA),* Mollohan, Alan (D - WV), DeFazio, Peter (D - OR),* Morella, Constance (R - MD), DeGette, Diana (D - CO),* Myrick, Sue (R - NC), Delahunt, William (D - MA),* Nadler, Jerrold (D - NY), DeLauro, Rosa (D - CT),* Ney, Robert (R - OH), Diaz - Balart, Lincoln (R - FL),* Northup, Anne (R - KY), Dunn, Jennifer (R - WA),* Oberstar, James (D - MN), English, Phil (R - PA),* Obey, David (D - WI), Eshoo, Anna (D - CA),* Owens, Major (D - NY), Evans, Lane (D - IL),* Oxley, Michael (R - OH), Ewing, Thomas (R - IL),* Pallone Jr., Frank (D - NJ), Fazio, Victor (D - CA),* Pappas, Mike (R - NJ), Foley, Mark (R-FL),* Pelosi, Nancy (D - CA), Forbes, Michael (R - NY),* Poshard, Glenn (D - IL), Fox, Jon (R - PA),* Rangel, Charles (D - NY), Frank, Barney (D - MA),* Reyes, Silvestre (D - TX), Franks, Bob (R - NJ),* Ros - Lehtinen, Ileana (R - FL), Furse, Elizabeth (D - OR),* Rothman, Steven (D - NJ), Gejdenson, Sam (D - CT),* Roukema, Marge (R - NJ), Gingrich, Newt (R - GA),* Salmon, Matthew (R - AZ), Green, Gene (D - TX),* Sanders, Bernard (I - VT), Hastings, Alcee (D - FL),* Schumer, Charles (D - NY), Horn, Stephen (R - CA),* Serrano, Jose (D - NY), Jackson - Lee, Sheila (D - TX),* Shaw Jr., E. Clay (R - FL), Jefferson, William (D - LA),* Shays, Christopher (R - CT), Johnson, Jay (D - WI),* Slaughter, Louise (D - NY), Kanjorski, Paul (D - PA),* Solomon, Gerald (R - NY), Kaptur, Marcy (D - OH),* Stearns, Clifford (R - FL), Kennedy, Patrick (D - RI),* Stokes, Louis (D - OH), Kennelly, Barbara (D - CT),* Stupak, Bart (D - MI), Kildee, Dale (D - MI),* Thurman, Karen (D - FL), Klink, Ron (D - PA),* Tierney, John (D - MA), Knollenberg Joseph (R - MI ),* Towns, Edolphus (D - NY), Kucinich, Dennis (D - OH),* Traficant, James, Jr. (D - OH), LaFalce, John (D - NY),* Velazquez, Nydia (D - NY), LaTourette, Steven (R - OH),* Vento, Bruce (D - MN), Levin, Sander (D - MI),* Weldon, Curt (R - PA), Lewis, Jerry (R - CA),* Weygand, Robert (D - RI), Lewis, John (D - GA),

Other Congresspersons have taken some action, reflecting that they are INTERESTED PARTICIPANTS:

For more indepth coverage of this story, please go to to the G21 IRISH COFFEE page, and check the publications listed in our RESOURCES section.
Abraham, Spencer (R - MI),* Aderholt, Robert (R - AL),* Johnson, Sam (R - TX)
Akaka, Daniel (D - HI),* Allen, Thomas (D - ME),* Jones, Walter (R - NC)
Allard, Wayne (R - CO),* Andrews, Robert (D - NJ),* Kasich, John R. (R - OH)
Ashcroft, John (R - MO),* Archer, Bill (R - TX),* Kilpatrick, Carolyn (D - MI)
Baucus, Max (D - MT),* Bachus, Spencer (R - AL),* Kim, Jay (R - CA)
Bingaman, Jeff (D - NM),* Baesler, Scotty (D - KY),* Kind, Ron (D - WI)
Bond, Christopher (R - MO),* Baker, Richard (R - LA),* Kingston, Jack (R - GA)
Boxer, Barbara (D - CA),* Baldacci, John (D - ME),* Kleczka, Gerald (D - WI)
Breaux, John (D - LA),* Ballenger, Thomas (R - NC),* Klug, Scott (R - WI)
Bryan, Richard (D - NV),* Barcia, James (D - MI),* Kolbe, James (R - AZ)
Bumpers, Dale (D - AR),* Barrett, William (R - NE),* LaHood, Ray (R - IL)
Burns, Conrad (R - MT),* Bartlett, Roscoe (R - MD),* Lampson, Nick (D - TX)
Byrd, Robert (D - WV),* Barton, Joseph (R - TX),* Largent, Steve (R - OK)
Campbell, Ben (R - CO),* Bass, Charles (R - NH),* Latham, Tom (R - IA)
Chafee, John (R - RI),* Bateman, Herbert (R - VA),* Leach, James (R - IA)
Cleland, Max (D - GA),* Becerra, Xavier (D - CA),* Lewis, Ron (R - KY)
Coats, Daniel (R - IN),* Bentsen, Ken (D - TX),* Linder, John (R - GA)
Collins, Susan (R - ME),* Bereuter, Douglas (R - NE),* Livingstone, Robert (R - LA)
Conrad, Kent (D - ND),* Berman, Howard (D - CA),* Lucas, Frank (R - OK)
Coverdell, Paul (R - GA),* Berry, Marion (D - AR),* Manzullo, Donald (R - IL)
Craig, Larry (R - ID),* Bilbray, Brian (R - CA),* Matsui, Robert (D - CA)
Daschle, Thomas (D - SD),* Bilirakis, Michael (R - FL),* McCollum, William (R - FL)
DeWine, Mike (R - OH),* Bishop, Sanford (D - GA),* McCrery, James (R - LA)
Domenici, Pete (R - NM),* Blagojevich, Rod (D - IL),* McDade, Joseph (R - PA)
Dorgan, Byron (D - ND),* Bliley Jr., Thomas (R - VA),* McHale, Paul (D - PA)
Enzi, Michael (R - WY),* Blunt, Roy (R - MO),* McInnis, Scott (R - CO)
Faircloth, Lauch (R - NC),* Boehner, John (R - OH),* McIntyre, Mike (D - NC)
Feingold, Russell (D - WI),* Bonilla, Henry (R - TX),* McKeon, Howard (R - CA)
Feinstein, Dianne (D - CA),* Boswell, Leonard (D - IA),* McKinney, Cynthia (D - GA)
Ford, Wendell (D - KY),* Boucher, Rick (D - VA),* Metcalf, Jack (R - WA)
Frist, William (R - TN),* Boyd, Allen (D - FL),* Mica, John (R - FL)
Glenn, John (D - OH),* Brady, Kevin (R - TX),* Millender - McDonald, Juanita (D - CA)
Gorton, Slade (R - WA),* Brown, Corrine (D - FL),* Miller, Dan (R - FL)
Graham, Robert (D - FL),* Bryant, Ed (R - TN),* Minge, David (D - MN)
Gramm, Phil (R - TX),* Bunning, James (R - KY),* Mink, Patsy (D - HI)
Grams, Rod (R - MN),* Burr, Richard (R - NC),* Moran, Jerry (R - KS)
Grassley, Charles (R - IA),* Burton, Daniel (R - IN),* Murtha, John P. (D - PA)
Gregg, Judd (R - NH),* Buyer, Stephen (R - IN),* Nethercutt, George (R - WA)
Hagel, Charles (R - NE),* Callahan, H.L. (R - AL),* Neumann, Mark (R - WI)
Harkin, Thomas (D - IA),* Calvert, Ken (R - CA),* Norwood, Charles (R - GA)
Helms, Jesse (R - NC),* Camp, David (R - MI),* Nussle, James (R - IA)
Hollings, Ernest (D - SC),* Campbell, Thomas (R - CA),* Ortiz, Solomon (D - TX)
Hutchinson, Tim (R - AR),* Canady, Charles (R - FL),* Packard, Ronald (R - CA)
Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R - TX),* Cannon, Chris (R - UT),* Pastor, Ed (D - AZ)
Inhofe, James (R - OK),* Cardin, Benjamin (D - MD),* Paxon, Bill (R - NY)
Johnson, Tim (D - SD),* Carson, Julia (D - IN),* Pease, Edward (R - IN)
Kempthorne, Dirk (R - ID),* Castle, Michael (R - DE),* Peterson, Collin (D - MN)
Kerrey, Robert (D - NE),* Chabot, Steve (R - OH),* Peterson, John (R - PA)
Kohl, Herbert (D - WI),* Chambliss, Saxby (R - GA),* Petri, Thomas (R - WI)
Kyl, Jon (R - AZ),* Chenoweth, Helen (R - ID),* Pickering, Charles (R - MS)
Levin, Carl (D - MI),* Clayton, Eva (D - NC),* Pickett, Owen (D - VA)
Lott, Trent (R - MS),* Clement, Robert (D - TN),* Pitts, Joseph (R - PA)
Lugar, Richard (R - IN),* Clyburn, James (D - SC),* Pombo, Richard (R - CA)
McConnell, Mitch (R - KY),* Coble, Howard (R - NC),* Pomeroy, Earl (D - ND)
Mikulski, Barbara (D - MD),* Coburn, Tom (R - OK),* Porter, John (R - IL)
Murray, Patty (D - WA),* Collins, Michael (R - GA),* Portman, Rob (R - OH)
Nickles, Donald (R - OK),* Combest, Larry (R - TX),* Price, David (D - NC)
Reed, Jack (D - RI),* Condit, Gary (D - CA),* Pryce, Deborah (R - OH)
Reid, Harry (D - NV),* Cook, Merrill (R - UT),* Radanovich, George (R - CA)
Robb, Charles (D - VA),* Cooksey, John (R - LA),* Rahall, Nick Joe (D - WV)
Roberts, Pat (R - KS),* Cox, Christopher (R-CA),* Ramstad, James (R - MN)
Rockefeller, John (D - WV),* Cramer, Robert (D - AL),* Regula, Ralph (R - OH)
Roth Jr., William (R - DE),* Crane, Philip (R - IL),* Riggs, Frank (R - CA)
Santorum, Rick (R - PA),* Crapo, Michael (R - ID),* Riley, Robert (R - AL)
Sarbanes, Paul (D - MD),* Cubin, Barbara (R - WY),* Rivers, Lynn (D - MI)
Sessions, Jeff (R - AL),* Cummings, Elijah (D - MD),* Roemer, Timothy (D - IN)
Shelby, Richard (R - AL),* Cunningham, Randall (R - CA),* Rogan, James (R - CA)
Smith, Gordon (R - OR),* Davis, Danny (D - IL),* Rogers, Harold (R - KY)
Smith, Robert (R - NH),* Davis, James (D - FL),* Rohrabacher, Dana (R - CA)
Stevens, Ted (R - AK),* Deal, Nathan (R - GA),* Roybal - Allard, Lucille (D - CA)
Thomas, Craig (R - WY),* DeLay, Thomas (R - TX),* Royce, Edward (R - CA)
Thompson, Fred (R - TN),* Deutsch, Peter (D - FL),* Rush, Bobby (D - IL)
Thurmond, Strom (R - SC),* Dickey, Jay (R - AR),* Ryun, Jim (R - KS)
Warner, John (R - VA),* Dicks, Norman (D - WA),* Sabo, Martin (D - MN)
Wellstone, Paul (D - MN),* Dingell, John (D - MI),* Sanchez, Loretta (D - CA)
Wyden, Ron (D - OR),* Dixon, Julian (D - CA),* Sandlin, Max (D - TX), Doggett, Lloyd (D - TX),* Sanford, Mark (R - SC), Dooley, Calvin (D - CA),* Sawyer, Thomas (D - OH), Dreier, David (R - CA),* Saxton, James (R - NJ), Duncan Jr., John (R - TN),* Scarborough, Joe (R - FL), Edwards, Chet (D - TX),* Schaefer, Daniel (R - CO), Ehlers, Vern (R - MI),* Schaffer, Robert (R - CO), Ehrlich Jr., Robert (R - MD),* Scott, Robert (D - VA), Emerson, Jo Ann (R - MO),* Sensenbrenner, F.J. (R - WI), Ensign, John (R - NV),* Sessions, Pete (R - TX), Etheridge, Bob (D - NC),* Shadegg, John (R - AZ), Everett, Terry (R - AL),* Sherman, Brad (D - CA), Farr, Sam (D - CA),* Shimkus, John (R - IL), Fattah, Chaka (D - PA),* Shuster, E.G. (R - PA), Fawell, Harris (R - IL),* Sisisky, Norman (D - VA), Filner, Bob (D - CA),* Skaggs, David (D - CO), Ford, Harold (D - TN),* Skeen, Joseph (R - NM), Fowler, Tillie (R - FL),* Skelton, Ike (D - MO), Frelinghuysen, Rodney (R - NJ),* Smith, Adam (D - WA), Frost, Martin (D - TX),* Smith, Lamar (R - TX), Gallegley, Elton (R - CA),* Smith, Linda (R - WA), Ganske, Greg (R - IA),* Smith, Nick (R - MI), Gekas, George (R - PA),* Smith, Robert (R - OR), Gephardt, Richard (D - MO),* Snowbarger, Vincent (R - KS), Gibbons, Jim (R - NV),* Snyder, Vic (D - AR), Gilchrest, Wayne (R - MD),* Souder, Mark (R - IN), Gillmor, Paul (R - OH),* Spence, Floyd (R - SC), Gonzalez, Henry (D - TX),* Spratt, John (D - SC), Goode, Virgil (D - VA),* Stabenow, Debbie (D - MI), Goodlatte, Robert (R - VA),* Stark, Fortney Pete (D - CA), Goodling, William (R - PA),* Stenholm, Charles (D - TX), Gordon, Barton (D - TN),* Strickland, Ted (D - OH), Goss, Porter (R - FL),* Stump, Robert (R - AZ), Graham, Lindsey (R - SC),* Sununu, John (R - NH), Granger, Kay (R - TX),* Talent, James (R - MO), Greenwood, James (R - PA),* Tanner, John (D - TN), Gutierrez, Luis (D - IL),* Tauscher, Ellen (D - CA), Gutknecht, Gilbert (R - MN),* Tauzin, W.J. (R - LA), Hall, Ralph (D - TX),* Taylor, Charles (R - NC), Hall, Tony (D - OH),* Taylor, Gene (D - MS), Hamilton, Lee (D - IN),* Thomas, William (R - CA), Hansen, James (R - UT),* Thompson, Bennie (D - MS), Harman, Jane (D - CA),* Thornberry, William (R - TX), Hastert, Dennis (R - IL),* Thune, John (R - SD), Hayworth, John (R - AZ),* Tiahrt, Todd (R - KS), Hefley, Joel (R - CO),* Torres, Esteban (D - CA), Herger, Walter (R - CA),* Upton, Fred (R - MI), Hill, Rick (R - MT),* Visclosky Peter (D - IN), Hilleary, Van (R - TN),* Wamp, Zach (R - TN), Hilliard, Earl (D - AL),* Waters, Maxine (D - CA), Hinojosa, Ruben (D - TX),* Watkins, Wes (R - OK), Hobson, David L. (R - OH),* Watt, Melvin (D - NC), Hoekstra, Peter (R - MI),* Watts, J.C. (R - OK), Hooley, Darlene (D - OR),* Waxman, Henry (D - CA), Hostettler, John (R - IN),* Weldon, Dave (R - FL), Houghton, Amory (R - NY),* Weller, Gerald (R - IL), Hoyer, Steny (D - MD),* Wexler, Robert (D - FL), Hulshof, Kenny (R - MO),* White, Rick (R - WA), Hunter, Duncan (R - CA),* Whitfield, Edward (R - KY), Hutchinson, Asa (R - AR),* Wicker, Roger (R - MS), Hyde, Henry (R - IL),* Wise, Robert (D - WV), Istook Jr., Ernest (R - OK),* Wolf, Frank (R - VA), Jackson Jr., Jesse (D - IL),* Woolsey, Lynn (D - CA), Jenkins, William (R - TN),* Wynn, Albert (D - MD), John, Christopher (D - LA),* Yates, Sidney (D - IL), Johnson, Eddie (D - TX),* Young, C.W. (R - FL), Johnson, Nancy (R - CT),* Young, Donald (R - AK)

Note: The following representatives are relatively new to their respective offices and thus, in the interest of fairness, have not been placed in any category:

Mary Bono (R-CA), Robert Brady (D-PA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Vito Fossella (R-NY), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), William Redmond (R-NM), Ciro Rodriquez (D-TX), and Heather Wilson (R-NM). Since they do not enjoy the right to vote on the floor, the following representatives also have not been placed in any category: Donna Christian-Greene (D-VI), Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Carlos Romero-Barcelo (D-PR), and Robert Underwood (D-GU).

Northern Ireland Alert Staff: