The scorecard, which records actions taken by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, ranks Congressional members on 23 activities taken from January 1999 through January, 2000. 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 no public interest or action in support of any of the 23 categories. Consequently, they should be considered UNINTERESTED in Northern Ireland affairs.

After carefully researching and evaluating news articles, Internet sites, legislative histories, hearing transcripts, and assorted publicly-available documents on Northern Ireland Congressional activity, Northern Ireland Alert evaluated all Congresspersons and found the following to be DEDICATED PARTICIPANTS on Northern Ireland-related issues:

Dedicated Participants - Senators - -Representatives

The following Congresspersons are VERY ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS:

Very Active Participants - Senators - -Representatives

The following Congresspersons are ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS:

Active Participants - Senators - -Representatives

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

Interested Participants - Senators - -Representatives

Note: Since they do not enjoy the right to vote on the floor, the following representatives have not been placed in any category: Donna Christian-Christensen (D-VI), Eni Faleomavaega (D-AS), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Carlos Romero-Barcelo (D-PR), and Robert Underwood (D-GU).

In conjunction with its scorecard, Northern Ireland Alert calls on all Congressional representatives to display public interest and behind-the-scenes support for the immediate redress of the following Northern Ireland human rights concerns:

• the repeal of all emergency legislation, including a dismantling of the Diplock Court system and a concomitant restoration of jury trials and the right to silence;
• implementation of the entirety of the Patten Commission's recommendations for reform of Northern Ireland's police force, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, to more accurately reflect and protect Northern Ireland's citizens and current demographic breakdown (approximately 57% Protestant/Unionist, 43% Catholic/Nationalist);
• an international, independent inquiry into the deaths of attorneys Patrick Finucane and Rosemary Nelson, as well as some form of Truth Commission or public inquiry regarding all other persons killed in circumstances suggesting collusion between outlawed paramilitary groups and members of the governing security forces;
• continued significant reductions in the level of soldiers, security towers, helicopters, and security patrols in Northern Ireland;
• a ban on the manufacture, distribution, and use of plastic bullets, which have been responsible for the deaths of 17 persons and countless injuries during the course of the Troubles;
• legislative implementation of a Northern Ireland bill of rights, which would build on the European Convention on Human Rights coming into effect across the United Kingdom later this year; and
• funding and/or legislative initiatives which would encourage American investment and economic cooperation with Northern Ireland, contingent on improved prospects for equal employment and political opportunities for Protestants and Catholics.

Northern Ireland Alert publishes its scorecard to update a broad American audience on where its elected representatives stand with regard to the ongoing human rights abuses and peace process setbacks which have troubled the residents of Northern Ireland for a generation. Northern Ireland Alert's scorecard is distributed to all members of Congress, as well as to an international array of politicians, lawyers, academics, human rights organizations, community leaders, and other interested individuals.

The organization takes no position on the success or failure of any political party in Northern Ireland, but rather focuses its attention on the human rights concerns endemic to Northern Ireland society and the United States government's need, on behalf of its approximately 40 million citizens of Irish descent, to be actively involved in bringing about change to a conflict-ridden part of the world.

Publisher: James J. Brosnahan, Esq. --- Brosnahan is a senior partner with Morrison & Foerster llp. As a trial lawyer, he traveled to Northern Ireland in 1996, and in 1999 he returned there as part of a Lawyers Committee for Human Rights investigative mission. He has attended high-level discussions at the White House regarding Northern Ireland affairs. He is an active member of the San Francisco chapter of the Irish American Bar Association and regularly speaks and writes about Northern Ireland affairs.

Editor: Dan VanDeMortel --- VanDeMortel is a paralegal with Morrison & Foerster llp. He has traveled to Northern Ireland with the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights and has volunteered for the Committee on the Administration of Justice (a Belfast-based human rights organization). He regularly writes about Northern Ireland affairs.

Assistants: Judy Burgin, Leslie Cassidy, Steven Frankenstein, Richard Gilbert, Danny Ngan, Sylvia Sequeira, Cecily Shores, Patricia Stich Regan, Jean-Luc Szach, Helen Wentz, Mary Whitten