People For the American Way Foundation
SUMMARY AS OF: Belarus Democracy Act of 2003
Mon Oct 4, 2004 21:18
64.140.158.49

SUMMARY AS OF:
2/13/2003--Introduced.

Belarus Democracy Act of 2003 - Authorizes the President to support primarily indigenous Belarusian groups that are committed to the support of democratic processes in various activities that may include: (1) observation of elections and the promotion of free and fair electoral processes, including the development of democratic political parties; (2) development of independent media supported by nonstate-controlled printing facilities; (3) support of human rights; and (4) establishment of international exchanges and advanced professional training programs for leaders and members of democratic forces that foster the growth of civil society.

Places economic sanctions on Belarus and bars senior Belarusian leaders and their immediate relations from entering the United States. Allows sanctions to be lifted only if the Belarusian Government meets specific democratic conditions. Affirms solidarity with the democratic forces in Belarus and calls upon the Government of Belarus to permit basic freedoms and allow free, fair and transparent presidential and parliamentary elections. Calls upon the Russian Government to use its influence to encourage democratic development in Belarus so that it can become an independent state that is integrated into Europe.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR00854:@@@L&summ2=m&

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Testimony of Ralph G. Neas President, People For the American Way Foundation, Before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Washington, D.C.
July 15, 2004
Madame Chairperson, Commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I want to commend you for holding this hearing, and for focusing attention on critically important issues facing the nation during this election year. And I want to salute the Commission again for its extraordinarily important studies of the 2000 presidential election and on how to prepare for the 2004 election.

I serve as president of People For the American Way Foundation, a national nonprofit social justice organization with 675,000 members and supporters, and with more than two decades of commitment to nonpartisan civic participation efforts. Since our founding by Norman Lear, Barbara Jordan, and other civic, religious, business and civil rights leaders, People For the American Way Foundation has urged Americans to take seriously their responsibilities as citizens. And we have sought to engage those Americans who have been traditionally underrepresented at the polls, including young voters and people of color.

My personal commitment to working in a nonpartisan fashion to encourage civic participation goes back more than three decades, including my positions as chief counsel to Republican Senators Edward W. Brooke and David Durenberger and my 14 years as executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.

I am honored to be here today, and especially honored to testify with my good friends and Election Protection colleagues, Barbara Arnwine of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Melanie Campbell of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. I am grateful to Ms. Gracia Hillman and Ms. Linda Lamone for joining us with their perspective on these crucial issues.

There is no right more fundamental to the health of our democracy than the right to vote. There is no greater guarantee of freedom than the conduct of open, fair elections that express the will of the people, and maintain the public’s trust and confidence.

Sadly, public confidence in our system of elections was shaken to the core during the 2000 elections and has yet to be fully restored.

There is only one way to restore that confidence: We must not let the election debacle we saw in 2000 happen again in 2004. We must do everything we can as a government and a free people to ensure that in this election, every voter has a chance to cast a vote that will be counted.
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