****A C T I O N A L E R T****
AIRFA LEGISLATION HAS NEW NAME AND A BILL NUMBER
On May 25, 1993, the NATIVE AMERICAN FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION ACT
(SB 1021) was introduced in the Senate by Senator Daniel Inouye, chair
of the Committee on Indian Affairs.
NOT-SO-GOOD NEWS
The number of co-sponsors of the bill is disappointingly low.
Members of the coalition working to pass this bill had hoped that more
Senators would co-sponsor Senate Bill 1021 at its introduction.
Joining Senator Inouye in co-sponsorship of this bill are
senators:
Max Bruce (D-MT)
Ben Nighthorse Campbell (D-MT)
Russell Feingold (D-WI)
Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR)
Claiborne Pell (D-RI)
Paul Wellstone (D-MN)
Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
Tom Harkin (D-HI) ??
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If your Senator(s) has/have not yet signed onto this legislation,
now is the time to urge him/her to do so!!! Please write, phone, or fax
your senator(s) to urge their co-sponsorship of this bill. The legislation
faces an uphill climb in the senate as a myriad of special interest groups
will lobby against it.
ADDRESSES
The Honorable (Name) The Honorable (Name)
United States Senate U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
U.S. Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121 -- ask for your representative's
office
HONOR ENCOURAGES YOU TO PASS THIS ALERT ALONG TO YOUR MEMBERSHIP, FRIENDS,
CONSTITUENCY, ETC.
Honor Our Neighbors Origins and Rights, Inc.
2647 North Stowell Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53211
414-963-1324
FAX: 414-963-0137
>>>> Sample letter follows <<<<
(on your letterhead if possible)
DATE
Senator__________________
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Senator______________________:
Because I am deeply concerned with the challenges Indian people
face in struggling to maintain their religious beliefs, I urge you to
co-sponsor the Native American Free Exercise of Religion Act or NAFER
(SB 1021, formerly referred to as the American Indian Religious Freedom Act).
Recent Supremem COurt decisions and U.S. government agency practices
have eroded several aspects of religious freedom for all faith communities but
especially for Native Americans. The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of
1978 has consequently amounted to nothing more than a policy statement.
NAFER serves to strengthen the 1978 legislation by protecting more specifically
these key components of Native American worship:
1. Protection of and access to sacred sites from outside
disruptive forces;
2. Equal access to religious leaders and ceremonies
for Indian prisoners;
3. Religious use of sacred eagle feathers and other
animal parts;
4. Recognition of peyote as a sacrament of the
Native American Church and protection of its
ceremonial use.
Finally, please do not confuse this legislation with the Religious
Freedom Restoration Act (HR2797), which restores the "compelling interest"
requirement that a state must actually have a reason to interfere with
religious freedom. While this legislation merits support, the remedy it
brings does not sufficiently ensure religious freedom for American Indians.
SEPARATE LEGISLATION IS NEEDED.
I look forward to your response. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Name and address
****************************************************************************
Lisa A. Mitten 207 Hillman Library
Social Sciences Bibliographer University of Pittsburgh
FAX: 412-648-1245 Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Bitnet: lmitten@pittvms 412-648-7723
****************************************************************************