U.S. Congress Opens Today; Faces Issues of Special Interest to Jews

The opening of the first session of the 88th Congress tomorrow is expected to produce a number of issues of special interest to the American Jewish community. Among the issues are: Immigration policy, anti-filibuster measures, the Rules Committee controversy, civil rights, Soviet anti-Semitism, Arab discrimination affecting Americans, and American policy in the Near East.

An early campaign is anticipated for implementation of the Keating-Halpern amendment of the Mutual Security Act. This amendment opposes aid to nations, like Egypt, which use their own resources to purchase Soviet arms. Congressmen will seek to terminate aid to Egypt not only because of Nasser’s diversion of Egyptian resources to buy more Soviet jets, but out of anger caused by the active participation of Egyptian forces in the imposition of a pro-Soviet regime in Yemen.

One Senator, declining to be identified, said today: “I don’t see why we should pick up the tab for Nasser’s expansionist aggression. It endangers the pro-American governments of Saudi Arabia and Jordan, while financing Nasser’s acquisition of Russian Jet bombers to menace democratic Israel.” He said that he and others, who were previously lukewarm on the Keating-Halpern measure, had now “had enough of the State Department’s appeasement of Nasser.”

U.S. AID TO EGYPT TO BE QUESTIONED; REVISION OF IMMIGRATION LAW

A duel between the State Department and Congress on Egypt appears inevitable. The State Department is advancing plans to increase loans and grants to Nasser, who incurred a huge debt in his Yemeni adventure. Congress will challenge such aid every step of the way, now that Nasser has shown his hand in Yemen. Legislation will be sought to bar further aid to Egypt in a mandatory provision, unless the Executive Department implements the discretionary Keating-Halpern clause.

Jewish organizations will observe the anti-filibuster fight, aware that civil rights, immigration revision, and other legislation is contingent upon victory. If success is achieved by liberals, many measures previously bottled up by conservatives may be brought on the floor for action.

President Kennedy is expected to submit a request for liberalization of the Immigration Act of 1952 (McCarran-Walter Act) in the early days of the new session. He has the full support of Senator Philip Hart, Michigan Democrat, who heads the Senate Immigration Subcommittee. But Chairman Francis Walter, of the House Immigration Subcommittee, co-author of the controversial act, will try to block any really important changes in discriminatory aspects like the national origins quota system.

ISSUE OF FEDERAL AID TO PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS TO BE AVOIDED

The question of Federal aid to parochial schools is expected to be avoided, in order to get the education bill through Congress. The money would be given to the 50 states, and the church-state problem passed on with it for decision on a state level.

Growing discontent over the absence of effective moves to challenge rising Soviet Anti-Semitism will be voiced in Congress. This difficult problem will be subject to cautious discussion between Jewish groups and Congressional leaders.

Since the Arabs and the State Department have equally ignored amendments to Mutual Security Acts deploring Arab discrimination, boycotts, and blockades, the new bill will bring a question of whether it is worth repeating an ignored amendment for yet another year. President Kennedy, however, is this year required to male a report directly to Congress on measures to implement the amendment. His report is awaited with interest.

Congress will hear reports from various Senators and Representatives who visited Israel and the Arab states during the Congressional recess. Their views will be reflected in forthcoming legislation.

The two most recent visitors were Senator Ernest Gruening of Alaska and Senator Jacob K. Javits of New York who also visited Jordan. Senator Javits said during his visit that a new appraisal of United States policy in the Middle East was needed because the balance of military power in the area was changing to Israel’s disadvantage.