Mission to D.C. gives a glimpse of policymaking

The nine participants in the recent Community Relations Council’s Washington, D.C., mission experienced meetings, briefings and even managed a museum tour in what proved to be a meaningful and productive two days.

The Jewish Federations of North America’s Washington headquarters was the site of meetings to discuss the issues facing the Rhode Island Jewish community to be raised with elected officials. Policy lobbyists and analysts of the JFNA and Jared Feldman of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs spoke to such issues as: securing additional funding from the Emergency Food and Shelter Program to assist programs like the kosher food pantry and senior meals program; passage of the Behavior Health Information Technology legislation, sponsored by Sen. Whitehouse, that will provide essential funding for meaningful use of electronic records; improving access to Medicare coverage with regard to “Observation Stays” that fixes an oversight in the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

President Barack Obama’s staff provided briefings on ACA and the group met with the director for Israel and Palestinian Affairs. We were assured that the commitment of the United States to Israel is ironclad.

At the Israeli Embassy, the mission-goers met with Oren Marmorstein, counselor, Public and Academic Affairs, who asked that we remind our elected delegation to continue to pressure Iran during negotiations, pointing out Iran’s nuclear capability is not just an Israel problem, but a global one.

Lunch with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Reps. Jim Langevin and David Cicilline provided more time to discuss issues and concerns and additional personal time with all the R.I. delegation including Sen. Jack Reed allowed mission participants to express themselves further. Members of the mission from the Cape Cod Federation met with Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey.

“The Community Relations Council of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island has by far the best rapport with their congressional delegation than any other Jewish Federation organization,” said Jonathan Westin, health policy director for JFNA.

A brief tour of the Holocaust Museum proved a meaningful addition to the trip.

Attending the mission in addition to myself were: Alex Gaines, Cliff Guller, David Leach, Rabbi Marc Mandel, Jill and Jeffrey Padwa, Jeffrey Savit, and, from the Cape Cod Federation, Dr. Julie Kopp Smily and Terry Smily.

MARTY COOPER is the Community Relations Director for the Jewish Alliance.