Amerikai Magyar Szó, 2004. július-december (58-102. évfolyam, 160-183. szám)
2004-09-17 / 171. szám
2004. SZEPTEMBER 17. WWW.CHACR.ORG MAGYAR SZÓ-A HÍD 21 David Nadasi Hungarians today have to pay $100 dollars to apply for a visa to the United States. Many feel that tbeir applications are turned down without due consideration, yet the hefty fee is lost forever. The Center for Hungarian American Congressional Relations (CHACR) has asked the Members of the Hungarian American Caucus to co-sponsor House Resolution 4834. The legislation would waive the visa fee for those nonimmigrant visitors who are nationals of countries providing combat troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Hungary has been a strong ally of the United States. Hungary has 300 troops in Iraq, and the government recently stated that the troops will stay through 2005. On June 17, the first Hungarian soldier, Richard Nagy, lost his life in Iraq after a roadside bomb ripped through his armored personnel carrier. Hungary has also sent over a hundred soldiers to Afghanistan to help in stabilizing the country. Congressman William Lipinski (D-IL) introduced the bill in mid July. Congressman Jack Quinn (R- NY) and Congressman Rahm Emmanuel (D-IL) are also cosponsors. H.R. 4834 recognizes the countries contributing in Afghanistan and Iraq and eliminates the visa-processing fee of $100. This legislation rewards our allies like Hungary and gives them incentive to keeping the international presence in Afghanistan and Iraq. The resolution only calls for the elimination of the fee, maintaining the thorough screening requirements for foreign non-immigrant visa applicants. THE HUNGARIAN AMERICAN CAUCUS AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU Brittany Vogl What is a caucus, and why should I care? This is a question I have contemplated before, and I have a minor in government! I spent most of my undergraduate career trying to understand politics, but even the most studious person can lose track of things under all the bureaucracy and red tape. For someone that is familiar with the term, a caucus is just a group of important people that get together and talk on a specific subject. Nothing special, right? Well, let me run it by you again. For someone not as familiar with the word "caucus," here is a definition derived from Webster's Dictionary: “A private meeting of members of a particular party in Congress; a deliberative body to settle questions of party policy.” In other words, a caucus may be thought of as a group within a legislative or decision-making body seeking to represent a specific interest or influence a particular area of policy. Etymologically, the word is thought to have originated in Boston in the eighteenth century, and either refers to a meeting of a group of officials before the' American Revolution, or comes from the Algonquin (Native American) word "caucauasu," meaning one who promotes or advises. An astute person would realize how diverse these definitions are, while a pessimistic person would think how impossible it would be for a caucus to actually attain all of the aforementioned goals. However, the Hungarian American Caucus is here to allay all your fears. The Hungarian American Caucus, created by the Center for Hungarian American Congressional Relations, serves all these purposes-and a lot more! The Congressional caucus has operated within the House of Representatives for about a year and a half now and is still collecting new members daily. Yes, yes; I know you're thinking that anything "Congressional" must not be too efficient, or is at the very least dilatory in nature. How does something so abstract apply to or benefit me at all? Not only does the Hungarian American Caucus discuss and decide questions of policy of concern to Hungarian Americans (and Hungarians throughout Eastern Europe) right now, but it also does so in a timely matter. The Hungarian American Caucus deals with the specific interests of the Hungarian American community, covering such topics as ethnic violence, the cost of visas, and post-iron Curtain barriers that affect Hungarians worldwide. The Hungarian American Caucus is a bi-partisan, it has both democrat and republican members. The caucus is comprised of 25 Democrat and Republican members, all of whom work together to address the concerns of its Hungarian American constituency. The caucus works to foster and improve bilateral relations between the United States and Hungary as well. The Hungarian American Caucus is just as important as any collusion of Bostonians before the Revolution, and just like the Algonquin word suggests, the caucus promotes and advises others of current Hungarian American concerns. The caucus serves as an important tool to any Hungarian American. Now you know what a caucus is and why you should care, and it didn't even take that much time. To learn more information about the Hungarian American Caucus, or to find out if your Representative has joined the caucus, please see our website. If your Representative is not a part of the caucus, request that he or she joins immediately, in order to accurately address the concerns of his or her Hungarian American constituency; I promise it won't take that long either. Stop the violence! CHACR has been working over the past months to stop the violent anti- Hungarian attacks in Vojvodina (Vajdasag). You can help right now by becoming a new member of CHACR. The more members we have, the more Congress will pay attention to us. .......................cut here.............................. Yes, I want to stop the violence! I will proudly join CHACR to help the people I care about. Enclosed is my gift of: $500 $100 $250 $50 $25 Name:_________________________________ Address: ____ Please make your check payable to CHACR and return it with this reply. Our address is: 316 F Street NE Suite #201 Washington, DC 20002 Conrributioas to CI IACR arc not tax-dctiucribic. Members of Hungarian American Caucus Steny Hoyer (D-MD 5 th) Ernest Istook (R-OKStb) Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA 12th) Christopher Shays (R-CT 4th) Thomas Tancredo (R-CO 6th) Tim Ryan (D-01117th) StephanieTubbs Jones (D-Oll 11th) Steven LaTourette (R-Oll 14th) Diane Watson (D-CA 33rd) Henry Waxman (D-CA 30th) Robert Wexler (D-FL 19th) Carolyn Maloney (D-NY 14th) Marcy Kaptur (D-0119th) George Radanovich (R-CA 19th) Frank Pallone (D-NJ 6th) Todd Tiahrt (R-KS 4th) Thaddeus McCotter (R-Ml 11th) Donald Manzullo (R-11.16th) Dan Burton (R-IN 5th) Christopher Cox (R-CA 4Sth) Eliot Engel (D-NY 17th) Philip English (R-PA 3rd) Paul Gillmor (R-Oll 5th) Kay Granger (R-'FX 12th) Dennis Kucinich (D-01110th) Free Visa for Hungarians!
