Resolutions Committee Report

Speech given at the 27th National Convention of the CPUSA.

Resolutions were presented to the Convention prior to our arrival at Milwaukee. Most of them came from state and District Conventions, some came from Clubs, a few came from individuals. Some of the material submitted as Resolutions were properly part of the Pre-Convention Discussion rather than Resolutions proper, and were posted on the Web page as such. A few Resolutions were specific to the Constitution, and were forwarded to that Committee.

After we arrived in Milwaukee, the Convention adopted rules that allowed for the submission of Resolutions until 12:00 noon on Saturday and we received additional Resolutions from individuals and groups of delegates. In addition, a few of the Workshops submitted Resolutions to the Committee before that deadline. A total of 37 Resolutions were considered by the Resolutions Committee.

Recognizing that the Convention is the one time when Party collectives, and even individuals, can directly ask the highest decision-making body of our organization to act on specific policy proposals, it was the intention of the Resolutions Committee to present to the Convention each Resolution submitted, the substance of the proposed Resolution - at least to read the Resolves - make a recommendation as to whether the Resolution should be approved or rejected and submit them to the vote of the delegates.

Unfortunately, the number of Resolutions presented, and the press of time, made that procedure impossible to follow at the moment. Therefore, on behalf of the Resolutions Committee, I will present the proposed Resolutions in the following manner:

Where we can we will group Resolutions on similar subjects which the Committee deems non-controversial and deserving of passage by the Convention, we will present them and move their approval as a group. Where Resolutions are controversial, we will present them individually so that we can ensure that there is appropriate debate after we have made our recommendation. We will also present individually Resolutions which the Committee is not recommending for approval, to make sure that Comrades who have put forward these proposals are heard, and the Convention has a chance to decide whether or not to follow the Committee's recommendation.

The full text of all Resolutions can be found through the Web page of the Communist Party, USA.

The first set of Resolutions we are presenting to you for your approval deal with Economic Issues:

1. There is a Resolution from the Ohio District Convention calling on "the National Convention of the CPUSA, [to] go on record in support of Jobs with Justice and urge all Party organizations and members to become involved with and help build Jobs with Justice";

2. There were Resolutions from both the Ohio and Indiana District Conventions addressing the growing crisis in the steel industry. The Committee recommends adoption of the Resolution from Ohio which calls in part for "...a major, massive multifaceted national campaign...to support of the passage of...HR 1564; "...to save the LTV mill in Cleveland...fully supporting the use of eminent domain legislation;" and calling for a "national drive to introduce emergency legislation for the nationalization of the American Steel Industry.…"

3. A Resolution from the Southern California Convention that urges "...that we continue to work for public works jobs legislation like the Martinez Jobs Bill...[and] that we seek to include in such legislation a commitment to build and develop our nation's renewable energy resources..."

4. A Resolution tendered by Southern California delegates and guests to "...guarantee...safe, reliable, accessible and affordable electricity for working families...A moratorium [on] ...further deregulation or restructuring of the electric industry...to create Public Power Authorities to provide adequate reserves of electric generation capacity including the construction of publicly owned plants..."and that, if necessary, "states should exercise their power of eminent domain to take control of power generating plants."

5. A Resolution from the Southern California Convention urging that the "Communist Party USA make a priority [of] the struggle to make Cesar E. Chavez's birthday, March 31, an official Federal holiday."

6. A Resolution from the Minnesota-Dakota District Convention which opposed government subsidies for corporate farms but called for "the preservation of and extension of federal price support and other programs necessary for the survival of family farms."

The Resolutions Committee moved passage of all of these Resolutions. The Convention voted to do so.

In addition, there was a Resolution submitted by the Arizona District Convention dealing with immigrants from Mexico, the Border, the trade union movement and the proposed "guest worker program." The Resolution called for the demilitarization of the border, the development of humane immigration policies and control of any guest worker program by trade unions. The Resolutions Committee proposed adoption of this Resolution. There was a debate on the floor about the particulars of how to implement this program and it proved impossible to develop a consensus on the action portion of the Resolution. It was withdrawn for further development and referred to the Mexican American and Trade Union Commissions of the Party.

There were two Resolutions submitted dealing with current economic struggles:

1. The Ohio District Convention submitted a Resolution in "support of the people of Middletown, Ohio in their battle for justice against AK Steel…"

2. The Florida District Convention submitted a Resolution to "join the Coalition of Immokalee Workers [who work the tomato field]) in [boycotting] Taco Bell, its parent company, Tricon Global Restaurants, and its tomato supplier, Six L's Farms, [until they] sit down and negotiate a living wage and decent working conditions with the representatives of the CIE."

The Resolutions Committee moved passage of these Resolutions. The Convention voted to do so.

There were four Resolutions submitted on international questions:

1. There was a Resolution from the Ohio District Convention opposing the development of a national missile defense system declaring "...its active opposition [which] shall include working with others to build the largest possible opposition movement to the NMD within the United States...and encouraging participation in the national conference "Keep Space for Peace,' in Cleveland, Ohio from October 12-14, co-sponsored by the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space and National Peace Action, and all similar efforts organized by forces opposed to NMD."

2. A Resolution form the Florida State Convention calling on the "National Convention of the Communist Party USA to join with the people of the world in demanding the immediate cessation of the US government blockade of Cuba, and all the legislation that bars free exchange between the two nations as well as US respect for the rights and sovereignty of the Cuban people."

3. A Resolution from the Massachusetts delegation to the Convention "...demanding the immediate end of the bombing of Vieques, and...support for Puerto Rican self determination and...the immediate transfer of all sovereign power to the Puerto Rican people."

4. A Resolution from the Indiana State Convention declaring "support for the Palestinian people in their struggle for peace and self determination...that ends Israeli expansion into Palestinian lands...supports the Israeli people's peace movement ...Demands an immediate end to the Israeli government's war against the Palestinian people...[calls on the Party to] create or activate a Peace Commission...and charges this Commission to address the issues of the Palestinian people's struggle for self determination."

The Resolutions Committee moved passage of these Resolutions. The Convention voted to do so.

There were four Resolutions dealing with issues of Women's Rights and the struggle for equality for Women.

1. There was a Resolution coming from the Women's Equality Conference held earlier this year calling for the "Communist Party, USA [to] re-establish a Women's Commission of the Communist Party, and charges the Commission to address the issues and lead the struggle for Women's Equality as an integral part of the struggle for democracy and the fight for socialism."

2. There was a similar Resolution from the Minnesota-Dakotas District resolving "that the CPUSA reaffirm its support of women's rights and equality, and increase its efforts to make women's struggles a major emphasis of its political work."
3. There was a Resolution from the Boston, Massachusetts Club calling on the Party to "reaffirm its position on choice and 'Roe vs. Wade' and [to pledge] to mobilize the broadest coalition to protect reproductive rights."

The Resolutions Committee moved passage of these Resolutions. The Convention voted to do so.

In addition, there was a Resolution submitted by Massachusetts District calling for the defense of women's reproductive rights. The Resolutions Committee felt that the Resolution described the situation well but lacked an action section. It was our recommendation that this Resolution be referred to the incoming Board until such time as a Woman's Commission is re-established for developing an action plan around these issues. The Convention voted to do so.

There were five Resolutions submitted which dealt with the Party and were not matters that related to the Constitution Committee.

1. There was a Resolution from the Connecticut District Convention highlighting the role of neighborhood and workplace concentration clubs to "building the party and defeating the extreme right wing." The Resolution "reaffirm[ed]) the goals and substance of the Extraordinary National Conference of 1981 which emphasized the primary unit of the Communist Party USA as neighborhood and workplace clubs for the purpose of carrying out working-class concentration, [and]...to consider all political, ideological and organizational questions in the framework of building and strengthening neighborhood and workplace clubs, and helping district organizations in this effort."

2. There was a Resolution from the Northern California District Convention which called upon "the Party at all levels [to] continue to enhance its alliance and cooperation with the labor movement, and with all working people, particularly industrial workers and people of color-that all our work head in that direction."

The Resolutions Committee moved passage of these Resolutions. The Convention voted to do so.

3. In addition, there was a Resolution from the Washington District calling for the national dues to be raised to $1 per month, that each member be encouraged to make personal sustaining contributions to the Party on a monthly basis separate from any fund drives, and suggests that Comrades pledge specific contributions to underwrite the cost of PWW distributions.

The Resolutions Committee took no position against the merits of this Resolution but suggested to the Convention that these matters were best established by the National Organization Commission and Board rather than matters that the Convention should deal with. The Convention voted to refer this Resolution to the incoming bodies.

4. There was a Resolution from the Indiana District Convention on a "Socialist Approach to the Bill of Rights." This Resolution called for the idea of "Bill of Rights Socialism" to be "based on, but not limited to, the political, economic and social rights guaranteed in the existing socialist constitutions and in the pre 1989-91 socialist constitutions." It further argued that while "the US Constitution's Bill of Rights has some valuable people's concepts...that this Bill of Rights, rooted in capitalism, cannot serve as a platform for socialism."

The Resolutions Committee felt that it was inappropriate for a Resolution dealing with such a fundamental concept of our Party's Program to base its action sections on the experience of other countries and recommended that the Convention reject this Resolution. There was a debate within the rules established by the Convention and the Resolution was rejected.

5. There was a Resolution submitted by Comrade Walter Tillow referring to the return to our ranks of former Comrades who participated in the effort to split the Party in 1991. The Resolution welcomed those who have returned and the discussions that have been held with former Party leaders who have returned, but noted that some of them continued their membership in the COC. The Resolution called on the Convention to "consider [that] continuing membership in the COC is incompatible with membership in the CPUSA, and that no former Party leaders should be allowed to return on that basis."

The Resolutions Committee, feeling that these matters should be decided on a person by person basis by those who are engaging in these conversations recommended that the Convention reject this Resolution. There was a debate within the rules established by the Convention, and the Resolution was rejected.

There were two Resolutions dealing with the crisis in Public Education.

1. There was a detailed program and statement from the School Worker's Commission that "resolves to support, actively participate in and offer leadership in the struggle to defend, expand, and improve public schools nationwide."

2. There was a Resolution from the Minnesota- Dakotas District Convention opposing "High Stakes" testing as a method of school reform."

The Resolutions Committee moved passage of these Resolutions. The Convention voted to do so.

In addition there was a report submitted from the NY State Convention Workshop on the Fight for Public Education which was in the nature of a plan of work. At the suggestion of the Resolutions Committee this document was referred to National School Workers Commission.

There were five Resolutions submitted dealing with fundamental Democratic Issues.

1. There was a Resolution from the Florida District Convention calling for "a new, fair and impartial trial for Mumia Abu Jamal."

2. There was a Resolution from the Florida District Convention calling for "the immediate release of Leonard Peltier and all other political prisoners."

3. There was a Resolution from the Minnesota-Dakota's District Convention to ensure that "the rights granted to Native Americans under treaties with the federal government not be abridged by the state governments, and...[that]…support [is given] to the American Indian demand for the elimination of Indian mascots, and names and logos for sports teams."

The Resolutions Committee moved passage of these Resolutions. The Convention voted to do so.

4. In addition there was a Resolution from the Joe Hill club of the Minnesota-Dakotas District calling on the Party to "initiate or support struggles which elevate public understanding and support for special land-based and hunting rights of American Indians." The Resolutions Committee felt that this Resolution did not offer concrete guidance as to how to affect its aims and recommended to the Convention that this be referred to the incoming Board for further development. The Convention voted to do so.

5. There was a Resolution against Racism and for Immigrant Rights from the Indiana District Convention that "...re-affirm(ed) the position reflected in the old preamble of our constitution: 'The struggle for equality for Black People and against Racism is central to social progress'...[and] called for "unlimited immigration into the USA; Compulsory bi-lingual education for all adults and their families of whatever country or cultural background. Federal prohibition of "English Only" (laws)...Support for the AFL-CIO policy on amnesty (for undocumented workers)..."

While agreeing with much of the Resolution, the Committee felt that in light of new concepts of Black-Brown-White Unity and the inadvisability calling for compulsory bilingual education for all people in this country, that the Resolution be rejected by the Convention. There was a debate within the rules established by the Convention, and the Resolution was rejected.

There were several Resolutions that asserted areas of concern or proposals for areas of work but which had no particular proposal which the Convention could act upon.

1. There was a Resolution from Boston on the criminalization of children and youth.

2. There was a paper from New York containing a lot of information about the proposed Federal Act to Leave No Child Behind.

3. There was a proposal from Florida that we help organize a trade union tour by COSATU.

4. There was a proposal from Florida that Comrade Alarcon make a trip to Florida to meet with farm worker organizers.

5. There was a proposal from Florida that we organize a tour by representatives of the Communist Party of Iraq.

The Resolutions Committee proposed that these matters be referred to the incoming Board. The Convention voted to do so.

There were several Resolutions that the Committee deemed appropriate to be referred to the ongoing Program Committee.

1. There was a Resolution from the Minnesota-Dakotas District on gun control calling for a class approach to the issue.

2. There was a Resolution from the Minnesota-Dakotas District calling on the CPUSA "to counter the right-wing political, racist, and other discriminatory attitudes that punish and alienate poor whites and minorities."

The Convention voted to refer these Resolutions to the Program Committee.