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.

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