Overseas Americans Week included all five days of the week of 18 June, with representatives from ACA, FAWCO, (Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas), AARO (Association of Americans Resident Overseas), Democrats Abroad and Republicans Abroad comprising the total delegation of 21 people. ACA also fielded representatives for meetings the first two days of the week of 25 June.

During the 7 days, 84 meetings were held in Congressional offices and research institutes. As several meetings were organized to include staffers of several Congressional offices from a particular state, the outreach on the Hill was even more extensive. There was particularly intensive contact with representatives from Ohio and with South Carolina. Other than Congressional offices, appointments included the National Foreign Trade Council, the Urban Institute, the American Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Secretaries of State, the US-Mexican Chamber of Commerce, the United States Council for International Business, the Peterson Institute of International Economics, Program Manager of the Foreign Resident Compliance office of the IRS, the Consular section of the State Department and the Election Assistance Commission.

A summary of Overseas Americans Week 2007 has been compiled, and is available on this ACA website. You will see action points based on OAW experiences throughout this issue and in ACA messages in months to come. Initial planning is already under way for OAW 2008 – consider participating!

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In January 2007, Congressman Howard Berman and Senator Diane Feinstein respectively introduced in Congress the Social Security Fairness Act of 2007 – H.R. 82 IH and S. 208 IS. This bill proposes to amend title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the government pension offset and Windfall Elimination Provisions which were put into the law in 1983. Details can be found on thomas.loc.gov with reference to the numbers of the acts.

While this bill would certainly help restore Social Security benefits to many who have worked only in the United States, it would also eliminate one of the key problems facing Americans who have had careers in both the United States and abroad, often making them subject to US Social Security payments reduced by the Windfall Elimination Provisions (WEP). This penalty reduces the retiree’s benefit check by as much as 50% of the first segment of Social Security’s 'Average Monthly Earnings' for the retiree. For overseas Americans, the inequity of the Windfall Elimination Provisions is further dramatized by the fact that the retiree often stopped contributing to US Social Security when s/he left to work abroad when his/her Average Monthly Earnings were low (thus limiting his/her US pension) and receives a foreign pension for work abroad that is not commensurate with what s/he would have earned under US Social Security (the foreign pension being far from 'substantial'). He or she is thus doubly penalized for taking the job abroad.

H.R. 82 IH already has 322 co-sponsors. S. 208 has 32 co-sponsors, and the leaders of this bill would like to sign on more Senators. You can help by writing to your Congressman and Senators to strongly encourage their endorsement of the bill. Include, if relevant, your personal experience of having your Social Security payments cut sharply and unfairly due to WEP. In particular, contact one of the Senators listed below most susceptible to sign on, especially if you are from his/her state:

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The Treasury Dept. is currently in the phase of updating the list of exception cities (i.e., those with higher average annual housing costs than the annual $24,720 assumed for 2006) for the Housing Exclusion/Deduction under Section 911 for the fiscal year 2007. This list will be finalized by the end of summer.

Previous Department of Treasury Notices 2006-87 and 2007-25 list exception cities (available here). Americans overseas who have now seen the effect on their 2006 filings of the limitation on the housing exclusion and feel their location should be added to the list of exception cities or the amount revised should send an e-mail without delay to the Department of Treasury.

To email the IRS, the address is: notice.comments@irscounsel.treas.gov. Be sure to include the notice number Notice 2006-87 in the subject line. To write a letter, the address is: CC:PA:LPD:PR (Notice 2006-87), Room 5203, Internal Revenue Service, PO Box 7604, Washington, DC 20044, USA.

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An excellent article in the International Herald Tribune covering the Overseas Americans Week (www.iht.com) spotlights also the Americans Abroad Caucus founded in the House by co-sponsors Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Joe Wilson (R-SC) and its new members: Reps. Kay Granger (R-TX) and Henry Waxman (D-CA). These additions mean the caucus now has eleven members. Other members are: Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Steve Cohen (D-TN), John Boozman (R-AZ), Donna Christensen (D-VI), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Frank Wolf (R-VA) And is YOUR representative among them?

The article mentions also that Reps. Maloney and Wilson have changed their websites to accept comments from overseas and have written a joint letter asking fellow lawmakers to follow suit. Again, does YOUR representative's website accept comments from overseas?

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American Citizens Abroad has joined in an amici curiae ("friends of the court") brief in a case before the Supreme Court, Medellin v. State of Texas, related to a Mexican national who was imprisoned in Texas and without consular authorities of his country being informed, counter to Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. ACA and the other individuals and organizations of overseas Americans represented by this brief, argue "that a failure by the domestic courts to give full effect to the rights and protections of the Vienna Convention – as determined by the international court to which the United States, by treaty, committed their adjudication – would weaken the international framework of reciprocal rights and obligations essential to U.S. consular assistance to its citizens, endangering the welfare of Americans abroad."

The text of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations can be found at: untreaty.un.org

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To make sure that you are registered to vote in your state in the 2008 primary and general elections, why not register NOW? A number of states have advanced the date of their primary elections (the comprehensive list of primary dates can be found at: www.overseasvotefoundation.org). Requesting registration in early 2008 may prove to be too late to participate in the primary in your last state of residence. In 2008, primaries will really be...well, of primal importance.

Technically speaking, if you registered in 2006 you should be still on the list of voters for 2008, but re-registering takes just a few minutes and makes you that much more secure. Whether a new or repeat overseas voter, go to the OVF website (www.overseasvotefoundation.org) and follow the easy directions. They will permit you to download necessary registration forms and to obtain information about how to contact your voting district.

OVF's Executive Director, Susan Dzieduszycki-Suinat, offers an additional word to the wise: "Tell people to go ahead and re-file/file now and in 2008 to call their election official and CONFIRM that they are on the electoral rolls and will receive their ballots in 2008. Essential advice. And the OVF Election Official Directory makes it easy." You can write also to your local election officials, per the Directory, to inquire if your vote was counted the LAST time you voted from abroad – ever wonder? It is obligatory that records be kept and this information shared with you.

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ACA's delegation to "Overseas Americans Week" learned that Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Chairwoman of the International Trade and Global Competitiveness subcommittee* of the Finance Committee, may call hearings this fall on global trade issues.

If you have concrete personal experience in the business world relating to the competitiveness of US companies, products or individuals in the global economy which you believe this Committee should be aware of, kindly contact ACA at email: . Send us a summary of your experience and let us know if you would be willing to testify, and how you can be reached. At this time, we do not know the specific agenda of the hearings and cannot determine the final choice of those to be heard at the hearings, but we certainly are willing to transfer "case studies" and to suggest that you be heard.

ACA knows that the fiscal outreach of the US government through the Controlled Foreign Corporation laws and through taxation of its nationals on a citizenship basis creates a serious burden for Americans competing in the global markets. But it takes concrete personal experiences to make the case and hopefully persuade our legislators in Washington to change the laws so as to make America and Americans more competitive. Also feel free to communicate to one or another member of this committee your thoughts on how the US can become more competitive in the global economy.

* Other members of this subcommittee are Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) (Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee), Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR) (Ranking member), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Sen. Craig Thomas (R-WY) and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS).

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What a treasure to keep in the family – or to send to someone who would dearly appreciate it! This is a program which has been going since 1937. The Architect of the Capitol fulfills all flag requests from members of the US Senate and House of Representatives. You can order your flag through your Senator or Congressperson. Many have the order form on their websites; if not, inquire with their office. Cost differs somewhat depending on the size of the flag, but is under $25 (plus shipping and handling). You can even request that it be a flag flown on a specific day (with 4-6 weeks advance notice). See www.homeofheroes.com for full information.

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How about...

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The Legal Guide to Germany (www.lg2g.info) is filled with useful practical details which resident foreigners may not be familiar with, as well as links to several sites for general information about learning to live in the country. One can also register to receive a monthly e-newsletter.

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It's always time to learn, and what a wealth of sources on Internet! Try a couple of US govt sources that lead you on...and on...and on.

Federal Resources of Educational Excellence: Teaching and Learning Resources from Federal Agencies: www.free.ed.gov or USINFO's Link to Education Resources: usinfo.state.gov

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This News Update is, like ACA itself, of, by, and for Americans abroad. ACA is staffed through the efforts of volunteers, with its primary income source being membership fees and donations from private American citizens around the world.

WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE HANDS-ON TO ACA WORK:

1. NEWS UPDATE EDITORS. ACA is seeking to supplement its News Update staff. Work involves actually writing the News Update 2 - 3 times a year, under supervision of a Senior Editor, and monitoring raw material considered for the newsletter on a regular basis. Calls for e-mail access and an ability to write/edit succinctly and against a deadline. ACA takes pride in the global spread of its editors.
   
   
2. BOOK REVIEWS/REVIEWERS. ACA is interested in discovering books of particular interest to Americans abroad. It also seeks individuals willing to review such books. Reviewers get to keep the book, and to see their contribution in print. Click here for a list of books or contact the ACA office, email:

WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO ACA'S FINANCIAL SUCCESS:

1. ORDER YOUR PUBLICATIONS THROUGH THE ACA WEBSITE and we get paid for your business - at no extra cost to you. Go to the Book Review section and click on any link to amazon-com (USA) or amazon-UK. Any purchases you make when you have entered through the ACA portal, whether of items reviewed on the website or not, will generate a small revenue for ACA; Please make this extra click-to-give gesture to help us continue to help you. You can also order our new ACA book So far and Yet So Near directly from www.amazon.com USA or from www.amazon.co.UK and add your other orders.
   
   
2. JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL AUCTION. The FUNdraiser evening produces the single largest annual contribution to ACA's working budget. And the highest bids are for items ingenious and/or exotic. It's a good bet that someone in the attending crowd of internationals will be intrigued by even the most distant and/or unusual of objects or services. This year's auction was held on Friday 20th April 2007 at the Ramada Park Hôtel in Geneva. See our Donors List of fabulous prizes.
   
   
3. IS YOUR MEMBERSHIP CURRENT? Renew by secure online payment or contact the ACA office email: . Membership is only US$50 a year (CHF 60). Of course, an outright contribution via check or charge card is the most obvious way to support the work of ACA and its worldwide volunteers working to help YOU. Secure payment using PayPal^®, or send a check to: ACA, 5 rue Liotard, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland.

Disclaimer: While ACA makes every effort to be accurate in the information it transmits, such information is not to be considered a substitute for specific and qualified professional advice.

JOIN US!