Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act
On August 8th, 2014, President Barack Obama signed the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act into law.
The afore-referenced Act ensures compliance with the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction by countries with which the United States enjoys reciprocal obligations, to establish procedures for the prompt return of children abducted to other countries, and for other purposes.
The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.
Section 2
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should set a strong example for 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Convention) countries in the timely location and return of abducted children in the United States whose habitual residence is not the United States.
Section 3 -
Defines specified terms for purposes of this Act.
Title I – Department of State Actions
Section 101 -
Directs the Secretary of State to submit to Congress an Annual Report on International Child Abduction.
Section 102 -
Directs the Secretary to ensure that U.S. diplomatic and consular missions: (1) maintain a consistent reporting standard with respect to abduction or access cases, (2) designate at least one official in each mission to assist U.S. parents who are visiting to resolve such cases, and
(3) monitor cases involving abducted children in their country of location.
Section 103 -
Directs the Secretary to seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding (an agreement between the United States and a country that is not a Convention country to resolve abduction and rights of access cases) with every country that is not a Convention country.
Section 104 -
Directs the Secretary of State to notify the Member of Congress and Senators representing the legal residence of a left-behind parent when that parent reports an abduction to the Central Authority of the United States unless the left-behind parent does not consent to such notification.
Title II – Presidential Actions
Section 201 -
States that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) promote the best interest of children abducted from the United States by establishing legal rights and procedures for their prompt return, and (2) recognize the international character of the Convention.
Directs the President, upon a determination that the government of a foreign country has failed to resolve an abduction or access case or has engaged in a pattern of noncooperation, to take one or more specified actions to promote resolution or cooperation.
Section 202 -
States that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) oppose systemic foreign government failures to fulfill obligations pursuant to the Convention or a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the United States and a non-Convention country to resolve abduction and access cases, and (2) promote reciprocity pursuant to and compliance with the Convention or the applicable MOUs.
Directs the President, upon a determination that the government of a foreign country has engaged in a pattern of noncooperation, to take one or more specified actions to promote resolution or cooperation.
Directs the President to:
(1) review annually the status of abduction cases and access cases in each foreign country to determine whether the country’s government has engaged in a pattern of noncooperation during the preceding 12 months or since the last review,
(2) designate each country whose government has engaged in a pattern of noncooperation as a Country With a Pattern of Noncooperation (Country),
(3) target the responsible agencies or instrumentalities, and
(4) notify Congress of such designations.
Section 203 -
Directs the President to request consultation with the government of a country regarding its designation as a Country.
Section 204 -
Directs the President to report to Congress regarding the violations and the actions to be taken with respect to a Country.
Section 205 -
Sets forth presidential actions and waiver authority under this Act.
Section 207 -
Directs the President to ensure publication in the Federal Register of: (1) Country designations, (2) presidential actions, (3) delays in report transmittal, and (4) waivers.
Section 208 -
Terminates any action taken under this Act with respect to a foreign country on the earlier of the following two dates: (1) not later than two years after the effective date of such action unless expressly reauthorized by law, or (2) the date on which the President certifies to Congress that such country has resolved any unresolved abduction case or has taken substantial and verifiable steps to correct the pattern of noncooperation at issue.
Source(s): http://www.govtrack.us
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
The afore-referenced Act ensures compliance with the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction by countries with which the United States enjoys reciprocal obligations, to establish procedures for the prompt return of children abducted to other countries, and for other purposes.
The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, which is a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress.
Section 2
Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should set a strong example for 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Convention) countries in the timely location and return of abducted children in the United States whose habitual residence is not the United States.
Section 3 -
Defines specified terms for purposes of this Act.
Title I – Department of State Actions
Section 101 -
Directs the Secretary of State to submit to Congress an Annual Report on International Child Abduction.
Section 102 -
Directs the Secretary to ensure that U.S. diplomatic and consular missions: (1) maintain a consistent reporting standard with respect to abduction or access cases, (2) designate at least one official in each mission to assist U.S. parents who are visiting to resolve such cases, and
(3) monitor cases involving abducted children in their country of location.
Section 103 -
Directs the Secretary to seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding (an agreement between the United States and a country that is not a Convention country to resolve abduction and rights of access cases) with every country that is not a Convention country.
Section 104 -
Directs the Secretary of State to notify the Member of Congress and Senators representing the legal residence of a left-behind parent when that parent reports an abduction to the Central Authority of the United States unless the left-behind parent does not consent to such notification.
Title II – Presidential Actions
Section 201 -
States that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) promote the best interest of children abducted from the United States by establishing legal rights and procedures for their prompt return, and (2) recognize the international character of the Convention.
Directs the President, upon a determination that the government of a foreign country has failed to resolve an abduction or access case or has engaged in a pattern of noncooperation, to take one or more specified actions to promote resolution or cooperation.
Section 202 -
States that it shall be U.S. policy to: (1) oppose systemic foreign government failures to fulfill obligations pursuant to the Convention or a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the United States and a non-Convention country to resolve abduction and access cases, and (2) promote reciprocity pursuant to and compliance with the Convention or the applicable MOUs.
Directs the President, upon a determination that the government of a foreign country has engaged in a pattern of noncooperation, to take one or more specified actions to promote resolution or cooperation.
Directs the President to:
(1) review annually the status of abduction cases and access cases in each foreign country to determine whether the country’s government has engaged in a pattern of noncooperation during the preceding 12 months or since the last review,
(2) designate each country whose government has engaged in a pattern of noncooperation as a Country With a Pattern of Noncooperation (Country),
(3) target the responsible agencies or instrumentalities, and
(4) notify Congress of such designations.
Section 203 -
Directs the President to request consultation with the government of a country regarding its designation as a Country.
Section 204 -
Directs the President to report to Congress regarding the violations and the actions to be taken with respect to a Country.
Section 205 -
Sets forth presidential actions and waiver authority under this Act.
Section 207 -
Directs the President to ensure publication in the Federal Register of: (1) Country designations, (2) presidential actions, (3) delays in report transmittal, and (4) waivers.
Section 208 -
Terminates any action taken under this Act with respect to a foreign country on the earlier of the following two dates: (1) not later than two years after the effective date of such action unless expressly reauthorized by law, or (2) the date on which the President certifies to Congress that such country has resolved any unresolved abduction case or has taken substantial and verifiable steps to correct the pattern of noncooperation at issue.
Source(s): http://www.govtrack.us
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization
On August 8th, 2014, President Obama signed the Victims of Child Abuse Act Reauthorization Act of 2013. It amends the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to authorize appropriations for FY2014-FY2018 for:
(1) the children’s advocacy program;
(2) grants from the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to develop and implement multidisciplinary child abuse investigation and prosecution programs; and
(3) grants to national organizations to provide technical assistance and training to attorneys and others instrumental to the criminal prosecution of child abuse cases in state or federal courts, for the purpose of improving the quality of criminal prosecution of such cases.
Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct audits of grant recipients to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds by grantees.
Defines an “unresolved audit finding” as a finding in the final audit report of the Inspector General that the audited grantee has utilized grant funds for an unauthorized expenditure or otherwise unallowable cost and that is not closed or resolved within 12 months from the date when the final audit report is issued and any appeal has been completed.
Directs the Administrator to give priority for grants to eligible entities that did not have an unresolved audit finding during the three fiscal years prior to submitting an application for a grant.
Disqualifies a grant recipient that is found to have an unresolved audit finding from receiving grant funds during the following two fiscal years.
Directs the Administrator, if an entity is awarded grant funds during the two-fiscal-year period in which the entity is barred from receiving grants, to:
(1) deposit an amount equal to the funds that were improperly awarded into the General Fund of the Treasury, and
(2) seek to recoup the costs of the repayment to the fund from such entity.
Prohibits the Administrator from awarding a grant to a nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax on unrelated business income.
Requires each nonprofit organization awarded a grant that uses prescribed procedures to create a rebuttable presumption of reasonableness for the compensation of its officers, directors, trustees and key employees to disclose to the Administrator in the grant application the process for determining such compensation, the comparability data used, and contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and decision.
Prohibits amounts authorized to be appropriated to DOJ from being used by the Administrator, or by any individual or organization awarded discretionary funds through a cooperative agreement, to host or support any expenditure for conferences that uses more than $20,000 in DOJ funds, without prior written authorization by the Deputy Attorney General or other specified officials.
Directs the Deputy Attorney General to submit an annual report to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees on all approved conference expenditures.
Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to permit surplus amounts in the Crime Victims Fund to be used only for a Victim Notification System and for the U.S. Attorneys Offices and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to provide and to improve services for the benefit of crime victims in the federal criminal justice system (current law) through victim coordinators, victims’ specialists, and advocates, including for the administrative support of such coordinators and advocates.
Source(s): http://www.govtrack.us
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
(1) the children’s advocacy program;
(2) grants from the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to develop and implement multidisciplinary child abuse investigation and prosecution programs; and
(3) grants to national organizations to provide technical assistance and training to attorneys and others instrumental to the criminal prosecution of child abuse cases in state or federal courts, for the purpose of improving the quality of criminal prosecution of such cases.
Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct audits of grant recipients to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of funds by grantees.
Defines an “unresolved audit finding” as a finding in the final audit report of the Inspector General that the audited grantee has utilized grant funds for an unauthorized expenditure or otherwise unallowable cost and that is not closed or resolved within 12 months from the date when the final audit report is issued and any appeal has been completed.
Directs the Administrator to give priority for grants to eligible entities that did not have an unresolved audit finding during the three fiscal years prior to submitting an application for a grant.
Disqualifies a grant recipient that is found to have an unresolved audit finding from receiving grant funds during the following two fiscal years.
Directs the Administrator, if an entity is awarded grant funds during the two-fiscal-year period in which the entity is barred from receiving grants, to:
(1) deposit an amount equal to the funds that were improperly awarded into the General Fund of the Treasury, and
(2) seek to recoup the costs of the repayment to the fund from such entity.
Prohibits the Administrator from awarding a grant to a nonprofit organization that holds money in offshore accounts for the purpose of avoiding paying the tax on unrelated business income.
Requires each nonprofit organization awarded a grant that uses prescribed procedures to create a rebuttable presumption of reasonableness for the compensation of its officers, directors, trustees and key employees to disclose to the Administrator in the grant application the process for determining such compensation, the comparability data used, and contemporaneous substantiation of the deliberation and decision.
Prohibits amounts authorized to be appropriated to DOJ from being used by the Administrator, or by any individual or organization awarded discretionary funds through a cooperative agreement, to host or support any expenditure for conferences that uses more than $20,000 in DOJ funds, without prior written authorization by the Deputy Attorney General or other specified officials.
Directs the Deputy Attorney General to submit an annual report to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees on all approved conference expenditures.
Amends the Victims of Crime Act of 1984 to permit surplus amounts in the Crime Victims Fund to be used only for a Victim Notification System and for the U.S. Attorneys Offices and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to provide and to improve services for the benefit of crime victims in the federal criminal justice system (current law) through victim coordinators, victims’ specialists, and advocates, including for the administrative support of such coordinators and advocates.
Source(s): http://www.govtrack.us
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
Fair Employment Act of 2014
What are some of the factors contributing to long-term unemployment? Some assert that unemployed workers are being discriminated against by prospective employers. In other words, when reviewing applicants some employers are only electing to interview workers that are currently employed. In response to this observed phenomena, in 2011 and again this year, Democratic members of congress introduced legislation to prevent discrimination against unemployed workers.
Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s of Connecticut and Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia introduced the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 and 2014, which would prohibit employers and employment agencies from discriminating against unemployed job-seekers by refusing to consider them for employment. According to Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s press release--
“In today’s tough economy, more than 6 million Americans have been out of work for more than six months. But companies across the country have begun to require current employment to be considered for available positions, and these discriminatory practices are eliminating employment opportunities. The Fair Employment Opportunity Act will prevent employers and employment agencies from refusing to consider or offer employment to someone who is unemployed, or including language in any job advertisements or postings that states unemployed individuals are not qualified.
A survey, conducted by the National Employment Law Project (NELP), of four of the top job search websites, CareerBuilder.com, Indeed.com,Monster.com, and CraigsList.com, found over 150 job advertisements that specified applicants must be currently employed. And the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey shows that there are 4.7 unemployed workers for every 1 job opening.”
The legislation, if passed by the House and Senate, would apply to employers with over fifteen (15) employees and would provide protection to job applicants who are discriminated against because they are unemployed. Key provisions of the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 include but are not limited to:
(a) Employers – It shall be an unlawful practice for an employer to–
1.Refuse to consider for employment or refuse to offer employment to an individual because of the individual’s status as unemployed;
2.Publish in print, on the Internet, or in any other medium, an advertisement or announcement for any job that includes--
- any provision stating or indicating that an individual’s status as unemployed disqualifies the individual for a job; and
- any provision stating or indicating that an employer will not consider an applicant for employment based on that individual’s status as unemployed; and
3.Direct or request that an employment agency take an individual’s status as unemployed into account in screening or referring applicants for employment.
Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s press release aptly states that, “In a tough job market, where workers are competing against tens and sometimes hundreds of others for every available job opening, it is unjust for employers to discriminate against those who are unemployed. We have seen ample evidence that unemployed individuals are increasingly falling prey to discriminatory practices reducing their opportunities to be considered for a job. The Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 would prohibit employers and employment agencies from discriminating against unemployed job-seekers, and ensure that all Americans have the same opportunities for employment.
Discrimination against the unemployed – especially the long-term unemployed – in job advertisements and hiring practices flies in the face of what we stand for as a nation: Equal opportunity for all,” said Rep. Johnson. The Fair Employment Opportunity Act will help us level the playing field and get people back to work.”
Sources: Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s website, Representative Johnson’s website, and opencongress.org.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s of Connecticut and Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia introduced the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 and 2014, which would prohibit employers and employment agencies from discriminating against unemployed job-seekers by refusing to consider them for employment. According to Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s press release--
“In today’s tough economy, more than 6 million Americans have been out of work for more than six months. But companies across the country have begun to require current employment to be considered for available positions, and these discriminatory practices are eliminating employment opportunities. The Fair Employment Opportunity Act will prevent employers and employment agencies from refusing to consider or offer employment to someone who is unemployed, or including language in any job advertisements or postings that states unemployed individuals are not qualified.
A survey, conducted by the National Employment Law Project (NELP), of four of the top job search websites, CareerBuilder.com, Indeed.com,Monster.com, and CraigsList.com, found over 150 job advertisements that specified applicants must be currently employed. And the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey shows that there are 4.7 unemployed workers for every 1 job opening.”
The legislation, if passed by the House and Senate, would apply to employers with over fifteen (15) employees and would provide protection to job applicants who are discriminated against because they are unemployed. Key provisions of the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 include but are not limited to:
(a) Employers – It shall be an unlawful practice for an employer to–
1.Refuse to consider for employment or refuse to offer employment to an individual because of the individual’s status as unemployed;
2.Publish in print, on the Internet, or in any other medium, an advertisement or announcement for any job that includes--
- any provision stating or indicating that an individual’s status as unemployed disqualifies the individual for a job; and
- any provision stating or indicating that an employer will not consider an applicant for employment based on that individual’s status as unemployed; and
3.Direct or request that an employment agency take an individual’s status as unemployed into account in screening or referring applicants for employment.
Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s press release aptly states that, “In a tough job market, where workers are competing against tens and sometimes hundreds of others for every available job opening, it is unjust for employers to discriminate against those who are unemployed. We have seen ample evidence that unemployed individuals are increasingly falling prey to discriminatory practices reducing their opportunities to be considered for a job. The Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 would prohibit employers and employment agencies from discriminating against unemployed job-seekers, and ensure that all Americans have the same opportunities for employment.
Discrimination against the unemployed – especially the long-term unemployed – in job advertisements and hiring practices flies in the face of what we stand for as a nation: Equal opportunity for all,” said Rep. Johnson. The Fair Employment Opportunity Act will help us level the playing field and get people back to work.”
Sources: Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s website, Representative Johnson’s website, and opencongress.org.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
President Obama Calls For Equal Pay For Equal Work
In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama stated that “…Women deserve equal pay for equal work… Deserves to have a baby without sacrificing — job. A mother deserves — day off. …” The President Obama says it’s time to do away with “Mad Men” era policies. Equal pay for equal work is a simple matter of fairness.
Almost five years ago, President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, with Lilly Ledbetter, who suffered twenty (20) years of pay discrimination. Data indicates that working women in the United States are paid an average of eighty (80) cents for every dollar paid to men. Because women earn less, on average, than men, they must work longer for the same amount of pay. The pay gap is even larger for most women of color; on average, black women earn about seventy (70) cents, and Latinas about sixty (60) cents, of every dollar paid to all men. Our daughters and granddaughters should know that they’ll enter the workforce as equals to their male counterparts. But it’s going to take a real effort to get this done.
The Equal Pay Act, the law that was supposed to make equal pay for equal work a reality, is in bad shape. That’s why right now, the people from all around the country are picking up their telephones to take action– and you can join them. Call the White House comment line and urge the President to get the ball rolling on closing the wage gap by prohibiting federal contractors from punishing or firing workers who talk about their salaries with co-workers. This action from the President would address one piece of the Paycheck Fairness Act and protect nearly a quarter of the federal civilian workforce despite congressional gridlock.
President Kennedy called the Equal Pay Act “a first step” to ending the widespread practice of paying women less than men for the same amount of work. And that’s exactly what it was: a first step. 50 years later, we’re still fighting this fight, and women STILL make 23 cents less on the dollar. House Democrats have proposed a solution — the Paycheck Fairness Act — but Republicans voted to block this legislation from even coming to a vote. That is unacceptable.
In 1996, Equal Pay Day was established by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) as a public awareness event to illustrate the gap between men’s and women’s wages. For the past thirty-two (32) years, the National Committee on Pay Equity has been working diligently to eliminate sex- and race-based wage discrimination and to achieve pay equity.
In 1979, the National Committee on Pay Equity was founded as a coalition of women’s and civil rights organizations; labor unions; religious, professional, legal, and educational associations, commissions on women, state and local pay equity coalitions and individuals working to eliminate sex- and race-based wage discrimination and to achieve pay equity.
When the Equal Pay Act passed nearly 50 years ago, a woman earned an average of 59 cents for every dollar a man made. Today, she makes 77 cents. The annual gap between men and women’s median annual wages is a staggering $10,849. With more and more families relying on women’s wages to support them in an ailing economy, shortchanging women nearly $11,000 a year is inexcusable.
Solution:
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is an important step in the continuing struggle for women’s rights. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act would take several steps towards closing the wage gap, including: clarifying acceptable reasons for differences in pay between men and women; prohibiting retaliation against workers who inquire about or disclose information about employers’ wage policies and their pay rates; making it easier to file class action lawsuits based on equal pay; and requiring the EEOC to survey current pay data and obliging employers to submit pay data identified by race, sex and national origin of employees.
Action Needed:
Help 9 to 5 and other advocacy organizations to make this very necessary change: Contact your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative and urge them to support and sign on to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Women have waited too long for equal wages. We, as a nation, cannot afford to wait any longer. —9 to 5
1/29/2013–Introduced.
Fair Pay Act of 2013 – Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin. (Allows payment of different wages under seniority systems, merit systems, systems that measure earnings by quantity or quality of production, or differentials based on bona fide factors that the employer demonstrates are job-related or further legitimate business interests.)
Prohibits the discharge of, or any other discrimination against, an individual for opposing any act or practice made unlawful by this Act, or for assisting in an investigation or proceeding under it.
Directs courts, in any action brought under this Act for violation of such prohibition, to allow expert fees as part of the costs awarded to prevailing plaintiffs. Allows any such action to be maintained as a class action. Directs the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to:
(1) undertake studies and provide information and technical assistance to employers, labor organizations, and the general public concerning effective means available to implement this Act; and (2) carry on a continuing program of research, education, and technical assistance with specified components related to the purposes of this Act. Makes conforming amendments relating to congressional and executive branch employees to the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 and the Presidential and Executive Office Accountability Act.
Source(s): ABC NEWS. http://www.govtrack.us. Wikipedia. 9 to 5. The National Committee on Pay Equity. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Action Alert DCCC.org.
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
Almost five years ago, President Barack Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, with Lilly Ledbetter, who suffered twenty (20) years of pay discrimination. Data indicates that working women in the United States are paid an average of eighty (80) cents for every dollar paid to men. Because women earn less, on average, than men, they must work longer for the same amount of pay. The pay gap is even larger for most women of color; on average, black women earn about seventy (70) cents, and Latinas about sixty (60) cents, of every dollar paid to all men. Our daughters and granddaughters should know that they’ll enter the workforce as equals to their male counterparts. But it’s going to take a real effort to get this done.
The Equal Pay Act, the law that was supposed to make equal pay for equal work a reality, is in bad shape. That’s why right now, the people from all around the country are picking up their telephones to take action– and you can join them. Call the White House comment line and urge the President to get the ball rolling on closing the wage gap by prohibiting federal contractors from punishing or firing workers who talk about their salaries with co-workers. This action from the President would address one piece of the Paycheck Fairness Act and protect nearly a quarter of the federal civilian workforce despite congressional gridlock.
President Kennedy called the Equal Pay Act “a first step” to ending the widespread practice of paying women less than men for the same amount of work. And that’s exactly what it was: a first step. 50 years later, we’re still fighting this fight, and women STILL make 23 cents less on the dollar. House Democrats have proposed a solution — the Paycheck Fairness Act — but Republicans voted to block this legislation from even coming to a vote. That is unacceptable.
In 1996, Equal Pay Day was established by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) as a public awareness event to illustrate the gap between men’s and women’s wages. For the past thirty-two (32) years, the National Committee on Pay Equity has been working diligently to eliminate sex- and race-based wage discrimination and to achieve pay equity.
In 1979, the National Committee on Pay Equity was founded as a coalition of women’s and civil rights organizations; labor unions; religious, professional, legal, and educational associations, commissions on women, state and local pay equity coalitions and individuals working to eliminate sex- and race-based wage discrimination and to achieve pay equity.
When the Equal Pay Act passed nearly 50 years ago, a woman earned an average of 59 cents for every dollar a man made. Today, she makes 77 cents. The annual gap between men and women’s median annual wages is a staggering $10,849. With more and more families relying on women’s wages to support them in an ailing economy, shortchanging women nearly $11,000 a year is inexcusable.
Solution:
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is an important step in the continuing struggle for women’s rights. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act would take several steps towards closing the wage gap, including: clarifying acceptable reasons for differences in pay between men and women; prohibiting retaliation against workers who inquire about or disclose information about employers’ wage policies and their pay rates; making it easier to file class action lawsuits based on equal pay; and requiring the EEOC to survey current pay data and obliging employers to submit pay data identified by race, sex and national origin of employees.
Action Needed:
Help 9 to 5 and other advocacy organizations to make this very necessary change: Contact your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative and urge them to support and sign on to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Women have waited too long for equal wages. We, as a nation, cannot afford to wait any longer. —9 to 5
1/29/2013–Introduced.
Fair Pay Act of 2013 – Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on account of sex, race, or national origin. (Allows payment of different wages under seniority systems, merit systems, systems that measure earnings by quantity or quality of production, or differentials based on bona fide factors that the employer demonstrates are job-related or further legitimate business interests.)
Prohibits the discharge of, or any other discrimination against, an individual for opposing any act or practice made unlawful by this Act, or for assisting in an investigation or proceeding under it.
Directs courts, in any action brought under this Act for violation of such prohibition, to allow expert fees as part of the costs awarded to prevailing plaintiffs. Allows any such action to be maintained as a class action. Directs the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to:
(1) undertake studies and provide information and technical assistance to employers, labor organizations, and the general public concerning effective means available to implement this Act; and (2) carry on a continuing program of research, education, and technical assistance with specified components related to the purposes of this Act. Makes conforming amendments relating to congressional and executive branch employees to the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 and the Presidential and Executive Office Accountability Act.
Source(s): ABC NEWS. http://www.govtrack.us. Wikipedia. 9 to 5. The National Committee on Pay Equity. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Action Alert DCCC.org.
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
US Economic Road to Recovery Is All About Increasing the Number of Living Wage Jobs
“…A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom…”— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our members of Congress must come to the understanding that for the US economy to experience a real and sustained economic recovery they as our elected officials must pass legislation which promotes the growth of living wage jobs and raises the minimum wage.
As aptly stated by Professor Lawrence H. Summers from Harvard University, “…the United States and other countries will not benefit from further measures directed at rapid deficit reduction. Output and jobs will suffer. A weaker economy means that our children may inherit an economy with more debt and less capacity to bear the burden it imposes. Already, premature deficit reduction has affected economic performance in Britain and several countries that use the euro.
The 2012 election results should have sent the message to all elected officials that the electorate is more concerned about jobs than cutting the national debt. The job growth trend reported by the BLS confirms that the economy is finally beginning to build some momentum, as we work to dig out of the devastatingly deep hole that President Obama inherited from George W. Bush and a generation of flawed policies. Now, we need the President and Congress to build on this momentum and keep their focus on job creation, including by passing the American Jobs Act.”
Prior to the 2012 Presidential election, some political analyst asserted that the race to the White House was all about jobs, jobs, jobs. The election results proved that they were in fact correct. The 2012 election at the federal level was all about jobs. As a result, the Democrats increased their number of seats in the United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, and they maintained the White House for a second term.
Highly regarded economists and the electorate have spoken “Trickle Down” economics failed miserably under Reagan and Bush as best demonstrated by the economic collapse— the road to recovery for our nation is in fact all about increasing the number of living wage jobs, jobs, jobs so that millions of people can go back to work.
“….We know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage…”—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Speaking to the AFL-CIO)
Source(s): Washington Post, June 2, 2013. AFL-CIO. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).www.aft.org.
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art.
Our members of Congress must come to the understanding that for the US economy to experience a real and sustained economic recovery they as our elected officials must pass legislation which promotes the growth of living wage jobs and raises the minimum wage.
As aptly stated by Professor Lawrence H. Summers from Harvard University, “…the United States and other countries will not benefit from further measures directed at rapid deficit reduction. Output and jobs will suffer. A weaker economy means that our children may inherit an economy with more debt and less capacity to bear the burden it imposes. Already, premature deficit reduction has affected economic performance in Britain and several countries that use the euro.
The 2012 election results should have sent the message to all elected officials that the electorate is more concerned about jobs than cutting the national debt. The job growth trend reported by the BLS confirms that the economy is finally beginning to build some momentum, as we work to dig out of the devastatingly deep hole that President Obama inherited from George W. Bush and a generation of flawed policies. Now, we need the President and Congress to build on this momentum and keep their focus on job creation, including by passing the American Jobs Act.”
Prior to the 2012 Presidential election, some political analyst asserted that the race to the White House was all about jobs, jobs, jobs. The election results proved that they were in fact correct. The 2012 election at the federal level was all about jobs. As a result, the Democrats increased their number of seats in the United States Senate, United States House of Representatives, and they maintained the White House for a second term.
Highly regarded economists and the electorate have spoken “Trickle Down” economics failed miserably under Reagan and Bush as best demonstrated by the economic collapse— the road to recovery for our nation is in fact all about increasing the number of living wage jobs, jobs, jobs so that millions of people can go back to work.
“….We know of no more crucial civil rights issue facing Congress today than the need to increase the federal minimum wage and extend its coverage…”—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Speaking to the AFL-CIO)
Source(s): Washington Post, June 2, 2013. AFL-CIO. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).www.aft.org.
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art.
Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 (H.R. 83)
As reported in the media, bullying is an ever increasing problem with sometimes lethal consequences. The Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 (H.R. 83) seeks to address this pressing social problem. The Act will “…amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to require the Attorney General to establish guidelines to prevent and address occurrences of bullying, …provide for grant funding to states for programs to prevent and address occurrences of bullying, and … reauthorize the Juvenile Accountability Block grants program.” The legislation could be an important new tool to empower the community to prevent bullying.
The Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 (H.R. 83) was introduced on January 5, 2011. The sponsor of the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 is Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas18) and there are twenty-six (26) cosponsors for this piece of legislation.
In recognition of the growing prevalence of bullying, the Obama administration has also taken important measures to combat and prevent bullying. This
administration is directing resources for the express purpose of reducing bullying incidents and to raising awareness around its ramifications, and, of course, to countering its negative impact. Toward that end, the White House convened a conference on preventing bullying, on Thursday, March 11, 2011. The Obama administration also announced the launch of a new website, www.stopbullying.gov, devoted to bullying prevention.
The Stop Bullying website provides information from various government agencies on how kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators, and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying. The website also provides information on bullying prevention and intervention measures. Topics on the website include but are not limited to: state policies and laws; violence prevention program directories; available online resources; and research. The website provides bullying prevention information for varied audiences such as victims, bystanders, parents, teachers, administrators, and others.
For information on bullying, there are several other websites you can visit including but not limited to: www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org, www.meganmeirfoundation.org; ww.fightcrime.org; www.bullypolice.org; www.healthline.com; www.cyberbullying.us; www.stopbullying.org; www.isafe.org; and others.
Source(s): www.govtrack.us. www.whitehouse.gov; www.hhs.gov; ww.stopbullying.gov; Cyber Research Center; Stop Bullying, Inc.; and i-Safe, Inc.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
The Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 (H.R. 83) was introduced on January 5, 2011. The sponsor of the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 is Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas18) and there are twenty-six (26) cosponsors for this piece of legislation.
In recognition of the growing prevalence of bullying, the Obama administration has also taken important measures to combat and prevent bullying. This
administration is directing resources for the express purpose of reducing bullying incidents and to raising awareness around its ramifications, and, of course, to countering its negative impact. Toward that end, the White House convened a conference on preventing bullying, on Thursday, March 11, 2011. The Obama administration also announced the launch of a new website, www.stopbullying.gov, devoted to bullying prevention.
The Stop Bullying website provides information from various government agencies on how kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators, and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying. The website also provides information on bullying prevention and intervention measures. Topics on the website include but are not limited to: state policies and laws; violence prevention program directories; available online resources; and research. The website provides bullying prevention information for varied audiences such as victims, bystanders, parents, teachers, administrators, and others.
For information on bullying, there are several other websites you can visit including but not limited to: www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org, www.meganmeirfoundation.org; ww.fightcrime.org; www.bullypolice.org; www.healthline.com; www.cyberbullying.us; www.stopbullying.org; www.isafe.org; and others.
Source(s): www.govtrack.us. www.whitehouse.gov; www.hhs.gov; ww.stopbullying.gov; Cyber Research Center; Stop Bullying, Inc.; and i-Safe, Inc.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
Fair Employment Opportunity Act
What are some of the factors contributing to long-term unemployment? Some assert that unemployed workers are being discriminated against by prospective employers. In other words, when reviewing applicants some employers are only electing to interview workers that are currently employed.In response to this observed phenomena, this month, Democratic members of congress introduced legislation to prevent discrimination against unemployed workers. Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s of Connecticut and Congressman Hank Johnson of Georgia introduced the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 (2501), which would prohibit employers and employment agencies from discriminating against unemployed job-seekers by refusing to consider them for employment.According to Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s press release—“In today’s tough economy, more than 6 million Americans have been out of work for more than six months. But companies across the country have begun to require current employment to be considered for available positions, and these discriminatory practices are eliminating employment opportunities. The Fair Employment Opportunity Act will prevent employers and employment agencies from refusing to consider or offer employment to someone who is unemployed, or including language in any job advertisements or postings that states unemployed individuals are not qualified. A recent survey, conducted by the National Employment Law Project (NELP), of four of the top job search websites, CareerBuilder.com, Indeed.com, Monster.com, and CraigsList.com, found over 150 job advertisements that specified applicants must be currently employed. And the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey shows that there are 4.7 unemployed workers for every 1 job opening.”
The legislation, if passed by the House and Senate, would apply to employers with over fifteen (15) employees and would provide protection to job applicants who are discriminated against because they are unemployed. Key provisions of the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 include but are not limited to:
(a) Employers – It shall be an unlawful practice for an employer to–
- any provision stating or indicating that an employer will not consider an applicant for employment based on that individual’s status as unemployed; and
3. Direct or request that an employment agency take an individual’s status as unemployed into account in screening or referring applicants for employment.
Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s press release aptly states that, “In a tough job market, where workers are competing against tens and sometimes hundreds of others for every available job opening, it is unjust for employers to discriminate against those who are unemployed. We have seen ample evidence that unemployed individuals are increasingly falling prey to discriminatory practices reducing their opportunities to be considered for a job. The Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 would prohibit employers and employment agencies from discriminating against unemployed job-seekers, and ensure that all Americans have the same opportunities for employment.
Discrimination against the unemployed – especially the long-term unemployed – in job advertisements and hiring practices flies in the face of what we stand for as a nation: Equal opportunity for all,” said Rep. Johnson. The Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 will help us level the playing field and get people back to work.”
Sources: Representatives Rosa DeLauro website, HR 2501, Representative Johnson website, and opencongress.org.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
The legislation, if passed by the House and Senate, would apply to employers with over fifteen (15) employees and would provide protection to job applicants who are discriminated against because they are unemployed. Key provisions of the Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 include but are not limited to:
(a) Employers – It shall be an unlawful practice for an employer to–
- Refuse to consider for employment or refuse to offer employment to an
individual because of the individual’s status as unemployed; - Publish in print, on the Internet, or in any other medium, an advertisement
or announcement for any job that includes--
- any provision stating or indicating that an employer will not consider an applicant for employment based on that individual’s status as unemployed; and
3. Direct or request that an employment agency take an individual’s status as unemployed into account in screening or referring applicants for employment.
Representatives Rosa DeLauro’s press release aptly states that, “In a tough job market, where workers are competing against tens and sometimes hundreds of others for every available job opening, it is unjust for employers to discriminate against those who are unemployed. We have seen ample evidence that unemployed individuals are increasingly falling prey to discriminatory practices reducing their opportunities to be considered for a job. The Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 would prohibit employers and employment agencies from discriminating against unemployed job-seekers, and ensure that all Americans have the same opportunities for employment.
Discrimination against the unemployed – especially the long-term unemployed – in job advertisements and hiring practices flies in the face of what we stand for as a nation: Equal opportunity for all,” said Rep. Johnson. The Fair Employment Opportunity Act of 2011 will help us level the playing field and get people back to work.”
Sources: Representatives Rosa DeLauro website, HR 2501, Representative Johnson website, and opencongress.org.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 (H.R. 83)
As reported in the media, bullying is an ever increasing problem with sometimes lethal consequences. The Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 (H.R. 83) seeks to address this pressing social problem. The Act will “…amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to require the Attorney General to establish guidelines to prevent and address occurrences of bullying, …provide for grant funding to states for programs to prevent and address occurrences of bullying, and … reauthorize the Juvenile Accountability Block grants program.” The legislation could be an important new tool to empower the community to prevent bullying.
The Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 (H.R. 83) was introduced on January 5, 2011. The sponsor of the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 is Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas18) and there are twenty-six (26) cosponsors for this piece of legislation.
In recognition of the growing prevalence of bullying, the Obama administration has also taken important measures to combat and prevent bullying. This administration is directing resources for the express purpose of reducing bullying incidents and
to raising awareness around its ramifications, and, of course, to countering its negative impact. Toward that end, the White House convened a conference on preventing bullying, on Thursday, March 11, 2011. The Obama administration also announced the launch of a new website, www.stopbullying.gov, devoted to bullying prevention.
The Stop Bullying website provides information from various government agencies on how kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators, and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying. The website also provides information on bullying prevention and intervention measures. Topics on the website include but are not limited to: state policies and laws; violence prevention program directories; available online resources;
and research. The website provides bullying prevention information for varied audiences such as victims, bystanders, parents, teachers,
administrators, and others.
For information on bullying, there are several other websites you can visit including but not limited to: www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org; www.meganmeirfoundation.org; ww.fightcrime.org; www.bullypolice.org; www.healthline.com; www.cyberbullying.us;
www.stopbullying.org; www.isafe.org; and others.
Source(s): www.govtrack.us. www.whitehouse.gov; www.hhs.gov; ww.stopbullying.gov; Cyber Research Center; Stop
Bullying, Inc.; and i-Safe, Inc.
Photo credit:
Microsoft Clip Art
The Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 (H.R. 83) was introduced on January 5, 2011. The sponsor of the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act of 2011 is Representative Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas18) and there are twenty-six (26) cosponsors for this piece of legislation.
In recognition of the growing prevalence of bullying, the Obama administration has also taken important measures to combat and prevent bullying. This administration is directing resources for the express purpose of reducing bullying incidents and
to raising awareness around its ramifications, and, of course, to countering its negative impact. Toward that end, the White House convened a conference on preventing bullying, on Thursday, March 11, 2011. The Obama administration also announced the launch of a new website, www.stopbullying.gov, devoted to bullying prevention.
The Stop Bullying website provides information from various government agencies on how kids, teens, young adults, parents, educators, and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying. The website also provides information on bullying prevention and intervention measures. Topics on the website include but are not limited to: state policies and laws; violence prevention program directories; available online resources;
and research. The website provides bullying prevention information for varied audiences such as victims, bystanders, parents, teachers,
administrators, and others.
For information on bullying, there are several other websites you can visit including but not limited to: www.ryanpatrickhalligan.org; www.meganmeirfoundation.org; ww.fightcrime.org; www.bullypolice.org; www.healthline.com; www.cyberbullying.us;
www.stopbullying.org; www.isafe.org; and others.
Source(s): www.govtrack.us. www.whitehouse.gov; www.hhs.gov; ww.stopbullying.gov; Cyber Research Center; Stop
Bullying, Inc.; and i-Safe, Inc.
Photo credit:
Microsoft Clip Art
Congressional Black Caucus "For the People" Jobs Initiative Resolution:
H.RES.348
On July 13, 2011, US House of Representative Member, Emanuel Clever, III, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) introduced the “Congressional Black Caucus `For the People’ Jobs Initiative Resolution: H. RES. 348 in the US House–in response to record unemployment and the fact that there has been little or no action on the House floor taken to address this pressing matter.
His rationale basis for the resolution is as follows:
“Over six months into the 112th Congress, no jobs creation legislation has been
considered on the House floor despite the introduction of over forty bills by members of the CBC. It is clear that the unemployment numbers throughout the country require effective legislation and tangible action to address the crisis. The reported unemployment numbers in the African American community are hovering over sixteen percent.
The CBC is not standing idly by, but rather with the For the People Jobs Initiative, we are providing all of our constituents with what you need—aggressive action that remedies the stymied economy instead of protecting special interests and embarking on ideological crusades. To address the unemployment crisis and the need for job
creation solutions in underserved communities, the CBC has called upon the
private and public sectors to immediately remedy the crisis by going into
communities with legitimate, immediate employment opportunities for the underserved.”
Like most Americans, US Representative Clever asserts that, “It is time for action on the most important issue of our time—economic opportunity through jobs! Every American deserves the right to be gainfully employed or own a successful business.” Clever goes on to state
that “…the Congressional Black Caucus is committed to that right and will not rest until there is parity in access to economic opportunity.”
The text of the resolution he introduced is below.
RESOLUTION
“Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that critical jobs legislation should be considered and passed to address the growing jobs crisis throughout America, and for other purposes.
Whereasthis resolution may be cited as the `Congressional Black Caucus `For the People’ Jobs Initiative Resolution’;
Whereas over six months into the 112th Congress and no jobs creation legislation has been considered on the House floor despite the introduction of over 40 bills by members of the Congressional Black Caucus (`CBC’);
Whereas the unemployment numbers throughout the country mandate legislative, tangible action to address the crisis;
Whereas the reported unemployment numbers in the African-American community are hovering over sixteen percent and in the double digits in other communities of color in these United States;
Whereas for 40 years the CBC has introduced legislation for the people and has served as the unwavering `Conscience of the Congress’;
Whereas the CBC recently launched the `For the People’ Jobs Initiative to directly address the lack of jobs for people of color by holding job fairs and town hall meetings throughout the country in areas hardest hit by the recession; and
Whereas, to address the unemployment crisis and the need for job creation solutions in underserved communities, the CBC has called upon the private and public sectors to immediately remedy the crisis by going into communities with legitimate, immediate employment opportunities for
the underserved: Now, therefore be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should– (1) consider and pass critical jobs legislation to address the crisis facing communities of color disproportionately; and (2) consider and pass critical jobs legislation to address the nationwide economic crisis.”
This resolution was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. For further information visit the websites listed below under sources.
Sources:
www.govtrack.us. www.thomas.loc.gov. Facebook page Emanuel Clever, III, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
His rationale basis for the resolution is as follows:
“Over six months into the 112th Congress, no jobs creation legislation has been
considered on the House floor despite the introduction of over forty bills by members of the CBC. It is clear that the unemployment numbers throughout the country require effective legislation and tangible action to address the crisis. The reported unemployment numbers in the African American community are hovering over sixteen percent.
The CBC is not standing idly by, but rather with the For the People Jobs Initiative, we are providing all of our constituents with what you need—aggressive action that remedies the stymied economy instead of protecting special interests and embarking on ideological crusades. To address the unemployment crisis and the need for job
creation solutions in underserved communities, the CBC has called upon the
private and public sectors to immediately remedy the crisis by going into
communities with legitimate, immediate employment opportunities for the underserved.”
Like most Americans, US Representative Clever asserts that, “It is time for action on the most important issue of our time—economic opportunity through jobs! Every American deserves the right to be gainfully employed or own a successful business.” Clever goes on to state
that “…the Congressional Black Caucus is committed to that right and will not rest until there is parity in access to economic opportunity.”
The text of the resolution he introduced is below.
RESOLUTION
“Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that critical jobs legislation should be considered and passed to address the growing jobs crisis throughout America, and for other purposes.
Whereasthis resolution may be cited as the `Congressional Black Caucus `For the People’ Jobs Initiative Resolution’;
Whereas over six months into the 112th Congress and no jobs creation legislation has been considered on the House floor despite the introduction of over 40 bills by members of the Congressional Black Caucus (`CBC’);
Whereas the unemployment numbers throughout the country mandate legislative, tangible action to address the crisis;
Whereas the reported unemployment numbers in the African-American community are hovering over sixteen percent and in the double digits in other communities of color in these United States;
Whereas for 40 years the CBC has introduced legislation for the people and has served as the unwavering `Conscience of the Congress’;
Whereas the CBC recently launched the `For the People’ Jobs Initiative to directly address the lack of jobs for people of color by holding job fairs and town hall meetings throughout the country in areas hardest hit by the recession; and
Whereas, to address the unemployment crisis and the need for job creation solutions in underserved communities, the CBC has called upon the private and public sectors to immediately remedy the crisis by going into communities with legitimate, immediate employment opportunities for
the underserved: Now, therefore be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should– (1) consider and pass critical jobs legislation to address the crisis facing communities of color disproportionately; and (2) consider and pass critical jobs legislation to address the nationwide economic crisis.”
This resolution was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. For further information visit the websites listed below under sources.
Sources:
www.govtrack.us. www.thomas.loc.gov. Facebook page Emanuel Clever, III, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
Tell Congress to Keep College Affordable for Students and Working Families
Stafford Loans are federal student loans made available to college and university students to supplement personal and family resources, scholarships, grants, and work-study. Nearly all students are eligible to receive Stafford loans regardless of credit. Stafford loans may be subsidized by the U.S. Government or unsubsidized depending on the student’s need. Stafford loan interest rates for 2012-2013 are currently unknown.
A 2007 law that reduced the interest rate on Stafford Loans from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent is about to expire. Without legislative action, subsidized Stafford loans will return to the 6.8 percent interest rate on July 1, 2012.
Each year, more than ten (10) million students use subsidized Stafford loans to help pay for college. With rising tuition costs, attending college is very difficult for many students, and the increase in interest rates would cause a college education to be out of reach for many college age people. With that knowledge, Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders recently introduced legislation to
stop student loan interest rates from doubling this summer.
Stafford Loan Information:
Eligibility
You must be a U.S. citizen or national, a U.S. permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen accepted for enrollment or attending a school that participates in the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Additionally:
Blog.
Tell your elected officials in Washington, DC to take swift action to pass the bill to keep college affordable for students and working
families.
Source(s): MPRNews On Campus, January 30, 2012. www.mndaily.com. http://www.staffordloan.com/stafford-loan-info/.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
A 2007 law that reduced the interest rate on Stafford Loans from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent is about to expire. Without legislative action, subsidized Stafford loans will return to the 6.8 percent interest rate on July 1, 2012.
Each year, more than ten (10) million students use subsidized Stafford loans to help pay for college. With rising tuition costs, attending college is very difficult for many students, and the increase in interest rates would cause a college education to be out of reach for many college age people. With that knowledge, Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders recently introduced legislation to
stop student loan interest rates from doubling this summer.
Stafford Loan Information:
Eligibility
You must be a U.S. citizen or national, a U.S. permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen accepted for enrollment or attending a school that participates in the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Additionally:
- You must have submitted a FAFSA to be eligible for
a Stafford loan - For subsidized Stafford, you must have financial need as determined by your
school - You must be enrolled or plan to enroll at least half time
Blog.
Tell your elected officials in Washington, DC to take swift action to pass the bill to keep college affordable for students and working
families.
Source(s): MPRNews On Campus, January 30, 2012. www.mndaily.com. http://www.staffordloan.com/stafford-loan-info/.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art
Tell Congress to Send a Strong, Bipartisan VAWA to President Obama
Recently, the U.S. Senate passed its version of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization bill by 68 to 31 which protects all victims of domestic violence. In the U.S. House of Representatives, the unacceptable Adams version of VAWA narrowly passed by a vote of 222-205.
This evening, the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women sent out an Action Alert urging Congress to rise above the political bickering, to move swiftly to conference, and send the President a strong, bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization bill that protects ALL vulnerable victims.
ACTION:
National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women urges us to contact our elected officials in Washington about the importance of sending President Obama a strong, bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization bill that protects ALL vulnerable victims. To make our work easier the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women prepared a model advocacy letter on this issue, which appears below.
Draft Letter to Legislator:
“I/we urge you to encourage your party’s leaders to move swiftly to a conference or agreement on VAWA and send the President a strong, bipartisan Violence Against Women Act reauthorization bill that protects all vulnerable victims.”
“For nearly 20 years, Congress has recognized the severity of violence against women and our need for this landmark federal law’s comprehensive approach. VAWA truly provides life-saving protections and services needed by victims and their families. It is unacceptable that this law has become politicized while three women a day are still killed by an intimate partner. Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence need a VAWA law that does not roll back protections for immigrant women and their families; includes protections for all victims, including the LGBT community and Native women; and directs resources to this urgent task in the most effective way possible.”
“VAWA must also include the strongest protections for victims on campus and in public housing; protect the ability of criminal justice officials and community stakeholders to provide input to the state grant STOP planning process; and be free of overly burdensome and bureaucratic requirements for victim services providers struggling to be present for every victim every day. I strongly urge Congress to quickly move past politics and send a VAWA reauthorization bill to the President that he can immediately sign.”
The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women urges us not to forget to tweet about VAWA using the hashtags #ReauthorizeVAWA, #RealVAWA and #VAWA.
Source: National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women Action Alert
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
This evening, the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women sent out an Action Alert urging Congress to rise above the political bickering, to move swiftly to conference, and send the President a strong, bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization bill that protects ALL vulnerable victims.
ACTION:
National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women urges us to contact our elected officials in Washington about the importance of sending President Obama a strong, bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) reauthorization bill that protects ALL vulnerable victims. To make our work easier the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women prepared a model advocacy letter on this issue, which appears below.
Draft Letter to Legislator:
“I/we urge you to encourage your party’s leaders to move swiftly to a conference or agreement on VAWA and send the President a strong, bipartisan Violence Against Women Act reauthorization bill that protects all vulnerable victims.”
“For nearly 20 years, Congress has recognized the severity of violence against women and our need for this landmark federal law’s comprehensive approach. VAWA truly provides life-saving protections and services needed by victims and their families. It is unacceptable that this law has become politicized while three women a day are still killed by an intimate partner. Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence need a VAWA law that does not roll back protections for immigrant women and their families; includes protections for all victims, including the LGBT community and Native women; and directs resources to this urgent task in the most effective way possible.”
“VAWA must also include the strongest protections for victims on campus and in public housing; protect the ability of criminal justice officials and community stakeholders to provide input to the state grant STOP planning process; and be free of overly burdensome and bureaucratic requirements for victim services providers struggling to be present for every victim every day. I strongly urge Congress to quickly move past politics and send a VAWA reauthorization bill to the President that he can immediately sign.”
The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women urges us not to forget to tweet about VAWA using the hashtags #ReauthorizeVAWA, #RealVAWA and #VAWA.
Source: National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women Action Alert
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
U.S. Congress Passes the Adams Anti-Victim VAWA Bill, H.R. 4970
Do our elected officials in Washington, DC, care about the health and well-being of all victims of domestic violence? Answer: many of the U.S. House of Representatives members apparently do not care about all victims of domestic violence as demonstrated in the passage of HR 4970. Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted 222-205 to pass H.R. 4970, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), introduced by Rep. Sandy Adams (R-Florida, 24th). It is clear from the passage of H.R. 4970 that immigrant victims of domestic violence need our help to ensure that they are protected under the law. Today is a day for champions—a day to call on national leaders to commit to ensuring all victims of domestic violence are protected.
As the House debated H.R. 4970, Representative Conyers pointed out that 350 organizations, including law enforcement, prosecution, and victim services programs, wrote to Congress to say they opposed H.R. 4970, because it rolled back protections for victims. Mr. Conyers then asked Representative Adams, the author of the bill, which organizations supported H.R. 4970. When she was unable to identify any organization that supported her bill, Mr. Conyers again said that three hundred fifty (350) organizations opposed the bill. In response, Ms. Adams said, "Shame on them!" Do you agree we should be ashamed for standing up for victims?
Originally enacted in 1994, VAWA provides federal funding toward the prosecution of violent crimes against women and includes provisions for documented immigrant women. The vital protections for immigrant women in the Senate version of VAWA are removed from the Adams-Foxx-Cantor bill passed by the House. In fact, the Adams-Foxx-Cantor proposal (H.R. 4970) gives abusers more
power, not less, over their victims.
H.R. 4970 (Adams-Foxx-Cantor bill) requires survivors of domestic violence and other crimes to be interviewed by local immigration offices not specifically trained in victim issues.
H.R. 4970 (Adams-Foxx-Cantor bill) requires women to report abuses within 60 days, placing further restrictions on women who have limited access to services, fear law enforcement, or may have language barriers to report the crimes committed against them.
Our voices need to be heard on how the House and Senate must work together to reconcile differences between S. 1925 and H.R. 4970. Our goal is to ensure that the final bill that gets sent to President Obama for enactment protects all victims and holds all perpetrators accountable—regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, immigrant status, or sexual orientation.
ACTION: Call/Write/Tweet your Representative and say "Thank You" or "Shame on You": Let your Representative know that you are proud to stand with victims and and think this bill is incredibly dangerous.
Please call your US Senator now at 877-698-8228 FREE 877-698-8228 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. If the line is busy, please redial and call again. Please let your elected officials in Washington know that you care about all victims of domestic violence.
We can only make a difference when we take action.
"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result. ~ Gandhi
Don’t miss your chance to make an impact, dial 877-698-8228!
Source(s): National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. www.congress.org.www.govtrack.us.
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
As the House debated H.R. 4970, Representative Conyers pointed out that 350 organizations, including law enforcement, prosecution, and victim services programs, wrote to Congress to say they opposed H.R. 4970, because it rolled back protections for victims. Mr. Conyers then asked Representative Adams, the author of the bill, which organizations supported H.R. 4970. When she was unable to identify any organization that supported her bill, Mr. Conyers again said that three hundred fifty (350) organizations opposed the bill. In response, Ms. Adams said, "Shame on them!" Do you agree we should be ashamed for standing up for victims?
Originally enacted in 1994, VAWA provides federal funding toward the prosecution of violent crimes against women and includes provisions for documented immigrant women. The vital protections for immigrant women in the Senate version of VAWA are removed from the Adams-Foxx-Cantor bill passed by the House. In fact, the Adams-Foxx-Cantor proposal (H.R. 4970) gives abusers more
power, not less, over their victims.
H.R. 4970 (Adams-Foxx-Cantor bill) requires survivors of domestic violence and other crimes to be interviewed by local immigration offices not specifically trained in victim issues.
H.R. 4970 (Adams-Foxx-Cantor bill) requires women to report abuses within 60 days, placing further restrictions on women who have limited access to services, fear law enforcement, or may have language barriers to report the crimes committed against them.
Our voices need to be heard on how the House and Senate must work together to reconcile differences between S. 1925 and H.R. 4970. Our goal is to ensure that the final bill that gets sent to President Obama for enactment protects all victims and holds all perpetrators accountable—regardless of race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, immigrant status, or sexual orientation.
ACTION: Call/Write/Tweet your Representative and say "Thank You" or "Shame on You": Let your Representative know that you are proud to stand with victims and and think this bill is incredibly dangerous.
Please call your US Senator now at 877-698-8228 FREE 877-698-8228 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. If the line is busy, please redial and call again. Please let your elected officials in Washington know that you care about all victims of domestic violence.
We can only make a difference when we take action.
"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result. ~ Gandhi
Don’t miss your chance to make an impact, dial 877-698-8228!
Source(s): National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. www.congress.org.www.govtrack.us.
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization:
Will it be H.R. 4970 or H.R. 4271?
Last week, the US Senate reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Originally enacted in 1994, VAWA provides federal funding toward the prosecution of violent crimes against women and includes provisions for undocumented immigrant women. Today, Reform Immigration FOR America’s Action Alert discusses the VAWA Reauthorization bills before the House. In Reform Immigration FOR America’s Action Alert, it shared that the house has before it the Adams-Foxx-Cantor proposal (H.R. 4970) and the H.R. 4271 version introduced by US Representative Gwen Moore.
Now, the VAWA reauthorization bill passed by the Senate is before the US House of Representatives. But those vital protections for immigrant women in the Senate version of VAWA are removed from the Adams-Foxx-Cantor proposal before the House. In fact, the
Adams-Foxx-Cantor proposal (H.R. 4970) gives abusers more power, not less, over their victims. Tell your representatives in Washington, DC: Support all women. Support H.R. 4271 (US Representative Gwen Moore VAWA Proposal) and oppose H.R. 4970 (Adams-Foxx-Cantor VAWA Proposal).
H.R. 4970 (Adams-Foxx-Cantor proposal) would require survivors of domestic violence and other crimes to be interviewed by local immigration offices, not specifically trained in victim
issues.
H.R. 4970 (Adams-Foxx-Cantor proposal) requires women to report abuses within 60 days, placing further restrictions on women who have limited access to services, fear law enforcement, or may have language barriers to report the crimes committed against them.
H.R. 4970 (Adams-Foxx-Cantor proposal) would allow abusers to participate in the self-petition process — a process that allows women married to citizens or Legal Permanent Residents to apply for legal status without their spouse using their immigration status as a tool of abuse.
As Reform Immigration FOR America shared in its Action Alert, there is another option—-H.R. 4271 version introduced by US Representative Gwen Moore.
US Representative Gwen Moore has introduced her version of VAWA (H.R. 4271) which protects immigrant women. Congresswoman Moore’s bill makes sure that every single woman in this country can fully access the protection granted under a true Violence Against Women Act.
Congresswoman Moore’s bill ensures the protections all women – including immigrant women – have received for 18 years under VAWA remain intact.
With your help, advocates for battered women and their children can stop the Adams-Foxx-Cantor bill and support a bill that would keep immigrant women safe. Please tell your representative now to support H.R. 4271 and oppose H.R. 4970.
Source(s): Reform Immigration FOR America. www.congress.org.
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
Now, the VAWA reauthorization bill passed by the Senate is before the US House of Representatives. But those vital protections for immigrant women in the Senate version of VAWA are removed from the Adams-Foxx-Cantor proposal before the House. In fact, the
Adams-Foxx-Cantor proposal (H.R. 4970) gives abusers more power, not less, over their victims. Tell your representatives in Washington, DC: Support all women. Support H.R. 4271 (US Representative Gwen Moore VAWA Proposal) and oppose H.R. 4970 (Adams-Foxx-Cantor VAWA Proposal).
H.R. 4970 (Adams-Foxx-Cantor proposal) would require survivors of domestic violence and other crimes to be interviewed by local immigration offices, not specifically trained in victim
issues.
H.R. 4970 (Adams-Foxx-Cantor proposal) requires women to report abuses within 60 days, placing further restrictions on women who have limited access to services, fear law enforcement, or may have language barriers to report the crimes committed against them.
H.R. 4970 (Adams-Foxx-Cantor proposal) would allow abusers to participate in the self-petition process — a process that allows women married to citizens or Legal Permanent Residents to apply for legal status without their spouse using their immigration status as a tool of abuse.
As Reform Immigration FOR America shared in its Action Alert, there is another option—-H.R. 4271 version introduced by US Representative Gwen Moore.
US Representative Gwen Moore has introduced her version of VAWA (H.R. 4271) which protects immigrant women. Congresswoman Moore’s bill makes sure that every single woman in this country can fully access the protection granted under a true Violence Against Women Act.
Congresswoman Moore’s bill ensures the protections all women – including immigrant women – have received for 18 years under VAWA remain intact.
With your help, advocates for battered women and their children can stop the Adams-Foxx-Cantor bill and support a bill that would keep immigrant women safe. Please tell your representative now to support H.R. 4271 and oppose H.R. 4970.
Source(s): Reform Immigration FOR America. www.congress.org.
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
The 2012 U.S. Farm Bill Update
More than one (1) in five (5) children lives in poverty and nearly one (1) in four (4) is at risk of hunger. Often, I write about pending legislation which impacts indigent children, youth, and families with the goal of encouraging the reader to act to protect vulnerable families. In April, anti-hunger advocates across the country called their Members of Congress and urged them to protect and strengthen vital nutrition and hunger relief programs in the Farm Bill.
The National Call-In Day in April was a success, thanks to the diligent efforts of anti-hunger advocates and other concerned citizens. Now is the time for all of us to speak up for children, youth, and families in crisis.
Please join me in telling the members of Congress to safeguard anti-hunger programs that the most vulnerable members of our society depend on particularly, in this very challenging economic period.
Our nation’s poorest children and youth depend on are on the line. It has been reported that more than forty-nine (49) million Americans lack reliable access to the food. Childhood hunger is a growing reality in America. In one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the prevalence of childhood hunger is a national travesty
and for many a well-kept secret. According to the USDA, over seventeen (17) million children lived in food insecure (low food security and very low food security) households in 2009. ii Twenty (20) percent or more of the child population in sixteen (16) states and D.C. are living in food insecure households. The states of Arkansas twenty-four point four (24.4) percent and Texas twenty-three point three (24.3) percent have the highest rates of children in households without consistent access to food. (Cook, John, Child Food Insecurity in the United States: 2006-2008. iii
In 2009, households that had higher rates of food insecurity than the national average included households with children twenty-one point three (21.3) percent, especially households with children headed by single women thirty-six point six (36.6) percent or single men twenty-seven point eight (27.8) percent, Black non-Hispanic households twenty-four point nine (24.9) percent and Hispanic households twenty-six point nine (26.9) percent. v
These heartbreaking facts about the prevalence and the face of hunger in America and the proposed cuts to very necessary anti-hunger programs has drawn the attention of thousands of Christians, people of other faiths, heads of denominations, corporations, and nonprofit organizations and compelled them to take action in the month of April 2012. They helped to raise awareness of the need to protect our nation’s hunger safety net. Will you join them and urge our elected officials in Washington DC to protect the programs poor children need[i] to succeed?
As you know, the Farm Bill funds critical hunger relief programs, like TEFAP and SNAP (food stamps), that help put food on the table for America’s vulnerable children, seniors, and low-income families. With 46.2 million residents, Poverty, USA, is the largest state in America. Today, the unemployment rate stands at 8.6 percent and despite recent economic growth more than 43 million Americans -including 14.7 million children – live in poverty, the highest in the more than 50 years that the data has been tracked. Yet a recent Gallup poll found that only 5% of American believe poverty and homelessness are important problems for the country. So let’s look at some facts and make our own determination:
Over 25 percent of the children in the US under the age of six live in poverty. The poverty rate among women climbed to 14.5 percent in 2010 from 13.9 percent in 2009, the highest in 17 years. As poverty surged last year to its highest level since 1993, median household income declined, leaving the typical American household earning less in inflation-adjusted dollars than it did in 1997. One out of every six Americans is now being served by at least one government anti-poverty program. Child homelessness in the United States is now 33 percent higher than it was back in 2007. More than 50 million Americans are now on Medicaid, the U.S. government health care program designed principally to help the poor.
According to the National Center on Family Homelessness, 1.6 million American children “were living on the street, in homeless shelters or motels, or doubled up with other families last year”. The percentage of children living in poverty in the United States increased from 16.9 percent in 2006 to nearly 22 percent in 2010. One out of every seven mortgages in the United States was either delinquent or in foreclosure during
the first quarter of 2010.
The number of children living in poverty in the U.S. has risen for four years in a row. There are 10 different U.S. states where at least one out of every four babies is born to a family living in poverty. 28 percent of all U.S. households have at least one member that is looking for a full-time job. There are seven million children in the United States today that are not covered by health insurance at all.
Here’s Where We Stand with the Farm Bill:
On April 26, the Senate Agriculture Committee approved its draft version of the Farm Bill. Some highlights from the
draft Senate Farm Bill include:
SNAP: The Senate version of the Farm Bill contains a proposal to cut approximately $4.5 billion in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Many SNAP beneficiaries—including seniors and disabled individuals living in subsidized housing—would likely see an immediate reduction in their monthly SNAP benefits.
TEFAP: The Senate’s Farm Bill provides an increase of $150 million in mandatory funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) over the next 10 years. It also reauthorizes the TEFAP Infrastructure Grant Program at $15 million per year.
While anti-hunger advocates support the increased funding for TEFAP, the proposed cuts to SNAP are simply too much for our nation’s hungry to bear, especially considering the fact that the need for food assistance remains at unprecedented levels. In addition, recent budget recommendations put forth by the House Agriculture Committee to slash SNAP funding by nearly $36 billion clearly demonstrate the risks facing struggling families, children and seniors and the uphill road we face. While these recommendations are not final, we must continue fighting to protect these much-needed programs.
The Farm Bill is still very much a work in progress in Washington, D.C., with the hearings in the House Agriculture Committee beginning and the Committee planning to mark up the bill beginning in June.
We still have more to do to help protect SNAP, TEFAP, and other hunger-relief programs and we’ll keep you updated as the legislation moves forward. We can only make a difference when we take action.
You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result. ~ Gandhi
Source(s): www.congress.org. Feeding America. Action Alert Voices for Americas Children. Action Alert Bread for the World. St. Vincent de Paul Society. National Center on Family Homelessness.
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
[i] Very necessary programs such as TEFAP, Medicaid, SNAP/food stamps, Head Start, child care, and more need your assistance.
iBread for the World Action Alert.
ii Rhoda Cohen, J. Mabli, F., Potter,Z., Zhoa. Hunger in America 2010. Feeding America.February 2010.
iii Nord, Mark, M. Andrews, S. Carlson. United States Department of Agriculture-Economic Research Service, Household Food Security in the United States, 2008.
iv Cook, John. Feeding America. Child Food Insecurity in the United States:2006-2008.
vNord, Mark, M. Andrews, S. Carlson. United States Department of Agriculture/Economic Research Service, Household Food Security in the United States, 2009.
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
The National Call-In Day in April was a success, thanks to the diligent efforts of anti-hunger advocates and other concerned citizens. Now is the time for all of us to speak up for children, youth, and families in crisis.
Please join me in telling the members of Congress to safeguard anti-hunger programs that the most vulnerable members of our society depend on particularly, in this very challenging economic period.
Our nation’s poorest children and youth depend on are on the line. It has been reported that more than forty-nine (49) million Americans lack reliable access to the food. Childhood hunger is a growing reality in America. In one of the wealthiest nations in the world, the prevalence of childhood hunger is a national travesty
and for many a well-kept secret. According to the USDA, over seventeen (17) million children lived in food insecure (low food security and very low food security) households in 2009. ii Twenty (20) percent or more of the child population in sixteen (16) states and D.C. are living in food insecure households. The states of Arkansas twenty-four point four (24.4) percent and Texas twenty-three point three (24.3) percent have the highest rates of children in households without consistent access to food. (Cook, John, Child Food Insecurity in the United States: 2006-2008. iii
In 2009, households that had higher rates of food insecurity than the national average included households with children twenty-one point three (21.3) percent, especially households with children headed by single women thirty-six point six (36.6) percent or single men twenty-seven point eight (27.8) percent, Black non-Hispanic households twenty-four point nine (24.9) percent and Hispanic households twenty-six point nine (26.9) percent. v
These heartbreaking facts about the prevalence and the face of hunger in America and the proposed cuts to very necessary anti-hunger programs has drawn the attention of thousands of Christians, people of other faiths, heads of denominations, corporations, and nonprofit organizations and compelled them to take action in the month of April 2012. They helped to raise awareness of the need to protect our nation’s hunger safety net. Will you join them and urge our elected officials in Washington DC to protect the programs poor children need[i] to succeed?
As you know, the Farm Bill funds critical hunger relief programs, like TEFAP and SNAP (food stamps), that help put food on the table for America’s vulnerable children, seniors, and low-income families. With 46.2 million residents, Poverty, USA, is the largest state in America. Today, the unemployment rate stands at 8.6 percent and despite recent economic growth more than 43 million Americans -including 14.7 million children – live in poverty, the highest in the more than 50 years that the data has been tracked. Yet a recent Gallup poll found that only 5% of American believe poverty and homelessness are important problems for the country. So let’s look at some facts and make our own determination:
Over 25 percent of the children in the US under the age of six live in poverty. The poverty rate among women climbed to 14.5 percent in 2010 from 13.9 percent in 2009, the highest in 17 years. As poverty surged last year to its highest level since 1993, median household income declined, leaving the typical American household earning less in inflation-adjusted dollars than it did in 1997. One out of every six Americans is now being served by at least one government anti-poverty program. Child homelessness in the United States is now 33 percent higher than it was back in 2007. More than 50 million Americans are now on Medicaid, the U.S. government health care program designed principally to help the poor.
According to the National Center on Family Homelessness, 1.6 million American children “were living on the street, in homeless shelters or motels, or doubled up with other families last year”. The percentage of children living in poverty in the United States increased from 16.9 percent in 2006 to nearly 22 percent in 2010. One out of every seven mortgages in the United States was either delinquent or in foreclosure during
the first quarter of 2010.
The number of children living in poverty in the U.S. has risen for four years in a row. There are 10 different U.S. states where at least one out of every four babies is born to a family living in poverty. 28 percent of all U.S. households have at least one member that is looking for a full-time job. There are seven million children in the United States today that are not covered by health insurance at all.
Here’s Where We Stand with the Farm Bill:
On April 26, the Senate Agriculture Committee approved its draft version of the Farm Bill. Some highlights from the
draft Senate Farm Bill include:
SNAP: The Senate version of the Farm Bill contains a proposal to cut approximately $4.5 billion in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Many SNAP beneficiaries—including seniors and disabled individuals living in subsidized housing—would likely see an immediate reduction in their monthly SNAP benefits.
TEFAP: The Senate’s Farm Bill provides an increase of $150 million in mandatory funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) over the next 10 years. It also reauthorizes the TEFAP Infrastructure Grant Program at $15 million per year.
While anti-hunger advocates support the increased funding for TEFAP, the proposed cuts to SNAP are simply too much for our nation’s hungry to bear, especially considering the fact that the need for food assistance remains at unprecedented levels. In addition, recent budget recommendations put forth by the House Agriculture Committee to slash SNAP funding by nearly $36 billion clearly demonstrate the risks facing struggling families, children and seniors and the uphill road we face. While these recommendations are not final, we must continue fighting to protect these much-needed programs.
The Farm Bill is still very much a work in progress in Washington, D.C., with the hearings in the House Agriculture Committee beginning and the Committee planning to mark up the bill beginning in June.
We still have more to do to help protect SNAP, TEFAP, and other hunger-relief programs and we’ll keep you updated as the legislation moves forward. We can only make a difference when we take action.
You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result. ~ Gandhi
Source(s): www.congress.org. Feeding America. Action Alert Voices for Americas Children. Action Alert Bread for the World. St. Vincent de Paul Society. National Center on Family Homelessness.
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
[i] Very necessary programs such as TEFAP, Medicaid, SNAP/food stamps, Head Start, child care, and more need your assistance.
iBread for the World Action Alert.
ii Rhoda Cohen, J. Mabli, F., Potter,Z., Zhoa. Hunger in America 2010. Feeding America.February 2010.
iii Nord, Mark, M. Andrews, S. Carlson. United States Department of Agriculture-Economic Research Service, Household Food Security in the United States, 2008.
iv Cook, John. Feeding America. Child Food Insecurity in the United States:2006-2008.
vNord, Mark, M. Andrews, S. Carlson. United States Department of Agriculture/Economic Research Service, Household Food Security in the United States, 2009.
Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art
Senate Reauthorizes Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
This week, the US Senate voted overwhelmingly to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Here is how the VAWA reauthorization vote went in the US Senate: sixty-eight (68) in favor, thirty-one (31) against. Each of the thirty-one (31) senators who voted against it were Republican men. It should be noted that these thirty-one (31) men are the only senators to ever cast a vote against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. Previously, the Senate reauthorized VAWA unanimously twice.
As has been stated on countless occasions by leaders of the Democratic Party, the Republican Party of today is a different breed altogether. If it comes down to scoring points with the GOP base or protecting women, they are going to choose their base every time as stated by the Chairperson of the Democratic Party.
Next, this important piece of legislation goes to the House. It has been reported that the House GOP is planning on introducing a bill with the same name, but their version of the Violence Against Women Act will likely strip out the very provisions protecting Native Americans, undocumented immigrants, and LGBT Americans that the Democrats just fought for. Before the House votes on the bill, before the GOP even introduces it, Democrats are launching campaigns designed to inform the public about who is really fighting for women.
Source(s): www.congress.org. www.democrats.org.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art.
As has been stated on countless occasions by leaders of the Democratic Party, the Republican Party of today is a different breed altogether. If it comes down to scoring points with the GOP base or protecting women, they are going to choose their base every time as stated by the Chairperson of the Democratic Party.
Next, this important piece of legislation goes to the House. It has been reported that the House GOP is planning on introducing a bill with the same name, but their version of the Violence Against Women Act will likely strip out the very provisions protecting Native Americans, undocumented immigrants, and LGBT Americans that the Democrats just fought for. Before the House votes on the bill, before the GOP even introduces it, Democrats are launching campaigns designed to inform the public about who is really fighting for women.
Source(s): www.congress.org. www.democrats.org.
Photo credit: Microsoft Clip Art.
