President Signs New VA Accountability Law (and more...)

5th Circuit allows Mississippi anti-coercion law to go into effect
Alliance Defending Freedom
June 22, 2017
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled unanimously on Thursday that those who filed suit to stop a state law protecting Mississippians against government discrimination haven’t shown they have been or will be harmed by the law. The court therefore vacated the injunction that had been blocking the Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act (HB 1523) from going into effect.
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Patrick Pizzella a strong conservative at Deputy Secretary of Labor
Americans for Limited Government
June 22, 2017
Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement praising President Donald Trump for nominating Patrick Pizzella to be Deputy Secretary of Labor
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AUL says Replacing Obamacare “A Pro-life Necessity,” Urges Senators and the Trump Administration to Invest in Life-Affirming Care
Americans United for Life
June 22, 2017
As analysis of the Senate version of a new healthcare law gets underway, Americans United for Life President and CEO Catherine Glenn Foster called on elected officials to keep their promises to address the anti-life provisions in the current healthcare law and to protect the conscience rights of all Americans who, under Obamacare, face governmental pressure and force when refusing to comply with coercive mandates. “Replacing Obamacare with healthcare that respects both life and the constitutional rights of all Americans is a pro-life necessity,” said Foster. “It is un-American to use the force of law against those whose ethics require that they defend and protect life. Today, I was at the Senate office of Senator Mitch McConnell asking him to redirect scarce tax dollars to real medical services for women because abortion is not healthcare.”
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U.S. Supreme Court to Settle Major Cellphone Privacy Case
Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
June 14, 2017
Police officers for the first time could be required to obtain warrants to get data on the past locations of criminal suspects based on cellphone use under a major case on privacy rights in the digital age taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday.
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CVA STATEMENT ON HISTORIC VA ACCOUNTABILITY LAW
Concerned Veterans for America
June 23, 2017
Today President Trump is expected to sign into law the bipartisan VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017. The bill is a strong piece of accountability legislation that will empower Secretary Shulkin with the ability to quickly fire bad VA employees and protect whistleblowers who speak up about wrongdoing.
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Senator Alexander on Discussion Draft of Senate Health Care Bill
Senator Lamar Alexander - (R - TN)
June 22, 2017
“To begin with, the draft Senate health care bill makes no change in the law protecting people with pre-existing conditions, no change in Medicare benefits, and increases Medicaid funding— that’s TennCare—at the rate of inflation. Let me repeat: it makes no change in the law protecting people with pre-existing conditions, no change in Medicare benefits, and increases funding for Medicaid—that’s TennCare—at the rate of inflation.”
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Asian Carp Discovered Near Lake Michigan Days After Senator Baldwin Introduces Legislation Demanding Trump Administration Take the Next Step to Stop the Spread of This Invasive Species
Senator Tammy Baldwin - (D - WI)
June 22, 2017
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, released a statement after a live eight-pound Asian carp was found only nine miles from Lake Michigan today. This discovery comes just days after Senator Baldwin introduced bipartisan legislation demanding immediate action from the Trump Administration to prevent Asian carp from getting closer to our Great Lakes.
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Barrasso Statement on Senate Health Care Draft Bill
John Barrasso - (R - WY)
June 22, 2017
“What we are proposing today steers health care sharply away from federal mandates, higher taxes and government control. Instead, our draft bill puts the focus on affordability, access to care with more choices, and safeguards Medicaid for the most vulnerable and needy.
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Bennet, Bipartisan Group Reintroduce Bill to Expand National Service Opportunities for Youth & Veterans
Senator Michael F. Bennet - (D - CO)
June 22, 2017
"This bipartisan bill will help us maintain our public lands and provide new opportunities for young people and veterans to gain meaningful job training in conservation," Bennet said. "In Colorado, our public lands are an important part of our state's identity and thriving outdoor economy. The legislation will make it easier for Conservation Corps to engage with federal agencies and develop the next generation of leaders to carry on our unique public lands legacy."
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MATSUI STATEMENT ON SENATE TRUMPCARE BILL
Doris O. Matsui (D-CA, 6th)
June 22, 2017
“Under this legislation, if you are nearing retirement, you would see your costs rise. Seniors and people with disabilities would lose access to nursing home and community-based long term care. And, pregnant women and children would be vulnerable to harmful cuts to their coverage.
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McEachin Statement on Senate Healthcare Bill

McGovern: Senate GOP’s Trumpcare Bill Takes Healthcare Away from Millions Just to Give Giant Tax Break to the Rich

Bipartisan VA Reform Becomes Law
Kevin McCarthy (R-CA, 23rd)
June 23, 2017
Today, our country takes a significant step to reform the VA with a renewed purpose and ability to serve our veterans. The ultimate goal is nothing less than a transformation of the culture within the VA so that our veterans receive the best care possible. As we know, most VA employees consider it their personal mission to heal and care for those who served us. But that mission is put at risk by the continued corruption, incompetence, and scandal of a few bad employees. We won’t let this continue because we can’t let this continue. The health and well-being of our veterans is too important.
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MCCOLLUM STATEMENT ON 2017 LGBT PRIDE MONTH
Betty McCollum (D-MN, 4th)
June 23, 2017
“Each June, we celebrate LGBT Pride Month. We honor the contributions of LGBT Americans, we recognize the activism and energy of LGBT leaders in holding the United States to its highest ideals, and we reflect on our ongoing work to forge a more just and inclusive country.
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McKinley Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Access to Lifesaving Medicine
David McKinley (R-WV, 1st)
June 22, 2017
The Patients Access to Treatments Act (PATA) will give patients with chronic, disabling, and life-threatening conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer, access to innovative drug therapies. By requiring insurance to cover these critical drugs, millions of patients will be able to afford vital life-saving medicine.
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U.S. REP. MCSALLY INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN BILL TO CONNECT VETERANS TO JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS
Martha McSally (R-AZ, 2nd)
June 22, 2017
U.S. Representative Martha McSally (R-AZ) introduced the bipartisan Veterans’ Entry to Apprenticeship Act. The bill would allow veterans to use their educational benefits to enroll in pre-apprenticeship programs and would provide returning veterans with a smooth transition to the civilian workforce.
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Meng Reintroduces Legislation to Ban the Sale of Expired Baby Formula
Grace Meng (D-NY, 6th)
June 22, 2017
“It is mind boggling that in 2017 it is legal for stores to sell expired baby formula,” said Meng. “As a parent, I find that reprehensible, and have introduced the Infant Formula Protection Act every term I’ve been in Congress to correct this glaring error in the law. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support my commonsense legislation.”
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MITCHELL ON THE HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE STRENGTHENING CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY ACT
Paul Mitchell (R MI, 10th)
June 22, 2017
“I spent 35 years in workforce education, so I know the economic opportunity and advantages of the right education. Too often students aren’t given the opportunity to choose a career and technical education (CTE) program,” said Representative Mitchell.
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President Signs New VA Accountability Law
John Moolenaar (R-MI, 4th)
June 23, 2017
“In a time when so much news coverage focuses on division in Washington, as Americans there is still more that unites us than divides us. Republicans, Democrats and President Trump all agree that our veterans deserve the best care. The new law the president signed today will promote accountability in government and help the VA provide our veterans with the care they have earned in service to our country.”
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Senate Healthcare Bill, First Amendment, Wounded Warriors, Behavioral Health, Event Alert

AARP Calls on Senate to Reject Health Bill
AARP
June 22, 2017
AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond released the following statement in response to the Senate bill which imposes an “Age Tax” on older adults—increasing health insurance premiums and reducing tax credits, makes cuts to both Medicare and Medicaid funding, and yet gives billions of dollars in tax breaks to drug and insurance companies. AARP calls on every Senator to vote ‘NO’ on this harmful bill.
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Federal union leader says Senate health care bill ‘shameful’
American Federation for Government Employees
June 22, 2017
"The Senate's bill follows the same failed approach as the House-passed bill. It would deny health care coverage to millions of Americans in order to lavish huge tax cuts on corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent.
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The Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act is Irredeemable, would eliminate 12 Percent of CDC’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2018
Trust for America’s Health
June 22, 2017
If the Better Care Reconciliation Act becomes law, tens of millions will lose insurance. A critical part of what they’ll lose is access to the care they need to prevent or manage chronic conditions in a life- and cost-saving way. More than 80 percent of the $3 trillion dollars we spend every year on healthcare goes to individuals with one or more chronic conditions—with better preventive care and well managed chronic disease clinical services we can reduce costs and improve health outcomes.
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Court Expresses Concerns About First Amendment Violations Before Dismissing Appeal
First Liberty Institute
June 22, 2017
Writing for the majority Judge Moritz stated, “We assume that the defendants violated Sause’s rights under the First Amendment when, according to Sause, they repeatedly mocked her, ordered her to stop praying so they could harass her, threatened her with arrest and public humiliation, insisted that she show them the scars from her double mastectomy, and then ‘appeared…disgusted’ when she complied – all over a mere noise complaint.”
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Army Veteran Finds Light In His Recovery With Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project
June 22, 2017
"I realized there is light inside me," Joey said. "That light is my wife, my kids, and the Holy Spirit. I can achieve recovery with them by my side and with the tools I learned at the workshop. I'll do it for me and to show my brothers and sisters it's possible."
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Sovereign Health: Protesters and Shaken up Employees Stand Up for Behavioral Health Patients
Sovereign Health
June 22, 2017
Tuesday’s protest follows the incident on Tuesday June 13, in which armed federal, state and local officials searched the offices of Sovereign Health’s Culver City, Palm Desert and San Clemente facilities. What the authorities termed a “raid” was actually an unnecessary and brutal disruption to doing what the company does best – providing specialized care for patients with behavioral and mental health issues.
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EVENT ALERT: 60 Talk Radio Hosts Converging on Capitol Hill, June 28 and 29 to Evaluate Trump's Progress on Immigration and Urge Congress to Act
The Ponder News
June 22, 2017
On June 28 and 29, more than 60 talk radio hosts from around the country will converge on Washington, D.C., for the 11th annual – and largest ever – Hold Their Feet to the Fire radio row event. Their intent is to make sure the President delivers on his immigration promises and that Congress acts. Sponsored by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the event features two days of live, continuous broadcasting with talk hosts debating and interviewing dozens of members of Congress, administration officials, policy experts, law enforcement professionals, and people whose lives have been forever changed by our failed and dangerous immigration policies.

What: Hold Their Feet to the Fire Radio Row

When: Wednesday June 28 and Thursday June 29, 6 am to 9 pm

Where: Phoenix Park Hotel 520 North Capitol Street, NW, Washington D.C.

Contact FAIRUS.org for more information