Censorship, Sexual Harassment, NERD Act, Privacy, Military, Police

New Legislation Is the Latest Attempt by Trump and His Congressional Allies to Bend Online Platforms to Their Political Will
Source: Free Press
September 9, 2020
The legislation, proposed by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R–Tennessee), Lindsey Graham (R–South Carolina) and Roger Wicker (R–Mississippi), would take away the free hand both platforms and user communities have to moderate and take down objectionable content. The bill would restrict those takedowns only to materials platforms have an “objectively reasonable belief” violates a specific law or is “obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing” or is “promoting self-harm, promoting terrorism, or unlawful”.
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CONGRESSWOMAN GARCIA JOINED CONGRESSWOMAN SPEIER AND CONGRESSMAN MULLIN IN INTRODUCING BIPARTISAN I AM VANESSA GUILLÉN ACT TO TRANSFORM THE MILITARY’S RESPONSE TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND MISSING SERVICEMEMBERS
Source: U.S. Representative Sylvia Garcia (D-TX, 29th)
September 16, 2020
This bill is in honor of the late SPC Vanessa Guillén and the many survivors of military sexual violence who have bravely come forward in the wake of her disappearance and brutal murder. The legislation responds to these resounding calls for change by offering provisions that would revolutionize the military’s response to missing servicemembers and reports of sexual harassment and sexual assault by making sexual harassment a crime within the Uniform Code of Military Justice and moving prosecution decisions of sexual assault and sexual harassment cases out of the chain of command. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate today. This morning, following a meeting with the Guillén family, Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced a commitment to hold a House floor vote on the I am Vanessa Guillén Act. President Trump previously announced his support for the bill during a White House meeting with the Guillén family.
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Gianforte Signs Police Pledge
Source: U.S. Representative Greg Gianforte (R-Montana at Large)
September 16, 2020
“Law enforcement officers in Montana leave their homes every day knowing they may not return. They put their life on the line to protect our communities. To protect them, we must stand firmly against efforts to defund the police,” Gianforte said. “I thank the men and women in blue who serve and make a difference in our communities. I support you.”
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CASTEN, FRANKEL AND LAWRENCE INTRODUCE BILL TO PROTECT K-12 STUDENTS FROM SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND ASSAULT
Source: U.S. Representative Lois Frankel (D-FL, 22nd)
September 17, 2020
"As our nation has reckoned with the pervasiveness of sexual assault and harassment on college campuses, our K-12 schools have largely been left behind," said Rep. Casten. "Countless K-12 students have experienced sexual violence, but our schools simply don't have the resources and guidance to solve this immense problem. It's my hope that the Stop Sexual Harassment in K-12 Act serves as the first, critical step to upholding K-12 students' Title IX rights."
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Gallagher Introduces the NERD Act
Source: U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI, 8th)
September 17, 2020
"A clean energy future will require nuclear energy to be reliable, affordable, and accessible to the private and public sectors. The first step in getting there is setting the right goals and bringing together the necessary stakeholders to expand our nuclear capacity," said Rep. Gallagher. "I'm proud to introduce the NERD Act, and will continue working to ensure the United States stays competitive across all energy sectors."
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Specifically, NERD Act would:

Direct the DOE Secretary to advance the research and development of domestic, advanced, affordable, and clean energy through completing at least 2 advanced reactor demonstration projects by December 31, 2025,

Establish a program to create at least 2 and no more than 5 operational advanced nuclear reactor designs by December 31, 2035,

Call on DOE to work with private sector partners to identify demonstration sites, and

Work towards developing technologies that manage, reduce, or reuse nuclear waste.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Joins Bill to Protect Americans’ Civil Liberties and Privacy During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Source: U.S. Representative Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI, 2nd)
September 18, 2020
“Widespread testing and robust contact tracing are the cornerstone of our public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic and are crucial to keep infection numbers down and defeat the virus,” said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. “However, using technology to help us defeat the virus should not violate our civil liberties. This legislation sets clear rules for technology used in our public health response and requires regular scrutiny to ensure it remains safe and that civil liberties are upheld. Urgent passage of this legislation is necessary to ensure our public health response upholds our commitment to privacy and civil liberties.”
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FEMA, Forced Hysterectomies, Ginsburg, Supreme Court Appointments, Children's Health Insurance, COVID-19 Death Toll, Protect and Serve Act

Fleischmann, Alexander, Blackburn Lead Letter Urging FEMA to Cease Implementation of Problematic COVID-19 Policy
Source: U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN, 3rd)
September 17, 2020
On behalf of the State of Tennessee, we are writing to express our opposition to FEMA Interim Policy FP 104-009-19. This significant policy change will hurt the state’s ability to respond to COVID-19, prevent states from re-opening schools, and undermine recovery efforts in the middle of a global pandemic. We urge FEMA to stop implementation of this policy immediately.
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Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Statement on ICE Whistleblower Complaint
Source: U.S. Representative Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX, 7th)
September 17, 2020
“The allegations of abuses, including forced, medically unnecessary hysterectomies at the Irwin Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Center, are shocking and horrifying. There must be an immediate and thorough investigation into these allegations and, if they are true, we must take all actions to bring justice for those who suffered these horrific acts. I join in the sentiments expressed by many of my colleagues in their letter to the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security and in their request for a response and briefing to Congress by Friday, September 25.”
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Finkenauer Statement on Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Source: U.S. Representative Abby Finkenauer (D-IO, 1st)
September 18, 2020
"Our country has lost a hero, an icon and inspiration for millions of women and girls. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a champion for equal rights and a pioneer in law and politics who dedicated her life to ensuring our laws lived up to our values. I am heartbroken at the news of her passing and offer my sincerest condolences to her family. Her place in history is assured — it’s now up to us to carry on her legacy."
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Children lose health insurance for 3rd year in a row
Source: First Focus
September 18, 2020
The U.S. Census Bureau has released data that show the number of U.S. children without health insurance rose for the third year in a row, hitting 5.7% in 2019. Hispanic children registered the greatest loss of insurance by far: the uninsured rate among Hispanic children rose a full percentage point, hitting 9.2%, the highest among any race or ethnic group.
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Senator Fischer’s Statement on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Source: Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE)
September 18, 2020
“I mourn the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and join all Americans in recognizing her dedicated 27 years of service on the Supreme Court.”.
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FPC: U.S. Senate Must Confirm a Strong Constitutionalist Justice NOW
Source: Firearms Policy Coalition
September 19, 2020
Firearms Policy Coalition calls on President Trump to quickly nominate a strong, courageous, and principled jurist who will vote without hesitation to vigorously protect fundamental rights, including the right to bear arms and freedom of speech, and restore the Constitution’s limits on government. FPC further calls on Senate Leader McConnell and members of the Senate to quickly confirm such a nominee without delay.
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Foster Statement on COVID-19 Death Toll Passing 200,000
Source: U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL, 11th)
September 19, 2020
"We mourn 200,000 Americans who have been killed by COVID-19 in just six months’ time. That's approaching four times the deaths our country suffered during the Vietnam War, and the death toll continues to rise every day. While the United States has about four percent of the world's population, we've accounted for over 20 percent of the deaths from COVID-19 - a striking indictment of the Trump administration's failure to effectively manage this public health crisis.
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PROTECT AND SERVE ACT INTRODUCED IN SENATE
Source: Fraternal Order of Police
September 19, 2020
The “Protect and Serve Act” would make it a Federal crime to violently target local, State, or Federal law enforcement officers. The House companion bill was introduced by Representatives John H. Rutherford (RFL), Val Demings (D-FL), Peter A. Stauber (R-MN) and Thomas C. O’Halleran (D-AZ), all of whom are former law enforcement officers.
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