Affordable Care Act, Vaccine Mandate, Students Studying Abroad, SCOTUS Nominee, Clean Energy

Today's News for the Week Prior and Up to March 25, 2022

Rep. Maloney Celebrates the Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
Source: U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY, 12th)
March 23, 2022
Today, twelve years since President Obama and the Democratic Congress enacted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) highlighted how this life-saving legislation has expanded access to quality, affordable health insurance in New York and across the country.
Read more...

SENATORS MARKEY AND WARREN LEAD COLLEAGUES IN URGING PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DEPLOY CLEAN ENERGY AND ENERGY-EFFICIENT ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES IN RESPONSE TO PUTIN’S ENERGY MARKET DISRUPTION
Source: Senator Edward J.Markey (D-MA)
March 23, 2022
“In tandem with banning Russian fossil fuel imports, your administration could deploy existing authorities, including the DPA and military sales, to accelerate the production and deployment of electric appliances to help reduce U.S. and European demand for Russian energy,” wrote the Senators in their letter to Biden. “With guaranteed federal contracts and other financial incentives, U.S. manufacturers will have the support they need to ramp up their production of electric heat pumps and key components—creating thousands of jobs, boosting local economies, saving money for consumers, reducing unhealthy emissions, and destroying President Putin’s oil and gas-based business model.”
Read more...

=====

=====

Malliotakis: Adams' Mandate Double Standard is a Snub to Working Class
Source: U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY, 11th)
March 24, 2022
"From the very beginning of this pandemic, what has bothered New Yorkers the most is how arbitrary mandates and restrictions have been implemented with double standards in the name of "following science." I agree with Mayor Adams' decision to lift the vaccine mandate for our athletes and performers, however, the same standard should be applied to our cops, firefighters, teachers, sanitation workers, and other private-sector employees. Mayor Adams should immediately rehire the city workers who were fired and lift the vaccine mandate on all public and private-sector employers that has led to people losing their livelihoods at a time when we have a labor shortage."
Read more...

Maloney Re-Introduces Legislation to Protect Students Studying Abroad
Source: U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY, 18th)
March 24, 2022
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) re-introduced legislation to give students and parents more information about the safety of study abroad programs. Rep. Maloney drafted and introduced these bills in 2016 and 2017 with the support of Ros Thackurdeen, a resident of Newburgh whose son died while studying abroad. The Ravi Thackurdeen Safe Students Study Abroad Act and American Students Abroad Act would update reporting requirements for colleges and universities to help families make better-informed decisions about where their students study abroad.
Read more...

Manning Celebrates Twelve Years of the Affordable Care Act, Fights to Lower Health Care Costs
Source: U.S. Representative Kathy E. Manning (D-NC, 6th)
March 24, 2022
“Today, I’m celebrating the twelfth anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more than 670,000 North Carolinians have access to health care, dependents can stay on their parent’s insurance until age 26, and people with pre-existing conditions are protected from coverage discrimination,” said Congresswoman Manning. “I’ve worked to build on this progress by introducing and co-sponsoring legislation to close the Medicaid coverage gap, decrease racial and economic disparities in health care, and lower the cost of prescription drugs."
Read more...

=====

=====

Sen. Marshall to Vote Against Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for SCOTUS
Source: Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS)
March 25, 2022
“After sitting in on some of Judge Jackson’s hearing and conducting a thorough and thoughtful review of her qualifications and judicial record, I cannot support her confirmation. As the son of a police chief, I am very troubled by Judge Jackson’s record of being soft on crime, one that has followed her through each stage of her legal career. As a practicing attorney, she worked to release dangerous prisoners from Guantanamo Bay. As a District Judge, she worked to wipe out President Trump’s expedited removal of illegal immigrants at our southern border and issued multiple lenient sentences for people convicted of possessing child pornography. That alone would be enough to oppose her confirmation but she has also demonstrated a tendency for legislating from behind the bench and an affinity to growing government. Not to mention, she lacks the serious experience needed to serve a lifelong term at our nation’s highest court. All that being said, I believe she will rubberstamp Biden’s far-left agenda instead of protecting the Constitution and our Kansas values. There is no way I can in good faith support her to be an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court,” said Senator Marshall.
Read more...

2nd Amendment, Supreme Court, New York Healthcare Workers, Climate Policy

Today's News for the Week Prior and Up to March 22, 2022

SENATOR LUMMIS DEMANDS ANSWERS ABOUT ATF ATTACK ON SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS
Source: Senator Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY)
March 22, 2022
U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) is demanding answers about the Biden administration’s infringements on the Second Amendment rights of people in Wyoming. Senator Lummis and a group of 25 senators wrote a letter to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Director Regina Richardson requesting an explanation for changes to the ATF’s handling of applications to create and own a firearm silencer. The ATF has been rejecting law-abiding Americans’ attempts to create and own a silencer, even though federal law has not changed, and the ATF’s own website acknowledges that federal law allows individuals to make a silencer.
Read more...

Climate Policy Beyond the Scope of Financial Regulators
Source: U.S. Representative Frank Lucas (R-OK, 3rd)
March 21, 2022
“The financial system shouldn’t be used as a weapon in combatting climate change. This harms public markets and the companies, investors, and retirees that depend on them. Rather than pursuing social goals unrelated to banking, regulators and Congress should be focusing on the need to increase investments in innovation and competition, spur innovation, and improve regulatory efficiency to allow for American ingenuity to thrive. As President Biden and his Administration continues to analyze the potential implications of climate change, I urge regulators to remember their role as a regulator isn’t to advance environmental policy. We should be promoting investment in companies who are at the forefront of clean energies- not wrestling with companies who are already shifting with the market.”
Read more...

Court Grants Anonymity for NY Health Care Workers
Source: First Liberty
March 21, 2022
Liberty Counsel represents these health care workers who sued on September 10, 2021, because state and private employers refused to accept religious exemptions from the COVID shot mandate enacted by Governor Hochul and implemented by Commissioner Zucker. On August 16, 2021, Governor Hochul announced that the state will now require health care workers to accept or receive one of the three currently available COVID-19 injections to remain employed in the healthcare profession.
Read more...

Democratic Women’s Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus Send Letter to Senate Judiciary Committee in Support of Judge Jackson’s Nomination to SCOTUS
Source: U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence (D-MI, 14th)
March 21, 2022
“Judge Jackson, an exceptionally qualified judge with an unimpeachable character, will shatter yet another glass ceiling to become the first Black woman to serve on our nation's highest court,” the Members wrote. “Since the announcement of Judge Jackson’s nomination, we have seen bad faith campaigns working to undermine her legitimacy and credentials. Like many women in public service—especially women of color—Judge Jackson has been the subject of unfair attacks despite her resume that arguably matches or surpasses those of previous nominees. The attacks painting her as a ‘radical left’ and ‘activist’ judge fail to acknowledge her decades of service as an impartial upholder of the law.”
Read more...

While Ukraine is trying to jolt us into another World War, they are worried about our hair!

By Shonda Ponder

On Friday, the House of Representatives passed a bill that says that anyone can wear their hair any way they want to and not get discriminated against for it.

This bill is passed disguised as a deterrent to race-based discrimination caused by hair.

“Natural Black hair is often deemed ‘unprofessional’ simply because it does not conform to white beauty standards,” said U.S. Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ, 12th). “Discrimination against Black hair is discrimination against Black people. I’m proud to have played a part to ensure that we end discrimination against people for how their hair grows out of their head.”

“No one should be discriminated against because of their race, gender, or even their hair,” said U.S. Representative Don Bacon (R-NE, 2nd). “Unfortunately, there has been an increase of race-based hair prejudice in the workplace, schools, and within federal assistance programs. I’m glad to work with Rep. Watson Coleman to eliminate this bias and start enforcing more equity within our community."

How about that folks! You don't have to brush your hair to go to work anymore. After all, we wouldn't want to discriminate between being black and being white, would we?

Of course, that all depends on what the Senate does with the companion bill that was introduced.

I only bring this to your attention because it actually happened, and our tax dollars are paying for our leaders to create laws that tell us what we can and can't do with our hair.

While Ukraine is trying to jolt us into another World War, they are worried about our hair!

News about Russia, Energy and the Ukraine

Washington, D.C. - March 18, 2022 - (The Ponder News) -- Eighty-nine members from the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have called upon the Department of Health and Human Services to take additional steps to reduce energy costs in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s egregious invasion of Ukraine.

In their letter to HHS, they stated, "Americans have already begun to feel the financial impact of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine as oil prices surge to their highest level since 2008 and natural gas prices have risen approximately 60 percent higher than this time last year. Prices for deliverable fuels like propane and heating oil have also remained high, and were 40 percent higher in the first week of March than they were at the same point last year. These are troubling signs for the majority of American households that use either natural gas or deliverable fuels to heat their homes. Moreover, should Russia take additional action to further destabilize global energy markets, we fear the subsequent costs on American energy bills will be severe. "

U.S. Representative Darin Lahood (R-IL, 18th) has said, "On day one in office, President Biden moved to reduce American energy production and prioritize left-wing Green New Deal initiatives, increasing our reliance on foreign adversaries for energy. These policies alone have pushed gas prices to record highs. Instead of working to prioritize American energy production, the Administration is currently negotiating with dictators in Iran and Venezuela. Now is the time to take decisive action to unleash America's energy sector, including oil, gas, renewables, and Illinois biofuels, to protect our national security and protect Americans at the pump," in a statement concerning a House vote to ban Russian energy on March 10, 2022.

On March 15th, President Biden signed a one-time $13.6 billion spending bill providing Ukraine with military and humanitarian aid in their fight against the Russian invasion. $6.5 billion was allocated to the U.S. Department of Defense to deploy troops to the NATO region and send defense equipment, over $4 billion will be used for humanitarian support for refugees fleeing Ukraine and people displaced within the country, and nearly $1.8 billion to help respond to the economic needs in Ukraine and neighboring countries, such as energy and cybersecurity.

According to U.S. Representative Doug Lamborn (R-CO, 5th), "It is because of immense pressure from Congress that sanctions have been imposed on Russia and vital assistance has been given to Ukraine."

Yesterday, Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Rick Scott (R-FL), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) introduced a Senate resolution urging the Biden Administration to facilitate the transfer of aircraft, such as MiG-29s, and air defense systems to Ukraine.

The resolution:

Encourages the President of the United States to support the transfer of aircraft, such as MiG-29s, and air defense systems to Ukraine.

Supports continued efforts by members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other countries around the globe to identify additional aviation and air defense capabilities to transfer to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Expresses that the Senate stands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people in their struggle against Russian aggression.

Also, the Senate passed the Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act which passed by a 424-8 margin.

This bill will:

Provide the President with the authority to increase tariffs on Russian and Belarusian products.

Require the U.S. Trade Representative to seek suspension of Russia's participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to halt Belarus's WTO accession.

Provide the President with the authority to restore normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus if they cease their acts of aggression, subject to Congressional overrule.

Sources:
U.S. Representative Darin Lahood (R-IL, 18th)
U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa (R-CA, 1st)
U.S. Representative Doug Lamborn (R-CO, 5th)
U.S. Representative Jim Langevin (D-RI, 2nd)
Senator James Lankford (R-OK)
U.S. Representative John B. Larson (D-CT, 1st)
Insider