Religious Liberty, Right to Work, C-Band, Iraq, Child Asylum Seekers, ERA

Today's News for the Week Prior and Up to February 19, 2020

Are Teachers Ministers?
Source: God Inspires News
February 19, 2020
Erin M. Hawley, Senior Legal Fellow at Independent Women’s Law Center, issued the following statement: “The ‘ministerial exception’ protects a religious group’s right to shape its own faith and mission through hiring practices and bars federal and state courts from interfering with the hiring and retention policies and practices of religious employers. Teachers at religious schools play a critical role in transmitting the faith to the next generation and are, therefore, properly categorized as ‘ministers’ within the exception outline by the U.S. Supreme Court.”
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Christian Mail Carrier Discharged for Not Delivering Packages on Sunday Asks Federal Court for Judgment
Source: God Inspires News
February 19, 2020
On Friday, February 14, a United States Postal Service (USPS) mailman filed a Motion for Summary Judgement before a federal district judge asking the court to find that the USPS violated his rights when it failed to accommodate his religious beliefs regarding work on Sundays.
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IAM Urges Congress to Protect DOD Workers
Source: International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
February 18, 2020
“President Trump’s goal to take away union representation has been coming since the day he took office,” said Martinez. “His attack on workers that include the longest federal shutdown in history and the signing of Executive Orders are an assault that will eventually carry over to the private sector. Using the coverage of ‘National Security’ insults workers who have given their lives working for the DOD.”
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INCOMPAS Joins Letter Urging FCC to Adopt Spectrum Aggregation Limits in the C-Band
Source: INCOMPAS
February 18, 2020
The undersigned associations commend the Commission on its plans to reallocate the Cband for terrestrial wireless services and assign it through a public auction. The Commission is well aware of the C-band’s importance and the role it will play in the deployment of 5G and future innovative terrestrial wireless services. Mid-band spectrum is vital for the deployment of 5G services, and the C-band represents a significant opportunity for communications providers to acquire mid-band spectrum.
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Inhofe Leads Delegation to Iraq
Source: Senator James M. Inhofe (R - OK)
February 17, 2020
On Friday, February 14, a United States Postal Service (USPS) mailman filed a Motion for Summary Judgement before a federal district judge asking the court to find that the USPS violated his rights when it failed to accommodate his religious beliefs regarding work on Sundays.
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New Ruling Allowing Child Asylum Seekers to Challenge Return to Mexico While Awaiting Court Hearings Vital to Protecting Thousands of Immigrant Youth
Source: Immigrant Legal Resources Center
February 14, 2020
In a case challenging the dangerous Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)’s application to children, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that federal district courts have jurisdiction to hear claims from asylum-seeking youth arising under the Flores Settlement Agreement. This decision provides children seeking asylum at the southern border the opportunity to challenge their return under MPP to potentially life-threatening situations in Mexico before their hearing in immigration court.
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INDEPENDENT WOMEN'S VOICE LEAD COALITION LETTER TO CONGRESS OPPOSES THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
Source: Independent Women's Voice
February 12, 2020
The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment already guarantees equality of the sexes. The ERA would go much further, requiring that the government treat men and women the same—regardless of actual differences recognized under current law upon which women presently rely. The amendment will, therefore, replace equality under the law with interchangeability or sameness with men in all situations. While we are equal, we are not the same.
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Vindman, Environment, Digital Currency, HIV, War Powers, Children, ERA, Tax Credits

Today's News for the Week Prior and Up to February 14, 2020

REP. HECK ON PRESIDENT TRUMP’S RETALIATION AGAINST LT. COL. VINDMAN
Source: U.S. Representative Denny Heck (D-WA, 10th)
February 7, 2020
The President’s public humiliation of Colonel Vindman today is beyond shameful. And if there was any doubt that this was an act of petulant retaliation, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, Colonel Alexander Vindman’s twin brother and a National Security Council lawyer, was also dismissed from his position and left the White House alongside his brother. President Trump has shown that he will cruelly retaliate against honorable public servants. All evidence shows that he will continue to do so.
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Senators Hirono, Carper Introduce Bill Requiring Net-Zero U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050
Source: Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D - HI)
February 11, 2020
“The devastating consequences of climate change in Hawaii are clear, and that is why we were the first state in the country to commit to achieving a carbon neutral economy by 2045, which includes 100% renewable power. The Clean Economy Act spurs similar bold action across the country by setting a goal of achieving net-zero U.S. greenhouse gas production by 2050. The bill also requires a focus on public health, innovative and equitable access to worker training, and enhancing America’s global competitiveness, all of which will be essential to address the broad impacts of climate change,” Senator Hirono said.
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Federal Reserve Chairman: U.S. is “Working Hard” on Digital Currency
Source: U.S. Representative French Hill (R-AR, 2nd)
February 12, 2020
Libra lit a fire and it was a bit of a wakeup call that this was coming fast, and could come in a way that is quite widespread and systemically important. Federal Reserve Chairman Confirms Digital Currency Efforts
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President's Budget Increases HIV Support, But Lacks Direction And Funding In Key Areas
Source: HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA)
February 12, 2020
President Trump’s fiscal year 2021 budget plan proposes $716 million in funding for the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative – more than double the 2020 request. At the same time, however, it reduces support for federal public health programs that are key to the initiative’s implementation, according to the HIV Medicine Association.
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Trump Stripped of War Powers
Source: Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
February 13, 2020
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after voting to support S.J.Res.63, a war powers resolution to prevent further escalation of hostilities with Iran without congressional authorization. The resolution passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 55 to 45.
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HOEVEN STATEMENT AFTER SENATE VOTE ON WAR POWERS RESOLUTIONS
Source: Senator John Hoeven (R - ND)
February 13, 2020
“I do not support this resolution because I think it undermines our nation’s maximum pressure campaign on Iran, including diplomatic, economic and military pressure. I believe it sends the wrong message to Iranian leaders that the U.S. is relieving, rather than increasing, pressure on the regime, particularly in the context of widespread anti-government protests in Iran."
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U.S. Reps Herrera Beutler, Kennedy Reintroduce Bill to Strengthen Kids’ Access to Health Care
Source: U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA, 3rd)
February 13, 2020
U.S. Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03) and Joe Kennedy III (MA-04) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to streamline the enrollment process for care provided to children outside of the state where they are enrolled in a Medicaid program. Cosponsored by Congressman Ben Ray Luján (NM-03), the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act would create a limited pathway for pediatric providers to be screened and enrolled in another state’s Medicaid program to eliminate unnecessary delays in care.
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COMMITTEE ADVANCES BILL, COSPONSORED BY HIGGINS, TO PROTECT PATIENTS FROM SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS
Source: U.S. Representative Brian Higgins (D-NY, 26th)
February 13, 2020
Higgins said, “Surprise medical bills for out-of-network care can be financially devastating for patients and their families. This legislation protects consumers from receiving surprise medical bills and removes the unfair mystery associated with billing, giving patients access to the information they deserve relative to the coverage they are entitled to under their plan and the costs they can expect to pay following care.”
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Rep. Horn Votes for ERA Legislation
Source: U.S. Representative Kendra Horn (D-OK, 5th)
February 13, 2020
“A vote for the ERA is a vote for equality,” said Congresswoman Horn. “The ERA enshrines in the highest law of the land the same principles that our founders fought for, that we are all created equal. Women today face continued obstacles to full equality, including unequal pay, pregnancy discrimination, domestic violence, and inadequate health care access. These are not just women’s issues, they are economic issues and family issues that impact all Oklahomans. Discrimination in the workplace and our state’s wage gap mean less money at home for food, for bills, for doctor’s visits and school supplies. Ending discrimination and affirming women’s equality under the law is the right thing to do, not just for women but for our whole country.”
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Congressman Steven Horsford Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Empower Nevada’s Workers and Businesses
Source: U.S. Representative Steven Horsford (D-NV, 4th)
February 13, 2020
On Wednesday, February 12, 2020, Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) introduced the Skill and Knowledge Investments Leverage Leaders’ Untapped Potential Tax Credit (SKILL UP) Act alongside Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02). The SKILL UP Act would provide businesses with a tax credit for investing in work-based learning for workers with low skill levels.
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