Black Colleges, Appropriations, Veterans, Trade, Cameroon

Today's News from the House of Representatives

Adams Leads Effort to Investigate the Administration’s Failure to Uphold Promise to HBCUs
Source: Alma Adams (D-NC, 12th)
December 17, 2019
Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) unveiled a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report she commissioned to investigate whether the Small Business Administration (SBA) is providing adequate support to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to help students become successful small business owners. The report raises several deficiencies in SBA’s efforts to work with HBCUs, despite President Trump’s 2017 Executive Order to promote engagement with HBCUs, strengthen HBCU participation in federal programs, and direct federal agencies to identify priorities for working with HBCUs.

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Allred Votes for Bipartisan Appropriations Bills Making Critical Investments in Health Care and Election Security
Source: Colin Allred (D-TX, 32)
December 17, 2019
“I am encouraged that leaders in both parties were able to come together and forge a bipartisan compromise to keep our government open and working for the American people.

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House Passes Amata-Cosponsored Veterans’ Bill To Report On Overcoming Barriers To Benefits
Source: Aumua Amata (R - American Samoa, At Large)
December 17, 2019
This Act requires the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a three-year study of disability and pension benefits provided to Veterans who served in special missions, including pilots and divers, and who served on reserve components of the Armed Forces while on active duty. This multi-year study will examine disability and pension data from 2008 to 2018 to identify any barriers that exist specific to these veterans. Next, the study will focus on possible ways to overcome these barriers.

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Amodei Statement on Government Funding Packages for Fiscal Year 2020
Source: Mark Amodei (R-NV, 2nd)
December 17, 2019
"Look at what we can actually accomplish when we make it a priority,” said Rep. Amodei. “In terms of the reforms, funding priorities, and responsible spending reductions included in these bills, Nevadans can certainly claim a number of victories. More specifically, these packages will increase funding for Department of Interior (DOI) operations including wildland fire management, Lake Tahoe restoration efforts, hazardous fuels reductions, watershed restoration, and the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program. The Interior portion of these bills also allocates $12 million for radium cleanup efforts, which the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) would be eligible to receive."

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ARRINGTON SENDS USMCA TO HOUSE FLOOR, APPLAUDS EFFORTS TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN U.S. TRADE
Source: Mark Amodei (R-NV, 2nd)
December 17, 2019
"Look at what we can actually accomplish when we make it a priority,” said Rep. Amodei. “In terms of the reforms, funding priorities, and responsible spending reductions included in these bills, Nevadans can certainly claim a number of victories. More specifically, these packages will increase funding for Department of Interior (DOI) operations including wildland fire management, Lake Tahoe restoration efforts, hazardous fuels reductions, watershed restoration, and the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program. The Interior portion of these bills also allocates $12 million for radium cleanup efforts, which the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) would be eligible to receive."

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Axne Votes to Fund our Military, Increase Grants for Local Police, Invest in Cancer Research, and Protect our Elections
Source: Cynthia Axne (D-IA, 3rd)
December 17, 2019
The bill passed by the House today, H.R. 1158, provides funding for the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Commerce, and other key executive branch agencies tasked with protecting our nation and its citizens.

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Rep. Bass Statement on Kidnapped Candidates In Cameroon
Source: Karen Bass (D-CA, 37th)
December 17, 2019
“I am alarmed by the recent kidnapping of local official and parliamentary candidates by armed separatists. These actions are counterproductive and not conducive to solving the conflict in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon. Those advocating for independence must understand that preying on innocent Cameroonians who simply want to exercise their civic duties will not help them get any closer to an independent state. I encourage separatists to commit to peacefully resolving the conflict in order for the country to have open and fair elections for all in 2020.”

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Diaz-Balart: Democratic Leadership Rejects Another Bipartisan Solution to End Shutdown

Washington, D.C. - January 23, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) issued the following statement after he testified before the House Rules Committee on his amendment that includes $5.7 billion in border security, the most recent version of the DREAM bill presented by House Democrats, a permanent solution for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries with status nearing expiration, and $12.7 billion in supplemental disaster relief.

“At the Rules Committee this evening, I presented a commonsense solution to end this government shutdown. The amendment I proposed includes funding for border security, provides permanent relief for DREAMers and TPS recipients, and delivers critical dollars to communities impacted by natural disasters. This shutdown is unnecessary and is hurting the thousands of federal employees furloughed and the countless American families who depend on federal programs. I am exceedingly disappointed Democratic leadership has yet again rejected an amendment which would garner bipartisan support and will not have the opportunity to be debated on the House floor. My amendment not only gets us closer to reopening our government, but also protects our national security, addresses vulnerable immigrant communities who seek legal status, and helps those who are rebuilding after Hurricane Michael. Once again, I urge Democratic leadership to consider a real solution to ending the shutdown, whether it be one of my proposals or that of another Member of Congress, that will have a fair chance at Senate consideration and becoming law.”

Earlier this month, Diaz-Balart presented four similar amendments that addressed DREAMers, TPS, and border security and would have opened the government. Democratic leadership also rejected those amendments.

Shaheen’s Amendment That Repeals Global Gag Rule Added to Foreign Operations Funding Bill

Source: Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D - NH)



Washington, D.C. - September 11, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s (D-NH) amendment to boost funds for international family planning and reproductive health programs received bipartisan support and was added to the State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs annual appropriations bill that allocates federal dollars for programs directed by the US State Department.

“The global gag rule is a dangerous and ill-conceived policy that blocks millions of women and their families from receiving critical aid and assistance,” said Shaheen. “My amendment will preserve and restore funding levels for international organizations that help to prevent over fifty million unintended pregnancies around the world, and reduce the number of maternal deaths we see from those accessing unsafe abortions when the lack of family planning leaves them without options. I’m very pleased that this amendment was approved on a bipartisan basis and hope that Congress can continue to make progress to repeal this disastrous policy.”

Senator Shaheen’s amendment repeals the global gag rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy. The Mexico City Policy bans federal dollars from supporting foreign non-governmental groups that provide the full scope of family planning and maternal health services that include information about and referrals for abortions, even if these activities are funded with their own, non-US funds. By law, federal dollars are already prohibited from supporting abortions, however the Mexico City Policy goes further by banning foreign non-governmental organizations from providing information on or referrals for abortion services as part of delivering comprehensive women's healthcare. This includes a prohibition on care and counseling for those harmed by abortions. Senator Shaheen’s amendment allows these non-governmental groups to provide family planning services, preserves previous levels of funding for USAID family planning programs, and restores the United States’ contribution to the United Nations Populations Fund to 2017 funding levels.

Senator Shaheen is a leader on women’s reproductive rights and has been advocating to repeal the global gag rule since President Trump reinstated it through an executive order in January. She led a bipartisan group of Senators and introduced the Global HER Act to repeal the dangerous policy and ensure international organizations are able to provide women around the world with the necessary care they need. Senator Shaheen serves on the Appropriation’s Subcommittee on the State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs and is also the only woman on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.