Equal Rights Amendment, Individual Healthcare Mandate, Honest Candidates, Immigrants, Gun Violence Research, Addiction, Tobacco

Dump Netflix: Movie mocks Jesus at most holy time of year
Source: American Family Association
December 18, 2019
Netflix has released a "Christmas special" movie that depicts Jesus as a homosexual and the Virgin Mary as an adulteress.

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Alabama, Louisiana, and South Dakota File Legal Challenge to Stop Activists from Illegally Rewriting the U.S. Constitutions
Source: Alabama Attorney General's Office
December 18, 2019
Alabama, Louisiana and South Dakota have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Archivist of the United States — the federal officer who oversees the ratification process for constitutional amendments — seeking to prevent him from illegally adding the long-failed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution

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Fifth Circuit Court Decision Perpetuates Uncertainty For Americans, Insurance Industry
Source: American Association of Family Physicians
December 19, 2019
Wednesday’s Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Texas v. Azar prolongs the uncertainty that millions of Americans face about whether they will have access to health care. The Fifth Circuit upheld the district court’s decision that the individual mandate was unconstitutional. However, the judges remanded the case to the lower court to analyze and explain whether any or all of the law’s other provisions are severable from the individual mandate and thus can remain operative as a law without the mandate.

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Internists Say Court’s Decision on ACA Potentially Could Put Health Care for Millions at Risk
Source: American College of Physicians
December 19, 2019
The American College of Physicians (ACP) is greatly concerned that the decision of a federal appeals court that the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional could place health care for millions at risk, should the courts rule that the coverage requirements and other provisions of the ACA also must be overturned because they can’t be “severed” from the mandate. The court sent back the “severability” question to a lower court. What’s at stake is whether the ACA’s pre-existing condition protections, essential benefit requirements, funding for Medicaid expansion, and other provisions will be upheld or overturned, with the health and lives of the millions of patients being at risk depending on what the courts decide.

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AOA statement on Congressional health care spending agreement
Source: American Osteopathic Association
December 19, 2019
The American Osteopathic Association commends Congressional leaders on their work to achieve a bipartisan agreement on an annual appropriations and other public health legislation. The package includes funding for crucial public health programs and addresses several important public health issues.

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APA Applauds Mental Health Funding in Federal Spending Bill
Source: American Psychiatric Association
December 19, 2019
This week Congress passed a $1.4 trillion fiscal year 2020 spending bill that includes several provisions that will fund medical research and treatment programs for people with mental illness and substance use disorders (SUD).

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ASAM Commends Congress for Strengthening Addiction Treatment Workforce
Source: American Society of Addiction Medicine
December 19, 2019
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) commended Congress for expanding funding to strengthen the nation’s addiction treatment workforce in a bipartisan, end-of-year appropriations package that passed last Thursday. The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 1865) includes significant funding for policies that bolster the addiction treatment workforce to help increase access to care for people living with addiction.

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ASCO Applauds Congress for Raising Minimum Age to Purchase Tobacco and Boosting Cancer Research Funding
Source: American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
December 19, 2019
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) applauds Congress for working across party lines to raise the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21. A longtime advocate on this issue, ASCO believes this important change will delay and reduce the use of tobacco and help prevent tobacco-related cancers. A 2015 report from the Institute of Medicine predicted that raising the minimum age for the sale of tobacco products to 21 would, over time, reduce the smoking rate by about 12 percent and cut smoking-related deaths by 10 percent. We commend Congress for taking this important step and look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers and regulators in service of our longstanding commitment to reducing and eventually eliminating tobacco-related cancers.

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ADF: Federal Equal Rights amendment is legally suspect, threatens equal opportunities for women
Source: American Immigration Lawyer’s Association
December 20, 2019
Litigators from the Justice Action Center (JAC), the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and Innovation Law Lab, with pro bono counsel Sidley Austin LLP and Latino Network as the organizational plaintiff, welcomed the Ninth Circuit 2-1 decision to refuse the federal government an administrative stay pending appeal of the preliminary nationwide injunction in Doe v. Trump. The administration had sought an emergency stay of the injunction granted on November 26, 2019, by the U.S. District Court in Portland, OR. The stay would have immediately implemented President Trump’s October 4 proclamation requiring legal immigrants to prove they hold an “approved” health insurance plan, or can pay for health care out of pocket, in order to be allowed entry to the U.S. This unconstitutional health care ban would affect approximately 375,000 people each year, immediately separate families from loved ones, harm businesses seeking to employ international talent, and undermine our nation’s commitment to equal rights. The Ninth Circuit agreed with the U.S. District Court in Portland, OR, and the proclamation remains enjoined.

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Trump's Attempt to Make Legal Immigrants Prove They Have Health Insurance Thwarted
Source: Alliance Defending Freedom
December 20, 2019
Even though it pretends to protect women, a federal ERA could be used to allow boys to compete in girls’ sports, unfairly taking away opportunities and denying girls a fair playing field in athletics. It could also threaten women’s homeless shelters who seek to provide a safe place for survivors of domestic abuse and sex trafficking. Instead, ERA proponents are actively striving to redefine “sex” as a subjective belief that has nothing to do with the biological reality of being male or female. Additionally, the ERA could also require Americans to pay for abortions with their hard-earned tax dollars, including abortions up to the moment of birth—a move that most Americans oppose. Women knew the ERA was a bad idea in the 1970’s, and it’s an even worse idea today.

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20 ALEC Lawmakers Say NO to Importing Price Controls and Socialized Medicine to America
Source: American Legislative Exchange Council
December 20, 2019
For months, some in Congress have tried to advance socialist healthcare policies that have failed overseas and would leave Americans with fewer treatment options. In doing so, they are rejecting free-market principles that have led to lifesaving and life-enhancing medical discoveries. With passage of H.R. 3 in the U.S. House of Representatives, these lawmakers have led us one step closer to a command-and-control, single-payer healthcare system that imposes European-style price controls on America’s medical innovations and cures.

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APA Commends Congress for Allocating Federal Funds for Gun Violence Research
Source: American Psychological Association
December 20, 2019
The support from Congress is a key step in allowing agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health to take a public health approach by conducting research on the causes of gun violence that can lead us to evidence-based solutions that will ultimately save lives.

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You can’t buy honesty
Source: American Economic Association
December 23, 2019
Denmark is the least corrupt country in the world, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs declares. It consistently tops Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. And while the country isn’t perfect, the government manages to attract an honest workforce that rarely takes bribes or kickbacks.

The fact that they pay their public servants less than private sector wages could be part of the reason, according to a paper in the November issue of the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy.

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Shalala and Pallone Introduce Comprehensive Legislation to Address Youth Tobacco Epidemic

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by: Donna E. Shalala (D-FL, 27th)

Washington, D.C. - April 18, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Rep. Donna Shalala (D-FL) announced the introduction of the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019 today. The new legislation aims to address the sharp rise in use of tobacco and e-cigarette products among young people.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an alarming 78 percent increase in current e-cigarette use by high school students and 48 percent increase among middle school students from 2017 to 2018. According to reports, the sharp increase in tobacco use in recent years could reverse years of progress in reducing youth tobacco use in America.

“The Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act makes clear that we will not tolerate the proliferation of slick new products purposefully designed to appeal to young people to get them addicted to nicotine and tobacco” Pallone said. “Congress must act to reduce youth nicotine addiction by making it clear that selling tobacco products to kids is illegal. My legislation also treats e-cigarettes and other tobacco products the same as traditional cigarettes under the law. We cannot afford to wait – we are on the cusp of losing an entirely new generation to a lifetime of nicotine addiction.”

“If a person does not start using tobacco products when they are young, it is less likely they will start as an adult. As HHS Secretary during the Clinton Administration, we made great strides in holding tobacco companies accountable for marketing their products to kids, and we reduced the number of people who smoked cigarettes,” Shalala said. “But now, the use of e-cigarettes, particularly by children, is beginning to undo years of progress we have made. Our bill, The Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act, takes concrete steps to limit access and the appeal of tobacco products to people under 21. At the end of the day, our main goal is to reduce the number of kids using tobacco products in the United States.”

The Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act of 2019 includes a number of important provisions to curb the rise of youth tobacco use:

Requires FDA to finalize a rule requiring graphic health warnings for cigarette packages within 12 months;

Extends FDA regulations on the sale, distribution, and use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to all deemed tobacco products, including e-cigarettes;

Raises the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21 years and makes it unlawful for any retailer to sell a tobacco product to any person younger than 21 years of age;

Directs FDA to prohibit non-face-to-face sales of all tobacco products including e-cigarettes and e-cigarette accessories;

Prohibits all characterizing flavors of tobacco products, including menthol;

Provides FDA with authority to collect user fees from all classes of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes;

Instructs FDA to issue a final rule on the regulation of products containing synthetic nicotine or nicotine that is not made or derived from tobacco;

Makes it unlawful to market, advertise, or promote any e-cigarette products to individuals under the age of 21; and,

Requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue an annual report to Congress on the domestic sales, advertising, and promotional activity of cigarette, cigar, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarette manufacturers.

Pallone and Shalala’s bill has widespread support from public health advocates, including: the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American Thoracic Society, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, March of Dimes, and National African American Tobacco Prevention Network.

Section-by-section available HERE.

Bill text available HERE.

State of the Union Guests, Immigration Reform, Cadillac Tax Delay and more...

The Ponder News
http://thepondernews.com
January 29, 2018



Congresswoman Bustos announces her State of the Union Guest: Sarah Miller from Galesburg
Cheri Bustos (D-IL, 17th)
Congresswoman Cheri Bustos announced that her guest at tomorrow’s State of the Union address will be Sarah Miller from Galesburg, Illinois. In April 2016, when news broke that Galesburg had exceeded the federal “action level” in ongoing E.P.A. tests for lead content in water, Congresswoman Bustos strongly advised the city to apply for funding through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Over the next several weeks, working with city officials and the Illinois E.P.A., Bustos helped secure a $4 million forgivable loan through this program.
Read more...
https://bustos.house.gov/congresswoman-bustos-announces-state-union-guest-sarah-miller-galesburg/

Julia Brownly (D-CA, 26th)
on Net Neutrality Congressional Review Act Resolution
“FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s decision in December to roll back net neutrality protections was incredibly concerning. I’m proud to sign on as an original co-sponsor supporting the Congressional resolution to reverse this action, so that the net neutrality protections put in place by President Obama are restored. Rather than ping ponging back and forth from one Administration to another, Congress should pass legislation to lay down permanent rules of the road for industry, while ensuring that net neutrality continues to inspire innovation, create jobs, protect free speech, and enable the advancement of civil rights.”
Visit her website
https://juliabrownley.house.gov/

Dave Brat (R-VA, 7th)
on White House Immigration Framework
“The White House amnesty plan may capture the wishes of the Washington establishment, but it does not represent the promises President Trump made to the American people. Giving amnesty beyond DACA recipients opens us up to fraud and corruption, as those who never signed up for the program attempt to become eligible. If you ask voters in states like Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania that swung to Donald Trump if this amnesty plan keeps his promises, they will tell you it does not.”

“House Republicans have been working to build support for Chairman Goodlatte’s bill. The legislation, while not perfect, represents a rational compromise that provides for DACA recipients but also reforms the underlying immigration system in a coherent way. We are interested in taking a common sense approach to ensure our immigration system works so we are not back here again in another 10 years dealing with millions more who came here illegally.”
Visit his website
https://brat.house.gov/

Brady Briefing: Building American Prosperity
Kevin Brady (R-TX, 8th)
President Trump will deliver his first State of the Union Speech this week. My guest is Jim “Mac” McInvale, a successful businessman, founder of Gallery Furniture and world-class philanthropist who embodies the American Dream.
Read more...
https://kevinbrady.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=401033

Bonamici Invites Oregon Dreamer to 2018 State of the Union
Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR, 1st)
Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) announced that a Dreamer from NW Oregon will be joining her at the President’s State of the Union Address on January 30.
Read more...
https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-invites-oregon-dreamer-2018-state-union

Bishop Calls for Congressional Investigation into US Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics
Mike Bishop (R-MI, 8th)
Following the sentencing of former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor Larry Nassar for sexual misconduct, Congressman Mike Bishop (MI-08) submitted a letter to Congressman Trey Gowdy, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and House Speaker Paul Ryan calling for a Congressional Investigation into the United States Olympic Committee and its subsidiary, USA Gymnastics.
Read more...
https://mikebishop.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=218

Rep. Black Signs on to Securing America’s Future Act
Diane Black (R-TN, 6th)
“With President Trump in the Oval Office, we have an opportunity to fix our broken immigration system and secure the border once and for all. Our current system makes our country less safe and fails to put the interests of the American people first. This is wrong and must be brought to an end,” said Congressman Black. “The primary responsibility of the federal government is to protect its citizens – our Constitution specifically grants Congress the power to do so – and the Securing America’s Future Act does just that. By building the border wall, strictly enforcing our laws and ending chain migration, we are securing our nation for future generations and putting the safety and prosperity of the American people first.”
Read more...
https://black.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-black-signs-securing-america-s-future-act

Marsha Blackburn (R-TN 7th)
On Section 201 Tariff Remedies
"While I support trade policies that strengthen American manufacturing and will put this nation on a fair playing field internationally, I am disappointed in the overly harsh ruling of Section 201 tariff remedies against imports of residential washing machines. Along with Secretary Ross, I attended the groundbreaking of LG Electronics’ $250 million home appliance manufacturing facility in Clarksville, TN last summer. As Secretary Ross said at the groundbreaking ceremony, “This is exactly the kind of job creation and investment that the administration is seeking for American workers […] I look forward to having LG’s high-quality home appliances made right here in the United States starting in early 2019.” This investment was expected to bring in 600 stable, high-paying jobs for Tennesseans. Unfortunately, these harsh tariffs will severely limit LG’s ability to scale up their operation, negatively affecting Tennessee jobs and American consumers. I look forward to working with the administration and other stakeholders to come up with remedies that reduce the economic impact of these tariffs."
Visit her website
https://blackburn.house.gov/

REP. BARRAGÁN TO ATTEND STATE OF THE UNION WITH PREVIOUSLY DEPORTED VETERAN AS GUEST
Nanette Barragan (D-CA, 44th)
Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán will attend President Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday with Marco Chavez, a previously deported Marine Corps veteran, as her guest.
Read her statement
https://barragan.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-barrag-n-attend-state-union-previously-deported-veteran-guest

Jim Banks (R-IN, 3rd)
On Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
“One of the primary goals of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was to ensure our tax code helps American businesses compete in a global market, enabling job and paycheck growth here at home. As a result, we’ve seen numerous companies commit to investing billions in communities across America, including the latest announcement from FedEx. They plan to invest $1.5 billion to significantly expand their Indianapolis hub over the next seven years. This long-term investment by FedEx in the Hoosier state is great news and will support quality jobs and add to the robust Indiana economy.”
Visit his web site
https://banks.house.gov/

OMAHA POLICE SERGEANT & MEDAL OF VALOR RECIPIENT TO JOIN REP. BACON AT THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
Don Bacon (R-NE, 2nd)
Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) will be joined by Omaha Police Sergeant Jeff Kopietz at the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. on January 30. Sgt. Kopietz is a 27-year veteran with the Omaha Police Department (OPD), where he has worked in the Uniform Patrol Bureau, Weed and Seed Squad, Narcotics and is currently assigned to the Fugitive Squad/Metro Fugitive Task Force. A 25-year veteran of OPD’s swat team, Sgt. Kopietz has served over 1,000 high risk search warrants during that time. He also is a deputized US Marshal.
Read more...
https://bacon.house.gov/media/press-releases/omaha-police-sergeant-medal-valor-recipient-join-rep-bacon-state-union-address

FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe resigns
Washington Examiner
FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe resigned effective immediately Monday.

A source familiar with the situation told the Washington Examinerthan McCabe is taking "terminal leave" for now until he can officially retire when his pension kicks in.

​NBC reported that his retirement would take effect mid-March. In December, the Washington Post first reported his retirement would come in the spring.
Read more...
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/deputy-fbi-director-andrew-mccabe-resigns/article/2647387

Brown on Trump Davos Speech: Take Action on Steel Imports Now
Senator Sherrod Brown (D - OH)
“President Trump is right that we must enforce the rules so American workers can compete on a level playing field, and he can start right now by taking strong action against China’s steel overcapacity,” said Brown. “China’s cheating is shuttering American factories and American steelworkers cannot afford to wait any longer for relief.”
Read it...
https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-on-trump-davos-speech-take-action-on-steel-imports-now

Veteran PEER Act will harness peer-to-peer relationships to more comprehensively treat veterans’ mental health conditions
Senator Roy Blunt (R - MO)
Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) to expand veterans’ access to peer counseling specialists passed the Senate Thursday night by unanimous consent. Peer specialists can be particularly effective in combating the risks of suicide and addressing other mental health needs amongst veterans.
Read more...
https://www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=66392548-624E-4AB8-BCB2-4D658A4EE37C

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D - CT)
About the Trump Administration's Immigration Proposal
“This proposal is immigration hostage taking. Hundreds of thousands of young people are being held hostage in the name of the far right’s repulsive and repugnant anti-immigrant fantasy. The party of so-called family values has revealed itself to care more for its nativist political base than the actual families that would be cruelly ripped or kept apart under this proposal. One of its most heartless provisions would send refugee children back to the countries they have fled without even a fig leaf of due process – a proposal almost certain to send children to their deaths,” Blumenthal said.

“This is not a serious proposal and it was not offered in a serious way – it was leaked Thursday night after close of business while Congress was out of session. Instead of playing political games with the lives of children while hobnobbing with billionaires overseas, the Trump Administration must come to the table and engage in real negotiations with Congress.”
Visit his website...
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/

New CDC Study Shows State Tobacco Use Rates Remain High
American Lung Association
"Despite an overall decrease in use of tobacco products, not all states have seen meaningful reductions in tobacco use. Three states – Wyoming, West Virginia and Kentucky – have significantly higher tobacco use rates than most of the rest of the country, pointing to an urgent need for their state leaders to put in place proven effective policies to prevent and reduce tobacco use, which remains the leading cause of death in the United States, killing 480,000 Americans each year.
Read more...
http://www.lung.org/about-us/media/press-releases/new-cdc-study-shows-state.html

Congress: Groups Oppose Using CRA to Overturn Restoring Internet Freedom Order
American Legislative Exchange Council
We, the undersigned organizations, representing millions of taxpayers and consumers nationwide, urge Congress to oppose usage of the Congressional Review Act to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Restoring Internet Freedom Order.
Read more...
http://www.alecaction.org/update/congress-groups-oppose-using-cra-to-overturn-restoring-internet-freedom-order/

An issue for infrastructure reform: Too much road salt
Taxpayers Protection Alliance
Faced with budget shortfalls and a decreasing ability to raise revenue, state and local lawmakers are ever eager to divert “savings” to their favorite pet projects. But during cold and snowy snaps, officials have long realized that massive quantities of road salt can cut down on cleanup and emergency response costs.

This cheap solution, however, comes with quite a few additional problems. Road salt is increasingly being recognized as a detriment to human health, the environment, and infrastructure, as reports from federal and state agencies shed light on the mineral’s unintended consequences. Absent long-overdue reforms, local, state, and federal incentives undergirding the salting system will continue to cost taxpayers billions of dollars.
Read more...
https://www.protectingtaxpayers.org/blog/a/view/an-issue-for-infrastructure-reform-too-much-road-salt

Tell Senators to choose life and nuke filibuster on S. 2311
American Family Association
Next Monday, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, S. 2311.
The bill bans abortion after 20 weeks. It is undeniable that unborn babies feel pain at this stage of life. Therefore, this bill simply protects babies from a gruesome and cruel act of barbarism.
See how you can help...
https://www.afa.net/activism/action-alerts/2018/tell-senators-to-choose-life-and-nuke-filibuster-on-s-2311/

Two-year delay of “Cadillac Tax” a timely, important step on road to full repeal
American Benefits Council
“We applaud Congress for approving a critically important twoyear delay of the 40 percent ‘Cadillac Tax’ on employer-sponsored health coverage as part of the government funding bill,” Council President James A. Klein said.
Read more...
https://www.americanbenefitscouncil.org/pub/?id=43c0cda3-d356-7a0a-fde8-e120671e4f67