Maryland Legislature Fails to Address Child Marriage – Again

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by: Tahirih Justice Center
Baltimore, MD - April 22, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- For the fourth year in a row, Maryland’s legislature has ended its session without passing much needed legislation to fix the state’s child marriage problem.

Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary has championed reform bills in every session since 2016, and each year her legislation garnered broad bipartisan support in the state’s House of Representatives before being stymied by the Senate.

This year was no exception. The House passed Delegate Atterbeary’s bill limiting marriage to legal adults with a vote of 136 to 4. Yet despite courageous testimony given by Maryland survivors of child marriage, the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee amended the bill to allow for broad exceptions to the rule, essentially gutting the legislation of any meaningful protective mechanisms. Once again, the legislative session came to a close before an effective compromise could be reached, leaving Maryland’s children vulnerable to abuse and exploitation for another year.

Since 2016, 16 other states have strengthened their minimum marriage age laws. While Maryland failed to take action, Virginia, New York, Texas, Kentucky, Delaware, New Jersey, and Ohio all effectively ended child marriage – either by setting a minimum marriage age of 18 without exceptions, or by limiting marriage to adults over 18 and court-emancipated minors. Other states are poised to do the same this year: a bill to end child marriage is currently awaiting the governor’s signature in Georgia, and 9 more states have bills to end child marriage pending.

“Bottom line, it’s pretty appalling that Maryland, in four legislative sessions hasn’t been able to accomplish what more than a dozen states have knocked out in a single session. It’s just truly disturbing that Maryland hasn’t acted to address what was squarely put to them as problems in their laws that put girls at serious risk of lifelong trauma,” said Jeanne Smoot, Senior Counsel for Policy and Strategy

As the movement to end child marriage continues marching forward, Maryland risks becoming a destination for the exploitation of children through marriage. In fact, since Virginia became the first to reform its laws in 2016, there have been an increasing number of Virginia resident minors getting married in Maryland. In 2016 and 2017 a total of 164 minors were married in Maryland; 65 of them had been brought from out of state to be wed.

Every year the Maryland Senate fails to act, scores more children will be married and, more likely than not, face exploitation and abuse as a result of Maryland’s antiquated laws.

Tahirih is grateful to the courageous survivors, advocates, and lawmakers who drive this movement forward. We look forward to the day when Maryland takes action to protect girls from the harms of forced and child marriage.

Equal Access for Ohio Christian Clubs

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by: Liberty Counsel

Orlando, FL - April 22, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- A school district in northeast Ohio has ended discrimination against a high school student-led Bible study and a Christian encouragement club, both of which have now been allowed to resume meetings on campus. Liberty Counsel sent a letter to the district on behalf of the students, requesting equal access on the same terms as other noncurricular clubs.

The school board voted unanimously this month to recognize the Christian student-led clubs and to extend equal treatment in all respects, including permitting the students to invite guest speakers during noninstructional time.

When the two clubs were cancelled in Fall 2017, the students were told they could no longer meet as "official school club[s]" and would be treated as "outside organization[s]." The Christian club could no longer have guest speakers, and neither it, nor the Bible study, were permitted to meet during noninstructional time or distribute flyers announcing their meetings. The clubs were told they would also be assessed a facilities fee.

However, the school district permitted other "student-led" clubs such as the Gay-Straight Alliance, an environmental club, a fashion club, a vegan club, and others, to meet. These clubs met at no charge, were allowed faculty advisors, and had full access to all the information channels at school, including distribution and display of flyers, and announcements on the school PA system.

In addition to meeting for encouragement and discussion, student leaders of the Christian club had hoped to demonstrate love and acceptance toward their fellow students by doing acts of kindness on various days. When they were first allowed to meet in 2017, this club met at school during noninstructional time. The students opened the meetings, and when they had a speaker, the students introduced the guest speaker. After the speaker, the students closed the meeting. No guest speaker spoke more than once. However, the Christian club was still told "no outside speakers" would be allowed unless the club moved off campus for such meetings.

After the clubs were cancelled, the students involved in both clubs prepared documentation referencing the Equal Access Act and met with administrators to appeal these decisions. They were told they could "meet informally during lunch to read the Bible and pray" with a faculty advisor, but they could not be given club privileges, including sharing announcements about the club, or displaying club flyers.

Liberty Counsel then sent a letter demanding equal access. After receiving the letter, the school board voted to allow the Christian student-led clubs.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "We are pleased that this Ohio school district has agreed to abide by the law in granting equal access to school facilities to the Bible study and the Christian club. The law is clear that public schools cannot discriminate against the Christian viewpoint of student-led clubs. Equal access means equal treatment in terms of use of the facilities, ability to meet, and announcements about the clubs. Equal access is a simple concept. Public schools cannot discriminate against Christian viewpoints on otherwise permissible subject matters," said Staver.

Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost.

Sri Lanka Bombings is a Wake-up Call to Protect Religious Freedom

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by: Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation

New York, NY - April 22, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Ohr Torah Stone's Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding and Cooperation (CJCUC) in Jerusalem wishes to express our sincerest condolences to the families of Sri Lanka who lost their loved ones in today's terrorist attacks that took the lives of more than 200 people and injured hundreds. Three Catholic churches were part of the targeted attacks while congregants were involved in prayer on one of Christianity's sacred days. Rabbi Kenneth Brander, President of Ohr Torah Stone, said that "the holiday of Passover reminds us of the need to speak out against affliction especially when targeted against religious groups on their holy days."

According to David Nekrutman, CJCUC's Executive Director, the coordinated bombings in Sri Lanka that included churches, hotels, and other sites, is the largest and deadliest attack to occur in one day against Christians in the 21st Century. "These acts of terrorism whether in Pittsburgh, ChristChurch or Sri Lanka should be a wake-up call for the international community to take steps to ensure the security of all wishing to express their faith without fear," remarked Nekrutman.

The CJCUC staff has been in communication with Catholic leaders and the Sri Lanka Embassy in Tel Aviv to express their solidarity of those who have been directly affected by this morning's tragedy. CJCUC will continue to monitor the situation and research the appropriate charities to help with the relief efforts in Colombo, Negombo, and Batticaloa.

See More News about this:

Acting Secretary McAleenan Statement on Sri Lanka Attacks

Men who Sustained 80-day Hunger Strike Released from El Paso Detention Facility

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by: South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)

Washington, D.C. - April 19, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Jasvir Singh and Rajandeep Singh were released from the Otero County Processing Center last week almost three months after initial reports that they were among nine Sikh men on hunger strike whom ICE agents were force feeding in the El Paso Service Processing Center.

El Paso and Las Cruces based community groups and national advocacy organizations launched a coordinated campaign to demand ICE cease force feeding and release the men.

ICE released both men on bond after consistent pressure from local Rep. Veronica Escobar’s office and local and national advocates, and days after a Congressional Delegation from the House Committee on Homeland Security visited and toured facilities in El Paso where they examined immigration policies and operations along our southern border.

Three of the men who had originally been among the nine on hunger strike remain in detention. While on hunger strike at EPSPC they reported regular physical, verbal, and psychological abuse at the hands of facility guards.

Jasvir and Rajandeep sustained a hunger strike for nearly 80 days to protest their conditions and treatment in detention. They had been held in the EPSPC since November 2018. Initially they were part of a group of 13 men in the EPSPC, ten from India and three from Cuba, who began hunger striking at the end of December.

Four of the men taking part in the hunger strike were deported and returned to India in early March. A fifth man who agreed to stop his hunger strike in January in return for much needed surgery, was also deported.

Quotes:

Jennifer Apodaca of the Detained Migrant Solidarity Committee who led advocacy efforts in El Paso said, “ICE always had the discretion to release people but refused to use it. It shouldn’t have taken an angry congressional delegation to secure their release. Instead, they continue to ignore the complaints of abuse and torture and turn a blind eye at the conditions of detention and prison spaces that house more than 52,000 people as they await their fate in our broken and biased immigration courts. All of this could have been avoided. It is time to abolish the detention and deportation machine. “

Nathan Craig from Advocate Visitors with Immigrants in Detention (AVID) visited the hunger strikers regularly in the El Paso facility. He said, “From their initial asylum requests, to their treatment while hunger striking, to their various hearings, all of these men experienced substantial discrimination based on the language they speak and the way they dress. Unfounded value judgements by and prejudices from U.S. government officials and contractors resulted in significant negative consequences for these men’s asylum claims. Inadequate, or complete lack of, interpretation was a chronic problem. All of the men told me about how they were subjected to frequent racial and ethnic slurs while detained. Sadly, more than the facts of their cases, these men’s asylum claims have been structured by prejudice on the part of immigration officials and their contractors. This must change. Wrongdoing at all stages of the process must be investigated. Justice must be brought for those men still in the US, and those men already deported must be afforded the opportunity to return to the US to pursue justice for what is widely recognized as torturous treatment in detention.”

Lakshmi Sridaran, Interim Co-Executive Director of South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), a national advocacy organization for South Asians that led national advocacy efforts said, “We are relieved that Jasvir and Rajandeep have finally been released, but it should not have taken this long. And, we remain deeply concerned for the three men who remain in detention – we fear they could be deported back to India and into the dangerous conditions they fled. We also know there are thousands more people housed in detention facilities across the country, suffering from the same litany of abuse and due process violations that our government refuses to acknowledge and address. It is clear that our nation’s entire understanding of detention must be overhauled. As a start, we need Congress to pass legislation that will hold facilities accountable with penalties and even the threat of shutting down for their repeated patterns of noncompliance.”

Soon-to-be Released Report Will Show That Social Security Continues to Work for America

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by: Social Security Works


Washington, D.C. - April 19, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- As reporters prepare to cover the soon-to-be-released 2019 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports, Social Security Works provides you with this background analysis, which summarizes what are likely to be the Social Security Report’s key findings (based on last year’s forecasts), and puts them in context. Please note that this backgrounder addresses only the Social Security cash benefits Trustees Report (Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Trustees Report), and not the Medicare Trustees Report.

In addition to reviewing this backgrounder, we invite you to speak with our president, Nancy Altman, who is a nationally recognized Social Security expert. (See her bio below.) We also urge you to review our fact sheet that discusses, among other things, misinterpretations by non-experts caused by over-emphasis of unrealistically long valuation periods.

The most important takeaways from the 2019 Trustees Report will be that (1) Social Security has a large accumulated surplus, and (2) Social Security is extremely affordable. In three-quarters of a century, in 2095, Social Security will constitute just around 6.16 percent of GDP. That is considerably lower, as a percentage of GDP, than Germany, Austria, France, and most other industrialized countries spend on their counterpart programs today.

The 2019 Trustees Report will project Social Security’s cumulative surplus to be roughly $2.9 trillion. It will show that Social Security is fully funded until around 2034, around 93 percent funded for the next 25 years, around 87 percent funded over the next 50 years, and around 84 percent funded over the next 75 years.

(Those percentages are calculated from the 2018 report. This year’s report may vary slightly, but not significantly. As soon as the report is released, this backgrounder will be updated with the latest projections and released as a fact sheet.)

Often, the release of the annual Trustees Report leads to lamentations from many observers that “Congress has no plan to address Social Security’s projected shortfall.” That is incorrect. It is only Congressional Republicans who have no plans – at least that they are willing to publicly embrace. That is perhaps because their preferred “solutions” involve benefit cuts, which are overwhelmingly opposed by voters across the political spectrum, including their own Republican base.

In contrast, Congressional Democrats have concrete plans – not just to ensure that all promised benefits will be paid in full and on time for the foreseeable future, but to address our nation’s retirement income crisis by increasing Social Security’s modest benefits. The Social Security 2100 Act, introduced by Rep. John Larson (D-CT), has over 200 cosponsors in the House of Representatives. Larson has held several hearings on the bill and intends to bring it to the House floor this spring.

Several other bills to protect and expand Social Security benefits have been introduced in the House and Senate, and nearly every 2020 presidential candidate serving in Congress is a member of the bicameral Expand Social Security Caucus.

The question of whether to expand or cut Social Security’s modest benefits is a question of values and choice, not affordability. Indeed, in light of Social Security’s near universality, efficiency, fairness in its benefit distribution, portability from job to job, and security, the obvious solution to the nation’s looming retirement income crisis is to increase Social Security’s modest benefits. The average annual benefit received by Social Security’s over 63 million beneficiaries is only about $16,000 this year.

Over half (52 percent) of American households headed by someone of working age will not be able to maintain their standards of living in old age. This figure rises to roughly two-thirds when health and long-term care costs are also considered. Traditional employer-sponsored defined benefit pension plans are disappearing, leaving workers, at best, 401(k) and other retirement savings plans, which have proven inadequate. Around half of households aged 55 or older had zero retirement savings in 2013. Among those households age 55-64 with some retirement savings in 2013, the median amount of those savings was about $104,000, equivalent to an annuity of just $310 a month. Thus, it is not surprising that today two-thirds of senior beneficiaries rely on Social Security for a majority of their income. Social Security will certainly be even more important to tomorrow’s seniors.

Expanding Social Security not only addresses the retirement income crisis, it also is part of the answer to growing income and wealth inequality and the financial squeeze on working families. Expanding, not cutting, Social Security while requiring the wealthiest among us to contribute more – indeed, their fair share – is the best policy approach to addressing these challenges while restoring Social Security to long-range actuarial balance. Cutting those modest benefits will only exacerbate these challenges.

Small Businesses Win With USMCA, According to USITC Report

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by: Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council


Washington, D.C. - April 19, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- On April 18, the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) released the report, “U.S.- Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement: Likely Impact on the U.S. Economy and on Specific Industry Sectors,” which found that the USMCA agreement would increase U.S. GDP by $68.2 billion and add 176,000 jobs. Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) president & CEO Karen Kerrigan issued the following statement about the USITC report:

“America’s small businesses greatly benefit from trade with Canada and Mexico, and the USITC report shows enhanced value and growth for our economy and all industry sectors under USMCA. The biggest gains noted in the USITC report are for the service sector and manufacturing, which are dominated by small businesses. The findings clearly demonstrate the value of USMCA to workers, small businesses, entrepreneurs and our economy and is another reason why every member of Congress needs to get behind passage of this important agreement.”

Read the full USITC report here.

Small Business Trade Data with Canada and Mexico

According to the International Trade Administration small to mid-size businesses dominate trade with Mexico and Canada.

Export Data

Mexico: Of the 57,098 U.S. firms that export to Mexico, 57.7 percent have less than 20 employees, 72.3 percent have less than 50 employees, and 81.4 percent have less than 100 employees.

Canada: Of the 86,526 U.S. firms that export to Canada, 59.9 percent have less than 20 employees, 75.3 percent have less than 50 employees, and 83.7 percent have less than 100 employees.

Import Data

Mexico: In terms of imports, of the 15,481 U.S. firms that import from Mexico, 57.6 percent have less than 20 employees, 67.9 percent have less than 50 employees, and 74.6 percent have less than 100 employees.

Canada: Regarding Canada, there are 17,277 U.S. importers and 43.3 percent have less than 20 employees, 55.7 percent have less than 50 employees, and 65.3 percent have less than 100 employees.

RON WRIGHT JOINED BY MEMBERS TO FILE DIGITAL GLOBAL ACCESS POLICY (GAP) ACT.

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by: Ron Wright (R-TX, 6th)

Washington, D.C. - April 19, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Last week, Representative Ron Wright (R-TX), along with Ranking Member Mike McCaul (R-TX), Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), and Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), introduced H.R. 1359, the Digital Global Access Policy (GAP) Act. This bipartisan legislation promotes internet access in developing countries to spur economic growth, promote democracy, improve education and health, and empower women around the world.

Following introduction of the bill, the sponsors made the following statements, “More than three billion people, mostly concentrated in developing countries, still lack access to the internet, unable to take advantage of the countless benefits it has for commerce, democracy, education, and health. By encouraging better coordination with the private sector and inclusion of internet infrastructure in general infrastructure projects, this bill will maximize the reach of U.S. assistance and, ultimately, close the digital gap.” – Congressman Ron Wright (TX-06)

“Billions of people across the developing world lack access to the Internet, depriving them of the benefits of the biggest technological revolution since the advent of the printing press. The Digital GAP Act will support economic growth by accelerating the deployment of Internet infrastructure through the promotion of cost-effective “build-once” policies, partnerships with the private sector, and the removal of harmful barriers to a positive investment climate. I commend Rep. Wright for leading our efforts to bridge the digital divide and advance commonsense legislation to advance U.S. interests globally.” – House Foreign Affairs Lead Republican, Congressman Michael McCaul (TX-10)

“The internet has had a tremendous economic, social and political impact on those lucky enough to have reliable access to it. But a lack of affordable internet limits the opportunities many people in developing countries have to harness the internet’s transformational power. With the Digital GAP Act, at least 1.5 billion people living in urban and rural areas will be able to access the internet for the first time.” --
Congressman Ted Lieu (CA-33)

REPRESENTATIVES WOODALL AND SCOTT TEAM UP TO ADVOCATE FOR GEORGIA FARMERS

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by: Robert Woodall (R-GA, 7th)

Lawrenceville, GA - April 19, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Last week, the House Rules Committee met to consider H.R. 2021, the “Investing for the People Act.” Representative Austin Scott (GA-08) testified about his amendment to H.R. 2021, which would have provided emergency disaster assistance funding to farmers, ranchers, and others who were harmed by 2018 natural disasters.

In October, Hurricane Michael devastated parts of South and Middle Georgia. Since then, the entire Georgia Congressional Delegation has worked to secure federal assistance for not only Georgia, but for other areas impacted by hurricanes, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters during 2018. Unfortunately, the Senate failed to advance disaster aid legislation due to ongoing policy disagreements. Representative Scott’s amendment was a new attempt to secure disaster aid following continued obstruction by Senate Democrats who refuse to support the compromise legislation drafted by Georgia’s Senators Isakson and Perdue.

“Georgia is the number one producer of peanuts and pecans in the United States. Our state is the second largest producer of cotton, has the fourth largest amount of total forest land area, and 24.4 million acres of available timberland for commercial use in our country,” said Congressman Woodall. “Farmers from California to New York and all the way down to Georgia work day and night to fill the refrigerators for all Americans. Each year, our farmers take enormous risks on our behalf, and as Americans, we should do everything we can to stand behind these hardworking men and women who are willing to put their family’s well-being on the line.”

“For months, I have received calls from farmers and the lenders they rely on that the financial impacts from Hurricane Michael were becoming increasingly more difficult to bear. The truth is, if Hurricane Michael had hit Americans who weren’t farmers or farmers who aren’t Americans, the stories of Washington’s apathy to get this done would be the front page of every paper,” said Congressman Austin Scott. “For months, we have stressed the magnitude of the damage to our colleagues, and for months we were promised that this was a priority for the White House and Congressional leadership from both sides of the aisle. Those were nothing but empty promises. American farmers work day-in and day-out to feed and clothe America and the world, and I will continue fighting for them until the White House and Congress keep the promises we made to them.”

Click here to watch Representative Scott’s testimony and Representative Woodall’s motion to include the disaster relief amendment in H.R. 2021.

Representatives Watson Coleman and French Hill Propose Federal Savings Accounts for Taxpayers

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by: Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ, 12th)

Washington, D.C. - April 19, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) and Congressman French Hill (R-AR) announced the introduction of legislation that would allow taxpayers the option to defer a portion of their taxes into an account that earns interest for six months. The bill, The Refund to Rainy Day Savings Act, seeks to give more families the flexibility to handle minor emergencies.

“For too many families, a blown tire, a burst pipe, or even a few days off with the flu result in hard financial decisions — whether to risk your credit score by skipping a payment, miss the month’s rent or mortgage payments, or even pass on needed healthcare,” said Watson Coleman. “Since my first term, I have worked to get more families out of this hole, and the Refund to Rainy Day Savings Act would do just that. Working Americans are living on the brink. We have to find solutions that will give them a stronger financial footing.”

“We have a savings crisis in America,” said Hill. “In order to change the culture of saving money in states like Arkansas, innovative opportunities are needed to make it easier for Americans to build up savings for unexpected expenses. The Refund to Rainy Day Savings Act is a unique and inexpensive solution that can put low-income earners, who may have never saved money before, on the path to financial stability. Giving hardworking families the option to save will unleash more economic prosperity.”

The Refund to Rainy Day Savings Act would allow tax filers receiving a refund via direct deposit to defer up to 20 percent of their refund to a Treasury-held account to accumulate interest. After six months, the refund, plus interest earned, would be transferred to the direct deposit account, encouraging more people to set aside emergency savings.

The bill also creates a pilot program to evaluate matches for low-income tax filers, redeploying the existing Assets for Independence match program with expanded flexibility to allow localities to identify best practices without increasing federal funding.

Last year, the federal Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households report found that 40 percent of Americans couldn’t cover an unexpected expense greater than $400 — an improvement on the same statistic from 2013. The Refund to Rainy Day Savings Act, a companion to legislation introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Doug Jones (D-AL), Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Todd Young (R-IN), would strengthen the financial foundation of these families.

To see the text of the bill, click here.

Congressional Leaders Oppose BDS

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by: Steve Watkins (R-KS, 2nd)

Washington, D.C. - April 19, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- The Problem Solvers Caucus voted to formally endorse H. Res. 246, a bipartisan resolution opposing the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement targeting Israel. The Caucus’ action, spearheaded by Congressmen Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Steve Watkins (KS-02), unites Democratic and Republican Caucus members behind the effort to denounce the boycott of Israel, and support a two-state solution. Congressman Watkins issued the following statement:

“At a time when anti-Semitic rhetoric and actions are on the rise across the world, I am pleased to see Republicans and Democrats of the Problem Solvers Caucus coming together to endorse this important resolution. The BDS movement only serves to harm and divide communities. As Americans, we must do all we can to protect Israeli sovereignty and their right to exist as a free and democratic people,” said Congressman Watkins.

Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus issued the following statement:

“BDS is anti-Israel, anti-peace, and harmful to America’s interests. I’m proud that all members of the Problem Solvers Caucus are committed to opposing BDS and standing up for the U.S.-Israel relationship because these should not be partisan political issues. Thanks to the leadership of Congressmen Brad Schneider and Steve Watkins, this bipartisan resolution has even more momentum for a vote on the House Floor.”

Congressman Tom Reed (NY-23), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus issued the following statement:

“Israel is an unwavering ally of the United States and one of our most important strategic partners around the globe. I am proud of our Problem Solvers Caucus members who have to stood up to ensure Jewish people are treated fairly and spoken out to show we care about this great nation.”