Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act

by U.S. Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ, 5th)

Gilbert, AZ - January 24, 2020 - (The Ponder News) -- This week, Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) and Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act, which requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges to a local hospital and to adhere to basic safety standards. Congressman Biggs, Senator Kennedy, and others offered the following statements:

“Many abortion providers refuse to accept the reality that an abortion is a serious medical procedure that should be treated with the same care and caution as any other surgery or medical treatment. Women deserve to have doctors and medical professionals who can provide quality care and quickly address any complications that may arise. Requiring doctors and abortion providers to have hospital admitting privileges and to maintain safe and clean clinics should be common sense measures that face little opposition.

“Sadly, we know many abortion providers’ main priority is not tending to the health and safety of pregnant women. Instead it’s maintaining and protecting the profitable abortion market. According to National Right to Life’s annual report, more than 61 million abortions have been performed in the United States since abortion became legal in 1973. It is heartbreaking that our society is willing to accept this loss of life. I will continue working with my colleagues and pro-life leaders around the nation until we end this practice and protect the rights of both pregnant women and their unborn children. And I am grateful to Senator Kennedy for his partnership in introducing this important legislation.” – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

“It’s hard to imagine someone more in need of access to quality medical care than an expectant mother and her unborn child. The abortion industry cuts corners at the expense of vulnerable people, and the Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act would ensure that women have easy access to vital protective care.

“I’m thankful to partner with my friend Andy Biggs in this effort to save and improve lives and encourage my colleagues in both chambers of Congress to support this legislation.” – Senator John Kennedy (R-LA)

“The March for Life applauds Representative Biggs and Senator Kennedy for standing up for both women and children. Abortion facilities harm women and are always dangerous and medically substandard. Abortionists are more concerned with their profits than with women’s health and safety – we thank the elected officials who are willing to hold these abortionists responsible.” – Tom McClusky, President, March for Life Action

“Excluding abortion facilities from following standard health procedures is no way to promote women’s health care. We’re grateful to Congressman Biggs for introducing legislation to ensure that our laws protect the health and safety of both the mother and her child.” – Travis Weber, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs, Family Research Council

“It’s long past time for abortion providers to recognize the serious dangers of abortion. While we long for the day when abortion is unthinkable, the reality today is any abortion should be performed in a safe environment by a doctor who can care for the women from beginning to end, including any emergency that may arise. I am grateful to Congressman Biggs for standing up for these principles and remaining steadfast in his fight against abortion.” – Cathi Herrod, President, Center for Arizona Policy

The Navigable Waters Protection Rule

Washington, D.C. - January 24, 2020 - (The Ponder News) -- The Trump Administration finalized its rule to eliminate protections for wetlands, streams and other bodies of water. The new replacement rule will gut Obama-era regulations that define the waters of the United States (WOTUS) -- the rivers, streams and wetlands that fed into the drinking water supply of 1 in 3 Americans.

“This reckless attack by the Trump Administration represents a generational setback in the country’s battle to safeguard clean water that will harm Virginians and the Chesapeake Bay. It sacrifices the health of over half of America’s wetlands, and puts the drinking water of millions at risk. Once again, President Trump and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler are prioritizing the profits of corporate polluters over working families, businesses, clean drinking water, and vulnerable communities. We must not let this stand; House Democrats will continue to fight for clean water for all Americans," said Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA).

“Hoosier farmers and ranchers are the backbone of our state’s economy. Today’s clarification that their farm ditches will no longer be regulated by the federal government as navigable waters is a commonsense change that provides ag producers certainty and ensures a proper balance exists between the federal government and a state’s rights to protect their own water resources. The new rule removes confusion and uncertainty about where federal jurisdiction ends and where state authority begins. I applaud the Trump Administration for keeping yet another promise they made to the American people," stated U.S. Representative Larry Bucshon (R-IN, 8th)

Additionally, the final rule identifies clarifies that “Waters of the United States” are not features that only contain water in direct response to rainfall, groundwater, ditches, including most roadside and farm ditches, farm and stock watering ponds, waste treatment systems, and prior converted cropland.

Senator Benjamin L.Cardin (D - MD) commented, “Clean, safe water is a right of every person in this country. But the Trump administration does not seem to prioritize clean water or public health. Time and again they have shown their sole priority to be protecting polluters at the expense of evidence-based public policies that were built on years-long scientific research.”

Senator Cardin has long urged the Trump administration to protect the Clean Water Rule and protect America’s clean drinking water. In April 2019, he led colleagues in a letter to Wheeler and James during the formal rulemaking comment period urging them to abandon the dangerous proposal.

He continued with, “Continued success of the Clean Water Act requires a clear and scientifically sound definition for determining which bodies of water are protected, while protecting those waters that influence the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters—the goal at the heart of the Act. However, the final rule provides neither the certainty requested by our constituents, nor the clean and healthy waters upon which we all depend. Instead, this rewrite makes it nearly impossible for stakeholders and regulators to easily and consistently define perennial, intermittent and ephemeral streams. Far from fulfilling the President’s promise to create a nationally consistent rule, this rule injects ambiguity into the law at the expense of our decades of progress in cleaning up our waters.

“For Maryland and the Chesapeake region, the Trump administration’s latest rollback of federal clean water regulations undermines the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort by eliminating federal protections for thousands of acres of wetlands and some headwater streams. Under the Trump administration’s new water rule, isolated wetlands not connected by surface waters to navigable waterways in an average year will be denied federal protections. This would make them more vulnerable to pollution, and make it harder for state and local governments, farmers, nonprofits and businesses to achieve their nutrient and sediment reduction goals. Also exposed would be streams that flow only after rain or snowmelt, called ‘ephemeral’ streams, that play a critical role in supplying clean drinking water and as tributaries to the Chesapeake Bay. In the long run, this rollback will cost American taxpayers money for increased health costs and other harmful effects of increased pollution in our waterways.”

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) had long criticized the Obama-era WOTUS rule for its burdensome and confusing regulations, as well as its infringement on private citizens’ property rights. The rule was considered by many Louisiana farmers, construction workers and energy producers to be a broad overreach of the federal government’s authority.

“Clean water and common-sense regulation – President Trump’s WOTUS rule achieves both. Louisiana workers now have needed certainty to plan for their futures and further contribute to our nation’s robust economy,” said Dr. Cassidy.

U.S Representative Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming at large) stated, “The Obama Administration’s attempt to redefine navigable waters was a blatant, unconstitutional power grab aimed at taking federal control over state water laws and private water rights. Thankfully, President Trump and House Republicans made it a top priority to put a stop to this clear abuse of power that threatened precious resources for hardworking ranchers and farmers in Wyoming, and would have devastated our rural economy. I’m pleased to see EPA Administrator Wheeler take the next step to protect our nation’s water resources by clearly defining what is and what is not considered ‘navigable water.’ This new rule, which included input from a wide range of stakeholders, will provide regulatory certainty that respects the water rights of the people of Wyoming.”

Congressman James Comer applauded the Trump Administration’s action, noting that farmers would benefit from less burdensome regulations by saying, “Our farmers have suffered under the heavy-handed regulations put into place by the Obama Administration. Now, President Trump’s plan of deregulation and ending inconsistent regulatory patchwork is becoming a reality through this new definition of WOTUS,” Congressman Comer said. “Farmers and businesses across the nation have been in need of a consistent regulatory framework that allows them to function with clarity and predictability. Finally repealing the 2015 Rule will foster regulatory consistency and allow for important projects to move forward. I’m proud to support President Trump’s plan and I look forward to the effects of this new definition on Kentucky’s agriculture and inland waterway industries.”

Director of CEI’s Center for Energy and Environment Myron Ebell said, “The rule appears to make several significant improvements to the 2018 proposed rule. In particular, the rule defines the limits of federal jurisdiction over waters and wetlands more carefully and lists more clearly the types of areas that are excluded from federal regulation. The bad old days when the Corps of Engineers used the overly broad and vague 1987 delineation manual creatively to expand federal regulation to lands that might occasionally be moist should be gone for good.

“However, rather than simply adopting Justice Scalia’s clear language in the 2006 Rapanos decision, the final rule still tries to include parts of Justice Kennedy’s ill-considered ‘significant nexus’ test, which he invented in his concurring opinion. This means that it is unlikely to meet EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s admirable goal of having a definition of wetlands that is clear and simple enough that landowners can understand ‘whether a project on their property will require a federal permit or not, without spending thousands of dollars on engineering and legal professionals.’”

Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) commented, “During the last Administration, I heard consistent concerns from farmers, ranchers, small businesses, governors, and many others about the extremely broad definition of ‘waters of the United States’ under the Clean Water Act,” said Representative Mike Simpson. “During Congressional hearings and meetings in my office, I received no clarity between federal and state jurisdiction over which waters were regulated by who. That is why I am pleased the EPA and the Corps took note of those concerns and rewrote the rule in a way that maintains critical protections under the Clean Water Act, while also appropriately delegating state and local jurisdictions in charge of regulating smaller bodies of water, as the law was intended. I have great confidence in the State of Idaho given their experience and increased responsibility with State primacy.”

“The Obama Administration's Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule was the definition of federal overreach and an attempt to control Idaho’s waterways. As I’ve followed water policy during my tenure in the Idaho state legislature, I understand that federal mandates do not work for Idahoans," said Representative Russ Fulcher. “I commend the Trump Administration for keeping their promise and reestablishing the appropriate state authority in relation to the Clean Water Act. This new rule will help Idaho farms, businesses, and other job creators so our state can continue to thrive as an economic leader in our nation.”

Background
The Navigable Waters Protection Rule identifies four clear categories of waters that are federal regulated:

The territorial seas and traditional navigable waters;

Perennial and intermittent tributaries to those waters;

Certain lakes, ponds, and impoundments; and

Wetlands adjacent to jurisdictional waters.

WOTUS is not:

Features that contain water only as a response to rainfall

Groundwater

Many ditches, including most roadside and farm ditches

Farm and stock watering ponds

Prior converted crop land.

Boozman Applauds USDA Broadband Investment in Arkansas

by Senator John Boozman (R-AR)

Washington, D.C. - January 24, 2020 - (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) applauded the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $7.1 million broadband investment in rural Arkansas. The grant will support two high-speed broadband infrastructure projects to improve rural broadband for 1,250 homes in Baxter, Marion and Stone counties.

“Improving broadband in rural Arkansas is critical to helping families, businesses and communities stay connected in today’s world. As a rural state, there are more challenges to providing Arkansans access to the minimum speed of wired broadband that experts agree is functional: 25 megabits per second. The ReConnect Program is an important tool that allows USDA to close the digital divide and improve broadband access in rural America,” Boozman said.

USDA announced it awarded grant funds to the Yelcot Telephone Company and the Mountain View Telephone Company.

Last year, Boozman expressed his support for USDA’s Reconnect Programin a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing with USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue. Boozman, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, helped secure funding for the ReConnect program. He is a co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, a bipartisan group aimed at closing the digital divide.

Learn more about USDA’s ReConnect program.

China, Predatory Lending, Housing, Labor, Immigration, Vaping, Environment, Horse Racing

China

Rep. Jim Banks Introduces House Bill Banning Intelligence Sharing With Countries Using Huawei
Source: U.S. Representative Jim Banks (R-IN, 3rd)
January 21, 2020
“Huawei is a Trojan Horse for the Chinese Communist Party to spy on and infiltrate other nations. Our allies must choose: Adopt Huawei and lose access to U.S. intelligence, or remain our trusted partner,” said Rep. Banks.

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ATA Applauds Ratification of USMCA Trade Deal
Source: American Trucking Association
January 16, 2020
“Trade is central to the trucking industry – 76% of all surface freight between the U.S. and our nearest neighbors moves by truck – so the newly ratified USMCA will be a boon to our economy and our industry,” said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. “This agreement will boost both U.S. exports and gross domestic product, meaning more truck movements and delivering measurable returns for our industry.”

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Predatory Lending

OCC Proposal Could Greenlight Predatory Lending Schemes
Source: Americans for Financial Reform
January 22, 2020
A coalition of more than 100 organizations yesterday submitted a public comment in opposition to a proposed rule from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that would make it easier for payday and other high-cost lenders to use banks as a fig leaf to offer predatory loans at interest rates of 100 percent APR or higher that are prohibited under state rate cap laws. This scheme is known as “rent-a-bank” or “rent-a-charter.”

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Housing

Carson’s housing fairness rule is a winner for America
Source: Americans for Limited Government
January 17, 2020
“Since 2015, Americans for Limited Government has led the charge to reform the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing regulation to remove any requirements for localities that take community development block grants to make changes to local zoning. We are pleased that HUD Secretary Ben Carson produced a final rule that protects local zoning prerogatives while encouraging evaluation as to whether regulations have an adverse impact on housing affordability. This rightly stops the nationalization of zoning while still encouraging fair housing, once again placing primacy on cities and counties to make the best decisions for their communities. The last thing Americans needed was Washington, D.C. bureaucrats dictating zoning requirements based on Census maps, and Secretary Carson successfully ended this overreach.”

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ABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator Dips in November
Source: Associated Builders and Contractors Association
January 21, 2020
Nonresidential construction backlog has generally been trending lower since the spring of 2019, but as a practical matter, this represents little cause for concern,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “There are at least two reasons for this. First, backlog reached a record high of 9.5 months in March 2019, buoyed by seasonal factors and an economy that had yet to feel the full effects of ongoing trade disputes. Second, for much of 2019, those who consume construction services, including developers, were faced with elevated levels of uncertainty due to America’s trade disputes with China, a rapidly softening global economy, a stock market that had suffered losses and exhibited substantial volatility in late 2018, an inverted yield curve and a weakening manufacturing sector.

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Labor

Americans for Prosperity Applauds Administration Joint Employer Rule
Source: Americans for Prosperity
January 22, 2020
Americans for Prosperity applauded the U.S. Department of Labor for its final rule to revise and update its regulations interpreting joint employer status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The rule eliminates barriers that have hindered small businesses’ ability to improve their workplace and create jobs in recent years.

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Immigration

AAJC Files Supreme Court Brief Against Statute That Violates First Amendment Rights
Source: Asian Americans Advancing Justice
January 22, 2020
AAJC (Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC) filed an amicus brief before the Supreme Court in United States v. Sineneng-Smith to urge the Court to strike down a federal statute that makes it a felony to “encourage or induce” individuals to enter or remain in the U.S. unlawfully. This statute has the potential to chill the everyday work of immigrants’ rights advocates and service providers who often assist undocumented individuals, their families, and their communities. The brief was joined by 33 community-based, advocacy, and social services organizations.

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Vaping

BALDWIN HELPS INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO HOLD E-CIGARETTE COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE YOUTH VAPING CRISIS
Source: Senator Tammy Baldwin (D - WI)
January 22, 2020
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined her bipartisan colleagues led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to introduce legislation to protect children from the dangers of e-cigarettes. The Resources to Prevent Youth Vaping Act would require that e-cigarette manufacturers pay user fees to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help fund more activity at FDA to conduct stronger oversight of the e-cigarette industry and increase awareness of the dangers of e-cigarettes. The legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Mitt Romney (R-UT).

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Environment

Bank of America Achieves Carbon Neutrality
Source: Bank of America
January 21, 2020
“We are delivering responsible growth by focusing on serving our clients, investing in our teammates, supporting the communities where we operate – AND by addressing important societal priorities,” said Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America. “Being carbon neutral is core to our $300 billion, 10-year environmental business initiative that is helping finance the transition to a low-carbon future.”

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Horse Racing

Statement from Congressman Andy Barr on “Legislation to Promote the Health and Safety of Racehorses” Hearing
Source: U.S. Representative Andy Barr (R-KY, 6th)
January 21, 2020
“This hearing is an important step in furthering the conversation around the need for transparency and standardization in horseracing,” said Congressman Barr. “I look forward to a robust discussion with Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee and equine industry experts on how to ensure the integrity and safety of the sport. As the Representative of the Horse Capital of the World, I will continue to fight for the future of horseracing and build on this momentum to bring this vital legislation to the House floor for a vote.”

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Affordable Care Act, Libraries, Medicare, Cannabis

Affordable Care Act

AFT President Randi Weingarten on the Supreme Court’s Delay in Ruling on the Affordable Care Act
Source: American Federation of Teachers
January 21, 2020
The Republican Party has made its hatred of the ACA central to its political dogma, and has done everything to undermine and end it. Central to this has been the GOP’s legal strategy to challenge the law’s constitutionality. Now, when it’s clear there are consequences to this strategy—that millions of American people, including those with pre-existing conditions, will be denied healthcare—the GOP is trying to have it both ways. End the law, but do it after 2020, hoping the electorate won’t notice.

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Supreme Court will not expedite review of ACA case
Source: American Hospital Association
January 21, 2020
Twenty states and the District of Columbia had petitioned the Supreme Court to review the decision this term. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals last month ruled the ACA's individual mandate unconstitutional and sent the case back to the district court in Texas for the judge to take a "careful, granular approach" to determining which of the law's provisions could survive without the mandate.

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Libraries

OIF responds to Missouri legislation that proposes policies and procedures that threaten access to information
Source: American Library Association
January 16, 2020
Missouri House Bill 2044, introduced on January 8, 2020, proposes the creation of five-member “parental library review boards” to identify “age-inappropriate” public library materials and restrict access to those materials. The bill proposes criminal prosecution for librarians who make those materials available to minors and would deny funding to libraries that do not employ parental library review boards to restrict access to their materials.

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Medicare

Navigating Home Modifications Billing for Medicare-Covered Clients
Source: American Occupational Therapy Association
January 17, 2020
Medicare-covered clients are entitled, under law, to medically necessary services. Occupational therapy practitioners do NOT have the right, under current statutes, to “opt out” of Medicare. Any occupational therapy practitioner, even those who are not Medicare providers, must directly bill Medicare for any medically necessary skilled therapy services provided to Medicare-covered clients. Whether or not to bill Medicare for home modification OT services must be based on the occupational therapy practitioner’s clinical determination of whether the services are medically necessary.

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Cannabis

Congress Should Make Cannabis Research Less Cumbersome, APA Says in Written Testimony
Source: American Psychological Association
January 15, 2020
Congress should streamline the cumbersome, redundant and unnecessary regulations surrounding research on cannabis, making it easier for psychologists to continue studying its beneficial uses and developing effective treatments for its abuse, according to the American Psychological Association.

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Impeachment, Economy, Contraception, Health Care, Vaping, Elections, Trump, China

Impeachment

AN Announces $2.5 Million TV and Digital Impeachment Advertising Campaign
Source: American Action Network
January 17, 2020
Moments after the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Donald Trump, the American Action Network announced it will launch another $2.5 million in television and digital advertising in the districts of 29 Members of Congress who represent districts won by President Trump and who also voted for impeachment. New television ads will run in 9 districts, with digital and social media advertising running across all 29. The ads criticize Members of Congress for voting for impeachment while ignoring issues that matter to the country.

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Economy

Bank Economists Foresee Continued Economic Growth, Stable Interest Rates
Source: American Bankers Association
January 16, 2020
The U.S. economy will continue to grow, add jobs and support wage gains in 2020 and beyond, according to the latest forecast of the American Bankers Association Economic Advisory Committee.

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Contraception

ACLU RESPONSE TO SUPREME COURT REVIEW OF CONTRACEPTIVE COVERAGE CHALLENGE
Source: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
January 17, 2020
TThe Supreme Court announced today it would review Trump v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which is a challenge to the Trump Administration’s rules that allows employers and universities to deny their employees and students insurance coverage for contraception. The rule is blocked by a nationwide injunction.

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Health Care

Internists Call for Comprehensive Reform of U.S. Health Care
Source: American College of Physicians
January 20, 2020
The American College of Physicians (ACP) today issued a bold call to action challenging the U.S. to implement systematic reform of the health care system, and released an ambitious new vision for a better health care system for all and expansive policy recommendations for how to achieve it. The series of policy papers is published as a supplement in Annals of Internal Medicine.

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Vaping

American Dental Association Announces Interim Policy on Vaping
Source: American Dental Association
January 16, 2020
“While the long-term oral health effects of vaping are under scientific review, as health professionals we must be prudent in protecting consumers from potentially harmful products,” said ADA President Chad Gehani, D.D.S. “We will continue to advocate for additional research, but we must protect the health of our patients first and foremost. A ban such as this would ensure patient safety while allowing us to explore the impact of vaping products on oral health.”

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Elections

Expanding access to elections
Source: American Economic Association
January 17, 2020
Political analysts are anticipating huge voter turnout for the 2020 election. And yet, even with a hotly contested race at a time of intense polarization, tens of millions of Americans will never cast a ballot. If 60 percent of eligible voters make it to the polls, it would be the highest turnout for a presidential election in a half century.

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President Trump

Thank you President Trump
Source: American Family Association
January 16, 2020
I was asked if I wanted to sign a letter thanking the president for his hard work on behalf of the American people and for keeping his promises on so many issues. I said YES!

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China

U.S.-China Trade Deal Fails to Address Workers’ Rights and Cheating
Source: American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
January 16, 2020
There is precious little in this deal that addresses China’s long-standing denial of basic labor rights. The deal also fails to address the worst aspects of China’s cheating—massive subsidies to its domestic companies and the predatory practices of its state-owned enterprises, which have cost millions of U.S. jobs and gutted our manufacturing base. And it lacks a mechanism for the United States to address the persistent currency misalignment between the dollar and the renminbi. Finally, it is another giveaway to Wall Street and Big Pharma and prioritizes new protections for companies that move to China, creating even more incentives for outsourcing.

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China, Spying, Census Bureau, Child Abuse, Sex Scandal, Samoa

The Ponder doesn't want you to miss any of the news from any of our sources. So, we are in the process of consolidating all of our sources together as opposed to grouping them. As you can see, we are starting in the "A" section today. We have over 1000 sources to visit and not enough time to post all the news that is out there, so every day, we will pick up where we leave off.

We are only posting news that is not older than a week old from each of our sources, so you can be sure to get the most current news from each of them.

The Ponder is a conservative news distribution, posting links to political press releases from all over the web. All news is for information purposes only, so yes, you will see links from non-conservative sources as well. The Ponder believes in the individual's right to determine how to use the information that is out there.


AAM Letter to The White House: China Phase One Agreement is Completely Inadequate, Still Leaves Work
Source: Alliance for American Manufacturing
January 14, 2020
"While the phase one deal falls short, the use of tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 have proven to be an effective and appropriate tool to trigger our negotiations with China....

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FOIA requests show U.S. FBI could be spying on advocacy groups
Source: Access Now
January 15, 2020
Out of a series of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to the FBI covering more than 200 U.S.-based advocacy organizations, the FBI returned “Glomar” responses on only eight (including Access Now). Glomar responses are used when the FBI could “neither confirm nor deny,” with respect to the organizations above, “the existence of any national security or foreign intelligence records responsive to your request because the existence or nonexistence of any such responsive records is currently and properly classified.”

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Commerce Inspector General Concludes Investigation into US Census Bureau Hiring Practices
Source: Alma Adams (D-NC, 12th)
January 15, 2020
“While I remain disturbed by the circumstances that required this report, I am glad that the Inspector General worked diligently to uncover what actions led to the hiring of a convicted sex offender in a position of public trust,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Furthermore, I am pleased that the Census Bureau has already taken steps to prevent a similar mistake from happening again. I look forward to working with our local Charlotte Area Census Office to ensure the integrity of the 2020 Census and make certain that North Carolina receives a fair count from the decennial Census.”

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Child abuse, neglect data released
Source: Administration for Children and Families
January 15, 2020
Of the 3,534,000 million (rounded) children who were the subject of an investigation or alternative response in fiscal year 2018, 678,000 (rounded) children were determined to be victims of maltreatment, up from 674,000 (rounded) victims in 2017. In total, 60.8 percent of victims were neglected, 10.7 percent were physically abused and 7.0 percent were sexually abused. More than 15 percent were victims of two or more maltreatment types.

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Choices Have Consequences, Even for Liberal Politicians
Source: Alabama Policy Institute
January 15, 2020
Americans experienced yet another sex scandal involving an elected leader in recent weeks, culminating in the resignation of freshman Congressman Katie Hill of California. Nude photos were published depicting Hill in a polyamorous, bisexual relationship with her now-estranged husband and a campaign staffer. Additional allegations have surfaced of a more recent affair with her legislative director, a male. Hill has admitted to the affair with the campaign staffer but denies the one with her current staff member.

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Amata Appreciates Fono’s Unified Support For Self-Determination And Fa’a Samoa
Source: Aumua Amata (R - American Samoa, At Large)
January 17, 2020
“This Resolution is an important statement by our Fono that establishes the public position of the Territory,” said Aumua Amata. “It helps clarify that the people of American Samoa, as reflected in their elected officials across the board, deeply value our rights in relationship with the United States. We’re so proud to be a part of the United States, and our people have a rich tradition of service in the U.S. Armed Forces. We also value our distinctive and ancient culture, and we have the right of self-determination to safeguard that culture. The Fono has formally expressed those sentiments in this Resolution.”

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China Trade Deal, Student Loans, ERA Amendment, Impeachment, Immigration, Seniors, Uzbekistan, War Powers

China Trade Deal

Lucas Applauds Signing of U.S.-China Phase-One Trade Deal
Source: Frank Lucas (R-OK, 3rd)
January 15, 2020
Beginning in 2015, then presidential-candidate Donald Trump promised to defend America’s farmers and workers and renegotiate the unfair trade policies between the United States and our trading partners. Since then, President Trump and his Administration have stood behind that promise and today, are delivering a strong and enforceable commitment from China leveling the playing field for America’s farmers, workers, manufacturers, and businesses.

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President Trump is Standing Up for Our Agricultural Community
Source: Kevin McCarthy (R-CA, 23rd)
January 15, 2020
“Once again, President Trump is supporting our farmers and agricultural producers through the signing of this first phase of a new trade pact. As part of today’s negotiations, the President secured a commitment from China to purchase $80 billion worth of California and American food, agricultural, and seafood products over the next two years. This will help ensure that California agricultural products retain a presence in the Chinese market despite China’s tariffs on our exports. Additionally, China has agreed to expand access to its market for beef and pork products and rice, among others. The state of California is the fifth largest agricultural producer in the world, and I am confident that these measures will help continue to ensure that our state remains an agricultural leader globally.”

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Student Loans

Maloney Votes to Protect Students and Reject DeVos’ Giveaway to Predatory, For-Profit Colleges
Source: Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY, 18th)
January 16, 2020
“Students and their families shouldn’t have to worry their college is cheating them out of money and a quality education. Unlike Betsy Devos, who’s working to line the pockets of for-profit colleges, we’re fighting to protect students and crack down on the scams hundreds of thousands of students and taxpayers face from these predatory schools,” said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney.

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ERA Amendment

Maloney, House Sponsor of the ERA, Celebrates Virginia Ratification Votes
Source: Carolyn Maloney (D-NY, 12th)
January 15, 2020
“As the long-time sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment in the House of Representatives, witnessing today’s votes is truly exhilarating. I commend the leaders in Virginia for prioritizing this historic legislation, and celebrate this tremendous victory with them. In less than three years, three states have voted to ratify the ERA, rejecting arguments that the time for the ERA had passed. I am confident that more will follow. I am committed to working to ensure a vote in Congress to remove the time limit that was attached to the amendment when it passed in 1972. We will keep moving forward until the ERA is adopted into the Constitution, where it belongs.

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Impeachment

Luetkemeyer: Articles of Impeachment Moving to Senate After Month Long Delay
Source: Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MI, 3rd)
January 15, 2020
“Nearly a month after passing the articles of impeachment Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats continually called ‘urgent’ and a ‘national security concern,’ they finally agreed to release the articles to the Senate. This on again off again strategy has, once again, shown the American people that this process has been nothing more than a political game,” said Congressman Luetkemeyer. “Just like the timing of the House vote was designed to distract the far left from the passage of President Trump’s historic USMCA trade deal, the Speaker’s delay in transmitting the articles is more about political expediency than Democrats’ false claims of wrongdoing by President Trump. I’m glad the House can finally put this sham investigation behind us and get back to work for the American people.”

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MARSHALL VOTES TO MOVE ON TO THE PEOPLE'S WORK
Source: Roger Marshall (R-KS, 1st)
January 15, 2020
“For months, Democrats said impeachment was urgent and that they’d already proven their case. Then Nancy Pelosi refused to transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate for four weeks and now says we need to see more evidence. It is clear this impeachment circus was, and is, nothing but an attempted political railroading of the President. This is a total waste of time. It is time to get on to the people’s work.”

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Immigration

LUJÁN, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CALL ON ICE TO END TRANSGENDER MIGRANT DETENTION
Source: Ben R. Lujan (D-NM, 3rd)
January 15, 2020
In a letter to Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and ICE Acting Director Matthew Albence, Luján, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), and dozens of Members of Congress sharply criticized the treatment and lack of humanitarian care in ICE facilities for transgender immigrants. LGBTQ+ immigrants are 97 times more likely to be sexually victimized in detention than cisgender immigrants. At least two women, Roxsana Hernandez Rodriguez and Johana Medina León, have died in ICE custody.

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Seriously? JUST the transgenders? If we let them go, we might as well let all the little girls go, too. They might be too pretty and attract child traffickers. Then, we'd have to let all the pregnant women go, because detention centers are nowhere to have a baby. Then the other children who might be missing out on a great education. Let's just let the men go, too. Their families depend on them. Seriously?

Seniors

Congresswoman Luria Votes to Protect Older Americans from Workforce Discrimination
Source: Elaine Luria (D-VA, 2nd)
January 15, 2020
“It is unacceptable that older Americans are routinely discriminated against in the workplace simply because of their age,” Congresswoman Elaine Luria said. “Ageism has no place in today’s society and Congress must stand strongly against it in order to ensure that we have the most competitive workforce in the world—which includes our seniors. I will continue to work across the aisle to ensure that seniors are treated with the respect that they earned.”

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REPRESENTATIVE MALINOWSKI RESTORES WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS FOR OLDER WORKERS
Source: Tom Malinowsky (D-NJ, 7th)
January 15, 2020
In 2017 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received over 20,000 complaints of age discrimination, which accounted for 23% of all discrimination charges filed. It takes unemployed older workers nearly a full year, on average, to find another job, and once they do land a new job, it’s often for less money. This can have a serious impact on older workers’ long-term financial security and ability to live independently as they grow older.

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Uzbekistan

Chairman Lynch Seeks Information Related To Hazardous Conditions At Uzbekistan Air Base
Source: Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA, 8th)
January 15, 2020
“The Subcommittee is requesting information related to recent reports that U.S. servicemembers and special operations forces who deployed to Karshi-Khanabad Air Base (K-2) in Uzbekistan in the early years of the Global War on Terrorism may have been exposed to chemical and radioactive contamination, which is now causing them severe adverse health effects, including death,” Lynch and Maloney wrote.

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War Powers

LOWEY SUPPORTS WAR POWERS RESOLUTION TO RECLAIM CONGRESS’ ROLE IN AUTHORIZING MILITARY ACTION
Source: Nita Lowey (D-NY, 17th)
January 9, 2020
That is why I’m proud to cosponsor and vote for the War Powers Resolution, which would require the President to obtain Congressional authorization before taking military actions against Iran without limiting the President’s ability to respond to an imminent attack. The President’s actions put us on the brink of war. While tensions seem to have deescalated for now, the American people deserve a public debate before the U.S. enters into another Middle East war.

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Impeachment, FEMA, Iran, Cybersecurity, Social Security, Drugs, PFAS Action Act, Taxes, Boeing, Immigration

Impeachment

Rep. Billy Long Votes 'No' on Resolution Appointing and Authorizing Impeachment Trial Managers
Source: Billy Long (R-MI, 7th)
January 15, 2020
“After 28 days, the House finally voted on a resolution appointing and authorizing managers for the impeachment trial of President Trump. I voted against this resolution because I believe that the managers named by Speaker Pelosi have repeatedly demonstrated their hatred for President Trump and are therefore unable to be objective. In the months leading up to impeachment and all throughout the hearings, Speaker Pelosi and her cohorts insisted that this was an ‘urgent’ matter, yet these articles have collected dust on her desk for nearly a month. In an effort to justify her actions, the speaker has claimed that she wanted to ensure that the trial was ‘fair’ which is incredibly ironic given the highly-partisan witch hunt House Democrats led. For the past few months, House Democrats have attempted to remove a duly-elected president from office by any means necessary, and the American people are understandably sick of it. It is time for the American people to hear all of the evidence House Democrats previously withheld, and I am confident that Leader McConnell will give them that opportunity by conducting a fair and transparent trial.”

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FEMA

LaMalfa Statement on FEMA Seeking Reimbursement from Wildfire Victim Compensation Fund
Source: Doug LaMalfa (R-CA, 1st)
January 14, 2020
I recently sent a bipartisan letter asking FEMA to stand down on seeking a reimbursement from PG&E’s settlement fund for the wildfire victims. While FEMA is in the wrong, this letter did not mention that the State of California is seeking reimbursement from the PG&E compensation fund at the price tag of $3.3 billion. When preparing to respond to the needs of the victims, the state received $2.5 billion of the $3.3 billion from the federal government. The State of California is purposefully slighting its citizens by trying to earmark money from the victims’ compensation fund for themselves.”

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IRAN

Larsen Votes to Hold President Accountable to the American People, Limit Use of Military Force Against Iran
Source: Rick Larsen (D-WA, 2nd)
January 10, 2020
For all the President’s talk about getting out of the Middle East, his actions continue to foreshadow even more involvement in the region, including the recent airstrike and the deployment of 4,500 additional U.S. personnel. The U.S. must work with allies and partners to de-escalate tensions and focus on ensuring the lasting defeat of ISIS.

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LAMB STATEMENT AFTER SECURITY BRIEFING ON IRAN
Source: Connor Lamb (D-PA, 17th)
January 9, 2020
“It is one of the highest forms of patriotism to speak out when a government engages in reckless military action that can lead us to war” said Lieu. “I previously served active duty in the United States military. The goal of any military action should be to make us more safe, not less safe. Unfortunately, as a result of Donald Trump's impulsive decision making, the following negative consequences have happened: Iran is no longer abiding by any limits on its nuclear program; the Iranian people who previously were protesting their own leadership have now rallied behind their government; and the Iraqi parliament voted to kick U.S. troops out of their country. We don't need the President make any more reckless decisions. We don't need him to tweet out flag pictures. We need the President to articulate a coherent Iran strategy, which he still hasn’t offered.”

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REP LIEU STATEMENT ON HOUSE EFFORT TO PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED WAR WITH IRAN
Source: Ted Lieu (D-CA, 33rd)
January 8, 2020
“The administration still will not explain why Soleimani suddenly was an ‘imminent’ threat after multiple U.S. and Israeli administrations declined to kill him. Nonetheless, we know the following has resulted from the administration’s policy in the Middle East. We now have 15,000 more American troops there than we did six months ago. Our mission to defeat ISIS has been slowed down by the need to defend from additional Iranian attacks. Iran is now closer to developing a nuclear weapon.

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Cybersecurity

Langevin Statement on Microsoft Windows Cybersecurity Vulnerability Identified by NSA
Source: Jim Langevin (D-RI, 2nd)
January 15, 2020
Today’s disclosure of a critical Windows vulnerability shows that the vulnerabilities equities process is working. When government researchers discover a vulnerability in a widely used commercial product, the bias must be towards disclosure. This is a feather in the cap of the NSA’s new Cybersecurity Directorate, which is committed to helping partners, whether government customers or private sector critical infrastructure owners and operators, defend against malicious activity. I strongly support the United States government’s continued leadership on coordinated vulnerability disclosure, leadership enhanced by the recent binding operational directive directing government agencies to have their own vulnerability disclosure policies. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and on the Solarium Commission to strengthen operational relationships between the private sector and government, particularly through the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Cybersecurity Directorate.

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Social Security

Larson, Neal, and Davis Slam Harmful Draft Social Security Rule
Source: John B. Larson (D-CT, 1st)
January 13, 2020
“Yet again, the Trump Administration is going out of its way to make life more challenging for the most vulnerable people in our country. The United States government already has extremely stringent disability standards. In fact, fewer than four in 10 applicants are found eligible for Social Security disability benefits, even after all levels of appeal. This rule would further restrict eligibility, making it even harder for disabled people to access the essential income they’re qualified to receive. We are particularly alarmed that news of this latest proposal comes on top of the Administration’s recent efforts to cut off benefits for severely disabled people whom the agency already found eligible.

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Drugs

Latta Focuses on State Efforts to Combat Substance Abuse & the Opioid Epidemic
Source: Robert E. Latta (R OH, 5th)
January 14, 2020
According to the Ohio Department of Health, in 2017, prescription opioid overdose deaths fell in Ohio by almost 28% since 2011, but overdose rates are still high. Prescription opioid-related overdose deaths accounted for 523 of Ohio’s total 4,854 unintentional overdose deaths in 2017, compared to 564 of 4,050 total deaths in 2016 – which was the highest in the nation at the time. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Ohio had the second highest rate of drug related overdose deaths involving opioids in the country in 2017.

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PFAS Action Act

U.S. Representative Brenda Lawrence’s Amendment to Address PFAS Contamination Passes House Floor
Source: Brenda Lawrence (D-MI, 14th)
January 10, 2020
Exposure to PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals”, are linked to adverse health effects including cancer, immune system effects, infertility, impaired child development, high cholesterol and thyroid disease. PFAS contamination has been found across the country in almost every single congressional district posing a serious threat to public health including on our military bases risking the well-being of our troops and their families.

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H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act would:

Require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a drinking water standard for PFOA and PFOS within two years;

Designates PFAS as a hazardous substance under the Superfund Law;

Creates a newly funded grant program to assist states with remediation efforts;

Prevents future contamination through strengthened testing, reporting, and monitoring requirements that hold contaminating companies accountable.

PFAS Bill Passes House with Provisions Written by Rep. Andy Levin
Source: Andy Levin (D-MI, 9th)
January 10, 2020
“Properly addressing PFAS contamination will require a monumental effort with coordination at the federal, state and local levels,” Rep. Levin said. “Today, the House took a major, bipartisan step toward committing the tools of the federal government to cleaning up these toxic chemicals nationwide. I was proud that today’s bill includes my PFAS Safe Disposal Act, which would ensure that when PFAS is eliminated by incineration, that the chemicals don’t end up in the air we breathe. I also authored an amendment to create accountability in the PFAS cleanup and disposal process.

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Taxes

LEWIS, NEAL CALL ON IRS TO ISSUE REFUND GUIDANCE TO TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS PENALIZED BY HARMFUL GOP TAX LAW
Source: John Lewis (D-GA, 5th)
January 8, 2020
“Charities and houses of worship wasted precious time, money, and energy contending with a damaging tax that the 2017 Republican law imposed on them. It is unconscionable that the GOP gave big corporations and the wealthiest Americans more than $2 trillion of tax cuts, but forced soup kitchens to pay taxes on their employees’ parking benefits. That policy undermined any semblance of a fair or just tax code. Congress did our part to right this wrong – now it is time for the IRS to provide tax-exempt organizations with the guidance they need to claim and receive the refunds they are due.”

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Boeing

Lipinski Statement on Newly Released Boeing Emails
Source: Daniel Lipinski (D-IL, 3rd)
January 10, 2020
The Committee has made repeated requests since the Ethiopian Air Crash in March 2019 that Boeing turn over all relevant internal documents related to the MAX. It is absolutely outrageous that the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee just received these documents now. Boeing’s concealment of these documents flies in the face of the company’s stated commitment to the public and to victims’ families that they would cooperate with these important investigations and help get to the bottom of what happened. Boeing should be ashamed.

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Immigration

House Judiciary Will Investigate Trump Administration's "Remain in Mexico" Policy
Source: Zoe Lofgren (D-CA, 19th)
January 14, 2020
In their letter, the Members wrote, "The policy has nearly eliminated the already scarce due process protections available to asylum-seekers—such as access to counsel—further reducing the likelihood that legitimate asylum-seekers can obtain asylum. Moreover, MPP forces women, children, and families to remain in areas that the federal government recognizes as especially unsafe. As of today, there are 31 active travel advisories for Mexico, including 5 warnings in which the State Department explicitly advises Americans against travel. It is difficult to understand why this administration is sending children and families to areas where they will face certain harm."

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Nuclear Waste, Manufactured Housing, PFAS Chemicals, Kidney Transplants, Iran, War Powers, Rape Allegations

Nuclear Waste

Reps. Andy Kim, Mike Levin, and Doris Matsui Lead Congressional Letter Opposing Proposed Inspection Cuts to Nuclear Waste Storage
Source: Andy Kim (D-NJ, 3rd)
January 13, 2020
“As Members of Congress with closed and decommissioning nuclear power reactors in our communities, we oppose actions like these that would mean less inspection and oversight of the materials present in our districts,” the Members wrote. “Any reduction in either inspection hours or number of inspections conducted on ISFSI sites may erode public confidence in the Commission’s ability to protect health and safety. We should work to increase the public’s faith in the NRC’s level of due diligence related to safety standards and a proposal such as this runs counter to that mission.”

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Manufactured Housing

RELEASE: REPS. KHANNA, AXNE INTRODUCE BILL TO KEEP MANUFACTURED HOUSING COMMUNITIES AFFORDABLE
Source: Ro Khanna (D-CA, 17th)
January 7, 2020
The Manufactured Housing Community Preservation Act directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to create a grant program to help nonprofits, resident-formed cooperatives, and other local entities purchase and maintain an MHC through awards of up to $1 million. The legislation includes oversight provisions to ensure rents remain affordable for residents after purchase by grant recipients.

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PFAS Chemical Contamination

House Passes PFAS Action Act Including Kuster Legislation
Source: Ann Kuster (D-NH, 2nd)
January 10, 2020
“We know that PFAS chemicals pose a serious threat to the health and wellbeing of communities in New Hampshire and across the country, and we must take action now to protect Americans from these dangerous forever chemicals,” said Kuster. “The PFAS Action Act will help to ensure that Americans have access to clean and safe water free of PFAS chemicals. I was glad to see that this legislation included language from my bill to turn off the tap for new PFAS chemicals making their way through the EPA approval process. I encourage the Senate to bring this commonsense measure swiftly to a vote.”

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HOUSE PASSES HISTORIC PACKAGE TO ADDRESS PFAS CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION
Source: Daniel Kildee (D-MA, 5th)
January 7, 2020
Included in the PFAS Action Act is a bipartisan amendment Congressman Kildee authored, along with Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08) and Congressman Ron Kind (WI-02), that would promote transparency and streamline EPA resources to help people potentially exposed to PFAS and other contaminants better understand what their water testing results mean. In the U.S., 43 million people get their drinking water from well water that is currently unregulated.

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The PFAS Action Act would:

Protect drinking water from PFAS by requiring the EPA to create a drinking water standard for PFOA and PFOS within two years.

Protect the Great Lakes, rivers and streams from PFAS pollution by listing PFOS and PFOA under the Clean Water Act within two years.

Protect our air from PFAS by making PFOS and PFOA hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.

Require corporate polluters clean up their PFAS contamination by listing PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the CERCLA Act or the Superfund Law.

Kidney Transplants

Reps. Kind and Burgess Introduce Legislation to Protect Kidney Transplant Recipients
Source: Ron Kind (D-WI, 3rd)
January 7, 2020
“Patients and their families shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not they can afford the treatment needed to help keep their transplanted kidney. We need to do more to lower costs for these patients, which is exactly what my colleagues and I have worked together to do,” said Rep. Ron Kind. “This bill will provide kidney transplant patients continued access to medication to ensure the success of their transplant while keeping health care costs down by decreasing the need for further dialysis and the likelihood of a re-transplant.”

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Iran and War Powers

KENNEDY CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE AUMF REPEAL VOTE
Source: Joseph P. Kennedy, 3rd (D-MA, 4th)
January 6, 2020
“If the past 17 years is any guide, it is that a single War Powers Resolution to restrict military action in Iran will not be enough," said Kennedy. "Executives of both parties have used our existing AUMFs to justify expanding our engagement in the Middle East and around the globe. And for the better part of an entire generation, Congress has abdicated our Constitutional duty and allowed that dangerous mission creep to occur. Now, a reckless Commander in Chief has led our nation to the threshold of yet another war without the approval of the United States Congress and the Americans we represent. Immediately repealing the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs would force both the legislative and executive branch to clearly debate and define any mission we engage in overseas. Our brave men and women in uniform, and all Americans, deserve nothing less.”

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Rep. Kinzinger on Iranian Attacks in Iraq
Source: Adam Kinzinger (R-IL, 16th)
January 8, 2020
“America is a beacon of light around the world, standing for freedom and justice. We stand for the oppressed, for those who don’t have a voice. And when we stand united, our message is that much stronger. Last night, Iran fired missiles at Al-Asad and Erbil Airbases in Iraq, where our U.S. troops are stationed. This was an escalation by the Iranians, and a misguided one at that. As a nation, we must stand together in support of our military men and women, and their loved ones. This is not a time for political bias and political posturing; this is a time of unity and showing our support to our heroes in uniform.”

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Kaptur Votes to Pass War Powers Resolution
Source: Marcy Kaptur (D-OH, 9th)
January 9, 2020
There is no doubt that Soleimani was a fierce enemy of liberty. However, this attack by the President risks all-out war, greater instability in Iraq and Iran, losing the edge we have gained at such great cost – and some of those names have been put on the record today. We must protect against further attacks on our servicemembers and attacks on U.S. assets wherever they might exist.

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Kelly: President Trump Securing Peace through Strength in the Face of Iranian Aggression
Source: Mike Kelly (R-PA, 3rd)
January 9, 2020
"After years of Iranian aggression and the last administration's appeasement policy, America is leading again under President Trump. He has shown the resolve and restraint necessary to confront the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism. It was the right decision to eliminate Iran's top terrorist, Qassam Soleimani, something previous presidents failed to do. Attacks on Americans will no longer be tolerated. I stand behind this president as he pursues peace through strength."

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Rep. Robin Kelly to Vote YES on War Powers Resolution
Source: Robin Kelly (D-IL, 7th)
January 9, 2020
The President has demonstrated rash impulses and proven that he is unable to put U.S. national security before his own personal and political interest. Look no further than his attempt to win a political bribe from the Ukrainian president in exchange for releasing Congressional-approved military aid. Keeping that in mind, it is imperative that Congress reassert its constitutional authority in declaring war.

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Kilmer Takes Action to Reduce Likelihood of War with Iran, Leads Letter to Demand Clear Strategy
Source: Derek Kilmer (D-WA, 6th)
January 9, 2020
“The American people do not want – and Congress has not authorized – another war in the Middle East,” said Rep. Kilmer. “I visited our servicemembers and diplomats in the Middle East less than two months ago. Those brave Americans, and others serving throughout the region, deserve a strategy that keeps them safe, enhances our security and those of our allies, and fosters long-term stability in the region. Today’s action is consistent with Article I of the Constitution, making it clear that if the President wants to start a war, he must get authorization from the representatives of the American people.”

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King Stands with Commander-in-Chief Trump Against House Democrats’ Attempt to Tie President’s Hands on Iran
Source: Steve King (R-IA, 4th)
January 9, 2020
“President Trump recognizes a sober fact that many of the previous Presidential administrations wanted to ignore: Iran has been in a state of war with us since they took over our embassy in 1979, and they have never been held truly accountable for their continued actions against Americans,” said King. “Leave it to House Democrats, so consumed with hatred for this President, to increasingly bemoan the death of the world’s top terrorist and to introduce bad legislation that seeks to tie the President’s hands should a similar order need to be given in the future. President Trump and Secretary Pompeo have both said that Soleimani was planning additional, imminent attacks, and I support President Trump’s bold decision to take him out. House Democrats might want to send the Iranians pallets of cash like President Appeaser-in-Chief Obama did, but I stand with letting President Trump, our Commander-in-Chief, make the tough calls and take the swift and certain actions that he determines are necessary to protect our nation, our citizens, and our interests from Iranian acts of hostility.”

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KUSTOFF VOTES AGAINST DEMOCRAT’S WAR POWERS RESOLUTION
Source: David Kustoff (R-TN, 8th)
January 9, 2020
“As Commander in Chief, the President has the Constitutional authority to use force to protect and defend our nation. Soleimani was responsible for violent attacks around the world, killing hundreds of Americans, and our world is safer without him in it. Through President Trump’s swift actions to defend American interests, we eliminated an imminent threat to our national security. Now is the time to come together to support our men and women in uniform and President Trump’s actions to defend our country, not undermine them with this resolution,” said Rep. Kustoff. “This resolution weakens our nation, ignores the Constitution, and sends a message to Iran that the United States is not united behind our President. While Democrats continue to create roadblocks for President Trump, I will continue to stand with him and our troops to ensure the safety of the American people is kept a top priority.”

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Rape Allegations

Calls for probe of McClain rape cover-up email grow
Source: Crain's Chicago Business
January 10, 2020
A downstate delegation of Congressional Republicans added to the chorus of calls for investigation into an email from former Commonwealth Edison lobbyist and confidant of House Speaker Mike Madigan about what appears to be a rape cover-up. Republican U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood, Rodney Davis, John Shimkus, Adam Kinzinger and Mike Bost asked Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to appoint a special prosecutor to "investigate the alleged rape and cover up in Champaign."

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