Sunday, April 29, 2018

Plank, FAA, Iran, Korea, Sexual Assault, Russia, Lifeline, House Chaplain

Announcements



Mike Pompeo has been confirmed as Secretary of State



News from the Lawmakers



Rep. Bass Passes Measures to Raise Flight Altitudes and Increase FAA Accountability in FAA Reauthorization Bill
Karen Bass (D-CA, 37th)
April 27, 2018
The House of Representatives passed a 6-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that included language by Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) to raise flight altitudes, increase FAA accountability and enforce the FAA’s consideration of community concerns. The bill now moves to the Senate, where, if passed, it would be sent to the White House to be signed into law.

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BARLETTA VOTES TO HOLD IRAN ACCOUNTABLE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
Lou Barletta (R-PA, 11th)
April 27, 2018
Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) voted in favor of H.R. 4744, the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. H.R. 4744 details human rights abuses and hostage-taking committed by the Iranian regime and requires the president to determine whether senior Iranian officials are responsible for such acts and if official Iranian businesses should be sanctioned for public corruption under existing law. It also imposes property-blocking and visa-denial sanctions for Iranian officials responsible for politically motivated detentions of U.S. citizens and residents, or abuses against Iranian expatriates. The measure passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 410 to 2.

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BACON STATEMENT ON KOREA AGREEMENT
Don Bacon (R-NE, 2nd)
April 27, 2018
“I remain hopeful regarding the agreement between North and South Korea to take steps toward ending their decades long war. The President has done a great job setting conditions for progress. However, I will retain the same cautionary approach to matters with North Korea based on their past negligence for keeping agreements, long pattern of disregard for human life, and their desire to intimidate other countries with their aggressive military approach. We must keep the pressure on Kim Jong-Un and not let up.”

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House Democratic Leaders Unveil A Better Deal: Tools to Succeed in the 21st Century
Don Beyer (D-VA, 8th)
April 27, 2018
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats held a press conference at Northern Virginia Community College to unveil the newest plank of their bold economic agenda, A Better Deal: Tools to Succeed in the 21st Century, which focuses on Democrats' commitment to investing in America's workers, pioneering future frontiers and modernizing government.

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Booker and Watson-Coleman Introduce Bicameral Resolution to Uplift Voices of Underserved Communities in Efforts to Prevent Sexual Assault and Support Victims
Senator Cory A. Booker (D-NJ)
April 27, 2018
In identical resolutions introduced in the House and Senate, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) called on Congress to focus greater attention and resources on the prevention of sexual assault and violence and support for victims — particularly members of underserved communities who experience sexual violence at higher rates and are less likely to have access to justice, mental and emotional support resources after being victimized. Also sponsoring the resolution in the Senate are Senators Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Kamala Harris (D-CA).

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Blumenthal Statement on Republican House Intelligence Committee's Russia Report
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D - CT)
April 27, 2018
“This report is a whitewash – without any plausible pretense of truth telling. It reeks of raw partisan politics. It offers the President a fig leaf fantasy of protection against the reality of wrongdoing. It conflates, contorts and conceals the facts at every critical turn. It would be a joke, if it were not such a deadly threat to our democracy.”

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Bennet Urges FCC Not To Undermine Lifeline Broadband Program
Senator Michael F. Bennet (D - CO)
April 29, 2018
Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet has sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai urging him to leave intact 2016 reforms that modernized the Lifeline program by increasing access to broadband subsidies for low-income Americans.

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Beatty Statement on the Firing of House Chaplain Pat Conroy
Joyce Beatty (D-OH, 3rd)
April 27, 2018
“For seven years, Father Conroy has provided spiritual guidance to all Members of Congress, regardless of political party. Speaker Ryan’s unilateral move to dismiss Father Conroy is unjustified, as he was elected by the entire House. That is why I joined a bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress in calling for an investigation into the motivations and actions behind the abrupt dismissal of Father Pat Conroy as 60th Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives.”

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Related News:


Why Did Paul Ryan Ax the House Chaplain?
The Slatest
April 26, 2018
There hadn’t been much knowledge of Ryan’s decision until this morning, when House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi brought it up in a Thursday whip meeting. Shocked Democrats were in a “furor” over the issue. Pelosi, according to an aide, was given advance notice of the move, but made it clear to the speaker that “she disagreed with this decision.” AshLee Strong, a spokesperson for Ryan, told Slate that Pelosi was consulted on the decision, though the final decision was the speaker’s.

So what gives?

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