Friday, December 27, 2019

Impeachment, Teachers, Natural Disaster Relief, NDAA, Border Patrol, Jones Act, SALT, Prescription Drugs, Discrimination, Boeing

Congressional spending may be even more insane than impeachment
Source: Americans for Limited Government
December 20, 2019
“Now that some of the smoke has cleared from impeachment, it cannot be lost that Congress once again failed miserably at showing any kind of fiscal discipline in passing the $1.4 trillion spending bill. It is absurd that in a time of unprecedented prosperity, Congress continues to expand domestic spending. Times of prosperity should be opportunities to cut deficits and restrain the cost of government programs, while still meeting the basic safety net needs of those left behind. The fact that Congress continues a wild spending spree bodes poorly for our nation’s ability to afford the real costs of an economic downturn that will eventually happen. The President needs to make fiscal sanity a key component of his 2020 presidential campaign so that in 2021, there will be a political will to significantly cut the exorbitant cost of government. He can start by promoting and defending his own budget, which has in the past provided a pathway to balance with trillions of cuts, when it gets released early next year.”

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Congressman Brown Celebrates the Expansion of Teacher Tax Deduction
Source: Anthony Brown (D-MD, 4th)
December 20, 2019
“Teachers and school support staff dig deep into their own pockets to pay for everyday classroom supplies - and educators in high-poverty communities spend even more, said Congressman Anthony Brown. “After protecting the teachers’ tax deduction from being cut by President Trump, House Democrats are expanding it and helping teachers offset more of the costs they incur every school year. I’ll keep fighting for our schools, our educators and increasing this deduction to meet the needs of our students.”

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CARTWRIGHT BILLS TO MAKE U.S. COMMUNITIES MORE RESILIENT AGAINST EXTREME WEATHER RISKS INCLUDED IN FEDERAL FUNDING LEGISLATION
Source: Matt Cartwright (D-PA, 8th)
December 20, 2019
“As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee and the House-Senate NDAA Conference Committee, I’m proud to have worked with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to get the NDAA across the finish line,” said Rep. Cisneros. “With the passage of this legislation, our servicemembers and their families get the resources they need and our national security is strengthened. I’m pleased the bipartisan NDAA includes several of my provisions to improve military healthcare and service to military families, promote diversity and inclusion, repeal the unfair Widow’s Tax, and toughen our stance against our adversaries. As a Navy veteran, I will continue to fight for our servicemembers in the 39th District and around the world.”

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REP. CISNEROS PRAISES SIGNING OF FY 2020 NDAA
Source: Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA, 39th)
December 20, 2019
The appropriations legislation includes language from Rep. Cartwright’s PREPARE Act (H.R. 4347), which authorizes an interagency council whose purpose is to provide recommendations on the best means of planning and preparing for extreme weather incidents. It also provides state and local stakeholders with the best information available and best practices to help them formulate emergency preparation plans tailored to their local needs.

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Cole Applauds Full-Year Government Funding for FY 2020
Source: Tom Cole (R-OK, 4th)
December 20, 2019
“One of the most fundamental duties of Congress is to fund the government and to keep it open and operational. By coming to bipartisan agreement on full-year appropriations, I am very proud that lawmakers in both chambers not only prevented a government shutdown, but they avoided the need for another short-term continuing resolution. I applaud President Trump for signing these critical packages into law, responsibly providing certainty for the federal government and the thousands of supporting federal workers.”

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Burgess Votes to Pass Defense Appropriations for 2020 Fiscal Year
Source: Michael Burgess (R-TX, 26th)
December 20, 2019
“While one of the appropriations bills included critical funding the other left hardworking Americans with the check. It is past time for Congress to pass twelve appropriations bills, as required by law. We can no longer afford to wait until the last minute to complete one of our most basic, and important, responsibilities. I believe I was sent to Congress to provide fiscal solutions that will rein in our national deficit while continuing to grow our economy, allowing for hard-working families to prosper. My desire is that in the coming year Congress will put aside partisan politics and get back to the business of legislating on behalf of the American people.”

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The Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations packages included the following:

  • Prioritizes national security and continues to rebuild the military.
  • Provides $1.3 billion for a border wall system along our southern border.
  • Provides resources and authorities to address the humanitarian and security crisis on our southern border.
  • Maintains prior pro-life funding restrictions.
  • Provides affordable alternatives to expensive Obamacare plans.

    Butterfield Introduces Bill to Provide Electronic Equipment to American Communities
    Source: G.K. Butterfield (D-NC, 1st)
    December 20, 2019
    “In today’s digital economy, access to the Internet is absolutely essential for nearly all aspects of American life. However, all over the country, millions of Americans still do not have consistent and reliable access to broadband. The problem is especially prevalent in rural and low-income communities where the costs of computers and other devices are often a barrier to consistent access. That’s why I was proud to introduce H.R. 5495, The Federal Electronic Equipment Donation Act of 2019. My bill directs federal agencies to donate excess and surplus federal electronic equipment, including computers, computer components, printers, and fax machines to qualifying small towns, counties, schools, nonprofit organizations, and libraries. The bill also provides a preference for rural towns and counties as well as low-income areas, in an effort to deliver much needed electronic equipment to the communities that need it most.”

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    Cárdenas, Correa, Escobar Call for Investigation into Reports of CBP Officials Issuing Fake Court Notices to Asylees
    Source: Troy Cardenas (D-CA, 29th)
    December 20, 2019
    “According to news reports, refugees who have been granted asylum are intentionally being given incorrect information by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials as a strategy to keep them out of the U.S. This type of behavior by a government agency is abhorrent, violates the rule of law, and is antithetical to our values and the very essence of what we stand for as a nation,” the Members wrote. “We request that DHS Inspector General answer our questions, investigate this matter, and issue a full report to the United States House of Representatives. Additionally, if the investigation finds that officials are criminally liable, we demand that they are held accountable immediately and referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution.

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    Case Introduces Bills Reforming the "Jones Act"
    Source: Ed Case (D-HI, 1st)
    December 20, 2019
    “My three bills aim directly at one of the key drivers of our astronomically high cost of living in Hawai‘i and other locations in our country that are not part of the continental U.S,” said Case. “Because the Jones Act severely limits the supply of shipping to and from our communities, it has allowed a very few companies to control our very lifeline to the outside world and as a result command shipping rates way higher than the rest of the world."

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    Casten Votes to Restore State and Local Tax Deduction
    Source: Sean Casten (D-IL, 6th)
    December 20, 2019
    H.R. 5377 would lift the SALT cap deduction for years 2020 and 2021. The Republican Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 capped the SALT deduction at $10,000 for individuals and families, but not businesses. Republicans took this deduction away from working, middle class families, like those in Illinois 6th Congressional District, to provide tax breaks for corporations. The cap also threatens the ability of states and local communities to fund education and other essential public services adequately. By restoring the SALT deduction, it helps state and local governments adequately plan and fund education, child care, mass transit, health care, and many more important public services.

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    Cicilline Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Costs Becomes Law
    Source: David Cicilline (D-RI, 1st)
    December 20, 2019
    “In the last election, Democrats promised to bring down the high cost of prescription drugs. Today, we are delivering on that promise,” said Cicilline. “The CREATES Act cracks down on the big pharmaceutical companies that are charging an arm and a leg for medicine that thousands of Rhode Islanders, and millions of Americans, need. No longer will these companies be able to recklessly block or delay access to generic drugs that perform the same as branded drugs, at a fraction of the cost. This is a big win for American consumers, and another example of how Democrats are delivering for the people.”

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    Congressman Cleaver Calls for Investigation Into JPMorgan Chase Following Allegations of Racial Discrimination
    Source: Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO, 5th)
    December 20, 2019
    “The allegations of racial discrimination within JPMorgan Chase purported in media reports are extremely troubling,” said Congressman Cleaver. “It seems clear from the reporting and the statement released from the bank that there were practices of discriminatory behavior within a regional branch. Now, we want to know whether or not this kind of discrimination has spread throughout the entirety of the company and what the bank is doing to ensure they are complying with federal antidiscrimination laws.”

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    Cleaver's Statement Following Votes to Pass Articles of Impeachment
    Source: Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO, 5th)
    December 20, 2019
    My votes to support the articles of impeachment were not based out of hate for the President, but rather out of love for this country and the values imbued in our constitution. Sadly, the President perverted the powers granted to him by the constitution in an effort to coerce a foreign government into interfering in our sacred elections. When this was discovered and courageously reported by a nonpartisan career service official, the President stonewalled Congress and our constitutional right to provide oversight of the Executive Branch, seemingly, to cover up his misdeeds.

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    PARTISAN IMPEACHMENT CHARADE DIVIDES COUNTRY; CONGRESS MUST DO BETTER
    Source: James Comer (R-KY, 1st)
    December 23, 2019
    Kentuckians are even less supportive of the effort to remove the President from office. As I said on the House floor, the people I represent in Kentucky’s First Congressional District are appalled at the charade put on by the House in recent months. They overwhelmingly supported the President in 2016 to drain the swamp, enact change and fight on their behalf, which he has done. America’s economy is roaring like never before, the taxes of all Americans have been reduced, and President Trump recently sealed the deal on a modernized trade agreement that is great news for our farmers, middle-class workers and industries.

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    Congressman Cohen Commends Boeing for Firing Muilenburg
    Source: Steve Cohen (D-TN, 9th)
    December 23, 2019
    Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, commended Boeing for its decision to fire its CEO Dennis Muilenburg for his mishandling of the company’s response to two crashes of its 737 Max aircraft that killed 346 people. Congressman Cohen demanded that Muilenburg take some responsibility for the crashes and the response at a hearing in October, asking “What does accountability mean?”

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  • Thursday, December 26, 2019

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Tuesday, December 24, 2019

    Impeachment, USCMA, Nominations, and Teachers




    New Boston, TX - December 24, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH, 3rd) voted to impeach Trump. She said, "We are a nation of laws, based on the principle that no one is above the law, but this president believes he can do anything he wants. As the record shows and the irrefutable testimonies by Trump Administration officials make crystal clear, President Trump welcomed foreign interference in the 2020 Election, abused the power of the presidency, and tried to cover it all up."

    Don Beyer (D-VA, 8th) also voted to impeach on those grounds.

    Yet, no proof of this exists. Tax dollars have been spent trying to prove this, and other accusations against him, and through it all, the Democrats have found NOTHING except that he is hated enough to want impeached.

    Thank God for some Republicans who stand up and call a spade a spade:

    Congressman Vern Buchanan spoke on the House floor Wednesday against the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

    “Madam Speaker, I will vote today against both articles of impeachment because they are without merit and set a dangerous precedent for our country. This political vendetta is an abuse of the impeachment process and would subvert the votes of 63 million Americans. Just because the President’s opponents are afraid he will win reelection is no excuse for weaponizing impeachment. No president in history has ever been impeached 10 months before an election. Elections are the heart of our democracy. Our founding fathers devised a simple way to remove a president that you disagree with — it’s called an election — and we have one coming up in less than a year. Let the people decide.”

    On Thursday, December 19, 2019, Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL, 5th) and 8 conservative House colleagues sent a letter to United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging them to adopt the Federal Rules of Evidence for the Senate’s President Trump impeachment trial.

    Also on Thursday, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed in a bipartisan manner the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). that vote follows months of negotiations by House Democrats to secure improvements to the original USMCA negotiated by the Trump Administration.

    “I’m pleased to see that House Democrats were able to secure important changes to the original USMCA draft,” said Ami Bera (D-CA, 7th). “The version of USMCA that passed (today) includes strong protections for American workers, important enforcement mechanisms to ensure all countries are compliant, and key environmental protections.

    The revised version of USMCA is a win for the U.S. economy and American families, and will bring important jobs to California.”


    I wonder if she will admit that the idea came from Trump?

    Rob Bishop (R-UT, 1st) noted the irony of this in his statement:

    “It is about time!

    Despite USMCA’s bipartisan and bicameral support, Speaker Pelosi has refused to bring it to the floor in what can only be described as an attempt to deny President Trump any victories until she could impeach him.

    I am pleased the House passed the trade deal with Canada and Mexico. This is a vast improvement over NAFTA. This bill is good for Utah and the country. It is just too bad it took so long for Democrat leadership to do the right thing.”


    Passage of the USMCA is a win for every sector of our economy, including:

  • Agriculture: The USMCA reduces Canadian and Mexican tariffs on American agricultural goods and eliminates other unfair trading practices – helping our farmers and ranchers sell more of their goods abroad.
  • Autoworkers and Manufacturers: The USMCA creates new requirements for producing auto parts in North America and ensuring those parts are made in high-wage areas – supporting U.S. autoworkers and giving U.S. automakers an edge over foreign competitors.
  • Digital Trade: The agreement creates the strongest standard for digital trade in any international agreement to date. This chapter will provide certainty for our tech sector, protect our privacy, and encourage cross-border growth of digital transactions and e-commerce.
  • Small Businesses and Consumers: Both Canada and Mexico are increasing their de minimis thresholds, or the maximum value of a good shipped across the border before tariffs are applied. This will make it easier for consumers and small businesses to participate in cross-border trade.
  • Intellectual Property: The USMCA modernizes NAFTA’s IP chapter and creates new enforcement mechanisms to protect American innovators and investors.

    “Due to the efforts of House Democrats in the House Trade Working Group, we were able to negotiate with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer a revised USMCA agreement. The revisions make enforcement more effective and fair by fixing loopholes that would have allowed Mexico and Canada to avoid accountability with regards to their trade obligations. This revised USMCA strengthens standards on protecting workers’ rights and introduces penalties on goods and services that are not produced in compliance with key labor standards," said Sanford D. Bishop, Jr (D-GA, 2nd).

    “This was an unprecedented vote for an unprecedented trade agreement. This agreement got more Democratic votes than Republican votes, and we were able to thwart the efforts of big drug companies for the first time ever in a trade agreement. This should be a sign that the days of giving big pharma sweetheart deals are over. Protecting our workers and environment, addressing climate change, and putting people ahead of profit will be at the center of all new trade agreements as long as Democrats are in charge,” said Earl Blumenauer (D-OR, 3rd).

    “With today’s vote, The House is delivering much-needed certainty to the nearly 70,000 Illinoisans whose jobs depend on fair and free trade with Canada and Mexico,” said Mike Bost (R-IL, 12th). “USMCA will strengthen exports for farmers across my district and is a bright spot in what has been one of the worst years in decades for agriculture. Despite a year of unnecessary delays, I’m glad that we are finally moving forward on this historic agreement.”

    “Illinois Farm Bureau greatly appreciates Representative Bost’s vocal leadership for USCMA and for recognizing the value of expanded trade between the U.S. and its neighbors,” said Illinois Farm Bureau president Richard Guebert, Jr., who farms in the 12th District. “The largest export market for Illinois corn is Mexico. This modernized trade agreement maintains our tariff free access to that vital market and opens up the Canadian market for more sales of dairy and wheat from the 12th District. Thanks to Rep. Bost’s leadership Illinois farmers can begin to reap the benefits of expanded trade under USMCA.”

    “While we did not achieve all the environmental standards we had hoped for, we did successfully include language that will allow the Paris Climate agreement and other future international environmental agreements to be added by the parties at a later date. As a member of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, I will continue to work to address this issue,” said Julia Brownley (D-CA, 26th).

    Now we know why the Democrats so overwhelmingly supported a Trump idea.

    Once enacted, USMCA is expected to help create over 176,000 American jobs, $68 billion in new economic activity, and $2.2 billion in annual agriculture exports.

    Also on Thursday, President Trump announced his intention to nominate Arizona State University Professor Sethuraman Panchanathan to serve as the director of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

    “President Trump has made an inspired choice with his nomination of Dr. Panchanathan—or “Panch,” as we all know him—to head the NSF. During his time at ASU, Panch was instrumental in turning Arizona’s largest institution of higher learning into one of the most innovative universities in the country. His passion for new and exciting ideas is infectious, and I am confident that he will bring this rejuvenating spirit to an organization that could benefit from fresh direction. As a Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I look forward to working with him on future projects,” said Andy Biggs (R-AZ, 5th).

    On Friday, December 20, 2019, Congressman Anthony Brown (D-MD, 4th) celebrated the inclusion of language from his standalone legislation, the “Educators Expense Deduction Modernization Act,” in the “Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act.” The legislation passed the House of Representatives. The original provision doubled the teachers’ tax deduction for classroom expenses from $250 to $500. The deduction was increased to $1,000 on the floor.

    Reportedly, more than 9 in 10 public-school teachers are not reimbursed for classroom expenses which can include everything from pens to books, crafts and science materials. Teachers in high-poverty schools spent nearly 40 percent more than their peers elsewhere, with one in 10 spending $1,000 or more. In Maryland, nearly 80,000 educators benefit from this deduction.

  • Tuesday, December 17, 2019

    Black Colleges, Appropriations, Veterans, Trade, Cameroon

    Today's News from the House of Representatives



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

    Read more...



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

    Read more...



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

    Read more...



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

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

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

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

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