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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The Bipartisan Heroin Task Force Calls for Immediate Action to Address Opioid Epidemic

Washington, D.C. - August 11, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- The Bipartisan Heroin Task Force, led by Representatives Tom MacArthur (R-NJ), Annie Kuster (D-NH), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Donald Norcross (D-NJ) is calling on Congress and the Administration to take immediate, meaningful action to address the opioid epidemic. The Task Force is committed to working in a bipartisan way and with the Administration to advance solutions to this national crisis. The recently released report by the White House’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis details specific recommendations for fighting the opioid crisis in the United States. Many of the proposals included in the report mirror the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force’s agenda, which includes:

Immediately addressing the IMD exclusion

Enhancing medical education for prescribers and providers

Encouraging the wide-spread use and accessibility of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).

Enhancing Narcan availability

Prioritizing funding to DHS’s Customs and Border Protection to improve drug detection technology

Ensuring federal health care systems share data with Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP).

Making it easier to share addiction-specific medical information with healthcare providers.

Additionally, the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force supports the Commission’s recommendation of declaring a National Public Health

Emergency and enforcement of mental health parity laws. The Task Force is committed to working together across party lines and with the Administration to move these efforts forward.

“In my home state of New Jersey, 2,000 people died from overdoses in 2016, surpassing car accidents, shootings and suicides combined,” said Congressman MacArthur. “It’s clear this epidemic is hurting so many lives. Throughout the year, the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force has been working together to find commonsense solutions to this crisis and I’m thankful to see much of our agenda aligns with the Administration’s proposals. This report is an aggressive step and I would encourage my colleagues on each side of the aisle to continue to focus on helping those struggling with addiction, specifically in curbing the supply of drugs coming into our country. ”

“It’s time for real action from the Administration on the opioid epidemic,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “I’ve been encouraged by my colleagues on the Bipartisan Heroin Task force and their willingness to come together and work toward real solutions to this crisis. Earlier this year, our Task Force announced legislative proposals, some of which were outlined in President Trump’s own Opioid Commission findings. We need a comprehensive approach that expands access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services if we’re going to stem the growth of this epidemic. Law enforcement officials agree that we can’t simply arrest our way out of this crisis. I urge the Administration to listen to our Task Force and work with Congress to pass our bipartisan agenda and make a real difference for people in New Hampshire and across the country.”

“There are few issues more pressing in our own neighborhoods than the devastation caused by the growing epidemic of opioid and drug abuse,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. While community groups, local government and law enforcement have undertaken the Herculean challenge of addressing this issue from all its sides, it is clear there is a crucial role for Congress to play in supporting and expanding these efforts.”

“The disease of addiction is a national emergency and every delay means more loved ones will die,” said Congressman Norcross. “The Bipartisan Heroin Task Force has been offering commonsense legislative solutions to deal with this national emergency and the Administration’s own Commission is now suggesting many of the same solutions. There’s no time to wait to put these policies in place.”

Addiction Recovery for Rural Communities (ARRC) Act Introduced

Washington, D.C. - August 1, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) introduced the Addiction Recovery for Rural Communities (ARRC) Act, a bipartisan bill that will help rural communities bolster their efforts to fight the opioid and addiction epidemic. Joining Congresswoman Bustos to lead the legislation in the House are Representatives Rick Crawford (AR-01), Roger Marshall (KS-01) and Dwight Evans (PA-02) – all fellow members of the House Agriculture Committee. Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Luther Strange (R-AL) and Pat Roberts (R-KS) also introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

In 2015, more than 50,000 Americans died of drug overdoses, which are now the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50. This addiction crisis – particularly for heroin, opioids and prescription drugs – has been even more pronounced in rural America. In fact, drug-related deaths are nearly 50 percent higher in rural areas. But too often, rural communities lack the much-needed health care infrastructure to address this crisis.

That’s why the Addiction Recovery for Rural Communities Act would help rural Americans better leverage United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development programs to combat opioid and heroin use. Specifically, the legislation would set aside 20 percent of the USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program grant funding for substance abuse treatment. It would also prioritize USDA Community and Facilities Direct Loan and Grant applications focused on substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services – which will help incentivize the establishment of new treatment centers. Finally, it will prioritize USDA Rural Health and Safety Education grant funding for applicants seeking to improve education and outreach on opioids and other substance abuse issues.

“Rural communities in the Heartland are facing an addiction epidemic, and Congress must give them the resources they need to fight back,” Congresswoman Bustos said. “This bipartisan legislation will ensure that folks in small towns have access to the health care, education and tools they need to combat the drug abuse and overdoses that are devastating too many of our families and communities. The heroin and opioid epidemic knows no boundaries, and I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for joining me to address this pressing issue.”

“The cost of opioid addiction goes beyond the heartbreaking individual loss of life: there’s also law enforcement and health care costs that weigh on all of us,” Congressman Crawford said. “But in rural America, treatment can be hard to administer, and the same tactics that work in urban areas aren’t as effective in places like the 1st District. We want to do our part at the federal level to help the folks at home who are dealing with this problem day in and day out.”

“We in Congress have a responsibility to provide our rural communities with the resources necessary to fight opioid abuse,” Congressman Marshall said. “Across Kansas, organizations are doing the important work of helping people escape addition and find hope – it is my goal to aid those groups in this ongoing fight.”

“I am proud to stand with my colleagues in a bipartisan effort to combat the scourge of opioid and other harmful drug use in rural communities across the country,” Congressman Evans said. “We must approach this effort with a dedicated urgency as neighborhoods across rural Pennsylvania and nationwide have been ravaged by the use of opioids. As we look to put in action comprehensive solutions to tackle this devastating epidemic, it is critical for Congress to provide funding from other programs to immediately provide the lifesaving treatment to those most in need.”

“Our rural communities have been hardest hit by the opioid crisis,” said Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association. “NRHA supports the Addiction Recovery for Rural Communities Act because it will allow rural communities that have been devastated by opioid addiction to receive prevention and treatment programs locally.”

“Targeted investments in telemedicine and extension services fill a void for rural communities that lack access to health care facilities and treatment programs,” said Roger Johnson, President of the National Farmers Union. “As the opioid crisis grips rural communities across the country, the Addiction Recovery for Rural Communities Act will provide increased access to vital health care services in many of these areas. NFU applauds Reps. Bustos, Crawford, Evans and Marshall for their work in ensuring rural communities can become more proactive in their response to this crisis.”

Norcross Provision to Help Vets Struggling with the Disease of Addiction Included in House Appropriations Bill

Washington, D.C. - July 27, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) successfully included a provision in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act that helps veterans struggling with the disease of addiction by directing the Department of Defense to set aside $5 million to study the connection between opioid addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

“Our vets dedicate their lives to protecting us. The least we can do is dedicate money to help them fight the disease of addiction,” said Congressman Norcross. “We must do all we can for vets struggling with PTSD and opioid abuse – and I’m glad my commonsense provision is now part of the Appropriations Act.”

Norcross is the Vice-Chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic, a group of lawmakers from across the political spectrum who are united against the public health crisis. The growing opioid epidemic causes 75,000 drug overdose deaths a year and, according to the American Medical Association, veterans with PTSD are at particular risk of abusing opioids.

Small Business, London Attack, Trumpcare, Obamacare, Keystone XL Pipeline, Planned Parenthood, Black Communities, Women, Students, Addiction, Identity Theft, Agriculture

Loudermilk Supports Small Business/Lower Cost Health Insurance for Employees
Barry Loudermilk (R-GA, 11th)
March 22, 2017
“For 15 of the 20 years I owned a small business, my employees received affordable health insurance through a group plan. However, even though my employees were promised they could keep their existing health care plan under the ACA, the government determined their insurance wasn't good enough and forced them into more expensive plans with less coverage. Obamacare was a complete disaster for my employees and my business. The House has passed legislation that will allow businesses to join together to form group health insurance plans for their employees. As promised, we are removing government restrictions, giving these business owners freedom to negotiate lower costs of health care for their employees.”
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UTAHN KILLED IN TERROR ATTACK IN LONDON: REP. LOVE STATEMENT
Mia Love (R-UT, 4th)
March 23, 2017
"I am heartbroken to hear about the violent death of Kurt Cochran and the serious injury of his wife Melissa in London Wednesday. This kind of vicious terrorist attack cannot be tolerated. We, as Utahns are united in grief and loss, and our thoughts and prayers go out to their friends and family."
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LOWEY STATEMENT ON LONDON ATTACK
Nita Lowey (D-NY, 17th)
March 22, 2017
"Today’s evil attack on Great Britain is horrifying, and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. It is still too early to determine what exactly occurred, but it is clear that those responsible must be brought to justice immediately. The special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom has endured for generations, and I will continue working to ensure that we fully supports our friends in their investigation of this apparent act of terror. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of London and the victims of this senseless attack."
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Luetkemeyer Supports Bill to Help Small Businesses and Workers Receive Affordable Health-Care
Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MI, 3rd)
March 21, 2017
“Over the last several years, the number of small business, with fewer than 10 employees, offering health insurance to their employees has dropped by almost 36 percent – in large part due to Obamacare,” Luetkemeyer said. “By creating these Association Health Plans for small businesses to purchase quality health care for workers and families at an affordable cost, the House of Representatives has taken the next step in the repeal and repeal process."
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LUJAN STATEMENT ON THE POSTPONED HOUSE VOTE ON TRUMPCARE
Ben R. Lujan (D-NM, 3rd)
March 23, 2017
“President Trump and Congressional Republicans hatched a bill in a back room and tried to slip it through the House with no hearings before anyone – even members of their own party – were able to understand the details,” said Lujan. “And when those details did come out – the fact that this bill strips health insurance from millions of Americans, increases the cost of premiums and deductibles, and creates a crushing age tax on Americans over 50 – President Trump, Speaker Paul Ryan and House Republicans got caught pulling a fast one on the American people.”
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2XAbsonutrix Joint Pain Comfort-X.Treme Patches-30 patch/each
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Politifact: Rep. Maloney Claim that More than Half of Planned Parenthood Centers Serve Rural or Medically Underserved Communities is True
Carolyn Maloney (D-NY, 12th)
March 24, 2017
“Americans need to know how much damage taking away funding from Planned Parenthood would cause, which is why I took to the floorto urge my colleagues to vote no on the Republican American Health Care Act. Planned Parenthood provides services to so many men and women who would otherwise be unable to access care. A vote for this bill, a vote to defund Planned Parenthood, is a vote to endanger the health of millions of Americans.”
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Maloney Introduces Federal Legislation to Combat Heroin and Opioid Epidemic
Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY, 18th)
March 20, 2017
In response to the heroin and opioid epidemic, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) joined Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro and City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison in Poughkeepsie to introduce federal legislation to combat the opioid and heroin crisis and stop mass incarceration of abusers and low-level drug offenders nationwide. By allowing police officers to use their discretion to divert individuals directly to treatment instead of booking them and processing them through the criminal justice system, these programs give police officers the flexibility they need to help curb the growing opioid epidemic, decrease low-level drug crime, and reduce the number of low-level drug related arrests.
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MARCHANT INTRODUCES LEGISLATION PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM IDENTITY THEFT
Kenny Marchant (R-TX, 24th)
March 15, 2017
U.S. Congressmen Kenny Marchant (R-TX-24) and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-35) introduced the Social Security Child Protection Act (HR 1512). The legislation allows the Social Security Administration (SSA) to issue a new Social Security Number (SSN) to children age 13 and under who have had their SSN stolen due to inadvertent disclosure.
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Rep. McCaul and Sens. Moran, Ernst Introduce Legislation to Support Young People in Agriculture
Michael T. McCaul (R-TX, 10th)
March 21, 2017
U.S. Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) today introduced legislation to support young people in agriculture by creating a tax exemption for the first $5,000 of income students 18 years of age or younger earn from projects completed through 4-H or FFA. Their bills, the Student Agriculture Protection Act (SAPA) (H.R. 1626) and the Agriculture Students Encourage, Acknowledge, Reward, Nurture (EARN) Act (S. 671), enable students to keep more of the modest income they earn, which can then be invested in education savings or future agricultural projects.
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Repeal and Replace
Tom McClintock (R-CA, 4th)
March 21, 2017
Any discussion of the American Health Care Act needs first to consider where we will be without it. Obamacare is collapsing. More people are paying the steep tax penalty or claiming hardship exemptions than are choosing to buy Obamacare policies. In a third of the counties across America, there is only one provider to choose and soon we will see counties where there are no providers at all. Obamacare premiums soared an average of 25 percent last year, and we’re warned this year will be worse.
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McCollum Floor Remarks Opposing TrumpCare
Betty McCollum (D-MN, 4th)
March 24, 2017
Mr. Speaker, TrumpCare is a disaster for children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
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McGovern: Taking Healthcare Away Requires a Heart of Stone
James McGovern (D-MA, 2nd)
March 24, 2017
U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), the top Democrat leading debate today against the American Health Care Act, delivered the following speech on the House floor in an appeal to the compassion of both Republicans and Democrats to stand up for the families they represent and stop this dangerous bill from becoming law.
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Rep. McSally Secures $15 Billion in the AHCA for Maternity Care, Substance Abuse Treatment, and Mental Health Care
Martha McSally (R-AZ, 2nd)
March 23, 2017
U.S. Representatives Martha McSally (AZ-02) worked with House Republican Leadership and the Trump Administration to further improve the American Health Care Act (AHCA). She successfully negotiated to provide states, through the Patient and State Stability Fund, with supplemental funding so they have the ability to obtain additional resources that will provide new mothers and those struggling with mental and substance abuse disorders access to care while the nation transitions to the new health care system. House leadership and the White House has agreed to incorporate these changes into the AHCA.
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Meehan, DelBene Introduce HELP for Students and Parents Act
Pat Meehan (R-PA, 7th)
March 22, 2017
Congressman Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) and Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (D-Wa.) this week introduced the Higher Education Loan Payments (HELP) for Students and Parents Act, bipartisan legislation that will make college more affordable by modernizing how the tax code treats employer contributions toward student loan repayment.
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House Passes Meng Legislation Honoring 100th Anniversary of First Woman Sworn-Into Congress
Grace Meng (D-NY, 6th)
March 21, 2017
As the nation continues its observance of Women’s History Month, the House of Representatives passed legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) that would honor the 100th anniversary of the first woman sworn-into Congress, former Rep. Jeannette Rankin (R-Montana).
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Heartgard Plus is a heartworm preventive treatment that also controls and treats various other worm infections. It comes in a real beef flavor which makes it highly palatable in taste for the dogs.
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MITCHELL STATEMENT ON AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT VOTE TODAY
Paul Mitchell (R MI, 10th)
March 24, 2017
“Like many of my colleagues, I ran for Congress with the promise of fixing our broken health care system. The American Health Care Act is an important step toward restoring health care in America.
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Moore Meets with Trump to Discuss Issues Facing Black Communities
Gwen Moore (D-WI, 4th)
March 23, 2017
“We met with President Trump to express our concerns over a disturbing trend of disregard for our communities and to convey our collective alarm over his proposed budget and policy agenda. I entered the meeting with a healthy dose of skepticism and left the White House with a sense of cautious optimism, but only time will tell if the president and his advisors are willing to take action on our recommendations. For the sake of every constituent who is far too familiar with the sting of racism and discrimination, living in communities that are underserved and overpoliced, I truly hope our words didn’t fall on deaf ears."
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Congressman Nadler Speaks in Opposition to Republican’s “Pay More, Get Less” Health Care Proposal
Jerrold Nadler (D-NY, 10th)
March 24, 2017
Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) spoke in opposition to the House Republican’s proposed American Health Care Act, which throws 24 million Americans off their health insurance while raising heath care costs. For New York, the Republican bill would take away health care from 2.7 million people, costing State taxpayers $6.9 billion in additional costs.
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Noem: Keystone XL Opens Opportunities for South Dakota
Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota)
March 24, 2017
“Access to energy is central to improving our national security and building a more robust economy that offers better jobs and higher wages. Not only does the Keystone XL Pipeline offer these large-scale benefits for our country, its construction will translate into added revenue for cash-strapped South Dakota counties, relief on our roads and rails, and job opportunities for folks across our state. I’m glad to see President Trump move forward on this critical piece of American infrastructure.”
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Congressman Norcross Demands Republicans Reinstate Addiction Coverage in TrumpCare Bill
Donald Norcross (D-NJ, 1st)
March 24, 2017
As Republicans in Congress debated changes to their health care bill, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today led a group of Representatives petitioning President Donald Trump to reverse provisions that would threaten coverage for drug addiction treatment.
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Norton to Introduce Legislation to Collect and Publish National Demographic Data on Missing Children
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.)
March 24, 2017
“Congress has long recognized that missing children is a national problem,” Norton said. “In 2013, Congress required the Department of Justice to conduct every three years national incidence studies of missing children. Such a study is now underway. However, my bill would require the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to collect, break down, and publish demographic subsets of these missing children. It is critical that the public know if there is a disproportionate number of missing children of color, particularly missing girls of color, which we believe is an underreported national problem. Experts need to first measure the incidences, and then study whether children have been trafficked, abducted, are running away, or are missing for other reasons, and what they recommend we can do about it.”
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