Stuff in the news: Illegal Immigration, Justice Reform, Planned Parenthood, Sanctuary Cities

The Coalition for Public Safety hosted the Bipartisan Summit on Fair Justice, while last week in Philadelphia, President Obama delivered a major policy speech on criminal justice reform and mass incarceration. Fattah, who is the top Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science, has been a leading advocate for comprehensive justice reform in the House of Representatives; he was instrumental in helping to create and fund the Charles Colson Task Force on Federal Corrections and has led the charge to increase funding for the Second Chance Act.

Congressman John Fleming, M.D. sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner requesting the House consider legislation to defund Planned Parenthood the week of July 27, 2015. Senator McConnell announced that he’s fast-tracking legislation to defund Planned Parenthood.
Fifty-five members of Congress signed on to the letter. To read it, click here.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 3009, the Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act. This legislation denies State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) funding to any state or political subdivision that has in place any law, policy or procedure in contravention of federal immigration law. SCAAP provides financial assistance to states and localities for some of the costs incurred for incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens. The term “sanctuary cities” refers to nearly 300 communities that have adopted laws or policies that limit the extent to which local authorities can assist the federal government on immigration matters.

Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) introduced the Democratic Motion to Recommit on H.R. 1734 – Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015. The Motion to Recommit would amend Republican legislation intended to deregulate coal ash disposal by requiring that coal ash impoundments must be sufficient to prevent toxic levels of contamination of groundwater and to protect all sources of drinking water. According to a press release by Foster, Coal ash, the material left after coal is burned, can present serious risks to human health and the environment if not disposed properly.