Stuff in the News: Student Privacy, Food Labeling, DHS, Sanctuary Cities, LGBT Equality

Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) introduced the Student Privacy Protection Act (H.R. 3157), bipartisan legislation to update student privacy protections under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA. Co-sponsored with Subcommittee Chairman Todd Rokita (IN-04), the bill will modernize privacy protections, improve communication between parents and school officials, and hold schools, states, and independent entities accountable for their use of student information.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) applauded the passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act by a vote of 275 to 150. HR 1599 protects the consumer from a costly and confusing 50 state patchwork of labeling laws by ensuring that the federal government retains its authority at the top of America's food safety pyramid. It would also create a single, unified standard for food to be labeled as "GMO free" as part of a USDA program modeled after the popular USDA Organics program. The bill addresses both consumers' interest in having additional information about their food products and industry's need for uniform rules by creating a national certification program for foods that have been produced without genetic engineering. The bill defines a non-genetically engineered food to include foods that are not produced from, do not contain, and do not consist of a genetically engineered plant. It is modeled after the successful National Organic Program. Under the program, certifying agents accredited by the USDA will certify that a food was produced with or without genetic engineering in compliance with a genetic engineering plan designed to ensure the integrity of the label. The Secretary of Agriculture is to establish the certification requirements by rulemaking, including public input.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requested a total discretionary funding of approximately $51.95 billion for 2016. This request is 5.7 percent higher than 2015's, mainly due to the steep hike in requests from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) 8h introduced ‘The Safer D.C. Act’, which would end the sanctuary city policies in the District of Columbia. He explains: “The Safer D.C. Act would ensure that when the District of Columbia arrests an individual it is required to provide information to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) so it can determine the citizenship or immigration status of that individual. Once DHS determines than the alien is inadmissible or deportable, DHS is required to issue a detainer directing the District of Columbia to hold the alien and then take the alien into federal custody after the conclusion of any legal proceeding under DC law. If the Secretary fails to issue a detainer and take the alien into custody then political appointees of the Department of Homeland Security are subject to penalties. Likewise, DC employees will also be subject to civil fines for failing to comply with the law.”

In an effort led by U.S. Representative Sam Graves, all of Missouri’s Congressional delegation, including the state’s two Senators, has sent a letter to the President asking him to approve Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s request for a federal emergency disaster declaration. A total of 70 Missouri counties are included in Governor Nixon’s request, which comes in response to significant flooding and other severe weather events across the state.

Seeking to end discrimination against the LGBT community, Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL09) has signed on as an original co-sponsor of the Equality Act. This legislation will ban discrimination against LGBT individuals in public accommodations, housing, employment, and other core areas of daily life. “Discrimination, in all forms, is wrong,” Rep. Grayson said. “No one should ever be discriminated against, or denied basic services, based on who he or she is or whom he or she loves. The Equality Act will ensure that LGBT Americans are afforded the same basic protections under the law as everyone else. I am proud to help lead this fight in the House of Representatives.”