More Stuff in the News: Teachers, End-of-Life counseling, Korea, Aborted Baby Parts, Voting Rights

Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, along with Senator Mark Warner, D-Va., Representative Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., Representative Susan Brooks, R-Ind., Representative Richard Hanna, R-N.Y., and Representative Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., introduced the Teacher Loan Repayment Act (TELORA) to improve federal loan assistance programs and provide teachers with clear and tangible incentives to enter and remain in the classroom.

Congressman Steve King Introduced H.R. 3251, the End-of-Life Counseling Bill. "We need to block this harmful regulation before the Administration imposes yet another life-devaluing policy on the American people. My bill will accomplish this important objective by prohibiting Medicare payments for end-of-life counseling under the coming regulation." Read more by clicking HERE

Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) applauded the agreement to extend civil nuclear cooperation between the United States and Republic of Korea (ROK). The United States and South Korea recently signed an agreement, commonly known as a “123 Agreement,” that will adhere to U.S. nonproliferation goals while supporting the significant and growing civil nuclear industry in South Korea. The 123 Agreement represents a deepening of ties between the United States and Korea. This agreement builds upon the U.S.-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA) which entered into force on March 15, 2012 and resulted in U.S. exports to South Korea reaching a record level of $44.5 billion in 2014, an increase of 7 percent compared to 2013. Since establishing the KORUS FTA, manufacturing exports ranging from toys, sports equipment, ships and nuclear reactors reached a record $37.4 billion. In 2013, two-way trade between the two countries totaled $101.3 billion, making the ROK the United States’ sixth-largest trading partner.

Congressman Doug Lamborn has introduced H.R. 3215, the End Trafficking of the Terminated Unborn Act of 2015. This bill will, "prohibit any person from soliciting or knowingly acquiring, receiving, or accepting a donation of human fetal tissue for any purpose other than disposal of the tissue if the donation affects interstate commerce and the tissue will be or is obtained pursuant to an induced abortion." The bill also removes the, "authority for funding research on fetal tissue obtained pursuant to an induced abortion." Research can still take place on fetal tissue that is a result of a miscarriage or a stillbirth with the consent of the parents.

Rick Larsen (D-WA, 2nd) has reintroduced the America Votes Act of 2015. The bill would allow voters to sign a sworn written statement attesting to their identity if they do not have the identification required at their polling place. The Voting Rights Act (VRA) was enacted on August 6, 1965, to prohibit racial discrimination in voting. In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down the section of the VRA that required jurisdictions with a history of discrimination against minority voters to clear election changes with the federal government. Larsen’s bill would help correct discrimination resulting from state voter ID laws. The bill has the support of 33 other members of Congress: James Clyburn, SC-06, Earl Blumenauer, OR-03, Diana DeGette, CO-0, Keith Ellison, MN-05, Sam Farr, CA-20, Judy Chu, CA-27, Adam Smith, WA-09, Eleanor Holmes Norton, DC-AL, Wm. Lacy Clay, MO-01, Suzan DelBene, WA-01, Elijah Cummings, MD-07, Sheila Jackson Lee, TX-18, Niki Tsongas, MA-03, Janice Hahn, CA-44, Joyce Beatty, OH-03, Cedric Richmond, LA-02, Matt Cartwright, PA-17, Steve Israel, NY-03, Jim Himes, CT-04, Denny Heck, WA-10, Sean Patrick Maloney, NY-18, Steve Cohen, TN-09, Danny K. Davis, IL-07, Hank Johnson, GA-04, Ted Deutch, FL-21, Derek Kilmer, WA-06, David Cicilline, RI-01, Elizabeth Esty, CT-05, Jim McDermott, WA-07, Gregory W. Meeks, NY-05, Dina Tutus, NV-01, Bobby Rush, IL-01, Sandford Bishop, Jr., GA-02.

Stuff in the News: Apache Land Swap, Min Wage, Native American Suicides, Gun Free Military Sites, Student Financial Aid

Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) joined lawmakers, religious leaders and members of the San Carlos Apache tribe at a Capitol Hill gathering this week on his bill to reverse the unjust Resolution Copper land giveaway included in last year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Grijalva’s bill, the Save Oak Flat Act, would cancel the mandated land swap that threatens the sacred Apache Leap site with environmental damage from nearby high-risk copper mining.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) and 28 of their colleagues introduced the Pay Workers a Living Wage Act today, which raises the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020.

Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) has re-introduced the Native American Suicide Prevention Act to more actively curtail the alarming rate of suicide amongst Native American populations. This cost-free legislation directs state or state-sponsored organization to make a reasonable effort to consult with Native American Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and Urban Indian organizations in the crafting and implementation of suicide intervention and prevention strategies.

Congressman Guinta joined a bipartisan group of legislators in support of H.R. 3115 – the Enhancing Safety at Military Installations Act – to repeal the ban on military personnel carrying firearms on bases and recruitment facilities. This legislation would require the Department of Defense to issue a directive permitting those in the Armed Forces who have received firearms training and are authorized to use firearms to carry military-issued firearms on bases and recruitment facilities. H.R. 3115 is supported by every member of the Tennessee delegation; and, currently has 17 cosponsors.

A bipartisan bill led by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) in the 113th Congress was reintroduced. H.R. 3179 (H.R. 4984 in the 113th Congress), the Empowering Students through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act, will reform the current guidelines to require annual counseling for student borrowers and enhance their understanding of financial aid.