In February, the Violence
Against Women Act (VAWA) was re-authorized and sent to the President including
an amendment reauthorizing the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
In March, Kentucky passed HB
3, The Human Trafficking Victims Rights Act which strengthens state law for
fighting human trafficking and provides more services for victims.
In March, Whole Foods took a
huge step towards giving its customers the right to know what they are eating.
By 2018, it will require any product containing GMOs sold in its stores to be
labeled.
In March, the bipartisan
Levin-Hatch Amendment 708 to the Budget Resolution was passed that that works
on curbing corporate tax avoidance and stopping corporate offshore tax
loopholes!
In April, delegates from 154
nations voted to adopt the first-ever international Arms Trade Treaty! This treaty will help monitor and control the
flow of arms and ammunition across borders.
Work continues on the adoption of this treaty by each nation.
In May, the Senate Judiciary
passed S. 744, immigration legislation out of committee. It is now expected to go to the Senate floor
in mid-June.
In June, Connecticut is the
first in the nation to pass a strong GMO labeling bill that will require
genetically engineered foods to be labeled.
In June, the House defeated
the Farm Bill that would have cut over $20 billion to SNAP (formerly food
stamps), $2.5 billion in cuts to food aid, and policy changes that would have
substantially increased hunger for years to come.
In June, the Louisville Metro
Council passed a FY 2013-2014 budget that included $1 million in funds for the
Louisville Affordable Housing Trust Fund that will begin to address housing
needs of working families.
In June, the U.S. Senate
passed immigration legislation by a vote of 68-32 that includes a path to
citizenship as well as further border security.
Showing posts with label Accomplishments on Legislation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Accomplishments on Legislation. Show all posts
Monday, July 8, 2013
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Legislative Accomplishments July to November 2012
In July, the U.S. Senate voted to allow the Bush tax cuts on
households earning over $250,000 to expire yet the House has failed to pass the legislation.
In late August, the Securities and Exchange Commission voted on the final rules necessary to implement the Cardin-Lugar Amendment, a vital move that allows citizens, especially in developing nations, access to information to hold their governments accountable and fight corruption. This means that the SEC will be required to disclose any and all payments to the US and foreign governments, country-by-country, every year thus empowering citizens to greater services from their government.
In late summer, Nicaragua bécame the 6th country to withdraw troops from the School of the America’s (SOA/WHINSEC).
In mid-September, CWA and IBEW members successfully reached a tentative agreement with Verizon after slashed health benefits, pension elimination, outsourcing of jobs and undermining collective bargaining for its workers.
In late September, an SOA Watch delegation went toEcuador and met with President Correa. In conjunction
with granting Julian Asange asylum, Correa agreed to no longer send his troops
to the SOA/ WHINSEC.
In late September, Damon Thibodeaux was exonerated in Louisiana and freed from death row.
In late September, the International Monetary Fund Executive Board approved the final 2.7 billion dollars from gold sale profits to support the world's poorest - we have now moved the total gold sales windfall, nearly 4 billion dollars to benefit the most vulnerable. Advocacy efforts pushed the IMF to approve the first 1.1 billion dollar distribution AND the second 2.7 billion dollar distribution to support concessional lending in the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) and extend a 0% interest rate that will make this trust available for future generations beyond 2014.
In early October, the EPA agreed to reconsider its polyvinyl chloride rule and put it out for public comment.
In early October, Hershey announced that it would move its chocolate to 100% certification by 2020, though the company remains vague on which certifications, and on incremental benchmarks.
In early October, Chipotle agreed to join the Fair Food program and signed the agreement with members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. The agreement will improve wages and working conditions for farmworkers in Florida who pick tomatoes.
In mid-November, an SOA Watch delegation met with Denis McDonough, President Obama's Deputy National Security Advisor. McDonough promised to look into the release of the names of those killed by graduates of the SOA.
11 States, 24 Senators, and 73 US Representatives have called for an amendment to overturn Citizens United
In late August, the Securities and Exchange Commission voted on the final rules necessary to implement the Cardin-Lugar Amendment, a vital move that allows citizens, especially in developing nations, access to information to hold their governments accountable and fight corruption. This means that the SEC will be required to disclose any and all payments to the US and foreign governments, country-by-country, every year thus empowering citizens to greater services from their government.
In late summer, Nicaragua bécame the 6th country to withdraw troops from the School of the America’s (SOA/WHINSEC).
In mid-September, CWA and IBEW members successfully reached a tentative agreement with Verizon after slashed health benefits, pension elimination, outsourcing of jobs and undermining collective bargaining for its workers.
In late September, an SOA Watch delegation went to
In late September, Damon Thibodeaux was exonerated in Louisiana and freed from death row.
In late September, the International Monetary Fund Executive Board approved the final 2.7 billion dollars from gold sale profits to support the world's poorest - we have now moved the total gold sales windfall, nearly 4 billion dollars to benefit the most vulnerable. Advocacy efforts pushed the IMF to approve the first 1.1 billion dollar distribution AND the second 2.7 billion dollar distribution to support concessional lending in the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) and extend a 0% interest rate that will make this trust available for future generations beyond 2014.
In early October, the EPA agreed to reconsider its polyvinyl chloride rule and put it out for public comment.
In early October, Hershey announced that it would move its chocolate to 100% certification by 2020, though the company remains vague on which certifications, and on incremental benchmarks.
In early October, Chipotle agreed to join the Fair Food program and signed the agreement with members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. The agreement will improve wages and working conditions for farmworkers in Florida who pick tomatoes.
In mid-November, an SOA Watch delegation met with Denis McDonough, President Obama's Deputy National Security Advisor. McDonough promised to look into the release of the names of those killed by graduates of the SOA.
11 States, 24 Senators, and 73 US Representatives have called for an amendment to overturn Citizens United
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Legislative Accomplishments
Legislative Accomplishments April to June 2012
In April, Governor Dannel
Malloy of In April, several of the largest tobacco companies, including Reynolds American, agreed to designate a committee made of representatives of tobacco manufacturers, tobacco growers, and farmworkers agreed to meet with FLOC.
In April, President Obama signed the STOCK Act that requires proactive online disclosure of public officials’ financial dealings. This act will improve accountability if Congress and the administration create a website that allows the public to quickly find the information in a format that is easy to understand.
In May, the U.S. Senate passed the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act. This is an important step in upholding the rights of adolescent girls around the world and a critical step in preventing the harmful practice of child marriage.
In June, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed clean air standards that could save thousands of lives and sweep the air clean of choking haze. A federal judge ordered the EPA to get moving on this proposal.
In June, the Obama Administration granted relief from deportations to DREAMers and provided a pathway to work permits.
In June,
In June, the Senate rejected a measure intended to roll back the Environmental Protection Agency's implementation of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), a rule that would limit mercury emissions from coal-burning power plants.
In June, the
In June, all anti-Clean Water Act amendments were stripped from the Senate Farm Bill.
In June, the U.S. Senate passed a fair Farm Bill that promotes human dignity, feeds the hungry, supports small family farmers and fosters stewardship of creation.
In June the president of
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Accomplishments on Legislation
January to March 2012
The Hyatt Boycott calling to uphold the dignity of women (reinstate the Reyes sisters) received boosts from the CA Democratic Party, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Gloria Steinem who pledged to boycott Hyatt. In Indianapolis where the Super Bowl was held, the NFL Players Association Leader, DeMaurice Smith and Maggie Lewis, President of Indianapolis City-City Council joined Indy Hyatt Workers.
During the KY General Assembly, the House Health and Welfare Committee passed the Smoke-free KY Act. The legislation (HB 289) was transferred to and didn’t make it out of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee.
A March 1, Nuclear Missile Test was cancelled. This was the second time in less than six months that the Air Force cancelled a nuclear missile test after pressure from the concerned citizens. The first cancellation was on International Peace Day.
In early March, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill to RESTORE the Gulf Coast States Act, a landmark bill that will dedicate 80% of BP’s Clean Water Act fines where they’re needed most- to restore the Gulf Coast economy and the wildlife and communities who live there.
In March, the U.S. Court of Appeals blocked further implementation of two provisions of Alabama’s discriminatory anti-immigrant law, HB 56. These provisions, which criminalized any interaction between undocumented immigrants and state or local government officials, and made contracts between undocumented immigrants and any other person unenforceable, have wreaked havoc on all Alabamians, citizen and non-citizen alike.
In March, the Senate voted to save clean air by supporting a rule limiting mercury and other toxic air pollution from industrial boilers. This rule prevents up to 8100 premature deaths/year and reduces toxic mercury pollution that is known to cause brain damage in kids.
In March, the world’s largest private agro-chemical corporation, Arysta LifeScience, announced it would immediately pull methyl iodide off the shelves in California and across America thus increasing safe food production and farm worker safety.
In March, the Senate rejected a bill fast-tracking the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project, which would transport dirty tar sands oils from Canada’s boreal forest to American refineries in Texas.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
October to December 2011
In October, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals decreed that nearly 50 million acres of America’s richest natural resource- our National Forests are protected. The ruling reinstated the Roadless Rule.
In October, CA Governor Brown signed SB 126, an amendment that changed the Agricultural Labor Relations Act and removed some obstacles for farm workers who want to join a union.
In the November state elections, Ohioans overwhelmingly voted to repeal Senate Bill 5—Gov. John Kasich’s attack on middle-class jobs that was designed to destroy collective bargaining rights in Ohio.
In November, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has stayed the execution of Hank Skinner pending resolution of the DNA testing!
In November, the Obama administration announced a decision to consider a new route through Nebraska for TransCanada’s controversial Keystone XL Canada-to-Texas tar sands oil pipeline thus delaying the decision until 2013. In December, federal legislators gave the Obama Administration two months to make the decision as part of a deal in working through the passage of legislation.
In November, the “Super Committee” failed to reach an agreement on how to reduce $1.2 trillion from the U.S. budget over 10 years. This deficit means that automatic spending cuts are scheduled to kick into effect. Half of those proposed cuts would come from defense and national security budgets, while the other savings will come from discretionary spending, not entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security.
In December, the Obama Administration committed to clean air through the cleaning up mercury, arsenic and other toxic air pollution emitted by coal-fired power plants.
In December, Congress granted a two-month extension of unemployment benefits and did not raise payroll taxes. If this had not happened, nearly 2 million Americans would have lost unemployment benefits this month alone. Many of them would have been pushed into poverty.
The Fiscal Year 2012 budget ensures funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and for a program that provides food assistance to poor senior citizens. In addition, there are no significant cuts to international aid programs that save lives and help reduce poverty, like emergency food aid and school feeding programs in developing countries.
In October, CA Governor Brown signed SB 126, an amendment that changed the Agricultural Labor Relations Act and removed some obstacles for farm workers who want to join a union.
In the November state elections, Ohioans overwhelmingly voted to repeal Senate Bill 5—Gov. John Kasich’s attack on middle-class jobs that was designed to destroy collective bargaining rights in Ohio.
In November, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has stayed the execution of Hank Skinner pending resolution of the DNA testing!
In November, the Obama administration announced a decision to consider a new route through Nebraska for TransCanada’s controversial Keystone XL Canada-to-Texas tar sands oil pipeline thus delaying the decision until 2013. In December, federal legislators gave the Obama Administration two months to make the decision as part of a deal in working through the passage of legislation.
In November, the “Super Committee” failed to reach an agreement on how to reduce $1.2 trillion from the U.S. budget over 10 years. This deficit means that automatic spending cuts are scheduled to kick into effect. Half of those proposed cuts would come from defense and national security budgets, while the other savings will come from discretionary spending, not entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security.
In December, the Obama Administration committed to clean air through the cleaning up mercury, arsenic and other toxic air pollution emitted by coal-fired power plants.
In December, Congress granted a two-month extension of unemployment benefits and did not raise payroll taxes. If this had not happened, nearly 2 million Americans would have lost unemployment benefits this month alone. Many of them would have been pushed into poverty.
The Fiscal Year 2012 budget ensures funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and for a program that provides food assistance to poor senior citizens. In addition, there are no significant cuts to international aid programs that save lives and help reduce poverty, like emergency food aid and school feeding programs in developing countries.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Legislative Accomplishments July to September 2011
Care of Earth: EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced a strong new clean air rule that would slash air pollution from power plants, save lives and make the air healthier to breathe. The new "Cross-State Air Pollution Rule" – otherwise referred to as the "Good Neighbor Rule" – will put tighter limits on the amount of acid-rain causing sulfur dioxide and smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution power plants in 27 eastern states will be allowed to emit.
Care of Earth: The three major automakers accepted Obama’s 54.5 miles per gallon fuel efficiency standard on all cars and light-duty trucks by model year 2025.
Immigration: White House Announces End to Deportation of Low-Priority Cases. While this is an important move, it is imperative that individuals follow the following advice from the American Immigration Lawyers Association. They state that, “the best course of action is to consult an immigration lawyer or accredited representative, not to take action because a friend, neighbor or coworker encourages you to act.” Lawyers are currently in a learning mode with regard to this decision.
Challenging Unjust Structures: Across the country, Americans supported 45,000 striking Verizon workers, forcing the telecommunications giant back to the negotiating table to work in good faith with their employees. In addition to pensions and health insurance, the company wants to attack sick leave and disability—while it has shipped tens of thousands of jobs overseas and paid no federal taxes in 2009-10.
Care of Earth: The three major automakers accepted Obama’s 54.5 miles per gallon fuel efficiency standard on all cars and light-duty trucks by model year 2025.
Immigration: White House Announces End to Deportation of Low-Priority Cases. While this is an important move, it is imperative that individuals follow the following advice from the American Immigration Lawyers Association. They state that, “the best course of action is to consult an immigration lawyer or accredited representative, not to take action because a friend, neighbor or coworker encourages you to act.” Lawyers are currently in a learning mode with regard to this decision.
Challenging Unjust Structures: Across the country, Americans supported 45,000 striking Verizon workers, forcing the telecommunications giant back to the negotiating table to work in good faith with their employees. In addition to pensions and health insurance, the company wants to attack sick leave and disability—while it has shipped tens of thousands of jobs overseas and paid no federal taxes in 2009-10.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
April 2011 to June 2011
Empowering Women: Charges were dropped for Saudi Arabian woman, Manal al-Sharif who was arrested for driving a car where it is illegal to do so. Hillary Clinton and Catharine Ashton (Europe’s top ambassador) both spoke out forcefully in favor of giving women the right to drive.
Challenging Unjust Governments: India’s government signed a written submission to all of Anna Hazare’s demands after she declared a fast unto death until the government agreed to let civil society draft a powerful new anti-corruption law.
Human Trafficking: Hilton Hotels have signed a code of conduct on the rape trade and employees will be trained to spot and prevent the horror of sex slavery of women and girls.
Care of Earth: In April the Senate defeated a series of pro-polluter amendments that would have gutted the Clean Air Act and to varying degrees block the Environmental Protection Agency from protecting Americans from dangerous air pollution.
Care of Earth: U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the protection of more than 1 million acres of public lands bordering Grand Canyon National Park from new mining claims and mineral exploration for the next 20 years.
Protecting Human Species: The U.S. House passed a ban prohibiting the patent of a human organism. The Senate version already passed did not contain the ban. A conference committee will reconcile the bills and alerts will be sent if more action is needed.
Confronting Unjust Systems: The U.S. FY 2011 budget passed in mid-April preserves nearly all funding for key programs fighting poverty in the developing world.
Confronting Unjust Systems: In May, the U.S. Senate rejected both Ryan’s Budget bill and Senator Toomey’s budget bill that would hurt low- and moderate- income people, cost millions of jobs, threaten the U.S. fragile economic recovery and leave millions without vital medical coverage.
Confronting Unjust Systems: In May, U.S. tobacco giant, Reynolds acknowledged that it had a responsibility to work with farmworkers to address human rights in their supply chain. It is important to continue the pressure for further action.
Challenging Unjust Governments: The U.S. Senate voted to end subsidies for corn ethanol in June.
Single Payer Healthcare: The U.S. state of Vermont became the first state to enact universal health care for all when Governor Peter Shumlin signed into law H. 202, “An act relating to a single-payer and unified health system.
Promoting Fair Trade: A New York rally entitled, “Raise the Bar, Hershey” had so many people show up to promote fair trade from Hershey that the space for the rally needed to be expanded. This rally included students learning about social justice in their classrooms.
Challenging Unjust Governments: India’s government signed a written submission to all of Anna Hazare’s demands after she declared a fast unto death until the government agreed to let civil society draft a powerful new anti-corruption law.
Human Trafficking: Hilton Hotels have signed a code of conduct on the rape trade and employees will be trained to spot and prevent the horror of sex slavery of women and girls.
Care of Earth: In April the Senate defeated a series of pro-polluter amendments that would have gutted the Clean Air Act and to varying degrees block the Environmental Protection Agency from protecting Americans from dangerous air pollution.
Care of Earth: U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the protection of more than 1 million acres of public lands bordering Grand Canyon National Park from new mining claims and mineral exploration for the next 20 years.
Protecting Human Species: The U.S. House passed a ban prohibiting the patent of a human organism. The Senate version already passed did not contain the ban. A conference committee will reconcile the bills and alerts will be sent if more action is needed.
Confronting Unjust Systems: The U.S. FY 2011 budget passed in mid-April preserves nearly all funding for key programs fighting poverty in the developing world.
Confronting Unjust Systems: In May, the U.S. Senate rejected both Ryan’s Budget bill and Senator Toomey’s budget bill that would hurt low- and moderate- income people, cost millions of jobs, threaten the U.S. fragile economic recovery and leave millions without vital medical coverage.
Confronting Unjust Systems: In May, U.S. tobacco giant, Reynolds acknowledged that it had a responsibility to work with farmworkers to address human rights in their supply chain. It is important to continue the pressure for further action.
Challenging Unjust Governments: The U.S. Senate voted to end subsidies for corn ethanol in June.
Single Payer Healthcare: The U.S. state of Vermont became the first state to enact universal health care for all when Governor Peter Shumlin signed into law H. 202, “An act relating to a single-payer and unified health system.
Promoting Fair Trade: A New York rally entitled, “Raise the Bar, Hershey” had so many people show up to promote fair trade from Hershey that the space for the rally needed to be expanded. This rally included students learning about social justice in their classrooms.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Advocacy Accomplishments
January to March 2011
In January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its decision to protect mountain communities and the health of Appalachian citizens by vetoing the largest sing mountaintop removal coal mining permit in West Virginia history, the Spruce No. 1 Mine.
Wendell Berry and thirteen other individuals brought national attention to mountaintop removal and coal mining in mid-February. Additionally, Congressman John Yarmuth (KY) gave a courageous and powerful statement opposing mountaintop removal in the House of Representatives.
In mid-February, the largest florist in the world, 1-800-Flowers agreed to begin selling Fair Trade flowers and insist on a strong code of conduct for all their suppliers to counteract the deplorable working conditions that thousands of female flower workers face in South America. They’ve promised to offer Fair Trade flowers in time for Mother's Day.
In early March, the world’s largest retail manufacturer of chocolate, Mars Chocolate took its responsibility to cocoa farmers very seriously and announced that all MARS® Bars manufactured in Australia will now select only cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. This move brings us another step closer to our goal of becoming the first global chocolate company to source its entire cocoa supply from sustainably managed sources by 2020.
Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois signed legislation to abolish the death penalty in March.
In Kentucky, SB 6 (an anti-immigrant bill) was not passed. Neither was HB 3 that would have required public employers to use the federal employment verification programs and prohibit hiring undocumented persons.
In January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its decision to protect mountain communities and the health of Appalachian citizens by vetoing the largest sing mountaintop removal coal mining permit in West Virginia history, the Spruce No. 1 Mine.
Wendell Berry and thirteen other individuals brought national attention to mountaintop removal and coal mining in mid-February. Additionally, Congressman John Yarmuth (KY) gave a courageous and powerful statement opposing mountaintop removal in the House of Representatives.
In mid-February, the largest florist in the world, 1-800-Flowers agreed to begin selling Fair Trade flowers and insist on a strong code of conduct for all their suppliers to counteract the deplorable working conditions that thousands of female flower workers face in South America. They’ve promised to offer Fair Trade flowers in time for Mother's Day.
In early March, the world’s largest retail manufacturer of chocolate, Mars Chocolate took its responsibility to cocoa farmers very seriously and announced that all MARS® Bars manufactured in Australia will now select only cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms. This move brings us another step closer to our goal of becoming the first global chocolate company to source its entire cocoa supply from sustainably managed sources by 2020.
Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois signed legislation to abolish the death penalty in March.
In Kentucky, SB 6 (an anti-immigrant bill) was not passed. Neither was HB 3 that would have required public employers to use the federal employment verification programs and prohibit hiring undocumented persons.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Accomplishments on Legislation
October to December 2010
START Treaty: This bill reduces the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals in verifiable ways.
Unemployment Insurance: A 13 month extension for unemployed workers and their families was included in the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.
Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Passed in the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010, this keeps millions of Americans from falling into poverty and reduces the severity of poverty for millions more.
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act: This bill reauthorizes child nutrition programs, was enacted on December 13. It provides $4.5 billion over 10 years for better child nutrition through more afterschool and summer meals, higher reimbursements to school lunch providers, improved administration of WIC and meals programs, including easier enrollment of children, and more funding for WIC program improvements.
FDA Food Safety Modernization Act: This food safety law will preserve local control for small farms and processing. Included in this bill is a Tester-Hagan amendment applies screens for geography, scale and direct sales to end users to define farms and small processing facilities that would not be subjected to industrial scale regulations enforced by the Food and Drug Administration. Rather existing state and local public health and sanitation laws will apply to these small businesses.
Burmese Political Prisoner: Aung San Suu Kyi, a Burmese prisoner, was freed in mid-November. Suu Kyi is a human rights and pro-democracy leader who had been held in detention or house arrest in Myanmar for 15 of the last 21 years. Amnesty International advocated for this Nobel Laureate over the course of two decades. Although she was recently barred from participating in the first elections her country has held in 20 years, we welcome the news of her freedom.
Smith coal plant in KY: The Smith plant was cancelled in November. The coal-burning power plant proposed by the East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) was cancelled by the utility. EKPC entered into an agreement with KFTC (KY For The Commonwealth), the Kentucky Environmental Foundation, the Sierra Club, the Kentucky Office of Attorney General and a number of its customers, committing to halt its plans for two proposed coal-burning power plants in Clark County, one that’s already under construction and a second it planned for the future. Additionally, EKPC committed $125,000 toward a collaborative effort in which the public interest groups, EKPC and its member co-ops, and other parties will work together to evaluate and recommend new energy efficiency programs and renewable energy options.
Offshore Oil Drilling: Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar announced in December that there would be no new offshore drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts or in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico for the next five years.
Glacier National Park and Oil Drilling: Oil companies voluntarily gave up plans to drill on more than 80% of the area near Flathead River Valley. Thousands of signatures were sent to Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar and many organized in preparation for hearings and other events.
START Treaty: This bill reduces the U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals in verifiable ways.
Unemployment Insurance: A 13 month extension for unemployed workers and their families was included in the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.
Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Passed in the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010, this keeps millions of Americans from falling into poverty and reduces the severity of poverty for millions more.
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act: This bill reauthorizes child nutrition programs, was enacted on December 13. It provides $4.5 billion over 10 years for better child nutrition through more afterschool and summer meals, higher reimbursements to school lunch providers, improved administration of WIC and meals programs, including easier enrollment of children, and more funding for WIC program improvements.
FDA Food Safety Modernization Act: This food safety law will preserve local control for small farms and processing. Included in this bill is a Tester-Hagan amendment applies screens for geography, scale and direct sales to end users to define farms and small processing facilities that would not be subjected to industrial scale regulations enforced by the Food and Drug Administration. Rather existing state and local public health and sanitation laws will apply to these small businesses.
Burmese Political Prisoner: Aung San Suu Kyi, a Burmese prisoner, was freed in mid-November. Suu Kyi is a human rights and pro-democracy leader who had been held in detention or house arrest in Myanmar for 15 of the last 21 years. Amnesty International advocated for this Nobel Laureate over the course of two decades. Although she was recently barred from participating in the first elections her country has held in 20 years, we welcome the news of her freedom.
Smith coal plant in KY: The Smith plant was cancelled in November. The coal-burning power plant proposed by the East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) was cancelled by the utility. EKPC entered into an agreement with KFTC (KY For The Commonwealth), the Kentucky Environmental Foundation, the Sierra Club, the Kentucky Office of Attorney General and a number of its customers, committing to halt its plans for two proposed coal-burning power plants in Clark County, one that’s already under construction and a second it planned for the future. Additionally, EKPC committed $125,000 toward a collaborative effort in which the public interest groups, EKPC and its member co-ops, and other parties will work together to evaluate and recommend new energy efficiency programs and renewable energy options.
Offshore Oil Drilling: Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar announced in December that there would be no new offshore drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts or in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico for the next five years.
Glacier National Park and Oil Drilling: Oil companies voluntarily gave up plans to drill on more than 80% of the area near Flathead River Valley. Thousands of signatures were sent to Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar and many organized in preparation for hearings and other events.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Accomplishments on Legislation
July 2010 to September 2010
Water as a human right: In late July, the United Nations voted to support a nonbinding resolution declaring access to clean water and sanitation as a human right. No country voted against the measure. However, Canada, the U.S. and Australia were among the 41 countries to abstain from the vote.
Haiti: Congress passed the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP, S. 3275 and H.R. 5160) and the Debt Relief for Earthquake Recovery Act for Haiti (H.R. 4573 and S. 2961) and both pieces of legislation were signed by the President. These victories will help Haiti to recover and rebuild.
Sudan: President Obama committed to redoubling his Administration’s efforts for peace and stability in Sudan. On September 28, the U.S. House passed resolution 1588 signaling the U.S. strong commitment to prevent increased violence and promote peace and stability in Sudan. The resolution calls on President Obama to strengthen engagement and on the international community to coordinate their efforts closely. It also urges the responsible actors in Sudan to comply with the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, to resolve outstanding issues and avoid escalating tensions.
Violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Provisions were included in the financial reform bill requiring U.S. companies to take steps, including regular audits, to ensure that minerals used in their products are not financing militia violence in the eastern Congo. The bill allows companies to label goods as conflict mineral-free and directs the U.S. government to develop a strategy that addresses the links among human rights abuses and illegal extraction of minerals from the Congo. s
Death Penalty: Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced in early September that he has commuted the death sentence of Kevin Keith. With over 7000 letters in two weeks, Governor Strickland recognized that questions remain regarding whether Kevin Keith is, in fact, guilty.
Accountability and Extractive Industries: The financial reform legislation that was passed includes a provision requiring large U.S. companies that extract minerals, oil and gas to publish what they pay to the governments of the countries in which they work. This will make it easier for civil society in those countries to hold their governments accountable for how these revenues are used.
Unemployment Assistance: Unemployment insurance benefits for laid-off workers was extended through November 2010.
Indigenous Women Protected: In late July, the Tribal Law and Order Act was passed as an amendment to H.R. 725. This amendment works against violent crime (such as rape with impunity) to Native American and Alaska Native women. This bill will allow every Native American and Alaska Native woman to get a police response, have access to a rape kit, opportunity to see her case prosecuted and see justice served for crimes committed against her.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Quarterly Summary of Accomplishments on Legislation
Chevron: At the annual meeting, shareholders representing approximately 160 million shares voted in favor of a shareholder proposal to help reduce instability and insecurity in oil-rich countries through a transparent and accountable payment disclosure policy in all countries where Chevron operates. This is an opportunity for Chevron to promote the rights of citizens by providing them with vital information about revenues coming into their countries.
Clean Air Act
In June, U.S. Senators voted down a blatant attempt to weaken the Clean Air Act. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) led the failed legislative effort to keep the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases, and while she failed, more such attacks are anticipated.
Health Care Reform: President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law on March 23, 2010. The new law significantly reforms health care policy in the United States.
Human Trafficking: Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS) sent a letter to hotels to encourage action on human trafficking in advance of The World Cup. More than 300 faith-based organizations and investors including SCN Leadership, joined together to raise our voices against exploitation of children. Responses were received from Accor, Carlson, and Intercontinental hotels.
Holy Land: We urged Congress and President Obama to exercise strong leadership for Holy Land peace. In a positive development, the U.S. is now brokering “proximity” or indirect talks between Israelis and Palestinians, but we need to continue supporting strong U.S. leadership.
India: Regarding Bt Brinjal, although the Minister of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Jairam Ramesh has deferred introduction of Bt brinjal indefinitely until “independent tests prove it safe”, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) is trying other ways to push the introduction forward. The GEAC decided to prepare a background paper on concerns over food safety of Bt Brinjal. A panel with 5-6 independent scientists will be formed to look into the concerns and question their scientific validity.
Valley Fill Permits
The Obama Administration has stopped the rubber-stamping of valley fill permits associated with mountaintop removal mining. The decision by the Army Corps of Engineers to suspend the Nationwide 21 permitting process is a step in the right direction. This action means that permits will go through a more extensive review and directly impacted Appalachian communities will have a chance to express their concerns. This change is not permanent and will be under consideration again in 2012, and the Army Corps could retract that suspension before then.
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