The first session of the 105th Congress convened on January 7, 1997. Pro-family legislators, from both parties, immediately began re-introducing legislation that had been debated and voted on during the 104th Congress, but had never been signed into law. Hopefully, the 105th Congress will be successful in passing legislation that will strengthen the family and restore the moral climate of our country.
ABORTION . . .Partial-Birth Abortion Ban:S. 6 has already been introduced in the Senate, and the House is expected to introduce their version of the bill in the near future. Both bills are patterned after H.R. 1833, the partial birth abortion ban that was passed by the 104th Congress. H.R. 1833 was vetoed by President Clinton and Congress was unsuccessful in overriding the presidential veto. This issue is so critical that over 26 states have already filed partial birth abortion bans in their respective state legislatures. Taxpayer Funding of Population Control: The first pro-life vote of the 105th Congress took place February 13th, when the House voted, 220-209, to pass President's Clinton proposal (HJR 36), which would release an additional $123 million in population control funds in March, even if the recipient organization performs or actively promotes abortion as a method of family planning. Rep. Chris Smith's pro-life resolution, which would have restricted the population funds from going to organizations that promote abortion, passed 231-194, but could not be attached as an amendment to HJR 36. Consequently, this bill is vulnerable to a presidential veto. The Senate will vote on HJR 36 the end of February. Pro-life Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-AR) has introduced S. 337, which will place pro-life restrictions on the release of population control funds. [Family Research Council's Legislative Hotline, 2/21/97. Christian Coalition Action Alert, 2/97. Eagle Forum Legislative Alert, 2/97] BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT . . .A Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) has been introduced in the Senate (Senate Joint Resolution 1), which could be voted on during the week of February 24th. Because this is a constitutional amendment, 67 senators must vote in favor of SJR 1. The bill's passage could be threatened by several controversial amendments, including an amendment that would exempt Social Security from the calculations. Note: The Senate was unsuccessful in passing a BBA during the 104th Congress.A BBA has also been introduced in the House (HJR 1). 290 votes are necessary for passage. It is possible that a Social Security related amendment will also be introduced in the House. A vote in the House has not been scheduled at this time, but debate is expected to begin following the Senate vote. Note: The House did pass a BBA during the 104th Congress. [Family Research Council's Legislative Hotline, 2/21/97] HOMOSEXUALITY . . .Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) has introduced S. 189, the "Freedom of Speech Act", which will prohibit federal agencies or departments from creating or adding "sexual orientation" or any other new class of individuals not already classified in current civil-rights laws. The bill also protects federal employees' rights to express their personal and religious views regarding homosexuality. 'Family Issues Alert, Focus on the Family, 1/22/97]ACCOUNTABILITY FOR CONGRESS . . .On January 7, 1997, the full House, acting under the constitutional provision that allows each house of Congress to "determine the rules of its proceedings," created a new rule which will require (under Rule XI, Subparagraph (4), that each member of the House of Representatives attach a "Constitutional Authority Statement" to each proposal they introduce. This "statement" must cite the section of the Constitution which gives Congress the power to pass that particular legislation. This requirement will encourage each member of Congress and the public at large, to become more familiar with what the Constitution does and does not allow and force members of the House to refer to the Constitution when initiating legislation. [The New American, "An Accountable Congress", 3/3/97, pg 44]TERM LIMITS . . .On February 13th, the House voted on eleven different measures that would have amended the U.S. Constitution to limit the terms of Congress. None of the amendments passed. On the final vote to send a resolution to the states for ratification, the measure failed to get the necessary 2/3rds majority (290 votes) required for a constitutional amendment. [News Release, Congresswoman Pat Danner (D-MO) 2/13/97]SCHOOL PRAYER AMENDMENTS . . .Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) has introduced HJR 12 and Rep. Gerald Solomon (R-NY) has introduced HJR 20, for the purpose of allowing voluntary school prayer. In addition, a number of other school prayer amendments have been introduced. Both amendments have been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. [Washington Weekly, Rutherford, 1/16/97]IMMIGRATION . . .Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) has introduced HJR 26, an amendment that will end the practice of granting automatic citizenship to the offspring of illegal alien parents. Rep. Foley is seeking additional co-sponsors for his bill. No hearings have been scheduled at this time. [U.S. Border Control Bulletin, 2/97]GUN CONTROL . . .Rep. Bartlett (R-MD) has re-introduced the "Citizen's Self-Defense Act of 1997", H.R. 27. This legislation will "restore America's gun rights to what our Founding Fathers had envisioned ... a nation where citizens share in the responsibility of maintaining law and order by providing for their own self-defense." Co-sponsors are still needed. [Gun Owners of America Bulletin, 2/97]ASSISTED SUICIDE . . .Sen. Ashcroft (R-MO) and Sen. Dorgan (D-ND) plan to introduce legislation, the "Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act" to prevent federal funding of assisted suicide. Their actions were prompted by news that the state of Oregon, which has legalized assisted suicide, intends to use Medicaid funds to pay for the killing procedure. [On Watch in Washington, Intercessors for America, 1/15/97] |