|
Many of the bills being debated by your members of Congress in Washington,
D.C. will impact your family and ultimately, the moral climate of our
country. A number of the bills being considered by the 105th Congress are
summarized below. Contact your two U.S. Senators and your U.S.
Representative about the bills of concern to you and your family. PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION BAN (H.R.1122): This legislation bans partial-birth abortions or late term abortions, such as the "dilation & extraction" (D&X) procedure. The D & X procedure involves the complete delivery of the child except for the head. The child's skull is then punctured, the brains suctioned out and the dead baby delivered. Current Status: The House passed H.R. 1122 by a veto-proof majority (295-136) in March. On 5/21/97, the Senate passed a slightly different version of the ban by 64-36, 3 votes short of a veto-proof vote. The House must vote on the Senate changes before sending it to the President. FOREIGN POLICY REFORM ACT (H.R. 1486): Pro-life legislator, Rep. Smith (R-NJ), offered an amendment to restore pro-life restrictions to U.S. foreign policy. The "Mexico City Policy" that Rep Smith seeks to restore was in effect for nine years until Mr. Clinton rescinded it, thus allowing groups like International Planned Parenthood Federation to receive millions of U.S. dollars to promote and perform abortions. Current Status: The U.S. House approved a proposal to cease federal funding for overseas abortion providers and promoters. The Senate will also vote on this measure. MILITARY ABORTIONS (H.R. 1119): In 1993, President Clinton reversed the long-standing ban on elective abortions in military facilities. When all military physicians refused to perform elective abortions, the Administration tried to hire civilian physicians to perform the abortions. At that time, pro-lifers in Congress reinstated the military abortion ban, which has been law (Public Law 104-106) ever since. Rep Harman (D-CA) offered an amendment to repeal current law (PL 104-106) and authorize abortion-on-demand at military hospitals. Current Status: The full House defeated the Harman amendment (196-224), leaving the military abortion ban as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. [FRC Legislative Hotline 6/20/97] EMPLOYMENT NON-DISCRIMINATION ACT - ENDA -- (H.R. 1858/S. 869): This legislation will "extend basic employment discrimination protections to gay and lesbian Americans." In addition, ENDA will prohibit employers from disciplining or reacting to any sexual act by the employee, however bizarre or disruptive, on or off the job; will define "sexual orientation" so broadly that all sexual behaviors from pedophilia to bisexuality, are given special protection; will pose a serious threat to employers' and employees' freedoms of religion, speech and association. Employers would no longer be able to take their most deeply held beliefs into account when making hiring, management and promotion decisions. ENDA would effectively force businesses to endorse the legitimacy of homosexuality, subjecting them to punishing legal action if they are accused of "discrimination. Last year, ENDA was attached to the Defense of Marriage Act and was only narrowly rejected by the Senate. Current Status: ENDA will most likely be attached to a popular piece of legislation to improve its chances of passage. There are currently 47 cosponsors in the Senate. [Family Issues Alert, 4/30/97] EDUCATION LEGISLATIONH.R. 1385 -- "The Employment Training and Literacy Empowerment Act of 1997", resurrects the failed CAREERS Act of last year. According to the American Policy Center, if H.R. 1385 passes, it will take job training choices away from individuals, parents, and local communities and further blur the distinction between education and work. [Action Alert, The American Policy Center, Tom Deweese, 4/29/97] Current Status: H.R. 1385 passed in the House in May. Referred to Senate Committee on Labor & Human Resources. H.R. 1803 -- "Career Preparation Education Reform Act of 1997", introduced by Rep Clay (D-MO) at the administration's request, will redefine all vocational education as school-to-work -- a program which is being implemented to require all students to follow an academic plus vocational path. The bill defines career preparation as those programs and activities which support the implementation of the School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994. It also embraces skill certificates. [Ed Facts, 6/6/97] Current Status: Referred to House Committee on Education & Workforce. H.R. 1853 -- Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education & Applied Technology Act will reauthorize the Perkins Act which expires this year. Rep. Riggs emphasized that the bill will not be part of the School-to-Work program, which is under the jurisdiction of another subcommittee. Current Status: H.R. 1853 passed the subcommittee by a voice vote and will be debated by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in the near future. Pro-family groups are working for language that will prevent funds under the Perkins Act from being used for a School-to-Work agenda that would require all students to follow an academic plus vocational track. "ANTI-HYPOCRISY ACT (H.R. 1915): Introduced by Rep. Frank (D-MA), this legislation will de-criminalize sodomy in the armed forces. Rep. Frank says that the current military "don't ask, don't tell" policy is hypocritical and needs to be updated. Current Status: Referred to House Committee on National Security. There are currently no co-sponsors of this legislation. NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS: On 6/19/97, a House Appropriations subcommittee passed a bill to eliminate federal funding for the NEA, but approved $10 million in closing costs. The NEA has not been authorized by Congress for over 10 years, but each year the agency receives additional funding while continuing to fund offensive, immoral and irreligious art projects. Current Status: On 6/26/97, by a vote of 28-31, the full House Appropriations Committee voted AGAINST restoring funding for the NEA. When the bill hits the House floor, efforts will be made to restore funding. A vote will take place sometime after July 8th. |