The United States is currently experiencing one of the worst flu epidemics in recent history. In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the flu was widespread in every state in the continental U.S., the first year that this
has happened in the thirteen years that the CDC has used its current flu-tracking system.[i]
One in four women and one in nine men have suffered physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner, which has a devastating impact on a survivor’s physical and emotional health. Often forgotten when we talk about victims of intimate partner violence,
sexual assault, stalking, and revenge pornography, is the severe economic impact this abuse can have on victims. It can cost victims their jobs, their homes, their health, and their insurance – and, in cases of domestic violence, reinforce their dependency
on their abusers as a result. Abusers often use economic necessities like rent, health care, and child care to exert control over their victims. And victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and revenge pornography often find that abuse
and threats follow them from home into the workplace – each year, they lose nearly eight million days of paid work—the equivalent of more than 32,000 full-time jobs.
We invite you to join us in cosponsoring the Stem the Tide of Overdose Prevalence from Opiate Drugs Act of 2017, or the STOP OD Act, H.R. 664, which would help state and local governments raise awareness that Fentanyl-laced drugs are rising in popularity,
and equip our first responders with the training and tools they need to fight this epidemic.
Research shows that students who eat school breakfast perform better on standardized tests, behave better in the classroom and have better attendance. Still, far too many students – especially those living in poverty – arrive at school hungry each day.
There is increasing concern among immigrant communities throughout the United States about their future in this country. Among those living in fear are
people who are in receipt of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). Fear has grown exponentially given the way the Trump Administration has handled Sudan’s
termination of status. Acting Secretary Duke terminated status for Nicaraguans under TPS, and left Hondurans in limbo for an
additional 6 months until determining whether or not they are eligible to continue to stay under the TPS program. Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, the Administration put tens of thousands of Haitians
in limbo by terminating TPS and requiring their departure within 18 months of the announcement. To start the New Year, the administration
terminated TPS for 200,000 Salvadorans.
Research shows that students who eat school breakfast perform better on standardized tests, behave better in the classroom and have better attendance. Still, far too many students – especially those living in poverty – arrive at school hungry each day.
I invite you to cosponsor the Safer Streets Act (H.R.4767) which creates a new grant program that focuses on violent crime in our local communities. Reducing violent crime should be a priority for the federal government.
Happy New Year and welcome to the first legislative week of 2018! We are excited to kick-off the New Year with a free professional development opportunity for congressional staffers. As part of our ongoing effort to promote space education we have teamed
up with the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration to bring you a nine-part series designed to establish or build upon an existing foundation of space science and space technology. Below is the course description and curriculum as well as a registration POC.
This series will begin on Friday 26 January from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in Rayburn HOB room 2325 and we hope you will join us to learn from a diverse group of guest speakers and to network with other staffers who share a passion for space exploration!
One in four women and one in nine men have suffered physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner, which has a devastating impact on a survivor’s physical and emotional health. Often forgotten when we talk about victims of intimate partner violence,
sexual assault, stalking, and revenge pornography, is the severe economic impact this abuse can have on victims. It can cost victims their jobs, their homes, their health, and their insurance – and, in cases of domestic violence, reinforce their dependency
on their abusers as a result. Abusers often use economic necessities like rent, health care, and child care to exert control over their victims. And victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and revenge pornography often find that abuse
and threats follow them from home into the workplace – each year, they lose nearly eight million days of paid work—the equivalent of more than 32,000 full-time jobs.
I invite you to cosponsor the Federal Employee Short-Term Disability Insurance Act (H.R. 4806), which would offer federal employees group short-term disability insurance at no cost to the government. Many federal employees already buy short-term disability
insurance on their own at high individual rates. Under this bill, federal employees would be responsible for 100 percent of the disability insurance premiums, but could take advantage of lower group rates. For many federal employees, however, the most important
advantage may be access to benefits for paid leave for pregnancy, to adopt a child or become a foster parent or to care for a family member.