April 14th
1000 MORE's weekly nonpartisan roundup of the most important happenings in federal government, written in a way that doesn't require a law degree to understand, with tools to take action
April 14, 2023
This week in MORE POWER:
Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act
Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act
My Body My Data Act
Update on federal courts amidst abortion pill case
Gun bills in Congress
Justice for All Act
SAFE Banking Act
Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act
Republican-led states around the country have passed bills banning trans children, teens, and adults from varying aspects in public life, be it using public restrooms, accessing lifesaving medical care, or playing sports. Now federal Congress is trying to do the same.
In February, Rep. Greg Steube, (R-FL) introduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. If it passes, it would keep trans women and girls from competing in sports. Steube is on the record stating that "by forcing biological female athletes to compete against biological male athletes in competitive sports, we are taking away women's opportunities on and off the field. These unfair policies discount the hard work and determination put in by our female athletes and give biological male athletes an unfair advantage in joining teams, setting records and earning scholarships."
Trans rights advocates say that bills like these are not only discriminatory, they are "based on inaccurate stereotypes about biology, athleticism, and gender," according to the ACLU, which noted that "women’s sports have continued to grow and thrive in states with policies that allow trans student athletes to compete." A House vote on the bill is expected next week.
Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act
Over the past week, abortion rights have continued to make headlines. A case over access to mifepristone, an FDA-approved drug used for abortions in patients up to 10 weeks pregnant, is making its way through the federal courts. Right now, most patients can still get the drug, but the future of access remains uncertain, particularly in states that have banned abortion and outlawed the interstate travel necessary for patients to seek care.
There is a bill in the House to change that. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, (D-TX) reintroduced the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act this term. If passed and signed into law, it would "protect the constitutional right to travel across state lines, including for reproductive healthcare," according to Fletcher. The bill has 167 co-sponsors, all Democrats. While it passed the House in the last Congress, it is unlikely to come to a vote there now because anti-abortion Republicans control the House schedule. But with enough public pressure, a bill with similar provisions could move in the Senate.
My Body My Data Act
Privacy and data protection laws were not written to protect patient rights, or data in a post-Roe world, especially one with current levels of digital tracking and storage technology. Not only do 23 million American women live in a state where abortion is illegal, several Republican state legislatures around the country have passed bills that criminalize going out of state for abortion care. Under such laws, patients could be prosecuted for seeking or even researching reproductive health providers. That means states can force ride share companies and search engines to share patient search history and location data when prosecuting them for violating these laws.
Rep. Sara Jacobs, (D-CA) has a bill, the My Body My Data Act, to prevent that. If passed and signed into law, it would would create nationwide protections for personal reproductive or sexual health information, including data collected by apps that track menstruation, ovulation, and pregnancy.
Update on federal courts amidst abortion pill case
We're sure ya'll have heard about the drama on the conflicting court rulings on the abortion pill mifepristone, with a Trump appointee's ruling conflicting with one from an Obama appointee and Attorney General Merrick Garland asking the Supreme Court to step in. These rulings have put the spotlight back on the importance and power of the federal judiciary.
As of the end of March, the Senate has confirmed 119 of President Biden's 163 judicial nominees - one to the Supreme Court, 31 to appeals courts, and 87 to district courts. The Biden administration announced two new nominees today, including Judge Irma Ramirez, who would become the first Hispanic woman to serve on the 5th Circuit appellate court if confirmed. The 5th Circuit is widely considered the most conservative in the country, and it is the court currently ruling on the mifepristone case.
You can call your Senators about confirming judicial nominees.
Gun Bills In Congress
Gun violence has killed nearly 12,000 people this year in the United States, including nearly 500 children and teens. In the 114 days of 2023, there have been over 150 mass shootings. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that an average of 321 people are shot in the United States everyday, including 22 children and teens, 5 of whom never make it.
How many more will die before you call your reps on this issue?
There are at least 41 pieces of legislation related to guns in Congress right now, 31 in the House and 10 in the Senate. Here are some of the bills they can pass to move the needle on gun violence:
Assault Weapons Ban: Sen. Diane Feinstein, (D-CA) reintroduced this bill, which would largely ban the types of guns used in mass shootings. With the sort of public pressure we saw after the Uvalde shooting, the Senate could bring it to a vote.
Federal Firearm Licensee Act: Rep. Robin Kelly, (D-IL) put this bill forward to close loopholes in federal legislation to stop firearms dealers who get shut down from flooding the streets with their old inventory of guns.
Mental Health Access and Gun Violence Prevention Act: Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) introduced a bill that would provide funding for mental healthcare and set-up a nationwide mental health background check system to prevent guns from getting in the hands of people who could do harm to themselves, their loved ones, and the community at large.
Office of Gun Violence Prevention Act: a survivor of gun violence himself, Rep. Maxwell Frost, (D-FL) has introduced his first bill since his historic election as the only Gen-Z member of Congress. This bill would set up a new federal agency to coordinate funding and policy for gun violence prevention nationwide.
You can use the links above to read about these bills in the platform and take action.
Justice for All Act
Since Congress passed landmark civil rights legislation in the 1960s and 1970s, like the Civil Rights Act of 1964, various entities have sued and won rulings in court that overturned parts of these laws.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, (D-MI) and a group of House Democratic lawmakers want to do something to change that. That's why they reintroduced the Justice for All Act, which "restores and expands protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972," according to Tlaib.
Largely an anti-discrimination bill, the Justice for All Act would also notably end qualified immunity for all government employees, including police officers, so that those who violate people's civil rights or engage in racial or gender profiling can be held accountable.
SAFE Banking Act
Maryland, Missouri, and Rhode Island became the latest states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana with ballot initiatives in the November 2022 election. As more states continue to "legalize weed," pressure is mounting on Congress to fix banking laws and regulations left over from the "War on Drugs," so that businesses who trade in cannabis, and their bankers, no longer face penalties and prosecution.
According to the American Bar Association, the SAFE Banking Act "aims to protect banking institutions—as well as their insurers—that choose to offer services to legitimate cannabis-related businesses operating in accordance with their respective state laws." It would also block federal regulators from penalizing banks with cannabis related clients and makes sure that financial transactions of legitimate cannabis companies are considered legal.
What Congress Passed This Week
Nothing, because they're still in their district work period. Congress returns to D.C. this Monday, April 17th.
What POTUS Signed Into Law This Week
H.J.Res 7, the COVID-19 emergency declaration termination
