By
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Hello
All:
With so many negative reports hitting the media and the airwaves chronicling the antics of the ersatz president
a/k/a the predator-in-chief, I feel the need to give a balanced view of what our elected officials are doing to
counter- act his madness.
So many perjoratives have been swirling around about our Congressional Black Caucus members, and
Congress in general, it's important to know what they are saying and doing to try to stem the onslaught
launched against us by T-Rump and the repuglycon party.
It's also informative and constructive for us to keep abreast of what our legislators are doing and saying, because
it's up to us to back them in their efforts.
This is a round up of some of the most recent commentaries and press releases I've received from National
and local legislators in reference to T-Rump and his new "laws" and their impact on WE THE PEOPLE.
This is just a sample of some of the letters received from the Congressmembers - I will share more as I receive
them.
Feel free to reach out to these legislators and offer your services as well as your commentary, concerns and
recommendations going forward.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria
Scott,
Committee Democrats Urge Senate to Fully Account for Puzder’s
Business Record
|
WASHINGTON
– Today, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03), and other
Committee on the
Education, Labor and Pensions
Committee, urging them to conduct a complete and thorough
investigation of Andrew Puzder, President Donald Trump’s nominee
for U.S. Secretary of Labor.
In
light of Mr. Puzder’s past statements and business practices,
there are serious concerns about
whether he would fulfill this
critical mission if confirmed as Labor Secretary.
“Mr.
Puzder’s restaurants have repeatedly been found in violation of
the very workplace laws
that, as Secretary of Labor, he would be
charged with enforcing,” the
Members wrote.
“In the past seven years, the Department of Labor has found wage
and hour
violations in 60 percent of its investigations of Carl’s
Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants.
CKE franchise restaurants
have also been found in violation of the Occupational
Safety and
Health Act (OSHA). In fact, Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.’s
restaurants have
been found in violation of OSHA rules 87 times in
the past sixteen years. If
confirmed, Mr. Puzder will lead
the agency charged with enforcing many of our
nation’s workplace
laws—the same agency that found his companies to be
frequent
violators of health and safety and wage and hour laws.”
The
members urge Senate leaders to insist that Mr. Puzder fully
account for the working
conditions in his own restaurants, and
explain how he plans to protect American workers
from exploitation
and abuse, prior to voting on his nomination.
Dear
Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray,
We
write to urge you to conduct a complete and thorough investigation
of Andrew Puzder,
President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary
of the Department of Labor, before holding a
vote on his
nomination. The Department of Labor’s mission is: “To foster,
promote, and
develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers,
and retirees of the United States; improve
working conditions;
advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure
work-related
benefits and rights.” In light of Mr. Puzder’s
past statements and business practices, we have
concerns about
whether he would fulfill this critical mission if confirmed as
Secretary of Labor.
Mr.
Puzder’s restaurants have repeatedly been found in violation of
the very workplace laws
that, as Secretary of Labor, he would be
charged with enforcing. In the past seven years, the
Department of
Labor has found wage and hour violations in 60 percent of its
investigations of
Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants.
CKE franchise restaurants have also been found in violation
of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). In fact, Hardee’s
and Carl’s Jr.’s restaurants
have been found in violation of
OSHA rules 87 times in the past sixteen years. If confirmed,
Mr. Puzder will lead the agency charged with enforcing many of our
nation’s workplace laws—
the same agency that found his
companies to be frequent violators of health and safety and wage
and hour laws.
A
new study also found that during Mr. Puzder’s tenure as CEO of
CKE Restaurants, Carl’s Jr.
and Hardee’s have been subject to
more employment discrimination lawsuits than any other
major U.S.
hamburger chain. Of the lawsuits examined by the study’s
authors, many were
settled on confidential terms that prohibited
workers from discussing their claims.
We
urge this Committee to question Mr. Puzder about his willingness
to continue the robust
enforcement necessary to protect American
workers from wage theft, on the job
injuries, and workplace
discrimination. Mr. Puzder’s track record raises serious
questions
about whether he would carry out these responsibilities
robustly or fairly.
As
a CEO in an industry that pays workers some of the lowest wages in
the nation,
Mr. Puzder has opposed a meaningful increase in the
federal minimum wage. He has also
opposed updates to the
overtime rules to restore the traditional forty hour workweek and
give
more workers the right to earn overtime pay when they work
more than 40 hours in a week.
Mr. Puzder has claimed that
some low-wage jobs do not “… produce enough economic value
to
bear [a minimum wage] increase…” We urge you to ask Mr.
Puzder what he would do to
help raise the pay for America’s
workforce.
Prior
to voting on his nomination, we urge you to insist that Mr. Puzder
fully account for the
working conditions in his own restaurants,
and explain how he plans to protect American
workers from
exploitation and abuse.
Sincerely,
Contact:
Democratic
Press Office, 202-226-0853
|
How Repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Threatens the Health and
Economic Security of Working Families
The report, Accessible, Affordable Health Care – A Right, Not A Privilege: How Repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Threatens the Health and Economic Security of Working Families, highlights ten of the most important ways the ACA has improved the lives of hardworking Americans and their families. The report also illustrates why efforts to repeal the ACA are dangerous for working people.
Democrats in Congress remain committed to full implementation of the ACA and have offered ways to improve the law, including increasing quality of care and making health services even more affordable for America’s working families.
1. Strengthening Health Coverage Rights and Protections for Working Families
o Under the ACA, working people are now safeguarded from incurring unreasonable out-of-pocket expenses, which can be financially crippling for many families, especially those struggling to make ends meet while recovering from a major health issue.
o Repeal of the ACA would leave working people susceptible to paying unlimited costs for health care.
2. Putting Money Back into the Pockets of Working People
o Thanks to a provision in the Affordable Care Act, Americans have already saved $9 billion dollars in the form of rebates from insurance companies.
o Repeal would take us back to the days when insurers spent a huge chunk of premiums on CEO bonuses, instead of working families’ health care.
3. Enabling Financial Security for Young Workers
o The ACA has made it possible for 6.1 million young adults to obtain or remain on their parents’ health plans until the age of 26.
o Repeal limits options for young people, which could put their health, finances, and even their careers at risk.
4. Controlling Health Insurance Costs for Working Families
o While the cost of health insurance has continued to increase, since the enactment of the ACA, the rate of growth in premiums for job-based coverage has gone up by less than half the rate that it was before the law was enacted.
o Repeal threatens the progress made in controlling the cost of health insurance, increasing the number of uninsured and escalating the cost of uncompensated care.
5. Creating a Healthier Workforce
o By increasing access to preventive care, the ACA decreases the likelihood of disability, and individuals who are healthier enjoy increased productivity on the job, generating higher incomes for themselves and their families.
o Repeal puts the health of the American workforce at risk.
6. Helping Working People Afford Coverage
o The ACA Marketplace creates additional options for workers and their families to afford coverage. It also encourages job mobility and entrepreneurship.
o Repeal would collapse the Marketplace and financial assistance for individuals and families, taking away affordable health care options from workers.
Prepared by the Democratic Staff of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) | February 2017
7. Improving the Quality of Coverage for Families
o In order to keep people healthier, the ACA created health care quality improvement programs, including programs aimed at preventing costly, unnecessary, and avoidable hospital readmissions.
o Repeal places unnecessary financial stress on working families by gambling with their health and the health of their family members.
8. Creating More Job Flexibility
o Thanks to the ACA, the problem of “job-lock,” has improved significantly because workers have health care options outside of their employers through the Marketplaces.
o Repeal robs workers of the freedom and flexibility to make choices based on what is best for their careers and families.
9. Improving Health Benefits for our Nation’s Coal Miners
o Before the ACA, many deserving miners who applied for black lung benefits were denied benefits due to the high burden of proof.
o Repeal jeopardizes the health and financial benefits owed to ill coal miners and their survivors.
10. Creating a Better Economy for Working People
o Despite the abundance of doomsday predictions about the ACA’s impact on jobs and the labor market, the ACA has had a positive effect on jobs and the economy.
o Repeal threatens jobs in every state and every Congressional district.
Scott,
Polis Condemn Republican Action to Hurt Students, Schools
|
WASHINGTON
– Congressmen
Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the Committee on
Education
and the Workforce, and Jared Polis (CO-02), ranking member of the
Early Childhood,
Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee,
issued the following statements after House
Republicans moved to
cancel meaningful rules that would guide states and districts on
how to carry out the accountability provisions of the Every
Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
“Today,
House Republicans are trying to repeal the ESSA regulations that
are supported by state
and district leaders, civil rights groups,
parents and educators,” said Scott. “ESSA allows
unprecedented
state and local flexibility that comes with vital federal
protections for vulnerable
students. Today’s resolution to
disapprove these consensus regulations is a rebuke of the
bipartisan promise we made when President Obama signed the bill
into law. States and districts
need clarity and consistency
provided by regulation to move forward with faithful
implementation
that meets the needs of all students. However, just
yesterday, the Department of Education removed all ESSA technical
assistance for states from being publicly available, and approval
of the resolution will
only leave states and districts further
confused about how to comply with the law’s safeguards.
Despite
the efforts of Congressional Republicans and the Trump
Administration to make implementation of the bipartisan ESSA a
political issue, the Administration must uphold the true
bipartisan intent of
ESSA and the longstanding civil rights legacy
of this landmark law.”
“The
Republicans’ decision to dismantle a key part of the Every
Student Succeeds Act today is
shortsighted, nonsensical, and would
force educators and states to throw out months of hard
work and
replace it with massive uncertainty,” Polis said. “For months,
stakeholders have been
working tirelessly to prepare for
implementation of the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act and
help students achieve. This move undermines all of that work. If
passed, these rule changes would
overturn the final accountability
rules for the Every Student Succeeds Act and could prevent the
Department of Education from writing a much-needed accountability
regulation ever again. It would
leave states and districts blind
to how they should implement this key provision of the law.
Every
educator, parent, student, and anyone who cares about our
public schools and wants to make the
new law work should be deeply
alarmed by House Republicans’ actions today.”
|
Scott,
DeFazio Denounce New Legislation That Attacks Working Families
|
Congressmen
Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Peter DeFazio (OR-04), the Ranking
Members
of the Committees on Education and the Workforce and
Transportation and Infrastructure,
respectively, issued the
following statement after the introduction of H.R. 744, the
so-called National Right to Work Act. These committees have
jurisdiction over the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway
Labor Act.
“This
legislation clearly has one purpose: to undermine the capacity of
unions to protect workers
and defund them. This bill is a direct
attack on workers and their families, by weakening unions’
ability to collectively bargain and negotiate for good wages and
benefits. Studies show that
diminishing unions leads to lower
wages and salaries for union and non-union workers alike.
This is
why wages are lower in so-called right to work (RTW) states than
those that are not, costing
families up to thousands of dollars
each year.
“Under
federal law, no one can be forced to join a union as a condition
of employment, and the
Supreme Court has made clear that
workers cannot be forced to pay dues that are used for political
purposes. The RTW bill is a backdoor attempt at bankrupting labor
unions, forcing them to provide
services for people who do not pay
dues.
have a job or be provided employment. And while states are permitted to pass such anti-union legislation, this radical bill would create an unfunded federal mandate that overrides a state’s wishes by requiring private labor organizations to support free riders without limitation. This bill is nothing more than a gift to anti-worker special interests.” |
Congressman
Dwight Evans commentary on The Challenges We Face
As
an American, I am proud to live in a country where liberty, equality
and diversity are core American values -- it’s what our country was
founded on. But for President Trump, that doesn’t look like the
case, and his executive order halting immigrants and refugees from
entering the country is unfathomable.
Yesterday,
acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates stood up to Trump’s
unlawful ban -- and for that she was relieved from her post -- but
she represents the growing sentiment of the American people who are
resisting President Trump’s divisive and un-American orders.
Throughout
American history, our country has opened its arms to those seeking a
better life, refuge, and a new beginning -- we are a country that was
founded by immigrants. So, for President Trump to say no to refugees
and others, means he’s saying no to all Americans -- and like
Sally, I won’t stand by quietly.
This
weekend, I had the honor of standing with Governor Tom Wolf, Mayor
Jim Kenney, Senator Bob Casey, Congressman Robert Brady, and citizens
from across the state at the Philadelphia International Airport to
defend immigrants and refugees from across the world. And together,
citizens and policymakers across the nation are joining forces to
stand up to Trump’s actions.
I
can’t imagine what it would be like after years of completing the
immigration process, traveling thousands of miles to finally be with
family members, only to be detained, held, and turned back. No one
should have to experience this and Trump's order undermines
everything that America stands for as a nation.
We
must not extinguish the hopes of those who wish to seek a better life
and become a citizen, just the same as immigrants and refugees before
them -- and no one should be punished for standing up for them and
our American values. Add your name today:
Our
fight continues, but together we will all succeed.
In
Solidarity,
Dwight
Pennsylvania Governor
Tom Wolf's Commentary on T-Rump's Immigration Policies
William
Penn arrived here on a ship called the "Welcome" and
established a colony with the values of tolerance and inclusion as
the keystones to its foundation. He envisioned this land as a place
where families of all faiths could come to create a better future for
their children.
And
the United States, established by the signing of the constitution
here in Pennsylvania, was set up as a country where people could
escape oppression.
So
when members of Dr. Ghassan Assali and Sarmad Assali's family were
denied entry at Philadelphia International Airport because of
President Donald Trump's ban affecting green card holders, refugees,
and visitors from certain Muslim-majority countries, I was outraged.
One
of Mrs. Assali's brothers is a 25-year veteran of the United States
Army. He fought in Desert Storm. Dr. Assali's brother, sister-in-law,
and four other family members worked for an immigration visa for 13
years, and they had finally completed the long journey from Syria.
Dr. Assali and his wife remodeled a house for the six relatives to
move into Saturday, and had been planning a big dinner for the family
in Allentown.
But
on Saturday, President Trump's illegal travel ban caused the six of
them to be sent back on 18-hour flight. Ghassan and Sarmad have done
great things in Allentown for Pennsylvania and I think it's a dark
day for all of us that their family was treated this way by our
government.
This
past weekend, I joined Senator Bob Casey, Congressman Bob Brady,
Congressman Dwight Evans, and thousands of protesters at Philadelphia
International Airport to voice my opposition to the ban. After
hearing about how Dr. Assali's family members were sent back, I met
with his family and held a press conference with them so the world
could hear their story.
Since
then, I've worked with Attorney General Josh Shapiro to fight for the
Assali family and any Pennsylvania families who may be affected.
Attorney General Shapiro has since gotten 16 other attorneys general
from states across the country to sign on to a letter questioning the
constitutionality of what the president did. I applaud Attorney
General Shapiro and his fellow attorneys general.
While
civil rights lawyers around the country have already won victories in
federal court overturning or staying parts of President Trump's
order, this fight isn't over. Too many still face the risk of being
denied entry simply because of their nationality and religion.
We
must reclaim our Pennsylvanian and American values -- and to do that,
I need to you standing with me to oppose President Trump's order. Add
your name to the petition:
Thank
you,
Tom
Wolf
NOW THAT YOU KNOW,
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
STAY BLESSED & ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria
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