Over 2,000 New Bills Introduced to Congress--But Can You Name One?

Courtesy of The Guardian

People keep saying Trump’s tweets and outlandish statements are a distraction...but a distraction from what?

While attention has been focused on stories like, “Obama wiretapping”, or “Visits to Mar-A-Lago”, and Ivanka Trump’s clothes being dropped by Nordstrom...over 2,000 new bills have been introduced to Congress.


Here are 8 of the most significant:


1. H.R. 861: To terminate the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• This bill is just one sentence long: “ The Environmental Protection Agency shall terminate on December 31, 2018.” 

• White House unveiled their proposed budget which would slash EPA funding by 31 percent, its lowest level adjusted for inflation in 4 decades.

• What’s going to happen to all its regulations established since 1970? Who knows.

2. H.R. 899: To terminate the Department of Education

• This bill will get rid of the Department of Education by December 21, 2018. 

• Betsy DeVos, US Secretary of Education: “It would be fine with me to have myself worked out of a job.” 

• From a funding perspective--
• The Dept of Education directs substantial federal funds to schools (Pell Grants) and to individual students in forms of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program for college loans, which for millions of people represent their most direct involvement with the Education Department---it’s unclear what would happen to these channels of support.

• Again, no answers on what will happen to the Education Department's grants, budgets, and staff.

3.  H.R. 610: Vouchers for Public Education

• This bill is essentially the defunding of public schools.

• This will change how federal tax $ are distributed among private, public, and home schools. 

4. H.J.R. 69: Repeal Rule for Protecting Wildlife --Became law on April 3, 2017

• This got rid of US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) regulations that say you can’t kill wildlife for sport rather than for necessity. 

• Alaskan Congressmen and sponsor of the bill, Don Young said: 
• "There’s no question, the Fish and Wildlife Service rule—which lays claim to more than 20 percent of our state—violates ANILCA (Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act) and the Alaska Statehood Compact.   Not only does this action undermine Alaska’s ability to manage fish and wildlife upon refuge lands, it fundamentally destroys a cooperative relationship between Alaska and the federal government”.

5. H.R. 354: Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2017

• This would prevent any federal funds from going to Planned Parenthood or any of it’s affiliates for 1 year unless they prove no funds will go towards providing abortions.
• Except in cases of rape, incest, or life threatening conditions.

•  BUT, using federal funds for abortion is already prohibited by law--it’s called the Hyde Amendment. 

6. H.R. 785: National Right to Work

• Weakens the power of labor unions by prohibiting them an employers fro requiring workers to join unions to get or keep jobs.

• This bill would lead to lower wages and greater unemployment nationwide.

7. H.R. 83: Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities

• This bill will punish all ‘sanctuary cities’ such as NYC, San Francisco, and LA by stripping all federal funding for at least 1 year.

8. H.R. 147: Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act

• This bill would impose criminal penalties on anyone who performs abortions for a variety of reasons:
• Violations or attempted violations could result in fines and/or imprisonment up to 5 years.
• Would be considered as a felony charge.

These 8 bills are just the tip of the iceberg. All American citizens, whether they are Pro-Trump or not, should be aware of what’s going on in their own country.