The POPVOX Blog

  1. Issue Spotlight: Voting

    by rachna on February 27, 2013

    Issue Spotlight: Voting

    Updated 2/27/13

    Do you vote? More than 119 million people cast their vote in November 2012. However, dozens of communities reported long lines and other challenges that prevented people from voting. As a result, there have been several bills introduced in Congress to make it easier for people to vote. In addition, there are proposals pending before Congress that affect voters in the District of Columbia and US territories. Weigh in on these bills related to voting and POPVOX will deliver your message to your Members of Congress -- guaranteed.

    Legislation Related to Voter Access

    Legislation Related to Representation in Congress

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  2. Issue Spotlight: Military Pay During a Government Shutdown?

    by rachna on February 27, 2013

    When the federal government was on the verge of a budget-battle shutdown in April 2011, thousands of people -- mostly military families -- wrote personal, compelling messages to Congress in support of this bill. Their activity was so intense, it crashed POPVOX's servers for the first time. (See the Bill Report for the 112th Congress's Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act, S 724.)

    What Happens to Military Pay in the Event of a Government Shutdown or the Debt Ceiling is Reached?

    As the discussion in Congress turns to the debt ceiling, several bills have already been introduced about prioritizing military pay. Weigh in with POPVOX, and we will deliver your message to Congress -- guaranteed.

    • S 46 The Full Faith and Credit Act: A bill to protect Social Security benefits and military pay and require that the US Government prioritize all obligations on the debt held by the public in the event that the debt limit is reached. 
    • HR 247 The Ensuring the Full Faith and Credit of the United States and Protecting America's Soldiers and Seniors Act: To require that the US Government prioritize all obligations on the debt held by the public, Social Security benefits, and military pay in the event that the debt limit is reached. 
    • S 171 The Military Pay Continuation Act: A bill to appropriate such funds as may be necessary to ensure that members of the Armed Forces, including reserve components thereof, and supporting civilian and contractor personnel continue to receive pay and allowances for active service performed when a Governmentwide shutdown occurs. 
    • HR 342 The Guarantee Paychecks for America’s Military Families Act: To prioritize certain Government obligations for continued payment in the event that the statutory debt limit is reached, to appropriate funds for the pay and allowances of all members of the Armed Forces, and for those civilian employees of the Dept. of Defense and the Coast Guard serving in a combat zone.
    • HR 55 The SHEILD Act: Requires, in the event that the U.S. public debt limit is reached, priority payment of the pay and allowances of: (1) members of the Armed Forces, including reserves, who perform active service; and (2) critical law enforcement officers employed by federal agencies.
    • S 81 The Default Prevention Act: Requires the following to be granted priority over all other federally incurred obligations in the event that the public debt reaches the statutory limit: (1) the authority of the Department of the Treasury to pay with legal tender the principal and interest on debt held by the public; (2) the full payment of compensation, allowances, and benefits for members of the Armed Forces on active duty, (3) the authority of the Commissioner of Social Security to pay monthly Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (SSA); and (4) the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make payments for items and services furnished to beneficiaries under SSA title XVIII (Medicare) and related provisions.

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  3. POPVOX Daily Digest - February 25, 2013

    by marci on February 26, 2013

    From our Hill Sources:


    The House and Senate each had relatively easy workdays on Monday, as each chamber passed just one non-controversial bill.

    The Senate approved S. 298, the North Korea Nonproliferation and Accountability Act, a bill stating the opinion of Congress that North Korea's recent nuclear test violates the United Nations resolution. The bill reads much like a non-binding resolution, as it finds that the U.S. government should work for tougher UN sanctions against North Korea. It goes beyond a non-binding resolution, however, by calling on State Department to issue a report by May on U.S. policy toward North Korea.

    The House approved H.R. 667, which would rename a NASA flight center in California after Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon. This bill passed 394-0.

     

  4. The Week Ahead for Congress: Feb. 25 - March 1

    by rachna on February 24, 2013

    From our Hill Sources: "It's going to be an interesting week!" The House and Senate are both in. And the $85 billion in across-the-board automatic cuts will automatically occur on Friday, March 1, if both houses of Congress cannot pass the same bill.

    All Eyes on Whether Congress will Pass Federal Spending Cuts to Avoid Sequestration

    All eyes will be on the Senate early in the week, which will attempt to pass legislation to replace the $85 billion in spending cuts due to hit at the end of the week.

    • Sequester "Sequestration" -- automatic, across-the-board cuts to federal spending: The deadline for Congress to take action to avoid across-the-board spending cuts is March 1st.

      • Senate Democrats are proposing a bill that calls for $110 billion in deficit reduction, achieved by $55 billion in new taxes on the wealthy, including a minimum tax of 30 percent on all income above $2 million. Even if the Senate can pass the Democratic proposal, it is unclear whether the House will take it up. House Republicans have said they will not vote for tax increases.

      If the House does consider a Senate-passed bill, it may try to remove the tax provisions -- or the House may just run out of time. The $85 billion in across-the-board automatic cuts will automatically occur on Friday, March 1, if both houses of Congress cannot pass the same bill.

    More in the House

    The House has a relatively light schedule, and has plans to deal with just three other bills this week.

    • S 47 Violence Against Women Act Reathorization

      One of them is a GOP substitute amendment to the Senate-passed Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. There are some signs that VAWA reauthorization could be stalled this year just as it was last year. The GOP substitute alters several provisions in the Senate-passed bill, including language giving tribal courts jurisdiction over non-tribe members in domestic violence cases and protections LGBT victims of violence.

      If the House can pass its bill, however, a deal could be close. House Republicans continue to insist that they want to reauthorize VAWA.

    The only other bills on the House schedule are two suspension bills:

    • HR 667 Rename the Dryden Flight Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center.
    • HRes __ Academic Competition Resolution: would create a House-administered competition for students across the country in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math). The resolution initially encourages students to create new mobile applications (or "apps"). (The resolution hasn't been assigned a number yet, so it isn't available on POPVOX, but resolution text is available.)

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  5. Weekly Roundup: Feb. 21

    by rachna on February 22, 2013

    As the March 1 sequestration deadline approaches, POPVOX users prioritized federal spending and budget issues in this week's POPVOX bill roundup. The top proposal -- whether to penalize Congess if federal workers are furloughed due to sequestration -- is a sponsored campaign* by WUSA9, the CBS affiliate in the Washington, DC area. They also invited POPVOX's co-founder, Rachna Choudhry, to talk about the results and comments from POPVOX users on this proposal. (Watch the segment.)  

    Here are the bills and proposals that POPVOX users weighed in on with Congress in the past week. Keep in mind that these numbers aren't aggregates of total support, but just what happened in the past seven days.

    Want to be a part of the POPVOXnation conversation? Please join us on Facebook or Twitter. It's a great way to stay connected with the POPVOX team and Congress. Thanks for using POPVOX!

    Top Bills of the Week: Feb. 15 - 21

    Top Bills of the Week

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

    *POPVOX invites organizations to create "sponsored campaigns" on POPVOX, which include policy principles and actionable items directed at Congress. 

     

     

  6. PRESS CLIP: THE DIGITAL 50: The 50 Hottest People In Online Politics

    by kentai on February 21, 2013

    THE DIGITAL 50: The 50 Hottest People In Online Politics on Business Insider

  7. PRESS CLIP: Expert Discusses WUSA9 Petition: Should Congress Pay If Federal Workers Are Furloughed

    by kentai on February 19, 2013

    Expert Discusses WUSA9 Petition: Should Congress Pay If Federal Workers Are Furloughed on WUSA9

  8. PRESS CLIP: Silicon Valley Libertarians Cling to Their Guns: "Gun Control is Technology Control"

    by kentai on February 19, 2013

    Silicon Valley Libertarians Cling to Their Guns: "Gun Control is Technology Control" on TechPresident

  9. The State of the Union

    by rachna on February 18, 2013

    The State of the Union, 2013

    Last week, the President addressed the Congress in his State of the Union speech. The tradition comes from a directive in the Constitution that says the President "shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient." (Read the full text of the President's speech.)

    The President's speech outlined his policy priorities for the year. The POPVOX team deconstructed the speech and identified related bills and policies already pending before Congress that address the issues the President raised so that our users can weigh in. Congress needs to hear from constituents as they make critical choices -- and POPVOX will deliver your message to your Members of Congress.

    Sequestration

    "In 2011, Congress passed a law saying that if both parties couldn’t agree on a plan to reach our deficit goal, about a trillion dollars’ worth of budget cuts would automatically go into effect this year. These sudden, harsh, arbitrary cuts would jeopardize our military readiness. They’d devastate priorities like education, and energy, and medical research. They would certainly slow our recovery, and cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs. That’s why Democrats, Republicans, business leaders, and economists have already said that these cuts, known here in Washington as the sequester, are a really bad idea."

    Related Bills

    • Sequester Sequestration -- Automatic, Across-the-Board Cuts to Federal Spending: The deadline for Congress to take action to avoid across-the-board spending cuts is March 1st.
    • HR 505 The Balancing Act (the Congressional Progressive Caucus's plan): "Eliminates the impending “sequester” cuts and replaces them with an equal amount of revenue by closing corporate and individual tax loopholes. This creates the equal overall cuts-to-revenue balance when looking at the budget beginning in 2011, when the Budget Control Act was passed. The bill also cuts approximately $300 billion from wasteful Pentagon spending and reinvests the money in job creation. The bill is expected to create more than 1 million jobs by investing in infrastructure, teachers, and putting money in consumers’ pockets." ( According to the bill sponsor, Rep. Keith Ellison [D, MN-5]))
    • HR 607  : To delay until 2016 provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act scheduled to take effect in 2014 or 2015 and to delay the application of sequestration until 2014. (Sponsored by Rep. William Thornberry [R, TX-13]).

    Medicare Reform

    "On Medicare, I’m prepared to enact reforms that will achieve the same amount of health care savings by the beginning of the next decade as the reforms proposed by the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles commission."

    Related Bills

    Health Care Reform

    "Already, the Affordable Care Act is helping to slow the growth of health care costs. And the reforms I’m proposing go even further. We’ll reduce taxpayer subsidies to prescription drug companies and ask more from the wealthiest seniors. We’ll bring down costs by changing the way our government pays for Medicare, because our medical bills shouldn’t be based on the number of tests ordered or days spent in the hospital; they should be based on the quality of care that our seniors receive."

    Related Bills

    Tax Reform

    "Now is our best chance for bipartisan, comprehensive tax reform that encourages job creation and helps bring down the deficit. We can get this done. The American people deserve a tax code that helps small businesses spend less time filling out complicated forms, and more time expanding and hiring -- a tax code that ensures billionaires with high-powered accountants can’t work the system and pay a lower rate than their hardworking secretaries; a tax code that lowers incentives to move jobs overseas, and lowers tax rates for businesses and manufacturers that are creating jobs right here in the United States of America. "

    Related Bills

    Deficit Reduction

    "Now, most of us agree that a plan to reduce the deficit must be part of our agenda. But let’s be clear, deficit reduction alone is not an economic plan. "

    Related Bills

    See Federal Debt and Deficit Reduction bills.

    American Jobs and Manufacturing

    "Our first priority is making America a magnet for new jobs and manufacturing. … And I ask this Congress to help create a network of 15 of these hubs and guarantee that the next revolution in manufacturing is made right here in America. "

    Related Bills

    Energy

    "After years of talking about it, we’re finally poised to control our own energy future."

    Related Bills

    Climate Change

    "But for the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change."

    Related Bills

    Infrastructure

    "Ask any CEO where they’d rather locate and hire -- a country with deteriorating roads and bridges, or one with high-speed rail and Internet; high-tech schools, self-healing power grids. … So tonight, I propose a “Fix-It-First” program to put people to work as soon as possible on our most urgent repairs, like the nearly 70,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country."

    Related Bills

    • HR 787: To greatly enhance America's path toward energy independence and economic and national security, to rebuild our Nation's aging roads, bridges, locks, and dams. (Sponsored by Rep. Tim Murphy [R, PA-18])

    Home Mortgages

    "Right now, there’s a bill in this Congress that would give every responsible homeowner in America the chance to save $3,000 a year by refinancing at today’s rates. Democrats and Republicans have supported it before, so what are we waiting for? Take a vote, and send me that bill."

    Related Bills

    • HRes 26 Resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the States should enact a temporary moratorium on residential mortgage foreclosures. (Sponsored by Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D, OH-9])
    • S 249: to provide for the expansion of affordable refinancing of mortgages held by the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. (And HR 736 in the House.) (Sponsored by Sen. Robert Menéndez [D, NJ])
    • S 361: to require the lender or servicer of a home mortgage, upon a request by the homeowner for a short sale, to make a prompt decision whether to allow the sale. (Sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski [R, AK])

    Education

    "Study after study shows that the sooner a child begins learning, the better he or she does down the road. But today, fewer than 3 in 10 four year-olds are enrolled in a high-quality preschool program. Most middle-class parents can’t afford a few hundred bucks a week for a private preschool. And for poor kids who need help the most, this lack of access to preschool education can shadow them for the rest of their lives. So tonight, I propose working with states to make high-quality preschool available to every single child in America."

    Related Bills

    College

    "Through tax credits, grants and better loans, we’ve made college more affordable for millions of students and families over the last few years. But taxpayers can’t keep on subsidizing higher and higher and higher costs for higher education. Colleges must do their part to keep costs down, and it’s our job to make sure that they do. So tonight, I ask Congress to change the Higher Education Act so that affordability and value are included in determining which colleges receive certain types of federal aid."

    Related Bills

    Border Security

    "Real reform means strong border security, and we can build on the progress my administration has already made -- putting more boots on the Southern border than at any time in our history and reducing illegal crossings to their lowest levels in 40 years."

    Related Bills

    Immigration Reform

    "Real reform means establishing a responsible pathway to earned citizenship -- a path that includes passing a background check, paying taxes and a meaningful penalty, learning English, and going to the back of the line behind the folks trying to come here legally. And real reform means fixing the legal immigration system to cut waiting periods and attract the highly-skilled entrepreneurs and engineers that will help create jobs and grow our economy… And as we speak, bipartisan groups in both chambers are working diligently to draft a bill, and I applaud their efforts."

    Related Bills

    See more Immigration bills.

    Women

    But we can’t stop there. We know our economy is stronger when our wives, our mothers, our daughters can live their lives free from discrimination in the workplace, and free from the fear of domestic violence. Today, the Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act that Joe Biden originally wrote almost 20 years ago. And I now urge the House to do the same… And I ask this Congress to declare that women should earn a living equal to their efforts, and finally pass the Paycheck Fairness Act this year."

    Related Bills

    Minimum Wage

    "Tonight, let’s declare that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty, and raise the federal minimum wage to $9.00 an hour."

    Related Bills

    Cybersecurity

    "America must also face the rapidly growing threat from cyber-attacks. Now, we know hackers steal people’s identities and infiltrate private emails."

    Related Bills

    Global Poverty

    "In many places, people live on little more than a dollar a day. So the United States will join with our allies to eradicate such extreme poverty in the next two decades by connecting more people to the global economy; by empowering women; by giving our young and brightest minds new opportunities to serve, and helping communities to feed, and power, and educate themselves; by saving the world’s children from preventable deaths; and by realizing the promise of an AIDS-free generation, which is within our reach."

    Related Bills

    • HCR 7 Resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the US should provide, on an annual basis, an amount equal to at least one percent of US gross domestic product (GDP) for nonmilitary foreign assistance programs. (Sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee [D, CA-13])
    • HRes 19 Resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Senate should ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). (Sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D, NY-12])

    Veterans and Military Families

    "We will keep faith with our veterans, investing in world-class care, including mental health care, for our wounded warriors -- supporting our military families; giving our veterans the benefits and education and job opportunities that they have earned."

    Related Bills

    Voting Process

    "I’m announcing a nonpartisan commission to improve the voting experience in America. And it definitely needs improvement. I’m asking two long-time experts in the field -- who, by the way, recently served as the top attorneys for my campaign and for Governor Romney’s campaign -- to lead it."

    Related Bills

    See more Voting bills.

    Gun Violence

    "It has been two months since Newtown. I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence. But this time is different. Overwhelming majorities of Americans -- Americans who believe in the Second Amendment -- have come together around common-sense reform, like background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on a gun."

    Related Bills

    See more Firearms and Gun Control bills.

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

     

  10. POPVOX Daily Digest - February 16, 2013

    by marci on February 16, 2013

    From our Hill Sources:

    The House met for a few hours yesterday and passed two measures:

    • HR 273 to eliminate the 2013 statutory 0.5 percent pay adjustment for Federal employees.

      • The bill had heavy Republican support as a way to reduce federal spending. It also gained the support of 43 Democrats in the final vote. The House passed the bill 261-154.

      Passage by the House sends the bill to the Senate, which has not indicated that it will be considered. Still, Republicans are expected to continue pushing for a third year of frozen federal pay as the debt ceiling and a spending bill for the second half of 2013 are debated.

    • HRes 65 condemning North Korea's nuclear testing. This is a non-binding resolution that calls on the Obama administration to step up pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear program, and also asks the United Nations Security Council to write a new resolution against North Korea.

      • The House passed this resolution 412-2.

    With those votes, both the House and Senate are out next week. They return February 25, when Senate Democrats are expected to quickly pass legislation that avoids the $85 billion sequester that is now slated to take effect on March 1.

  11. Weekly Bill Roundup: Feb. 14

    by rachna on February 15, 2013

    For the first time this year, a bill emerged as the top bill of the week not related to firearms. More than 3,000 POPVOX users weighed in on the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act this week, which passed the Senate. You can still weigh in on the bill -- and your comment will be delivered to the House, where the bill will be considered next.

    Here are the bills and proposals that POPVOX users weighed in on with Congress in the past week. Keep in mind that these numbers aren't aggregates of total support, but just what happened in the past seven days.

    Want to be a part of the POPVOXnation conversation? Please join us on Facebook or Twitter. It's a great way to stay connected with the POPVOX team and Congress. Thanks for using POPVOX!

    Top Bills of the Week: Feb. 8 - 14

    Top Bills of the Week

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

    *POPVOX invites organizations to create "sponsored campaigns" on POPVOX, which include policy principles and actionable items directed at Congress. 

  12. POPVOX Daily Digest - February 13, 2013

    by marci on February 13, 2013

    From our Hill sources:

    The House held a brief legislative session on Wednesday and approved two bills:

    • HR592 the Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act. This bill would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to offer grants to houses of worship seeking disaster aid.

      • A bipartisan group of House members introduced the bill because FEMA currently does not offer grants to churches, temples, mosques or other houses of worship.

      Supporters of the bill say that because disaster aid affects so many entities, and this aid would not be a specific grant to any religion, aid to houses of worship does not violate the First Amendment.

      Opponents of the bill say it would essentially require taxpayers to fund the reconstruction of houses of worship, in violation of the First Amendment.

      The House approved the bill 354-72, sending it to the Senate for possible consideration.

    The House also passed:

  13. Live-tweeting the State of the Union

    by marci on February 12, 2013

    POPVOX Tweets 2013 SOTU

    Yet again, POPVOX tweeted along with the President to link to related bills and policies as they were mentioned.

    Storified by POPVOX· Tue, Feb 12 2013 19:21:29

    #SOTU is coming up. Why not check @popvox to see what people think about the issues mentioned? #data #activismNathanael Yellis
    #Nonprofits, be sure to check in w/ @POPVOX tonight during #SOTU address by #POTUS as they will be cross-referencing info/bills/etc. #CoolCForward
    The President is discussing pending #Sequestration. http://bit.ly/XtWGtR On POPVOX 71%+|29%-#SOTUPOPVOX
    #HR505 from @keithellison would repeal #Sequester & balance in deficit reduction between revenue and cuts http://bit.ly/XxU2Fu #SOTUPOPVOX
    #HR607 from @MacTXPress would delay implementation of #Obamacare until 2016 & delay #Sequester until 2014. #SOTU http://bit.ly/XxV18NPOPVOX
    Pres mentions "subsidies to drug companies" | #S117 from @amyklobuchar proposes Part D drug negotiation http://bit.ly/YbzTDy #SOTUPOPVOX
    RE: Medicare payments, #HR574 from Rep. Schwartz would eliminate #SGR doc payment method #SOTU http://bit.ly/XxWnAuPOPVOX
    RE: Medicare payments, #HR351 from @DrPhilRoe would repeal payment advisory board #IPAB #SOTU http://bit.ly/XxXcsSPOPVOX
    President is discussing #TaxReform. @SenatorReid has introduced a placeholder "End Wasteful Tax Loopholes" #SOTU #S8 http://bit.ly/YbBOI4POPVOX
    The President's American #Jobs Act (#S1549 in 112th Congress) had 69% support on POPVOX http://bit.ly/XxYy6Y #SOTUPOPVOX
    2 pending bills prohibit regulation of greenhouse gases until China, Russia * India do the same: #S107 & #S163 from @DavidVitter #SOTUPOPVOX
    #HR555 from @repbilljohnson sets up onshore #oil and #gas Internet-based live lease sales http://bit.ly/Xy0ufK #SOTUPOPVOX
    Re: #ClimateChange @SenatorReid has introduced a placeholder #S7 "Extreme Weather Prevention & Resilience Act" http://bit.ly/YbDfWU #SOTUPOPVOX
    #S249 would provide for expansion of affordable #mortgage refinancing http://bit.ly/Xy0WLc #SOTUPOPVOX
    Re: education "Strengthen our Schools and Students Act" #S3 is the placeholder Senate bill from @SenatorReid http://bit.ly/Xy1oJd #SOTUPOPVOX
    re: education, @jaredpolis has introduced #HR426 the #RaceToTheTop Act http://bit.ly/YbEpli #SOTUPOPVOX
    The President is discussing #CIR - see a history of immigration reform & pending bills in Congress: http://bit.ly/YbEIg7 #SOTUPOPVOX
    See Senate Bipartisan Framework for Comprehensive #Immigration Reform http://bit.ly/UVxxJZ #cir #SOTUPOPVOX
    The Senate placeholder for Comprehensive #Immigration Reform is #S1. http://bit.ly/X4wl3Q #SOTUPOPVOX
    Today the Senate passed #VAWA (Violence Against #Women Act) http://ow.ly/hAZZx #SOTUPOPVOX
    President mentions the Paycheck Fairness Act #HR377 from @rosadelauro http://bit.ly/Xy2yEH #SOTUPOPVOX
    Senate Paycheck Fairness Act is #S84 from from @senatorbarbhttp://bit.ly/Xy2LYl #SOTUPOPVOX
    #HR200: Responsible End to the War in #Afghanistan Act from @RepBarbaraLee #SOTU http://bit.ly/Xy3dpqPOPVOX
    #HR327 from @jasoninthehouse: Accountability of Taxpayer Funding for #Afghanistan Fuels Act http://bit.ly/Xy3jO0 #SOTUPOPVOX
    #S21 is the #Cybersecurity & American Cyber Competitiveness Act from @senrockefeller http://bit.ly/YbG36w #SOTUPOPVOX
    #HR342: Guarantee Paychecks for America’s #Military Families Act assures payment in event of gov shutdown. http://bit.ly/Xy5alV #SOTUPOPVOX
    President discusses #VotingRights -- see all pending reform bills in Congress: http://bit.ly/11ECaxv #SOTUPOPVOX
    #S58 The LINE Act from @SenatorBoxer to ensure do not wait in long lines http://bit.ly/Xy5AsB #SOTUPOPVOX
    Over 30 bills related to #guns & #guncontrol have been introduced in Congress. See the full list: http://bit.ly/Xy5QYp #SOTUPOPVOX
    #S150 Assault Weapons Ban from @SenFeinstein http://bit.ly/Xy681r #SOTUPOPVOX
    H.R. 137: Fix Gun Checks Act of 2013 @RepMcCarthyNY http://bit.ly/Xy6llf #SOTUPOPVOX
    #HR142: Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act from @RepMcCarthyNY #SOTU http://bit.ly/Xy5alVPOPVOX
    30+ bills related to #guns & #guncontrol have been introduced in Congress. See the full list: http://bit.ly/Xy5QYp #SOTUPOPVOX

  14. POPVOX Daily Digest - February 12, 2013

    by marci on February 12, 2013

    From our Hill Sources:

    The House and Senate complete business early on Tuesday to prepare for a joint session of Congress in which President Obama will present the annual State of the Union address.

    In the Senate:

    Earlier in the day, the Senate passed a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): S. 47.

    Senate passage of S. 47 restarts a debate the House and Senate had last year over how to reauthorize VAWA. In the last Congress, each chamber passed its own version, and the House and Senate appear to be moving down that path again this year.

    While the Senate bill is different from one House Republicans will likely pass, it appears to raise fewer GOP objections than the version approved by the Senate last year.

    For example, S. 47 does not contain a provision expanding access to visas for non-citizens that are victims of domestic violence. Republicans argued last year that this expansion would add to the deficit. The issue became a major hurdle to a House-Senate agreement.

    The Senate-passed bill does, however, retain a provision giving tribal courts new authority to prosecute the non-native abusers of Native American women on Indian reservations. Republicans say that language could limit Constitutional rights of U.S. citizens, and pushed for clear language in the bill allowing for tribal court decisions to be appealable to U.S. courts. That push failed in the Senate, though the House is likely to include the GOP-favored language on this issue in their bill.

    As of Tuesday, House leaders had not said whether or when they might consider their own VAWA reauthorization bill, or whether they would consider working on the Senate version.

    The House passed two non-controversial bills Tuesday:

     

  15. A Look at Immigration Reform

    by rachna on February 12, 2013

    Democrats and Republicans in Congress are promoting the new Bipartisan Framework for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, which will be introduced as legislation in the Senate. The President is expected to speak about immigration reform in his State of the Union speech as well. The POPVOX team thought it was a good time to review past comprehensive immigration reform efforts supported by former Presidents and Congressional lawmakers. Here is an overview of some past immigration reform measures introduced in the last 25 years:

    (Source: Wikipedia)

    Recent History of Immigration Reform (1986 to present)

    2013: Bipartisan Framework for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

      A bipartisan group of Senators have proposed a comprehensive set of immigration reform principles, which include giving immigrants a path to citizenship, strengthening border security, and reforming our legal immigration system to reunite families and strengthen our economy while protecting American workers. 

      Weigh in on the proposed Framework

    2007: Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act

      Introduced Sen. Reid, supported by President Bush, but wasn't passed by Congress.

      Would have provided legal status and a path to citizenship for the approximately 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants currently residing in the United States.

    2005: The Real ID Act

      Introduced by Rep. Sensenbrenner, signed into law by President Bush Jr.

      Required use of certain IDs to access government buildings, open bank accounts and board planes; established national standards for state drivers licenses; created more physical barriers along the boarders; and updated and made stricter the laws regarding the asylum and deportation of immigrants for terrorist activity

    2005: The Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005

      Introduced by Rep. Sensenbrenner, passed by the House, but did not pass the Senate.

      Never became law, widely regarded as catalyst for 2006 immigration protests throughout U.S.

      Would have established over 700 miles of barriers created along U.S.-Mexico border

    2001: The DREAM Act

      First introduced in 2001; and reintroduced in 2001, 2006, 2007, 2009 and most recently in 2010, when it was supported by President Obama.

      The 2010 DREAM Act authorizes the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children. 

    1996: The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act

      Enacted on September 30, 1996 by President Clinton

      Immigrants unlawfully present in the US for 180 days but less than 365 days must remain outside the United States for three years unless they obtain a pardon. If they are in the US for 365 days or more, they must stay outside the United States for ten years unless they obtain a waiver. If they return to the US without the pardon, they may not apply for a waiver for a period of ten years.

    1990: The Immigration Act

      Introduced by Sen. Ted Kennedy, and signed into law by President George H.W. Bush

      Significantly increased legal immigration quotas; tripled number of visas for priority workers and immigrants; removed homosexuality as grounds for exclusion; and provided exceptions for English testing process.

    1986: The Immigration Reform and Control Act

      Bipartisan legislation, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan

      Created sanctions and penalties against employers who knowingly hired illegal immigrants; provided amnesty to illegal immigrants already in the US; increased border security

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  16. The Week Ahead for Congress: Feb. 11 - 15

    by rachna on February 10, 2013

    Bills before Congress

    From our Hill Sources: On Tuesday, President Obama will deliver the State of the Union Address to a joint-session of Congress. Throughout the week, both chambers will consider a handfull of bills:

    In the House

    Members will also take up four suspension bills, which require a two-thirds majority vote for passage:

    In the Senate

    • S 47 The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act: This bill reauthorizes the VAWA program. Senate leaders reached an agreement last week on amendments, and may be able to finish work on amendments and pass the bill by Tuesday.

      Republicans oppose language allowing native American courts to have jurisdiction over non-Indians in domestic abuse cases. They say it could violate the Constitutional rights of Americans. A GOP proposal to amend the language was rejected. Several other Republican proposals may be considered this week. Last year, the House and Senate approved separate versions of a Violence Against Women Act reauthorization, but were never able to agree on how to reconcile these two versions. House Republicans say they are continuing to work with Democrats in Congress and with the Obama administration to finish this work this year.

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

  17. Weekly Bill Roundup: Feb. 7

    by rachna on February 7, 2013

    While firearms and gun control continue to be on the top of POPVOX users' minds, we are beginning to see an uptick in activity around issues related to the debt ceiling and federal budget. Already, more than 20 bills related to guns have been introduced. (See the full list.) And in the coming days, we expect to hear from House Democrats as they unveil their gun-control agenda. So stay tuned!

    Another trending issue is the federal budget. As the March 1 deadline for Sequestration quickly approaches, Congress must decide once again whether to take action on deficit reduction. Congress was unable to reach agreement on spending cuts last year, but agreed to delay Sequestration until March 1 as part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 that avoided the full "Fiscal Cliff." Congress needs to hear from their constituents -- and you can weigh in on Sequestration on POPVOX.

    Here are the bills and proposals that POPVOX users weighed in on with Congress in the past week. This week, we're highlighting newcomers on the list. Let us know if this is helpful! Keep in mind that these numbers aren't aggregates of total support, but just what happened in the past seven days.

    Want to be a part of the POPVOXnation conversation? Please join us on Facebook or Twitter. It's a great way to stay connected with the POPVOX team and Congress. Thanks for using POPVOX!

    Top Bills of the Week: Feb. 1 - 7

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

    *POPVOX invites organizations to create "sponsored campaigns" on POPVOX, which include policy principles and actionable items directed at Congress. 

  18. POPVOX Daily Digest - February 4, 2013

    by marci on February 4, 2013

    According to our Hill Sources:

    Today in the Senate:

    Today in the House:

  19. PRESS CLIP: In A Reversal, Nation Now Supports Sequestration

    by kentai on February 4, 2013

    In A Reversal, Nation Now Supports Sequestration on WUSA9

  20. The Week Ahead for Congress: Feb. 4 - 8

    by rachna on February 3, 2013

    Bills before Congress

    From our Hill Sources: The House and Senate are in for just part of the week, but each will work on major legislation while they're in.

    In the House

    The House is in from Monday to Wednesday, and will consider:

    In the Senate

    The Senate is in Monday, and will start work on:

    • S 47 The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act: This bill reauthorizes the popular VAWA program but makes several changes that contributed to delays in passing this bill in Congress last year. The Senate bill extends various protections under the law to Indian, LGBT and immigrant communities, which were not included in a bill House Republicans supported last year.

      The Senate will hold a procedural vote on this bill Monday. The Senate breaks Tuesday and Wednesday, but more work on the bill is expected Thursday and Friday.

    Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn't imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we're simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.

(For media inquiries, please contact Marci Harris, POPVOX’s CEO, at info@popvox.com.)

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