Positive Political Progress #6
More things you won’t see anyone talking about: SOAR Act, YIMBY Caucus re: Affordable Housing, Training Health Workers re: Human Trafficking victims and Dems fighting RFK Jr
This will be short, mainly because I have spent the last two days arguing with people about how no one looks at what Dems actually do and am tired of repeating myself.
So: Rep Cohen: https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-speaks-favor-and-votes-reauthorize-soar-act
“The SOAR to Health and Wellness Program has made tremendous strides to train health care workers on the signs of human trafficking and the appropriate steps to take once a victim has been identified. As Members of Congress, we should continue to support this program so that more people can be trained to properly identify and assist victims of human trafficking.
“We should pass the reauthorization bill, and we should let our constituents know that if they are being trafficked or are suspicious that someone they see is being trafficked, help is available.”
Congressman Cohen also offered phone numbers to assist those suspicious they are witnessing possible trafficking: the Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line at 866–347–2423 and the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888–373–7888.
Congressman Cohen has been a leading advocate for addressing human trafficking for years. He first introduced the SOAR Act in 2016 following a discussion on human trafficking awareness at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, attended by first responders, health care workers, faith-based groups, and more. The bill’s initial passage and subsequent implementation have marked significant strides in the national effort to combat human trafficking, with tens of thousands of health care professionals across the country receiving specialized training.
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that Literacy Mid-South Inc., in partnership with Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) and the Center for Research in Education Policy at the University of Memphis, will receive a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The funding over five years will support Literacy Mid-South’s “Tutor901: High Impact Tutoring for High Needs Students,” a program that will focus on about 1,500 second-fourth grade students in 18 MSCS elementary schools.
The program is aligned with the Department of Education’s definition of “underserved students,” including those living in poverty and performing significantly below grade level. The progress of the effort will be rigorously evaluated to ensure its effectiveness
Oh and since everyone wants Dems to fight and DO SOMETHING about the electoral college…here you go..
“While there is so much wrong in incoming President Trump’s Electoral College Truth Social post, one thing is true: it is long past time to abolish this anachronistic institution and guarantee that the winner of the popular vote takes office. I welcome President Trump’s support for a national popular vote and encourage Republicans to follow his lead and support this Amendment.”
On December 9, 2024, Donald J. Trump posted on Truth Social that “The Democrats are fighting hard to get rid of the Popular Vote in future Elections. They want all future Presidential elections to be based exclusively on the Electoral College!”
Congressman Cohen, a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, has introduced similar joint resolutions in 2021 and 2019.
And since I am seeing people saying Dems aren’t speaking out against RFK Jr…yes they are here’s a few
Donald Trump picked Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to join his Cabinet as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday, and that nomination is already ruffling feathers in Congress.
Democrats on the Hill sounded the alarm over Kennedy’s nomination, with high-ranking Democratic Rep. Katherine Clark saying she had “great concerns” over Kennedy’s “complete disregard for public health.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries added that Kennedy was “completely and totally unqualified” for the position.
Earlier in the day, before Trump announced the pick, Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia said in a spat with Marjorie Taylor Greene that it was “shameful” that Kennedy could be considered for any health leadership post, given his “outrageous comments about science and medicine.”
Moving on from RFK
Dems are pushing HHS to double down on protecting workers from Avian Flu.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, the committee’s ranking member, and Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking member of the national security and border subcommittee, are asking HHS to “double down” on its efforts to engage with undocumented agricultural workers. It’s a demographic of workers who some Democratic lawmakers and public health experts have said will be less likely to seek testing and health care after bird flu exposure, given President-elect Donald Trump’s promises of mass deportation.
“We are deeply concerned that the present political environment, particularly rising anti-immigrant rhetoric, may exacerbate barriers to care and increase the threat to public health,” the lawmakers said in a letter sent to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on Friday, first obtained by NOTUS. “These tensions present risks to vulnerable essential workers, to the agricultural supply chain, and to the general public.”
The letter also highlighted that some of the highest-risk workers are less likely to have access to testing, insurance and paid sick leave. HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
That the lawmakers are actively seeking more information on the response to the outbreak signals a more aggressive posture from Capitol Hill on stopping the spread of bird flu, which some lawmakers are concerned could lead to even more economic consequences as well as create a possible public health crisis.
Then there’s the multiple approaches for Affordable Housing…that’s even getting GOP involved, which is good since as much as we hate them, they control all of the government at the moment.
Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) announced the launch of the pro-housing Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY) Caucus to promote the development of affordable housing units nationwide. The YIMBY movement focuses on encouraging new housing development, removing barriers to the construction of new homes, and investing in the critical infrastructure we need to address the affordable housing crisis. Supply shortages of housing units contribute to rising costs that perpetuate America’s housing crisis, leaving millions of Americans without access to safe and affordable homes. A full list of co-chairs and members can be found here.
“BPC Action applauds Reps. Robert Garcia (D-CA), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Scott Peters (D-CA), Chuck Edwards (R-NC), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Marc Molinaro (R-NY), and Brittany Pettersen (D-CO) for creating and co-chairing the bipartisan House YIMBY Caucus. At the heart of today’s housing affordability crisis is the acute shortage of affordable rental homes and entry-level homeownership options. We look forward to engaging with the YIMBY Caucus to identify common sense federal, state, and local actions that could be taken to ease regulatory barriers to increase our nation’s housing supply,” said Michele Stockwell, President of BPC Action.
And Rep Crockett is on the job too..
This bill would incentivize the construction of new, affordable housing by increasing the number of Tax-Exempt Private Activity Bonds available in states with high-demand for new housing, such as Texas and California.
Tax-Exempt Private Activity Bonds for multifamily housing were approved by Congress decades ago to facilitate private investment in increasing the housing supply. Unfortunately, a growing number of states are reaching the cap of bonds that they can issue in a given year. Despite this, there are several other states that have surpluses that go unused each year, and under current law expire, unable to be used.
“Every time I come home, the number one issue I hear about from my constituents is the cost of rent and housing. Even as inflation has come down significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost of housing remains too damn high — and that won’t change until we actually start building more affordable housing in the communities where demand is high,” said Rep. Crockett.
While everyone was pissed off that AOC didn’t get her spot on a committee, Robert Garcia..a freshmen Rep who is gay got elected to a top committee. Seems like Dems don’t actually have a problem putting younger people in power…contrary to what the internet says.
“I am deeply grateful for the trust my colleagues have placed in me by electing me to be their Caucus Leadership Representative,” Garcia said in a statement. “We have serious work ahead to build a governing majority that reflects the priorities of the American people and fights for the future of our country. I am looking forward to the work ahead.”
Garcia will be representing colleagues who have served fewer than five terms, which is more than 60% of the Democratic Caucus. It is one of the caucus’ 13 elected leadership positions.
As the only LGBTQ+ member of the caucus’ leadership, Garcia intends to advocate for LGTBQ+ rights. His platform also focuses on “amplifying new voices, enhancing communication strategies and modernizing the Caucus while working to keep all members safe in the era of rising political violence,” according to his office.
Oh and the Oversight Dems are still going after Trump in any way they can. But according to social media Dems are just rolling over and submitting to Trump. Which is an complete and utter lie. But hey…why should liberals be any better about spreading the truth than GOP right?
Today, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability released a new staff report revealing how, while he was in office, Donald Trump used the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. to unlawfully take hundreds of payments from a federal agency — the U.S. Secret Service — and also to take legally and ethically questionable payments from federal and state officials, federal job seekers, and presidential pardon recipients. These payments demonstrate how Donald Trump violated the Constitution’s Domestic Emoluments Clause as he used the Secret Service as his personal ATM and repeatedly took payments that raise the specter of pay-to-play corruption from individuals who sought and, in many cases obtained, favors from the Commander-in-Chief.
The report is based on a limited set of records — hotel guest logs covering just 11 months at a single one of Donald Trump’s more than 500 business entities — produced by Mr. Trump’s former accounting firm, Mazars USA LLP, before Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, working with attorneys for former President Trump, slammed the door shut and blocked Committee Democrats from obtaining additional records pursuant to a Committee subpoena and court-supervised settlement. Giving new meaning to the term “petty cash,” most of the payments made in the time frame discussed in this report were small — and their cumulative total is just over $300,000 — but these transactions provide a glimpse into the wide array of unlawful and unethical transactions, including flat-out violations of the Constitution, that characterized Donald Trump’s methodical exploitation of his presidency for moneymaking purposes.
“During the 118th Congress, the Republican-led Oversight Committee systematically obstructed Democrats’ investigation into evidence of unconstitutional wrongdoing and profiteering by former President Trump. And they tried to hide a mountain of evidence documenting how Trump used his hotel to fleece the American taxpayer to line his own pockets in direct violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Domestic Emoluments Clause. The Constitution makes clear: beyond a salary, the president may not receive any additional payments from federal or state governments. This is a non-waivable prohibition against exploiting the office to convert and pocket public funds.
