"NO" on the Heitkamp Amendment Supporting the Wind Production Tax Credit
Status: The D.C. City Council is working to undermine religious liberties in its jurisdiction. Two bills-both passed by the D.C. Mayor, Muriel Bowser-will saddle religious organizations and employers with a choice between upholding their beliefs as they perform their organizational missions or complying with a coercive government regulation that forces them to violate their beliefs and missions. The Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act: The bill would force pro-life employers in the...
On Friday, February 27, the Senate adopted a substitute amendment (#255) offered by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 240). Heritage Action was key voting in favor of the House-passed DHS funding bill prior to the adoption of the McConnell Amendment, which essentially removed language that would have denied funding and resources for the President’s unconstitutional amnesty. With the adoption of the substitute...
This vote would fully repeal of Obamacare. This is an important, but not sufficient vote: it forms the beginning of a multi-month effort that should culminate with the House and Senate using the reconciliation process to send a bill that fully repeals Obamacare to the President’s desk.
"YES" on Full Repeal of Obamacare (H.R. 596)
Fourteen months ago, the taxpayer-backed U.S. Export-Import Bank authorized a $700 million loan to Australia's richest person, mining heiress Gina Rinehart. Today, Australia's Business Spectator reported the new mining project "is set for very large losses." In the short term, the capital costs for Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill mine are almost certain to blow out -- and a lower iron ore price will make matters worse. If the current iron...
To: Interested Parties From: Heritage Action for America Date: February 11, 2015 Subject: NCLB Reauthorization Proposals: Missed Opportunities for Conservatives As the House and Senate consider a reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, lawmakers should not let the opportunity pass to advance a bold conservative vision for education policy. For far too long, the federal government's expansive reach into education has gone unchecked. Now is the time for Congress to...
Transportation Empowerment Act Empowers states to set transportation spending priorities and enables them to determine the best funding sources. Transitions control from federal to state over a five-year period, avoiding disruption. Lowers the federal gas tax from 18.4 cents per gallon to 3.7 cents over the same time period; states would be free to increase their state gas taxes or find other funding mechanisms. Reduces red tape, including the Davis-Bacon...
Status: On February 11th, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce passed the Student Success Act (H.R. 5) to reauthorize and reform the No Child Left Behind Act through 2021. A number of misleading claims are being made in the service of passing this bill. Below is a summary of these claims and detailed responses. Heritage Action is opposed to H.R. 5. CLAIM: H.R. 5 replaces the current national...
Washington -- Last night, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) initiated the procedural process to move towards a vote on a standalone bill that would roll back President Obama's November 20, 2014 immigration actions, which include granting legal status, work permits and Social Security numbers to those who are in the country illegally. Heritage Action released the following statement from chief executive officer Michael A. Needham: "Further exposing the blatant hypocrisy of...
American Enterprise Institute's Max Eden has written a post criticizing our Sentinel Brief on the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind, the Student Success Act (H.R. 5). In it, Eden points to a number of perceived inconsistencies in our position. Claim: On H.R. 5's extension of NCLB mandates, A-PLUS itself requires "each State...[to] establish and implement a single system of academic standards and academic assessments."Eden has apparently not read the...
"NO" on No Child Left Behind Reauthorization (H.R. 5)
Washington -- The House was scheduled to vote on a bill to reauthorize No Child Left Behind (H.R. 5), introduced by Rep. John Kline (R-MN), but that vote has been postponed. According to reports, "cracks" had begun to form within the GOP and those were exacerbated by the Rules Committee's refusal to allow several important amendments. Heritage Action released the following statement from chief executive officer Michael A. Needham: "Over...
"NO" on DHS Funding Bill: A Blank Check for Amnesty (H.R. 240)
Washington -- Last night, Congress passed a one-week funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security that did not contain any language blocking President Obama's dangerous and unconstitutional amnesty. Although Republican leaders promised to fight for the language in a conference committee, some reporting suggests no such effort will be made. Heritage Action released the following statement from chief executive officer Michael A. Needham: "Nearly everyone agrees President Obama vastly...
On Friday, March 27, the Senate considered numerous amendments to the Senate Budget Resolution (S Con Res 11). Introduced by Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), this amendment would provide Social Security and veterans benefits for legally married same-sex spouses.
On Friday, March 27, the Senate considered numerous amendments to the Senate Budget Resolution (S Con Res 11). Introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), this amendment instructs the appropriations committee to set aside funds for a government program that establishes paid sick leave as well as “promote equal employment opportunities.”
The House voted on the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (H.R. 2). The bill, negotiated by Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), would permanently repeal Medicare\'s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) while making some small-scale reforms to the entitlement program and extending other programs such as the Clinton-era Children\'s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The package will likely increase America\'s debt by $500 billion over the...
On Friday, March 27, the Senate considered numerous amendments to the Senate Budget Resolution (S Con Res 11). Introduced by Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), this amendment prohibits the funding of international organizations responsible for the implementation of the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) prior to Senate ratification. ATT contains provisions that require export and import controls on weapons.
The House voted on the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget offered by the Republican Study Committee. The RSC\'s Blueprint for a Balanced Budget, introduced by Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) and Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX), would balance in six years, reduce non-defense discretionary spending, reestablish national defense spending to support the military, repeal and replace Obamacare, reform Medicare and Medicaid, safeguard Social Security, and enact pro-growth tax reform.