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Monthly Legislative Update

January 21, 2015

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Agenda

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Introductions

The New Congress

Review YWCA USA Advocacy Priorities 114th Congress(Work and Family, DV/Guns, End Racial Profiling, CEDAW & ACA)

Schedule of Upcoming Legislative Update Calls

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Source: National Journal Research; CNN Election Center; Associated Press; NBC News.

Republicans Win Solid Majority in Senate

Analysis• Having won most of this year’s competitive races, Republicans secured 54 Senate seats, flipping the Senate

from blue to red• A GOP win in Louisiana was announced on December 6, 2014• Since Republicans expanded their majority to 54 seats, they will have an easier time passing legislation in

the Senate because they will need fewer Democratic defections to overcome filibusters (which require a 60 vote supermajority)

Control of the 113th Senate (2012-2014)

Democratic

Republican

Independent

Control of the 114th Senate (2014-2016)

Total SeatsDemocrats: 44Republicans: 54Independents: 2

44 54

Total SeatsDemocrats: 53Republicans: 45Independents: 2

53 45

2 2

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Source: National Journal Research; CNN Election Center; New York Times.

Republicans Win Record Majority in House

Analysis• Republicans won a total of at least 246 seats in the House, their largest majority since 1928• An expanded GOP majority in the House means that Speaker Boehner will have an easier time passing

legislation in the House without Democratic support, and Republicans will also have an easier time holding on to their majority in future elections

Control of the 113th House (2012-2014)

Democratic

Republican

Control of the 114th House (2014-2016)

AK

Total SeatsDemocrats: 188Republicans: 247

188 247

AK

Total SeatsDemocrats: 201Republicans: 234

201 234

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A Closer Look at the Senate

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Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will become the new Senate Majority Leader in the Senate. McConnell is Kentucky’s longest serving Senator.

Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) has been elected Senate minority leader for the next Congress.

Senate rules will continue to limit passage of legislation. In order to move a majority of bills, Republicans will need to court 6 additional votes from the Democrats/Independents to reach the 60 vote threshold to overcome a filibuster. The filibuster is a commonly used tactic to prevent or delay passage of legislation. If the 60 vote threshold is met, the president still holds veto power.

Iowa and West Virginia elected their first female senators: Joni Ernst and Rep. Shelley Moore Capito. Both are Republican.

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A Closer Look at the House

• House party leadership remains the same: Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

• Republicans won a total of at least 247 seats, their largest majority since 1928 during Herbert Hoover’s presidency.

• The 100th woman elected to Congress: Alma Adams (D-NC). This is the first time Congress has ever had over 100 women members concurrently serving.

• The election of Mia Love (R-UT) makes her the first black female to be elected in Utah.

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Work and Family Agenda • Paid Sick Days: Support passage of the Healthy Families Act

This legislation would ensure that workers in most businesses can earn up to seven paid sick days each year. It would ensure that workers can use this time without penalty to recuperate from their own illness, care for a family member, or seek assistance for an experience of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault.

• Federal Minimum Wage Increase: Currently, the federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour. A bill will be introduced in new Congress shortly. One proposal under consideration would raise minimum wage to $12.50 and index it.

• Fair Scheduling: Legislation would permit employees to request changes to their work schedules without fear of retaliation; ensure that employers consider these requests; and to require employers to provide more predictable and stable schedules, especially for employees in growing low-wage occupations.

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Firearms Related DV Homicide Reduction

Recap and Next Steps • Challenges and successes in 2014• YWCA USA endorsed bills• Bills being reintroduced in 114th Congress

How can my YWCA be more engaged? • House and Senate Targeting • Partnerships/Coalitions: ARS, Everytown• op-eds, LTEs, calls to your MOC• Story collection from YWCA local associations

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End Racial Profiling Act

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• Bans racial profiling practices in law enforcement inclusive of pretextual stops of pedestrians and motorists

• Protected classes: race, ethnicity, national origin, religion and sex orientation.

• Criminalizes racial profiling violations and penalizes repeat offender officers

• Requires mandatory data collection and publication for all stops, searches, complaints and investigations

• Creates independent commission to review and respond to complaints; and regularly publishes racial profiling investigation

• Provides funds for periodically retraining officers and installing in-car camera video cameras for monitoring traffic stops

• Allows individuals to seek court orders to stop individual departments from continuing to engage in racial profiling

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End Racial Profiling Act Cont’d

• Congressional Champions:

– Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

– Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD)

– Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R- WI)

– Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)

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End Racial Profiling Act Cont’d

Key YWCAs– Great Falls (MT)– Rochester & Monroe Co., (NY)– Columbus (OH)– Greater Cincinnati (OH) – Northwest Ohio – Salem (OR) – Gettysburg & Adams Co. (PA)– Greater Pittsburgh (PA)– Knoxville (TN)– El Paso (TX) – Virginia Peninsula (VA)– Seattle|King|Snohomish (WA) – Walla Walla (WA)– Charleston (WV) – NCA (DC)

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– Alaska (AK)– Southeast Wisconsin (WI) – Greater Baltimore (MD) – Greater Los Angeles (CA) – Tucson (AZ)– Rockford (IL)– Black Hawk Co. (IA)– Evansville (IN)– Boston (MA)– Central MA (MA)– Greater Lawrence (MA)– Detroit (MI)– Duluth (MN)– Mankato (MN)– Metropolitan St. Louis (MO)

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End Racial Profiling Act Cont’d

Ways to Engage

• Lobby Lawmakers/Admin officials • Letters of Support • Issue Statements/Press Releases • Circulate Action Alerts/Petitions • Social Media/Blog Carnival /Tweet• Issue Testimony/Comments

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CEDAW: International Treaty On Women’s Rights

• The Convention on the Elimination on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

• Convention adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly. It is a landmark international agreement that affirms principles of fundamental human rights and equality for women around the world.

Cities for CEDAW

• San Francisco passed local ordinance on CEDAW In 1998

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Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Congress• Efforts are underway to weaken or

defund the ACA, specifically the employer mandate. Full repeal will be more challenging.

• H.R. 30: Changes the definition of full time worker from 30-40 hours. YWCA USA opposed. The measure would reduce women’s access to employer based health care coverage.

Supreme Court • King v. Burwell • SCOTUS hear arguments in March;

expected to rule in June 2015• Court will decide if insurance subsidies

should be available on federal exchange. Challengers argue that subsidies should only be available in state exchanges.

• At stake: 36 states and 4-5 million enrollees who benefit from subsidies to pay for premiums in Exchanges. Affects primarily Republican states. *14 states have state run exchanges*

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Upcoming YWCA USA Legislative Update Calls at 3:00 ET January 21, 2015February 25, 2015

March 25, 2015April 22, 2015

 To Connect:

Online meeting room: http://ywcagla.adobeconnect.com/biweeklycall/Call in number: 1-800-689-9374

Passcode: 920868

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Questions? Comments?

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Desiree Hoffman Director of Advocacy and Policy • Email: dhoffman@ywca.org; 202-835-

2354• Manages the Advocacy Department and

responds to Capitol Hill, White House, Federal Agencies and Local Association Inquiries on all legislation. Specific expertise on Affordable Care Act, Medicare/Medicaid.   

   Qudsia Raja Advocacy and Policy Manager Health & Safety Rights • Email: qraja@ywca.org; 202-835-2356 • Portfolio Includes: Health & Safety issues

– domestic and sexual violence (VAWA/VOCA); trafficking; gun violence; military sexual assault (MJIA). Also available for specific inquiries regarding Week Without Violence (WWV) and the Domestic Violence Mission Impact Group (DVMIG).

 

Vacant Senior Advocacy and Policy Associate Economic Empowerment• Email: • Portfolio Includes: Economic Empowerment: Budget Appropriations [CCDBG, CDBG, VAWA/VOCA], Tax Reform, TANF/SNAP, Minimum Wage, Pay Equity, etc. and NextGen Networking Group.

Tralonne ShorterSenior Advocacy and Policy AssociateRacial Justice and Civil Rights• Email: tshorter@ywca.org; 202-835-2358• Portfolio Includes: Immigration Reform, Voting Rights, Racial Profiling, Affirmative Action and Hate Crimes.

Holly JonesDirector of Member Services• Email: hjones@ywca.org; 828-505-2335 • Leads local association advocacy capacity building and voter mobilization work.