NOW Legislative Update: February 1, 1995

NOW Legislative Update

February 1, 1995

Introduction

As the 104th Congress moves ahead at full speed, we recognize that our relations with Congress will be different than in the 103rd. We will most certainly be more defensive in posture and more cognizant of all the bad bills that are introduced in both the House and Senate (primarily because many of them now have the votes to pass). Consequently, our Legislative Updates will reflect those changes. We will start monitoring the bad bills as well as (hopefully) the feminist ones. We've also included a skeleton list of bills that have been introduced; many do not have names, committee assignments or more than one sponsor. See also the Republican Agenda's impact on women. Additional information will be forthcoming in future editions of the Legislative Update.

Bills:

This Legislative Update lists legislation affecting women's rights that the National Organization for Women is currently tracking. Inclusion in this Update does not necessarily indicate endorsement by NOW.

(Note: some bills have yet to be named)

S 7: The Family Health Insurance Protection Act

The intent of this bill is health care reform through health insurance market reform and assistance for small business and families.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), 10 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95 and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

S 168: Affordable Healthcare For All Americans Act

This bill would provide health insurance coverage for all Americans.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95 and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

S 171

This bill would provide for coverage of alcoholism and drug dependency residential treatment services for pregnant women and others under the medicaid program by amending title XIX of the Social Security Act.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), 5 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95 and referred to the Committee on Finance.

HR 95

This bill would improve the interstate enforcement of child support and parentage court orders.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Kennelly (D-CT), 12 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means , and in addition to the Committees on Resources , Government Reform and Oversight , National Security , International Relations , the Judiciary , Banking and Financial Services, and House Oversight.

HR 96: The Equal Remedies Act

This bill would amend section 1977A of the revised statutes to equalize the remedies available to all victims of intentional employment discrimination. It address the caps that were placed on punitive and compensatory damages in the Civil Rights Act of 1991 for gender discrimination suits.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Kennelly (D-CT), 10 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

HR 173: Medicaid Women's Basic Health Coverage Act

This bill would require that State Medicaid Programs provide coverage of screening mammography and screening pap smears by amending title XIX of the Social Security Act.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Cardiss Collins (D-IL), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

HR 180: Medicaid Infant Mortality Amendments

This bill would make improvements of coverage of services available to pregnant women and infants in the hopes of reducing infant mortality by amending title XIX of the Social Security Act.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Cardiss Collins (D-IL), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

HR 254: Disparate Treatment Employment Discrimination Amendment

This bill would amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with respect to establishing an unlawful employment practice based on disparate treatment.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities.

HR 315: Work-First Welfare Reform of 1995

This bill offers states a national welfare reform option, strengthens child support enforcement and expands access to affordable child care.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, as well as to the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities.

HR 382: Civil Rights Amendments Act

This bill would prohibit discrimination on the basis of affectional or sexual orientation by amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, as well as to the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities.

HR 641: Women's Right to Know Act

This bill would eliminate the gag rule entirely. The bill would amend title XI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and guarantee that the Federal or State governments cannot restrict a medical workers right to give, or a woman's right to get information about the reproductive health options available to her, including family planning, prenatal care, adoption or abortion services.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-CO), 5 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/23/95 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

HCR 13

This concurrent resolution condemns the violence committed in Brookline, MA on December 30, 1994 which killed 2 clinic personnel at reproductive health clinics.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Martin Meehan (D-MA), 3 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

H Res. 30

Resolution expressing the sense of the House that obstetrician-gynecologists should be designated as primary care providers for women in Federal laws relating to the provision of health care.

Chief Sponsor: Rep.Larry Combest (R-TX), 15 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Some of the bad bills we're following:
S 24: Civil Rights of Infants Act

This bill would make it a violation of the right ensured by the Constitution to perform an abortion with the knowledge that the abortion was being performed solely because of the gender of the fetus.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95.

S 25

This bill would stop taxpayer funds from being used by Government agencies to encourage its employees or officials to accept homosexuality as a legitimate and normal lifestyle.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95.

S 26

This bill would amend the Civil Rights Act 1964, and make the practice of preferential treatment an unlawful employment practice.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95.

S 28: Unborn Children's Civil Rights Act

This bill would nullify the right to an abortion that is guaranteed by the Constitution.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95.

S 36: Welfare To Work Act of 1995

This bill would give states a block sum grant to create individual welfare-to-work programs. The grants would replace the Aid to Families with Dependent Children under title IV of the Social Security Act and a portion of the food stamp program under the Food Stamp Act of 1977.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Herbert Kohl (D-WI), no cosponsors

NOW Legislative Update: February 1, 1995

NOW Legislative Update

February 1, 1995

Introduction

As the 104th Congress moves ahead at full speed, we recognize that our relations with Congress will be different than in the 103rd. We will most certainly be more defensive in posture and more cognizant of all the bad bills that are introduced in both the House and Senate (primarily because many of them now have the votes to pass). Consequently, our Legislative Updates will reflect those changes. We will start monitoring the bad bills as well as (hopefully) the feminist ones. We've also included a skeleton list of bills that have been introduced; many do not have names, committee assignments or more than one sponsor. See also the Republican Agenda's impact on women. Additional information will be forthcoming in future editions of the Legislative Update.

Bills:

This Legislative Update lists legislation affecting women's rights that the National Organization for Women is currently tracking. Inclusion in this Update does not necessarily indicate endorsement by NOW.

(Note: some bills have yet to be named)

S 7: The Family Health Insurance Protection Act

The intent of this bill is health care reform through health insurance market reform and assistance for small business and families.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), 10 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95 and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

S 168: Affordable Healthcare For All Americans Act

This bill would provide health insurance coverage for all Americans.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95 and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

S 171

This bill would provide for coverage of alcoholism and drug dependency residential treatment services for pregnant women and others under the medicaid program by amending title XIX of the Social Security Act.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), 5 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95 and referred to the Committee on Finance.

HR 95

This bill would improve the interstate enforcement of child support and parentage court orders.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Kennelly (D-CT), 12 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means , and in addition to the Committees on Resources , Government Reform and Oversight , National Security , International Relations , the Judiciary , Banking and Financial Services, and House Oversight.

HR 96: The Equal Remedies Act

This bill would amend section 1977A of the revised statutes to equalize the remedies available to all victims of intentional employment discrimination. It address the caps that were placed on punitive and compensatory damages in the Civil Rights Act of 1991 for gender discrimination suits.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Kennelly (D-CT), 10 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

HR 173: Medicaid Women's Basic Health Coverage Act

This bill would require that State Medicaid Programs provide coverage of screening mammography and screening pap smears by amending title XIX of the Social Security Act.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Cardiss Collins (D-IL), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

HR 180: Medicaid Infant Mortality Amendments

This bill would make improvements of coverage of services available to pregnant women and infants in the hopes of reducing infant mortality by amending title XIX of the Social Security Act.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Cardiss Collins (D-IL), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

HR 254: Disparate Treatment Employment Discrimination Amendment

This bill would amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with respect to establishing an unlawful employment practice based on disparate treatment.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities.

HR 315: Work-First Welfare Reform of 1995

This bill offers states a national welfare reform option, strengthens child support enforcement and expands access to affordable child care.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, as well as to the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities.

HR 382: Civil Rights Amendments Act

This bill would prohibit discrimination on the basis of affectional or sexual orientation by amending the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, as well as to the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities.

HR 641: Women's Right to Know Act

This bill would eliminate the gag rule entirely. The bill would amend title XI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and guarantee that the Federal or State governments cannot restrict a medical workers right to give, or a woman's right to get information about the reproductive health options available to her, including family planning, prenatal care, adoption or abortion services.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Patricia Schroeder (D-CO), 5 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/23/95 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

HCR 13

This concurrent resolution condemns the violence committed in Brookline, MA on December 30, 1994 which killed 2 clinic personnel at reproductive health clinics.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Martin Meehan (D-MA), 3 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

H Res. 30

Resolution expressing the sense of the House that obstetrician-gynecologists should be designated as primary care providers for women in Federal laws relating to the provision of health care.

Chief Sponsor: Rep.Larry Combest (R-TX), 15 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Some of the bad bills we're following:
S 24: Civil Rights of Infants Act

This bill would make it a violation of the right ensured by the Constitution to perform an abortion with the knowledge that the abortion was being performed solely because of the gender of the fetus.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95.

S 25

This bill would stop taxpayer funds from being used by Government agencies to encourage its employees or officials to accept homosexuality as a legitimate and normal lifestyle.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95.

S 26

This bill would amend the Civil Rights Act 1964, and make the practice of preferential treatment an unlawful employment practice.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95.

S 28: Unborn Children's Civil Rights Act

This bill would nullify the right to an abortion that is guaranteed by the Constitution.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95.

S 36: Welfare To Work Act of 1995

This bill would give states a block sum grant to create individual welfare-to-work programs. The grants would replace the Aid to Families with Dependent Children under title IV of the Social Security Act and a portion of the food stamp program under the Food Stamp Act of 1977.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Herbert Kohl (D-WI), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95 and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S 140: Welfare and Medicaid Responsibility Exchange Act of 1995

This bill would shift the responsibility for providing welfare assistance to the States and shift financial responsibility for providing medical assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act (the Medicaid program) to the Federal Government.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS), 2 cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/4/95 and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S 209

This bill would give states a block sum grant to create individual welfare-to-work programs and reduce the rate of out-of- wedlock births. The grants would replace the Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program under title IV of the Social Security Act and a portion of the food stamp program under the Food Stamp Act of 1977.

Chief Sponsor: Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA), 2 cosponsors

HR 4 : The Personal Responsibility Act

This is the Personal Responsibility Act of the Republicans' Contract with America. This bill would cut off benefits to teen mothers on welfare, to women on welfare for additional children, imposes the gag rule on funds which states receive to reduce teen pregnancy, rolls nutrition and food stamp programs into block grants subject to yearly spending caps and allows states to set up orphanages for women who cannot support their children.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Clay Shaw (R-FL), 118 co-sponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. Hearings have been held in the committee since Jan. 13. Mark up is expected in the Human Resources subcommittee on Feb. 13.

HR 104: The STOP (Subsidy Termination for Overdue Payment) Act

This bill would prevent the Federal Government from giving financial assistance to any person who is more than 60 days delinquent in paying child support.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight.

HR 161: The Welfare Incentive Act

This bill would cut AFDC benefits to a state by 50% if that state operated general welfare assistance programs without workfare components.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Gerald Solomon (R-NY), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

HR 191: Child Immunization Incentive Act

This bill would deny benefits under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program if a child has not received preventive health care or been immunized in accordance with recommendations issued by the Surgeon General by amending Part A of title IV of the Social Security Act. The bill would also require that child care providers that receive assistance would have to require that all children be immunized.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Marge Roukema (R-NJ), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, as well as to the Committee on Commerce.

HR 220: Responsible Welfare Act of 1995

This bill would deny Aid to Families with Dependent Children for any week in which the adult attended courses or worked for fewer than 30 hours, whether employment is paid or unpaid.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Randy Cunningham (R-CA), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

HR 222 "Federal Medicaid Abortion Standards Erosion Bill" -- our title

This bill would prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Services from finding that a State medicaid plan is not in compliance with title XIX of the Social Security Act solely on the grounds that the plan does not cover abortions for pregnancies resulting from an act of rape or incest if coverage for such abortions is inconsistent with State law.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Jay Dickey (R-AR), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

HR 230 "The Anti-NOW v. ScheidlerBill" -- our title

This bill would amend title 18, United States Code, to include "profit-seeking purpose" in antiracketeering laws. This bill would affect all pending and future cases, which is a direct attack at NOW's NOW v. Scheidler case.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Robert Dornan (R-CA), Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL)

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

HR 231

This bill would deny the deduction for medical expenses incurred for an abortion by amending the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Robert Dornan (R-CA), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

HR 237

This bill would prohibit the use of Federal funds for abortions except when the life of the mother is endangered.

Chief Sponsor: Rep. Bill Emerson (R-MO), no cosponsors

Status: Introduced on 1/9/95 and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

This legislative update was compiled by the Government Relations/Public Policy Team at the National NOW Office. For copies of any of the above bills, call your Senator or Representative at (202) 225-3121 who will send you copies free of charge, or use the Thomas service.

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