Tuesday, November 24, 2015

POTUS Embraces The Policy of The Child

The culture of viewing children as goods is a residual of the peculiar institution, indicative of the U.S.
 
This is why the nation's rate of child poverty is omitted from political discussions.

Children are dehumanized through the U.S. Child Welfare System to be measured in dollars, or rather federal funding.

This is why there are people who have no problem standing still, watching a child suffer and die: there is no profit to be made nor is there revenue to be generated.

Perhaps the Administration can come up with some crafty policy initiative to monetarily incentivize those individuals who lack human compassion as a core belief of a faith-based corporation's religious freedom to maximize revenue, as a non-profit.

This is the first time I can recall a U.S. President harvesting the most precious treasure of human existence and gracefully introducing the beauty of a child as a resolve to the provocative issue of immigration.

All policies begin with the child and it is called posterity.

"Before you are a man, you are a child".

‘They’re just like our kids': Obama tries to put human face on refugee crisis

U.S. President Barack Obama smiles with a 16-year old refugee, a victim of human trafficking who will soon be resettled in the U.S., as he tours the Dignity for Children Foundation, an education program for refugee children, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia November 21, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Reuters.
U.S. President Barack Obama smiles with a 16-year old refugee, a victim of human trafficking who will soon be resettled in the U.S., as he tours the Dignity for Children Foundation, an education program for refugee children, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia November 21, 2015. Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Reuters.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Brushing off refugee worries at home, President Barack Obama crouched alongside migrant children on Saturday and declared they are the opposite of terrorists wreaking havoc from Paris to Mali. Working to put a human face on the refugee crisis, he said, “They’re just like our kids.”

The refugees Obama encountered at a school for poor children in Malaysia were not from Syria, and unlike the flood of Syrians meeting steep resistance in the U.S., these migrants had already been cleared to resettle in America. Still, Obama said their faces could have been those of kids from Syria, Iraq and other war-torn regions whose pursuit of a life free from violence led them far from their native homes.

“They were indistinguishable from any child in America,” Obama said. “The notion that somehow we would be fearful of them – that our politics would somehow lead us to turn our sights away from their plight – is not representative of the best of who we are.”

More than mere musings, Obama’s comments were intended as a direct rebuke to those demanding a halt to Syrian and Iraqi refugees entering the U.S. in the light of the Islamic State’s attacks in Paris. Obama said the U.S. had shown it can welcome refugees while ensuring security. “There’s no contradiction,” he said.

Many Americans seem to disagree. Democrats in large numbers have abandoned their president and his opposition to stiffer screening measures; forty-seven of them voted against Obama on Thursday. Having secured a veto-proof majority in the House, supporters are now hoping for a repeat in the Senate, while Obama works to shift the conversation to milder visa waiver changes that wouldn’t affect Syrian refugees.

In a modest classroom where refugee children were learning English, Obama zigzagged among art projects, puzzles and a caged class rabbit as he asked children in crisp white uniforms and neckties about their aspirations for the future. Later, as he met with older refugees who will soon relocate to the U.S., he said these children “deserve love and protection and stability and an education.”

“You will see the degree to which they represent the opposite of terror, the opposite of the type of despicable violence we saw in Mali and Paris,” the president said.

He singled out one refugee from Myanmar – a petite 16-year-old in a bright yellow dress – and said she had been a victim of human trafficking until the U.N. intervened. Obama said the girl now hopes to advocate for those who have suffered a similar plight. The White House declined to name the girl out of concern for the safety of her parents still in Myanmar.

“This is who we want to help,” Obama said. “This is the face of people around the world who still look to the United States as a beacon of hope.”

Of the some 150,000 refugees in Malaysia, many if not most are Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic group. Tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled persecution by Myanmar’s Buddhist majority and landed in Malaysia, where Obama was attending a regional economic summit.

Obama’s administration has played a central role in Myanmar’s emergence from brutal military rule, a transformation Obama considers a key foreign policy success. Yet the continued persecution of Rohingya remains a stain on the country’s record, and even opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, an Obama ally whose party triumphed in recent elections, has been sharply criticized for looking the other way.

Driving the debate about accepting Syrian refugees in the U.S., as in Europe, are concerns that terrorists could exploit the system to enter the country and carry out more attacks. It’s unclear whether that was a factor in the Paris attacks that killed 130, although Obama has insisted that’s not a legitimate security threat. Unlike in Europe, refugees don’t set foot in the U.S. until they undergo a vetting process that typically takes 18 to 24 months.

Since Paris, the refugee issue has reverberated on the 2016 presidential campaign trail, where fears about Muslims in the U.S. have been voiced with a level of openness not seen since 9/11. Obama has accused Republicans of politically driven fear-mongering, but strong support in Congress for tighter vetting measures has underscored how pervasive some of those concerns have become.
“It is wrong to condemn a strong screening process using the language of charity and morality,” said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.

Obama also met in Kuala Lumpur with representatives of civil society groups, where he called for tolerance and universal freedoms while avoiding direct criticism of Malaysia’s government. He also attended a summit with Southeast Asian leaders, where he called for reaching an “ambitious and durable” climate agreement in Paris in the coming weeks and praised efforts to create a “code of conduct” to address maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Obama planned to meet separately with the leaders of Laos and Singapore.

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Monday, November 23, 2015

Velvet Martin Honors The Life Of Weslyn Mather

Velvet Martin, a powerful, an international iconic Canadian leader in changing child welfare as we know it, is an individual I highly and deeply respect.

Therefore, I take the time to honor the elected who have honored their oaths of office to protect and serve the innocence of the child, as eloquently presented by Velvet.

My children survived.  Her child did not.

On a mission...

My heart is heavy today; I’ve just been alerted of the passing of Weslyn Mather. A very special lady, Weslyn was the first politician that I met with genuine conviction to do right by others. I remember reaching out to you just under a decade ago. Weslyn was the shadow Minister for Children’s Services in the Province at that time. I distinctly remember viewing a newscast regarding the fatality of a child and I saw sincere outrage and passion lit within Weslyn’s face. I had also just lost my little girl so I decided to reach out. For the first time, I felt I was being listened to. You were warm, intuitive, and real. An intelligent woman with great integrity who well-understood political bureaucracy, yet did not allow nonsense to limit pursuit of ethical outcome. On my behalf, you helped table issues surrounding children with developmental and medical diversity in the legislature to create distinction between the child welfare model. My goal was to ensure future families would be provided funding for support services directly without coercion over guardianship, nor demand for out of home placement. You helped to establish Samantha's Law improving lives of vulnerable children and preserving rights of families through family-centred care principals. You introduced me to other wonderful individuals such as Dr. David Swann, invited me to politicial events and into your home. I was wowed by your affection for people, none so obvious as the great maternal pride held and demonstration of love for your grandson. The world has lost a tremendous leader.
In sincere respect and with love,
Velvet Martin
Founder of Samantha’s Law
Spokesperson for Protecting Canadian Children

Former Edmonton Liberal MLA Weslyn Mather dies

A 'stalwart in the party,' interim Liberal Leader David Swann says

Former Liberal MLA Weslyn Mather died at her home in Edmonton on Sunday.
"We're really all reeling under this tremendous loss to both her family and her community and to the Liberal Party," interim provincial Liberal Leader David Swann said. "She was a stalwart in the party."
Canadian MLA Weslyn Mather
The former teacher and school counsellor represented the riding of Edmonton-Mill Woods from 2004 until 2008, when she was defeated by PC Carl Benito.  
Mather ran for the Liberals in 2012 but was unsuccessful in reclaiming her seat. She last ran for public office for a seat on the board of trustees at Edmonton Public Schools.
Mather's husband Dick Mather, a former city councillor and chairman of Edmonton Public Schools, died in 1997. Injuries from a car crash in 1972 meant she had to use a wheelchair to get around. 
Mather was the Liberal critic for children and youth services while she was an MLA.  
Her work was praised by Janis Tarchuk, then the department's Progressive Conservative minister, after Mather had lost her seat.
"She was wonderful to work with and a great advocate for the children and families in this province," Tarchuk said during debates of the govenment estimates in May 2008. 
Swann said he and Mather were close. They were first elected in 2004 and sat next to each other in the legislature.
Swann said she died at home. She had developed an infection and it had "got away," he said. 
"It makes it doubly tragic because it would appear that she maybe didn't have the medical care there that she might have needed."
Federal Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr, a former Alberta Liberal MLA, offered a tribute to Mather on Twitter.
"She was a stalwart in the battle for a better Alberta," he said. "She will be missed."

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Sunday, November 22, 2015

DOJ Introduces Justice For Families Grant Program Solicitations and National Policy Changes

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched its first round of child welfare reform through the Office of Violence Against Women.

The grant solicitations are the first leg in redesigning child welfare programs as we know it.

Focus is set on shifting to approach families as victims and offer assistance by engaging all involved, not "targeting populations.

I must humbly bow to the leadership of U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch in her bold and quite brilliant initiatives in providing justice for families battling the States family courts and the lack of resources to keep families intact through a refreshing interpretation of the Violence Against Women Act.

Besides, Child Protective Services sucks.

The grants reflect a deeper change in national policy in dealing with grantmaking by including specific requirements, making programs inclusive of "culturally specific" and "underserved populations", instead of "targeted populations", which is nothing more than code terms for racial profiling.

Mandatory Program Requirements “Comprehensive” and “Engaging Men” applicants must identify at least one culturally specific or underserved population to be served. Applicants that fail to identify and engage at least one culturally specific or underserved population3 may be removed from further funding consideration.
 
Not only do these solicitations present opportunity for alternative approaches to serving underserved populations, they lay the foundation for, what I may firmly state, as the first indication of accountability, by noting my most favorite federal statute in the entire world, the False Claims Act.

I am so giddy right now I could just...well...let's just say...I am on a mission...

Under the False Claims Act, any credible evidence that a person has submitted a false claim or has committed a criminal or civil violation of laws pertaining to fraud, conflict of interest, bribery, gratuity, or similar misconduct involving CTAS funds may be referred to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The OIG may be contacted at oig.hotline@usdoj.gov, www.justice.gov/oig/hotline/, and 800-869-4499.

It is applauded that the DOJ has extended interests in the issues with Native Americans, and for that, I personally extend my eternal gratitude.


Let the solicitations commence!

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Conyers to run for re-election to Congress

U.S. Rep. John Conyers of Detroit, longest-serving active member of Congress, will run for a 27th two-year term




WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Detroit, already the longest-serving active member of Congress and the longest-serving African-American congressman in U.S. history, will run for a 27th two-year term next year, looking to extend a legislative tenure stretching back to the Civil Rights era.


“I like what I’m doing, that’s the first reason I want to run again. Second,
there’s plenty left undone,” Conyers told the Free Press in an exclusive interview. “I can’t imagine anything more uninteresting than being a person that’s retired, sitting in a rocking chair.”

With the announcement, Conyers, 86, made clear that he has no immediate intention to cede a seat he has held with few serious challenges since 1965, despite some recent opposition.


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Saturday, November 21, 2015

Deportation Makes Money, Period

 U.S. Representatives John Conyers and Zoe Lofgren issued a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the President’s Executive Actions to fix our broken immigration system and after the Department of Justice filed a petition to seek review before the Supreme Court to overturn a Fifth Circuit Court order blocking two of the executive actions of conservative judges temporarily blocked implementation of the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) program and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) – and in doing so, put on hold the dreams of millions of immigrant families nationwide.




Unfortunately, the "statement" is nothing more than really boring, pro forma, congressional, bland, universally. politically appeasing rhetoric that will fly over the heads of most individuals and under the radar of anyone else who cares about the issues of immigration because it is an election cycle.

Allow me to fashion the entire position issue of immigration into a sharper perspective:



It's all about the almighty dollar.

That is correct.  Immigration is all about the money, but for now, I am just going to focus on the industry of child welfare and its relevance to DAPA and DACA,

Every time a child is introduced to the federal detention system, the child goes through a specifically designed foster care system, which has a higher payout, with even more stringent protections from public scrutiny of cost reimbursements and review of the treatment of children.

These child welfare organizations are privately contracted and are not obligated to recognize the civil rights of children, let alone the parents.

The children are shipped off across the country, doped up on antipsychotic medications, therapy, and an entire slew of other federally billable programs.

I must mention, of course, that the children who are born in the U.S., (a,k.a. 'Anchor Babies) are Medicaid billables.

I would be remiss to fail to mention the blustering industry of adoption.  The tax credits are absolutely fabulous, particularly for those "foreign born"  and lil' brown babies.

Using current policies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, these non-profit, mostly religious, contracted child welfare agencies are taking marching orders from the conservative think tanks which are more crafting revenue-maximization schemes, which of course are exempt from taxes and external audits.

Conservative think tanks, in essence, have their work already laid out for them to profit from the targeted populations of children all because liberal think tanks support the ideology of "targeted populations" which is nothing more than racial profiling.

Basically, deportation creates jobs and maximizes revenues for the non-profits, at the expense of the lives of children.

Human trafficking, by any other name, is human trafficking, and so are the residual policies of the peculiar institution.  

Until there is real, open and honest, bipartisan discussions on the nation's child welfare system, nothing will change, ever.




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Friday, November 20, 2015

Conyers and Lofgren Statement on Department of Justice Petition Seeking Supreme Court Review of Key Executive Actions


Petition for SCOTUS Review Falls on One Year Anniversary of Executive Immigration Actions

WASHINGTON– Today, U.S. Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee, and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Ranking Member on the Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee, issued the following statement marking the one-year anniversary of the President’s Executive Actions to fix our broken immigration system and after the Department of Justice filed a petition to seek review before the Supreme Court to overturn a Fifth Circuit Court order blocking two of the executive actions:

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.
“One year ago, President Obama took legal action to fix our broken immigration system.  Since then, eight of the ten immigration executive actions he announced have been, or are being, successfully implemented. Unfortunately, conservative judges temporarily blocked implementation of the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) program and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) – and in doing so, put on hold the dreams of millions of immigrant families nationwide.   

“Today the Department of Justice filed a petition for certiorari, seeking review of the lower court’s ruling before the Supreme Court. We are confident that the Supreme Court will rule in favor of these common sense reforms, which would provide relief from deportation for approximately 4 to 5 million parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and an expanded number of DREAMers. Along with our Democratic colleagues in Congress, we will be filing an amicus brief with the Supreme Court in support of the President's actions.

“Like prior Presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, among others, who likewise exercised their constitutional authority to humanely enforce our immigration laws, President Obama’s actions are consistent with precedent and fall well within his legal authority. 

“Though his actions will ultimately be upheld in court, Congress must still act to pass comprehensive immigration reform and provide certainty to the hard-working, law-abiding immigrant community in America.”


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Conyers: We Must Not Turn our Backs on the World’s Refugees


Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.
“In the midst of a global refugee crisis, we cannot turn our backs on the world’s refugees.  Millions of Syrians are fleeing the very violence and depravity in their war-torn home country that we saw on gruesome display in Paris on Friday, the 13th.  Rather than betraying our values, we must continue to focus on the most effective tools to keep us safe while also providing refuge for the world’s most vulnerable.

“Refugees are more thoroughly vetted than any other traveler or immigrant to the United States.  We rely on methodical and exhaustive background checks (18 - 24 months on average and longer in many cases) performed by the Departments of Homeland Security and State, in conjunction with the CIA, FBI, and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies.  We should not let kneejerk reactions keep us from being a beacon of hope for Syrian refugees and other refugees in the Middle East, Africa, and around the world.  Doing anything different would not only be turning our back on the world’s refugees, but also on our own proud of history of providing safe haven.”

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Thursday, November 19, 2015

Conyers: Urges No Vote On H.R. 4038, the “American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act Of 2015"


Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.
“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4038, the so-called ‘American SAFE Act,’ purports to make us safer. But, as the Administration correctly observes, this measure ‘would provide no meaningful additional security for the American people.’

“Worse yet, it would effectively deny refugee status for Syrians and Iraqis who are themselves victims of terrorism in their homelands. 

“H.R. 4038 is a terribly flawed and inhumane bill for many reasons.           

“To begin with, while ensuring the safety of all Americans should be our top priority, H.R. 4038 does nothing to achieve this goal.

“This measure sets unreasonable clearance standards that the Department of Homeland Security simply cannot meet.
                       
“Refugees seeking to come to our shores are already subject to the highest level of vetting – more than any other traveler or immigrant to the United States.

“This extensive screening process is performed by the Departments of Homeland Security and State, in conjunction with the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

“The process utilizes methodical and exhaustive background checks that often take between 18 to 24 months on average to complete and even longer in many cases. 

“Second, we must keep in mind that our Nation was founded by immigrants and has historically welcomed refugees when there is suffering around the globe. 

“Whether it is an earthquake in Haiti, a tsunami in Asia, or 4 years of Civil War in Syria with no end in sight – the world looks to the United States.  We provide protections for refugees and asylum seekers, especially women and children.
           
“Nevertheless, in the wake of the September 11 attacks on our shores and the tragic November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, we must be vigilant particularly in the midst of a global refugee crisis.          

“H.R. 4038, however, is an extreme over-reaction to these latest security concerns.

“Rather than shutting our doors to these desperate men, women, and children who are risking their lives to escape death and torture in their homelands, we should work to utilize our immense resources and good intentions of our citizens to welcome them.
           
“And, finally, Congress needs to do its part by properly funding refugee resettlement as well as funding our federal agencies so they have the necessary personnel and programs to complete security checks that we already have in place.  

“Instead of slamming our doors to the world’s most vulnerable, we should be considering legislation to strengthen and expand refugee programs.

“Unfortunately, the bill before us today is not a serious effort to legislate and it will not make us safer.  It is a knee-jerk reaction as evidenced by the fact that this measure, introduced just two days ago, has not been the subject of a single hearing or any meaningful review by our Committee. 


“Rather than betraying our values, we must continue to focus on the most effective tools to keep us safe while also providing refuge for the world's most vulnerable.  

“Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 4038.  Thank you.  I yield back the balance of my time.”   

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EPA to audit Michigan drinking water program following Flint lead crisis

EPA to audit Michigan drinking water program following Flint lead crisis

FLINT, MI -- In the wake of a public health crisis over high lead levels in water in some Flint homes, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced it will audit the state's drinking water program.
A Nov. 10 news release from the EPA says it will examine the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's "implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act and related rules on lead and copper, total coliform, nitrates and ground water."
The audit comes after requests for a federal investigation of Flint's water crisis by U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, and state Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint.
Brad Wurfel, a spokesman for the DEQ, issued a statement today, pledging the agency's cooperation.
"EPA is conducting this audit to ensure that MDEQ maintains reliable drinking water supplies that meet all of the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act," EPA Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman said in a written statement.
"This comprehensive audit will provide Flint residents and the people of Michigan with more information about MDEQ oversight of public water supplies and will identify actions that may be needed to strengthen the Michigan drinking water program." 
The EPA news release says employees of the agency will go to MDEQ offices to review state files on public water system compliance with the SDWA and will review the state's oversight of public water systems.
"The audit will consist of a full programmatic review that supplements the reviews of the Michigan drinking water program that EPA conducts each year," the news release says.
The audit is expected to take several months to complete and a report will be issued when it is complete.
In separate letters to Gina McCarthy, administrator of the EPA, last month, Kildee and Ananich asked for the federal review of the MDEQ's oversight of water treatment in Flint.
A public health emergency was issued in Flint after researchers from Virginia Tech university and a Hurley Medical Center doctor discovered high lead levels in Flint's water supply and rising blood lead levels in children since the city switched its water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River in April 2014.
DEQ Director Dan Wyant has said state regulators mistakenly allowed the city to distribute river water without requiring that it be treated to make it less corrosive.
Wurfel said in an email to The Flint Journal-MLive that the DEQ "welcomes this announcement from EPA, and we've already signaled to them that they can count on our full cooperation and transparency."
"We've appreciated the federal government's support on the situation in Flint --including its announcement last week that the Lead and Copper rule speaks ambiguously on the corrosion control issue," Wurfel's statement says.
"Nobody wants to see a situation like Flint, and we look forward in working with our federal partners going forward because we share the goal of making sure the Flint situation is not repeated – in Michigan, or anywhere else." 
Ananich said the federal investigation would not have been necessary if an independent commission with subpoena power had been appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder.
Still, the senator said he's interested in the federal review.
"I want to see (EPA's findings)," he said. "I'm hoping it's thorough and of value."

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Statement of the Honorable John Conyers, Jr. Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security Hearing on: “The Syrian Refugee Crisis and Its Impact on the Security of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program”


       
Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.
     “This hearing, which focuses on the Syrian refugee crisis and its impact on the security of our Nation’s Refugee Admissions Program, has the potential to shed meaningful light on critical issues of interest to all Americans.

            “Unfortunately and with all due respect to our witnesses, the value of today’s undertaking is greatly diminished by the fact that immediately following the conclusion of this hearing, we will go directly to the floor to vote on H.R. 4038, the so-called “American SAFE Act,” a bill that would effectively shut down refugee processing for Syrians and Iraqis. 
           
“Clearly, there are no easy solutions to a humanitarian crisis of this magnitude, as well as the security threats we will hear about today. 

            “Yet, H.R. 4038 is not the right answer and I want the witnesses to focus on what should be our response, keeping in mind these factors. 

            “To begin with, while ensuring the safety of all Americans should be our top priority, H.R. 4038, which would effectively debar Syrian and Iraqi refugees from the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, does nothing to promote security.  

            “This measure sets unreasonable clearance standards that the Department of Homeland Security cannot meet and thereby it would halt refugee resettlement in the United States.              
           
“Without question, the Program should be held to the highest standards to ensure – to the greatest extent possible – that the security screening is thorough, effective, and timely. 

            “In fact, refugees are already subject to the highest level of vetting – more than any other traveler or immigrant to the United States. 

            “This extensive screening process – performed by the Departments of Homeland Security and State, in conjunction with the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies – relies on methodical and exhaustive background checks that often take between 18 to 24 months on average to complete and even longer in many cases. 

            “But, like any system, there can be room for further improvement.  So I would appreciate your thoughts on how we can accomplish that goal.

            “Secondwe must keep in mind that our Nation was founded by immigrants and has historically welcomed refugees when there is suffering around the globe. 

            “Whether it is an earthquake in Haiti, a tsunami in Asia, or four years of Civil War in Syria with no end in sight – the world looks to the United States.  We provide protections for refugees and asylum seekers, especially women and children.
           
            “Nevertheless, in the wake of the September 11 attacks on our shores and the tragic November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, we must be vigilant especially in the midst of a global refugee crisis.      
           
“H.R. 4038, however, is an extreme over-reaction to these latest security concerns.

            “Rather than shutting our doors to these desperate men, women, and children who are risking their lives to escape death and torture in their homelands, we should work to utilize our immense resources and good intentions of our citizens to welcome them.

            “And, finally, Congress needs to do its part by properly funding refugee resettlement as well as funding our federal agencies so they have the necessary personnel and programs to complete security checks.        


       “Rather than slamming our doors to the world’s most vulnerable, we should be considering legislation to strengthen and expand refugee programs. 
           
“For example, I am a co-sponsor of H.R.1568, the ‘Protecting Religious Minorities Persecuted by ISIS Act of 2015,’ which would allow persecuted individuals in ISIS-held territories in Iraq and Syria to apply directly to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

            “Rather than rushing to the floor to consider legislation that was introduced just two days ago and that has not been the subject of even a single hearing, we should devote our legislative resources to developing meaningful solutions.”
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Rep. Johnson requests House Judiciary hearing on arbitration

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) sent a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte requesting a full hearing to carefully review the issue of pre-dispute (“forced”) arbitration clauses that appear in millions of consumer contracts – from employment to automobile sales and from nursing-home admission to cell phone service. 

The letter, cosigned by Judiciary Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Michigan), comes on the heels of a powerful three-part investigative series in The New York Times examining the alarming rise by corporations of including forced arbitration clauses in consumer contracts that block consumers’ access to the courts, and also their right to participate in class-action lawsuits.

According to the series, forced arbitration falls woefully short as a fair and just system for consumers seeking to hold corporations accountable when a dispute arises.

“Simply put, pre-dispute, forced arbitration deprives consumers of their day in court, and is a secretive, abusive and unfair process that favors corporations,” Johnson said. “With forced arbitration stacking the deck against the consumer, corporate overreach can’t be checked. The Seventh Amendment to the Constitution guarantees to people the right to a jury trial in a court of law before an impartial judge; in a trial that is open and fair. In stark contrast, The New York Times has resoundingly established that forced arbitration is a closed, unjust, and discriminatory system.”

Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) is the author of the Arbitration Fairness Act and ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law, which exercises jurisdiction over issues of arbitration.


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Statement of the Honorable John Conyers, Jr. Full Committee Hearing on “Oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice”


Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr..
“Madam Attorney General, welcome to the House Judiciary Committee.

            “Nearly seven months ago, after much delay in the Senate, you took over for our friend Eric Holder at the Department of Justice. 

            “With, not one, but two tours of duty as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, you are unquestionably the right leader at this moment for the important work of the Department.

            “Nowhere is your leadership more important than in national security.  The attacks on Paris leave no doubt that our most pressing mission—yours and ours—remains protecting the American people. 
           
“Unfortunately, history shows that tragic events like these are followed by calls for drastic action.  Already we have heard proposals to undo encryption, roll back surveillance reform, and deport some of the most vulnerable among us.

            “I urge restraint in these matters, Madam Attorney General.  At this time, we have very little information about how the attacks were carried out.

            “Rather than use these events as an excuse to advance policies that otherwise betray our values, I urge the Intelligence Community—including the Department of Justice—to focus on the most effective tools in our toolbox: targeted surveillance, targeted investigations, and smart policing.

            “Back at home, you have cultivated strong relationships in the police community—but you are not afraid to call out bad behavior, or to prosecute police officers when circumstances warrant.
           
“That experience will prove invaluable as the Department, along with this Committee, takes its next steps on criminal justice reform.

            “Under your leadership, the Civil Rights Division continues its work with police departments around the country to ensure that state and local policing practices comport with the Constitution.

            “The Office of Juvenile Justice is also working hard to disrupt what you have called the ‘cycle of criminality and incarceration.’

            “I commend you for your work on this front, and I look forward to our partnership as this Committee moves forward with its own package of criminal justice reforms.

            “Another area where we look to your leadership is in the enforcement of voting rights.

            “Earlier this year, observing the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, you remarked:

            “It is the lesson of every generation that the price of freedom is constant vigilance, because opponents of free and fair access to the voting booth have neither retreated nor surrendered.”

            “The unfortunate truth of that statement plays out across the country today—no place more vividly than in Alabama, where officials plan to close 31 driver’s license offices across the state, including those in every county in which African Americans make up more than 75 percent of registered voters.

            “Coupled with Alabama’s strict new voter-ID law, these closings will make it even harder for many citizens to obtain the identification now required to cast a vote.

            “The discriminatory impact of this plan plays out in other ways too.  Imagine having to drive hundreds of miles across rural Alabama to renew your driver’s license.  We know that this burden will weigh heaviest on the state’s poorest citizens. 

            “Borrowing again from your words: ‘it is incumbent on all of us . . . to stand up, to speak out, and to make clear that no end is worth the means of disenfranchisement.  [N]o small-minded policy is worth the cheapening of our democracy.’

            “Finally, Madam Attorney General, I want to comment on the virtue of your being a new leader at the Department of Justice, ready to make a fresh start with this Committee.

            “Today, you will hear questions about Benghazi, Planned Parenthood, Solyndra, Operation Fast & Furious, and Lois Lerner of the IRS. 

            “These are not matters that affect many of our constituents, but you will hear questions about them anyway. 

            “My advice for you is this: stick to the facts and the law and you’ll be fine.

            “We know that some members are displeased with the outcome of the Department’s investigation into the Lois Lerner matter. 

            “But we also know that your investigators were as thorough as can be: they conducted more than 100 interviews, collected more than one million pages of documents, and closely analyzed almost 500 applications for tax-exempt status. 

            “Some members wish your predecessor had appointed a special counsel to investigate the matter.

            “But both the plain text of the applicable regulations and the Congressional Research Service tell us otherwise.

            “The facts of the case did not involve senior Administration officials.  They did not present a conflict of interest to the Department of Justice. 

            “And so, the appointment of special counsel was simply not appropriate in this matter. 

            “Too often, your predecessor—whom I still admire very much—found himself the target of personal insults, in this Committee and elsewhere. 

            “I like to think that all of us in this room regret the frequent attacks on his character—or at least realize that those attacks were almost entirely unproductive. 

            “We have a chance to start over today.  We can do better.  Progressives and conservatives, Congress and the Administration—there is so much common ground between us to be explored, particularly in the work of the Department of Justice. 

            “I am glad that you are with us today, and I look forward to your testimony.”
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