The latest news about some of the issues Eagle Forum cares about:
Budget
Last week, the House and Senate passed their budget resolutions. The Senate also voted on numerous amendments to their budget resolution. Eagle Forum scored several concerned with Common Core, UN treaties, and energy taxes. You can see how your senators voted on these amendments and other legislation on the Eagle Forum Scoreboard.
Education
Eagle Forum is continuing the fight against Common Core in Washington. Along with several other conservative organizations, we called on Congress to block federal funding that forces states to adopt particular standards or assessments. We continue to monitor H.R. 5, the House’s attempt to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. At present, it has not been rescheduled for a vote.
Immigration
The House Judiciary Committee has advanced several bills that strengthen enforcement of our immigration laws. Improvements include tightening asylum laws and allowing state and local law enforcement officials to enforce immigration laws. Committees in both the House and Senate have held important hearings on immigration-related issues:
Senate Judiciary:
- “Immigration Reforms Needed to Protect Skilled American Workers”
- “Reining in Amnesty: Texas v. United States and its Implications”
House Oversight and Government Reform:
- “The Fiscal Costs of the President’s Executive Actions on Immigration” (read about some of the testimony in this Phyllis Schlafly column)
- “A Review of the Department of Homeland Security’s Policies and Procedures for the Apprehension, Detention, and Release of Non-Citizens Unlawfully Present in the United States”
- “The President’s Executive Actions on Immigration and Their Impact on State and Federal Elections” (read about the hearing in this Phyllis Schlafly column)
Marriage
The 2015 March for Marriage will occur on April 25, which is the weekend prior to the Supreme Court hearing oral arguments on same-sex marriage. Marchers will gather on the west side of the Capitol and walk to the front of the Supreme Court.
Trade
Eagle Forum is meeting with congressmen and urging them to reject “trade promotion authority” (TPA), which allows President Obama to jam through Congress a trade deal with limits on debate and amendments. Rep. Steve Russell (R-OK) wrote an op-ed in The Hill urging his colleagues to say no on TPA.
Tribute to Phyllis
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) offered a glowing tribute to Phyllis Schlafly in the Congressional Record. The senator noted: “Fearlessly, tirelessly, Phyllis has championed the American family and American values,” and recalled how A Choice Not an Echo shaped his political philosophy.