VICTORY!
Tuesday, the Senate voted to ratify the United Nations treaty on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). If ratified, the treaty would have overstepped parental rights by establishing the best interest of the child legal standard. It also left the definition of a disability as an evolving concept and had reproductive health language within it. Despite it being close, the Senate failed to reach the two-thirds needed to approve or ratify the treaty. Click here to see how your member voted.
Click here for an information sheet on the CRPD.
Leaving the Hill Speechless
Early Thursday afternoon, word spread quickly around the Hill that Sen. Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) is resigning come January and will be taking a position as president of The Heritage Foundation. CWALAC will deeply miss him in the Senate, but we look forward to working with him in his new role at the Heritage Foundation.South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) will appoint someone to fill his term.
Defense Authorization
This week, the Senate passed its National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. Since it differs from the House version passed in May, conferees will now hammer out the differences.
The House version includes language to protect military chaplains consciences so they are not forced to marry homosexuals. It also applies DOMA to military facilities.The Senate bill expands taxpayer funding for abortions at military facilities in cases of rape and incest.
Conscience Mandate
Also this week, a court ruled in favor of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York on the Health and Human Services (HHS) Mandate.This is a win for those who are fighting against the HHS Mandate, which violates religious freedom by mandating all health services cover contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs. There are currently 40 separate lawsuits taking place over this mandate.
For more information on the HHS mandate click here.