UNDER THE DOME
National Legislation
Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121.
Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act
Concerned Women for America (CWA) attended the White House ceremony of the signing into law of The Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act, S. 193, introduced by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas). Now that President Bush has signed this bill into law, broadcasting regulations will increase indecency fines tenfold, from the current $32,500 per offense, up to $325,000.
"This is a tremendous victory not only for CWA and the grassroots who have worked to see this bill's passage, but for every family across America," said Swann. "Broadcasters will finally be held financially responsible for blatantly abusing broadcast decency standards. Up until now, broadcasting fines have been a drop in the bucket for millionaire broadcast corporations. Hopefully, a steep hike in fines will cause them to think twice before televising flagrant filth."
Thank you to all of you who took the time to make your voices heard on this issue. Contact Sen. Brownback and express your appreciation for his leadership.
Marriage Protection Amendment
The Senate debated a constitutional amendment to protect marriage, but failed to get enough votes to end debate so they could actually vote on the amendment. Jan LaRue, CWA's Chief Counsel, said, "The Senate didn't 'deem it necessary' to protect traditional marriage, despite the fact that state judges in Massachusetts, California, New York, Washington, Maryland and Georgia, and a federal judge in Nebraska, have picked a fight over marriage that We the People can win by amending the U.S. Constitution. Only a federal amendment will stop the undemocratic acts of judges and other public officials who are reducing marriage to nothing more than a license to engage in state-sanctioned sex."
Senators who opposed the amendment gave a wide variety of reasons ranging from "it's a states' rights issue," Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), to "it would write 'discrimination' into the constitution," Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and "it's divisive," Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA).
Meanwhile, earlier this month Alabama approved a marriage amendment by 81 percent. Twenty states now have passed amendments to the state constitution, and six more states will vote on them in November. Nationwide, when voters have a chance to speak on this issue, they overwhelmingly vote to affirm (the average is 70 percent) the traditional definition of marriage.
Flag Protection Amendment
The Senate also debated an amendment to ban desecration of the American flag. As a proposal to amend the constitution, it needed a 2/3 majority, or 67, votes. It failed by one vote in the Senate. The House passed the amendment last year.
Child Custody Protection Act
This legislation would prevent those who are not the parents or guardians from taking a minor out of states with parental notification laws into states that do not require parental consent.
Sen. John Ensign (R-Nevada) introduced the bill (S-8) last year in the Senate, where it remains in the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Arlen Spector (R-PA), chairman, with 38 co-sponsors.
CWA's Project 535 lobbyied senators this week to pass this crucial legislation. Contact Sen. Brownback and Sen. Roberts, and ask them to support the Child Custody Protection Act.
U.S. House of Representatives' "American Values Agenda"
The House leadership team released its agenda to protect American families. CWA is pleased with the topics that they will be dealing with and will work with legislators to raise awareness and work toward final passage.
Lanier Swann, CWA's Director of Government Relations, said, "American families will be encouraged to know that House leaders understand that values issues are critically important to the nation's future."
"Protecting life at every stage is a most important aspect of any American Values Agenda. Our hope is that the Senate will follow suit in scheduling pro-life votes before they recess for the summer. A vote cast to protect life is the most significant vote a member of Congress can cast. We look forward to those votes in the coming weeks," Swann said.
The following are some of the bills taking top priority:
o Pledge Protection Act (H.R. 2389), limits the jurisdiction of federal courts, so that the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance cannot be challenged.
o Freedom to Display the American Flag Act (H.R. 42), ensures the right of an individual to display the flag of the United States on residential property.
o The Public Expression of Religion Act (H.R. 2679), Federal law currently allows parties to sue state and local governments claiming their individual rights were violated, and then demand attorney fees if they win. The ACLU and other groups have been using these rules to threaten public officials in both their public and individual capacities, with lawsuits if the officials dare to violate the ACLU's bizarre interpretation of the so-called separation of church and state. The very threat of litigation and potential attorney fees often forces states and localities to cave in to demands to remove even the smallest religious references on public properties. PERA amends federal law to prevent the awarding of attorney fees to prevailing plaintiffs in these cases and thus levels the playing field.
o Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act (H.R. 356), mandates that abortion providers must inform women seeking abortion that a baby at 20 weeks in the womb is capable of feeling pain.
o Internet Gambling Prohibition (H.R. 4411), prohibits the acceptance of any payment for illegal Internet gambling.
o Human Cloning Prohibition Act (H.R. 1357), bans human cloning of any kind, for any purpose.
Watch for e-mail alerts as these bills move through the committees and votes are taken on the floor of the House of Representatives. Contact your Representative and ask him to support these items.
We also want to remind you of the importance of PRAYER. PRAY for protection, wisdom and boldness for the leaders of our country.
Concerned Women for America of Kansas
P. O. Box 11233
Shawnee Mission, KS 66207
Phone/Fax: 913-491-1380
Email: director@kansas.cwfa.org
Web site: kansas.cwfa.org
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