UNDER THE DOME
National Legislation


"Hate crimes" was reintroduced by Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) and Gordon Smith (R- Oregon) as an amendment to the DOD Authorization. The Senate spent over two weeks debating this legislation, and the Senate Republican Leadership and Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), who controlled the floor debate for the Republicans, had been doing everything they could to ensure this legislation was not considered. However, Sen. Harry Reid (D- Nevada) filed cloture on the amendment and the amendment passed by a vote of 60-39. If the President does veto this legislation as promised, we may be able to sustain in the Senate but it will be very close.

The House Education and Labor Committee was supposed to mark-up the Employment Non- Descrimination Act (ENDA) late last week, and it was supposed to be considered on the floor this week. Luckily, the Democrats are having problems reaching a consensus on their side so this legislation is bogged down for the time being. Please have your members call their Representatives at 202-225-3121 and urge them to oppose ENDA. See our recent Family Concerns for talking points.

SCHIP: The House and Senate also voted on th State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The compromised agreement between the House and Senate leadership resembles the Senate's version of SCHIP and would allow the Administration to grant waivers for states to cover families at 400 percent of the federal poverty level-- $82,600 in annual earnings for a family of four. If Congress and state officials permit SCHIP eligibility to expand to children living in families at 400 percent of the federal poverty level, fully 71 percent of American children would be eligible for either Medicaid or SCHIP. Furthermore, expanding SCHIP coverage to more and more children will separate family coverage from child coverage because of the need for different doctors and providers.

The compromise SCHIP bill does not offer the type of assistance that truly helps American families; instead it creates permanent entitlement programs. Expanding an extravagantly expensive health insurance program is not a solution that ultimately strengthens American families.

Finally, CWA's Director of Legislation and Public Policy, Shari Rendall, learned that a section in the SCHIP compromise bill may make it easier for illegal and legal aliens to fraudulently qualify for the Medicaid and SCHIP programs. Current law requires that states must determine whether persons applying for Medicaid and SCHIP are U.S. citizens and therefore entitled to participate in these programs. Section 211 of the bill will substantially weaken the current requirements and allow states to disregard the current requirement to review actual identity documents and instead submit the names and Social Security numbers of applicants.

The President has said that he would veto this expansion of SCHIP.

Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121, or toll free: 888- 534-6226 or 877-762-8762.

Sen. Sam Brownback
303 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6521
Fax: (202) 228-1265

Sen. Pat Roberts
109 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-1605
Phone: (202) 224-4774
Fax: (202) 224-3514

Rep. Jerry Moran
2202 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2715
Fax: (202) 225-5124

Rep. Nancy Boyda
1711 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6601
Fax: (202) 225-7986

Rep. Dennis Moore
1727 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2865
Fax: (202) 225-2807

Rep. Todd Tiahrt
2441 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202.225.6216
Fax: 202.225.3489

CWA�s Web Site
Get up-to-date information on the national issues that CWA is following. Check CWA's web site regularly!

You can also find excellent background information and talking points on many of the issues on CWA�s Legislative Action Committee web site.

Thank You!
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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