House
Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act (H.R. 3865): The Ways and Means Committee favorably reported Rep. Dave Camp’s bill on Tuesday, February 11, along a party-line vote. This bill would prevent the IRS from finalizing a rule that would restrict 501(c)(4) organizations (like Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee) and silence our voices, in violation of our First Amendment rights. We expect this bill to be voted on by the entire House at the end of February.
Click here to read the letter we sent to the House.
Please call your representative today and urge him/her to support H.R. 3865. To find your representative, click here.
Marriage Week: This week is National Marriage Week. On February 11, Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kansas) organized a special order to promote the importance for families of marriage between one man and one woman. The following representatives spoke on the floor: Michele Bachmann (R-Minnesota), Bradley Byrne (R-Alabama), Scott Garrett (R-New Jersey), Doug LaMalfa (R-California), Randy Weber (R-Texas), and Ted Yoho (R-Florida).
Senate
State Marriage Defense: Wednesday, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced the State Marriage Defense Act (S.2024). This bill counters the announced policy regarding marriage made by the Department of Justice (DOJ) which states that the U.S. federal government will recognize all same-sex unions, even in states that declare marriage as being between one man and one woman.
This decision by the DOJ violates states’ rights by taking the opinion from United States vs. Windsor made by the Supreme Court and extending it to states whose laws uphold traditional marriage.
To read CWALAC’s support letter, click here.
Action: Please call your senators at 202-224-3121 and urge them to cosponsor the State Marriage Defense Act, S. 2024. To find your senators, click here.
IRS Proposed Rule: Tuesday, Sens. Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) and Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) introduced the Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act, S.2011, along with 37 additional senators; those offering their support include: Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sen. John Thune (R-South Dakota), and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).
This bill, like the one introduced in the House, seeks to prevent the IRS from enacting regulations that would silence Americans’ First Amendment rights.
To read CWALAC’s support letter, click here.
Debt Ceiling Increase: The Senate passed a debt ceiling increase this week, sending the measure to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
Many conservatives are disappointed with the way the debt ceiling talks have concluded. Currently, conservatives in both chambers, who have been fighting for cuts and accountability on spending, are finding their hands tied. The only real chance at addressing our growing 17-trillion-dollar debt is during the mid-term elections.