House
Prenatal Non-Discrimination Act (PRENDA): On January 25, over 50 Project 535 volunteers were briefed by Rep. Trent Franks (R-Arizona) on PRENDA which prohibits abortions based on race or sex selection.Afterwards, they visited over 75 offices to get representatives listed as original cosponsors.As a result of their efforts, we learned that 88 Members of Congress have already agreed to cosponsor.
Take Action: Call your representative and ask him/her to cosponsor PRENDA.Click here to find your representative.
Senate
Filibuster: Good news on the filibuster front. As a result of your hard work, the “Nuclear Option,” or Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nevada) attempt to break Senate rules to change the filibuster, was not brought up.Without your calls and e-mails to your senators, Sen. Reid would have succeeded at trampling the rights of the minority and destroying any chance at bi-partisanship.
Instead, a measure was agreed upon, and a new deal was set. This deal limits the number of amendments that could be offered – two by the majority and two by the minority. It also shortens the post-cloture debate on district court nominations, but appellate and Supreme Court nominations went untouched.As before, sixty votes, or three-fifths majority, are still required to invoke cloture. This leaves the filibuster or the threat of the filibuster on the table and available to encourage bi-partisanship.
Nomination: Reminder that the Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on former-Sen. Chuck Hagel to be the next Secretary of Defense on January 31, 2013.
For more information, click here to read CWALAC’s letter of opposition to the Senate.
Take Action: Call your senators today and urge them to oppose the Hagel nomination. Click here to find your senators.