LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - WEEK ENDING AUGUST 11, 2006
HOUSE IN RECESS / SENATE IN RECESS UNTIL SEPTEMBER
RFC chairman William Murray is away on a fact finding mission. In his absence RFC Executive Director, Peggy Birchfield wrote this week's update.
THE SENATE
PLEDGE PROTECTION
While the Senate is in recess this month, RFC continues to visit the offices of Senators who have not signed on to the Pledge Protection Act (S. 1046). This week I visited offices of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) with boxes of petitions in support of the Senate version of the Pledge Protection Act (PPA). The Pledge Protection Act is to keep the words "under God" in the Pledge to our flag. Last week I visited Senator George Allen (R-VA) and Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) who still have not cosponsored the Pledge Protection Act. Please call these Senators to ask them to be cosponsors of this bill. We would like to add them to the list of the current 17 cosponsors. Have you signed a petition to your Senator asking him to support the Pledge Protection Act? Click here to sign a petition today. RFC is delivering the petitions continuously this month so that we may let your Senator know that this issue is still important. The House passed their version on June 20, 2006 and now we want to see the Senate put this on their agenda in September. Show your support by signing a petition for your Senator today.
FIGHT ASSISTED SUICIDE
Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) introduced a bill last Friday that would prohibit doctors from prescribing federally-controlled substances for the purpose of physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia. The Assisted Suicide Prevention Act (S.3788) would amend the Controlled Substances Act to explicitly prohibit the prescription, distribution, or administration of a federally controlled substance for the purposes of assisted suicide or euthanasia. The bill respects the principles of federalism by preserving the general ability of states to set their own rules, but simply makes clear, as the Constitution contemplates, that federal law is the supreme law of the land.
SENATOR JOE
Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) is one of the few rational Democrats remaining in the Senate amongst the screaming extremists such as Harry Reid (D-NV) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA). Social conservative groups such as the Religious Freedom Coalition have been able to work with him in certain areas, particularly in human trafficking and international religious freedom. He has cosponsored several bills with mild mannered conservative Sam Brownback (R-KS). On Tuesday he lost in a primary race despite the help of former President Bill Clinton to a very harsh fringe lefty millionaire. Joe Lieberman was the victim of Moveon.org, the organization funded by billionaire George Soros, whose major desire is the legalization of habit forming drugs. Wednesday morning, in defiance of George Soros, the Lieberman team filed to run an independent campaign for the Senate this fall. While Republican Alan Schlesinger had virtually no chance of beating Lieberman in the fall, with a three way race, it is now possible that he could win.
THE HOUSE
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
The House has recessed until September, returning home to their districts. They are leaving with several victories on their side; however there is still much to do to accomplish the American Values Agenda put forth by Majority Leader Boehner (R-OH). The Pledge Protection Act (H.R.2389/ S.1046) passed in the House but is in need of a vote in the Senate. The Child Custody Protection Act (H.R. 748/ S.403) passed in both the House and the Senate but needs a conference agreement. The Public Expression of Religion Act (H.R.2679/ S.3696) is in the committee on both the House and Senate sides. RFC will continue to work to gather cosponsors for these important bills. Click here to ask your Congressman or Senator to support these bills.
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Peggy S. Birchfield, Executive Director
Religious Freedom Coalition , PO Box 77511, Washington, DC 20013 - (202) 543-0300
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Religious Freedom Coalition * Copyright - 2006