Compiled by Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO — Through announcements and their selection of guests to attend the annual State of the Union address, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives can draw attention to their favorite programs and causes. Here are some of the issues that Jewish members of Congress highlighted in advance of President Obama’s State of the Union message on Tuesday evening, Jan 20:
INFRASTRUCTURE — U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) had joined three other lawmakers on Jan. 16 to urge that the President’s State of the Union “highlight the importance of rebuilding America’s infrastructure and fixing the broken international tax code.”
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VETERANS — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) brought to the State of the Union address Joanna Eldridge, widow of U.S. Marine Justin Eldridge, who took his life while suffering from traumatic brain injury and post traumatic stress. “Even as we lose another 22 veterans each day to suicide, we must not forget the spouses, children and community they leave behind,” Blumenthal said. “Joanna stood relentlessly by her husband’s side throughout his struggle, advocating not just for him, but fighting for better care for all of our veterans.”
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SCHOLARSHIPS — U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee) commented on First Lady Michelle Obama’ invitation to Pellissippi State Community College student Chelsey Davis to sit with her at the State of the Union Address: “I share the President’s goals of making college more affordable and ensuring educational opportunity for all, and Ms. Davis is a powerful example of how community colleges can help students realize a better life. But she is an outlier of the Tennessee community college system, not the norm. Ms. Davis’ achievements, while impressive, were not aided by Governor Haslam’s Promise program as that program does not begin until this fall. She more likely than not received assistance through the HOPE scholarship while at Pellissippi State and will receive a HOPE scholarship if and when she enrolls in a four-year college. By raiding HOPE funding from which all of its funds are derived and preventing any future growth, the no-standards, non-existent Tennessee Promise program actually hurts low- and middle-income HOPE students who have shown they can achieve and directs their earned scholarship funding to more affluent, non-achieving students. By highlighting the Tennessee Promise, a yet-to-be-established $14 million ‘last dollar’ scholarship program rather than the ten-year $250 million Tennessee Education HOPE Lottery program, the emphasis is being placed on the hole and not the donut.”
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IMMIGRATION — U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Florida) brought Charlene Rupert, a South Florida DREAMer, as her guest to the State of the Union address. Rupert, 21, “came to the United States from Venezuela at the age of 11 with her grandmother, who had a legal visa, and settled in Palm Springs, Florida,” Frankel related. “She enrolled in school unaware that she was an undocumented immigrant, learned English in middle school, and attended the prestigious Dreyfoos School of the Arts, graduating with honors. In 2012, President Obama issued an Executive Order on immigration, allowing Rupert, and other young people like her, to be lawfully present in the United States. She now works, attends college, and supports her family. Last week’s action by the United States Congress would subject her to immediate deportation.”
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GLOBAL WARMING — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (Independent-Vermont) announced that Munt Mansfield Union High School sophomore Leo Lehrer-Small had won his annual State of the Union essay contest, which was judged by four Vermont teachers. In his winning essay, Lehrer-Small wrote: “As we enter the year of 2015, there is one issue in particular that our government, in conjunction with global policy makers, need to address with attention and urgency. This issue, quite simply, is the safety of our planet: global climate change is already affecting the environment through droughts, increasingly frequent heat waves, and rising sea levels. As the most powerful country in the world, the U.S. must be a driving force in halting global climate change.”
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AUTISM — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York) brought Avonte Oquendo’s mother, Vanessa Fontaine, to the State of the Union as his guest. Schumer invited Fontaine in order to draw attention to an issue that is very important to them both: passage of his legislation, called “Avonte’s Law”. Schumer said his legislation “will create and fund a program to provide voluntary tracking devices and expand support services for families with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or other developmental disorders in which ‘bolting’ from parents or caregivers is common. This voluntary program would only be for families who choose to use the devices.”
U.S. House of Representatives
TAX INVERSION–U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Michigan) said he has joined other House Democrats in “introducing legislation to tighten restrictions on corporate tax inversions, limiting the ability of American companies to lower their U.S. taxes by combining with a smaller foreign business and moving their tax address overseas. The legislation would save the U.S. nearly $34 billion in revenue, according to a recent estimate from the Joint Committee on Taxation.”
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ANTI-MUSLIM BIGOTRY – U.S. Rep. Jerome Nadler (D-New York) defended the appointment of a Muslim colleague, Rep. André Carson, to the House Intelligence Committee, accusing right-wing politicians of bigotry. “Congressman Carson is a talented, hard-working member who has dedicated his life’s work to public service—including his work on the Indianapolis City County Council, his time as a law enforcement officer, his work in intelligence and counter terrorism at the Indiana Department of Homeland Security and continuing to his current role as a Member of the U.S. Congress,” Nadler said. “I am shocked and deeply disturbed by some right-wing conservatives calling into question Congressman Carson’s integrity or his patriotism simply because of his Muslim faith. Such accusations and implications are totally uncalled for and completely unacceptable. We should not tolerate anyone being targeted or denied opportunities because of their religious beliefs. Members of Congress and others ought to take the lead in combating bigotry wherever it occurs, including when it involves a fellow Member of Congress. Not only is Congressman Carson’s appointment entirely appropriate and well-deserved, but it is imperative for Members of Congress and others to stand up to this type of biased and disgusting comments and condemn them in the strongest possible terms.”
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EARTHQUAKES– On the eve of the 21st anniversary of the Northridge Earthquake, U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-California) is highlighting new Congressional funding for earthquake detection. “Passage of the 2015 Funding Bill now includes $5 million for the West Coast Earthquake Early Warning System. Developed by Caltech, UC-Berkeley and University of Washington, the new system will use the funds to build additional stations, install new sensory equipment and help develop new warning technology,” Sherman said. “With advanced notice, people can take cover, trains can slow down, and doctors can pause surgeries – it can save lives and reduce the economic impact of an earthquake.” Sherman was an early advocate of this funding along with his colleagues Rep. Adam Schiff (D -CA) in the House and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) in the Senate.
California Legislature
FISH MARKETS — State Senator Marty Block (D-San Diego) is supporting legislation by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) to ease red tape restrictions on fish markets that wish to serve food restaurant style. Atkins has dubbed the bill “Pacific to Plate.”
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BAY BRIDGE – Assemblyman Marc Levine (D-San Rafael) has introduced urgency legislation (Assembly Bill 157) to speed up the restoration of the third lane on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. “The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is one of the worst bottlenecks in the North Bay evening commute,” said Levine. “This bridge was built and designed almost 60 years ago to have three lanes in each direction. Restoring the third eastbound lane will relieve a great deal of congestion. There is no doubt that the lane is needed and it is prudent to do the design work immediately to speed up the process.”
Local Government
HUMAN TRAFFICKING — San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis has announced a task force of local law enforcement agencies to combat human trafficking. ““When America’s finest city makes the FBI’s list as one of worst places for child prostitution, every member of our community needs to pay attention,” Dumanis said. “Human trafficking is the biggest human rights violation of our time and traffickers are using social media to recruit girls from San Ysidro to San Marcos. This new task force is set up to make serious strides in dismantling and disrupting human trafficking rings.”
Political Parties
Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Executive Director Matt Brooks has congratulated its board member, Lewis M. Eisenberg, on being named RNC Finance Chairman for a second time. “Lew has had a distinguished career in business and has carried that skill set into the political realm, offering advice and support to many successful Republican candidates and leaders. Lew has also worked tirelessly to advance the RJC’s goals, helping grow our membership and increase Jewish support for Republicans in 6 of the last 7 national elections.”
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Items dealing with Jewish women in Congress are sponsored by Laura Galinson in memory of her father, Murray.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. Your comment on any of these items may be posted in the space provided below or sent directly to the author at donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com