EC from DC
On Monday morning, I had the privilege of joining Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) in a joint press conference in Jefferson City to discuss our bipartisan housing legislation that was recently signed into law by President Obama. This law, H.R. 3700 and Public Law No. 114-201, will reform housing policies in America for the first time in decades. This bipartisan effort has been a long time coming. H.R. 3700 represents the first time in more than 27 years that a bill has unanimously passed both houses of Congress under regular order, and not suspension of the rules.
Tomorrow marks the 51st anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act. Three years ago, in Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court invalidated a key component of the VRA that prevented discrimination before it occurred. Since then, the right to vote has been under coordinated attack around the country. New restrictions have been put in place in 22 states since 2010, making it harder for millions of Americans to exercise their right to vote.
This has been another week of unthinkable violence in our country. The events that have taken place over the course of these last few days have been deeply troubling and disheartening… police shootings and police officers shot and killed. Sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes, out of chaos, we can find our purpose.
Surprisingly, there are over 6,000 languages spoken by the inhabitants of this tiny planet we call home. Tragically, with the spewing of verbal vomit on the 2016 presidential campaign trail, the United States is daily creating a despicable dialect as the world’s newest language.
Dear Friends,
Recently, there have been growing concerns over the Zika virus. I want to keep you updated on the most recent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While a Zika vaccination has not been developed, the White House has asked Congress for $1.9 billion to help state officials prepare for a Zika outbreak this summer.
Last Friday afternoon, the U.S. Treasury Department announced its decision to deny the Central States Pension Fund's application for benefit suspension. Special Master Ken Feinberg announced the decision on May 6, 2016, due to the application not meeting the requirements set forth by the Kline-Miller Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014. The notification letter from Mr. Feinberg can be found here.
The Supreme Court is in the midst of deciding one of the most important immigration cases in years – at stake is the unity of millions of families with undocumented members. And yet, the case will be heard with only eight Supreme Court Justices.
In this world, we only get one life. We can’t erase the things of the past, or bury them in some grave – but the good news is – we can always start anew.
On Monday, I am going to the Veteran Community Project’s dedication of the first tiny house to be placed at the Veterans Village on East 89th Street in Kansas City. This project reminds me of the opportunities that we have to start anew. A four-acre Land Trust parcel is the site for dozens of tiny houses to be built exclusively for veterans who are experiencing homelessness.