Issues Addressed in Congress: Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and the Opioid Crisis Hearings

Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA), right, delivered the Democrats’ response to the State of the Union address. For the full transcript of Rep. Kennedy’s remarks, please click here.

Floor Action: Appropriations – On January 30, the House passed, 250-166, H.R. 695, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2018, as amended.

House passed, 406-3, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017, as amended.*

 Violence Against Women

– On January 30, the House passed, by unanimous consent,  a resolution designating January 2018 as “National Stalking Awareness Month.”

Hearings:

Human Trafficking –  On Tuesday, January 30, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing, “Following the Money: How Human Traffickers Exploit US Financial Markets.” 

Miscellaneous — On Tuesday, the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee will mark up several bills, including H.R. 4188, a bill to designate the Amelia Earhart Post Office Building, and H.R. 4463, a bill to designate the Mabel Lee Memorial Post Office.

Hearings:

Health—On Thursday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing, “The Opioid Crisis: Impact on Children and Families.” 

Bills Introduced:

Health

H.R. 4897—Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)/Energy and Commerce (1/30/18)—A bill to require a study on women and lung cancer, and for other purposes.

S.2358—Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)/Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (1/30/18)—A bill to require a study on women and lung cancer, and for other purposes.

S.Res. 722—Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL)/Oversight and Government Reform (2/2/18)—A resolution supporting the goals of “Black Women’s Heart Health Awareness Week.”

Miscellaneous

H.R. 4912—Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA)/Financial Services; House Administration (2/2/18)—A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the American women who joined the workforce during World War II, providing the vehicles, weaponry, and ammunition to win the war, that were referred to as “Rosie the Riveter,” in recognition of their contributions to the National the inspiration they have provided to ensuing generation.

Violence Against Women

S. 2349—Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO)/Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (1/29/18)— A bill to direct the director of the Office of Management and Budget to establish an interagency working group to study federal efforts to collect data on sexual violence and to make recommendations on the harmonization of such efforts, and for other purposes.

H.R. 4893—Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH)/Judiciary (1/29/18)— A bill to direct the director of the Office of Management and Budget to establish an interagency working group to study federal efforts to collect data on sexual violence and to make recommendations on the harmonization of such efforts, and for other purposes.

Information was supplied by Women’s Congressional Policy Institute