Legislative Update

The AACS Legislative Office monitors legislation and activities relating to education, religious liberty, family values, and pro-life issues.

Current Legislation                                                                                          112^th Congress 

 EDUCATION LEGISLATION:

This bill is to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a credit which is dependent on enactment of State qualified scholarship tax credits and which is allowed against the Federal income tax for charitable contributions to education investment organizations that provide assistance for elementary and secondary education

 Date Introduced:              January 26, 2011

 Sponsor:                         Rep. Trent Franks

Co-sponsors:                    0

Status:                                     Referred to Committee

For more information:         Open Congress information on H.R. 485

  Please encourage your Representative to SUPPORT this legislation

The "A-Plus" Act

This bill will allow the state to have more freedom and flexibility when applying federal funding to education programs and initiatives. It will loosen the regulations that often accompany federal funding and allow the state to achieve greater effectiveness in improving academic achievements.

 Date Introduced:              April 14, 2011

 Sponsor:                         Sen. Jim DeMint

Co-sponsors:                    7

Status:                                    Referred to the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee

 For more information:        Library of Congress information on S. 827

 Please encourage your Representative to SUPPORT this legislation

Scholarship for Opportunity and Results Act (SOAR)

Would reauthorize the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program to expand school choice options for low income students

 Date Introduced:                 January 26, 2011

Sponsor:                             Representative John Boehner (R - OH)

Co - sponsors:                     50

Status:                               Passed House of Representatives on 4/4/2011, Included in FY 2011 Continuing Resolution

 For more information:        Open Congress information on  H.R. 471

Please encourage your Representative to SUPPORT this legislation.

 RELIGIOUS LIBERTY ISSUES:

PRO-FAMILY / PRO-LIFE LEGISLATION: 

 No Taxpayer Funding of Abortion Act 

Would prohibit taxpayer funding of abortion and provide for medical workers conscience protection rights

 Date Introduced:           January 20, 2011

Sponsor:                      Rep. Christopher Smith

Co-sponsors:                 227

Status:                                Passed by House of Representatives on 5/4/2011, Senate bill introduced by Senator Roger  Wicker                             

For more information: Open Congress information on H.R. 3

Please encourage your Representative to SUPPORT this legislation  

 Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act

Amends Title X of Public Health Services Act to prohibit family planning grants to entities that perform abortions

Date Introduced:              January 7, 2011

Sponsor:                         Rep. Mike Pence (R - IN)

Co-sponsors:                   162

Status:                           Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce 

For more information:        Open Congress information on H.R. 217 

Please encourage your Representative to SUPPORT this legislation   

 Protect Life Act

Amends Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to prohibit the federal government from subsidizing health insurance plans that cover abortion procedures

 Date Introduced:               February 1, 2011

Sponsor:                           Rep. Joseph Pitts (R - PA)

Co-sponsors:                     117

Status:                             Referred to committee

For more information:           Open Congress information on H.R. 358

Please encourage your Representative to SUPPORT this legislation.

Legislative Issues

ESEA Reauthorization In 2001, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was reauthorized by Congress as the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in an effort to improve the education of America's students.  Specific language was included in the bill which protected the freedoms of private, religious, and home schools (section 9506), and also allowed for  equitable participation for private schools in some programs, specifically programs designed to help disadvantaged students and to further the professional development of teachers and principals. In addition, the NCLB Act prohibited the establishment of a national curriculum (section 9527), national testing (section 9529), mandatory national teacher certification (section 9530), and a national student database (section 9531). As discussions take place regarding the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), we urge Congress and the Administration to keep this language in the reauthorization of ESEA. 

Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) The Defense of Marriage Act was signed into law by President Clinton on September 21, 1996.  This bill states that the Federal government may not recognize or treat same-sex relationships as marriages, even if a state recognizes it as a marriage.  In addition, no state is required to recognize a same-sex relationship as a marriage, regardless of another state's position. The Administration has instructed the Department of Justice to no longer defend this policy. The leadership of the House of Representatives convened the Bipartisan Legislative Advisory Group to determine the future role of Congress in the defense of DOMA. The BLAG has appointed former Solicitor General Paul Clement to represent the House in the pending DOMA related cases.

 Conscience Regulation President Obama has indicated his intent to reverse a ruling by President Bush protecting healthcare professionals from being forced to perform abortions and other procedures against their own moral or religious beliefs.   For example, they could choose not to perform abortion and pass out contraceptives as well as abstain from referring patients to other doctors for any procedure they found morally objectionable.  The rule went into effect on January 22, 2009.   

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