Hello Friends and Happy(almost)Independence Day!!
These past couple of weeks in Washington have caught some national attention, first with the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and then with the highly anticipated Supreme Court contraception ruling. In between, it was great having some Wisconsin visitors!
Wisconsin Comes to Washington:
It was great speaking with the 2014 Congressional Art Competition winner Laura and her mother Carol in my Washington, DC office. I always enjoy meeting with our students in DC and at my annual art competition reception in Milwaukee. All of our students have so much talent. Click here for more photos and to see all of the submitted artwork!
I had such a wonderful visit with Milwaukee Children's Choir! To hear their beautiful voices, click here!
Top News:
I joined the nation to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, one of the most important legislative accomplishments in American history. Its enactment into law profoundly and unalterably changed our nation. For the first time, discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin was illegal. I'm so happy that Rev. Willie E. Brisco, President of Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope and Anita Johnson, organizer with Citizen Action of Wisconsin, were able to join me. For more photos from this powerful event, please click here.
As we recognized the one year anniversary since the Supreme Court struck down a vital piece of the Voting Rights Act, we geared up for another battle. This week our highest court decided, in a 5-4 ruling, that some for-profit companies can deny their employees birth control coverage. The owners of Hobby Lobby, a for-profit arts and crafts store, and Conestoga Wood, a for-profit wood furniture manufacturer, should have no voice when it comes to women's private health care decisions. Motherhood is not a hobby. Unfortunately the Supreme Court does not agree. I voiced my strong opposition to this ruling because our personal and private health care decisions should remain personal and private.
Other News:
I also renewed my drive for Congress to reauthorize the charter of the Export-Import Bank(Ex-Im Bank), the official export credit agency of the United States. In Wisconsin, the Ex-Im Bank supported the export of $102 million of goods and services from 2012 to 2013. Nationwide, the Ex-Im Bank helped sustain more than 200,000 jobs by supporting approximately $37 billion in exports last year alone.
On the eve of the one year anniversary of the passage of S. 744, the Senate comprehensive immigration reform bill, I joined other women leaders in Congress to express our disappointment and frustration that Speaker Boehner and the House Republican leadership have failed to take action to fix our broken immigration system.
As always, please contact my Milwaukee office at(414)297-1140 or my Washington, DC office at(202)225-4572 with any questions or concerns. Stay in touch!
My very best,
Gwen
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