JOBS POLICIES, ANALYSIS, AND RESOURCES
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Student Organizers Take Control of the Gun Control Debate: National Student Walkout and the March for Our Lives
Brief # 3 Gun Control Summary On February 14, 2018 a gunman shot and killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD) in Parkland, Florida. According to CNN, within the first 12 weeks of 2018 there have been an average of 1.4 school shootings a week,...
Mental Health and Gun Violence: Rhetoric or Necessary Policy?
Brief 33 Policy Summary: There are many legislation proposals that are suggesting further limitations placed on those that are mentally ill and their access to guns. However, there are several loopholes which allow those with documented mental illnesses to purchase...
Teacher Walkouts Spreading Throughout Red States
Brief # 21 Education Summary Teachers in Oklahoma, Kentucky and Arizona have been participating in walkouts in an effort to raise salary increases for teachers and increase funding for their schools. These protests come in the wake of teacher walkouts in West Virginia...
Trump Establishes Federal Commission on School Safety
Education Brief #22 Summary In a White House briefing statement issued on March 12, 2018, President Trump established the Federal Commission on School Safety chaired by Education Secretary Betsey DeVos. The commission was established to address school safety and “a...
Is The Department of Housing and Urban Development Becoming Hostile To Racial Equality Efforts?
On March 28, 2018, a New York Times investigation reported that Dr. Ben Carson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), had ordered the Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Division at the federal agency to pause investigations into violations of federal fair housing laws.
Trump Says ‘NO MORE DACA DEAL!’
On Easter Sunday, before entering services, Trump took to Twitter to announce that there would be “no more DACA deal.” Speaking with reporters before going to church, Trump cited that an influx of Mexican border crossings, for which he has no evidence to back up, put a wrench in the deal…
Trump Administration to Add Citizenship Question to Census; California Sues
On Monday, March 26, The Washington Post reported that the Trump administration will be adding a question on citizenship to the 2020 U.S. Census. This decision was made at the request of the Department of Justice
Trump Appoints John Bolton as New National Security Adviser
On March 22nd, only a week after the replacement of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Trump announced the departure of national security adviser General H.R. McMaster. On April 9th, the seat will be filled- for the third time in fourteen months- by John Bolton.
Special Legal Status Ended for Liberian Community
On Tuesday, March 27, The New York Times reported that the Trump administration will be terminating Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for the Liberian community. DED is a non-specific temporary immigration status that enables citizens from countries around the world experiencing conflict, natural disaster, or disease to live and work in the United States while the home country’s government restores living conditions.
Senate Vote Overturns Obama Administration Retirement Assistance
Approved Legislation
Passed on March 30, 2017
Policy Summary
In a 50-49 vote, the Senate has reversed rules from the Obama administration that made it easier for cities to provide government-run retirement plans to private sector workers. Many workers currently do not have retirement saving plans, but under the Obama administration, the government would assist private sector workers to save for retirement. This reversal under the Trump administration will lead to a fundamental decrease in the size of government as they will no longer be involved in assisting workers in their future retirement plans. LEARN MORE
Analysis
According to Reporter Fernando, “Nearly half of all private-sector workers between the ages of 18 and 64 — and a troubling proportion of small business employees — do not have access to retirement savings account through their employer.”. This explains why nearly 45% of Americans do not have any form of retirement savings. As a result, under the Obama administration, the federal government would assist in the making of retirement plans for private sector workers. Sadly, this has been overturned and now more than ever the federal government is needed to aid workers in saving for their future. This is especially true because consumer advocates have estimated that nearly 55 million employees will not have access to a workplace retirement plan as a result of this legislation. The federal government is a crucial medium through which individuals save for their future. Without it, the future of our workers remains in jeopardy.
Engagement Resources
- AFL-CIO – The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations is a national trade union center and the largest federation of unions in the United States.
- Pensions’ Rights Center – The Pension Rights Center is the country’s only consumer organization dedicated solely to protecting and promoting the retirement security of American workers.
- State Legislators – State Legislators have begun to take a stand against this bill. States like Oregon and California have opened up retirement plans for private sector workers.
This brief was compiled by Vaibhav Kumar. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact vaibhav@usresistnews.org.
Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth
Executive Order
Issued on March 28, 2017
Policy Summary
President Trump’s March 28 Executive Order, entitled “Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth,” takes extensive action to eliminate federal climate policies and regulations, explicitly targeting at least 23 executive actions, federal rules, memoranda, and reports. Most notably, the directive moves to rescind the Clean Power Plan while undercutting key elements of climate policy analysis. Additionally, the EO orders agency heads to review and eliminate all regulations and policies that “burden the development or use of domestically produced energy resources, with particular attention to oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy resources.” While some aspects of the directive will take effect immediately, others are likely to be held up by rulemaking procedures and legal battles.
Analysis
In an effort to “grow American jobs” Trump is taking broad steps to reverse the climate legacy of the Obama administration by deregulating “impediments to American energy independence.” His executive order starts by revoking four Obama-era executive actions which individually strengthen the resilience of American communities from the severe impacts of climate change, mitigate negative impacts to natural resources, establish a framework for considering climate-related impacts in the development of national security doctrine, and direct the EPA to set carbon pollution standards and regulations and rescinded two reports detailing Obama’s Clean Action Plan strategies for cutting carbon pollution, preparing for the impacts of climate change, and reducing methane emissions. Those who oppose the directive have emphasized the devastating implications for the environment and public health and have fought against the job contention, arguing that coal jobs are declining because of weakened demand, mechanization, and competition from oil and natural gas; that wind, solar, and energy efficiency jobs outnumber coal jobs 16 to 1; that the order would create investment uncertainty; and that accelerating efficiency would be better for energy independence.
Clean Power Plan
The executive order begins the arduous process of rescinding Obama’s signature Clean Power Plan, which aims to significantly cut emissions of greenhouse gasses and harmful pollutants from power plants while advancing the development and deployment of clean energy. The Rhodium Group estimates that Obama’s policies would help reduce US emissions 21% below 2005 levels by 2025, but Trump’s executive order will reverse the trend and stabilize greenhouse gas emissions. This shift will make it extremely difficult for the country to meet international climate commitments and will be interpreted globally as the US tacitly pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement (the agreement, reached between 195 countries in 2016, aims “to stave off the most devastating effects of climate change by limiting the increase in global temperatures”). In order to reverse Obama’s plan, the EPA will have to justify the scientific and economic basis for their new, weaker plan and will likely face years of litigation and legal battles attempting to implement it.
Climate Policy Analysis
The executive order also radically changes how agencies will evaluate policy action by rescinding guidance which “provides agencies with a framework for agency consideration of the effects of [greenhouse gases] and climate change to ensure efficient and transparent agency decision-making” and getting rid of the social cost of carbon which allows agencies to incorporate the social benefits of greenhouse gas reductions by monetizing damages. The order directs agencies to revert to a 2003 Office of Management and Budget guidance which will likely reduce the estimated cost of climate damages by 90% or more. The social cost of carbon is the “most important climate measurement,” underlying nearly every environmental analysis and climate-related policy. By revoking these measures Trump removes the requirement to consider the climate impacts of potential policies and incapacitates federal agencies from effectively evaluating public health and climate change consequences.
Coal, Oil, Natural Gas
The executive order lifts a freeze on federal coal leasing which halts coal mine expansions on public land. The moratorium was meant to stay in place until the government could review the climate impacts and royalty fairness of the coal-leasing program. Trump touted the rescission as bringing jobs to coal miners, but it only affects “mines in Wyoming and Montana, where coal companies had for years shed jobs because of increased automation and declining coal demand.” The order also rescinds stricter design standards and regulations for hydraulic fracturing on federal and tribal lands and oil/gas operations within national parks and refuges; this rollback will hamper the government’s ability to safeguard against negative impacts such as man-made earthquakes and threats to groundwater. The president’s directive also targets restrictions on dangerous mountaintop removal mining and a rule reducing methane waste and flaring. Mountaintop removal is notorious for its appalling effects on the environment and on human health, including links to cancer and birth defects for nearby populations. The methane waste prevention rule (thoroughly analyzed here) is estimated to increase economic revenue, to make deep cuts to methane emissions, and to reduce a multiplicity of health-related risks.
Engagement Resources
- Natural Resources Defense Council – an international environmental advocacy group committed to fighting Trump’s “environmental assault” and providing individuals with avenues for action.
- Greenpeace USA – an environmental NGO that uses direct action, lobbying, research, and ecotage to raise public awareness and to influence the public and private sectors.
- Sierra Club – the nation’s largest environmental preservation organization; focuses include mitigating global warming and opposing coal; suing the Trump administration over this EO.
- World Resources Institute – a global NGO committed to protecting the Earth, improving people’s lives, and creating prosperity through sustainable natural resource management.
This Brief was compiled by Conor Downey. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this Brief, please contact conor@usresistnews.org.
Enforcement of the Kemp-Kasten Amendment
U.S. State Department Announcement
Announced April 3, 2017
Policy Summary
The U.S. State Department announced that it plans to withhold funds dedicated to the United Nations’ Population Fund (UNFPA). The Trump administration determined UNFPA violated the Kemp-Kasten Amendment of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The amendment forbids the use of American foreign aid money from being given to any organization that supports coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization. The State Department identified UNFPA’s program in China, which they claim is complicit with the current “two-child policy’s” alleged coercive reproductive health practices, as being the reason for withholding U.S. funding from UNFPA. LEARN MORE
Analysis
The United Nations warns that this decision “could have devastating effects on the health of vulnerable women and girls and their families around the world”. The U.S. was the third largest donor to UNFPA in 2015. Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of the United Nations Foundation, criticized the decision, calling it “unacceptable”. She defended the work of UNFPA, stating “UNFPA does not fund or perform abortions or forced sterilizations anywhere in the world. Instead, the agency offers voluntary family planning to prevent unintended pregnancies which, in turn, empowers girls and women to pursue an education, earn an income, and live more prosperous lives”. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Donate to Friends of UNFPA – contribute to the support committee of the UN Population Fund.
- Center for Reproductive Rights – take action with the Center for Reproductive Rights to protect access to reproductive health in the U.S. and abroad.
This brief was compiled by Elizabeth Kiefer. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact elizabeth@usresistnews.org.
Dismantling of Diversity Grant Program
Grant Program Cancellation
Discontinued on March 29, 2017
Policy Summary
President Trump’s education department has chosen to discontinue an Obama Administration grant program meant to encourage schools to foster higher levels of socioeconomic diversity. The $12 million grant program according to a department spokesperson was nixed because it was not a good use of tax dollars, emphasizing that the money was used for planning and not implementation. The program entitled “Opening Doors, Expanding Opportunities,” which was announced in December 2016, was designed to aid school districts in “preparing to implement innovative, effective, ambitious, comprehensive, and locally driven strategies” aimed at increasing socioeconomic diversity in schools.” The stated goal was to help improve academic achievement in the lower performing schools. LEARN MORE
Analysis
As research dictates that a diverse classroom environment bolsters the academic performance of low-income students, advocates were keeping a close eye on what the administration would do with this new program, wondering how much Trump’s team would value this step towards diversity in the classroom. This week the cuts sent a signal to many that although Education Secretary Betsy Devos had publicly praised an integrated classroom, her actions would not match her words. Tanya Clay House, a former Education Department official who helped to design the new program, called the cut a “slap in the face.” Highlighting that the money for the grants was already allocated in the 2016 fiscal cycle she questioned, “why not use it?” Advocates fear that the program’s cancellation sends a message to districts interested in integration that they’re facing the journey alone. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Chiefs for Change – An education reform nonprofit aimed at facilitating change through policy and advocacy, building a unique community of practice, and cultivating a pipeline of diverse education leaders.
- Poverty and Race Research Action Council –The Council is a civil rights policy organization aimed at helping to connect advocates with social scientists working on race and poverty issues, and to promote a research-based advocacy strategy on structural inequality issues.
- The National Coalition on School Diversity – The Coalition is a network of national civil rights organizations, university-based research centers, and state and local coalitions working to increase support for government initiatives that promote diversity in schools.
This brief was compiled by Cindy Stansbury. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact cindys@usresistnews.org.
Alexander Acosta OSHA Cuts
Proposed Legislation
Proposed on March 23, 2017
Policy Summary
Alexander Acosta, the replacement of Andrew Puzder for the labor secretary nominee, told senators during his confirmation hearings that there is an expectation for further cuts to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This coupled with the Trump budget ensures that cuts will be made to OSHA. This administration is crucial in not only providing training grants for many future workers but also most importantly ensuring the safety of many workers while on the job. It has been estimated that almost 11 million dollars could be cut from this administration. OSHA provides employees with the correct and safe working conditions by enforcing workplace safety and health standards with a multitude of inspectors. LEARN MORE
Analysis
According to Reporter Christopher Cook, Alexander Acosta will “diminish an already enfeebled Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – putting millions of workers at greater risk of accident and injury.” There have been estimates that nearly 11 million dollars could be cut from this necessary administration. Senator Maggie Hassan (D – N.H) continued to question how the cuts would affect OHSA enforcement. Senator Hassan used New Hampshire as an example – a state that only has 7 inspectors but has nearly 50,000 worksites, claiming that it is impossible for inspectors to thoroughly investigate these many areas (almost 7,000 worksites per inspector). This is especially true when inspectors have gone down from 1,108 inspectors to 815 inspectors around the country. A diminishing of an already weakened OSHA will endanger the life of many hardworking Americans. The money allocated to this administration is crucial for the well-being of our working class.
Engagement Resources
- AFL-CIO – The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations is a national trade union center and the largest federation of unions in the United States.
- US Senate – Contact your local representatives to take a stance against this proposed legislation.
- US House of Representatives – Contact your local representatives to take a stance against this proposed legislation.
- UNI Global Union – This is a global union federation for skills and services, gathering national and regional trade unions.
This brief was compiled by Vaibhav Kumar. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact vaibhav@usresistnews.org.
DOJ Expansion/Modernization of Institutional Hearing Program
Department of Justice Memo
Issued on March 30, 2017
Policy Summary
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Department of Justice would take steps to ‘expand and modernize’ the Department’s Institutional Hearing Program (IHP). The IHP is the mechanism by which immigration judges determine whether noncitizens in American prisons are deportable during the term of their sentence through in-person and teleconference immigration removal proceedings. In its 35 years, over 200,000 people have been processed by this program. The changes that AG Sessions announced would bring immigration to correctional facilities rather than having the individual taken to ICE detention facilities for hearings, increase teleconferencing capabilities and other infrastructure to help conduct proceedings, and improve coordination between the different DOJ offices involved. LEARN MORE
Analysis
In the press release announcing the changes, AG Sessions claims that these improvements will “speed the process of deporting incarcerated criminal aliens and will reduce costs.” Attempting to quickly expand and hasten the pace at which a justice-related program operates threatens the ability of individuals to receive a fair trial. Virginia immigration lawyer Paul Wickham Schmidt has noted a few concerning points on this note. Schmidt claims from personal experience that the IHP has had issues getting attorneys to represent individuals, getting televideo equipment to work, and scheduling hearings based on priority in a logical way. All of these problems are likely to worsen if the rate of hearings is hastened without appropriate attention to detail. Perhaps most importantly, Schmidt also notes that this announced change is just the latest in a long string of “new priorities” in immigration enforcement – suggesting that the DOJ is more concerned with appearing to act on the President’s mandate on immigration than with making key decisions on how to enforce immigration law. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Local Options for Protecting Immigrants – This document hosted by the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights notes what steps local governments can take to protect immigrants against federal government actions.
- Support a Local Solidarity Network in Your Area – Organizations are rapidly forming on a local level across the country to protect the rights of undocumented immigrants and to ensure that law enforcement agencies are acting legally and justly as they seek to enforce these new executive orders. Examples include the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network and Mi Casa es Su Casa (San Diego).
- Resistance Manual – Crisis Resources – If you know someone who is facing immigration troubles, please share this compendium of legal resources and relevant nonprofit organizations with them.
This brief was compiled by Oliver Bjornsson. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact oliver@usresistnews.org.
Presidential Memorandum Regarding Construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline; Issuance of Presidential Permit
Presidential Memorandum and Presidential Permit
January 24, 2017 and March 24, 2017, respectively
Policy Summary
Two months after President Trump released a presidential memoranda directing the Secretaries of State, the Army, and the Interior to expedite approval for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline the Department of State has issued a Presidential permit to TransCanada authorizing the company to “construct, connect, operate, and maintain pipeline facilities” for the importation of crude oil. The Trump administration, along with industry and Republican proponents, argues that the pipeline will help create jobs and secure national energy security. LEARN MORE
Analysis
The Keystone XL Pipeline would enable oil companies to transport oil sludge from Canada and North Dakota to Gulf Coast refineries from which they could be easily exported. While Trump boasts the creation of 28,000 jobs from the pipeline, energy historian and consultant Ellen Wald explains that estimates for construction jobs are misleading because they are often inaccurate, they include vague “spin-off” jobs, and the jobs are short-term (a 2014 State Department review estimates only 35 permanent jobs would be created). Framing the project’s job creation as a way of addressing unemployment distorts the actual impacts. Opponents of the pipeline argue that “future demand has been put in question” by high American oil production, green energy, and energy efficient cars and that excess oil from the pipeline will be exported, untouched by U.S. citizens. Clifford Krauss for the New York Times adds that declining oil prices have made expensive oil sand extraction unattractive for oil producers many of whom have sold their assets and abandoned development projects. Environmental groups argue that the pipeline will increase the profitability and production of tar sands oil which produce 81 percent greater greenhouse gas emissions than other forms of oil accelerating the devastating effects of climate change. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Natural Resources Defense Council – a non-profit international environmental advocacy group committed to fighting Trump’s “environmental assault” and using “every tool in the kit to stop this dangerous tar sands oil pipeline project.”
- Greenpeace – an international environmental NGO that uses direct action, lobbying, research, and ecotage to raise public awareness and to influence the public and private sectors.
- Sierra Club – the nation’s largest environmental preservation organization; recent focuses include green energy, mitigating global warming, and opposing coal.
This brief was compiled by Conor Downey. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief, please contact conor@usresistnews.org.
Human Rights Conditions Dropped on Arms Sale to Bahrain
State Department Policy
Issued on March 29th, 2017
Policy Summary
On March 29th, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson decided to proceed with a sale of F-16 fighter jets to Bahrain without human rights stipulations. The deal, which was proctored by President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry, originally included conditions to release political opponents from prison and to suspend harsh crackdowns of pro-democracy advocates in the country. The United States regularly requires its allies to meet certain political or economic guidelines in order to receive aid. Bahrain is a critical ally of the United States with a strategic position in the Middle East, and the nation hosts the United States Navy’s Fifth Fleet. LEARN MORE
Analysis
Removing human rights requirements for Bahrain is dangerous and counterproductive. Because the State Department no longer holds briefings, many analysts and experts can only speculate on the impacts of this deal. This new policy endorses political crackdown and discredits our reputation abroad. There are very few indications that this will increase security in the Middle East, and there are some implications of possible bias from Tillerson’s former company or connections to Lockheed-Martin. Finally, as the State Department begins to relax on some restrictions, we can only expect that similar policy will be taken in Yemen or Saudi Arabia, two other nations with abysmal human rights records. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Human Rights Watch — An organization which works to report on human rights violations and protect individual citizens across the globe.
- Reprieve — A group of lawyers and investigators who defend the legal rights of many people suffering human rights’ abuses.
- Amnesty International — Amnesty International conducts international research, advocates on behalf of the oppressed, and carries out campaigns to protect the vulnerable from human rights’ infringements.
This Brief was compiled by Jacob Malinowski. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact jacob@usresistnews.org.
Senate and House of Representatives Joint Resolution Repealing Online Privacy Protections For Customers of A Telecommunications Service Carrier
Proposed Congressional Legislation
Approved by the Senate on March 23, 2017
Approved by the House on March 28, 2017
Policy Summary
In the United States Congress, a joint resolution was introduced that seeks to overrule a prior regulation promulgated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). On January 3, 2017, the “Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunications Services” went into effect implementing rules that would [1] protect customer proprietary information (personal information) and [2] require customer approval requirements for the use and disclosure of a customer’s personal information by the service carrier. The resolution introduced in Congress states that “Congress disapproves of the rule submitted” and “such rule shall have no force or effect.” The Senate approved the resolution on March 23, 2017, by a 50 – 48 vote. The House of Representatives passed a companion resolution on March 28, 2017, by a 215 – 205 vote. The bill has now been sent to President Trump who is expected to sign the bill. LEARN MORE
Analysis
The proposed legislation is a step in the wrong direction. The effect of nullifying the FCC rule is that service carriers who provide a platform for people to go online now have no limits on what they are permitted to do with the personal information they collect from their customers. A customer’s personal information (name, address, phone numbers and the content of their communications) can be used to identify specific people and reasonably link them to the information they view and download on the Internet. Without the protection of the FCC rule, service carriers can distribute and/or sell the information which will expose customers to unwanted target advertising as well as increased instances of identity theft and criminal stalking. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) – foundation focused on defending your rights in the digital world.
- Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) – research center dedicated to online privacy and civil liberty issues.
This brief was compiled by Rod Maggay. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief, please contact rod@usresistnews.org.
Trumpcare’s Voting Fiasco
The failure of the American Health Care Act
Scheduled Vote Date: March 23, Rescheduled Vote Date: March 24
Policy Summary
Despite the GOP’s efforts to lobby enough votes for the American Health Care Act (AHCA) to pass the House, they were not able to secure the necessary votes before the scheduled vote on Thursday, March 23. The Trump administration opted to postpone the vote until the follow day hoping they could gain some support. Trump claimed that if it did not pass in the House vote, he is “done with health care.” The administration and House GOP released various changes to the original bill in an effort to win more votes. The changes included requiring able-bodied Medicaid recipients to work, participate in job training programs, or do community service, and allow states to shift Medicaid funding to a block grant. However, the GOP was never able to gain the support they needed and pulled the bill from the floor on Friday. LEARN MORE
Analysis
It was not a surprise that the bill lacked support. After the revisions, the Congressional Budget Office analyzed the updated bill and reported that roughly 24 million Americans would lose coverage (the same estimate as the original bill). Also, the federal deficit would be reduced by $150 billion between 2017 and 2026 instead of the $337 billion that was projected from the original version. In other words, the same number of people would be covered but it would cost more than the original bill. As for the American people, 56% disapproved of the GOP bill and 14% thought they would lose their health insurance under the new plan. President Trump’s failure to pass his bill does not mean that Obamacare is safe. The President is keeping his promise to leave health care alone for now and his plan going forward is to “let Obamacare explode.” However, the Trump administration may try to undermine the law or revisit it later on, which leaves the consumers and insurers unsure what to expect in the future. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- What Do I Do About Trump – This website is pretty self-explanatory: it offers people who are upset about Trump’s policies ways to get involved and voice opinions.
- Organization for Action – This progressive organization fights for changes that promote both community and national development and equity. The site currently has the option to sign a petition to protect Obamacare.
This brief was compiled by Ann Furbush. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact ann@usresistnews.org.