Clarke Co-Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Stop Foreign Censorship in America
U.S. Rep Yvette Clarke (D-Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush, Brownsville, Sheepshead Bay) along with other Congressmembers yesterday introduced the Preventing Foreign CENSORSHIP in America Act. This legislation will prevent companies from firing or retaliating against American workers who defy foreign censorship efforts or refuse to facilitate human rights violations.
“If a foreign rival tries to apply its censorship on America’s basketball courts, silenced activists need to be able to fight back in an actual court. Our newly-dropped bill will give American workers the legal tools they need to stand up for human rights and against domestic interference without fearing for their jobs.” Clarke said.
Furthermore, the legislation would prohibit companies from firing employees who speak about censored topics in foreign countries such as in China, whether they are in work or out. It’s also intended to create federal, state, and private enforcement mechanisms to ensure these rights are upheld in and out of court.
Rose’s Anti-White Supremacist Bill Unanimous vote in DHS
U.S. Rep. Max Rose’s (D-Southern Brooklyn, Staten Island) Transitional White Supremacist Extremism Review Act was unanimously advanced in the House Committee on Homeland Security yesterday.
The legislation proposes to have the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) develop and disseminate a terrorist threat assessment of foreign violent white supremacist extremist groups.
“The surge in white supremacist extremist violence in the United States puts all of us at risk. There is mounting evidence that the threat to the homeland posed by violent white supremacist extremism has transnational links,” said Rose, “I believe that the threat posed by foreign white supremacist extremist groups and their nexus to domestic activity is one of the major challenges we face in terms of homeland security. This bill will take us one step closer to understanding this challenge and the threats we are increasingly facing.”
The legislation, which is endorsed by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), will now be sent to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
Nadler Slams Trump’s Proposed FY2021 Fed Budget
U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-Borough Park, Kensington, parts of Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights, Red Hook, Sunset Park, Midwood, and Manhattan) this week slammed President Trump’s proposed $4.8 trillion FY2021 federal budget for making cuts to a number of social service programs.
“How the President allocates government funds, and the programs and services he decides to cut, is the clearest evidence of the values he holds and the priorities he is fighting for. President Trump’s budget does exactly that, despite his repeated promises to the American people—from his campaign to the State of the Union—the President continues to lie and continues to sell out American interests,” said Nadler.
“His proposal hollows out Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security while cutting funds from crucial programs that support working families, help our most vulnerable, and repair crumbling infrastructure. If there was any doubt about who the President is really fighting for, there should be no longer.
“This budget, which cuts billions from programs that provide student loans, assist working families, and support public housing, would be catastrophic for all except for the wealthiest Americans. It eliminates funding for anti-pollution efforts, ensuring that the water we all drink and the air we all breathe will be filled with harmful contaminants for years to come. Worse still, the President’s budget renders us ill-equipped in the face of national emergency, climate change, and global pandemics,” the lawmaker added.
Treyger Proposes Legislation Making All Subways & Buses Free
City Council Member Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island, Bensonhurst, Gravesend) this week introduced a resolution for free fares for subway and bus riders.
Treyger also introduced legislation that prohibits vehicles on city boardwalks.
“There is a real opportunity to reimagine mass transit in New York. In a state budget approaching $180 billion, why isn’t mass transit free? With a single measure, we can take a big bite out of poverty, income inequality, mass incarceration, and our impact on climate change. It would force state leaders to budget more responsibly around priorities such as transportation rather than raid transportation funds,” said Treyger of the proposed resolution to make all mass transit rides in the city free.
“In a budget of $180 billion, no one should go to jail over $2.75 just like no one goes to jail for skipping an EZ Pass toll. Let’s help people get where they deserve to be,” he added.
Treger said his proposed legislation ban on all vehicles on city boardwalks, except in the case of an emergency, is needed because it’s a public safety issue.
“The historic Riegelmann Boardwalk in Coney Island is not the Belt Parkway. It is an iconic American place of leisure and recreation – it was not designed as a roadway for utility vehicles. Years of heavy vehicles driving on the Boardwalk have caused significant damage to the landmarked Boardwalk. By prohibiting all vehicles from driving on boardwalks, except in the case of an emergency or maintenance, we are giving the Coney Island Boardwalk back to the people,” said Treyger.
Lander, Fast Food Workers Rally Against Unfair Firings
City Council Members Brad Lander (D-Park Slope, Gowanus, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) and Adrienne Adams (D-Queens) today will rally with advocates and workers in favor of their package of legislation to protect fast food workers from being fired without just cause.
Int. 1415 (Lander) will prohibit fast food employers from firing an employee for any reason other than the employee’s failure to perform job duties or misconduct and will consider a reduction in hours of 15% equivalent to a termination, to ensure employers cannot skirt the new standard by forcing people to quit.
Int. 1396 (Adams) will require layoffs for economic reasons to proceed with reverse seniority.
The rally will come ahead of today’s hearing on just cause protections for fast food workers.
The rally is slated for 12 noon today, Feb. 13 on the steps of city hall in lower Manhattan.
