You can make a difference:
REGISTER VOTERS ONLINE!
Indivisible NWI will continue efforts to register voters during the pandemic restrictions. As always, the most up to date information can be found on our Facebook page. Send interested voters to: www.indianavoters.in.gov. The deadline to register to vote is October 5.
Early voting begins on Tuesday, October 6th and ends at Noon on Monday, November 2nd,
Find locations for early voting in Lake County: https://www.lakecountyin.org/cms?type=doc&name=/lcportal-cms/voters/IN_PERSON_VOTING_LOCATIONS.pdf
Find locations for early voting in Porter Country: https://porterco.org/1111/Early-Voting
The Payback Project
Help target 11 Republican members of the House and the Senate. It’s a massive awareness campaign to expose the truth of their complicity and enabling of the Trump administration. Use phone or text banking. Training is provided. Check out this important initiative and sign up to volunteer: https://www.paybackproject.org/
Vote Forward
Vote Forward letter writing: Indivisible has joined a coalition of groups to send letters to voters in many of our neighboring states, targeting those who are unlikely to vote. It may just give them the push that they need to cast a vote in the November election. If you need help there are templates that can be used. www.votefwd.org
Get involved in the Biden campaign: https://joebiden.com/ . Click on ‘action center’ to learn how.
On Thursday Indivisible NWI had a Townhall for Dr. Woody Myers, candidate for Governor in Indiana. Attached is the link to take you to the Townhall video. Please spread this information and his message far and wide: https://www.facebook.com/1451350194889502/posts/3637285342962632/?vh=e&extid=0&d=n
Volunteer for his campaign at drwoodymyers.com
Fight for NO- Excuse Absentee Ballot We ask that the state wave the requirement of an excuse to submit an absentee ballot.
Contact Governor Holcomb’s office 317-232-4567; https://www.in.gov/gov/2752.htm
Contact Secretary of State Connie Lawson 317-232-6531 and email: constituent@sos.in.gov Indiana Election Commission 302 W Washington St. Room E204. Indianapolis, IN 46204 317.232.3939, elections@iec.in.gov
Sample scripts are on the Indivisible NWI Facebook page.
NATIONAL
Passed House
H.Res. 1154: Condemning QAnon and rejecting the conspiracy theories it promotes.
Read the text at govtrack.us.
Passed the House October 2. See your representative’s vote.
This resolution ends the legislation action.
H.Res. 1153: Condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent.
Read the text at govtrack.us. Passed the House on October 2. See your representative’s vote.
This resolution ends the legislation action.
H.Res. 1155: Reaffirming the House of Representatives’ commitment to the orderly and peaceful transfer of power called for in the Constitution of the United States, and for other purposes.
This simple resolution was agreed to on September 29, 2020. That is the end of the legislative process for a simple resolution. View the vote.
H.R. 8472: To provide that, due to the disruptions caused by COVID-19, applications for impact aid funding for fiscal year 2022 may use certain data submitted in the fiscal year 2021 application.
Read the text from govtrack.us.
Passed the House on October 2 and goes to the Senate next. The vote was without objection so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 925: HEROES 2.0 or the Updated HEROES Act
This bill would provide more than $2.2 trillion in funding to agencies at all levels of government, individuals, and businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It would enact another round of stimulus payments to eligible residents as under the CARES Act with reforms to broaden eligibility for such payments; extend enhanced unemployment benefits through January 2021; require states to provide two weeks of early voting, vote-by-mail, plus allow voter registration online & on the same day as a person votes starting with the November 2020 election. A breakdown of the 2,154 page bill’s various provisions can be found at causes.com. (In its original form, the bill reauthorized wetlands programs. In its current form, the bill is known as HEROES 2.0)
Passed the House on October 1 and was sent to the Senate. See the vote.
H.R. 6270: Yjr Uyhhur Forced Labor Disclosure Acto of 2020
Causes.com: “This bill … would require issuers of securities to publicly disclose their activities related to China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Specifically, issuers would have to disclose the importation of manufactured goods and materials that originated or are sourced from that region, as well as details about the commercial activity, gross revenue and net profits, and future import plans regarding these goods and materials. Additionally, issuers would have to disclose whether any of those goods or materials come from forced labor camps.
An annual report of compliance by covered security issuers with these requirements would be produced annually for Congress and the public by the Executive Commission on China. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) would also produce an annual report on compliance with this bill’s requirements.”
Passed the House on September 30 and goes to the Senate next. See how your representative voted.
H.R. 360: Cyber Sense Act of 2020: To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a voluntary Cyber Sense program to test the cybersecurity of products and technologies intended for use in the bulk-power system, and for other purposes.
Govtrack.us: “This bill requires the Department of Energy to establish a voluntary Cyber Sense program to test the cybersecurity of products and technologies intended for use in the bulk-power system. The bulk-power system includes facilities and control systems necessary for operating an interconnected electric energy transmission network.”
Passed the House on September 29 and goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote, so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 359: Enhancing Grid Security through Public-Private Partnerships Act: To provide for certain programs and developments in the Department of Energy concerning the cybersecurity and vulnerabilities of, and physical threats to, the electric grid, and for other purposes.
Passed the House on September 29 and goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 1289: PHONE Act of 2020: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for a moratorium on number reassignment after a disaster declaration, and for other purposes.
Govtrack.us: “This bill restricts the reassignment of telephone numbers during a declared major disaster. Specifically, a number may not be reassigned except at the request of the subscriber during a period in which a major disaster has been declared. The bill also allows a subscriber to cancel service without a cancellation fee and to subscribe again with the same number with no fee if the subscriber is located in a disaster area and the disaster resulted in certain types of damage to the subscriber’s residence.”
Passed the House on September 29 and goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 1754: Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020: To improve the integrity and safety of horseracing by requiring a uniform anti-doping and medication control program to be developed and enforced by an independent Horseracing Anti-Doping and Medication Control Authority.
Govtrack.us: “This bill establishes the Horseracing Anti-Doping and Medication Control Authority as an independent, private non-profit corporation with responsibility for developing and administering an anti-doping and medication control program for (1) Thoroughbred, Quarter, and Standardbred horses that participate in horse races; and (2) the personnel engaged in the care, training, or racing of such horses.” This bill passed the House on September 29 and goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 8134: Consumer Product Safety Inspection Enhancement Act: To support the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s capability to protect consumers from unsafe consumer products, and for other purposes.
Passed the House on September 29 and goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 8128: Consumer Safety Technology Act: To direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish a pilot program to explore the use of artificial intelligence in support of the mission of the Commission and direct the Secretary of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission to study and report on the use of blockchain technology and digital tokens, respectively.”
Passed the House on September 29 by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made. Goes to the Senate next.
H.R. 5373: United States Anti-Doping Agency Reauthorization Act of 2020
Govtrack.us: “This bill authorizes appropriations for the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) through FY2027. The bill also directs (1) USADA to promote a positive youth sport experience by using a portion of its funding to provide educational materials on sportsmanship, character building, and healthy performance for those participating in youth sports; and (2) the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Food and Drug Administration to coordinate with USADA efforts to prevent the use of performance-enhancing drugs or prohibit performance-enhancing methods by sharing all information in their possession that may be relevant to preventing the use of such drugs or prohibiting such methods.”
The bill was passed in a vote in the House on September 30. It goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 4996: Helping MOMS Act of 2020: To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a State option under the Medicaid program to provide for and extend continuous coverage for certain individuals, and for other purposes.
GovTrack.us: “This bill allows states to provide one year of postpartum coverage under Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). (Current law requires 60 days of postpartum coverage.) The Government Accountability Office must report on information relating to implementation.”
The bill was passed in a vote in the House on September 29. It goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 3131: South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act of 2020: To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for research and improvement of cardiovascular health among the South Asian population of the United States, and for other purposes.
GovTrack.us: “This bill establishes, or authorizes to be established, programs that support heart-disease research and awareness among the South Asian population of the United States. Specifically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must award grants to states for awareness initiatives, educational materials, and research catalogs regarding the prevalence of heart disease, including the association of type 2 diabetes, with respect to the South Asian population. The National Institutes of Health may also award grants to support research in this area.”
This bill was passed in a vote in the House on September 29. It goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 7948: Tribal Health Data Improvement Act of 2020: To amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the collection and availability of health data with respect to Indian Tribes, and for other purposes.
This bill was passed in a vote in the House on September 29. It goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 5469: Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act: To address mental health issues for youth, particularly youth of color, and for other purposes.
The bill was passed in a vote in the House on September 29. It goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 1109: Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2020: To amend the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend projects relating to children and to provide access to school-based comprehensive mental health programs.
The bill was passed in a vote in the House on September 29. It goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 2519: Improving Mental Health Access from the Emergency Department Act of 2020
The bill was passed in a vote in the House on September 29. It goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 4861: Effective Suicide Screening and Assessment in the Emergency Department Act of 2020: To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a program to improve the identification, assessment, and treatment of patients in the emergency department who are at risk of suicide, and for other purposes. GovTrack.us: “This bill establishes a competitive grant program for up to 40 hospitals with emergency departments and certain on-site professionals to help connect patients in emergency departments who are at risk of suicide with treatment and mental health services.”
The bill was passed in a vote in the House on September 29. It goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 3539: Behavioral Intervention Guidelines Act of 2020: To amend the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop best practices for the establishment and use of behavioral intervention teams at schools, and for other purposes.
GovTrack.us: “This bill requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop best practices for schools to establish behavioral intervention teams (i.e., experts who are responsible for identifying individuals of concern and addressing associated behavioral health issues so as to prevent harm to the individual or others). SAMHSA must also develop a list of providers with threat-assessment training to help school personnel implement the best practices.”
On September 29 this bill was passed in a vote in the House. It goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 7293: STANDUP Act of 2020: To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide best practices on student suicide awareness and prevention training and condition State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and tribal educational agencies receiving funds under section 520A of such Act to establish and implement a school-based student suicide awareness and prevention training policy.
The bill was passed in a vote in the House on September 29. It goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 4439: Creating Hope Reauthorization Act: To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to extend the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue priority review vouchers to encourage treatments for rare pediatric diseases
The bill was passed in a vote in the House on September 29. It goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 5760: Grid Security Research and Development Act: To provide for a comprehensive interdisciplinary research, development, and demonstration initiative to strengthen the capacity of the energy sector to prepare for and withstand cyber and physical attacks, and for other purposes.
This bill was passed in a vote in the House on September 29. It goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made.
PASSED SENATE
S. 910: National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2020
Govtrack.us: “This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises the National Sea Grant College Program, through which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)supports university-based programs that focus on studying, conserving, and effectively using U.S. coastal resources.”
This bill passed the Senate on September 30 and goes to the House next. The vote was by Voice Vote so no record of individual votes was made.
S. 3681: Ensuring Health Safety in the Skies Act of 2020: A bill to require a joint task force on air travel during and after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, and for other purposes.
GovTrack.us: “This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) , the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Health and Human Services to form a joint task force on air travel during and after the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. The task force must develop recommended requirements, plans, and guidelines to address the health, safety, security, and logistical issues relating to the continuation of air travel during the COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as the resumption of full operations at airports and increased passenger air travel after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.”
This bill passed in the Senate on September 30, 2020 and goes to the House next for consideration. The vote was by Unanimous Consent so no record of individual votes was made.
PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE
H.R. 8337: Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act
GovTrack.us: “This bill provides continuing FY2021 appropriations to federal agencies and extends expiring programs that address health care, surface transportation, agriculture, veterans benefits, and other issues.” Read the entire summary. This bill incorporates legislation from a number of other bills.
See how your representative voted.
In the Senate, Indiana senator Braun voted nay and Senator Young voted yea.
This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on October 1, 2020.
H.R. 561: Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2019: To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the oversight of contracts awarded by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, and for other purposes.
Govtrack.us: “This bill applies certain small business subcontracting limitations to contracts that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awards to a small business concern owned and controlled by a veteran or a veteran with a service-connected disability.”
This bill passed the House on Feb. 26, 2020.The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made. This bill was passed by the Senate on September 30, 2020 The vote was by Unanimous Consent so no record of individual votes was made. It goes to the President next.
H.R. 991: Extension of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act: To extend certain provisions of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act until September 30, 2030, and for other purposes.
This bill was passed by Congress on September 30, 2020 and goes to the President next. This bill passed the House on September 22 where the vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made. The bill passed the Senate September 30 where the vote was by Unanimous Consent so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 1952: Intercountry Adoption Information Act of 2019: To amend the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 to require the Secretary of State to report on intercountry adoptions from countries which have significantly reduced adoption rates involving immigration to the United States, and for other purposes. Govtrack.us: “This bill directs the Department of State to include additional information in its annual report to Congress on intercountry adoptions. The reports shall contain (1) a list of countries that have laws that prevent or prohibit adoptions by American parents, (2) various information related to such prohibitions, and (3) what steps the State Department has taken to help such countries reopen intercountry adoptions.” Passed the Senate on September 30 and goes to the President next. The bill was passed by both chambers in identical form. It goes to the President next who may sign or veto the bill. The vote was by Unanimous Consent so no record of individual votes was made.
H.R. 3399: To amend the Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003 to include California in the program, and for other purposes.
Govtrack.us: “This bill reauthorizes through FY2025 and revises the Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003, which provided grants to Maryland and Louisiana for a program to eradicate or control nutria (a type of rodent). The program also provided grants to restore marshland damaged by nutria.”
This bill was passed by the Senate on September 30, 2020 and goes to the President next. The vote was by Voice Vote so no record of individual votes was made.
In Other News
“A federal judge dismissed the Trump campaign’s effort to prevent Montana from allowing counties to issue mail ballots in the November election. Judge Dana Christensen’s decision Wednesday is a victory for Gov. Steve Bullock, who is also running for US Senate.” (Rose, Andy. “Federal judge dismisses Trump effort to stop mail-in voting in Montana.” CNN Politics. 30 September 2020: https://cutt.ly/zf8WvJd)
“A federal judge has issued an order to clarify that, for now, the U.S. Census Bureau must continue counting for the 2020 census through Oct. 31 after finding the bureau made multiple violations of an earlier order that extends the national head count’s schedule.” (Wang, Hansi Lo. “After ‘Egregious’ Violation, Judge Orders Census To Count Through Oct. 31 For Now.” NPR Lakeshore Public Radio. 02 October 2020: https://www.npr.org/2020/10/02/919224602/after-egregious-violation-judge-orders-census-to-count-through-oct-31-for-now)
To find and contact your Members of Congress: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
Indiana
Holcomb is described in this article as a moderate republican. He has appointed a commission to study teacher salaries and has failed to deliver needed change. In a bold move, his own Republican Secretary of Education, Jennifer McCormick, has endorsed his Democratic opponent, Dr. Woody Myers. (Wang, Stephanie. “Seeking re-election, Holcomb highlights progress on teacher pay — and what comes next.” Chalkbeat Indiana. 28 September 2020: https://in.chalkbeat.org/2020/9/28/21455876/indiana-governor-2020-holcomb-reelection-teacher-pay-education.)
Dr Woody Myers offers a clear contrast in leadership to Governor Holcomb. (Wang, Stephanie. “Indiana governor hopeful Woody Myers would overhaul school funding, scrutinize charters.” Chalkbeat Indiana. 28 September 2020: https://in.chalkbeat.org/2020/9/28/21445849/indiana-governor-2020-election-woody-myers-education-charter-schools)
Court: more time to submit Indiana mail-in ballots
WANE
Judge Sarah Evans Barker of the U.S. Southern District of Indiana issued an injunction for county election officials not to “reject mail-in ballots …
“Judge Sarah Evans Barker of the U.S. Southern District of Indiana issued an injunction for county election officials not to “reject mail-in ballots postmarked on or before November 3, 2020 and received on or before November 13, 2020, and to ensure that such ballots are counted if otherwise valid.”
A group of Indiana residents trying to force the state to allow all Hoosier voters to cast mail-in ballots this year have their day in a federal appeals court Wednesday. (WFIU)
Crown Point is considering tracking people who aren’t properly distancing. (Associated Press. “Indiana City Considering Cameras To Help In Contact Tracing.” WFYI NPR. 02 October 2020: https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/indiana-city-considering-cameras-to-help-in-contact-tracing.)
Register to vote, or check to make sure your registration is correct and up to date. To register online in Indiana, the deadline is Oct 5. To register in person, the deadline is Oct 5. Learn your registration status or how to register: https://indianavoters.in.gov/?fbclid=IwAR3Z6SCl4O8OPE-NNLe0vf3a36kn5mji7cmiFNx5u_ISRTdFauAmbEJ4yiI
Early voting begins on Tuesday, October 6th and ends at Noon on Monday, November 2nd,
Find locations for early voting in Lake County: https://www.lakecountyin.org/cms?type=doc&name=/lcportal-cms/voters/IN_PERSON_VOTING_LOCATIONS.pdf
Find locations for early voting in Porter Country: https://porterco.org/1111/Early-Voting
To find and contact your Indiana legislators: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
