Blogs

There are certain historical moments that are seared into our memories. These moments recede into our subconsciousness, but rise again on the anniversaries of those events. This week on September 11th, we were flooded with emotions as we recalled that tragic day that redefined our lives as Americans.

We were all united as a country in our suffering that day. People felt the need to do something. There was a surge in patriotism in response to the fall of the towers. Volunteerism and charitable giving increased. 

Lawmakers will return to Washington on Monday after their August recess. During that time there were three more mass shootings with 30 people killed.

The total number of deadly mass shootings in the United States in 2019 comes out to an average of one every 13 days. Most of those have been committed with assault weapons. Ending gun violence should be the first issue Congress acts on next week. 

After 70 long years, the Nineteenth Amendment giving women the right to vote was adopted and incorporated into the Constitution on August 26, 1920. Today we mark that moment as National Women's Equality Day, which was Monday.

Women have made significant gains since that time in many areas of our society. Nearly 20 percent of all startups today have at least one female founder. Women serve in every part of our armed services in a wide variety of jobs and positions, including as a four-star general. We now have three women on the Supreme Court.  

We listen to almost weekly anti-Semitic tropes from the President. This week it was over questioning the Jewish community's loyalty to Israel. In the past, he has also raised concern over Jews loyalty to the U.S.

Trump will continue to use anti-Semitism and hate to pump up his base and deflect from the serious issues facing our country. For him, it's always the path that he is most comfortable taking. His rhetoric is divisive and dangerous. 

We are taking a break from our regular EZ read this week to call attention to the gun violence epidemic sweeping across our country. This week we have once again seen the soul of our country ripped apart by more mass shootings.

There have been more mass shootings than days in 2019. By the time the sun sets today, 100 more people will have died from gun violence.

Gun violence doesn't discriminate - and it doesn't take a recess, like Congress.

Access to reproductive health services are under attack in nearly every state across the country.  Six states have passed abortion bans. Six states have only one abortion clinic. More than 11 million women of reproductive age live more than a 1-hour drive from the nearest abortion clinic. There are 24 states have laws that regulate abortion providers and go beyond what is medically necessary to ensure patient safety.

Congress  has adjourned for their annual summer recess.  Our elected officials will travel back to their districts to take a break from the chaos on the Hill and focus on their constituents. They will hold events and town hall meetings. This is your chance for your voice to be heard.

Donald Trump has returned to his old playbook of race-baiting and hate-mongering. Standing up to racism is not a political issue. It is a moral issue. Everyone should condemn bigotry regardless of where it comes from and who it is directed towards. 
 

Reps. Elaine Luria (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) put their lives on the line to defend our nation. Now, these freshman women are defending JAC's issues in Congress.

As we celebrate America's Independence Day this week, we must remember how precious our freedom is and that we should never take it for granted. 

This week we saw the horrific scene at our nation's border. It is hard to believe that our country has detained children escaping violence and abuse and allowed them to languish in squalor and unsanitary conditions. There is a lack of clean diapers and clothes for the hundreds of children in U.S. custody. Children are taking care of children.

Psychologists say these children will suffer from increased rates of anxiety, depression and PTSD, as well as heightened risks of suicide and self-harm in the future.