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MEET THE MEMBERS
 Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Sherrod Brown served seven terms in the House before he won his race for the Senate in 2008. He has worked to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship throughout his Congressional career. In the wake of Hamas' unprovoked attacks on Israel this summer, Brown cosponsored a resolution supporting Israel and its right to defend its citizens. He also cosponsored the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014.
He recently introduced a bi-partisan bill, The Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act, which would allow pharmacists to offer health care services to Medicare beneficiaries in underserved areas - such as health and wellness screenings, immunizations, and diabetes management. He is also 100 pro-choice.
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Ami Bera was first elected to Congress in 2012 and narrowly won re-election in 2014 after one of the most expensive races in the country. He is the the only Indian American and one of only 15 doctors serving in Congress. Bera has been a consistent supporter of JAC's issues since her first arrived on Capitol Hill.
During Bera's 20-year medical career, he worked to improve the availability, quality, and affordability of healthcare. He has taken that commitment to Congress fighting any and all attacks on women's rights & their reproductive health choices.. "I strongly support a woman's constitutionally protected right to choose, and making contraception, family planning, and health care more available to women." One of the first bills he introduced as a Congressman was the Women's Preventive Health Campaign Awareness Act.
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Northbrook, IL
Talking Points with
Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-2)
Monday, February 9
10 - 11:30 am
Home of Lisa Rubinstein
Palm Beach, FLTalking Points with Mona Reis
Founder & CEO of Presidential Women's Center
in West Palm Beach
Wednesday, March 44 - 5:30 pm
Home of Merle and Jim Styer _________________
Want to host a JAC event in your area?
Call the JAC office to help coordinate.
847.433.5999
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The Week in Legislation
HR 596- To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act . PASSED by 239-186. The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. The Access to Contraception for Women Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2015. INTRODUCED. This bill would ensure that women members of the Armed Forces and their families have access to the contraception they need in order to promote the health and readiness of all members of the Armed Forces.* The Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act. INTRODUCED in the House and Senate. This bill would prohibit the importation, sale, manufacture, transfer, or possession of magazines that have a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition.*
* These are awaiting to be assigned formal bill numbers.
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WHY IT MATTERS?

"You Should Get Your Kids Vaccinated....There is every reason to get vaccinated, there aren't reasons to not." - Pres. Obama THE FACTS ABOUT MEASLES
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CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE 202.224.3121
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Access to Contraception for Women Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2015
Military women and their families deserve affordable access to reproductive health care.
CALL TODAY
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JAC's 5th Annual Power of Women Luncheon
June 1st - Mark Your Calendars Today!
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This week's issue highlights these key developments here and in the Middle East... and some others that may have missed.
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Senior White House Official to Visit Israel Despite Tensions
Despite recent tensions between Israel and the United States surrounding Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress, i24news reported on Tuesday that a senior White House advisor is expected to arrive in Israel for a visit later this month.
Dems complain to Israel about Netanyahu visit to Congress Top House Democrats huddled with Israeli officials on Wednesday to push back against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coming speech before Congress. Read Full Article
Iranian nuclear facility. Image: Times of Israel
Iran threatens nuclear enrichment expansion if US pursues sanctions Tehran will resume the expansion of its uranium enrichment capacity should Washington introduce more sanctions against the country, Iran's senior diplomat told reporters at the country's embassy in Moscow. Read Full Article
Netanyahu Calls Jordan's Abdullah After Ambassador Returned
Netanyahu sends condolences over pilot burned to death by ISIS and notes 'importance' of envoy returning to Israel after Temple Mount rift. Read Full Article
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United Nations in New York. Source: un.org
Confronting Anti-Semitism at the United Nations
On January 22, the UN General Assembly held a special meeting to discuss anti-Semitism. With the exception of speeches by the Israeli and American ambassadors, and by the French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévi, the session amounted to a gathering of foxes discussing how best to guard the hen house. Ben Cohen suggests a better approach:
Read Full Article
BDS, Support Of Israel Reason House Tagged With Swastikas On Saturday morning - the holiest day of the week for Jews - swastikas spray painted in red on their Jewish frat house were the last thing these brothers expected to wake up to. "I'm a freshman so I've never had to deal with such outward show of hate towards me and my people," Itai Ofir said. Ofir and his Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi call it anti-Semitism at its worst. Read Full Article
UNESCO head nixes 'offensive, unacceptable' Palestine poster collection The head of UNESCO vetoed the inclusion of a vast collection of Palestine-themed posters in a register of world heritage, arguing that the posters fuel hatred and anti-Semitism. The decision by Irina Bokova to block the Liberation Graphics Collection of Palestine Posters from being accepted into UNESCO's Memory of the World program marks the first time such a nomination has been vetoed. Read Full Article
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Women Who Had Abortions After 20 Weeks Explain Why They're Necessary Abortion opponents are prepared to forge ahead with their goal to criminalize later abortions. Although a proposed 20-week abortion ban didn't come up for a vote in Congress last month, GOP leaders have vowed to bring back the legislation later this year. The policy has also gained significant traction on the state level, where it's on the books in 14 different states and currently being considered in three additional ones.
Read Full Article
The Strict Abortion Ban That Abortion Foes Fear Last month, a Kansas Republican promised that his state House committee would consider a bill banning abortions after the fetus has a detectable heartbeat-around the sixth week of development. The legislator, Steve Brunk, said he is confident the measure will pass in the GOP-controlled legislature. And Gov. Sam Brownback (R) has never vetoed an abortion bill. Many anti-abortion activists are cheering Brunk on. But one voice is noticeably absent: that of Kansans For Life, the state's most influential anti-abortion group.
Congresswomen Reintroduce Military Contraception Equity Bill
Democratic congresswomen reintroduced a bill on Wednesday that would guarantee equal access to contraception for all women who depend on the military for their health coverage. Read Full Article
Supreme Court Says That Firing a Woman for Breastfeeding Isn't Sexist Because Men Can Lactate Too The Supreme Court has declined to hear a petition to overturn a lower court's ruling that a breastfeeding mother was not discriminated against and could not sue her employer. The woman's suit was dismissed by a trial court, but activists say that one of the trial court's findings - that breastfeeding-related firings aren't sexist because men can lactate, too - is ridiculous. Read Full Article
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Separation of Religion & State
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President Obama delivering remarks at the annual prayer breakfast. Image: whitehouse.gov
Obama Calls For Balancing Free Speech With Respect For Religion
"They (the Founding Fathers) also understood the need to uphold freedom of speech... that there was a connection between freedom of speech and freedom of religion. For to infringe on one right under the pretext of protecting another is a betrayal of both."
Read Full ArticleWisconsin Group Threatens Oklahoma Schools Over Bible Class Curriculum
Districts across Oklahoma received a warning letter this week, threatening to sue if Steve Green's "Museum of the Bible Curriculum" was taught in their schools. The threat comes from a Wisconsin based group whose purpose is to educate the public on the separation of church and state. Read Full Article |
Click on the map to find Congress' climate deniers. Source: billmoyers.com
3 Male Lawmakers Propose Eliminating Obamacare's Maternity Coverage
In their quest to repeal and replace Obamacare, three Republican lawmakers have offered an alternative proposal to the health reform law that would roll back some of its major consumer protections, including maternity care for pregnant women. Read Full ArticleTexas Gun Activist Warns Lawmakers 'Treason' Is 'Punishable By Death' The outspoken leader of a open carry gun group warned Texas lawmakers on Wednesday that putting restrictions on an individual's right to carry firearms is "treason" and "punishable by death" under the Constitution.
Newtown activists introduce bill banning high-capacity magazines
Newtown activists on Thursday helped introduce the first gun safety bill in this Congress, officially kicking off the gun control debate on Capitol Hill.
The bill would ban large capacity ammunition magazines for everyone but military members and law enforcement officers. It was introduced by Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, in the House and Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., in the Senate.
Read Full Article

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Republicans Ignored ADL Concerns Over Trip to Israel Led by 'Hate Group'
The Anti-Defamation League asked the Republican National Committee to reconsider an Israel trip sponsored by a group associated with attacks on gays and minorities. The trip, funded by the American Family Association and the American Renewal Project, drew controversy last month when the Southern Poverty Legal Center urged all 168 members of the Republican National Committee, or RNC, not to join, naming the American Family Association, or AFA, as a "hate group." Some 60 RNC members had signed on for the trip. Read Full Article
Why Mark Begich could run for the Senate again The possibility of a Mark Begich Senate comeback bid has suddenly become more conceivable. There are three reasons why: The Alaska Democrat is not running for mayor of Anchorage; he says he is getting encouragement to run for Congress; and he is embarking on a business venture that will keep him squarely at the intersection of Washington and Alaska issues. Read Full Article
Are Media Crowning Jeb Bush A "Moderate," The Same Way They Promoted George W. Bush As A "Compassionate Conservative"? Mitt Romney's decision to not seek the Republican Party's presidential nomination set off a cavalcade of commentary regarding the political repercussion. One popular angle was that Jeb Bush would benefit because of his appeal as a moderate. At least what he is according to the Beltway press. But a closer examine reveals that he is anything but moderate. Read Full Article
Senator says restaurant employees shouldn't be required to wash their hands Once we're done debating whether children should be vaccinated, we can move on to other pressing public health questions, such as whether eateries can force their employees to wash their hands after they use the bathroom. At least one freshman U.S. senator thinks, "nah." Because freedom. Read Full Article
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This week, Congress voted for the 56th time to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
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Wearable device slows brain tumor growth
A novel wearable device, already used on nearly 2,000 patients to slow the growth of cancerous glioblastoma brain tumors using electrical fields, is now being tested to judge its effectiveness against other types of solid tumors.
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Our members count on JACPAC to provide information on current events, candidates, and elections. JACPAC depends on membership support to make this possible. If you have not renewed your membership, please consider doing so today, to help us pursue a strong US-Israel relationship, reproductive rights, and separation of religion and state. Together we can make this a better world! Sincerely, Janna Berk, President Marcia Balonick, Executive Director Joy Malkus, Research Director |
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