Legislative Recap: What You Might Have Missed
Here’s what I was up to this week in Washington:
Supported an $8.2 billion Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act
The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act will provide $8.3 billion in emergency funds. These funds are critical to preventing and combating the #COVID19 virus from spreading. I am committed to keeping our district and country prepared and safe.
Introduced Fair Access to Legal Counsel Act (FALCA), a bill to help more Americans secure representation in civil court.
In civil cases, pro se litigants — people who represent themselves in court, including many who cannot afford legal representation — often bring complex claims involving civil rights abuses. However, under current law, federal courts across the country can use different standards for deciding whether to grant a pro se litigant’s request for counsel. As a result of this patchwork of standards, counsel is almost never granted in civil cases, making it difficult for pro se litigants to present their claims in court and creating an added burden on court personnel, who often have to process illegible or incorrectly filed claims.
FALCA would help more litigants access legal representation in court by standardizing the process by which a federal court determines whether to appoint a lawyer.
Read more about my bill here: https://medium.com/@repmgs/scanlon-sarbanes-nadler-kennedy-introduce-bill-to-improve-civil-justice-system-d955bd4a5d91
Led the floor debate on The Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act
This bill will put an end to the current TSA personnel directives that have allowed TSA to be the judge and jury in workforce disciplinary matters, and require TSA to follow the labor management employee relations statutes that provide workplace rights and protections to most federal employees under Title 5 of the U.S. Code.
Check out the debate here: Rep. Scanlon Leads Floor Debate
Participated in House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties hearing on “Presidential Clemency and Opportunities for Reform”
Mass incarceration has plagued our criminal justice system for too long. While the Congress has little authority over the President’s exercise of clemency power, we should examine all options available to us to the extent that we can assist, including comprehensive criminal justice reform.
Watch the hearing here: https://twitter.com/RepMGS/status/1235583809501843456
Participated in the House Committee on Rules hearing on “Constitutional Perspectives on the Responsibility and Authority of the Legislative Branch”
I was proud to take part in legislative business that does not take place too often around here — a wholly bipartisan hearing designed to address ways we can make the federal government work better, and more in line with our Constitution.
Over the past decades, the legislative branch has ceded parts of its constitutional authority to the executive branch. This has been one of this country’s most bipartisan activities — no matter which party has been in control of Congress, neither has been able to rein in overreach from the executive.
I was grateful for the opportunity to discuss a bipartisan approach to reasserting congressional authority and overreach by the executive branch.
Watch the hearing here: https://twitter.com/RulesDemocrats/status/1234840957809549312
Sat down with our interns over donuts to hear their thoughts and questions about our legislative agenda and careers in public service
I was lucky to find some time in the day to chat with our wonderful interns. They are a critical part of the work we do for you, often acting as your first point of contact for our office getting you the help you need. I love learning from young leaders and am so grateful for their commitment to public service.
