Representative Nelson Releases 1st Substitute State Records and Identification Amendments
SALT LAKE CITY (2/13/19) – Representative Merrill Nelson has released 1st Substitute HB 153, State Records and Identification Amendments. This substitute preserves the intent of HB 153 that a birth certificate retains its statutory purpose as a vital record, while allowing gender identity to be added to a driver’s license which functions as a record of personal identification.
This updated legislation preserves the public policy that individuals are born male or female, while acknowledging the distinction between sex and gender identity. It clarifies that a birth certificate is used to record facts of birth, allows anyone to correct that record by proving a mistake of fact in court, simplifies definitions to leave matters of proof to medical experts, and creates a process for individuals to declare their gender identity on their drivers license.
“This substitute bill reflects input from various interested parties and provides a workable resolution of the issues presented,” said Rep. Nelson. “Those who assert a different gender identity from the sex on their birth certificate are free to designate that identity on their driver license, which is used as the most common form of personal identification.”
1st Substitute HB 153 was assigned to the House Health and Human Services Committee today, February 13, 2019.
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Sen. Lee Praises House Passage of Yemen Resolution
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Wednesday after the House of Representatives passed a resolution pursuant to the War Powers Act calling for the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities in the Republic of Yemen.
“The Founders specifically gave Congress – the branch closest to the people – the power to declare war,” Sen. Lee said. Yet we’ve been participating in the Yemeni Civil War since 2015 without any approval from Congress. It was unconstitutional then, and it’s unconstitutional now. Today the House took us one step closer to restoring Congress’s war powers, and I look forward to consideration here in the Senate.”
An online version of this release can be found here.
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Contact:
Weldon Freeman
(202) 690-1384
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2019 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz today announced USDA and HHS will partner to create addiction recovery transitional housing in rural communities.
“Strong and healthy communities are foundational for prosperity in rural America,” Hazlett said. “Under the leadership of President Trump, we are committed at USDA to building innovative partnerships and driving more effective and efficient use of our resources to address the opioid misuse crisis at the local level.”
McCance-Katz said, “We know that the opioid crisis has hit rural communities hard, and we need to leverage all possible partnerships to support these communities. Housing plays a vital part in the recovery process for those living with opioid use disorders.”
USDA and HHS formalized their partnership through an official Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Nonprofit organizations will be able to purchase homes from USDA and convert them to transitional housing for people recovering from opioid misuse.
USDA Rural Development and HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will coordinate efforts to sell USDA’s Real Estate Owned (REO) single-family housing properties at a discount to non-profit organizations that provide housing, treatment, job training and other key services for people in substance misuse treatment and recovery. This will further enhance the two organizations’ formal collaboration. It began in 2018 with SAMHSA’s supplementing of USDA Cooperative Extension grants to expand technical assistance and training on opioid use disorder prevention and treatment.
President Donald J. Trump has mobilized his entire Administration to address opioid misuse by directing the declaration of a nationwide Public Health Emergency. To help local leaders respond to this epidemic, USDA has worked to build infrastructure for prevention, treatment and recovery, facilitate partnerships, and drive innovation in rural communities. In 2018, USDA worked with the Office of National Drug Control Policy to establish a White House Rural Opioid Federal Interagency Working Group which is improving the coordination of federal resources in rural America. In December, USDA launched the Community Opioid Misuse Toolbox. This initiative includes the Community Resource Guide (PDF, 1.7 MB), a comprehensive directory of federal resources that can help rural communities address the opioid crisis, and the Community Assessment Tool, an interactive database to help community leaders assess how and why the opioid epidemic is impacting their regions.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and healthcare; and high-speed internet e-Connectivity in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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Bishop Statement on Vote FOR Appropriations Act
“… I don’t want another government shutdown …”
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Conference Report to Accompany H.J. Res 31 – Consolidated Appropriations Act. Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-01) voted for the measure and offered this statement:
“There is a crisis on the southern border. This compromise bill does not come close to solving that problem, but I don’t want another government shutdown, so I have voted yes.
“The president should not declare a national emergency. He needn’t even be in this position if congress would have done its job and funded both the government and border security. This is a failure of Congress to act.
“I am frustrated with Democrat leadership, who have supported border security in the past, but now are insisting upon an inadequate compromise out of pure political spite.”
