May 2013
ABA Expresses Concerns Over Sequestration of Funding for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
On May 20, 2013, the ABA submitted a letter to the Office of Management and Budget regarding sequestration of USPTO funding. Read more...
ABA Opposes Florida H.B. 7083, the Timely Justice Act
ABA Opposes Grassley Amendments in S. 744
On May 16, the ABA sent a letter to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee opposing amendments to S. 744 which curtail access to counsel; delay or restrict sorely needed immigration court resources; and eliminate secure alternatives to detention programs and needlessly prolong immigration detention. Read More...
ABA Comments on the Social Security Administration's Region I Pilot Program
ABA Comments on FATF’s Draft Report on Money Laundering Vulnerabilities of Legal Professionals
On May 6, the ABA sent a letter to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) giving its preliminary reactions to the FATF's Draft Report on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Vulnerabilities of Legal Professionals. In its letter, the ABA offered specific suggestions for improving the FATF’s “typologies” or hypothetical situations highlighting unwitting involvement of lawyers in money laundering or terrorist financing activities. Read more...
April 2013
ABA Letter Supporting the Follow the Money Act of 2013
On April 25, the ABA sent a letter to Senators Wyden (D-OR) and Murkowski (R-AK) commending them for the impending introduction of the Follow the Money Act of 2013. The bill seeks to close loopholes in existing federal election campaign law that often leave independent spending exempt from public disclosure. Read more…
ABA Urges Senate to Pass Gun Violence Prevention Legislation
On April 9, ABA President Laurel G. Bellows sent a letter to members of the Senate urging them to pass gun violence prevention legislation. Read more...
ABA Letter Supporting the Personalize Your Care Act of 2013
On April 1, the ABA sent a letter to Representative Blumenauer (D-OR) thanking him for his efforts in advocating for meaningful access to patient-centered advance care planning and for introducing H.R. 1173, the Personalize Your Care Act of 2013. Read more…
March 2013
ABA Letter on US-India Trade Relations
On March 27, the ABA submitted a letter to the House Subcommittee on Trade regarding US-India Trade Relations. Read more...
ABA Letter and Comments Regarding Rates for Inmate Calling Services
On March 25, ABA President Laurel Bellows sent a letter and comments to the Federal Communications Commission regarding Rates for Inmate Calling Services. Read more...
ABA Urges Senators to Reform Gun Violence Prevention
On March 6, the ABA President Laurel G. Bellows sent a letter to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee urging the approval of legislation to require background checks for private sales of firearms, to make straw purchases a federal crime, and to limit future sales of new assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips. Read more...
February 2013
ABA Letter to Members of the House Regarding VAWA Reauthorization
On February 27, the ABA sent a letter to Members of the U.S. House of Representatives urging them to vote “NO” on the Substitute Amendment to S. 47, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, and, if the amendment fails and S. 47 is considered, to vote “YES” on S. 47. Read more…
ABA Comments on Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Sexual Abuse and Assault in Confinement Facilities
On February 26, the ABA submitted comments in response to the Department of Homeland Security's proposed standards to prevent, detect, and respond to sexual abuse and assault in confinement facilities. Read more...
ABA Advocates for Immigration Law and Policy Reform
On February 13, ABA President Laurel Bellows submitted a statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee advocating for improvements in immigration law and policy. Read more...
ABA Urges Senators to Vote in Favor of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013
On February 5, the ABA sent a letter to all Members of the Senate urging them to vote in favor of S. 47, the bipartisan Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, and to vote against any amendments that would weaken the legislation. S. 47 was introduced by Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Crapo (R-ID) in January. Read more…
ABA Letter Opposing the Inclusion of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing in the Violence Against Women Act
On February 5, the ABA sent a letter to Senators Patrick Leahy and Mike Crapo opposing the inclusion of any mandatory minimum sentencing provisions in S. 47, the Violence Against Women Act of 2013 (VAWA). Read more...
ABA Commends Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Elijah Cummings for Introducing the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2013
On February 4, ABA President Laurel Bellows wrote to Representatives Carolyn Maloney and Elijah Cummings to commend them for introducing the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act of 2013 which will amend federal law to strengthen prevention of “straw purchases” of firearms. Read more...
January 2013
ABA President Laurel Bellows Urges Senate Judiciary to Act on Legislation to Prevent Gun Violence in America
On January 30, ABA President Laurel Bellows submitted written testimony urging the Senate Judiciary Committee to act on legislation to prevent and reduce gun violence in America. Read more...
ABA Letter Supporting the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013
On January 30, the ABA sent a letter to Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Crapo (R-ID) and Representatives Conyers (D-MI) and Moore (D-WI) commending them on their introduction of the Violence Against Women (VAWA) Reauthorization Act of 2013. The ABA strongly supports their continued effort to renew proven and effective programs that support victims of domestic, sexual, stalking and dating violence and their families. Read the Senate letter. Read the House letter.
ABA Commends Members of House and Senate for Introducing the Assault Weapons Regulatory Act of 2013
On January 24, ABA President Laurel Bellows sent a letter to members of the House and Senate commending them for introducing the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013, which will carefully and rationally regulate the availability of military assault-type firearms and the large-capacity ammunition feeding devices they utilize. Read the House letter. Read the Senate letter.
ABA Comments Regarding Definition of Meaningful Use of Electronic Health Records
On January 11, the ABA submitted comments in response to the request by the Health Information Technology Policy Committee on its draft recommendations for meaningful use Stage 3, which was published on November 26, 2012, at 77 Federal Register 70444. Read more…
"What's New in Washington" entries from the 112th Congress
"What's New in Washington" entries from the 111th Congress
"What's New in Washington" entries from the 110th Congress
