This Month's Stories

ABA stresses strong support for ENDA legislation

The ABA reaffirmed its long tradition of actively opposing discrimination when it urged the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) last month to approve S. 811, the proposed Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

Senate bill would assist homeless veterans

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, introduced ABA-supported legislation June 18 aimed at ending veteran homelessness and addressing the lack of safe and secure facilities for homeless veterans.

Bills could restrict meeting attendance

ABA President Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III cautioned last month that language in two pieces of legislation is overly and unnecessarily broad and could severely restrict government employee attendance at meetings and conferences held by associations and other nongovernmental organizations.

VAWA supporters rally on Capitol Hill

Supporters, including the ABA, gathered on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol June 26 for the Save VAWA National Action Rally, urging Congress to pass legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that reflects the comprehensive language in the Senate-passed bill, S. 1925.

Directive allows undocumented youth to stay temporarily in U.S.

ABA President Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III applauded the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS)announcement last month to allow undocumented youth who were brought to the United States as children to stay temporarily in this country if they meet certain criteria.

ABA urges steady action on judicial nominations

Reiterating the association’s concern about the longstanding vacancy rate of Article III courts, ABA President Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III urged Senate leaders to continue to schedule regular floor votes throughout this session on noncontroversial nominees who have strong bipartisan support.

Senate hearing focuses on effects of solitary confinement

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, convened a hearing June 19 to look at the alarming increase in solitary confinement in U.S. prisons for those who don’t need to be there.