Washington Letter December 2013

Featured Articles

Federal Government

Senate passes bill to help homeless veterans

The Senate passed an ABA-supported bill last month that would expand the definition of homeless veterans to include those fleeing domestic violence and would authorize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop partnerships with public and private entities to provide legal services to homeless veterans and those at risk of homelessness.

LGBTQ Legal Issues

ABA supports measure to restore honor to those affected by Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy

ABA President James R. Silkenat expressed the ABA’s support last month for H.R. 2839, a bill to restore honor to veterans who were discharged due solely to their sexual orientation but did not receive an “honorable” characterization of service.

Military & Veterans

Agreement reached on FY 2014 defense authorization

A fiscal year 2014 defense authorization agreement reached this month by the Armed Services Committees in the House and Senate includes language supported by the ABA’s policy regarding child custody cases involving a parent who is a member of the military.

Federal Government

House focuses on abusive patent litigation

The House passed legislation Dec. 5 that seeks to reduce abusive litigation practices in patent cases, but the ABA is urging Congress to address the issue instead through the Rules Enabling Act, a rulemaking process that has served the justice system well for almost 80 years.

Federal Government

President signs bill to continue global HIV/AIDS effort

President Barack Obama marked World AIDS Day Dec. 2 by signing a bill to reauthorize and extend programs to continue the global fight against HIV/AIDS and announcing that $100 million would be redirected toward AIDS research at the National Institutes of Health.

Criminal

ABA expresses support for smarter sentencing

The ABA urged the Senate Judiciary Committee this month to include the provisions of S. 1410, the Smarter Sentencing Act, in any criminal justice reform package approved by the committee.

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Washington Letter December 2013

Two-year budget agreement restores $63 billion in sequestration cuts

Featured Articles

Senate passes bill to help homeless veterans

ABA supports measure to restore honor to those affected by Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy

Agreement reached on FY 2014 defense authorization

House focuses on abusive patent litigation

President signs bill to continue global HIV/AIDS effort

ABA expresses support for smarter sentencing