Committee:

U.S. Senate on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP)

Purpose of Committee:

            The HELP committee handles all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters related to a ranging from health care to education policies. (U.S. Senate, n.d.)

What happens to items approved or denied by the committee?

            When items are approved by the HELP committee, the bill then goes before the full Senate and the House of Representatives. After the Senate and House of Representatives approve the bill, it then goes before the President for final approval to become law. (U.S. Senate, n.d.)
             When items are denied by the HELP committee, the bill receives no further action and does not go on to the Senate of House of Representatives. (U.S. Senate, n.d.)

Here is a fun way to learn how a bill becomes a law.. Schoolhouse Rock!

All members of the HELP committee, their party affiliations and states:

     Currently there are 12 Democrats and 10 Republicans on the HELP committee, with one vacancy.

·         Democrats:

o   Tom Harkin – Iowa

o   Barbara Mikulski – Maryland

o   Jeff Bingaman – New Mexico

o   Patty Murray – Washington

o   Bernard Sanders – Vermont

o   Robert Casey, Jr. – Pennsylvania

o   Kay Hagan – North Carolina

o   Jeff Merkley – Oregon

o   Al Franken – Minnesota

o   Michael Bennet – Colorado

o   Sheldon Whitehouse – Rhode Island

o   Richard Blumenthal – Connecticut

·         Republicans:

o   Michael Enzi – Wyoming

o   Lamar Alexander – Tennessee

o   Richard Burr – North Carolina

o   Johnny Isakson – Georgia

o   Rand Paul – Kentucky

o   Orrin Hatch – Utah

o   John McCain – Arizona

o   Pat Roberts – Kansas

o   Lisa Murkowski – Alaska

o   Mark Kirk – Illinois
(U.S. Senate, n.d.)

Chair of the HELP committee: Senator Tom Harkin, Iowa

            
             As chair of the HELP committee, Tom Harkin oversees all committee actions and legislations. Senator Harkin focuses his work on health care and education. Senator Harkin sponsored and pass the American Disabilities Act, this act “protects the civil rights of millions of Americans with physical and mental disabilities.” (U.S. Senate, n.d.)

Vice-Chair of the HELP committee: None

Ranking minority member: Mike Enzi, Wyoming 

            As ranking minority member, Mike Enzi oversees all subcommittees, along with the chair of the HELP committee.  In his current role as ranking minority member, Senator Enzi “continues his efforts to ensure that students of all ages receive a quality, affordable education.” (U.S. Senate, n.d.) Senator Enzi is also a dedicated leader in the fight against AIDS, supporting treatment programs locally and internationally.

HELP committee vacancies: There is currently one democratic vacancy.

Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2010

              The Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2010 amends the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act to include bullying and harassment prevention programs. (Library of Congress, 2010) The act would require schools receiving federal funding to adopt codes of conduct for bullying and harassment specifically on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill also requires full disclosure of any instances of harassment or bullying. (Human Rights Campaign, 2011)

Current status of the bill:

The act was reintroduced in the Senate by Senator Casey on March 8, 2011. The act is is expected to be reintroduced the House of Representatives soon. 

             

United States Senator Robert P. Casey

            Senator Robert Casey has represented Pennsylvania since 2007. Senator Casey follows the principle of : "All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor." (Robert Casey, n.d.) Senator Casey is currently on the following committees:

• Joint Economic Committee
• Foreign Relations Committee
• Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee
• Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
• Special Committee on Aging

                 (Robert Casey, n.d.)

Why Senator Casey sponsors the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2010, in his own words..

          

         “Over the past year, the work that PHA has done for Philadelphia and the 80,000 residents PHA serves has been overshadowed by revelations of misconduct,” said Senator Casey.  “What has happened is unacceptable.  We must learn from the past and make changes to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.  That is why I have introduced legislation to stop sexual harassment from being swept under the rug.  When an agency like PHA is working hard to serve its community, it should not have its name tarnished by personal scandals.” (Robert Casey, 2011) The PHA is the Philadelphia Housing Authority, it currently provides housing for 80,000 residents and has reported a number of sexual misconducts since 2004. (Robert Casey, 2011)

To learn more about Senator Casey, you can visit: http://casey.senate.gov/

How I would vote on the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2010

   
    I would vote YES on the SSIA. I believe that any person, regardless of gender or sexual orientation should have the right not to be verbally,physically or emotionally abused due to their beliefs or choices. According to the 2009 National School Climate survey, 84.6 % of LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, trans-gender) students reported that they were subject to verbal harassment and 40.1% of LGBT students reported being physically abused at school due to their sexual orientation. (Gay,Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 2010) This is a staggering statistic to think about considering it may be one of your children being abused. 

    What do you think about the SSIA? Do you feel like it should be passed?

References

 About the HELP Committee (n.d.). United States Senate. Retrieved April 17, 2011 from:

               http://help.senate.gov/about/

Chairman Tom Harkin (n.d.). United States Senate. Retrieved April 17, 2011 from:
               http://help.senate.gov/about/chair/

Gay,Lesbian, Straight Education Network (2010). 2009 National Climate Survey. Retrieved 
               April 17, 2011 from: http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/2624.html 

Robert Casey Jr. (2011). Press Release. Retrieved April 18, 2011 from:
               http://casey.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/

Safe Schools Improvement Act (2011).Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved April 18, 2011 from:
               http://www.hrc.org/issues/12142.htm

The Library of Congress (2010).Thomas. Retrieved April 18, 2011 from:
               http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:S.3739: