H.R. 3197/S. 1786, the Restoring Overtime Pay Act, would essentially restore the overtime pay threshold the Obama Administration's Department of Labor set at around $47,400 -- meaning anyone who makes less than that annually must get time-and-a-half if they work overtime. A federal district court struck the Obama standard down in 2017, ruling (persuasively, I think) that the standard didn't follow the Fair Labor Standards Act, which exempts "any employee employed in a bona fide executive, administrative, or professional capacity" from getting overtime pay. But the Restoring Overtime Pay Act would mandate that employees would have to make around $47,400 annually to be exempted, which is not only a clever workaround, but one that'll get eight million more Americans the overtime pay they deserve! Hence the Economic Policy Institute helps you tell your Congressfolk to help working families by passing the Restoring Overtime Pay Act.
Meanwhile, Education Secretary DeVos -- who has somehow survived over two years in her position -- is actually considering selling federal student loans to banksters! Naturally our Education Department's position is ZOMG TEH DEBTZ IZ OVER $1.5 TRILLYUNZ WE HAVEZ TO DO TEH SOMETHINZ!!!! But using a crisis to justify just any old action is what despots do, and our Administration doesn't want to be looked upon as despots, right? I mean, in America, that's a bad look. Now, they might not actually be able to do this, because the law says they can't sell off federal student loans if that would cost taxpayers money -- and federal student loans generally already make money. But that doesn't mean they won't try, and then dare the courts to stop them. Indeed, that's what they've done so far, and they can't always fail. In any event, CREDO helps you tell our Department of Education not to sell student loans to banksters.
Finally, H.R. 2975/S. 1645, the Women's Health Protection Act, would stop states from outlawing abortion, or otherwise preventing women from getting abortions. This should be a no-brainer, since our Supreme Court's ruling in Roe v. Wade explicitly says states can't outlaw abortion, and even the Roberts Court has found it rather difficult to chip away at abortion rights. The Women's Health Protection Act would also stop states from enacting or enforcing those noxious "ultrasound" bills or making absurd demands of hospitals, to name just two roadblocks states have thrown up in recent years. No one, and I mean no one, likes the idea of abortion. But the idea of compelling women to be breeders no matter their circumstances is worse. If men could give birth, we'd be having a different conversation. Until then, Moms Rising helps you tell your Congressfolk to protect women's health by passing the Women's Health Protection Act.
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