News from Washington, D.C.
Legislative Updates
Congresswoman Manning's Bill, the Right to Contraception Act, Passes the U.S. House of Representatives
On July 14, 2022, Congresswoman Manning introduced the Right to Contraception Act, legislation that codifies the right to access birth control into federal law.
On July 22, 2022, the Right to Contraception Act passed the House of Representatives with the support of 150 cosponsors. Eight Republicans voted in favor, although none from North Carolina.
WATCH: Congresswoman Manning speak on the Right to Contraception Act below.
READ: Congresswoman Manning's opinion piece on the Right to Contraception here.
Securing National Security and Supporting Servicemembers
Congresswoman Manning voted for H.R. 7900, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023, which passed with broad bipartisan support. This legislation takes action to support America’s servicemembers and their families and strengthen U.S. national security.
Congresswoman Manning authored seven of the bill’s amendments, including amendments to help bolster HBCUs, combat global antisemitism, and support clean battery manufacturing jobs.
“Today’s House passage of the NDAA is an important step to bolstering our national security through supporting our servicemembers and ensuring that we have the necessary technology to combat any foreign threats,” said Congresswoman Manning. “The bill provides historic funding for research activities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), such as North Carolina A&T State University, increases research funding, and supports well-earned pay raises for servicemembers. In Congress, I’m committed to keeping Americans safe, supporting our servicemembers in uniform, and strengthening our national security.”
Supporting Veterans
Congresswoman Manning voted to pass S. 3373, the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022, to treat toxic exposure as a cost of war by addressing the full range of issues impacting veterans exposed to toxins, including access to earned benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Honoring Our PACT Act included the Justice for Camp Lejeune Act, a bill to deliver justice to veterans exposed to contaminated water at the North Carolina military base.
“Exposure to toxins, including burn pit exposure and contaminated water at military bases, is a cost of war. It’s past time we treat it as such,” said Congresswoman Kathy Manning. “Veterans exposed to toxins experience serious health conditions but lack access to health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Today, I voted for the Honoring Our PACT Act so millions of toxic-exposed veterans can finally get the care they need and benefits they earned in service to our country.”
The Honoring Our PACT Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Senate Republicans blocked final passage of the bill.
Securing Global Telecommunications
Congresswoman Manning introduced the Securing Global Telecommunications Act.
The Securing Global Telecommunications Act, H.R. 8503, is a bipartisan bill to promote the use of secure telecommunications worldwide, and to ensure that the United States will continue to set global standards for critical components used in telecom technology.
The bill would help to ensure that the United States remains a leader in strategic technology industries, combat the threat of China’s intention to control global telecommunications, and support the competitiveness of the United States in next-generation information and communication technologies.
Protecting the Right to Marriage
Congresswoman Manning voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation to ensure that marriage equality remains the law of the land.
Congresswoman Manning proudly supported this bill to affirm that every person deserves the ability to marry whom they love.
Supporting First Responders
Congresswoman Manning cosponsored and voted in favor of the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act.
The First Responder Fair Retire Act is a bill to permit federal law enforcement officers and other first responders who are injured in the line of duty before their retirement age to receive their full benefits.
Committee Updates
Education and Labor Committee
Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act
Two of Congresswoman Manning's bills, the Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act and the Supporting Healthy Mothers and Infants Act are now included in the Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids Act, the reauthorization of the federal child nutrition program.
The Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act will integrate mental health promotion and education, including awareness of eating disorders, within existing local school wellness policies. The Supporting Healthy Mothers and Infants Act will improve the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program to better respond to the devastating effect the opioid epidemic has had on women and newborn infants.
Foreign Affairs Committee
Foreign Affairs Congressional Trip to South Korea
As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and member of the Asia, Pacific, Central Asia, Nonproliferation Subcommittee, Congresswoman Manning traveled with a bipartisan group colleagues to South Korea, a country that is a critically important ally and economic and security partner, to participate in the Congressional Study Group on Korea, as no cost to the American taxpayer.
The United States has more than 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea and Congresswoman Manning was particularly delighted to meet with a medic from North Carolina during her trip.
Congresswoman Manning visited Camp Humphreys and met General Paul J. LaCamera, Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and the United States Forces Korea.
On her visit to United States Forces Korea, Congresswoman Manning thanked servicemembers stationed overseas for their service and work, strengthening our key alliance with South Korea, protecting our security, and maintaining stability in a vital region. |