OFFICE OF THE MAJORITY LEADER

Week of June 2, 2003

» Please view the "Weekly Whip" outlining the Floor Schedule for the week of June 2, 2003.

Floor items that you may want to do press on:

H.R. 760 - Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003

H.R. 1119 - Family Time Flexibility Act

H.R. 760 - Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003

H.R. 760 makes it unlawful to knowingly perform a "partial-birth" abortion, except when necessary to save the life (not the health) of a mother.  Leading medical groups, including the AmericanCollegeof Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, and the American Medical Women's Association, do not support the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act.

Congressman Hoyer is the lead Democratic sponsor of H.R. 809, the Late Term Abortion Restriction Act which makes it unlawful to knowingly perform an abortion after the fetus has become viable, unless, in the medical judgment of the attending physician, it is necessary to preserve the life of the woman or to avert serious adverse health consequences to her.  This legislation addresses the very heart of the matter in the ongoing abortion debate: the termination of viable fetuses in the late stages of pregnancy. The bill's language - to avert "serious adverse health consequences" - is tailored to ensure that only late-term pregnancies that pose a genuine threat to the mother's health may be terminated, while protecting women's rights as outlined in Roe v. Wade.

Congressman Hoyer will be testifying before the Rules Committee in an effort to make H.R. 809 in order as a substitute, however the Rules Committee has refused to make this legislation in order in the past.

Attached is information from the Office of the Democratic Whipregarding H.R. 760 and H.R. 809:

• A quick fact sheet explaining the substance of and differences between H.R. 760 and H.R. 809
• A Dear Colleague regarding H.R. 760 and H.R. 809
• An editorial board memo that was sent by Congressman Hoyer to editorial boards around the country today
• A March 17 Memo from Congressman Hoyer to the Democratic Caucus regarding the Late-Term Abortion debate

H.R. 1119 - Family Time Flexibility Act

House Republicans falsely claim that H.R. 1119 will allow parents to spend more time with their families, attend teacher conferences, or care for an ill relative. In reality, H.R. 1119, which was opposed by all Democratson the House Education and Workforce Committee, undermines the basic protections of the 40-hour workweek and would result in a real pay cut for the millions of workers and their families who depend on overtime pay to meet their housing, food, and healthcare needs.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) currently requires employers to pay workers time-and-a-half cash for hours worked in excess of 40 per week.  H.R. 1119 would allow employers to pay workers nothing for overtime work at the time it is performed, in exchange for a promise of compensatory time off in the future.  In addition to organized labor, other groups opposed to the bill are:  NOW, the National Women's LawCenterand the National Partnership for Women and Families.  Please see attached letters from the AFL-CIO and the Teamsters.

Attached is information from the Office of the Democratic Whipto help you do press in opposition to H.R. 1119:

• Background on H.R. 1119
• Letter from the Teamsters in opposition to H.R. 1119
• Letter from the AFL-CIO in opposition to H.R. 1119

View Attachments Bundled Together in a PDF File

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