Congress's Summer Job
The latest on protecting kids, aluminum tariffs, Amtrak security, China, and more
Hello again from Advancing American Freedom, where we’re enjoying the final weeks before D.C.’s swampy summer weather kicks in.
Our own Rachel Greszler recently examined the cultural and policy causes of another lamentable summer fact: “At the turn of the 21st century, a majority of American teenagers worked during the summer. This summer, only about 1 out of 3 teenagers will be employed.”
Despite summer jobs’ tremendous value, teenagers are increasingly choosing to stay home, and it doesn’t help that their job options are being limited by minimum wage laws, which economists have long recognized are particularly harmful to teenage employment.
As Rachel exhorts the nation’s teens to work over the summer, we’re making a similar pitch to Congress. The 119th Congress is far from over, and there’s still time this summer to pass a third reconciliation bill, legislation that combats the indoctrination of children, and much more.
Let’s get to work!
As always, email John or Jace if you have questions.
Coming up!
What Holds Us Together? Fidelity at the 250th — Join Dr. Robert P. George and AAFF President Tim Chapman at our building for a breakfast discussion in honor of Fidelity Month.
When: Wednesday, June 17th. Doors open at 9:00 AM, discussion from 9:30-10:30 AM
Where: 801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
What We’re Up To
Finish the Job: Pass the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act: (AAFF Memo) — Marc Wheat and Jace White
Last week, the House passed legislation that requires public schools that receive federal funding “to obtain parental consent before changing a minor’s gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form or sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.” Marc and the AAFF Legal team have filed amicus briefs in 9 of 13 federal circuit courts on this issue.
Who Pays the Aluminum Tariff – A Data Driven Assessment of Section 232 (AAFF Analysis) Kevin Dayaratna and Richard Stern
Richard and Kevin dig into the data on aluminum and find that after tariffs were implemented, prices rose and imports shrank, yet domestic production stayed flat. Maybe these tariffs aren’t a great idea?
Faster Labor Contracts Act would silence workers’ voices and empower bureaucrats (Washington Examiner) — Rachel Greszler
Rachel explains once again how the Faster Labor Contracts Act (which, thanks to 218 discharge petition signers, will get a House floor vote on the week of June 8th) is a bad bill that takes away what little power workers have during union contract negotiations.
Trump Can Close Hamas’s Front Office (Wall Street Journal) — Eugene Kontorovich
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has supported Palestinian radicalism for many decades, in the process becoming “Hamas’s front office.”
Eugene argues it should be shut down.
Does Amtrak Really Need Airport-Level Security? (Civitas Outlook) — Amy Swearer
Amy writes that, despite arguments to the contrary, “Amtrak is not uniquely vulnerable to security threats, certainly not because of how far its trains travel,” and that multi-billion-dollar proposals to give Amtrak TSA-style security are unnecessary.
It’s Win Or Lose With China. There Is No Draw (Daily Wire) — Ali Holcomb
Ali explains why we shouldn’t accept a “multipolar” world where China and the U.S. each control their own hemispheres. Doing so, she writes, “will only end in Chinese Communist domination.”
A Stern Reminder
Deroy Murdock, writing in the Daily Signal about the prospects of a third reconciliation bill, closed with a statement from the ever-quotable Richard Stern, Vice President of AAF’s Plymouth Institute:
Americans vote for leaders who do not miss an opportunity to make life easier and more affordable for everyday families and individuals…If the promised Reconciliation 3.0 doesn’t happen, as rumors now suggest, it will be yet another broken pledge from a conservative congressional majority that seems never to miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
Our scholars drafted a list of 21 Byrd-compliant policies that can be achieved in a budget reconciliation bill, including pro-growth tax reforms and cuts to funding for abortion providers.
There’s still time to seize the moment.
Gratefully,
John Shelton, VP of Policy
Advancing American Freedom