MI CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS INTRODUCE RESOLUTION TO MARK 15TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNDERGROUND RAILROAD MEMORIAL MONUMENT IN DETROIT

Washington, D.C. – Members of the Michigan Congressional delegation introduced H.Res. 946, a resolution in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to commemorate 15 years since the opening of the International Underground Railroad Memorial Monument (IURMM). 

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

Led in the House of Representatives by Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13), Rep. Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Rep. Sandy Levin (MI-9), and Rep. Dan Kildee (MI-5); and the Senate by Michigan Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, the resolution honors Detroit’s role as a crossing point into Canada for those traveling the Underground Railroad.  Comprised of the Gateway to Freedom Monument in Detroit, Michigan, and the Tower of Freedom Monument in Windsor, Ontario, the IURMM opened in October 2001 as a way for the region to honor the sacrifices and the courage of those who fought to secure freedom for themselves, their families, and others.

“These two monuments—in Detroit and Windsor—stand as reminders of what we have been through, the obstacles we’ve overcome, and the strength we have to address present injustices,” said Rep. Conyers.  “Americans must never forget the parts of our history that we regret, or the heroic actions of those who fought to change the future. The International Underground Railroad Memorial Monument plays an important part in that, here in Detroit.”

“The City of Detroit played a critical role in the Underground Railroad, serving as the doorway to freedom for African Americans seeking refuge in Canada,” said Senator Peters. “I’m honored to join my Michigan colleagues to recognize these monuments that stand as a symbol of the people who fought for their own freedom and the freedom of others during a dark chapter in our nation’s history.”

The International Underground Railroad Memorial Monument represents a cross-border partnership that seeks to educate the next generation about our history, and help the current generation remember the sacrifices others have made to provide us the opportunities we need to succeed.

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CONYERS, HOYER & RANKING MEMBERS SEND LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA URGING BRIEFINGS ON RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE IN U.S. ELECTION

WASHINGTON, DC – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. joined Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Eliot Engel, Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson, Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Elijah Cummings, Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith, and Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Adam Schiff sent a letter today to President Obama asking for Administration officials to brief all Members of Congress on Russian efforts to influence or interfere in the recent federal election.

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

Citing concerns that “Russia may have succeeded in weakening Americans’ trust” in our democratic institutions through its actions, the authors of the letter call attention to the hacking of American organizations, publication of private emails sent to or from campaign officials, as well as disclosures by WikiLeaks and fabricated news stories. 

“By eroding Americans’ and foreigners’ trust in U.S. institutions,” the letter states, “Russia both weakens our country and sows global instability and uncertainty.  …To evaluate Congress’s response appropriately, we would like all Members  to have a comprehensive understanding of what the U.S. Intelligence Community knows regarding Russia’s involvement in these actions and attempts to interfere in our election.”

CONYERS, HOYER & RANKING MEMBERS SEND LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA URGING BRIEFINGS ON RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE IN... by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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Capitol Hill Forum On The Electoral College

Future of the Electoral College Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee along with other democratic members held a forum to discuss the future of the electoral college. Experts on the panel represented a wide range of views and spoke about the pros and cons of the electoral college.

The full video can be seen here.

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TUESDAY: MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO HOLD FORUM ON ELECTORAL COLLEGE

TUESDAY: MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO HOLD FORUM ON ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Media Must RVSP Here

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

Washington, D.C. – Hillary Clinton has so far earned a historic 2.5 million more popular votes than Donald Trump, yet Mr. Trump won more Electoral College votes and the presidency.  According to press reports, several members of the Electoral College are trying to persuade their colleagues to vote for a candidate other than Mr. Trump when the College casts its votes on December 19th.

On Tuesday, December 6^th at 1 PM, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) will host a forum with bipartisan experts and noted scholars to discuss proposed reforms of the current method of presidential selection, entitled “The Electoral College and the Future of American Democracy.”

WHO:             Members of Congress 

House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI)

Representative Gene Green (D-TX)

Representative G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Chair, Congressional Black Caucus

Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Chair, Congressional Progressive Caucus

Representative Judy Chu (D-CA), Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN)

Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY)

Representative Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-GA)

Additional Members of Congress

Panelists

Professor Jamie Raskin, American University Law School (and U.S. Representative-Elect)

Professor Akhil Reed Amar, Yale Law School

Professor Jack N. Rakove, Stanford Law School

Professor Alexander Keyssar, Harvard University

State Representative Bob Thorpe (R-AZ), National Popular Vote Inc.

State Representative Chris Pearson (D-VT), National Popular Vote Inc.

Thomas Neale, Congressional Research Service          

                                                                                                                                   

WHAT:        A panel discussion with bipartisan experts and noted scholars entitled “The Electoral College and the Future of American Democracy”

WHEN:        December 6, 2016

                        1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

WHERE:      2226 Rayburn House Office Building 

RSVP:          Media interested in attending should RSVP to Shadawn.reddick- smith@mail.house.gov.

Live Stream: The forum will also be streamed live on Rep. John Conyers’ Facebook page.

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CONYERS Applauds November Job Report's Low Unemployment Rate

Washington, DC – Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13) founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus, today released the following statement on the November jobs report:

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“November’s jobs report is the latest piece of good news about our job market, which has consistently gained strength under President Obama’s leadership.  The unemployment rate fell to 4.6 percent and the economy added 178,000 jobs in November, extending the longest streak of job growth on record. I am also pleased to see that 220,000 fewer Americans are involuntarily working part-time, meaning they wanted, but were unable to find, full-time work. This is a new low mark since onset of the Great Recession that was ushered in by Republican economic mismanagement.  

“This is excellent progress, and all fair observers must recognize and praise President Obama’s terrific economic management. However, there is more work to do to ensure that we achieve a true full employment economy with abundant job opportunities and rising wages for all. At 8.1 percent, the African-American unemployment rate is nearly twice that of whites, while the Hispanic rate is also elevated at 5.7 percent. Also concerning, is that decline in the unemployment rate may be partially due to workers giving up searching for work, which is exemplified by decrease in the “prime age (25-54) employment-to-population ratio” from 78.2 percent to 78.1 percent. This is still an improvement of 0.7 percentage points from last year, however, showing that the overall trend is positive. Finally, wage growth fell 3 cents in November after a rapid uptick in October, demonstrating that wages are not accelerating at a rate that should raise concerns over inflation. In fact, the American people deserve a raise, which is why Republicans must stop blocking legislation to increase the minimum wage.

“I continue to urge all of our key policymaking institutions, from Congress to the Federal Reserve, to continue to take actions that will help us achieve a full employment economy. Congress should pass job-creating bills, such as my legislation, H.R. 1000, Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act, while the Federal Reserve should not slow job and wage growth by raising interest rates.”

The Congressional Full Employment Caucus was launched in February 2014. The Congressional Full Employment Caucus serves as a platform and working group for Members of Congress who are dedicated to identifying solutions and advocating for legislative action to reduce unemployment.

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CONYERS, NADLER & COHEN CALL ON PRESIDENT OBAMA TO RELEASE FULL TORTURE REPORT BEFORE ADMINISTRATION ENDS

Washington, DC – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Subcommittee on the Constitution Ranking Member Steve Cohen (D-TN), Subcommittee on Intellectual Property Ranking Member, and former chair of the Subcommittee on the Constitution Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) wrote to President Barack Obama today to urge that he swiftly declassify and release the full version of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s Study of the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program—commonly known as the “Torture Report.” 

Conyers, Nadler & Cohen Leter To President Obama To Release Full Torture Report Before End Of The Administ... by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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MORE THAN 50 HOUSE DEMOCRATS CALL ON OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO COMPLETELY DISMANTLE DISCRIMINATORY NSEERS REGISTRATION SYSTEM BEFORE NEW ADMINISTRATION BEGINS

Washington, DC – In the wake of reports about the Trump Administration’s plans to create a special registration program for Muslims, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Representatives Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA) and Keith Ellison (D-MN), led more than 50 House Democrats in calling for President Barack Obama to completely dismantle the regulatory framework behind the discriminatory National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) before his administration ends.  The Obama Administration effectively ended the program in 2011; however, the apparatus remains. House Democrats are calling for the NSEERS regulatory framework to be eliminated.

The letter was signed by Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Beto O’Rourke (D-TX), Grace Meng (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Norma J. Torres (D-CA), Scott Peters (D-CA), Allen Lowenthal (D-CA), James A Himes (D-CT), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), José E. Serrano (D-NY), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Michael E. Capuano (D-MA), Joseph P. Kennedy, III (D-MA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), David E. Price (D-NC), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), James McGovern (D-MA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Michael M. Honda (D-CA), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Mark Takano (D-CA), John Lewis (D-GA), David N. Cicilline (D-RI), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), André Carson (D-IN), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA), and Michael F. Doyle (D-PA). 

House Democrats Request To Dismantle NSEERS 12-1-16 by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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