Friday, January 9, 2015
Letter From Rep Conyers to Gov Snyder on Issuing Gun Licenses to Individuals with Personal Protection Orders
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Friday, December 26, 2014
America Must Stand Up To Cyberattacks
By Bob Goodlatte and John Conyers, Jr.
As a steady flow of information about the cyber-attack on Sony Pictures has been revealed, we have watched with shock and increasing concern as American lives and our values have been threatened by a narcissistic dictator. As the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, we don’t agree on every issue—but we are in complete agreement that our national response to this chilling threat must be clear and unequivocal, so that we continue to zealously protect our freedoms and principles, most notably the freedom of speech.
The F.B.I. has confirmed our suspicions that a group known as “The Guardians of Peace”—a front group for the North Korean government and its dictator, Kim Jong Un—hacked into Sony’s internal emails, released a trove of embarrassing and salacious communications, and divulged sensitive information about Sony employees because the North Korean government did not approve of its movie, The Interview. On December 16, the hackers escalated their cyber-war by threatening physical harm to those who intended to see the movie itself, which led to Sony initially canceling the release of the movie. However, Sony has now decided to release it to a limited number of theaters.
This is not the first time terrorist groups and foreign governments have used intimidation to attempt to destroy our freedoms and way of life. On the eve of World War II, the German government issued various threats to prevent Charlie Chaplin from directing and producing The Great Dictator, a thinly veiled satire of the antics and excesses of Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini. Paramount Pictures ultimately released the movie to great popular and critical acclaim, both in the U.S. and abroad.
The 9/11 attacks were aimed at New York and Washington because the terrorists wanted to shut down our nation’s centers of finance and government. However, Americans stood unified and sent a clear and resolute signal that we would not be intimidated. Our nation’s airports quickly reopened, as did Wall Street and the Pentagon, and Congress continued to represent the will of the American people without pause.
The cyber-attacks and terror threats associated with The Interview represent the latest twist on earlier efforts at intimidation - the combination of the threat of physical violence with the use of the modern tools of cyber warfare and social media. A tyrant who severely oppresses his own people has used technology to both infiltrate a company and threaten physical harm to Americans who choose to watch a film that doesn’t meet his approval. Whether or not we like the plot, production, or tone of a creative product, each and every one of us has a stake in ensuring that our freedom of speech is not abridged by either our own government or by a foreign government.
The United States must stand firm against this type of aggressive attack on our freedom of speech. Otherwise these actions will have a chilling effect on the availability of information and creative works in the future and will embolden North Korea and other copycats to act again. We must not allow terrorists and foreign governments to dictate what Americans can or cannot say, watch, produce, or distribute.
Ultimately, this and other cyber-attacks point to the need for a robust national security apparatus, including strong cybersecurity, to protect Americans not just from bodily harm, but from threats aimed at restricting our freedoms. Congress and the Administration should work to ensure that we have in place the appropriate sanctions against North Korea and that we are using all available tools to combat attacks like this. The more we can do to detect and intercept threats from our enemies, the more we will be able to protect our cherished liberties.
The threat to Americans who wish to see this film is not the last time that thugs and tyrants will seek to challenge our character and our creativity. But we are united in our resolve to defend our freedoms against all threats, foreign and domestic. In the past, we have stood together—ignoring the petty and partisan differences that too often divide us. Again, we must stand together to send the strong message that the United States will never yield to those wishing to silence our freedoms.
Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©
As a steady flow of information about the cyber-attack on Sony Pictures has been revealed, we have watched with shock and increasing concern as American lives and our values have been threatened by a narcissistic dictator. As the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, we don’t agree on every issue—but we are in complete agreement that our national response to this chilling threat must be clear and unequivocal, so that we continue to zealously protect our freedoms and principles, most notably the freedom of speech.
The F.B.I. has confirmed our suspicions that a group known as “The Guardians of Peace”—a front group for the North Korean government and its dictator, Kim Jong Un—hacked into Sony’s internal emails, released a trove of embarrassing and salacious communications, and divulged sensitive information about Sony employees because the North Korean government did not approve of its movie, The Interview. On December 16, the hackers escalated their cyber-war by threatening physical harm to those who intended to see the movie itself, which led to Sony initially canceling the release of the movie. However, Sony has now decided to release it to a limited number of theaters.
This is not the first time terrorist groups and foreign governments have used intimidation to attempt to destroy our freedoms and way of life. On the eve of World War II, the German government issued various threats to prevent Charlie Chaplin from directing and producing The Great Dictator, a thinly veiled satire of the antics and excesses of Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini. Paramount Pictures ultimately released the movie to great popular and critical acclaim, both in the U.S. and abroad.
The 9/11 attacks were aimed at New York and Washington because the terrorists wanted to shut down our nation’s centers of finance and government. However, Americans stood unified and sent a clear and resolute signal that we would not be intimidated. Our nation’s airports quickly reopened, as did Wall Street and the Pentagon, and Congress continued to represent the will of the American people without pause.
The cyber-attacks and terror threats associated with The Interview represent the latest twist on earlier efforts at intimidation - the combination of the threat of physical violence with the use of the modern tools of cyber warfare and social media. A tyrant who severely oppresses his own people has used technology to both infiltrate a company and threaten physical harm to Americans who choose to watch a film that doesn’t meet his approval. Whether or not we like the plot, production, or tone of a creative product, each and every one of us has a stake in ensuring that our freedom of speech is not abridged by either our own government or by a foreign government.
The United States must stand firm against this type of aggressive attack on our freedom of speech. Otherwise these actions will have a chilling effect on the availability of information and creative works in the future and will embolden North Korea and other copycats to act again. We must not allow terrorists and foreign governments to dictate what Americans can or cannot say, watch, produce, or distribute.
Ultimately, this and other cyber-attacks point to the need for a robust national security apparatus, including strong cybersecurity, to protect Americans not just from bodily harm, but from threats aimed at restricting our freedoms. Congress and the Administration should work to ensure that we have in place the appropriate sanctions against North Korea and that we are using all available tools to combat attacks like this. The more we can do to detect and intercept threats from our enemies, the more we will be able to protect our cherished liberties.
The threat to Americans who wish to see this film is not the last time that thugs and tyrants will seek to challenge our character and our creativity. But we are united in our resolve to defend our freedoms against all threats, foreign and domestic. In the past, we have stood together—ignoring the petty and partisan differences that too often divide us. Again, we must stand together to send the strong message that the United States will never yield to those wishing to silence our freedoms.
Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©
Saturday, December 20, 2014
CONYERS & 76 CONGRESSIONAL COLLEAGUES SEND LETTER TO UN URGING DUE PROCESS FOR HAITIAN CHOLERA VICTIMS
DETROIT -
Today, Congressman John Conyers
Jr. (MI-13) and 76 Members of Congress sent a letter to UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, urging UN authorities to ensure that
victims of the cholera epidemic in Haiti have access to a fair and
impartial procedure for
adjudication of their claims.
Scientific
evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that the UN introduced cholera
to Haiti in October 2010 through improper waste disposal on a base
located on the banks of a tributary to the Artibonite River. To date,
more than 8,500 Haitians have died from the disease
and over 700,000 people have been infected, becoming the largest single-country cholera epidemic in the world.
In July, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visited Haiti and acknowledged the UN’s “moral responsibility” to respond, but
no major actions have been taken with regard to the cholera crisis since that time.
“Haiti’s
cholera crisis has been a stain on the world’s conscience,” said Rep.
Conyers. “We are united in working to
ensure that the United Nations upholds its obligations to provide a
fair process to adjudicate claims by individuals harmed in the course of
its operations.”
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CONYERS & GOODLATTE: WE CANNOT ALLOW FOREIGN DICTATORS TO THREATEN OUR FREEDOMS
|
| John Conyers, Jr. |
WASHINGTON
– Today, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers
(D-Mich.)
and Chairman Bob Goodlatte ( R-Va.) released the following joint
statement after the Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that North
Korea is responsible for the Sony cyber-attack:
“We are deeply concerned that our suspicions were confirmed today by the FBI that North Korea is behind the attack on Sony Pictures and the associated threats of physical harm against U.S. citizens. We will not allow terrorists or a narcissistic dictator to dictate what products can or cannot be created and distributed in America. Whether or not we like the plot, production, or tone of The Interview, every American has a stake in ensuring that our collective freedom of speech is not abridged by either our own government or a foreign government.
“The United States must stand firm against this type of aggression against our freedom of speech. Otherwise, these actions will have a chilling effect on creative works in the future and will embolden North Korea and other copycats to act again to further curtail books, television and cable shows, newspapers, blogs, and web sites. Our national response to this threat must be clear and unequivocal. As the committee with jurisdiction over the Justice Department and FBI, we will continue to monitor this investigation and support efforts by the U.S. to thwart these intrusive attacks.”
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CONYERS APPLAUDS PRESIDENT OBAMA FOR SECURING RELEASE OF ALAN GROSS AND INITIATING REESTABLISHMENT OF RELATIONS WITH CUBA
DETROIT –
Today, Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13) issued the following statement
after
President Obama announced the release of an American prisoner, Alan
Gross, from Cuba and that the United States will pursue diplomatic
relations with the country:
|
| John Conyers, Jr. |
“President
Obama has demonstrated real leadership in securing the release of
American Alan Gross and initiating the reestablishment of normal
diplomatic and economic relations
with Cuba.
“For
more than half a century, our country’s policy of isolation toward Cuba
has failed to promote democracy or prosperity for the Cuban people.
The policy has separated
families, obstructed trade, and undermined US influence in the Western
Hemisphere.
“Today’s
announcement from President Obama is a historic step in the right
direction. In moving toward normal diplomatic relations, empowering the
Cuban people economically
through greater access to remittances and exports, authorizing
additional travel, and initiating other steps to reintegrate Cuba into
the community of nations, President Obama is laying the groundwork for
substantial economic development and progress on human
rights.
“This
announcement is also good news for the US economy. Cuba sits just 90
miles off our coast and has an economy of more than $68 billion. Yet,
up to this point, American
firms have been forced to cede business to foreign competitors. Of
particular interest to my hometown of Detroit, the people of Cuba—who
must famously rely on American cars made before 1959—may soon be able to
buy American cars and automotive parts once again.
“As a longtime advocate of normalized relations with Cuba, I look
forward to working with President Obama to fully implement the policy
initiatives announced today. I commend the President for heeding the
wise advice of Pope Francis and other human rights
leaders in making today’s compassionate, commonsense decision. After
more than 50 years of failed policy, it’s time that we changed course.”
Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©
John Conyers Jr.: How Congress can address our racial outrage
By John Conyers, Jr.
Nearly 50 years ago, the Kerner Commission, which was created in the aftermath of the country’s 1967 riots, warned
that “our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white —
separate and unequal.” And now, six years after the election of our
first African American president, we still find ourselves riven by
racial distrust and fear. The string of deaths of unarmed blacks by
police officers in Cleveland, Phoenix, New York and Ferguson, Mo.,
challenge not only the strength of our criminal and social justice
systems but also the credibility and legitimacy of our political system.
In 1965, when I came to Congress, I joined a legislative body that was still able to work together at times of national crisis. The first major bill I voted on, the Voting Rights Act, was a response to widespread outrage over the police reaction to the “Bloody Sunday” protests, including the beatings in Selma, Ala. Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield (D-Mont.) and his Republican counterpart, Everett Dirksen (Ill.), introduced the bill, and the final legislation enjoyed more support from Republican than Democratic members, an almost unthinkable dynamic today.
Even after the divisive impact of the so-called “Gingrich Revolution” when Congress was truly tested, we were able to rise to the occasion. In 1996, in the midst of a wave of arsons targeting African American houses of worship, then-Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde, a stalwart Republican from Illinois, asked me to work with him on a legislative response. We disagreed on most of the major social issues of the day, from abortion to affirmative action. However, during this crisis we found a way to introduce and pass the Church Arson Prevention Act, which not only gave law enforcement needed prosecutorial tools but also sent a loud and clear signal to the minority community that Congress was willing and able to act.
Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©
| |
| John Conyers, Jr. |
In 1965, when I came to Congress, I joined a legislative body that was still able to work together at times of national crisis. The first major bill I voted on, the Voting Rights Act, was a response to widespread outrage over the police reaction to the “Bloody Sunday” protests, including the beatings in Selma, Ala. Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield (D-Mont.) and his Republican counterpart, Everett Dirksen (Ill.), introduced the bill, and the final legislation enjoyed more support from Republican than Democratic members, an almost unthinkable dynamic today.
Even after the divisive impact of the so-called “Gingrich Revolution” when Congress was truly tested, we were able to rise to the occasion. In 1996, in the midst of a wave of arsons targeting African American houses of worship, then-Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde, a stalwart Republican from Illinois, asked me to work with him on a legislative response. We disagreed on most of the major social issues of the day, from abortion to affirmative action. However, during this crisis we found a way to introduce and pass the Church Arson Prevention Act, which not only gave law enforcement needed prosecutorial tools but also sent a loud and clear signal to the minority community that Congress was willing and able to act.
Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©
Thursday, December 11, 2014
CONYERS REMAINS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC AS DETROIT EMERGES FROM BANKRUPTCY
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13) issued the following the statement concerning the City of Detroit emerging from bankruptcy:
|
| U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr. |
“I believe all stakeholders – citizens, elected officials, organized labor, clergy, and the private sector – need to continue to work collaboratively to help Detroit grow and prosper in the 21st Century. We know that Detroit’s potential is unlimited, and I look forward to working every day to improve our great City.
“It is disturbing that the bankruptcy court established a very dangerous precedent last year by holding that pensions and retiree benefits can be diminished in bankruptcy, notwithstanding the clear statement in the Michigan constitution. We should not subvert the very principle that made Detroit great – respect for workers’ rights. Putting the pensions of our police officers, firefighters, and other municipal workers on the chopping block repudiated not only the State law, but our City’s working class history and heritage. Although in the end a compromise was achieved to resolve this case, I fear that the precedent could be used in other cases to the disadvantage of hard working public employees. That is why I have introduced legislation, the “Protecting Employees and Retirees in Municipal Bankruptcies Act of 2014” (H.R. 5133), to respond to this problem.
“With the resignation of emergency manager Kevin Orr, Detroit will be returning day-to-day control to its duly elected leaders, although subject to continued state oversight. Non-elected emergency managers should not run Detroit, nor any other city or political subdivision as it is anti-democratic and inconsistent with our principles as a city, state, nation.
“Now that the City has emerged from bankruptcy, Congress and the Judiciary Committee should hold hearings concerning the largest municipal bankruptcy in history and consider the ramifications for other financially troubled cities in the future.”
Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©
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