Human Trafficking- On May 19, the House passed the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (S. 178), by a vote of 420-3, clearing the measure for President Obama’s signature.
Education- On May 21, the House approved, 217-205, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1806). The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee approved the legislation on May 8.
International- On May 23, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, the Girls Count Act (S. 802). On May 21, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved their versions of the Girls Count Act, S. 802, and H.R. 2100, respectively.
Military- On May 21, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved, 21-9, the FY2016 Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs, and Related Agencies spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered).
Violence Against Women- On May 20, the House Appropriations Committee approved, by voice vote, the FY2016 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered).
Military- On May 20, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense approved the FY2016 Defense spending bill (as-yet-unnumbered) in a closed session.
Veterans- On May 21, the House Veterans Affairs Committee approved, by separate voice votes, H.R. 1607, the Ruth Moore Act, and H.R. 1575, a bill to provide counseling services for women veterans recently separated from the Armed Forces.
Hearings:
Violence Against Women/Crime- On May 20, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on The Constitution held a hearing, “Taking Sexual Assault Seriously: The Rape Kit Backlog and Human Rights.”
Child Protection- On May 19, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing, “No Place to Grow-Up: How to Safely Reduce Reliance on Foster Care Group Homes.”
Family Support- On May 20, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing, “Past, Present, and Future of SNAP: The World of Nutrition, Government Duplication, and Unmet Needs.”
On May 19, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing, “Addressing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Federal Child Nutrition Programs.”
