Health Care Update: The first week of November 2009 brought us one step closer to comprehensive health care reform when the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R.3962) on November 7, 2009, by a close vote of 220-215. To see how your representatives voted, go here: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml House and Senate leaders spent months negotiating bills that originated in several congressional committees having jurisdiction over health care. The fight for health care reform now moves to the Senate floor where deliberations are expected in November and into December. Once passed by each house, the differences will need to be worked out before a final bill can be voted on and signed by President Obama who is calling for a bill on his desk by the end of this year.
 
Unemployed Get Relief: With the continued rise in the unemployment rate, now at 10.2%, Congress finally passed and the President signed into law, an extension of unemployment benefits for an additional 14 weeks in all states. States with an unemployment rate exceeding 8.5% will also have an additional 6 weeks of extended benefits.
 
Crack/Powder Cocaine Sentencing Disparity Bills Introduced: After years of inertia, bills to address the devastating disparity in crack/cocaine sentencing may have a fighting chance in the 111th Congress. Bills have been introduced in both houses that would eliminate the disparity in minimum sentences for possession of small quantities of crack cocaine. Under current law, a person in possession of 5 grams (or less than an ounce) of crack cocaine is subject to the same 5-year prison sentence as someone in possession of 500 grams (or a little more than a pound) of powdered cocaine. The House bill, H.R. 3245, the “Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009,” was introduced by Representative Bobby Scott (VA) and actually saw movement when it was reported out of the House Judiciary Committee. Senator Richard Durbin (IL) introduced S. 1789, the “Fair Sentencing Act of 2009,” and is pursuing additional co-sponsors. The National Urban League strongly supports this legislation.