On the Hill Updates: Friday, May 28, 2021

Federal Courts

Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Exemplary Nominee

On May 26, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the nomination of Tiffany Cunningham to the United States Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit. Cunningham is a registered patent attorney before the US Patent and Trademark office with over 20 years of experience in patent and intellectual property law, in addition to holding both a BS in Chemical Engineering and a law degree. Her confirmation would bring a critical perspective as a trained engineer to a court that deals with issues of technology, science, and medicine. NCJW supports Tiffany Cunningham for the Federal Circuit.

Two Qualified Nominees to the Federal Bench

On May 20, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nominations of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the US Courts of Appeals for the DC Circuit (13-9) and Candace Jackson-Akiwumi to the US Courts of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (12-10). The Senate is expected to vote on both nominees around the second week of June. Judge Jackson has a history of supporting reproductive health care, civil rights, disability rights, and labor rights and Jackson-Akiwumi has spent the majority of her career as a public defender. NCJW supports Ketanji Brown Jackson and Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, who have demonstrated deep commitments to protecting civil rights and ensuring equal access to justice throughout their careers.

Additional Updates:

Wear Orange for Gun Safety

The weekend of June 4-6, 2021 is Wear Orange Weekend. NCJW is proud, once again, to cosponsor National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the Wear Orange Weekend to honor survivors of gun violence and remember those who have senselessly lost their lives due to firearms. Orange is the color that Hadiya Pendleton’s friends wore in her honor when she was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15 — just one week after performing at President Obama’s second inaugural parade in 2013. Learn more about how to participate virtually in your communities here.

Haitians granted TPS

On May 22, the Biden administration granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to approximately 150,000 Haitian migrants living in the United States. TPS allows people from nations impacted by war or natural disasters to legally live and work in the US. Unfortunately, in the first months of his administration, President Biden deported more than 1000 Haitians while acknowledging they faced danger in their home country. NCJW supports TPS for Haitian migrants.

NO BAN Act introduced in Senate

On May 27, Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) reintroduced the NO BAN Act, one of NCJW’s priority bills, in the Senate. The legislation, passed by the House of Representatives in April 2021, would ensure that future presidents cannot issue blanket entry bans on visitors to the United States based on where they’re from or how they worship.

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