Title: A Living Wage, Jobs for All Act

Purpose: to establish a living wage and jobs for all peoples in the United States and its territories, and for other purposes.
Sponsor:  [D] Rep Lee, Barbara [3] [CA-9] (introduced 2/14/07)
Latest Major Action: 6/5/2007 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.Summary: Affirms the basic economic rights under the 1944 "Economic Bill of Rights," while extending it to include: (1) certain rights to decent jobs, income security for individuals unable to work, a decent living for farm families, freedom from monopolies, decent housing, adequate health services, Social Security in old age, sickness, accidental injury, and unemployment, and education and work training; and (2) certain other rights relating to collective bargaining, a safe work environment, voting and campaigning, information on industrial pollution and processes that affect the well-being of workers, and personal security. Requires corporations to submit annual reports on the impact of their activities on the rights of employees, consumers, and communities and on environmental quality.

Contact: House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, (202) 225-3725

ASPIRA Policy Position

ASPIRA supports measures that ensure community members can make a decent living, enjoy certain job security and have acceptable working conditions as part of community economic empowerment.

Title: Small Business Children's Health Education Act of 2007Purpose: to establish a multi-agency nationwide campaign to educate small business concerns about health insurance options available to children.
Sponsor: [D] Sen Kerry, John F. [5] [MA] (introduced 6/27/07); Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 6/27/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.Summary: This bill calls for the SBA Administrator, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of the Treasury to collaborate as a task force in order to design, implement, and monitor a nationwide campaign to provide information regarding children’s health insurance to small businesses.  The campaign will seek to relay information regarding private insurance options and public assistance programs (such as Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Insure Kids Now hotline) to business owners.  Information regarding ways to make insurance more affordable, including Federal and State tax deductions and credits for health care-related expenses and health insurance expenses and Federal tax exclusion for health insurance options available under employer-sponsored cafeteria plans, will also be disseminated to owners and employees of small businesses.

Contact: Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, (202) 224-5175

ASPIRA Policy Position

ASPIRA supports efforts to ensure that all children have health insurance. This legislation could significantly increase participation of children from low and middle-income families to participate in the SHIP and other government-sponsored health insurance plans.