July 2022: Fighting to Protect Bodily Autonomy
Dear friends,
This week, I participated in civil disobedience action at the Supreme Court to protest Roe v. Wade getting overturned, and the police arrested me for blocking an intersection. Our reproductive rights are under assault across the country, thanks to an extremist court with little regard for precedent or our basic rights. And I will not apologize for doing whatever it takes, including putting my body on the line, to protect our reproductive rights.
I also laid out a comprehensive plan for how we save our judiciary, and our democracy from religious extremists in the Nation. You can read my op-ed here.
Protecting the Right to Contraception
The House passed legislation this week to protect access to contraception. Emboldened by a GOP-appointed Supreme Court, right-wing extremist in statehouses across the country are doing everything they can to restrict and control women’s access to birth control. The Right to Contraception Act will counteract the extremists and protect Minnesotans from this outrageous assault on personal freedom by establishing a statutory right to use birth control under federal law. You can read more here.
Passing 9 Amendments in House Minibus Package
This week, the House passed nine of my amendments. These critical investments made in the final package will help fight against inflation and lower the cost of living for Minnesotans. The amendments include an assessment of the long-term economic outcomes of the low-Income Housing Tax Credit, calls to end the stigmatization of children who are unable to pay for school meals, and ensures the Department of Energy’s Loan Program is providing loans only to clean energy projects. You can read more here.
Protecting Kids from Being Shamed at School Over Unpaid School Meal Debt
Yesterday, Senator Tina Smith and I reintroduced the No Shame at School Act to prohibit school lunch shaming. We are in the midst of a hunger crisis. Inflation and the rising cost of food mean more families than ever are worrying about where their next meal will come from. I was incredibly proud to pass the MEALS Act to ensure 30 million kids got free and reduced-price school meals during the pandemic, and to extend it earlier this month. But the program is set to expire at the end of September if we don’t act and many students continue to face shaming and humiliation for struggling to afford food. You can read more here.
Announcements
Join Our Town Hall
On August 4 at 6pm CT, our office will hold an in-person town hall to update you on what’s happening in Congress. I look forward to answering your questions. You can register here.
Join Our Instagram Live Conversation
This Tuesday at 3pm CT, I’m hosting a Coffee and Kulan conversation on Instagram Live with Rep. Troy Carter to discuss our work to support small businesses and innovation. Tune in on our official Instagram at @RepIlhan!
In service,
Ilhan Omar
