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Social class discrimination is detrimental to many people in the United States, including youth. Read more on how to enact change. < Back Social Class Discrimination As defined by Class Action, classism is a form of systemic oppression that subordinates groups based on social class or perceived social class. Classism is enabled by the dominant classes, like the middle or ruling classes, when they discriminate against subordinate classes, like the poor or working classes. To justify their perceived superiority, dominant classes may perpetuate negative stereotypes about subordinate classes and assign unsubstantiated negative characteristics to subordinate classes. Because dominant classes define what is culturally acceptable, subordinate classes often struggle to meet the dominant class’s standards. As subordinate classes may lack access to resources or backgrounds available to dominant classes, the high standards set by dominant classes can be unobtainable. Without inherited wealth, quality education, or a polished accent, individuals from subordinate classes may face classism because they cannot conform. Subordinate classes may internalize classism, believing the negativity dominant classes project onto them. By internalizing classism, subordinate classes may lash out at others within their social class. According to a study published in Psychological Science that examined students in Upstate New York, classism also contributes to poor health. The study found that students who grew up poor were more likely to face discrimination, which caused negative health effects. Even though there is a stigma around discussing social class, discussing social class is an important first step in addressing classism. If families, schools, and the media discussed classism more often, there would be more knowledge and awareness about its harms. Through education and action, individuals can become a class ally, supporting anti-classism in their communities. OTHER TOPICS Climate Change Environmentalism Gender Equality Healthcare Inequality Immigration LGBTQI+ Rights Labor Rights Medical Autonomy Mental Health What can I do about this? 1. Open up and hold discussions about classism with friends and family. Try to respectfully dismiss classist jokes or comments, and in return you can offer accurate information. 2. Go out and try to establish friendships and relationships across class and race. This can help you gain a better understanding of others. USYF CONTENT Minimum Wage — The Effects on Youth by Joseph Sweeney External Resources Summer Employment — Student to Employee by Summer Clevenger Previous Next

Introduction to United States Infrastructure Written By: Emily Eames and Joseph Sweeney Publishing Date: June 11, 2022 Infrastructure is defined as the basic physical and organizational structures and amenities that are required for both society and the economy. When governments talk about the term “infrastructure,” they are usually referring to transportation, broadband, and energy. Other categories of infrastructure include: · Aviation · Bridges · Dams · Drinking Water · Hazardous Waste · Inland Waterways · Levees · Ports · Public Parks · Roads · Schools · Solid Waste · Stormwater · Wastewater Along with keeping citizens safe and healthy, good infrastructure allows the economy to run more efficiently and seamlessly. Infrastructure offers economic development, employment, and an overall better quality of life. However, this can’t happen if the infrastructure isn’t well-maintained. Currently, United States infrastructure suffers from low quality and poor maintenance. Since the 80’s the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has compiled a report card for the United States infrastructure based on capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience, and innovation. For the past twenty years the United States has received, on average, a D+. However, in 2021 the United States received a C-, demonstrating that we are slowly making the investments and improvements necessary to compete in the global economy. Compared to our global competitors, the United States infrastructure ranks 13th in the world as of 2019. The United States places behind countries like Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The current infrastructure systems in the United States are outdated and overstressed from a lack of proper maintenance. Many economists agree that the delays and increasing maintenance cost due to our exhausted infrastructure are hindering our economic performance. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, some of the prominent issues facing America’s infrastructure are as follows. · Delays caused by traffic congestions cost the economy over $120 billion per year. · The U.S. Government Accountability Office found that one in four bridges are deficient, 10% are structurally deficient, and 14% are functionally obsolete. · The United States air transportation supports 1.4 million US jobs and offers hundreds of billions of dollars of tax revenue. Yet, the delays and avoided trips due to poor infrastructure cost the economy over $35 billion each year. · The United States commercial rail system transports almost 40% of our country’s goods, however, the U.S. passenger rail system has billions in backlog investment. · In a study done by the Environmental Protection Agency, drinking water, wastewater, and irrigation systems require $632 billion in additional investment. · The United States electrical grid is struggling without the necessary investment needed to confront the increasing power outages, which cost the economy billions of dollars. · Rural and low-income communities are suffering from a “broadband” gap due to a lack of infrastructure that is needed to deliver reliable, high-speed internet. These are just some of the issues facing America’s aging infrastructure. Experts agree that investing in new infrastructure and maintenance costs would help stimulate the economy. Maximized efficiency, reliability, and lower transportation cost would catalyst long-run competitiveness and future employment. In November of 2021 Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the new act aims to correct the investment gap in America's infrastructure by investing over $1 trillion in infrastructure. President Biden's plan for this act includes. · Rebuilding America’s roads and bridges, · Expanding access to clean drinking water and eliminating lead pipes. · Ensuring every American has access to high-speed internet. · Improving public transit while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. · Upgrade airports and ports to strengthen America’s supply chain. · Heavily invest in passage rail. · Build a nationwide network of electric vehicle chargers. · Upgrade power infrastructure with an aim to achieve a zero-emissions future. · Build climate change, cyber-attacks, and extreme weather resilient infrastructure. · Invest in environmental remediation. Along with tackling America’s worn-out infrastructure, the act will also add, on average, 1.5 million jobs per year for the next ten years. While infrastructure may lack the same appeal to many young people’s sense of what is important in the world, it is still a useful topic for youth to be invested into. Infrastructure can sometimes feel too overly broad a subject, intimidating young folks from engaging with it, but it is nonetheless something that affects the lives of everyone. Youth looking to become involved with improving infrastructure should start locally by attending town and city council meetings and observing the condition of roads, schools, and water and sewage systems and bring anything that seems amiss to the city’s attention, such as an excessive amount of pot holes on high traffic roads or water systems not adequately draining water to make outdoor activity safe after recent rain. Sources 2022, Jan. 24. "ASCE's 2021 American Infrastructure Report Card: GPA: C-." ASCE's 2021 Infrastructure Report Card. Ferguson, Caroline. (2018, Jan. 10). "5 Issues with America's Infrastructure." Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board. https://www.ced.org/blog/entry/five-issues-with-americas-infrastructure-problem McBride, James, and Anshu Siripurapu. (2021, Nov. 8). "The State of U.S. Infrastructure." Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/state-us-infrastructure 2021, Dec. 2. "President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law." The White House. The United States Government. https://www.whitehouse.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/ Puentes, Robert(2016, July. 28). "Why Infrastructure Matters: Rotten Roads, Bum Economy." Brookings. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/why-infrastructure-matters-rotten-roads-bum-economy/ Previous Next

Contacting local, state, and federal elected officials < Back Community Resources: Contacting Officials Written By: Kaitlin Nguyen Publishing Date: August 9, 2021 Trapped in a toxic relationship with student loan debt? Feeling the impending doom of soon having to financially support a large, rapidly aging population? Big Oil lobbies eating away at your optimism? Don’t we all have the urge to grab our lawmakers, shake them, and calmly state the points of our issue positions. Being able to contact elected officials to voice our concerns or appeal for change is a central function of democracy. The usa.gov website is a useful resource for finding ways and links to contact federal, state, and local elected officials. Your representatives’ official’s website will also generally have various resources that will help put you into contact with them. But with how the constituent-management system works, youth may find it challenging to get into meaningful contact with their representatives, let alone influence their policy beliefs or spur them into action on certain issues. Inundating an official’s phone lines can force a statement out of the representative by creating a need to clear communication lines. Phone calls to your district state office are more effective than emails, as emails are easily lost amid the large stream that regularly bombard representatives’ inboxes. But no matter the platform, personal and thoughtful is the best way to go. Reading out or pasting scripts from online advocacy groups can make activism easier, but office staff are universally less impressed by low-effort, impersonal third-party activism apps or tools. While easy, most of these messages are boiled down to spam (The OpenGov Foundation, 2017; Victor, 2016). Like a friend request from a stranger whose only info is a Facebook profile picture of a cat. Don’t expect a high-effort response with low-effort outreach. Congressional offices use constituent relationship management systems, where calls often reach dead ends without identifying information. The use of online petitions and apps to flood an elected official’s inbox, while making activism more popular and accessible, strains already overwhelmed channels of communication (Lapowsky, 2018). According to this Wired article , low-level interns usually bear the brunt of pre-written mass-advocacy calls/emails (the article mentions interns stuffed into closets). After an intern verifies the constituent, they may log the call into the system, but some offices may just tally calls for and against certain issues. Emails, letters, and faxes are usually handled the same way. These communications are then sorted into issue batches, after which senior staffers may prompt legislative correspondents or staff members to form a response (by email). Even then, a study by the Congressional Management Foundation finds that less than 50% of constituents open the response email sent by the congressional office (Lapowsky, 2018). As you can guess, it is unlikely that you’ll get a direct response from your representative. According to From Voicemails to Votes, a report conducted by The OpenGov Foundation, “staff generally felt that in-person visits, personal letters, and, increasingly, social media were the best tools for being heard by Members of Congress” (The OpenGov Foundation, 2017). Congressional staffers agree that the more effort a constituent puts into their case and the more personal their story, often the better the response (The OpenGov Foundation, 2017). They want to hear those struggles! Preferably in a penned letter! Response rates are higher when contacting officials at the local or state levels (Victor, 2016). Take the opportunity to also get face-to-face contact with your representatives when they decide to hold events such as town halls or q&a sessions in-person or online. Their official website will often post information on any upcoming events (Wellman, 2017). Prepare your questions and arguments beforehand to make the best use of your time. Show how an issue affects you and/or impress them with carefully reasoned arguments. When contacting officials, show that you have done the research and understand the issue you are advocating a position on. There are many digital tools useful for keeping you updated on legislation or group actions (Wellman, 2017). Quality over quantity! Your best chance at getting your representative to consider your argument is to argue the issue as effectively and as accurately as possible. Yuri Beckleman, deputy chief of staff to representative Mark Takano agrees that “the constituents that put the greatest effort into their communication… are the ones that often get the greatest rewards” (Lapowsky, 2018). Nothing can replace the feeling of meaningful connection. Changing an elected official’s position on an issue is a slow and frustrating process that will almost always necessitate consistency and long-term commitment. Shortcuts won’t cut it. Download Emily Colemon’s guide Call the Halls: Contacting Your Representatives the Smart Way here . Sources Elected Officials: USAGov. Elected Officials | USAGov. https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials . Lapowsky, I. (2018, February 1). This Is What Congress Does With Your Phone Calls and Emails. Wired. https://www.wired.com/story/opengov-report-congress-constituent-communication/ . The OpenGov Foundation. (2018, January 29). 3.3 Staff Perspectives on the Best Ways to Get Heard. Medium, From Voicemails to Votes. https://v2v.opengovfoundation.org/staff-perspectives-on-the-best-ways-to-get-heard-5d30c85eb9f5 . Victor, D. (2016, November 22). Here's Why You Should Call, Not Email, Your Legislators. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/22/us/politics/heres-why-you-should-call-not-email-your-legislators.html Wellman, M. (2017, January 24). 5 Ways to Contact Your Elected Officials and Make Your Voice Heard. USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network. https://www.usatoday.com/story/college/2017/01/24/5-ways-to-contact-your-elected-officials-and-make-your-voice-heard/37427477/ Previous Next

Unemployment and Emergency Aid < Back Jobs & COVID: Unemployment and Emergency Aid Written By: Jocelyn Abrano Publishing Date: September 16, 2021 The pandemic has affected everyone in some shape or form and unfortunately many people continue to be without help. Some may not qualify and/or not know about all the different organizations and companies that have put these resources together. They contribute to nonprofits and individuals which gets more specific by state. Even though many states and businesses have lifted covid restrictions you might still be eligible to receive help. A few national/generic ones are listed as well as a few websites that have a ton of information concerning your specific situation. Please do not hesitate to use these resources as this is what they are there for! National: Government Stimulus - Economic Impact Payments - This IRS web page lets non-filers enter their payment information and others to check on the status of their stimulus payment. Government Stimulus - What you need to know from the IRS - An FAQ page created by the IRS to answer your questions about the stimulus payments. Moonlighting.com - A leading freelance & work-from-home job site is offering free job searching and access to its business tools to help independent workers better manage jobs and gigs. A Better Balance - A free helpline (call or email) that offers answers to questions about the law for workers facing issues at work related to sick, family, or medical leave. National and local COVID-19 resources for undocumented communities - A continuously updated crowd-sourced google doc available in English and Spanish. Recursos Nacionales y locales para comunidades indocumentadas disponible en inglés y español . Student Relief Fund - Resources for college students in need of support due to a COVID-19 campus shutdown (note: organization does not offer financial assistance) Homelessness and Housing Disaster Sheltering Guidelines Federal Programs that Support Individuals Experiencing Homelessness HUD Coronavirus Assistance IRS Economic Impact Payments for Taxpayers US Interagency Council on Homelessness Housing Roadmap Schools & Daycare Centers HHS Office of Child Care US Department of Education Education Roadmap Healthcare Alternate Care Sites Funding Summary Crisis Counseling HHS Health Resources & Services Administration Healthcare Roadmap Sources CANDID.ORG CARES ACT For Higher Education FEMA Previous Next

FBI surveillance of Muslims: FBI et al. v. Fazaga et al. (Case No. 20-828). Written By: Maddox Larson Publishing Date: November 13, 2022 Take a second to image a different life for yourself. It is 2006 and you are a Muslim young-adult living in California. You get word of a new convert at a nearby mosque and hope to make his acquaintance and wish him well with his new religious affiliation. Perhaps you reach out and buy him a book on Islam, take him out to tea, invite him to dinner, or show him the correct movements of prayers. A few times when you are hanging out with this newcomer, he mentions jihad and tries to get your opinion on Islamic violence. Knowing that Islam doesn’t condone violence, you tell him as much and, though this encounter is weird, you shrug it off as simple ignorance about Islam. Then, one day, as you are leaving a last-minute appointment with your chiropractor, you are stopped by FBI agents. These agents take you to a local coffee shop and begin to question you about your opinions on terrorism. It soon becomes apparent to you, and others, that the newcomer was not who you had thought. This was what happened to Yassir Fazaga, Ali Malik, and Yasser Abdelrahim. In this real-life scenario, you were Yasser Abdelrahim , a Californian congregant of the Islamic Center of Irvine (ICOI) , who was one of many to welcome a supposed convert (Monteilh, renamed “Farouk” after conversion) before learning of his ulterior motives. In fact, it was later discovered that Monteilh had been gathering names, phone numbers, and email addresses of other congregants at the ICOI while also recording both audio and video in people’s homes, mosques, and businesses. After learning of this, Fazaga, Malik, and Abdelrahim came together to sue the FBI as well as several officials (some named and unnamed in the suit) on the grounds that their rights to religious liberty and privacy had been violated. After their loss in the District Court, the Ninth District Court of Appeals sided with them before the case was appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). This SCOTUS case lacked media attention but is relevant and important to legal interpretations of government surveillance and privacy. This article will examine the SCOTUS case and the opinion written by Associate Justice Samuel Alito. Background As stated in Justice Alito’s brief, Fazaga, Malik, and Abdelrahim originally sued on the grounds that through this operation, government had illegally gathered information on them which violated the Establishment Clause, the Free Exercise Clause, the Fourth Amendment, parts of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, the Privacy Act, the Federal Tort Claims Act, 42 U.S. Code section 2000(bb), 28 U.S. Code section 1346, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, 50 U.S. Code section 1810, 5 U.S. Code section 552(a), and California law. Granted the average person has limited knowledge of any of these grounds for lawsuit, here’s a summary: violation of religious freedom and privacy. [Note: To avoid further reference of more complicated legal terminology, it is recommended that interested parties visit the Supreme Court opinion from Justice Alito .] So, what happened to the slew of claims that Fazaga, Malik, and Abdelrahim were pursuing retribution for? All claims were dismissed in court with the exception of that appealing to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA). How is it that these were dismissed? The government’s legal team claim that the “state secrets privilege” required dismissal of most of them. Alito writes, “This claim applied to the following categories of information: information that could ‘confirm or deny whether a particular individual was or was not the subject of an FBI counterterrorism investigation,’ information that could reveal the ‘initial reasons’ for or the ‘status and results’ of an ‘FBI counterterrorism investigation,’ and information that could reveal the ‘sources and methods’ used in such an investigation” (see page 6 of Alito’s opinion). More clearly, this means that not only where these three men (1) recorded in their homes, businesses, and mosques; and (2) questioned with a clearly prejudiced view of their beliefs. But these men will not get to know the official reasons why there were investigated, whether or not they were even subject to an official FBI investigation, or the full range of surveillance means that might have been employed on them. What Exactly Did SCOTUS Rule? So, if it is the case that so many claims from the original suit were dropped in lower courts, certain questions remain about this case, such as what was the primary focus of the Supreme Court’s ruling? in what way is justice being served? and what happens now? All these questions will be the remaining focus of this article. Firstly, what got this case to SCOTUS and what did they do with it. Their focus on this case was whether or not a specific section of FISA bypassed the state secrets privilege. If this were the case then Fazaga, Malik, and Abdelrahim might be able to pursue other legal action for the transgressions committed against them. In particular, as Justice Alito states, SCOTUS was looking for specific language in FISA that would either explicitly or implicitly imply that Fazaga’s claim was correct. Unfortunately, Alito closes with (on page 13 of his opinion) “We reiterate that today’s decision addresses only the narrow question of whether [the specific section of FISA] displaces the state secrets privilege. Because we conclude that [this section of FISA] does not have that effect under either party’s interpretation of the statute, we do not decide which interpretation is correct.” Though it may not seem clear, this statement means that SCOTUS has overruled the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ opinion that the Fazaga’s claims may be brought against the FBI when considering the religious discrimination that Fazaga and his compatriots had experienced throughout their lives. How is Justice Being Served? It can be quite difficult to find the aspects of justice that we have so often strove to find during the civil rights movements of the 21st century. In a press release from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), senior staff attorney Patrick Toomey says, “The Supreme Court’s ruling is a dangerous sign for religious freedom and government accountability in spying cases. Decades ago, Congress established protections for people challenging abusive spying in court, but today’s decision puts a critical safeguard out of reach.” It is clear that the case is not over (as it has been remanded back to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals), and thus there is still cause for hope. What Happens Now? As previously stated, the case is to be remanded back to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals so that, given SCOTUS’ input, they can continue litigation of the remaining claims. As of now, it is unclear when this case is expected to see its next day in court, but this is certainly an important case for religious freedom and privacy in America. Sources Alimahomed-Wilson, S. (2019). When the FBI Knocks: Radicalized State Surveillance of Muslims. Critical Sociology , 871-887. Federal Bureau of Investigation et al. v. Fazaga et al., 20-828 (Supreme Court of the United States March 4, 2022). Previous Next

< Back Tennessee's Bill Against Gender Affirming Care Written By: Kaitlin Nguyen Publishing Date: June 28, 2023 Tennessee’s House Bill 001/Senate Bill 001 On November 9, 2022, Tennessee Majority Leaders Rep. William Lamberth and Sen. Jack Johnson introduced bills HB001/SB001 which, as stated, “prohibits a healthcare provider from performing on a minor or administering to a minor a medical procedure if the performance or administration of the procedure is for the purpose of enabling a minor to identify with, or live as, a purported identity inconsistent with the minor’s sex” (Gluck, 2022; Tennessee General Assembly, 2022). HB001/SB001, dubbed the “ Protecting Children from Gender Mutilation Act ” by Lamberth and Johnson, essentially proposes a ban on gender-affirming healthcare for minors, prohibiting medical providers from prescribing minors puberty blockers, hormone treatment, and surgery for gender-affirming purposes. As proposed , courts would be allowed to impose $25,000 fines for each violation, allow the Attorney General to bring an action against the health care provider up to 20 years after the date of the violation, and require the Attorney General to establish a reporting process for such violations. Lamberth and Johnson state that the bill is intended to protect children from complications that they are not capable of understanding. Organizations such as the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and American Counseling Association have voiced opposition against restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare. According to AMA Board Member Michael Suk, “ Gender-affirming care is medically-necessary , evidence-based care that improves the physical and mental health of transgender and gender-diverse people.” HB001/SB001 will be the first anti-LGBT bill in Tennessee to be filed for state legislative sessions in 2023. The bill follows previous proposals in 2021/2022 in the Tennessee legislature and in other states including Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Texas to restrict gender-affirming care. HB001/SB001 if implemented, will affect many youth in Tennessee. About 5% of young adults in the U.S. identify as trans or nonbinary . Access to gender-affirming care is associated with lower odds of depression and suicidal ideation among youth . Puberty blockers, which delay puberty to provide more time for transgender or gender-questioning youth to resolve their gender identity, are valued and commonly used among the transgender community. Such treatments will be subject to strict restrictions if the bill is enacted. Sources ACLU Tennessee Press Release. “ACLU-TN Condemns Calls for Introduction of Anti-Trans Legislation and Investigation Into Transgender Health Care”, ACLU-TN . 22 September, 2022. Accessed November, 2022. https://www.aclu-tn.org/aclu-tn-condemns-anti-trans-legislation/ American Medical Association Press Releases. “AMA Reinforces Opposition to Restrictions on Transgender Medical Care”, American Medical Association . 15 June, 2021. Accessed November, 2022. https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-reinforces-opposition-restrictions-transgender-medical-care Brown, Anna. “About 5% of young adults in the U.S. say their gender is different from their sex assigned at birth”, Pew Research Center. 7 June, 2022. Accessed November, 2022. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/06/07/about-5-of-young-adults-in-the-u-s-say-their-gender-is-different-from-their-sex-assigned-at-birth/ Gluck, Frank. “Tennessee's GOP leadership proposes ban on gender-affirming care as first bill for 2023”, The Tennessean . 9 November, 2022. Accessed November, 2022. https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/health/2022/11/09/tennessee-lawmakers-propose-ban-on-gender-affirming-care/69633697007/ Tennessee General Assembly. “HB001 (SB001)”, Tennessee General Assembly Bills . Accessed November, 2022. https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0001 Thoreson, Ryan. “US State Readies First Anti-Transgender Bill of 2023 - New Legislation in Tennessee Signals Renewed Assault on LGBT Rights”, Human Rights Watch. 18 November, 2022. Accessed November, 2022. https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/11/18/us-state-readies-first-anti-transgender-bill-2023 Tordoff, Diana M. et al. “Mental Health Outcomes in Transgender and Nonbinary Youths Receiving Gender-Affirming Care”, JAMA network open 5, no. 2. 1 Feb, 2022. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0978 Previous Next

The Equality Act: What It Is and the Current Status Written By: Tatiana Pagan Publishing Date: September 18, 2021 US Congress’ H.R. 5, also known as the Equality Act, passed in the House of Representatives 224-206 on February 25, 2021. This bill would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which currently protects people from being discriminated against based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and other services. The bill, which was first introduced on February 18, 2021, outlines the following: “Prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Specifically, the bill defines and includes sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation. [...] The bill prohibits an individual from being denied access to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual's gender identity.” Simliar LGBTQ anti-discrimination bills have been introduced since 1974. In fact, such legislation has been “introduced in all but one session of Congress since.” (Allen, 2021) It has passed in the House twice but missed being passed in the Senate by just one vote in 1996. The Equality Act of 2019 passed 236-173 but died in committee before being voted on by the Senate. With the Equality Act of 2021 being debated on the Senate floor, there are still a number of challenges. The main issue is voter’s perception of LGBTQ rights. In a 2019 poll by Reuters/IPSOS, 45% of respondents believed that federal anti-discrimination protections already exist for LGBTQ people. Only one third of respondents were aware that transgender people were not protected from gender identity discrimination under federal law. The bill is also facing opposition from a number of sources. While 379 pro-equality bills were introduced in thirty-eight states in 2020, another 185 anti-LGBTQ laws were introduced in thirty-five states. A total of twenty-seven states lack anti-discrimination laws. While these bills were on a state level, a similar divide exists on the federal level, as noted in February’s close 224-206 vote in the House. Some critics of the Equality Act are concerned about the threat to religious freedoms. The fear is that certain businesses and organizations would be forced “to choose between operating or following their beliefs” due to religious objections. Those in support have highlighted that passing the bill would ensure that LGBTQ people would not be denied medical treatment housing on the grounds of religious beliefs. Furthermore, the Equality Act would actually provide new protections for people of faith. This would include more protections from faith-based discrimination in public accommodations. The bill also preserves the protections for religious exemptions under the Civil Rights Act. This ongoing divide has led to a filibuster on the Senate floor. With sixty votes needed to pass the Equality Act, the bill will need ten Republican votes in addition to every Democrat in the Senate. Frustration is building, as supporters feel that the delay in passing the Equality Act in the Senate only allows for more anti-LGBTQ bills to pass at the state level. Over 250 anti-LGBTQ bills have been filed at the state level in 2021. The frustration has worsened due to the promise President Biden made to pass the Equality Act in his first hundred days-- a deadline that passed months ago. While testimonies have been made before the Senate Judiciary committee, notably from 16-year-old Stella Keating back in March, little progress has been made since. While the filibuster is a hurdle to overcome, America’s youth can still engage in the political process. Senators can be contacted by email, postal mail, or telephone . Doing so will highlight the importance of the Equality act and the support it has from those outside of Congress. It is also important to inform others of the bill, as spreading awareness will help further the conversation and rebuild the traction lost since the Equality Act passed in the House of Representatives. Regularly checking on the status of the bill is vital in preventing misinformation. Organizations like GLAAD , the Human Rights Campaign , and The Trevor Project regularly update their sites with news on the Equality Act and similar bills. There is also a list of other LGBTQ organizations you can support that go beyond the Equality Act. These groups offer legal, workplace, athletic, veteran, and elderly support for the LGBTQ community. Sources Kurtzleben, D. (2021, February 24) House Passes the Equality Act: Here’s What it Would Do. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2021/02/24/969591569/house-to-vote-on-equality-act-heres-what-the-law-would-do Gruberg, S., Medina, C., and Santos, T. (2021, March 15). What You Need to Know About the Equality Act. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbtq-rights/reports/2021/03/15/497158/need-know-equality-act/ Ahrens, K. (2021, June 11). Opinion: The Equality Act is in Limbo. A lot is at stake for the LGBTQ community, especially our youth. The San Diego oUnion Tribune. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/commentary/story/2021-06-11/equality-act-senate-lgbtq-youth Allen, J. (2021, April 2). The Equality Act is 46 Year in the Making. The US Senate Should Pass it Now. WBUR. https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2021/04/02/equality-act-stella-keating-julie-marie-allen 2021. H.R. 5 - Equality Act. congress.gov. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5 Fields, A. (2021, January 25). The Human Rights Campaign Releases Annual State Equality Index Ratings. Human Rights Campaign. https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/the-human-rights-campaign-releases-annual-state-equality-index-ratings Caspani, M. (2019, June 12). Americans’ perception of LGBTQ rights under federal law largely incorrect: Reuters/Ipsos. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-lgbt-stonewall-equality-idUSKCN1TC120 Diaz, D. and Grayer, A. (2021, March 16). House passes Equality Act aimed at ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/25/politics/equality-act-passes-house/index.html Burns, K. (2021, June 30). Where the LGBTQ Equality Legislation Goes to Die. The New Republic. https://newrepublic.com/article/162861/lgbtq-equality-act-joe-manchin-compromise-betrayal Previous Next

How Minimum Wage Affects Young People Written By: Joseph Sweeney Publishing Date: September 20, 2021 Per the Department of Labor, the federally mandated minimum wage currently sits at $7.25 per hour. Although some cities such as Seattle, Washington, have begun to raise the wage to $15 per hour, the lack of a similar increase nationwide continues to affect the quality of life of many workers, including young adults. The current federal minimum wage has a harsh impact on young people between eighteen and twenty-five. People in this age group typically do not have prior job experience to negotiate or argue for a higher wage for their first or second jobs. Some people will also work on earning degrees during their first job, which can allow them to pursue higher-paying jobs later on and reduce their dependence on the minimum wage to fulfill their needs. Because student housing and cafeterias are often combined into the costs of college tuition, students are less dependent on the minimum wage to cover their food and housing needs if they are able to somehow pay for college, be it through family, student loans, or scholarships. This is not meant to somehow downplay the rising costs of tuition, but merely to demonstrate how the relationship between youth and minimum wage can vary. Other individuals who do not go through education programs, either by choice or because they are unable to afford the considerable costs of tuition, have to rely on minimum wage jobs exclusively. They need their wages to cover their living expenses but trying to cover those expenses quickly becomes impractical given the high cost of living. At $7.25, the minimum wage is too low to cover said expenses. A worker earning $7.25 per hour will make $1,160 in a single month. At face value, this means that a minimum wage employee will earn $1,160 in one month if they work a standard 40-hour workweek. Compared to the cost of living, a deficit appears in how much a minimum wage worker earns and how much they need to spend on rent and food. Using Texas as an example, the Department of Statistics reports that the 2019 average gross rent in Texas was $1,109 monthly. After paying rent, assuming no other forms of income like a second job or government aid, someone working minimum wage, like a waiter, will have $51 leftover to spend on groceries, gas, clothes, car maintenance, and utilities, which may or may not be covered in the cost of the rent. In Texas, the average monthly cost of groceries alone is estimated to be between $266 to $300. (balancingeverything.com, "Average Food Cost Per Month") An employee who has paid $1,045 in rent will come up more than two hundred dollars short of being able to afford the average Texas grocery bill. Struggling to afford a high cost of living has several knock-on effects on the lives and happiness of people who work minimum wage jobs. They have less time to spend with their friends and family as they have to figure out ways to make up for the deficit in their wages. One of the more common ways to do this is to take on multiple jobs. This eats into their time and energy and adds further stress. This stress can compound, as managing multiple workloads lead to employees not having as much free time reducing their quality of life as they are forced to spend more and more of their time at work and when not working, on budgeting out their meager resources instead of visiting family or friends, pursuing personal projects, or any number of non-work related things that they no longer have time for. Unfortunately, even with two or more jobs, some employees remain unable to stay above the poverty line. Since the cost of living can be expensive, many workers may still need government aid. According to cnbc.com, "The average minimum wage worker in the U.S. would need to work almost 97 hours per week to afford a fair market rate two-bedroom and 79 hours per week to afford a one-bedroom." Food stamps and assisted housing programs exist to try and mitigate the problem but are often subjected to scrutiny from both sides of the political aisle. More liberal-progressive voices feel these programs are insufficient to properly render aid to the needy, while conservative voices advocate for individuals to be self-reliant rather than come to the government for help. For example, during a 2021 legislative session, Senator Mitch McConnel was quoted as saying that the U.S economy was already recovering from the Coronavirus pandemic, voting against a proposition to raise the wage in a pandemic relief bill and implying the wage increase was unnecessary. (Syracuse, “Senate Kills 15 An Hour Minimum Wage Hike In Covid Relief Bill). While there are many arguments about either position from ethical and moral perspectives, "Far less attention," Elisabeth Buchwald writes, "has been given to the tax-expenditure implications of increasing the minimum wage." (Marketwatch, "A $15 minimum wage could cut government spending on welfare programs by up to $30 billion, study finds"). As Buchwald reports, these programs cost taxpayers a substantial amount of money while not doing enough themselves to lift or prevent individuals from the poverty line. Changing this into a direct wage increase, rather than offering up indirect aid programs, could give workers of all ages more ability to provide for themselves without having to rely on ineffectual tax-funded programs. The low minimum wage prevents young people from developing financial security and independence. For many younger adults, their first minimum wage jobs don't pay enough to cover the expenses needed to move out of their parents' home. This can cascade to the point where individuals working full-time jobs are unable to live on their own, requiring either the continued support of parents or shared rent with multiple roommates to cover the housing costs. Because of the disparity between the cost of living and how much pay these workers earn, it’s often not just economically more effective but practically required for younger workers to continue living with their parents well into their early adulthood, as their jobs fail to provide enough for them to move out or afford rent, food, transportation, and emergency expenses. This can be stifling to individuals, as the lack of sufficient funds prevents them from being able to reach and explore many life milestones. Aspiring parents may not be comfortable having children without the money to pay for school, or couples may delay marriage because of their inability to afford the fiscal burdens of supporting two people. The minimum wage needs to be raised to allow young adults to buy housing and groceries, break away from their parents, and have enough financial stability to spend with people they care about, or support them financially. As things stand, workers making minimum wage are unable to afford many of the milestones in life that are often taken for granted and underestimated in how much it cost to afford them, like the aforementioned marriage, housing, and child support. Some working on raising the minimum wage include Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, United States Representative from New York, Bernie Sanders, United States Senator from Vermont, and the Fight For 15 campaign, which as discussed elsewhere, succeeded in lobbying for the raise for $15 all the way back in 2014. Some ways local youths can get involved in supporting the wage is to petition their city officials to raise the wage locally. While a federal wage increase would be ideal for consistency between states, the value of simple local raises should not be underestimated, and may be a smaller and thus more tenable goal for a group to work towards. They should also refrain from crossing picket lines and not shop at businesses where workers are striking. If possible, they should join their area’s local unions for employment and use collective bargaining power when discussing their wages with local employers. While raising the minimum wage may have logistical and political barriers, doing so would have a positive effect on society by removing financial barriers and stress for many. Sources Adamczyk, A. 2020. July. 14. "Minimum Wage Workers Cannot Afford Rent in Any U.S State". cnbc.com. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/14/minimum-wage-workers-cannot-afford-rent-in-any-us-state.html Buchwald, E. 2021 Feb. 2. "A $15 minimum wage could cut government spending on welfare programs by up to $30 billion, study finds." marketwatch.com. . https://www.marketwatch.com/story/a-15-minimum-wage-could-cut-government-spending-on-welfare-programs-by-up-to-30-billion-study-finds-11612290567 Department of Numbers. "Rent". deptofnumbers.com https://www.deptofnumbers.com/rent/texas Ganga, M.L. 2014 June 14 . "Seattle raises minimum wage to $15 an hour, highest in U.S". https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-seattle-minimum-wage-20140602-story.html Milena. 2021 June 6. "Average Food Cost per Month – In-Depth Analysis and Trends". balancingeverything.com. https://balancingeverything.com/average-food-cost-per-month/ U.S Department of Labor. "Minimum Wage" Web. dol.gov. https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/wages/minimumwage Previous Next

Resume Tips < Back Resumes & You: Resume Tips Written By: Taylor Lane Publishing Date: August 9, 2021 The unemployment rate among 16- to 24-year olds has been dropping since the height of the pandemic in the U.S., but it is still at 9.2%, which is almost double the overall unemployment rate of 5.4%. However, 82% of employers plan on hiring in 2021 , so if you are looking for work, now is the time to polish up your resume for applications. Your resume is the most valuable piece of your job application and can make or break your chances of getting an interview. Recruiters and hiring managers read hundreds, if not thousands, of applications for open positions -- it is important that you make yourself stand out in a good way. Here are a few tips for building a better resume. Make it look professional. In general, it is best if your resume is to the point and looks like a professional document. In general, it is better to skip the graphics or bright colors and use easy-to-read fonts like Times New Roman or Arial. Professionalism includes your contact information as well; use your student email address or a professional-looking personal email address. Do not use the email address you made when you were 9, even if you are webkinzgurl99 in your heart. Keep your resume concise. Your resume should be one page at the most. Additionally, most recruiters only spend about 10 seconds skimming resumes, so only list your most relevant information. The four parts of your resume should be your most recent work experiences and core responsibilities at those jobs, your education, your skills, and your contact information. Anything else is expendable information that will likely be skipped. Keep your information concise by using bullet points instead of full sentences and only listing the most relevant skills for the job to which you are applying. When you feel confident that your resume is complete, save it as a PDF File and title it with “FirstName LastName Resume.” This will make your resume easier to find and view for the hiring manager. Think about it: if every job applicant submits their resume with the same title, every document looks the same. If you use your name in the title, it makes it easier for a hiring manager to find your specific file. Additionally, PDFs are more universally accessible than other file formats, and the formatting will not change when they open the file. A professional and organized resume is a key tool for securing more interviews and, ideally, job offers. Sources Previous Next

Immigration Myths and Misconceptions Written By: Grace Brock Publishing Date: August 6, 2023 In the present day, there is significant anti-immigration rhetoric. This can be seen when looking at the statements made by political actors, particularly those associated with populism and the radical right. For example, former president Donald Trump stated: “When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best...They’re bringing drugs; They’re bringing crime; They’re rapists” (Luqman, 2018, p.14). The media also plays into this anti-immigration rhetoric through platforms such as the Tucker Carlson Tonight Show. On July 19th, 2022 Carlson discussed the Democratic and Republican parties' stances on immigration and claimed that "both parties are finding new ways to give American jobs to foreign-born applicants" (Carlson, 2022, 16:10). More opportunities to engage with anti-immigration discourse have emerged due to advances in technology and the growth of social media. However, just because more information has become available, does not mean that all of it is valid and reliable. Much of the anti-immigration discourse seen today is built upon myths and misconceptions. In this column, I will outline the reality behind the statements made by Trump and Carlson to show that the portrayals of immigrants as crime-causing, job-stealing individuals have no basis in reality. Chouhy & Madero-Hernandez (2019) discuss the relationship between crime and immigration. At the macro level, they find that immigrant communities do not typically exhibit higher crime rates. They also find that "sanctuary cities" (areas where the participation of local police in the enforcement of immigration violations is restricted) do not foster crime. When looking at the micro level, they uncover that immigrants engage in fewer criminal acts than the native-born population, which is true for both documented and undocumented immigrants. These findings challenge the claim made by former president Trump, as his statement implied the majority of immigrants coming from Mexico are criminals. Although his strategic use of rhetoric may make these statements appear convincing, it is clear that they are built upon myths and misconceptions. Oliver (2016) states that immigration opponents often claim immigrants are stealing jobs from the native population. Despite this, many immigrants come to the U.S. to start businesses that open up new employment opportunities. Alongside this, each immigrant that arrives in the U.S. is also a consumer and thus can help support American businesses and stimulate the U.S. economy. Griswold (2018) supports these claims by outlining how immigrants are more likely to start up a business than native-born Americans. For example, among start-up companies valued at more than $1 billion in 2016, half were founded by immigrants. They also state how the relationship between American workers and immigrants is complementary rather than competitive when it comes to jobs because, as immigrants supply labor, they also raise demand for housing and other goods and services, thus creating employment opportunities for native-born workers. These findings challenge the claims Tucker Carlson made on his show since they indicate immigration poses no threat to Americans when it comes to employment opportunities. Although the claim Carlson makes appears convincing at first glance, it is important to realize that it is built upon a myth that has no basis in reality. Even though actors in politics and the media may seem trustworthy and make statements about immigration in convincing ways, my article has demonstrated how much of what they say is blatantly false. With this in mind, it is important that we approach statements about immigration with caution and always look to valid and reliable data. In doing this, we reduce the risk of falling prey to common myths and misconceptions that stem from rhetorical strategies and create a society that is more accepting and supportive of immigrants. Sources Carlson, T. (2022, July 19). Tucker Carlson: The great replacement is an electoral strategy. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-great-replacement-electoral-strategy Chouhy, C., & Madero-Hernandez, A. (2019). “Murderers, rapists, and bad hombres”: Deconstructing the immigration-crime myths. Victims & Offenders, 14(8), 1010-1039. https://doi.org/10.1080/15564886.2019.1671283 Griswold, D. (2018). The Benefits of Immigration: Addressing Key Myths. Mercatus Center-George Mason University. file:///Users/gracebrock/Downloads/griswold_-_policy_brief_-_myths_of_immigration_- _v1%20(1).pdf Luqman, M. (2018). The Trump effect: Impacts of political rhetoric on minorities and America’s image (Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University). Oliver, J. R. (2016). IMMIGRATION MYTHS: A SYNTHESIS OF LITERATURE. Jeffrey R. Oliver. https://jeffoliverblog.wordpress.com/writing-samples/immigration-myths-a-synthe sis-of-literature/ Previous Next

The Reality of Residential Treatment Written By: Brianna Vanderstelt Publishing Date: November 19, 2022 As defined by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry , residential treatment centers offer intensive care for youth with severe emotional and behavioral problems while being housed in a supervised facility away from home. The types of services offered can vary from location to location, though across the board they are advertised to offer therapeutic care to residents in a safe and secure environment. However, a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) cited thousands of instances of abuse and even death in residential treatment centers across the country. Despite the disturbing findings, no legislative action was taken. In hopes of stoking the flames, previous residents of these facilities have stepped forward to share their stories, shedding light on the questionable practices and the lasting trauma that the troubled-teen industry has benefitted from for decades. Brighter Path Tuskegee is a residential facility in Alabama specializing in caring for young men aged 12 to 18. Brighter Path prides itself on the healing of children and their families, promising a safe space for growing, learning, and building pro-social relationships. However, an NBC News report shares that Connor Bennett’s stay at the facility reflected something different. During 15-year-old Bennett’s residency, he was the witness and victim of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from other residents. His reports to staff and authorities, who are trained and certified professionals, were ignored. Unable to go home, neglected by staff, and continually abused by those around him, Bennett’s mental health deteriorated and his six-month-stay culminated in his suicide. Another NBC News report states that Brighter Path has a history of abuse and negligence ranging from unsanitary environments such as feces staining the walls and floors, physical abuse by the staff, and the denial of medical care. Sadly, Connor Bennett’s story is not an uncommon one. Trinity Teen Solutions is another residential program located in Wyoming that has a long-standing history of maltreatment. It is said to be a christian-based program for young girls aged 12 to 17 that aims to enrich the mind, body, and soul. However, past residents have come forward with horrifying claims, stating they were used for free labor, forced to work long grueling hours across the 160-acre ranch, and given cruel punishments. NBC News reports that one punishment involved restricting their food intake to a can of olives and beans. Injuries were often dismissed with the exception of open wounds. Young girls were forced to carry heavy irrigation pipes and bales of hay, build barbed wire fences, and even drag dead animal carcasses. A past resident discloses that he was once branded as punishment, leaving him with a permanent scar in the shape of a cross. Any communication with home was heavily supervised and censored. Letters that made reference to anything that wasn’t “fun” or positive were ripped up and thrown away. The facility has also sued three former residents for defamation after they posted negative reviews online. The investigation also cited one former resident who had a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which weakens the tendons and ligaments. She was at the facility for five months before she needed surgery to address the pain and injuries sustained due to the staff’s dismissal of her diagnosis. The sad reality is that these facilities, while designed and promised to be a safe and healthy place for young individuals to heal and grow, are often not what they seem. Paris Hilton, a high-standing celebrity, was also a victim of this industry. During an interview with Good Morning America , Hilton came out with her own experiences at a treatment center located in Utah, describing it as the “most painful and traumatic experience” of her life. During her time at this facility, she was physically abused and even watched by male staff while she showered. Her experience has left her with lasting psychological effects and PTSD. Her experience is the catalyst for her work as an advocate for youth affected by these residential facilities. Fighting for tangible change, Hilton has partnered with Breaking Code Silence , a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of the industry that currently uses $23 billion in public funding. Their recent battle involved the Accountability for Congregate Care Act, which aims to hold these residential facilities accountable and protect the youth from the horrors that many have experienced and continue to experience. For those interested in learning more, the website offers links for donating, volunteering, interning, and more information on the cause. Sources American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). (2017, September). Residential Treatment Programs. Residential treatment programs. Retrieved September 19, 2022, from https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Residential-Treatment-Programs-097.aspx Breaking Code Silence. (2022, August 26). Breaking Code Silence: Prevent. Empower. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.breakingcodesilence.org/ Brighter Path. (n.d.). Brighter Path Tuskegee. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://brighterpathtuskegee.com/ Hartung, K., Said, S., Messer, L., Riegle, A., & Dukakis, A. (2021, October 20). Paris hilton discusses 'painful and traumatic' time at Youth Treatment Center. Good Morning America. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/paris-hilton-discusses-painful-traumatic-time-youth-treatment-80652146 Kingkade, T. (2022, September 7). Teens were sent to the ranches for therapy. they say they found a nightmare of hard labor and humiliation. NBCNews.com . Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/wyoming-christian-troubled-teen-ranches-abuse-rcna46112 Rappleye H., Kingkade, T., Snow, K. (2020, December 16). A profitable 'death trap': Sequel youth facilities raked in millions while accused of abusing children. NBCNews.com . Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/profitable-death-trap-sequel-youth-facilities-raked-millions-while-accused-n1251319 Siemaszko, C. (2022, September 1). Mom sues Alabama Youth Facility, sequel TSI, where son died by suicide to escape 'Living hell'. NBCNews.com . Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mom-sues-alabama-youth-facilty-sequel-tsi-son-died-suicide-escape-livi-rcna45729 Trinity Teen solutions. (n.d.). Residential treatment center for troubled girls. Trinity Teen Solutions. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.trinityteensolutions.com/ U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2008, April 24). Residential Programs: Selected Cases of death, abuse, and deceptive marketing . U.S. GAO. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-08-713t Previous Next

< Back What is it? Written By: Cameron Thomson Publishing Date: November 19, 2022 There has been a great deal of talk and debate centered around the filibuster and its utility. Some are calling for its eradication and removal, while others are in staunch support. Given the ongoing debate, all of those caught in the middle are asking: What is the filibuster? In short , the filibuster is a tactic used by a minority party in the Senate to encourage bi-partisan cooperation when trying to pass a bill and create new laws, avoiding a simple majority decision. When a bill is presented to the Senate to be voted on, a filibuster can be employed to stop the bill from being passed with simple majority support (51 supporting votes). There is no time limit on debating a bill and all debates must be concluded before the bill can be voted on. Should a two-thirds majority vote be had on a bill, the filibuster ends, and the bill is passed into law. In the House of Representatives, a simple majority vote will pass a bill to the Senate, meaning under a majority group, legislation can be passed with little-to-no cooperation or contest. However, in the Senate, to overcome the filibuster, a supermajority is required, meaning 60 of the 100 senators must vote “ yes ” to pass a bill to the next phase in becoming a law. This act is referred to as a “cloture” . The filibuster has undergone many changes since its creation, but its purpose still stands. The tactic is there to ensure a series of checks and balances, acting as a method by which the minority party’s voice is still heard while also encourages cooperation within the senate and amongst opposing party members. I am wondering if a sentence following explaining a simple majority and why senators would like to avoid it would be helpful for the reader to build better context/background knowledge. Would a sentence including more specifically why a party may want to use the filibuster help explain its use? I think this paragraph may do better organizationally by going in the previous paragraph after the sentence describing the filibuster. Then having The House of Representative sentence and following in a new paragraph. I wonder if a paragraph or maybe just a sentence or two showcasing an example of a time where a filibuster was used and how it affected the law may benefit this piece? Sources 52 Senators allow filibuster to block Freedom to Vote Act, despite a majority of voters supporting the bill . (n.d.). Retrieved from Public Democrazy America: https://www.publicdemocracyamerica.org/voting-rights-protections-threatened-by-filibuster?gclid=Cj0KCQjw08aYBhDlARIsAA_gb0flYgWx2Gd9gZ1jUX2flZhb7XPExP8Hbwynb5JR13AWZB3XxhE2vNMaAg9dEALw_wcB About Filibuster and Cloture . (n.d.). Retrieved from United States Senate: https://www.senate.gov/about/powers-procedures/filibusters-cloture.htm What is a Filibuster . (2021, February 10). Retrieved September 2, 2022, from https://informationstation.org/video/what-is-a-filibuster/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQjw08aYBhDlARIsAA_gb0c8v33s0uVKOUiBPQiV_-D3aHfrzHdZL2okSQ_s5wlOjze53TMb5TMaAtDXEALw_wcB Previous Next