The Leadership Conference is working diligently to see that Tom Perez is confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Labor. Perez is an eminently qualified public servant and consensus builder who has dedicated his career to ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly and have the opportunity to succeed. He has served with integrity and distinction at the local, state and national level, compiling an outstanding record of achievement.
Monitor Weekly - April 28, 2012
| The Leadership Conference Education Fund | April 28, 2012 |
Latest NewsA Critical Tool for Protecting Women. The Leadership Conference this week welcomed the passage of S.1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWA), in the U.S. Senate. The bill is now awaiting action in the House. In a letter urging support for VAWA, Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership, and Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president, wrote that “VAWA recognizes the pervasive and insidious nature of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, and provides local, state and tribal authorities with critical tools to support victims of these crimes. Reauthorization of VAWA will enhance our nation’s ability to prosecute perpetrators of violence, while responding to the needs of victims and survivors.” *** Restoring Balance on the Use of Criminal Background Checks. A coalition of 55 national and local civil rights organizations this week applauded the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for clarifying the standards how employers should use criminal background checks. In a letter sent to the EEOC, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, joined by 54 other organizations, stressed that “due in part to racial profiling and discriminatory sentencing schemes, racial and ethnic disparities persist at all stages of the criminal justice system. …These inequities in the criminal justice system only magnify the discriminatory barriers already experienced by minorities and low-income individuals living in the United States.” *** Keeping Student Loans Affordable. The Leadership Conference this week welcomed the introduction of the Stop Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act of 2012. The bill maintains the current interest rate on student loans at 3.4 percent for an additional year, saving more than seven million students an average of $1,000. “It would be unconscionable for House and Senate Republican leaders to allow interest rates on student loans to double to 6.8 percent,” said Nancy Zirkin. “Such a rate hike would be particularly devastating to low-income students, students of color, immigrant students, and students with disabilities who often experience significant barriers to college and frequently graduate with far more student loan debt than their colleagues.” Unfinished Business: Latest Blog PostsWorking for Civil Rights |
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