On October 8, President Trump sent a Presidential Memorandum to House and Senate leaders outlining the Trump Administration's " principles for reforming our Nation's immigration system." Trump stated that he "tasked the relevant executive departments and agencies to conduct a bottom-up review of all immigration policies to determine what legislative reforms are essential for America's economic and national security. Rather than asking what policies are supported by special interests, we asked America's law enforcement professionals to identify reforms that are vital to protect the national interest. In response, they identified dangerous loopholes, outdated laws, and easily exploited vulnerabilities in our immigration system - current policies that are harming our country and our communities. I have enclosed the detailed findings of this effort. These findings outline reforms that must be included as part of any legislation addressing the status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. Without these reforms, illegal immigration and chain migration, which severely and unfairly burden American workers and taxpayers, will continue without end."

On October 3, the House passed, by a vote of 237-189, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act  ( H.R. 36 ), which would ban abortions nationwide in cases where the probable age of the fetus is 20 weeks or later, and imposes criminal penalties (fines and/or imprisonment of up to 5 years) on medical professionals who violate the ban. The measure provides an exception for cases where the life of the woman is in danger due to a physical illness or physical condition; limited exceptions for cases of incest and rape against a minor, providing the rape or incest has been reported to law enforcement or a social services agency; and a limited rape exception for adult women if they obtain counseling or medical treatment for the rape at least 48 hours before obtaining an abortion. The White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy for H.R. 36, stating that " If H.R. 36 were presented to the President in its current form, his advisors would recommend that he sign the bill into law." Read more...

On October 5, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced several Department of Justice (DOJ) "actions to reduce the rising tide of violent crime in America. Foremost of those actions is the reinvigoration of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. " The additional measures include:  

On October 6, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor announced two companion interim final rules that "provide conscience protections to Americans who have a religious or moral objection to paying for health insurance that covers contraceptive/abortifacient services." Affordable Care Act (ACA)-compliant health insurance plans are required to cover "preventive services," a term defined through regulation. Under the existing regulatory requirements created by the previous administration, employers, unless they qualify for an exemption, must offer health insurance that covers all FDA-approved contraception. Under the first of two companion rules released on Oct. 6, entities that have sincerely held religious beliefs against providing such services would no longer be required to do so. The second rule applies the same protections to organizations and small businesses that have objections on the basis of moral conviction which is not based in any particular religious belief. Both rules took effect on Oct. 6. Read more...