The Source: The Root …This is a Re-Post

If you’re black and think that state’s new immigration law has nothing to do with you, think again. By: Joel Dreyfuss

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A law that makes people suspects on the basis of their looks should outrage African Americans, even if they are worried about illegal immigration.

The immigration law passed in Arizona last week is the kind of reckless act that keeps us minorities paranoid in America. The new law compels local law enforcers to verify immigration status based on “reasonable suspicion”–whatever that is–and has created the potential for cops to stop brown people in the streets and demand to see their papers. Even the sheriff of Pima County, Ariz., (which borders Mexico) says the law is “stupid,” “racist,” and would force his officers to racially profile people. The scope of the law was narrowed after its passage in order to assure Hispanics, who make up 30 percent of the state’s population, that they would not be the victims of racial profiling.

But those assurances that people won’t be suspects because of the way they look have little credibility when the experience of black and brown people in America has been so contrary to those promises. Being stopped for Driving While Black (or Brown) is such a common phenomenon that comedians make jokes about it. And a city like New York, which operates a massive stop-and-frisk policy that probably violates a dozen constitutional principles, keeps trying to explain why black and brown citizens make up 80 to 90 percent of those questioned by police. The latest rationale: They fit the description of suspected perps when 98 percent of those stopped and questioned are innocent of any crime.

The reason people of color get worked up about such policies is America’s nasty habit of making everything racial in a panic. We have a long history of lynchings and runaway convictions that were triggered by fears that black people were getting out of hand in some fashion, whether it was interracial sex or talking back to massa. The roundup of Japanese Americans during World War II will forever stain this country’s history.

After 9/11, looking Arab or simply wearing a turban, whether you are Muslim or not, turned out to be a grave danger in some parts of the country and a constant annoyance in others. No Muslim American believes that the frequent “random” checks they endured at airports in the months after the tragedy were really a matter of chance. And last week, the front page of the Boston Herald illustrated a cover story about the crackdown on benefits for illegal immigrants with a photo of black, Hispanic and Asian models, their foreheads stamped with the following: “No Tuition, No Welfare, No Medicaid.” Ironically, the headline at above the newspaper’s logo announced a “workplace diversity job fair.”

Of course, the concept of white or blonde illegal aliens is apparently beyond the capacity of the people passing the laws or the editors at the Herald. But nearly 600,000 of those in the United States illegally were estimated to come from Europe or Canada in 2005; and while I knew many Irish, English and other Europeans who had overstayed their visas when I was growing up in New York, I never heard of a raid of an Irish bar, except when ATF or the FBI were trying to trap Irish Republican Army gun runners during the “troubles.”

Now Arizona, better known for resorts, retirees in golf carts, and college basketball teams whose players never graduate, is suddenly at the center of a debate that could shape U.S. politics for the next 10 years. The only surprise is that it took so long. All the great economies have been struggling with the immigration issue for years. Just last week, France was in tizzy about the burqa, the full-length outfit with only an eye-slit that conservative Muslim women wear. Nicolas Sarkozy’s government has considered banning the burqa on security grounds (you can’t identify the person), but the real reason behind this initiative, Arizona’s or any of the dozen being considered in other states or countries is fear of change.

No doubt, the Great Recession of the last three years has heightened American insecurity. Although the downturn has hit blue-collar workers the hardest, many people who thought they were solidly in the middle class have seen their savings, their safety net, even their homes evaporate in the financial collapse. The next step for many of them would be to step “down” into the blue-collar workforce. Suddenly, the Mexican, Salvadorian and African immigrants they hardly noticed during boom times are now potential competitors.

African Americans, who lost more than their fair share of blue-collar jobs in the downturn, have long been ambiguous about illegal immigration. As Cord Jefferson noted here a few months ago, a growing number of experts believe that blacks and Hispanic immigrants battle for unskilled jobs at the bottom of the labor pool. Black Americans have not turned out in large numbers at immigration rallies, despite the fact that many African-American politicians talk of the need for coalitions with Hispanics.

But a law that puts you in jeopardy for being has special resonance with black Americans. We already know the peril of living in a state where you are presumed guilty by the color of your skin. A law that makes a suspect of anyone who might look illegal should make us vigorously resist this encroachment.

Joel Dreyfuss is managing editor of The Root. Follow him on Twitter.

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NATIONAL SECURITY: Republicans Hungry For Nuclear Pork

07/29/2010 Nativegrl77

The debate over the New START arms control treaty with Russia is winding down. Senate committees have held nearly 20 hearings, and treaty opponents are now repeating the same tired arguments that have already been thoroughly debunked and discredited. With the debate over START largely exhausted, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has moved to schedule a committee vote for next week. If passed, the treaty will go to the Senate floor, where it will need 67 votes to be ratified. The efforts by those opposing the treaty — like Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, and the Heritage Foundation — to rally Republican opposition seem to have largely failed with few GOP Senators arguing against the merits of the treaty. A growing number of Republican senators have now expressed hope that the treaty can be ratified. But instead of expressing their intention to vote for the treaty, many of these senators — including Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee — are now demanding backroom deals to get more pork for the home states’ nuclear weapons bureaucracy — something that should have absolutely nothing to do with START. Having vigorously attacked side deals during the health care debate, these Senators are now engaging in their own sunbelt shakedown. In the midst of complaining about government spending, they are demanding wasteful pork that would have the United States absurdly spending vastly greater sums on its nuclear infrastructure, when it is planning to significantly reduce its nuclear stockpiles. Senators should not put pork and politics over American nuclear security, and the White House should resist efforts to succumb to such blackmail.

DEBATE IS OVER: After the New START treaty was signed in early April in Prague, opponents and skeptics initially sought to nitpick and take down the treaty on its merits. Their arguments on issue after issue — from missile defense to verification — have been disproven, debunked, and shown to be extremely dangerous. To make matters worse for treaty opponents, the top military brass unanimously came out in support of the treaty, the Senate’s foremost nuclear expert Richard Lugar (R-IN) vigorously supports it, and a litany of Republican foreign policy establishment figures, such as Henry Kissinger, James Schlesinger, Brent Scowcroft, and Stephen Hadley, have all testified in support of this treaty. And yesterday, seven former commanders of U.S. Strategic Command — the military commander in charge of overseeing missile defense and the nuclear arsenal — expressed their support of the treaty. Faced with a growing bipartisan consensus, Senate conservatives — led by Jon Kyl (AZ) and John Thune (SD) — insisted that the Senate was rushing the treaty, and in a ploy reminiscent of the health care debate, called for slowing things down. But the debate, with nearly 20 hearings completed, has become so stale and repetitious that claims of “rushing” have lacked credibility. Few Senate Republicans are actually arguing against the merits of the treaty now.

THE SUNBELT SHAKEDOWN: The main obstacle to treaty passage now appears to be demands from certain Republican senators for even greater funding for the nuclear weapons infrastructure and bureaucracy. In other words, the START debate is no longer about the treaty. Kyl, long an advocate for building new nuclear weapons and conducting explosive nuclear tests in the deserts of the southwest, is widely seen as attempting to extract a large price from the administration on START in order to undercut its broader arms-control agenda. Kyl seems to have immense sway. Sen. Bob Bennett (R-UT), for instance, told Foreign Policy’s Josh Rogin, “I think [START is] a step in the right direction and a continuation of the thawing of the relationship between the United States and Russia that goes all the way back to the Ronald Reagan [administration]. We’re now at the point where this is probably a good idea.” But Bennett added, “I’m waiting for Senator Kyl to finish his analysis, but he’s leaning yes and I’m leaning yes.” Corker, who sits on the Foreign Relations committee, told Politico this morning that “there is about a $10 billion gap over 10 years. It’s something that can be dealt with,” noting that if the administration gave into his demands, “it’s very likely” that he would support the treaty. Corker’s chief interest is the Uranium Processing Facility in Oak Ridge, TN, which Corker seemingly arbitrarily determined needs between $4-$5 billion, well above the projected $1.4-$3.5 billion that the facilities own in contractor projects. He concedes, however, that “certainly, there’s no official estimate.” Similarly, Alexander claimed “it will depend primarily on whether we can have an adequate nuclear modernization program going forward. … I’m working very closely with Senator Kyl to make that happen.”

DEFICIT PEACOCKS GO NUCLEAR: By publicly emphasizing that their votes on START have nothing to do with the treaty and are tied to receiving more nuclear pork, many Senate Republicans are showing how little they actually care about deficits. They may insist that such funds are vital to our national security, but they aren’t. The Bush administration neglected the nuclear infrastructure, and having expressed few concerns about the nuclear weapons complex during the ratification of an arms-control treaty under Bush, Senate Republicans have now latched onto this issue demanding an arbitrary annual spending increase of about 30 percent. What makes these demands so absurd is that the Obama administration has already proposed massive increases in funding for the nuclear weapons complex. They are increasing funding this year by 15 percent over the levels during the Bush administration and are pledging $80 billion over the next 10 years. This level of funding, if anything, is excessive. Linton Brooks, George W. Bush’s nuclear administrator for five years, even said that “I’d have killed for that [Obama’s] budget.” Additionally, it is clear that the nuclear weapons refurbishment and modernization programs are working. The U.S. nuclear arsenal remains the most reliable and technologically advanced in the world and the JASON advisory panel — made up of top nuclear scientists — found in a study last year that the nuclear arsenal was reliable and could be “extended for decades, with no anticipated loss in confidence,” as long as existing programs were maintained. Furthermore, it makes little sense to spend up to 30 percent more on an infrastructure when there are plans to substantially reduce the U.S. nuclear arsenal. But all that aside, the fact is that New START is a very modest treaty that requires the U.S. to actually cut few nuclear weapons, which makes efforts to tie the treaty to concerns about the nuclear weapons stockpile disingenuous at best.

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Justice: Support for Marriage Equality in California

07/29/2010 Nativegrl77

JUSTICE — NEW POLLS SHOW ‘INCREASING SUPPORT’ FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN CALIFORNIA: As District Judge Vaughn Walker prepares to issue his decision in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in the state — new polling shows a majority of Californians supports allowing gays and lesbians to marry. A recent poll released by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) “shows [that] a significant percentage of Californians, including people of faith across the California religious landscape, say they have become increasingly supportive of gay rights over the last five years.” The poll also found that only 22 percent of Californians think the passage of Prop 8 was a “good thing” for the state. Additionally, “an overwhelming majority…say they both favor laws that would protect gay and lesbian people from job discrimination and favor allowing [them] to serve openly in the military (75 percent and 69 percent respectively).” Adding to the credibility of the PRRI poll is a Field poll released the day before, also showing a majority of California registered voters supporting marriage equality. The “survey shows that Californians’ opinions on gay marriage have grown more approving over time.” The increase in support for marriage equality reflects a growing sense of bipartisanship on the issue. As Center for American Progress President and CEO John Podesta and Cato Institute chairman Robert A. Levy concluded in a recent op-ed, “The decision in Perry depends, of course, on values far more permanent and important than opinion polls. No less than the constitutional rights of millions of Americans are at stake. But the public appears to be catching up with the Constitution. Just a little more leadership from the courts would be the perfect prescription for a free society.”

Black History

Congress in Session …Thursday debates/votes HR5297 small biz&jobs bill

07/29/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes: 9:30amET July 29, 2010

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.5297, Small Business Jobs bill. There will then be 1 hour for debate prior to a cloture vote on substitute amendment. The time prior to the vote will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees, with the final 10 minutes reserved for the two Leaders or their designees, with the Majority Leader controlling the final 5 minutes.

At approximately 10:45am (depending on how much Leader time is used), the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Baucus-Landrieu amendment #4519 (Substitute) to HR5297, Small Business Jobs.

The filing deadline for second degree amendments to Baucus-Landrieu amendment #4519 (Substitute) and the underlying bill is 10:00am tomorrow, Thursday, July 29.

221: Vote expected shortly on Cloture vote on the Baucus-Landrieu amendment #4519: (Substitute) to HR5297, Small Business Jobs. The filing deadline for second degree amendments to Baucus-Landrieu amendment #4519 (Substitute) and the underlying bill is 10:00am tomorrow, Thursday, July 29.

In a vote of 58-42 Republicans and a conservadem who say they want to help people get back to work, give small business the means to create jobs have again said one thing and voted against the People of the United States. They say small business needs to be helped because small business creates jobs … but Republicans lie and this is yet another example and now evidence of just what they have in mind for us … as Americans we should not only be outraged but use our voice to keep Republicans out of office. We need to vote for Politicians who have Americans best interest in mind and clearly it is not …NOT Republicans.

Tell your friends this Small biz/Jobs bill was paid for, not an addition to the deficit…this the Media failed to tell the public !!!!!

Votes:
221: Cloture vote on the Baucus-Landrieu amendment #4519: (Substitute) to HR5297, Small Business Jobs;
Not Invoked: 58-42

222: Motion to instruct the Sergeant at Arms to request the presence of absent senators; Agreed to: 70-23

Unanimous Consent:
S.258, the Saving Kids from Dangerous Drugs Act

H.R.1454, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act

H.R.5874, the US Patent and Trademark Office Supplemental Appropriations Act

S.Res.592, a resolution designating the week of September 13-19, 2010, as “Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week”

S.Res.601, a resolution to authorize testimony of Senate employees in a grand jury proceeding in the District of Columbia

H.Con.Res.308, conditional adjournment of the House

Confirmed Executive Calendar #1000, Sandra L. Storz, Director, Coast Guard Reserve

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JULY 29, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

11:10 A.M. –

The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on July 30, 2010.

On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.

Ms. Chu moved that the House do now adjourn.

H. Res. 1527:

congratulating the United States Men’s National Soccer Team for its inspiring performance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup

1:09 A.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1527.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Chu moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H.J. Res. 90:

expressing support for designation of September 2010 as “Gospel Music Heritage Month” and honoring gospel music for its valuable and longstanding contributions to the culture of the United States

1:08 A.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

12:51 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.J. Res. 90.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Chu moved to suspend the rules and pass the resolution.

H.R. 2476:

to amend the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 to clarify the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture regarding additional recreational uses of National Forest System land that are subject to ski area permits, and for other purposes

12:50 A.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

12:43 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2476.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Scott (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 5414:

to provide for the conveyance of a small parcel of National Forest System land in the Francis Marion National Forest in South Carolina, and for other purposes

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

12:40 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5414.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Scott (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H. Res. 1566:

recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the pioneering of college students whose determination and nonviolent resistance led to the desegregation of lunch counters and places of public accommodation over a 5-year period

12:39 A.M. –

12:25 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House resumed debate on H. Res. 1566.

12:24 A.M. –

Mr. Polis (CO) filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 1574.

H. Res. 1566:

12:16 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1566.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Cohen moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H.R. 5320:

to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to increase assistance for States, water systems, and disadvantaged communities; to encourage good financial and environmental management of water systems; to strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to enforce the requirements of the Act; to reduce lead in drinking water; to strengthen the endocrine disruptor screening program; and for other purposes

12:15 A.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

12:01 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5320.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Markey (MA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H.R. 5901:

to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exempt certain stock of real estate investment trusts from the tax on foreign investment in United States real property interests, and for other purposes

11:59 P.M. –

11:50 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5901.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Crowley moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

S. 3372:

to modify the date on which the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and applicable States may require permits for discharges from certain vessels

11:49 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

11:46 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3372.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Johnson, E. B. moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

H.R. 5900:

to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend airport improvement program project grant authority and to improve airline safety, and for other purposes

11:45 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

11:05 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5900.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Costello moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

11:04 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.

H. Con. Res. 266:

expressing the sense of Congress that Taiwan should be accorded observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

11:01 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 5850:

making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 251 – 167 (Roll no. 499).

10:44 P.M. –

The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

10:43 P.M. –

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 5850.

10:42 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Flake amendment Failed by recorded vote: 159 – 264 (Roll no. 498).

10:36 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Flake amendment Failed by recorded vote: 165 – 258 (Roll no. 497).

10:30 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Flake amendment Failed by recorded vote: 157 – 267 (Roll no. 496).

10:23 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Flake amendment Failed by recorded vote: 163 – 260 (Roll no. 495).

10:17 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Flake amendment Failed by recorded vote: 129 – 293 (Roll no. 494).

10:11 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Jordan (OH) amendment Failed by recorded vote: 159 – 265 (Roll no. 493).

10:03 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Neugebauer amendment Failed by recorded vote: 177 – 247 (Roll no. 492).

9:46 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 847:

to amend the Public Health Service Act to extend and improve protections and services to individuals directly impacted by the terrorist attack in New York City on September 11, 2001, and for other purposes

9:45 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 255 – 159 (Roll no. 491).

8:11 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 847.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Pallone moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

8:10 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until later in the legislative day.

H.R. 5850:

making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 5850 as unfinished business.

8:09 P.M. –

On motion that the Committee now rise. Agreed to by voice vote.

Mr. Olver moved that the Committee now rise.

8:08 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Flake amendment No. 11, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Flake demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

8:00 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1569, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Flake part B amendment No. 11.

7:59 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Flake.

An amendment numbered 11 printed in part B of House Report 111-578 to prohibit $150,000 from being made available for the construction of a children’s playground in the Municipality of Yauco, Puerto Rico and reduce the overall cost of the bill by the same amount.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Flake amendment No. 10, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Flake demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

7:49 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1569, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Flake part B amendment No. 10.

Amendment offered by Mr. Flake.

An amendment numbered 10 printed in part B of House Report 111-578 to prohibit $1,000,000 from being made available for the restoration and improvements to the historical Darwin Martin House Home and complex in New York and reduce the overall cost of the bill by the same amount.

7:48 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Flake amendment No. 4, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Flake demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

7:40 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1569, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Flake part B amendment No. 4.

Amendment offered by Mr. Flake.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in part B of House Report 111-578 to prohibit $1,000,000 from being made available for the downtown Tacoma streetscapes improvement project in Washington and reduce the overall cost of the bill by the same amount.

7:39 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Flake amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Flake demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

7:28 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1569, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Flake part B amendment No. 2

Amendment offered by Mr. Flake.

An amendment numbered 2 printed in part B of House Report 111-578 to prohibit $1,000,000 from being made available for the Blackstone River Bikeway in Rhode Island and reduce the overall cost of the bill by the same amount.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Flake amendment No. 20, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Flake demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

7:21 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1569, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Flake amendment No. 20.

Amendment offered by Mr. Flake.

An amendment numbered 20 printed in part A of House Report 111-578 to reduce funding for Capital and Debt Service Grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation for capital investments by $1,203,500,000.

7:20 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Jordan (OH) amendment No. 18, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Jordan (OH) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

7:11 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1569, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jordan (OH) amendment No. 18.

Amendment offered by Mr. Jordan (OH).

An amendment numbered 18 printed in part A of House Report 111-578 to reduce spending by $18,579,000,000 in order to reflect FY 2008 levels.

7:10 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Kirkpatrick (AZ) amendment Failed by voice vote.

7:03 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1569, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kirkpatrick (AZ) amendment No. 17.

Amendment offered by Mrs. Kirkpatrick (AZ).

An amendment numbered 17 printed in part A of House Report 111-578 to make an across the board cut of 5% from the base text of the bill. It would reduce the cost of the bill by $3.37 billion, bringing the total cost of the bill down to $64.03 billion.

7:02 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Turner amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

7:01 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1569, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Turner amendment No. 16.

Amendment offered by Mr. Turner.

An amendment numbered 16 printed in part A of House Report 111-578 to prevent funds in the bill from being used to prohibit the establishment of any occupancy preference for veterans in supporting housing for the elderly that is assistance by HUD and is located on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) property or is subject to an enhanced use lease with the VA.

7:00 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Braley (IA) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

6:57 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1569, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Braley (IA) amendment No. 15.

Amendment offered by Mr. Braley (IA).

An amendment numbered 15 printed in part A of House Report 111-578 to increase funding to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) by $20 million and would offset this increase with a decrease of $20 million for non-personnel expenses within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The purpose of the CDBG funding increase is to provide CDBG disaster relief and recovery funds to assist communities in the Midwest affected by the flooding that occurred during July of 2010.

6:56 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Neugebauer amendment No. 14, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Barton (TX) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

6:46 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1569, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Neugebauer amendment No. 14.

Amendment offered by Mr. Neugebauer.

An amendment numbered 14 printed in part A of House Report 111-578 to reduce spending in the bill by $10.52 billion. This amount represents the uncommitted funds from the $61.7 billion in 2009 stimulus funds that were appropriated for transportation and housing related program.

6:45 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Moore (WI) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

6:43 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1569, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Moore (WI) amendment No. 13.

Amendment offered by Ms. Moore (WI).

An amendment numbered 13 printed in part A of House Report 111-578 to increase funding for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization by $100,000 and increase funding for the Minority Business Research Center’s outreach activities by $225,000 to help ensure that the small and disadvantaged business policies and goals of the Department are developed and implemented.

6:42 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Graves (MO) amendment Failed by voice vote.

6:29 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1569, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Graves (MO) amendment No. 12.

Amendment offered by Mr. Graves (MO).

An amendment numbered 12 printed in part A of House Report 111-578 to prohibit the Federal Aviation Administration from using funds in the Act to require a sponsor of a public general aviation airport to terminate existing residential through-the-fence agreements. or otherwise withhold funds from a sponsor of a general aviation airport, solely because the sponsor enters into a residential through-the-fence agreement.

6:26 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Culberson amendment Failed by recorded vote: 169 – 252 (Roll no. 490).

6:17 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Latham amendment Failed by recorded vote: 197 – 225 (Roll no. 489).

6:08 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Boehner amendment Failed by recorded vote: 206 – 217 (Roll no. 488).

5:40 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 5893:

to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create jobs through increased investment in infrastructure, to eliminate loopholes which encourage companies to move operations offshore, and for other purposes

5:39 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – Pursuant to clause 2c of rule 19, the Chair postponed further proccedings on H.R. 5893 until a time to be announced.

5:38 P.M. –

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

4:24 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 5893.

4:23 P.M. –

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5893 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. All points of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI are waived.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1568.

4:22 P.M. –

The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notice stating that the national emergency declared with respect to the actions of certain persons to undermine the sovereignty of Lebanon or its democratic processes and institutions is to continue in effect beyond August 1, 2010. – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 111-136).

4:07 P.M. –

NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO OFFER A RESOLUTION – Mr. Price (GA) notified the House of his intent to rise to a question of the privileges of the House and to offer a resolution. Mr. Price (GA) was recognized to notice the form of his proposed resolution.

H.R. 5850:

making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes

On motion that the Committee rise. Agreed to by voice vote.

4:06 P.M. –

Mr. Olver moved that the Committee rise.

On agreeing to the Johnson, E. B. amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

4:00 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1569, the Committee on the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the E.B Johnson (TX) amendment No. 11.

Amendment offered by Ms. Johnson, E. B..

An amendment numbered 11 printed in Part A of House Report 111-578 to increase by $10 million activities under Section 107, under the Community Development Grant program at HUD. Specifically additional funding would be requested for the HBCU Community Development Grant Program. Subsequently, reverse mortgages would be decreased by $10 million.

3:59 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Culberson amendment No. 10, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Culberson demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

3:49 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1569, the Committee on the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Culberson amendment No. 10.

3:48 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Culberson.

An amendment numbered 10 printed in Part A of House Report 111-578 to reduce the bill’s funding level by $12.4 billion dollars, returning the bill to the FY2009 funding level. This is an 18% cut in the bill’s spending.

On agreeing to the DeFazio amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

3:44 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1569, the Committee on the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeFazio amendment No. 9.

3:43 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. DeFazio.

An amendment numbered 9 printed in Part A of House Report 111-578 to prohibit any funds under the Act from being used to reallocate Federal highway formula funding for the livable communities program unless the program is first authorized by Congress.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Latham amendment No. 8, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Latham demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

3:33 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1569, the Committee on the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Latham amendment No. 8.

Amendment offered by Mr. Latham.

An amendment numbered 8 printed in Part A of House Report 111-578 to cut $1.8 billion from specific accounts that were increased over and above the President’s request.

3:32 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Perlmutter amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

3:29 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1569, the Committee on the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Perlmutter amendment No. 7.

Amendment offered by Mr. Perlmutter.

An amendment numbered 7 printed in Part A of House Report 111-578 to strike $50 million in incentive grants to states to enact laws to make it a primary traffic violation for occupants to not use a seat belt.

On agreeing to the Arcuri amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

3:22 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1569, the Committee on the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Arcuri amendment No. 6.

Amendment offered by Mr. Arcuri.

An amendment numbered 6 printed in Part A of House Report 111-578 to reduce funding for the Office of Policy Development and Research within HUD by $2,978,450–resulting in a 2.5% reduction in funding below the amount appropriated in fiscal year 2010.

3:16 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Kaptur amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

3:03 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1569, the Committee on the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kaptur (OH) amendment No. 5.

Amendment offered by Ms. Kaptur.

An amendment numbered 5 printed in Part A of House Report 111-578 to eliminate all travel funds for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

3:01 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Boehner amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

2:59 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1569, the Committee on the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Boehner amendment No. 4.

Amendment offered by Mr. Boehner.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in Part A of House Report 111-578 to reduce the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs, Office of the Secretary, Salaries and Expenses, within the Department of Transportation by $1.6 million.

2:58 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Boehner amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Boehner demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

2:53 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1569, the Committee on the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Boehner amendment No. 2.

Amendment offered by Mr. Boehner.

An amendment numbered 2 printed in Part A of House Report 111-578 to reduce HUD’s Transformation Initiative (technical assistance and capacity building) by $40 million.

On agreeing to the Boehner amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

2:50 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1569, the Committee on the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Boehner amendment No. 1.

2:49 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Boehner.

An amendment numbered 1 printed in Part A of House Report 111-578 to terminate the HUD program for doctoral dissertation research grants on housing and urban development issues.

1:55 P.M. –

GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 5850.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Vic Snyder to act as Chairman of the Committee.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1569 and Rule XVIII.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5850 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI are waived.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1569.

H.R. 3040:

to prevent mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud targeting seniors in the United States, to promote efforts to increase public awareness of the enormous impact that mail, telemarketing, and Internet fraud have on seniors, to educate the public, seniors, their families, and their caregivers about how to identify and combat fraudulent activity, and for other purposes

1:54 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 335 – 81 (Roll no. 487).

1:47 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1568:

providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 5893) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create jobs through increased investment in infrastructure, to eliminate loopholes which encourage companies to move operations offshore, and for other purposes

1:46 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 233 – 182 (Roll no. 486).

1:39 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 1569:

providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 5850) making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 231 – 185 (Roll no. 485).

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

1:32 P.M. –

On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 236 – 179 (Roll no. 484).

1:24 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

1:23 P.M. –

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on ordering the previous question and adoption of H.Res. 1569, adoption of H.Res. 1568, and a motion to suspend the rules, all of which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H. Con. Res. 308:

providing for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 231 – 189 (Roll no. 483).

12:52 P.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Con. Res. 307:

providing for a conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate

12:51 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 1568:

12:50 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H.Res. 1568, the Chair put the question on adoption of the resolution and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the resolution until later in the legislative day.

The previous question was ordered without objection.

11:45 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1568

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 1569:

11:43 A.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of the debate on H. Res. 1569, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of ordering the previous question until later in the legislative day.

10:48 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1569

Considered as privileged matter.

10:47 A.M. –

On motion to consider the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

10:46 A.M. –

At the conclusion of debate on the Flake point of order, the Chair put the question on consideration of the resolution.

10:31 A.M. –

POINT OF ORDER AGAINST CONSIDERATION – Mr. Flake stated that the provisions of H. Res. 1569 violate section 426(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 by imposing an unfunded mandate and made a point of order against the consideration of the resolution. Subsequently, the Chair noted that the required threshold of identifying the specific language in question had been met, and the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the question of consideration. At the conclusion of debate on the question of consideration, the Chair will put the question to wit: Will the House now consider the resolution?

10:30 A.M. –

By direction of the Committee on Rules, Mr. Arcuri called up the resolution H. Res. 1569, and asked for its immediate consideration.

10:29 A.M. –

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate agreed to the House amendment to S. 1749.

10:04 A.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to ten per side of the aisle.

10:03 A.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Ros-Lehtinen to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

10:02 A.M. –

Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Bruce Scott, Pentecostals of South Lake, Merrillville, Indiana

10:01 A.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Loretta Sanchez to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

10:00 A.M. –

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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No More Excuses: Climate Action Now

07/29/2010 Nativegrl77

Call your senators today
Tell your senators that delay on climate action is not an option.

No More Excuses: Climate Action Now

Last week, the Senate decided to delay taking up comprehensive climate and energy legislation at least until after Congress returns from August recess. Some senators have indicated that they will continue to work on climate and energy issues in September. Please tell your senators that inaction is absolutely not an option. Unless they hear from their constituents now, the Senate will be very hard-pressed to pass such legislation before the year ends.

While I am disappointed and angry about this setback, UCS will continue to fight for comprehensive climate and energy legislation to pass the Senate this year, and you need to keep fighting as well.

The first six months of this year have been the hottest on record; and the past 10 years were the hottest decade on record. The science is clear—we cannot afford any more delays. Your senators need to hear from you that despite the tight legislative calendar, inaction is not an option.

Call your senators today and let them know that we have waited long enough for action, you are tired of their excuses, and that they must take action to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation this year.

Take Action Today!

Sincerely,

Kate Abend
National Field Organizer
UCS Climate and Energy Program