~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Chevron found guilty!

02/15/2011 Nativegrl77

Yesterday marked a historic day for corporate accountability. A judge in Ecuador found Chevron guilty of massive oil contamination in the Amazon rainforest and ordered the company to pay over $8 billion to clean it up.

The verdict is the culmination of an 18-year struggle by the Indigenous and rural Ecuadoreans — the real heroes of this epic fight — who first sued Chevron to force the company to clean up its oily mess back in 1993. The battle is won, but the war for corporate accountability is far from over.

Chevron has vowed to appeal the decision, and it’s all too clear that the company intends to never pay for its oil pollution in the Amazon. Tell Chevron CEO John Watson that enough is enough – Chevron needs to clean up Ecuador NOW.http://act.ran.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3347

For 18 years the Ecuadorean plaintiffs have withstood the impacts of Chevron’s pollution in the Amazon, as well as an unprecedented PR and legal campaign aimed at discrediting them and minimizing the extent of the damage that’s been done to their health and livelihoods. The evidence of the company’s guilt is overwhelming. It’s time for Chevron to take responsibility for its mess.

John Watson needs to do the right thing and pledge to clean up the Ecuadorean Amazon by complying with the judgment in Ecuador. Some 1,400 people have already died as a result of Chevron refusing to take responsibility, and 30,000 more are at risk. The people living with Chevron’s pollution can’t wait while the company launches another PR campaign and attempts even more dirty tricks and shady legal maneuvers to try and evade its responsibility.

Stand up for the people of Ecuador, for human rights, and for corporate accountability: Tell Chevron CEO John Watson to stop stalling and clean up Ecuador NOW.http://act.ran.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3347

Are you an employee who wants to Change Chevron?

We don’t pretend to know everything about working at Chevron. We do know many communities are suffering because of the way Chevron does business around the world. As an employee of Chevron you can literally save peoples’ lives by working inside the company to change it.

We want to hear from you. The call’s confidential and on us: 1-877-844-4114

Employees can change Chevron.

For a cleaner future,

Ginger, Maria, Linda, and Mike

Change Chevron

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Budget: ‘Invest and Grow’ vs. ‘Slash and Burn’

02/15/2011 Nativegrl77

The Obama administration released its fiscal year 2012 budget yesterday, even as Congress continues to grapple with funding for the remainder of the fiscal 2011 year (which ends in October). The $3.7 trillion budget makes key investments in infrastructure, scientific research, education, and job creation, while still reducing the deficit in the medium term and stabilizing the debt-to-GDP ratio, two key steps to getting the long-term structural deficit under control. “Even as we cut out things that we can afford to do without, we have a responsibility to invest in those areas that will have the biggest impact in our future,” President Obama said in a speech yesterday. Of course, Republicans in Congress immediately criticized the administration for not proposing enough in the way of budget cuts, claiming that the lack of cuts will result in job losses. “It’s going to destroy jobs because it spends too much, it borrows too much, and it increases the deficit,” Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) said on Laura Ingraham’s radio show. But at the same time that they’re falsely accusing the administration of crafting budget policies that will cause unemployment to rise, House Republicans have proposed a deeply irresponsible spending plan for the remainder of fiscal year 2011 that, if enacted, would result in deep cuts to vital and popular programs that promote competitiveness and job creation, while simultaneously harming some of the nation’s most vulnerable residents.

KEY INVESTMENTS: As Center for American Progress economist Adam Hersh wrote, “If there is one point on which all economists can agree, it is that investment — in infrastructure, in research and innovation, and worker productivity — is the foundation for economic growth.” To that end, the Obama administration included in its budget proposal $556 billion for a six-year surface transportation authorization. The administration proposed $8 billion next year to invest in passenger and high-speed rail and $30 billion for a National Infrastructure Bank. The infrastructure funding drew the support of the National League of Cities, but even with those spending boosts, the nation would still be far short of fulfilling what the Army Corps of Engineers has assessed as roughly $2.2 trillion in infrastructure needs. The administration’s proposed budget would also include $8 billion “to boost electric cars, wind and solar power, [and] clean-energy manufacturing,” as well as $200 million in subsidies for energy efficiency and renewable energy loan guarantees. In the education realm, the Obama administration proposed a new round of the Race To The Top program — this time making competitive grants for education reform available to individual districts, instead of entire states — while increasing money for special education, school turnaround grants, and early intervention services for toddlers with disabilities. The budget also preserves the maximum Pell Grant, as well as the Teacher Incentive Fund and the Improving Teacher Quality State Grants. “The administration’s budget generally reflects the principle that we cannot out compete the rest of the world if we are leaving one-third of our citizens behind,” CAP’s Half in Ten manager Melissa Boteach noted. However, the proposed budget also includes some disappointing cuts, reducing both the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance and Community Services Block Grant by 50 percent. “These services both stabilize families in crisis and provide a pathway to long-term economic security,” Boteach wrote.

RESPONSIBLE DEFICIT REDUCTION: The release of the budget resulted in a predictable outcry from self-styled deficit hawks, who moaned that the administration did not attempt to reduce the deficit even more drastically than it did. “Regrettably, this budget keeps our nation on a reckless fiscal path, representing more unaffordable debt and spending,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT). The budget also received fire from Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), who said we need “a much more robust package of deficit and debt reduction over the medium and long term.” Alice Rivlin, a member of the now-completed Presidential deficit commission, claimed, “I would have preferred to see the administration get out front on addressing the entitlements and the tax reform that we need to reduce long-run deficits.” However, the President’s budget does responsibly reduce the deficit. As Center for American Progress Associate Director of Tax and Budget Policy Michael Linden wrote, “The President’s budget goes exactly as far as it should, showing deficits declining from a high of 10.9 percent of GDP down to 3.2 percent of GDP by 2015.” “His deficit reduction eases in to allow the economic recovery to get more momentum before the deficit-cutting measures start to bite. And, although there are lots of spending cuts, there are lots of investments in the economy that can produce returns in job creation and economic growth,” added CAP Vice President for Economic Policy Michael Ettlinger. Even so, the administration left some big fish on the table in terms of possible deficit reduction, including plenty of wasteful tax expenditures and the bloated defense budget (from which the administration only suggested $78 billion in savings over five years, which only slows DOD’s rate of growth).

GOP‘S SLASH AND BURN: As the President rolls out his budget, House Republicans are using their new majority to try to cut spending for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year. (Currently, the government is operating under a continuing resolution that keeps funding consistent at the 2010 level.) After initially releasing roughly $30 billion in cuts (below the fiscal 2010 level), House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) was forced to go back and find further reductions after a revolt from members of his own party. The roughly $60 billion in savings that the GOP found, on its second attempt, would severely undermine job creation — causing the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs even as unemployment is at 9 percent — while also cutting vital and popular programs. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the GOP’s first round of proposed budget cuts alone would cause the loss of 600,000 jobs. With their proposed cuts, House Republicans take aim at everything from Pell Grants and special education funding to WIC, which provides nutrition assistance for infants and low-income pregnant women, and other programs benefiting women and children. They also proposed cutting half of federal job training programs, more than one billion from community health centers (which they used to call “essential”), and slashing clean-tech and energy investments by nearly 30 percent, “devastating this growing but immature industry that struggled during the Great Recession.” Programs that they propose completely eliminating range from investments in high-speed rail and weatherization assistance to assistance for homeless veterans. Finally, at the same time that some Republicans decided to criticize the President for not reducing the deficit fast enough, they proposed new, unfinanced tax cuts that would cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell Clarence Thomas to Recuse himself!

02/15/2011 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

Nearly 25,000 people have already signed on to this action, giving it an incredible start. Help us keep it going.

Be part of the growing number of Americans demanding that Justice Thomas acknowledge the conflict of interest presented by his family’s professional, paid involvement in efforts to fight and now repeal a law that could soon come before the Supreme Court.

Tell Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from future Supreme Court cases involving the health care reform law.>> www.pfaw.org

Thank you for your support and your activism.

— Ben

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Original Message:

Dear People For Supporter,

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, already in hot water over failing to report his wife’s income on judicial disclosure forms, is now being called on by 74 members of Congress, led by Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York, to recuse himself from hearing cases on the health care reform law.

It’s really pretty simple. Justice Thomas’ wife Ginni has earned hundreds of thousands of dollars working for and leading groups that have repealing health care reform as one of their chief goals. And considering challenges to the health car law are expected to make it to the Supreme Court, how could that not be a major conflict of interest?

Rep. Weiner and his colleagues are absolutely correct that Justice Thomas should recuse himself.

Click here to sign on to their letter to Justice Thomas and we’ll deliver the names to Rep. Weiner. >> www.pfaw.org

Challenges to the health care reform law have been largely unsuccessful, but two judges have ruled at least one part of the bill unconstitutional, making it very likely that the challenge will make its way to the Supreme Court.

The court challenges to health care reform are really more political than legal, and the tortured logic used by the judges who have ruled it unconstitutional ignores the text and history of our Constitution, as well as firmly established case law going back to the Supreme Court of the early 1800s. Despite right-wing Supreme Court justices’ willingness to contort the law to suit their ideology – see the their controversial decisions in Bush v. Gore and Citizens United v. FEC, both of which had Justice Thomas in the majority – most legal experts agree that the health care reform law is perfectly constitutional and under no real threat of being ruled otherwise. But outcomes aside, the Thomas family’s profits from efforts to repeal health care reform clearly mean that Justice Thomas should not hear and decide cases about that law.

Ginni Thomas is now a lobbyist, advertising herself to potential clients interested in health care reform as someone with the “experience and connections” to get the job done. Justice Clarence Thomas should honor his office by acknowledge this obvious conflict of interest and recusing himself.

Don’t wait another minute to speak up — add your name to Rep. Weiner’s letter now. www.pfaw.org

— Ben Betz, Online Communications Manager

Here’s the text of the letter:

Dear Justice Thomas:

As an Associate Justice, you are entrusted with the responsibility to exercise the highest degree of discretion and impartiality when deciding a case. As Members of Congress, we were surprised by recent revelations of your financial ties to leading organizations dedicated to lobbying against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. We write today to respectfully ask that you maintain the integrity of this court and recuse yourself from any deliberations on the constitutionality of this act.

The appearance of a conflict of interest merits recusal under federal law. From what we have already seen, the line between your impartiality and you and your wife’s financial stake in the overturn of health care reform is blurred. Your spouse is advertising herself as a lobbyist who has “experience and connections and appeals to clients who want a particular decision — they want to overturn health care reform. Moreover, your failure to disclose Ginny Thomas‘s receipt of $686,589 from the Heritage Foundation, a prominent opponent of health care reform, between 2003 and 2007 has raised great concern.

This is not the first case where your impartiality was in question. As Common Cause points out, you participated in secretive political strategy sessions, perhaps while the case was pending, with corporate leaders whose political aims were advanced by the [5-4] decision on the Citizens United case. Your spouse also received an undisclosed salary paid for by undisclosed donors as CEO of Liberty Central, a 501(c)(4) organization that stood to benefit from the decision and played an active role in the 2010 elections.

Given these facts, there is a strong conflict between the Thomas household’s financial gain through your spouse’s activities and your role as a Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. We urge you to recuse yourself from this case. If the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision is to be viewed as legitimate by the American people, this is the only correct path.

We appreciate your thoughtful consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

ANTHONY D. WEINER

Call your Member of Congress

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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell Congress: Support a small investment with big returns

02/15/2011 Nativegrl77

In today’s charged political climate, every decision made by Congress faces increased scrutiny. Right now, our new Congress is under pressure to reduce the growing federal deficit. Congress, currently operating on 2010 funding levels, is poised to vote on the 2011 Federal Budget as early as this week. One of the proposals up for discussion suggests returning federal funding to fiscal year 2008 levels. If this proposal passes, it is very likely that the U.S. foreign aid budget will face significant cuts, perhaps up to 21 percent. We must act now to tell Congress not to cut the foreign aid budget.

As a global humanitarian organization working in 70 countries around the world, CARE knows firsthand how critical U.S. foreign assistance programs are to building a stable and secure world. Supporting these programs is not only the right thing to do – it is a practical and smart investment in global stability.

There is a common misconception about how much of the U.S. federal budget is spent on foreign aid. And for that matter, what Americans think we should spend on foreign aid. The reality is that the foreign aid budget represents only 1 percent of the federal budget. You can see why a 21 percent slash would be tremendously detrimental.

Take action today by telling your member of Congress that you support smart deficit reduction, but not harmful cuts to foreign assistance! Congress could vote as soon as Wednesday!

Then, continue the conversation in person at the CARE Conference & International Women’s Day Celebration on March 8-10. To find out more about how you can join us to speak out on behalf poor women and girls – and register today – please visit http://www.careconference.org.

Thank you for your efforts! Your voice is critical to saving programs that help millions of people struggling with poverty around the world.

Sincerely,

Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH

President and CEO, CARE

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress: the Senate & the Republican led House -are they really working for you?

02/15/2011 Nativegrl77

The Senate Convenes at 10:00amET February 15, 2011

Senate extends the PatriotAct 3months -May 2011 86-12 go to: www.senate.gov and find out how your rep. voted

Morning business until 11am with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each therein, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two leaders or their designees.

At 11am, the Senate will resume consideration of S.223, FAA Authorization bill.

The following amendments are pending to S.223:

– Blunt amendment #5 (private screening company)

– Wyden #27 (increase test sites for unmanned aerial vehicles)

– Inhofe amendment #7 (flight time limitations/rest requirements), as modified (slots)

– Ensign amendment #32 (military remotely piloted aerial systems)

– McCain amendment #4 (Essential Air Service)

– Leahy amendment #50 (liability protection for volunteer pilots)

– Reid amendment #54 (noise buffering)

– Reid #55 (Convey federal land to Mesquite, NV)

– Udall (NM) #49 (Dona Ana County airport), as modified

– Udall (NM) #51 (Advanced Imaging Technology), as modified

– Paul amendment #18 (Memorandum of understanding re: OSHA)

– Baucus amendment #75, as further modified (Finance title)

– Hutchison amendment #93 to Inhofe amendment #7, as modified (Slots)

At 11:40am, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of the Nelson (NE) amendment #58 (criminal penalty for distribution of body scan images) and a Nelson (NE) 2nd degree amendment #85 will be agreed to. There will then be 20 minutes for debate followed by a roll call vote in relation to the Nelson (NE) amendment #58, as amended (60-vote threshold).

The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus luncheons.

At 2:15pm, there will be 20 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Rockefeller and Wicker prior to a roll call vote in relation to the Wicker amendment #14, as modified (TSA collective bargaining) (60-vote threshold).

The Senate has entered into an agreement to limit debate on the Paul amendment #21 (FY ‘08 authorization levels). There will now be up to 100 minutes for debate equally divided between Senators Paul and Rockefeller, or their designees. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will proceed to a vote in relation to the amendment. We expect this vote to be a tabling motion. No amendments are in order to the amendment prior to the vote.

As a result, senators should expect a roll call vote to begin at approximately 4:55pm in relation to the Paul amendment #21 (FY ‘08 authorization levels).

Following the vote on the Paul amendment, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of H.R.514, PATRIOT Act/FISA extension. The Reid-McConnell substitute amendment will be agreed to by unanimous consent (the amendment extends the PATRIOT Act and FISA provisions through May 27, 2011). No further amendments or motions are in order prior to the vote. There will then be up to 30 minutes for debate prior to a roll call vote on passage of H.R.514, as amended.

This evening, Senator Inhofe called for the regular order with respect to his amendment #7 and modified his amendment (Slots). Senator Hutchison then second degreed the Inhofe amendment with similar language relating to slots (Hutchison #93).

Senator Hutchison then filed cloture on the Inhofe amendment #7, as modified (Slots).

Prior to this, by consent Senator Udall (NM) modified his pending amendments #49 and 51 with technical changes.

There will be no further roll call votes during Tuesday’s session of the Senate.

Votes:

16: Nelson (NE) amendment #58, as amended by Nelson (NE) #85, as modified (criminal penalties for distribution of airport screening x-rays);

Agreed To: 98-0

17: Wicker amendment #14: , as modified (TSA collective bargaining);

Not Agreed To: 47-51

18: Reid motion to table the Paul amendment #21: (FY ’08 levels)

Tabled: 51-47

19: Passage of H.R.514, as amended (PATRIOT Act/FISA extension through May 27, 2011);

Passed: 86-12

Unanimous Consent:

Agreed to Blunt amendment #5, as modified (private screening company)

Agreed to Reid #55 (Convey federal land to Mesquite, NV)

———————————————————

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF FEBRUARY 15, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

1:13 A.M. –

The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 16, 2011.

On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.

Mr. Chaffetz moved that the House do now adjourn.

H.R. 1:

making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes

1:12 A.M. –

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1 as unfinished business.

1:11 A.M. –

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

Mr. Rogers (KY) moved that the Committee rise.

1:10 A.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Pascrell amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Aderholt demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

12:52 A.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Pascrell amendment numbered 223 under the five-minute rule.

12:51 A.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Pascrell.

An amendment numbered 223 printed in the Congressional Record to increase funding for Firefighter Assistance Grants by $510 million offset by a reduction in funding for the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology R&D by the same amount.

12:47 A.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the DeFazio amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. DeFazio demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

12:40 A.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the DeFazio amendment numbered 98 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. DeFazio.

An amendment numbered 98 printed in the Congressional Record to eliminate the funding for the Selective Service System ($24.032 million) and to apply the savings to the deficit.

12:33 A.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Latta amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Latta demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

12:29 A.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Latta amendment numbered 259 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Latta.

An amendment numbered 259 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by $70 million.

12:28 A.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Tonko amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Tonko demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

12:23 A.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Tonko amendment numbered 4 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Tonko.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in the Congressional Record to strike the prohibition on Weatherization and State Energy Program Funding.

12:22 A.M. –

On agreeing to the McClintock amendment Failed by voice vote.

12:17 A.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the McClintock amendment numbered 315 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. McClintock.

An amendment numbered 315 printed in the Congressional Record to eliminate the funding for Solar R&D within EERE ($247 million) and to apply the amount to the deficit reduction account.

12:16 A.M. –

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

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the McClintock amendment numbered 297 under the five minute rule.

12:15 A.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. McClintock.

An amendment numbered 297 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce funds used for the Klamath Dam Removal and Sedimentation Study being conducted by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Fish and Wildlife Service by $1.897 million and apply the amount to the deficit reduction account.

12:12 A.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Inslee amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Inslee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

12:04 A.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Inslee amendment number 395 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Inslee.

An amendment numbered 395 printed in the Congressional Record to increase the funding for the ARPA-E account by $20 million offset by a reduction in the Fossil Energy account of $20 million.

12:03 A.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Biggert amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Biggert demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

11:52 P.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Biggert amendment No. 192 under the five-minute rule.

11:51 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mrs. Biggert.

An amendment numbered 192 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce funding for the ARPA-E account by $50 million and apply the amount to the deficit reduction account.

11:43 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Duncan (SC) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Duncan (SC) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

11:27 P.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Duncan (SC) amendment No. 110 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Duncan (SC).

An amendment numbered 110 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce the amount for the Legal Services Corporation by $324 million.

11:24 P.M. –

Mr. Wolf raised a point of order against the Cohen amendment Mr. Wolf stated that the provisions of the amendment seek to propose a net increase in budget authority in the bill. The Chair sustained the point of order.

11:09 P.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Cohen amendment number 173 under the five-minute rule, pending reservation of a point of order.

11:08 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Cohen.

An amendment numbered 173 printed in the Congressional Record to increase funding for the Legal Services Corporation by $70 million.

11:03 P.M. –

By unanimous consent, the Olson amendment was withdrawn.

10:52 P.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Olson amendment number 78 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Olson.

An amendment numbered 78 printed in the Congressional Record to decrease/increase the amount available for NASA Space Operations by $517 million.

10:51 P.M. –

POSTPONED CONSIDERATION – At the conclusion of debate on the Weiner amendment, as modified, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Weiner demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

10:26 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 92, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Weiner amendment number 125, as modified under the five-minute rule.

10:25 P.M. –

Weiner amendment modified by unanimous consent. The modication makes a technical correction.

Amendment offered by Mr. Weiner.

An amendment numbered 125 printed in the Congressional Record to increase the Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services by $298,000,000 and reducing the NASA by $298,000,000.

10:24 P.M. –

Mr. Wolf raised a point of order against the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment Mr. Wolf stated that the amendment seeks to increase net Budget authority. The Chair sustained the point of order.

10:16 P.M. –

POINT OF ORDER – Mr. Wolf reserved a point of order againist the Jackson Lee amendment numbered 240 printed in the Congressional Record.

10:15 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Ms. Jackson Lee (TX).

An amendment numbered 240 printed in the Congressional Record to strike the section that reduces the fund for the Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Service by $290,500,000.

10:14 P.M. –

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

10:11 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Holt.

An amendment numbered 12 printed in the Congressional Record to redirect $20 million in funding for the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance.

10:09 P.M. –

10:05 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 92, the Committee of the Whole proceeded debate on Latta amendment number 260 under the five-minute rule.

10:04 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Latta.

An amendment numbered 260 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce funds in the Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Construction of Research Facilities by $10,000,000.

9:59 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Flake amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Dicks demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

9:55 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 92, the Committee of the Whole proceeded debate on Flake amendment number 368 under the five-minute rule.

9:54 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Flake.

An amendment numbered 368 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce funds to the Department of Justice, General Administration, National Drug Intelligence Center by $34,023,000.

9:51 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Michaud amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Michaud demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

9:48 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 92, the Committee of the Whole proceeded debate on Michaud amendment number 153 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Michaud.

An amendment numbered 153 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce the the Census by $80 million and increasing EDA by $80 million.

9:41 P.M. –

Mr. Kingston raised a point of order against the Connolly (VA) amendment Mr. Kingston stated that the amendment seeks to transfer funds between the subcommittees. The Chair sustained the point of order.

9:36 P.M. –

POINT OF ORDER – Mr. Kingston reserved a point of order againist the Connolly (VA) amendment numbered 93 printed in the Congressional Record.

9:35 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Connolly (VA).

An amendment numbered 93 printed in the Congresssional Record to reduce funds for the Agricultural Programs, Food Safety and Inspection Service by $200,000,000.

9:33 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Defazio amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Kingston demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

9:22 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 92, the Committee of the Whole proceeded debate on Defazio amendment number 97 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. DeFazio.

An amendment numbered 97 printed in the Congressional Record to increase funding (by transfer) for the Agricultural Programs, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Integrated Activities by $5 million.

9:05 P.M. –

Mr. Frelinghuysen raised a point of order against the Baldwin amendment Mr. Frelinghuysen stated that the amendment seeks to amend portions of the bill not yet read for consideration. The Chair sustained the point of order.

9:02 P.M. –

POINT OF ORDER – Mr. Frelinghuysen reserved a point of order againist the Baldwin amendment numbered 45 printed in the Congressional Record.

9:00 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Ms. Baldwin.

An amendment numbered 45 printed in the Congressional Record to add at the end of division A a new section.

8:59 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Holt amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Holt demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

8:55 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 92, the Committee of the Whole proceeded debate on Holt amendment number 237 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Holt.

An amendment numbered 237 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce the Iraq Security Forces Fund by $1,500,000,000.

8:53 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Jones amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Jones demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

8:41 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 92, the Committee of the Whole proceeded debate on Jones amendment number 95 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Jones.

An amendment numbered 95 printed in the Congressional Record to eliminate the Afghanistan Infrastructure fund.

8:40 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Rooney amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Rooney demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

8:10 P.M. –

DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole resumed debate on the Rooney amendment No. 2.

Considered as unfinished business.

8:09 P.M. –

Mr. Dreier filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 93.

H.R. 1:

making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes

8:08 P.M. –

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

Mr. Young (FL) moved that the committee rise.

7:39 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 92, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Rooney amendment number 2 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Rooney.

An amendment numbered 2 printed in the Congresssional Record to reduce Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Navy by $ 225,000,000, reduce Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, Air Force by $225,000,000 and increase Defense by $450,000,000

7:38 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Quigley amendment Failed by voice vote.

7:27 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 92, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Quigley amendment number 162 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Quigley.

An amendment numbered 162 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce Title IV the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation by 10%.

7:25 P.M. –

Subsequently, the Committee resumed it’s sitting.

7:24 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 514 amended.

H.R. 1:

making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes

The Committee of the Whole rose informally to receive a message from the Senate.

7:23 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Pompeo amendment Failed by recorded vote: 109 – 320 (Roll no. 44).

7:18 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Gutierrez amendment Failed by recorded vote: 105 – 326 (Roll no. 43).

7:12 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Pompeo amendment Failed by recorded vote: 72 – 358 (Roll no. 42).

7:08 P.M. –

On agreeing to the Flake amendment Failed by recorded vote: 207 – 223 (Roll no. 41).

6:39 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.

H.R. 1:

making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Pompeo amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Pompeo demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

6:21 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 92, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Pompeo amendment number 86 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Pompeo.

An amendment numbered 86 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce funds in Title IV the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation and increase Defense by $115,520,000.

6:18 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Gutierrez amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Gutierrez demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

6:10 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 92, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Gutierrez amendment number 63 under the five-minute rule.

6:09 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Gutierrez.

An amendment numbered 63 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce the amount for Aircraft Procurement, Navy by $21,985,000, the Aircraft Procurement, Air Force by $393,098,000 and increase Defense by $415,083,000.

6:00 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Pompeo amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Dicks demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

5:43 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 92, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Pompeo amendment number 87 under the five-minute rule.

Amendment offered by Mr. Pompeo.

An amendment numbered 87 printed in the Congressional Record to eliminate all funding for the Innovative Research Fund.

5:37 P.M. –

3:37 P.M. –

DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 92, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Flake amendment number 370 under the five-minute rule.

3:36 P.M. –

Amendment offered by Mr. Flake.

An amendment numbered 370 printed in the Congressional Record to reduce funding by $18,750,000 for unneeded boards and commissions.

2:14 P.M. –

GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1.

2:13 P.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Frank D. Lucas 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. 92 and Rule XVIII.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1 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 read by paragraph. Specified amendments are in order. The resolution makes in order only those amendments received for printing in the Congressional Record dated at least one day before the day of consideration of the amendment (but no later that February 15, 2011). The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII for a two-thirds vote to consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is presented to the House is waived with respect to any resolution reported providing for consideration or disposition of H.R. 1.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 92.

H. Con. Res. 17:

providing for an adjournment or recess of the two Houses

2:12 P.M. –

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

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 243 – 176 (Roll no. 40).

2:06 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 92:

providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 1) making appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes, and waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules

2:05 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: 242 – 174, 2 Present (Roll no. 39).

1:55 P.M. –

On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 240 – 179 (Roll no. 38).

1:31 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

UNFINSHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on ordering the previous question on H.Res. 92, adoption of H.Res. 92, if ordered, and on agreeing to H.Con.Res. 17 which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H. Con. Res. 17:

providing for an adjournment or recess of the two Houses

1:30 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair put the question on the adoption of the concurrent resolution, and by voice vote, the Chair announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Woodall objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.

1:28 P.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 92:

1:27 P.M. –

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H.Res. 92, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question, and by voice vote, the Chair announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Woodall 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.

12:12 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 92.

12:10 P.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

12:02 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.

12:01 P.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Jackson to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.

12:00 P.M. –

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 15.

10:58 A.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

10:01 A.M. –

MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

10:00 A.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Renee L. Ellmers to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.