The Senate will convene on Monday, October 24, 2011 at 3:45pm and on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 11am for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted.

Following the pro forma session on Thursday, October 27^th, the Senate will adjourn until 3:00pm on Monday, October 31, 2011. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Calendar #249, Stephen A. Higginson, of LA, to be United States Circuit Judge for the 5^th Circuit with one hour equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.

The next roll call vote will be at approximately 5:30pm on confirmation of the Higginson nomination.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF OCTOBER 26, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST Session

-SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.5:20:17 P.M. -ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.5:19:50 P.M. -Mr. Goodlatte asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns on Wednesday, October 26, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 27, 2011. Agreed to without objection.5:19:22 P.M. -H.R. 2527Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.5:19:21 P.M. -H.R. 2527On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 – 3 (Roll no. 812).5:12:43 P.M. -H.R. 2527Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2527 — “To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition and celebration of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.”5:12:43 P.M. -H. Res. 448Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.5:12:42 P.M. -H. Res. 448On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 253 – 172 (Roll no. 811).5:05:21 P.M. -H. Res. 448On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 243 – 178 (Roll no. 810).4:58:33 P.M. -H. Res. 448Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 448 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2576) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the calculation of modified adjusted gross income for purposes of determining eligibility for certain healthcare-related programs, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 674) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the imposition of 3 percent withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities.”4:58:31 P.M. -H.R. 1904Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.4:58:30 P.M. -H.R. 1904On passage Passed by recorded vote: 235 – 186 (Roll no. 809).4:51:49 P.M. -H.R. 1904On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 187 – 237 (Roll no. 808).4:34:10 P.M. -H.R. 1904The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.4:26:17 P.M. -H.R. 1904DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Deutch motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions in the motion seek to report the same to the House with an amendment to add language to prevent land exchanges with companies doing business with Iran.4:24:46 P.M. -H.R. 1904Mr. Deutch moved to recommit with instructions to Natural Resources.4:24:12 P.M. -H.R. 1904MOMENT OF SILENCE – The Chair asked that the House now observe a moment of silence in rememberance of our brave men and women in uniform who have given their lives in the service of our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families, and of all who serve in our armed forces and their families.4:23:03 P.M. -H.R. 1904The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.4:22:45 P.M. -H.R. 1904The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.4:22:07 P.M. -H.R. 1904The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1904.4:21:34 P.M. -H.R. 1904On agreeing to the Grijalva amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 182 – 240 (Roll no. 807).4:16:04 P.M. -H.R. 1904On agreeing to the Markey amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 173 – 238 (Roll no. 806).4:12:21 P.M. -H.R. 1904On agreeing to the Lujan amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 189 – 233 (Roll no. 805).3:46:11 P.M. -H.R. 1904The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.3:45:28 P.M. -H.R. 1904Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1904 — “To facilitate the efficient extraction of mineral resources in southeast Arizona by authorizing and directing an exchange of Federal and non-Federal land, and for other purposes.”3:45:00 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of October 26.3:05:52 P.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for approximately 3:30 p.m. today.3:04:29 P.M. -H.R. 1904Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1904 as unfinished business.3:04:18 P.M. -H.R. 1904On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.3:03:59 P.M. -H.R. 1904Mr. Hastings (WA) moved that the committee rise.3:03:41 P.M. -H.R. 1904POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Grijalva amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Grijalva demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.2:52:09 P.M. -H.R. 1904DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 444, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Grijalva amendment.2:51:42 P.M. -H.R. 1904An amendment, offered by Mr. Grijalva, numbered 3 printed in Part B of House Report 112-258 to require that the remote operations center for the proposed mine be located in the local community, that the company actively recruit and hire local employees, that all ore produced from the mine be processed in the United States and that all equipment used at the mine be made in the United States.2:51:22 P.M. -H.R. 1904POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Markey amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Markey demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.2:40:15 P.M. -H.R. 1904DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 444, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Markey amendment.2:39:54 P.M. -H.R. 1904An amendment, offered by Mr. Markey, numbered 2 printed in Part B of House Report 112-258 to require, as a condition of the land exchange authorized by the bill, that Resolution Copper pay an 8% royalty to the United States on all locatable minerals produced in commercial quantities from the Federal land the company receives in the exchange.2:39:40 P.M. -H.R. 1904POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Lujan amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Lujan demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.2:29:20 P.M. -H.R. 1904DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 444, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lujan amendment.2:28:40 P.M. -H.R. 1904An amendment, offered by Mr. Lujan, numbered 1 printed in Part B of House Report 112-258 to exempt all Native American sacred and cultural sites from the land conveyance.1:22:05 P.M. -H.R. 1904GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1904.1:21:55 P.M. -H.R. 1904The Speaker designated the Honorable Tim Murphy to act as Chairman of the Committee.1:21:54 P.M. -H.R. 1904House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 444 and Rule XVIII.1:21:28 P.M. -H.R. 1904Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1904 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. The resolution waives all points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended. The resolution waives all points of order against the amendments printed in Part B of the report.1:21:23 P.M. -H.R. 1904Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 444. H.R. 1904 — “To facilitate the efficient extraction of mineral resources in southeast Arizona by authorizing and directing an exchange of Federal and non-Federal land, and for other purposes.”1:17:51 P.M. -H. Res. 448POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H. Res. 448, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question, and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Hastings (FL) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on ordering the previous question until a time to be announced.12:30:07 P.M. -H. Res. 448DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 448.12:28:46 P.M. -H. Res. 448Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 448 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2576) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the calculation of modified adjusted gross income for purposes of determining eligibility for certain healthcare-related programs, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 674) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the imposition of 3 percent withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities.”12:04:14 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.12:02:43 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Hochul to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.12:02:37 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.12:01:08 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Scott Eynon, Community Christian Church, Tamarac, Florida.12:00:48 P.M. -The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of October 26.11:22:17 A.M. -The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.10:01:11 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.10:00:57 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Chip Cravaack to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.10:00:33 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.T SESSION

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Victory for Dixie Mitchell … Ian Pajer-Rogers New Bottom Line

10/26/2011 Nativegrl77

JOIN THE NEW BOTTOM LINE >>> www.newbottomline.com

Thank everyone for signing this petition from The New Bottom Line to help Dixie Mitchell keep her home, which was scheduled to be auctioned off on October 28th.

Last week, we delivered over 7,000 petition signatures and Dixie’s loan modification paperwork to Ocwen Financial in Florida, while Dixie’s supporters rallied outside of her Seattle home. Dixie’s story earned tons of media coverage in Seattle and Dixie also went on Up with Chris Hayes on MSNBC to talk about her case.

All the hard work finally paid off. On Friday, Dixie received a call from Ocwen offering her the loan modification that will save her home.http://www.newbottomline.com/victory_for_dixie_mitchell

This after years of Dixie fighting just to get Ocwen to look at the paperwork. It’s a testament to what can happen when people organize to hold corporations and big banks accountable to regular Americans.

While Dixie can now rest easy knowing that her home is safe, millions of other Americans are not so fortunate. The New Bottom Line is made up of dozens of local progressive, faith-based, and community groups in 27 states nationwide. We are committed to fighting for an economy that works for all Americans and are particularly focused on elevating low-income communities that were hardest hit by the financial crisis.

Join The New Bottom Line: http://www.newbottomline.com/join

Like The New Bottom Line on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/newbottomline

Follow The New Bottom Line on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nblcampaign

Whether it’s helping an individual save her home or fighting for principal reduction on millions of underwater mortgages, The New Bottom Line is at the front line of the fight for economic justice.

In this exciting time where the 99% is finding a powerful voice, join The New Bottom Line to stay up to date on all the action –whether it’s 40 Robin Hoods paddling down the Chicago River or a divestment campaign that you organize in your community– The New Bottom Line is at the forefront of fighting for an economy that works for all of us.

Thanks so much for your action.

Ian Pajer-Rogers
Online Organizer
The New Bottom Line

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

a message from Al Franken

10/26/2011 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota

When a passionate, principled, progressive reformer like Elizabeth Warren decides to run for the U.S. Senate, the first thing to do is to get really, really excited.

We’ve all seen what Elizabeth can do with her smarts — and her guts. I’ve been impressed with her tenacity for years. She took on Wall Street before anyone else would and pushed consumer protection to the top of the financial reform agenda.

We know she’s tough and fiery and even funny. We know she’s got a great life story and a full career of achievements fighting for middle-class families. That’s why progressives like you and me have been fans for a long time, and why we hoped she’d be able to lead the consumer protection board she created. And now, when we imagine her voice in the Senate, well, it’s even more exciting.

I’m proud to endorse Elizabeth Warren. But don’t just take my word for it.

Click here to watch a video from Elizabeth, explaining why she’s running for U.S. Senate — and then join her campaign today.

After we’re done getting excited, there’s real work to do here. Just like me, Elizabeth hasn’t spent her life running for office, so she’s starting her grassroots organization from scratch. Just like me, she’s made a habit of annoying the far right and the big corporate interests — and take it from me, they play rough when they don’t like you.

And just like me, Elizabeth can only win if progressives like you are ready to fight alongside her.

So don’t just get excited about Elizabeth’s campaign — get active, and help her win it by clicking here to watch her video and join her team.

Remember that just as excited as we are about having Elizabeth in the Senate, that’s how panicked the special interests are about the idea. They are going to spend millions trying to stop her — that was the headline in Politico. “Wall Street Readies Assault on Elizabeth Warren.”

We’ve seen far too many great Democrats get buried under attack ads, but we also know that big grassroots support can beat big money. That’s how we won in Minnesota — and that’s how Elizabeth can win in Massachusetts.

So please click here to watch Elizabeth’s video and join her grassroots campaign today!

Just like you, I’ll be watching this race with great excitement. And I hope that just like me, you’re ready to do everything you can to help Elizabeth win.

Click here to sign up — and tell ‘em Al sent you.

Thanks,

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Massachusetts Ranks No.1 in Energy Efficiency

10/26/2011 Nativegrl77

by Alexis Petru

Massachusetts
was named the most energy efficient state in the country, according to a
report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Photo: Flickr/monkeyatlarge

Massachusetts has been declared the most energy efficient state in
the nation, knocking California out of the No. 1 position for the first
time in four years, according to a national scorecard that ranks states’
energy efficiency programs.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy released its fifth annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard
last week. While Massachusetts garnered the top spot for the first
time, the Golden State slipped to second place, after holding the top
position for the first four editions of the scorecard.

“Massachusetts regulators have sent a very consistent message
that they want to ramp up their energy-efficiency programs. California
has been staying even, and Massachusetts has been flooring it,” Steven
Nadel, the Council’s executive director, told the Los Angeles Times.

Next year, Massachusetts is on track to reduce its electricity demand
by 2.4 percent, the newspaper reported, while California will cut its
demand by 1 percent.

Rounding out the top 10 most energy-efficiency states were New York,
Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Connecticut and
Maryland, which made its first appearance in the top 10 this year.

The 10 states most in need of improvement were, starting in last
place, North Dakota, Wyoming, Mississippi, Kansas, Oklahoma, South
Carolina, West Virginia, Missouri, Alabama and South Dakota.

The six most improved states included Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Alabama, Maryland, and Tennessee.

Michael Sciortino, the report’s lead author, said states can use
energy efficiency as a strategy to generate cost savings, promote
technological innovation and stimulate economic growth, even during a
recession.

“Clearly, 2011 has not been kind to our economy, but energy
efficiency remains a growth sector that attracts investment and creates
jobs,” he said in a statement.

To draw up its annual scorecard, the Council analyzed states’ energy
efficiency programs and policies in the residential, commercial,
industrial and transportation sectors, including utility programs,
transportation policies, building energy codes, state government
initiatives and appliance energy standards.

READ: San Fran Named Greenest City in North America

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Investigate Clarence Thomas & Restore Ethics on the Supreme Court

10/26/2011 Nativegrl77

Nearly 45,000 activists have already signed our petition urging a DOJ investigation into Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas‘ ethics violations. Please add your name now and help us get to 60,000 signers by the end of this week! WWW.PFAW.ORG

New research by our allies has shed more light on the controversy over Justice Thomas’ failure to disclose his wife Virginia’s income on important judicial disclosure forms. The research shows that Justice Thomas knew enough about how to fill out the forms that he generally recorded his wife’s employment and earnings until 1997, when for some reason he just stopped. Since then, until recently correcting the forms, Thomas failed to disclose more than $1.6 million of his wife’s earnings, primarily from the ultraconservative think tank the Heritage Foundation.

This is just the latest revelation into why an ethics investigation of Justice Thomas is so needed, and why I am asking that you sign our petition to support calls by Rep. Louise Slaughter and her colleagues for the U.S. Judicial Conference to recommend the Justice Department launch an investigation now.

WWW.PFAW.ORG

Thanks! And after you sign, please help spread the word.

— Michael

Original Message:

Join the call for a Justice Department investigation into Clarence Thomas’ ethics violations.

Efforts to hold Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accountable for ethics violations just jumped to the next level.

A group of 20 House Democrats led by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) are now pushing for a Justice Department investigation into Justice Thomas’ possible serious violations.

Please sign our petition supporting the call for an investigation now.

The letter Rep. Slaughter and 19 of her colleagues sent was to the Judicial Conference of the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts. It urges the Judicial Conference follow the law and refer the matter of Justice Thomas’ non-compliance with the Ethics in Government Act to the Department of Justice.

Various reports have raised concerns about Justice Clarence Thomas’ seemingly flagrant disregard for important disclosure requirements under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. Justice Thomas failed to disclose his wife’s earnings on judicial financial disclosure forms on which he was required to do so. And there are questions about his acceptance of gifts from interests with significant stake in several Supreme Court cases.

The Supreme Court’s very legitimacy and the public’s trust in the institution are under threat if Justices do not strictly adhere to ethical standards. It’s incredibly important that Justice Thomas’ violations are not ignored and that he be held accountable.

Hold Justice Clarence Thomas accountable — take action to support a DOJ investigation now!

Many of you have stood with our previous work to call out Justice Thomas for his conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety his actions have created. This is a significant escalation in those ongoing efforts, and it’s very important that you continue to stand with us.

After you sign, please help spread the word and recruit more Americans to this cause.

Thank you for your activism and your unyielding commitment to fair and just courts — the American Way.

Sincerely,

Michael Keegan, President