Daily Archives: 12/23/2011

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Yet another historic day in the Obama Administration’s efforts to protect the health of American families and our environment.


Protecting American Families and the Environment from Mercury Pollution

Posted by Heather Zichal on December 21, 2011 at 2:46 PM EST

Today marks yet another historic day in the Obama Administration’s efforts to protect the health of American families and our environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the first-ever national standards to reduce mercury and other toxic air emissions – like arsenic, acid gas, and cyanide – from power plants, which are the largest sources of this pollution in the United States.

This crucial step forward will bring enormous public health benefits. By substantially reducing emissions of toxic pollutants that lead to neurological damage, cancer, respiratory illnesses, and other serious health issues, these standards will benefit millions of people across the country, but especially children, older Americans, and other vulnerable populations. Cumulatively, the total health and economic benefits to society could reach $90 billion each year.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Charlotte 2012


       
Charlotte in 2012
Dear Charlotte in 2012 Supporter,The 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte will be an historic event in the life of this community and our nation. Your support moves us closer every day to a successful convention in the New Year, and so with gratitude, the Charlotte in 2012 Convention Host Committee wishes you and your family a wonderful holiday season!

Sincerely,

Dr. Dan Murrey
Executive Director

PS: If you haven’t already, make sure to connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Climate Reality Project …


The Climate Reality Project
DonateAfter a year of wild weather and temperature extremes, we have learned anew that climate changeisn’t just a theory — it’s a reality affecting millions of people all over the world. Yet incredibly, there are still those who deny the science and reject the evidence in front of their eyes.It’s never been more urgent to stand up to the deniers and pursue real solutions to the climate crisis. And with your help, that’s exactly what The Climate Reality Project is doing. We are sending thousands of trained volunteers into the field to say that climate change is real and our leaders need to take action.

This holiday season, help our trained Climate Presenters tell the truth about climate change all over the world. Will you make a $5 donation to support our Presenters at The Climate Reality Project?

This is the year when the reality of climate change hit home. Climate change has increased our vulnerability to extreme weather, and we are seeing the consequences more frequently and in new locations around the world.

This year, we saw one extraordinary weather event after another, from torrential rains in the Midwest to extreme drought in the American South. In Texas, daily temperatures were a full five degrees above normal! The story was much the same across the rest of the world.

This means delay is not an option — and that’s why the work our Climate Presenters are doing is so important.

Even a small contribution will make a big difference. It costs an average of $17 to fund a Climate Reality presentation. With your help, our trained Climate Presenters can reach hundreds of thousands of people. They are traveling to schools, churches, business meetings and town halls to grow the global movement to solve this crisis.

Just this fall, we’ve received nearly 2,000 requests for Climate Reality presentations. Our Presenters are community leaders who have each been personally trained by our Chairman, former Vice President Al Gore, and who work to engage people at a grassroots level to take meaningful action now.

Will you make a tax-deductible donation before the end of the year? Donate $5 to help our Climate Presenters grow the worldwide movement to solve the climate crisis.

http://forms.climaterealityproject.org/donate-2011

Thanks for all you do,

Maggie L. Fox
President and CEO
The Climate Reality Project
Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture, ~ Recent Post

Congress: Senate Floor Schedule for Pro Formas —- the Republican led House – Unanimous Consent >> Payroll Tax Cut etc.


https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/hub.1324331373.html

The Senate will convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business conducted on the following dates and times:

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 11:00am

Friday, December 23, 2011 at 9:30am

Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 12:00pm

Friday, December 30, 2011 at 11:00am

Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 12:00pm, during which the 2nd Session of the 112th Congress will convene

Friday, January 6, 2012 at 11:00am

Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 11:00am

Friday, January 13, 2012 at 12:00pm

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 10:15am

Friday, January 20, 2012 at 2:00pm

When the Senate adjourns on Friday, January 20th, it will adjourn until Monday, January 23rd at 2:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:00pm 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 #438, John M. Gerrard, of Nebraska, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nebraska with up to 90 minutes of debate, 60 minutes equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley, or their designees and 30 minutes under the control of Senator Sessions or his designee.

Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on confirmation of the Gerrard nomination.

As a reminder to all Senators, cloture was filed on the Reid motion to proceed to Calendar #70, S.968, a bill to prevent online threats to economic creativity and theft of intellectual property and for other purposes on Saturday, December 17th. By unanimous consent, this roll call vote will be at 2:15pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Agreement on 2 month extension of Payroll Tax

Dec 23, ’119:49 AM
AuthorCategories Floor Updates
During today’s pro forma, the Senate entered an agreement to pass a bill providing for a 2 month extension of the reduced payroll tax, unemployment insurance, TANF, and the Medicare payment fix; agree to the request for a conference with respect to HR 3630; and authorize the Chair to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate, all occurring if the House sends us a bill to extend reduced payroll tax and other provisions for a period of 2 months. The Senate stands adjourned until 12 noon on Tuesday, December 27.

The agreement is as follows:

Reid:   I ask unanimous consent that if the House passes, and sends to the Senate, a bill which is identical to the text which is at the desk – a two month extension of the reduced payroll tax, unemployment insurance, TANF, and the Medicare payment fix – the bill be considered read three times and passed; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; and any statements related to the bill be placed in the Record at the appropriate place, as if read; further, that when the Senate receives a message from the House requesting a conference with respect to H.R.3630, the Senate agree to the request for a conference and the Chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate with a ratio of 4 to 3; that if the House does not act by January 1, 2012, with respect to passage of a bill providing the two month extension, the Senate action with respect to a conference on H.R.3630 be vitiated.

 

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 CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR 

 DAY OF DECEMBER 23, 2011 

 CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION 

 -The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 493. The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on December 27, 2011.10:05:16 A.M. -United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission – Pursuant to section 1238(b)(3) of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act of FY 2001, amended by the Division P of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution , 2003, the Minority Leady appointed Ms. Carolyn Bartholomew , Washington, D.C. and Mr. Jeffrey L. Fielder, Great Falls, V.A.10:05:15 A.M. -H.R. 3765Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.10:05:06 A.M. -H.R. 3765On passage Passed without objection.10:05:02 A.M. -H.R. 3765Considered by unanimous consent. H.R. 3765 — “The title of this measure is not available.”10:04:19 A.M. -H.R. 3765RESERVATION OF OBJECTION – Mr. Hoyer reserved the right to object. Subsequently, the reservation was withdrawn.10:03:57 A.M. -H.R. 3765Mrs. Emerson asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.10:03:25 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mrs. Emerson to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.10:03:01 A.M. -JOURNAL APPROVED – The Chair announced that pursuant to section 3(a) of H. Res. 493, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.10:01:00 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Rev. Patrick Riffle, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Washington, D.C.10:00:00 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.