The Senate will meet on the following date and times for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted:

Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 12:00pm and

Friday, February 24, 2012 at 11:00am.

SCHEDULE FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2012

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, February 27, 2012. Following any Leader remarks, Senator Shaheen will be recognized to deliver Washington’s Farewell Address. Upon conclusion of the reading, the Senate will be in a period of 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 #409, the nomination of Margo Kitsy Brodie, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York with up to one hour of debate equally divided and controlled between the Senators Leahy and Grassley or their designees.

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

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF FEBRUARY 21, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

-The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 24, 2012.12:02:31 P.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.12:02:23 P.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.12:01:55 P.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Alisa Lasater Wailoo, Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, Washington, DC.12:01:04 P.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.12:00:08 P.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

~ Culture & History

National Museum of African American History and Culture – Lonny Branch

02/22/2012 Nativegrl77

Dear Charter Members and Friends,As director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, I am proud to announce that we will officially break ground for the Museum on Wednesday, February 22, 2012. While we could not invite all our Charter Members and friends to join us at this ceremony, I welcome you to join us virtually through a simulcast of this historic event via this link nmaahc.si.edu/Events/Groundbreaking. Pre-program activities begin at 9 a.m., and the ceremony gets underway at 10 a.m.This day represents a major milestone in our development, keeping us on track to meet our projected opening in 2015!

Circled — Future home of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

The ceremonial groundbreaking represents just one of a number of activities planned throughout this year. In addition to our ongoing exhibitions and programs, later this year we will host a public celebration of the Groundbreaking on the National Mall. It will be a prelude to the Smithsonian’s FolkLife Festival that begins on June 27th. And those of you who are Charter Members will be invited to a special “members-only” reception and program as well (details to follow).

Six years ago, we began the journey to create the 19th museum of the Smithsonian family. Now, we have arrived at a singular moment in history — a time that realizes the hopes and dreams of so many who have struggled before us. We could not have reached this moment without the commitment of our Charter Members and friends like you.

Thank you again for your continued support and for joining us in this journey to bring the National Museum of African American History and Culture to the nation and the world.

	In gratitude and celebration,

	Lonnie Bunch Founding Director

P.S. I know you are as excited and proud as all of us are of this Museum as it begins to take its place among the other great Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. Thank you again for your vision and support.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Support Jay Inslee for Governor of Washington State …

02/22/2012 Nativegrl77


	Since I announced my jobs plan last week, people from across the state have been expressing their support for our commonsense approach to job creation — an approach that will create good-paying, middle-class jobs for all kinds of workers in every corner of our state. They know, like I do, that building a working Washington requires us to identify industries where we can or do out-compete the rest of the world. And by focusing on building up those industries, we CAN out-compete the world. No place is better suited to pursue a bold, innovative, and forward-thinking approach than Washington state. We’ve put together a short video with some of our favorite moments from last week’s events, and I wanted to share it with you. Do you have couple minutes to watch it? Click here to see highlights from our jobs plan announcement, read the plan, and share Jay’s ideas for creating jobs throughout Washington! This is the first of several proposals we’ll be releasing over the coming months. It means a lot to know that you’re with us as we start the discussion about the key policies we will enact during my administration. I hope you’ll take a minute to watch our video and read my plan now, and then share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you so much for your continued support. Very truly yours, Jay Inslee