Daily Archives: 06/19/2012

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Stop the African hunger games …Baaba Maal – Avaaz.org


18 million people are desperate for food in Africa’s drought-struck Sahel, but urgent appeals for help are being met with deafening silence by governments worldwide. Senegalese musician Baaba Maal has started a petition to get the US, Japan, France and Germany to pledge their fair share of aid. Let’s join him— sign the urgent petition below and sound the massive alarm needed to shake these leaders into action:

Sign the petition

My name is Baaba Maal    …

 I’m a Senegalese musician writing with a personal plea for help. I live in Africa’s drought-struck Sahel region where 18 million people are on the brink of disaster, including 1 million children at risk of starvation. But our urgent appeals for help are being met with deafening silence. Only a targeted and overwhelming demand for action can stop this catastrophe from turning deadly.

The UN says millions of lives could be destroyed unless $1.5 billion in aid is channeled in immediately, but governments have pledged less than half the required sum. The countries who can make all the difference are the US, Japan, France and Germany, but they’re stalling — that’s why I started a petition on Avaaz‘s Community Petitions website to appeal to the world for help.

In days, world leaders will gather in Brussels to discuss the Sahel — if they decide right there and then to pledge their fair share, we can avert disaster. Sign this urgent petition now — Avaaz, Africans Act 4 Africa, and Oxfam will deliver it in a coordinated stunt when we reach 1 million signatures:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/The_grain_sacks_are_empty/?biEWLbb&v=15195

Terrible drought, political unrest, and sky high food prices have wreaked havoc on an area the size of the US, stretching from Senegal in the west all the way to Sudan in the east. People here are doing everything they can to survive, but the crisis has hit so hard that it’s difficult to stay hopeful. I’ve seen women and children trying to grow food in patches of land that are bone dry. They know that people are talking about what is happening in the Sahel, but they don’t know if aid will ever arrive.

The UN has only received 43 percent of the $1.5 billion needed — it’s a shortfall of gargantuan proportions. But this gap must be filled, and can be filled by the world’s richest countries, if there’s political will. We don’t have much time to avert mass suffering, and I’m determined to speak on behalf of the people here until they get the help they need.

The world has turned a blind eye to crises like this before, but this time we can make the difference between life and death by forcing our governments to respond. Sign this urgent petition now:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/The_grain_sacks_are_empty/?biEWLbb&v=15195

Avaaz members have come together time and time again to respond to natural disasters, saving thousands of lives by ensuring that crucial aid was delivered to Burma, Haiti, Somalia and Pakistan. We have the power to force our leaders to stop idling away in the face of a crisis we can prevent. Let’s stand together now to demand that the world respond to the pleas of the millions living in the vast Sahel region.

With hope and determination,

Baaba Maal, with the Avaaz team

MORE INFORMATION

A distress call from Africa’s Sahel: Millions might starve (CNN)
http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/05/world/africa/sahel-hunger/index.html

UN: 18 Million in West Africa to Go Hungry in 2012 (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/un-18-million-west-africa-hungry-2012-142100935.html

Meeting of like minds can save the hungry millions in Sahel (Sydney Morning Herald)
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/meeting-of-like-minds-can-save-the-hungry-millions-in-sahel-20120529-1zgm8.html

Baaba Maal: people in the Sahel region need food and water now (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/may/25/baaba-maal-sahel-food-water

Coming weeks critical to tackle Sahel hunger – U.N. humanitarian chief (AlertNet)
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/coming-weeks-critical-to-tackle-sahel-hunger-un-humanitarian-chief

Black History

CONGRESS: the Republican led House – the Senate considers S.3240,Farm bill & debates S.JRes.37,joint resolution of disapproval -EPA Mercury Air&Toxic Standards


the Seante Convenes: 10:00amET June 19, 2012

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
  • Following Leader remarks, the next two hours will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
  • The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
  • At 2:15pm, the Senate will resume consideration of S.3240, the Farm bill. At 2:15pm, there will be several roll call votes in relation to amendments to the bill.
  • At a time to be determined on Tuesday, the Senate will proceed to the consideration of the motion to proceed to S.J.Res.37, a joint resolution of disapproval regarding EPA’s Mercury Air and Toxics Standards. There will be 2 hours of debate during Tuesday’s session. The Senate will continue debate on the motion to proceed to the joint resolution on Wednesday. The Senate will then vote on the motion to proceed to the joint resolution on Wednesday, June 20th at approximately 12:30pm.

2:24pm – The Senate began a roll call vote on Ayotte amendment #2192 (value added grants), Not Agreed To: 38-61

2:53pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Snowe amendment #2190, as modified; Agreed To: 66-33

3:17pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Grassley amendment #2167 (pay cap marketing loans); Agreed to: 75-24

3:36pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Brown (OH) amendment #2445 (rural development); Agreed to: 55-44

3:55pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Sessions amendment #2174 (SNAP); Not Agreed to: 43-56

4:11pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Cantwell amendment #2370 (pulse crops); Agreed to: 58-41

4:32pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Sessions amendment #2171 (SNAP); Not Agreed to: 41-58

4:47pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Casey amendment #2238 (study re: federal milk marketing): Agreed To: 73-26

5:07pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Roll Call Vote on Paul amendment #2181 ($250,000 income limit); Not Agreed To: 15-84

5:32pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Alexander #2191 (wind loans); Not Agreed To: 33-66

5:56pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Feinstein amendment #2422 (insurance recall study); Agreed To: 76-23

6:16pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Toomey amendment #2217 (organic/AMA); Not Agreed to: 42-57

6:35pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Gillibrand amendment #2156, as modified (SNAP); Not Agreed to: 33-66

6:57pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the DeMint amendment #2263 (broadband funding); Not Agreed To: 45-54

7:23pm The Senate began a roll call vote on DeMint amendment #2268 (loan guarantees); Not Agreed To: 14-84

7:45pm The senate began a roll call vote on DeMint amendment #2276 (checkoffs); Not Agreed To: 20-79

7:58 There will be no further roll call votes today. Senators should expect votes to begin as early as 11:15am tomorrow.

8:14 By unanimous consent, the Bennet-Crapo amendment #2202 (improve agricultural land easements) is in order to the Farm bill. We expect to agree to the amendment by voice vote tomorrow.

 

We expect to begin voting at 11:15am tomorrow. The first vote will be on the motion to proceed to Inhofe’s resolution of disapproval to be followed by votes in relation to the remaining amendments in order to the Farm bill and on passage of the bill.  If we have to vote on all the amendments, there would be up to 47 roll call votes in this series. I again noted the amendments we could consider by voice vote, but there are only 9 amendments on that list.  Senators should expect a long day of voting tomorrow.

The vote sequence is as follows:

– Motion to proceed to S.J.Res.37, a joint resolution disapproving a rule promulgated by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency relating to emission standards for certain steam generating units

If the motion to proceed is not agreed to, the Senate will resume the Farm bill and proceed to vote in relation to the following items:

– Manchin #2345 (dietary study) (possible voice vote);

– DeMint #2273 (broadband);

– Merkley #2382 (organic crop insurance);

– Coburn #2289 (MAP);

– Schumer #2427 (acer);

– Coburn #2293 (Limit Millionaires);

–  Stabenow #2453 (NAP);

– Kerry #2454 (North Korea);

– Kyl #2354 (North Korea);

– Udall(CO) #2295 (bark beetle);

– Lee #2313 (Forest Legacy);

– Warner #2457 (rural broadband);

– Lee #2314 (CSP/CRP cut);

– Wyden #2442 (microloans);

– Boozman #2355 (Ag research, law info) (possible voice vote);

– Wyden #2388 (farm to school);

– Boozman #2360 (TEFAP)

– Leahy #2204 (rural development);

– Toomey #2226 (energy title);

– Nelson(NE) #2242 (rural housing) (possible voice vote);

– Toomey #2433 (sugar);        

– Klobuchar #2299 (transportation study) (possible voice vote);

– Lee Motion to Recommit (FY 2008 levels);

– Carper #2287 (poultry feed research) (possible voice vote);

– Johnson(WI) Motion to Recommit (Nutrition/Agriculture titles);

– Sanders #2254 (biomass);

– Chambliss #2438 (conservation crop insurance);

– Thune #2437 (crop insurance);

– Durbin-Coburn #2439 (crop insurance);

– Chambliss #2340 (sugar);

– Chambliss #2432 (FMPP);

– Ayotte #2195 (GAO crop insurance fraud report) (possible voice vote);

                                    – Blunt #2246 (veterans) (possible voice vote);

– Moran #2403 (food aid);

                                    – Moran #2443 (beginning farmers) (possible voice vote);

– Vitter #2363 (pets) (possible voice vote);

                                    – Toomey #2247 (paperwork) (60-vote threshold);

– Sanders #2310 (genetically engineered food) (60-vote threshold);

– Coburn #2214 (convention funding) (60-vote threshold);

– Boxer #2456 (aerial inspections) (60-vote threshold);

– Johanns #2372 (aerial inspections) (60-vote threshold);

– Murray # 2455(sequestration) (60-vote threshold);

– McCain #2162 (Sequestration report – DoD) (60-vote threshold);

– Rubio #2166 (RAISE Act) (60-vote threshold);

– Bennet-Crapo amendment #2202 (improve agricultural land easements) (expect voice vote); and

– Passage of S.3240, as amended.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1)      Ayotte amendment #2192 (value added grants) to S.3240, the Farm bill; Not Agreed To: 38-61

2)      Snowe amendment #2190 (milk marketing order reform); Agreed To: 66-33

3)      Grassley amendment #2167 (pay cap marketing loans); Agreed To: 75-24

4)      Brown (OH) amendment #2445 (rural development); Agreed To: 55-44

5)      Sessions amendment #2174 (SNAP); Not Agreed To: 43-56

6)      Cantwell amendment #2370 (pulse pilot); Agreed To: 58-41

7)      Sessions amendment #2172 (SNAP); Not Agreed To: 41-58

8)      Casey amendment #2238 (technical/study-federal milk marketing); Agreed To: 73-26

9)      Paul amendment #2181 ($250,000 income limit); Not Agreed To: 15-84

10)  Alexander amendment  #2191 (wind loans); Not Agreed To: 33-66

11)  Feinstein amendment #2309 (insurance recall); Agreed To: 76-23

12)  Toomey amendment #2217 (organic/AMA); Not Agreed To: 42-57

13)  Gillibrand amendment #2156, as modified (SNAP); Not Agreed To: 33-66

14)  DeMint amendment #2263 (broadband funding); Not Agreed To: 45-54

15)  DeMint amendment #2268 (loan guarantees); Not Agreed To: 14-84

16)  DeMint amendment #2276 (checkoffs); Not Agreed To: 20-79

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed S.3314, to specifically authorize certain funds for an intelligence-related activity and for other purposes by voice vote.

Adopted S.Res.496, observing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day.

Adopted S.Res.497, congratulating the Los Angeles Kings on winning the 2012 Stanley Cup.

Adopted S.Res.498, designating June 20, 2012, as “American Eagle Day”.

Adopted S.Res.499, 10th anniversary of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

————————————————————————————

Last Floor Action:                     6:48:02 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

House Floor Activities
Legislative Day of June 19, 201210:00:12 A.M.		 The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:26 A.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Daniel Webster to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:00:48 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.
11:02:33 A.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:17 P.M. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of June 19.
12:00:29 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
12:01:45 P.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:01:48 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Welch to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:02:07 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.
12:19:11 P.M. H. Res. 688 Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 688 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2578) to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act related to a segment of the Lower Merced River in California, and for other purposes.”
12:20:22 P.M. H. Res. 688 DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 688.