
	Join Us in Thanking Secretary of Defense Panetta



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They told us we couldn’t vote, because we didn’t understand politics.

They told us we couldn’t play sports, because we couldn’t compete.

They told us we couldn’t fight, because women aren’t fit for combat.

We proved them wrong. And now those days are over…

Last week we bore witness to a historic event: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s decision toopened wide the doors of opportunity to women in the Armed Services and eliminated the last vestige of government-sanctioned sex discrimination in the United States.

Please join us in thanking Secretary Panetta for lifting the ground combat exclusion and opening opportunities for women to serve the United States in all military occupations.

The wars of the 21st century have no clear-cut front lines: For years, women have been performing superbly in a broad range of vital military occupations, including unofficially in ground combat, risking injury and death to serve our country. Secretary Panetta’s historic announcement reflects this reality. It also confirms that to be successful, a modern military must have access to the best and brightest, men and women.

This decision was the result of long, hard work.

For the Center, this decision is the culmination of years of work. In the early 1990s, our analysis of gender-stereotyped limitations and our advocacy efforts helped secure congressional legislation and Defense Department policies that opened 260,000 military positions to women, including on combat ships and in combat aircraft.

Since then we’ve had to beat back efforts by some in Congress to restrict women’s military service, and we’ve worked hard to educate the public and policymakers about the important military roles women are performing and how well they are performing them, including in combat. We also worked with Defense Department advisory committees and met with Pentagon officials to advance recommendations and press for opening all military positions to women. In 2010, submarine service was opened to women, and in 2012 approximately 14,000 additional positions were opened, both precursors of last week’s momentous decision to lift all restrictions on women’s military service.

Now, if the best person for the job is a woman, she will no longer be barred from that job simply because of her gender. As President Obama said in his inaugural address, “our journey is not complete,” but we have just passed a significant milepost along the way.

Please join us in sending thanks to Secretary Panetta.

~ Recent Post

CONGRESS: the House :::::: the Senate

01/29/2013 Nativegrl77

the Senate Convenes: 10:00amET January 29,2013

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 12:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the Majority controlling the first 30 minutes and the Republicans controlling the second 30 minutes.
The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
We anticipate the Foreign Relations Committee will report out Senator Kerry’s nomination and expect full Senate consideration during Tuesday’s session.

At 2:15pm today, the Senate will turn to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #1, the nomination of John Kerry, of Massachusetts, to be Secretary of State. There will be 2 hours for debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form. Upon the use or yielding back of time the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nomination.

If all time is used, the vote would begin around 4:15pm today.

4:03pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #1, the nomination of John Forbes Kerry, of Massachusetts, to be Secretary of State

4:03pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #1, the nomination of John Forbes Kerry, of Massachusetts, to be Secretary of State; Confirmed: 94-3-1 (present)

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1, the nomination of John F. Kerry, of Massachusetts, to be Secretary of State; Confirmed: 94-3-1

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Judiciary Committee and adopted S.Res.14, Raising awareness and encouraging prevention of stalking by designating January 2013 as “National Stalking Awareness Month”.

Adopted S.Res.20, Designating Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.177, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 entirely. (Cruz)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.164, to prohibit the United States from providing financial assistance to Pakistan until Dr. Shakil Afridi is freed. (Paul)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on January 29, 2013.

1:00:18 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
1:00:27 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Fred Upton to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
1:01:03 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
1:02:17 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
1:02:20 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
1:02:29 P.M.		The Chair announced that, without objection, when the House adjourns on Tuesday, January 29, 2013, it adjourn to meet at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 1, 2013.
1:02:30 P.M.		The Chair announced that, without objection, when the House adjourns on Friday, February 1, 2013, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Monday, February 4, 2013.
1:03:21 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on January 28, 2013 at 5:05 p.m. stating that that body had made appointments to the Social Security Advisory Board, the Congressional Award Board, and the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
1:03:40 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on January 29, 2013 at 9:12 a.m. stating that that body had passed H.R. 152, without amendment.
1:03:52 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on February 1, 2013.

~ Recent Post

The President and Vice President Discuss Reducing Gun Violence with Law Enforcement Officials.

01/28/2013 Nativegrl77

The President and Vice President Discuss Reducing Gun Violence with Law Enforcement Officials

bywhitehouse

President Obama and Vice President Biden meet with representatives from the Major Cities Chiefs Association and Major County Sheriffs Association to discuss the common-sense policies the President put forward last month that would reduce gun violence in communities across America. January 28, 2013.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

brand-new video with some highlights from the ceremony and President Obama’s speech

Image 01/28/2013 Nativegrl77

Black History

CONGRESS: Republican led House ::Gunsafety,Immigration,VAWA:: Democratic led Senate

01/28/2013 Nativegrl77

the Senate Convenes: 2:00pmET January 28,2013

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.
At 4:30pm, the Senate will begin consideration of H.R.152, the Hurricane Sandy Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill. The only amendment in order to the bill is a Lee amendment (offset). There will be one hour of debate on the amendment and the bill, to run concurrently.
Upon the use or yielding back of time (at approximately 5:30pm), there will be 2 roll call votes in relation to the following:
- Lee amendment (offset)(60 affirmative-vote threshold)
- Passage of H.R.152, as amended, if amended (60 affirmative-vote threshold)

5:40pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Lee amendment #4 to H.R.152, the Hurricane Sandy Emergency
Appropriations bill

6:09pm The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of H.R.152, the Hurricane Sandy Emergency Supplemental Appriopriations bill; Passed: 62-36

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Lee amendment #4 (offset) to H.R.152, the Hurricane Sandy Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill; Not Agreed to: 35-62 (60 affirmative-vote threshold)

2) Passage of H.R.152, the Hurricane Sandy Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill; Passed: 62-36 (60 affirmative-vote threshold)

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Judiciary Committee and adopted S.Res.9, Designating January 2013 as “National Mentoring Month”.

Adopted S.Res.19, Congratulating the University of Alabama Crimson Tide for winning the 2012 BCS National Championship.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.164, to prohibit the United States from providing financial assistance to Pakistan until Dr. Shakil Afridi is freed. (Paul)

Completed the Rule 14 process of the following bills:

S.47, the Violence Against Women Act. (Leahy)

H.R.152, the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013

S.81, to provide guidance and priorities for Federal Government obligations in the event that the debt limit is reached. (Paul)

S.82, to provide that any executive action infringing on the Second Amendment has no force or effect, and to prohibit the use of funds for certain purposes. (Paul)

S.83, to provide for continuing operations of Government in a fiscally responsible manner. (Paul)

S.124, No Budget, No Pay Act. (Heller)

H.R.325, To ensure the complete and timely payment of the obligations of the United States Government until May 19, 2013, and for other purposes.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on January 29, 2013.