First Lady Michelle Obama hosts 120 middle and high school students from across the country for an interactive workshop event featuring a discussion about the origins and history of Memphis Soul, and a question and answer session with Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples, Sam Moore and Justin Timberlake. April 9, 2013.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Victims of Gun Violence Deserve a Vote

04/10/2013 Nativegrl77

Yesterday President Obama traveled to Connecticut, where he spoke with families of children and teachers of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary. He reiterated that we have not forgotten our promise to help prevent future tragedies and reduce gun violence in our country — and that now more than ever we need to act:

“Now is the time to get engaged. Now is the time to get involved. Now is the time to push back on fear, and frustration, and misinformation. Now is the time for everybody to make their voices heard from every state house to the corridors of Congress.”

President Barack Obama and Jillian Soto exit Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., April 8, 2013. Soto is the sister of Victoria Soto, a first-grade teacher who was killed during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Working Hard for Less Money

04/10/2013 Nativegrl77

ThinkProgress War Room

What the Pay Gap Means for Women & Their Families

Today is Equal Pay Day, which marks the additional days into 2013 that a woman needs to work just to equal what a man made in 2012. The pay gap is real — and really persistent.

The amount that women lose as a result of the pay gap doesn’t just hurt them. Their families also pay the price for this lost income. Here’s what the median pay gap means over the course of just one year: $10,784. The total cost to a woman and her family over the course of her entire working life is staggering: $431,360.

Click through to check out an interactive version of this graphic showing how the pay gap affects women’s lives:

You can find all of our resources on equal pay HERE.

BOTTOM LINE: It’s 2013 and Congress needs to pass meaningful equal pay legislation like the Paycheck Fairness Act. Republicans have blocked this vital bill during the last three Congresses and it’s well past time for them to stop standing in the way of equal pay.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

The 10 jobs with the biggest gender wage gap.

Rape culture claims another victim: teen girl kills herself after photo of her gang rape goes viral.

$250 BILLION in federal contracts are doled out in state s with no LGBT anti-discrimination laws.

This week in sequestration nation.

GOP-led filibuster of gun violence prevention bill falling flat among growing number of GOP senators.

Sequester forcing cancer patients to travel thousands of miles for treatment.

Interactive: the game of wages.

How the GOP’s response to Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s trip to Cuba highlights broken policy.

Report: 243 MILLION Americans affected by weather disasters since 2007.

~ In the Library

On this Day … & in the Library “The Great Gatsby”

04/10/2013 Nativegrl77

NAME: F. Scott Fitzgerald
OCCUPATION: Author
BIRTH DATE: September 24, 1896
DEATH DATE: December 21, 1940
EDUCATION: St. Paul Academy, Newman School, Princeton University
PLACE OF BIRTH: St. Paul, Minnesota
PLACE OF DEATH: Hollywood, California

Best Known For

American short-story writer and novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald is known for his turbulent personal life and his famous novel The Great Gatsby.

For more information about F.Scott Fitzgerald www.bio.com

Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

::::::: CONGRESS :::::::

04/10/2013 Nativegrl77

April 2013
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30

The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:30am on Wednesday, April 10, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Legislative Calendar #32, S.649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013.
The first hour will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.
During Tuesday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013. Senators should expect that vote on Thursday morning.

On April 9, 2013 – Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the consideration of S.649, Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of
2013. The cloture vote on the motion to proceed will occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Thursday, April 11.

The Senate has reached an agreement to consider Executive Calendar #59, the nomination of Sarah “Sally”
Jewell, of Washington, to be Secretary of the Interior. At 4pm today there will
be up to 2 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.
If all time is used, the vote would occur at approximately 6:00pm today.

5:00pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #59, the nomination of Sarah “Sally” Jewell, of Washington, to be Secretary of the Interior

Confirmed: 87-11

The Senate then resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to S.649, Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act of 2013.

There will be no further roll call votes during today’s session of the Senate.

The cloture vote on the motion to proceed will occur around 11:00am tomorrow, Thursday, April 11. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 30 hours for debate on the motion to proceed. Once we are on the bill, the first amendment that will be considered to the gun safety bill will be a Manchin-Toomey amendment on background checks. If we don’t get cloture, we will have votes on capacity clips, assault weapons, background checks and some mental health items or item.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #59, Sarah “Sally” Jewell, of WA, to be Secretary of the Interior; Confirmed: 87-11

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.95, designating April 18, 2013, as National Lineman Appreciation Day.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.691, a bill to regulate large capacity ammunition feeding devices.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.680, a bill to rescind the amounts appropriated for FY2013 for the Department of Defense MEADS and for other purposes.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

—————————————————————————————-

Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on April 10, 2013.

10:00:08 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:01:19 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Reid J. Ribble to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:01:51 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.
10:56:19 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.
12:00:00 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of April 10.
12:01:16 P.M.		Today‘s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
12:02:33 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:02:37 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Gabbard to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

12:03:14 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.
12:42:22 P.M.	H. Res. 140	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 140 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 678) to authorize all Bureau of Reclamation conduit facilities for hydropower development under Federal Reclamation law, and for other purposes.”
12:44:30 P.M.	H. Res. 140	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 140.
1:07:22 P.M.	H. Res. 140	On ordering the previous question Roll Call 93 – Yea and Nay vote pending.

1:34:44 P.M.	H. Res. 140	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 236 – 190 (Roll no. 93).
1:34:45 P.M.	H. Res. 140	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
1:34:55 P.M.	H. Res. 140	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:35:26 P.M.	H. Res. 142	Mrs. Miller (MI) asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.
1:36:31 P.M.	H. Res. 142	Considered by unanimous consent. H. Res. 142 — “Electing Members to the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library and the Joint Committee on Printing.”
1:36:35 P.M.	H. Res. 142	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
1:36:42 P.M.	H. Res. 142	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:37:38 P.M.	H.R. 678	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 140. H.R. 678 — “To authorize all Bureau of Reclamation conduit facilities for hydropower development under Federal Reclamation law, and for other purposes.”
1:37:43 P.M.	H.R. 678	Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 678 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. Bill is open to amendments.
1:38:09 P.M.	H.R. 678	House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 140 and Rule XVIII.
1:38:10 P.M.	H.R. 678	The Speaker designated the Honorable Ted Poe to act as Chairman of the Committee.
1:39:00 P.M.	H.R. 678	GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 678.
2:27:46 P.M.	H.R. 678	An amendment, offered by Mr. Tipton, numbered 3 printed in the Congressional Record to require the Bureau of Reclamation to apply its categorical exclusion process under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to small conduit hydropower development, excluding siting of associated transmission facilities on Federal land.
2:28:04 P.M.	H.R. 678	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 140, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Tipton No. 3 amendment under the five-minute rule.
2:31:13 P.M.	H.R. 678	On agreeing to the Tipton amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
2:32:37 P.M.	H.R. 678	An amendment, offered by Mrs. Napolitano, numbered 1 printed in the Congressional Record to strike the paragraph in the bill containing requirements regarding the application of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to small conduit hydropower development and changing the definition of small conduit hydropower to mean a facility capable of producing 15 megawatts or less of electric capacity
2:32:54 P.M.	H.R. 678	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 140, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Napolitano No. 1 amendment under the five-minute rule.
2:42:41 P.M.	H.R. 678	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Napolitano No. 1 amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced the noes had prevailed. Mrs. Napolitano demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
2:43:02 P.M.	H.R. 678	An amendment, offered by Mr. Tipton, numbered 2 printed in the Congressional Record to make technical changes relating to policy and procedure-setting with respect to irrigation districts or water users associations
2:43:27 P.M.	H.R. 678	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 140, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Tipton No. 2 amendment under the five-minute rule.
2:44:48 P.M.	H.R. 678	<action_description>On agreeing to the Tipton amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
2:45:49 P.M.	H.R. 678	<action_description>The Chair announced that proceedings would now resume on amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
3:14:21 P.M.	H.R. 678	<action_description>On agreeing to the Napolitano amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 189 – 232 (Roll no. 94).
3:14:27 P.M.	H.R. 678	<action_description>The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 678.
3:15:49 P.M.	H.R. 678	<action_description>The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
3:16:07 P.M.	H.R. 678	<action_description>The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
3:16:23 P.M.	H.R. 678	<action_description>Mr. Garamendi moved to recommit with instructions to Natural Resources.
3:17:31 P.M.	H.R. 678	<action_description>DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Garamendi motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add a section to the bill relating to Buy America provisions. The new section would require that, when practicable, all materials used for conduit hydropower generation be manufactured in the United States.
3:27:03 P.M.	H.R. 678	<action_description>The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
3:36:54 P.M.	H.R. 678	On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 194 – 226 (Roll no. 95).
3:46:51 P.M.	H.R. 678	On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 416 – 7 (Roll no. 96).
3:46:52 P.M.	H.R. 678	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:47:42 P.M.		The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting the proposed Congressional Budget for the United States Government for FY 2014 – referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 113-3).
4:07:42 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
4:10:49 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
5:21:46 P.M.		Ms. Foxx filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 146.
5:22:45 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House resumed Special Order speeches.

6:42:18 P.M.		Mr. King (IA) moved that the House do now adjourn.
6:42:25 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
6:42:26 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on April 11, 2013.