HR1406 : Working Families Flexibility Act


AAUW Action Network
As a “Two-Minute Activist,” you know that we still have a lot of work to do to pass laws that will help workers balance the demands of their work and their families. But we can’t – and we won’t – let Congress fool us with the misnamed Working Families Flexibility Act (H.R. 1406).
We’ve heard the House may vote on H.R. 1406 as early as next week. This bill claims to offer flexibility to employees by allowing them to convert overtime work into paid time off (i.e. comp time) for family responsibilities. But this bill is not an improvement for working families: Under the Working Families Flexibility Act (H.R. 1406), employers would still have complete discretion over whether to approve workers’ requests to convert their overtime into comp time. This means that employees will still have trouble using accumulated days for an emergency, or even to plan for things like parental leave or caregiving leave.
Nothing is currently stopping employers from offering more flexible schedules. Creating yet another system of hurdles for workers to access leave, left entirely at the discretion of their employer, is not the way to achieve flexibility. In just a few days, the House is voting on the problematic Working Families Flexibility Act (H.R. 1406): Tell your representative to vote against H.R. 1406!


Don’t forget to register for AAUW National Convention in New Orleans, June 9-12! At Convention you can connect with more than 600 AAUW members from around the country, hear from esteemed speakers such as MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry and fair pay advocate Lilly Ledbetter, and (did we mention?) enjoy the city of New Orleans! Register today so you don’t miss out!
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The American Association of University Women (AAUW) empowers women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Our nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has more than 150,000 members and supporters across the United States, as well as 1,000 local branches and 700 college and university partners. Since AAUW’s founding in 1881, our members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political.

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)


FDA (trade union)
FDA (trade union) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
05/07/2013 09:23 PM EDT
Queen Creek, AZ, BeaMonstar Products is voluntarily recalling all of SexVoltz brand SKU’s 626570609490, 827912089028, 626570617877, 626570615316, Velextra brand SKU’s 626570619475, 626570619475, 626570619475, 626570619475 , Amerect SKU’s 626570619031, 626570619598 capsules to the retail level. Laboratory analysis conducted by the FDA on SexVoltz and Velextra has determined these products contain undeclared tadalafil. Amerect is voluntarily recalled because it has the potential to contain undeclared tadalafil. Tadalafil are FDA-Approved drugs used to treat male erectile dysfunction (ED), making the products unapproved new drugs.

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Cargill’s Animal Nutrition Business Conducts Voluntary Recall of Lamb Feed

05/06/2013 05:25 PM EDT
Cargill’s animal nutrition business today announced a voluntary recall of Showmaster® S-Series Show Lamb Feed (BW) because it contained incorrect sodium molybdate levels. To date, there are 170, 50-pound bags of feed still out in the market.
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Medtronic Announces FDA Classification Of Deep Brain Stimulation Lead Cap Communication

05/03/2013 09:16 AM EDT
In keeping with its commitment to keep physicians informed about product performance and safety, Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) issued an Urgent Medical Device Correction notification in February 2013 to provide physicians with information concerning the potential for deep brain stimulation (DBS) lead damage associated with the use of the lead cap provided in Medtronic DBS lead kits and dystonia therapy kits.
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05/03/2013 10:42 AM EDT
Nestlé USA’s Pizza Division today announced the voluntary recall of select production codes of four different frozen pizzas sold in the U.S. These include: • California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) Crispy Thin Crust White®, UPC 71921 98745; production codes are 3062525951, 3062525952 and 3063525951

Re: A block-head​ed decision


by Judd Legum

Last week, we told you about our big goals for expanding our coverage of climate change, and we asked for your help.

We’re blown away by your support for serious investigative journalism on the most important issue of our time.

But we have not yet met our goal. If you haven’t had a chance to contribute, it’s not too late.
Will you donate today to help us break new ground in environmental journalism?

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Sequestered


ThinkProgress War Room

3 Ways the Sequester is Taking a Toll on Struggling Americans

As we discussed before, Congress rushed to the rescue of air travelers after a mere four days of flight delays. Meanwhile, some of the most vulnerable Americans have been dealing with the additional hardships imposed by painful sequester cuts for more than two months now.

Our Center for American Progress colleague Erik Stegman explain hows the sequester is hurting struggling families, seniors, and children:

It’s very clear by now that Republicans are perfectly happy to force this kind of painful austerity on the American people so long as it means that corporations and the wealthiest Americans get to keep their special tax breaks. And now Republicans are refusing to even sit down and talk about finalizing a budget for next year. Worse yet, they are once again threatening to take the full faith and credit of the United States hostage unless Democrats agree to hundreds of billions of dollars in new corporate tax breaks.

BOTTOM LINE: Our economy and struggling families literally cannot afford the games the GOP continues to play with programs that benefit millions of Americans each and every day.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

BREAKING: Delaware becomes 11th state with marriage equality.

Author of bogus Heritage Foundation immigration “study” admits he hasn’t even looked at the entire Senate immigration bill.

DC police chief promises to meet loaded rifle-toting protesters at the DC border.

On day stock market hits new record, conservative group blames Obama for “wrecking the stock market.”

Pro-marriage equality Republican senator still not sure about protecting gays from getting fired just for being gay.

Minnesota House of Representatives to vote on marriage equality this Thursday.

GOP’s latest attempt at women’s outreach is a trap.

Marco Rubio denounces bogus Heritage Foundation immigration “study.”

Study proves that Justices Alito, Roberts are the most pro-corporate in nearly 70 years.

CONGRESS


visitors-memorials-eve

The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:30am on Wednesday, May 8, 2013.

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 10:00am with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
  • At 10:00am, the Senate will recess to allow for the Joint Meeting of Congress with Her Excellency Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic of Korea until 11:30am. Senators should plan to gather in the Senate Chamber at 10:00am in order to proceed as a body to the House of Representatives.
  • When the Senate reconvenes, we will resume consideration of S.601, the Water Resources Development Act. The following amendments are the first amendments in order to the Boxer-Vitter substitute amendment #799:
  • The time until 2:00pm will be equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees for debate on the amendments with Senator Coburn controlling 40 minutes of the Republican time.  At 2:00pm, there will be 3 roll call votes in relation to the amendments in the order above.  All 3 amendments will require 60-affirmative votes and no second degree amendments will be order to the amendments. The first vote will be a 15-minute vote and the subsequent votes will be 10 minutes in duration.

Upon disposition of the Coburn and Whitehouse amendments, the substitute amendment, as amended, if amended, will be agreed to and considered original text for the purposes of further amendment.

Senator Coburn has indicated he will not offer amendment #804. As a result, there will only be 2 roll call votes at 2pm.

–          Coburn amendment #805 (Army Corps lands/guns); and

–          Whitehouse amendment #803 (oceans).

2:00pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Coburn amendment #805 (Army Corps land/guns) (60-vote threshold);

Not Agreed to: 56-43

2:26pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Whitehouse amendment #803 (Oceans);

Agreed To: 68-31 (60-affirmative vote threshsold)

The next amendments in order to S.601, Water Resources Development Act, are the following:

  • Blunt #800 (resilient construction techniques for extreme weather)
  • Pryor #806 (provide work-in-kind credit)
  • Inhofe #835 (rural water infrastructure projects)

No second degree amendments are in order prior to votes in relation to the amendments. We will work on time agreements on the amendments. Senators will be notified when any votes are scheduled.

  • Senator Warner asked consent that the Senate go to conference on the Budget
    resolution. Senator McConnell asked that the request be modified so that it not
    be in order for the Senate to consider a conference report that includes tax
    increases or reconciliation instructions to increase taxes or raise the debt
    ceiling. Senator Murray objected to modifying the request. Senator McConnell
    then objected to the original request.

This afternoon, Senator Lee asked consent to adopt a Senate Resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that Congress and the States should investigate and correct abusive, unsanitary, and illegal abortion practices.

Senator Blumenthal then asked consent to adopt an alternative resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that all incidents of abusive, unsanitary, or illegal health care practices should be condemned and prevented and the perpetrators should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Senator Lee objected to Senator Blumenthal’s request and Senator Blumenthal objected to Senator Lee’s request.

  • At 5:45pm today, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote in relation to the
    Brown amendment #813, as modified (Asian Carp).
    No amendments are in order to the amendment prior to the vote.

5:45pm the Senate began a roll call vote on Brown amendment #813, as modified (Asian Carp);

Agreed To: 95-0

  • There will be no further roll call votes tonight.
  • The following amendments to S.601, WRDA, were agreed to by unanimous consent:-          Pryor #801, as modified with the changes that are at the desk (farms);

    –          Pryor #806 (work-in-kind);

    –          Inhofe #835, with a modification to the instruction lines (rural water infrastructure projects);

    McCain #833 (levee safety programs);

  • WRAP UP
  • ROLL CALL VOTES1)      Coburn amendment #805 (Army Corps land/guns) to S.601, the Water Resources Development Act; Not Agreed to: 56-43 (60-vote threshold)

    2)      Whitehouse amendment #803 (oceans); Agreed to: 68-31 (60-vote threshold)

    3)      Brown amendment #813, as modified (Asian carp); Agreed to: 95-0

    LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

    Passed S.622, an original bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize user fee programs relating to new animal drugs and generic new animal drugs.

    Adopted H.Con.Res.32, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition.

    Discharged the HELP committee and adopted S.Res.126, recognizing the teachers of the United States for their contributions to the development and progress of our country.

    Completed the Rule 14 process of S.888, the End User Exemptions from provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act. (Johanns)

    No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

  • The Senate has reached an agreement to consider the nominations of Shelly Dick (District Judge LA) and Nelson Roman (Southern District NY).At a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republican Leader, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations:

    –          Executive Calendar # 39 Shelly Deckert Dick, of Louisiana, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana, and

    –          Executive Calendar #41 Nelson Stephen Roman, of New York, to be District Judge for the Southern District of New York.

    There will be 30 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form. Upon the use or yielding back of time the Senate will proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nominations in the order listed.

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  • May 2013
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  • Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity
  • Last Floor Action:
    7:05:07 P.M. – The House adjourned. 5/7
  • The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on May 8, 2013.
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