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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! 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.
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Daily Archives: 05/08/2013
U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

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Cargill’s Animal Nutrition Business Conducts Voluntary Recall of Lamb Feed
Medtronic Announces FDA Classification Of Deep Brain Stimulation Lead Cap Communication
Re: A block-headed 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?
Sequestered
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
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:
- Coburn amendment #804 (ammunition)
- Coburn amendment #805 (Army Corps lands/guns)
- Whitehouse amendment #803 (oceans).
- 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 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 31
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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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9:00:06 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day. 9:00:25 A.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Mark Meadows to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. 9:00:40 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy. 9:01:57 A.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved. 9:02:03 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. 9:04:03 A.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The House will reconvene in Joint Meeting with the Senate for the purpose of receiving Her Excellency Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic of Korea. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair. 10:22:42 A.M. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of May 8. 10:22:47 A.M. JOINT MEETING – The House has reconvened in Joint Meeting with the Senate to receive an address by her Excellency Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic of Korea. 11:15:30 A.M. JOINT MEETING DISSOLVED – The Speaker announced that the Joint Meeting was dissolved. The House remains in recess subject to the Call of the Chair. 11:15:32 A.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair. 12:01:00 P.M. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of May 8. 12:01:21 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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on May 8, 2013 at 9:27 a.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 1071, without amendment. 12:02:59 P.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches. 12:42:53 P.M. H. Res. 202 Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 202 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 807) to require that the Government prioritize all obligations on the debt held by the public in the event that the debt limit is reached.” 12:42:56 P.M. H. Res. 202 DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 202. -
1:48:00 P.M. H. Res. 202 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H. Res. 202, the Chair put the question on ordering the previous question and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Slaughter demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of ordering the previous question until later in the legislative day. 1:51:33 P.M. H.R. 1406 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 198. H.R. 1406 — “To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide compensatory time for employees in the private sector.” 1:51:38 P.M. H.R. 1406 Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1406 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. A specified amendment is in order. 1:52:52 P.M. H.R. 1406 DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 1406. 3:20:44 P.M. H.R. 1406 An amendment, offered by Mr. Gibson, printed in House Report 113-051 to require the GAO to submit a report to Congress on the usage of compensatory time allowed under the Act and detail any complaints filed or enforcement actions taken for alleged violations of the Act. The report will ensure Congress can monitor any potential abuse of the Act. 3:20:49 P.M. H.R. 1406 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 198, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gibson amendment. 3:30:44 P.M. H.R. 1406 The previous question was ordered on the amendment (A002) pursuant to the rule. 3:31:30 P.M. H.R. 1406 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Gibson amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Courtney demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day. 3:32:09 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair. 5:00:05 P.M. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of May 8. 5:00:28 P.M. H.R. 1406 Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 1406 — “To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide compensatory time for employees in the private sector.” 5:30:00 P.M. H.R. 1406 On agreeing to the Gibson amendment; Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 384 – 42 (Roll no. 135). 5:30:50 P.M. H.R. 1406 Ms. Shea-Porter moved to recommit with instructions to Education and the Workforce. 5:31:16 P.M. H.R. 1406 DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Shea-Porter 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 ensure that employees could not be denied the use of compensatory time for the following purposes: (1) to attend medical appointments; (2) to care for a sick family member or if the employee is sick; or (3) to attend counseling or rehabilitation appointments for injuries sustained by the employee as a member of the Armed Forces. The motion would also prohibit employers who have been found to violate the Equal Pay Act of 1963 from replacing monetary overtime with compensatory time. 5:39:48 P.M. H.R. 1406 The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. 5:47:51 P.M. H.R. 1406 On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 200 – 227 (Roll no. 136). 5:55:27 P.M. H.R. 1406 On passage Passed by recorded vote: 223 – 204 (Roll no. 137). 5:55:27 P.M. H.R. 1406 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 5:55:39 P.M. H. Res. 202 Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 202 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 807) to require that the Government prioritize all obligations on the debt held by the public in the event that the debt limit is reached.” 6:02:27 P.M. H. Res. 202 On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 227 – 199 (Roll no. 138). 6:14:06 P.M. H. Res. 202 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 226 – 199 (Roll no. 139). 6:14:07 P.M. H. Res. 202 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. 6:14:50 P.M. Mr. Collins (GA) asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9:00 a.m. on May 9. Agreed to without objection. 6:15:35 P.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches. 6:35:59 P.M. SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches. 7:02:48 P.M. Mr. Pocan moved that the House do now adjourn. 7:02:56 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote. 7:02:57 P.M. The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on May 9, 2013. - **************************





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