Meals for Seniors and Head Start ~~~ End the Sequester


Sarasota - Meals on Wheels
Sarasota – Meals on Wheels (Photo credit: roger4336)

Tonight, chances are a senior in your community will go to bed hungry.


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Send a message to Congress   and President Obama to find a way to
end sequestration now!
Head Start Gets Results

I saved people from fire. Now I have cancer


                                                By Janette Neves Rivera and the Center for Environmental Health
                                                Oakland, California

Firefighter with breast cancer needs your help to stop dangerous chemicals in homes

I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer last year. The news was a really big shock considering I have no family history of the disease. It got even worse when the doctor told me the cancer is most likely related to my job and environment as a firefighter. Later I learned that most women with breast cancer have no family or other known risk factors.

Did you know that couches and other common household items including many children’s products contain harmful flame retardant chemicals? I didn’t have any idea about this health hazard until I started doing some research. The Chicago Tribune has extensively reported on flame retardants and about how these chemicals “migrate out of products into household dust ingested by people, especially young children.” They also reveal that there are studies showing “some flame retardants can make smoke from fires even more toxic.” Numerous scientific studies have shown that many flame retardant chemicals can cause cancer, reproductive difficulties, developmental problems and other serious health issues.

I found out that firefighters are at such high risk from dangerous chemicals that women firefighters in my city are diagnosed with breast cancer at 6 times the rate of other women.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has the power to help put an end to unnecessary flame retardants in furniture and other everyday products. But instead of taking strong action, they may be moving to obstruct vital health protections. Please sign my petition to show them that people like us matter! The Commission has a July 1 deadline for comments, and this is our best chance to have a real impact on this public health issue.

I know that my children are proud of the work I do, and I strive to be a good role model for them. But I never expected that giving back in this way would expose me to cancer-causing flame retardant chemicals that are threatening my life and  the future I’m trying to build for my family.

Fire safety experts are on record testifying that these dangerous flame retardant chemicals do not even effectively prevent fires in furniture and many other products, but huge chemical companies are behind efforts to keep their products in household items despite what’s happening to people like me.

As I have traveled through my cancer journey, I have asked myself, how I can be a catalyst for change? I want my story to help bring about change and slow the rate of cancer and exposure to toxins, not just for firefighters but for our children. The chemical industry is well-funded so I decided to work with the Center for Environmental Health on this campaign because I believe our health is the most important gift we have for ourselves and our families.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has until July 1 to hear from you on their current comment period. Please sign to ask that they prioritize public safety over chemical companies’ bottom lines. Tell them to put a stop to dangerous flame retardant chemicals.

the Senate S.744,Border Sec.,Econ Op,Immigration~~~~ CONGRESS ~~~~ the House HR1797,HR1947, HR1151,HR1896


capitolphonelines

The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am on Tuesday, June 18, 2013.

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business for one hour with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.
  • The time until 12:30pm and the time from 2:15pm until 3:00pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
  • The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
  • At approximately 3:00pm, there will be up to 4 roll call vote in relation to the following, in the following order:
  • All amendments will require 60 affirmative votes. There will be two minutes equally divided between the votes and all after the first vote will be 10 minutes in duration.
  • Senator Leahy, the manager of S.744, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill, has encouraged senators to file their amendments by this Thursday, June 20.
  • As a reminder, at 3:00pm today there will be a series of up to 4 roll call votes on the following amendments to S.744, Comprehensive Immigration Reform:- Thune amendment #1197 (permanent resident status after border completion);- Landrieu amendment #1222 (citizenship for internationally adopted children);- Vitter amendment #1228 (US-VISIT system); and- Tester amendment #1198 (Border Oversight Task Force to include tribal government officials).The first vote in this series will be a 15 minute vote and the remaining will be 10 minute votes.
  • Each amendment is subject to a 60-affirmative vote threshold.
  • 3:01pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Thune amendment #1197 (permanent resident status after border completion);Not Agreed To: 39-54
  • The Landrieu amendment #1222 (citizenship for internationally adopted children) was then agreed to by voice vote.
  • At 3:35pm the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Vitter amendment #1228 (US-VISIT);Not Agreed To: 36-58
  • 3:56pm The Senate began a roll call vote on Tester amendment #1198 (Border Oversight Task Force to include tribal government officials);Agreed To: 94-0
  • The following amendment are pending to S.744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act:
    • Leahy amendment #1183 (international participation in the performing arts)

    The following amendments have been considered to S.744:

    •  Grassley amendment #1195 (prohibit the granting of registered provisional immigrant status until the Secretary has maintained effective control of the borders for 6 months) Tabled: 57-43
    • Thune amendment #1197 (permanent resident status after border completion) (60-vote threshold); Not Agreed to: 39-54
    • Landrieu amendment #1222 (citizenship for internationally adopted children); Agreed to by voice vote
    • Vitter amendment #1228 (US-VISIT system)(60-vote threshold); Not Agreed to: 36-58
    • Tester amendment #1198 (modify Border Oversight Task Force to include tribal government officials) (60-vote threshold); Agreed to: 94-0
  • The amendments listed below are in order to be called up to S.744, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill. No second degree amendments are in order prior to a vote, and the amendments are not subject to division. Tomorrow we will continue to work towards an agreement to vote in relation to the amendments.-          Manchin #1268 (border security contractor salaries);

    –          Pryor #1298 (recruitment of former Armed Forces members for Customs and Border Protection);

    –          Merkley #1237, as modified (H.R.2-B nonimmigrants);

    –          Boxer #1240 (National Guard/Coast Guard training);

    –          Reed #1224 (merit-based immigrant visa applicants)

    –          Cornyn #1251 (Statement of Congressional findings);

    –          Lee #1208 (Fast-track approval of border security);

    –          Paul #1200, as modified (border security enhancements);

    –          Heller amendment #1227 (Nevada representative on Southern Border Security Commissions); and

    –          Cruz #1320 (border security).

  • WRAP UP
  • ROLL CALL VOTES1)      Thune amendment #1197 (permanent resident status after border completion )(60-vote threshold); Not Agreed to: 39-54

    2)      Vitter amendment #1228 (US-VISIT system)(60-vote threshold); Not Agreed to: 36-58

    3)      Tester amendment #1198 (Border Oversight Task Force to include tribal government officials)(60-vote threshold); Agreed to: 94-0

    LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

    Adopted S.Res.143: recognizing the threats to freedom of the press and expression around the world and reaffirming freedom of the press as a priority in the efforts of the United States Government to promote democracy and good governance on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2013.

    Adopted S.Res.173, Designating September 2013 as “National Child Awareness Month” to promote awareness of charities benefitting children and youth-serving organizations throughout the United States and recognizing efforts made by those charities and organizations on behalf of children and youth as critical contributions to the future of the United States.

    Adopted S.Res.174, designating June 20, 2013, as “American Eagle Day”.

    No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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June 2013
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Last Floor Action:6/17/13
9:46:30 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on June 18, 2013.

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Border Overkill


By  ThinkProgress War Room

The Border is Already Secure

Republican senators like Chuck Grassley (IA) and John Cornyn (TX) have been offering various amendments to the immigration bill they claim are necessary to secure the border, but their real purpose is try and kill the bill by placing impossible roadblocks on the pathway to earned citizenship.

The truth is that the border is already as secure as it’s ever been and the immigration bill is already slated to invest billions more to make additional improvements. In fact, the border has already met the border security targets included in the failed 2007 immigration reform bill.

Check out this infographic to see why the border is already secure and we don’t need any poison pill amendments from Republicans to make sure it stays that way.

Washington Transit System


CHP Washington State Banner

Anyone want to name a bridge after Tim Eyman? The song may be funny but the situation at the State Capitol is not.

The demand for transit and safer streets for bicycles and pedestrians continues to grow and yet many legislators in Olympia simply don’t seem to get it. Washington needs to fix and properly fund our current transportation system before spending money on new highways. Senator Curtis King, Co-Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, is promoting a new transportation funding proposal that will set us back decades. This new budget proposal fails to fund over $900 million worth of projects that are necessary to operate our transit system, provide street improvements for bikes and pedestrians, and address polluted water runoff associated with roads.

Our bridges are literally crumbling around us. Workers can’t get to jobs because their bus service has been cut. The new road “mega-projects” being considered in the transportation funding proposal would dramatically increase climate changing pollution and increase sprawl. The Senate transportation funding proposal is simply unacceptable.

Tell your legislator to invest in transit, pedestrian and bicycles.

Email your legislators and tell them not to support any transportation package that fails to achieve what the House Transportation Committee advanced during the regular session in April.  At a minimum, the 12 year revenue package must:

  • Authorize “local option” funding for transit systems;
  • Fund transit directly at $420 million;
  • Fund pedestrian and bicycle projects at $370 million;
  • Fund polluted runoff mitigation and control at $156 million.

We need your support to create a better future where smart investments help us and our neighbors get where we are going safely. 

Cars are our number one source of climate pollution in this state. A sustainable future demands that we have functional transit and safe streets where our children can bike and walk.  The Senate transportation package invests exactly 0 dollars in a healthy future. We need to do better.

Public polling shows over and over that Washington voters support fixing our broken roads and bridges and funding transit, bike, and pedestrian infrastructure more than new highways. Let your legislators know today that you do not support a transportation revenue package that won’t invest in safe and healthy communities, and doesn’t emphasize a fix-it-first approach to roads spending. Let’s ensure the transportation budget reflects our environmental values.

Take Action! Thank you for all that you do,
Tim Gould, Chair, Transportation & Land Use Committee

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