Monthly Archives: September 2013

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Will the news cover this?


National Women's Law Center - Don't Discount Women: Demand Fair Change Not Spare Change
We’ve crunched the numbers. And they aren’t good.

The Census Bureau released new data on poverty in the United States. You may have heard that poverty rates overall were stuck at record levels. That’s bad enough — and our analysis has turned up even more disturbing information about older women.

Last year, Americans 65 and older — the majority of whom are women — saw significant increases in extreme poverty. That means their annual income is only about $5,500 or less.

Ironically, this is the exact same group that some Members of Congress like to target for cuts — especially around Social Security.

Enough is enough. People need know the truth. Please post this image to Facebook.

Infographic - The number of women 65 & older living in extreme poverty jumped 23% last year

This new finding is just one result from NWLC’s comprehensive analysis of recent Census data. Other key findings include:

  • Poverty rates for women were once again higher than for men. The poverty rate for women was 14.5 percent, compared to 11.0 percent for men.
  • Poverty rates are especially high for women of color, women who head families, foreign-born women, and elderly women living alone.
  • More than half of all poor children lived in families headed by women. More than one in five children — more than 16 million — were poor.
  • The gender wage gap hasn’t budged. Women working full-time, year-round were typically paid only 77 cents for every dollar paid to their male counterparts — just like they were a decade ago.

The increase in extreme poverty among the elderly should send an especially strong message to policy makers: They should take cuts to Social Security off the table, and start working on improving benefits instead. And they should start working on bringing down those other high poverty rates, by ending the sequester and making investments that create jobs and expand opportunities.

Sincerely,

Joan Entmacher Joan Entmacher 
Vice President, Family Economic Security 
National Women’s Law Center
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Obamacare in Washington ~~ Check out your State’s #ACA


 

Democrats

Ted Cruz managed to talk about Obamacare on the Senate floor for 21 hours earlier this week without saying much that was actually true about Obamacare.

It was an example of just how much misinformation there is out there about health reform — and we need to fight back with the truth.

We put together a beautiful new website that’s full of facts about how Obamacare is working across the country — including in Washington. Take a look, and share it with your friends and family:

ThisIsObamacare.com
Click on the learn more and find your State

Open enrollment in Obamacare’s exchanges begin in less than a week, so it’s never been more important to get the word out about the benefits of health reform.

So set the record straight on the misinformation about Obamacare — hold Ted Cruz and his Republican allies accountable:

http://www.thisisobamacare.com

Thanks,

Laura

Laura Santucci
Acting Executive Director
Democratic National Committee

Black History

the Senate HIRes.59.Cont. Res ~~ CONGRESS ~~ the House HR2251, HR3096, HR1412


Wethepeople

The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:30am on Friday, September 27, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of H.J.Res.59, the Continuing Resolution.

The time until 12:10pm will be equally divided and controlled between the proponents and opponents of the motion to invoke cloture on H.J.Res.59.  The time from 12:10pm until 12:30pm is reserved for the two Leaders with the Majority Leader controlling the final 10 minutes.

The filing deadline for all second degree amendments to H.J.Res.59 is 10:30am on Friday.

At 12:30pm, there will be up to 4 roll call votes in relation to the following in the following order.  All votes after the first vote will be 10 minutes in duration and there will be 2 minutes of debate between each vote.

  • Cloture on H.J.Res.59;
  • Motion to waive budget points of order;
  • Reid-Mikulski amendment #1974; and
  • Passage of H.J.Res.59, as amended, if amended.
  • 12:29pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on H.J.Res.59, the continuing resolution;Invoked: 79-19
  • 12:58 pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the Reid motion to waive all applicable budget points of order:Waived: 68-30
  • 1:16pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the Reid-Mikulski amendment #1974 (substitute) to H.J.Res.59, continuing resolution;Agreed to: 54-44
  • 1:30pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on passage of H.J.Res.59, continuing resolution;Passed: 54-44The bill will now be sent to the House of Representatives. Senators will be notified when the next vote is scheduled
  • The Senate is in a period of morning business until 4:00pm with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
  • At 4:00pm the Majority Leader will be recognized.
  • At a time to be determined by the Majority Leader with the concurrence of the Republican Leader, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #204 and #205. There be 30 minutes for debate equally divided prior to a vote on confirmation of the nominations.-          Calendar #204, the nomination of Colin Stirling Bruce, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois

    –          Calendar #205, the nomination of Sara Lee Ellis, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois

    Senators will be notified when these votes are scheduled.

  • The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, September 30. Following any leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:00pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. Senators will be notified when any votes are scheduled.
  • WRAP UP
  • Today’s Roll Call Votes1) Motion to invoke cloture on H.J.Res.59, the Continuing Resolution. INVOKED 79-19.

    2) Motion to waive budget points of order with respect to H.J.Res.59. WAIVED 68-30

    3) Reid-Mikulski amendment #1974 to H.J.Res.59. AGREED TO 54-44.

    4) Passage of H.J.Res.59, the CR, as amended. PASSED 54-44.

    LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS

    Adopted S.Res.214, designating the week of October 13, 2013, through October 19, 2013, as “National Case Management Week” to recognize teh value of case management in improving healthcare outcomes for patients.

     

    No EXECUTIVE BUSINESS 

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  • September 2013
    S M T W T F S
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    29 30
  • *****************************************************************
  • Last Floor Action:
    9:30:24 A.M. -H.R. 3096
    DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3096.

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Marissa Graciosa, Reform Immigration FOR America


I've learned a powerful lesson in my years of organizing: you get what you ask for.

Tell your representative to show leadership and pass immigration reform now!

Send a postcard!

I’ve learned a powerful lesson in my years of organizing: you get what you ask for. With countless activists like you making calls, joining rallies and marches, and even risking arrest to ask for nothing less than a fair pathway to citizenship as part of immigration reform legislation, all we need now is for our representatives in the House to come forward and lead on the issue.

While our communities show true courage, our legislators in the House of Representatives are hiding. They are choosing political theater over working together to fix our broken immigration system. They are hiding from our demands for bold action to keep our families together.

It’s time the House followed our lead. We’re sending postcards directly to Congressional offices with images of our communities showing real leadership and a message demanding action. Send your representative a clear message: “Real leaders don’t hide. Pass immigration reform in 2013.”

We elect our members of Congress to lead, yet the House has failed to do so by refusing to take action. We must remind them that, as representatives of the people, they answer to us — and we challenge them to model the bravery and leadership that thousands are demonstrating in the streets every day by passing immigration reform this year.

We are closer now than we have ever been to passing real reform, and our representatives need to know that we aren’t backing down. Send your message now: step up and lead on immigration reform! Click here to send a postcard.

Standing strong,

Marissa Graciosa
Reform Immigration FOR America

Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS ~~ the House


WethePeople

The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am on Thursday, September 26, 2013. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of H.J.Res.59. the Continuing Resolution, with the time from 10:30am controlled in 1 hour increments, with the Majority controlling the first hour and alternating thereafter.

If no agreement is reached under Rule 22, the cloture vote on the Continuing Resolution would occur 1 hour after the Senate convenes on Friday. The filing deadline for germane first degree amendments to H.J.Res.59, is 1:00pm tomorrow.

Yesterday Senator Reid filed cloture on the H.J.Res.59, the continuing resolution. If cloture is invoked, germane first degree amendments must be filed at the desk prior to 1:00pm today to be considered in order, if cloture is invoked.

If no agreement can be reached, the cloture vote on the joint resolution would occur one hour after the Senate convenes tomorrow, Friday, September 27. However, by consent the vote could be moved to another time, perhaps even later today. Senators will be notified when any votes are scheduled.

Senator Vitter asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment to call up Vitter amendment #1983, to prohibit funds for congressional and certain administration officials’ health insurance contributions.

Senator Tester objected.

Senator Toomey asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to call up the following amendments:

Toomey #1971 (repeal medical devise excise tax)

Toomey #1972 (delay application of individual health insurance mandate)

Toomey #1973 (rights of conscience with respect to health items or services)

Senator Tester objected.

Senator Coats asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to call up Coats amendment #1979 (delay the application of the individual health insurance mandate, to delay the application of the employer health insurance mandate).

Senator Tester objected.

The Senate concurred in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R.527, Responsible Helium Administration and Stewardship Act. As a result in concurring in the House Amendment, the bill will be sent to the President.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent there be 4 votes this evening around 7:30pm:

–       Cloture on H.J.Res.59, the continuing resolution

–       Motion to waive budget points of order

–       Reid amendment #1974, perfecting substitute

–       Passage of H.J.Res.59, as amended

Senator Lee asked to modify the request so that the votes would occur tomorrow. Senator Reid declined to modify. Senators Lee, Corker, and Cruz then engaged in a colloquy discussing the merits of voting today or tomorrow. Below you will find the unofficial transcript of the colloquy (a must read). Senator Lee ultimately objected to voting tonight.

The Senate has reached an agreement that results in a series of up to 4 roll call votes at 12:30pm tomorrow, Friday, September 27. Those votes are in relation to the following items:

–       Cloture on H.J.Res.59, the continuing resolution

–       Motion to waive budget point of order

–       Reid amendment #1974, perfecting substitute

–       Passage of H.J.Res.59, as amended

All votes after the first vote will be 10 minutes in duration.

–       H.J.Res.59, Continuing Appropriations

 

Reid:   I ask unanimous consent that following Leader remarks on Friday, September 27th, the time until 12:10pm be equally divided between proponents and opponents of the motion to invoke cloture on H.J.Res.59; that the time from 12:10pm until 12:30pm be reserved from the two Leaders, with the final 10 minutes under control of the Majority Leader;

that at 12:30pm, the Senate proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on H.J.Res.59; that if cloture is invoked, all post-cloture time be yielded back; the pending Reid amendment #1975 be withdrawn; that no other amendments be in order;

that the Majority Leader be recognized to make a motion to waive applicable budget points of order; that if a motion to waive is agreed to, the Senate proceed to vote in relation to the Reid amendment #1974; that upon disposition of the Reid amendment, the joint resolution be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the joint resolution, as amended, if amended,

finally, that all after the first vote in this sequence of votes be ten minute votes and there be two minutes equally divided between the votes.

There will be no roll call votes tonight.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Concurred in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.527, Helium Stewardship Act.

Passed S.1348, a bill to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act with a Carper amendment.

Adopted S.Res.261, designating the week beginning September 23, 2013, as “National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week”.

Adopted S.Res.262, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of suicide prevention awareness.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Watch Live House Floor Proceedings

Last Floor Action:
10:01:00 A.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate.

At the conclusion of Morning-Hour Debate, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

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