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2014 … a year of action

02/10/2014 Nativegrl77

Sat. February 8, 2014

The President spoke. Now:When President Obama took the stage to deliver this year’s State of the Union, he told the American people that he intends for 2014 to be a year of action. He said:

“…What I offer tonight is a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class, and build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class. Some require Congressional action, and I’m eager to work with all of you.

But America does not stand still — and neither will I. So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Those weren’t just lines in a speech. It’s been just 11 days since the State of the Union. In that time, the President has:

Directed the Department of the Treasury to create starter “myRA” accounts that will make it easier for Americans to save for retirement.
Ordered a government-wide review of federal training programs to make sure Americans get in-demand skills for good jobs.
Taken executive action to assist millions of long-term unemployed Americans — and more than 300 companies have already committed to the Administration’s best practices for hiring and recruiting the long-term unemployed.
Announced a major new commitment that will connect more than 20 million students to high-speed Internet — and the private sector stepped up to the plate with more than $750 million in commitments to help make it happen.

And next Wednesday, he’ll be using his pen again.

Don’t take our word for it. See for yourself what action looks like — and if you’re ready for a year of action in 2014, let the President know you’re in.

Families across the country deserve action that gives them a fair shot at getting ahead and creating better lives for themselves.

The President’s going to do everything in his power to make sure they get it.

Take a look, pass it on, and let the President know you’re going to be fighting with him in 2014.

Stay Connected

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Amazon Watch

02/10/2014 Nativegrl77

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Chevron trembles at a little cartoon

When you take on the third largest corporation in the US, you have to come up with all kinds of creative ways to fight. We knew we were onto something great when we teamed up with Pulitzer winner Mark Fiore to release the “Donny Rico” animation, which has helped to inspire over 100,000 people to tell the US Senate to oppose Chevron’s dirty tactics. Chevron’s response? A claim in Federal Court that our oh-so-dangerous little cartoon “injured” the company. Hilarity aside, the fact that the gargantuan company went running scared to court shows that together we’re being effective!

Your donation will help Amazon Watch and the communities in Ecuador continue that effectiveness.

The landmark victory that 30,000 Ecuadorians won over Chevron after 20 years of legal battles cannot be overstated as a precedent for justice. But Chevron has sworn that it will never pay what the court ordered long ago. It’s a corporate criminal on the run, but we won’t give up. Amazon Watch is committed to ongoing efforts to chase Chevron down and make it clean up the toxic mess it left in the Amazon rainforest.

The movement is growing, and some of the credit for this belongs to Chevron. Its outrageous tactics of attacking free speech, vilifying critics, and undermining the system of justice led over 40 environmental and human rights groups to condemn Chevron’s actions, calling it a threat to open society. We need your support today to keep Chevron on the ropes until justice is served in Ecuador!

Please stand with us and against corporate criminal Chevron. Donate today to Clean Up Ecuador.

For the Amazon, for justice!

Paul Paz y Miño
Online & Operations Director

Black History

the Senate considers S.1963,Military Retirement CONGRESS 2/10 the House

02/10/2014 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, February 10, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1963, the Military Retirement Pay Restoration bill.

As a reminder to all Senators, during Thursday’s session, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.1963.

At 5:30pm Monday, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1963.

5:32pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1963, the Military Retirement Pay Restoration bill;

Invoked: 94-0

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, February 11, 2014. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.S.1963, the Military Retirement Pay Restoration bill, post-cloture.

By a vote of 94-0, the Senate invoked cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1963, the Military Retirement Pay Restoration bill. There will now be up to 30 hours for debate on the motion to proceed. There will be no further roll call votes tonight. Senators will be notified when the next vote is scheduled.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1) motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1963, 113th Congress”S.1963, the Military Retirement Pay Restoration bill; Invoked: 94-0

Legislative Items

Passed S.1954, A bill to provide for the extension of the enforcement instruction on supervision requirements for outpatient therapeutic services in critical access and small rural hospitals through 2014

Adopted S.Res.339, A resolution commemorating the 150^th anniversary of Mayo Clinic.

No Executive Items

=======================================

Last Floor Action:
9:30:18 P.M. – The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 11, 2014.

Last Floor Action:
7:33:07 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

Last Floor Action:2/10
12:10:42 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess.

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

Last Floor Action:
12:58:40 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on February 10, 2014.

12:00:16 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:21 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Luke Messer to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:36 P.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
12:10:42 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.


2:00:28 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 10.
2:00:31 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:01:46 P.M.		POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF JOURNAL – The Speaker announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Wilson (SC) demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Speaker announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Wilson (SC) objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Speaker postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until a time to be announced.
2:02:32 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Wilson of SC to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:02:51 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:05:41 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for approximately 5:30 P.M. today.
5:30:53 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 10.
5:30:58 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
5:36:24 P.M.	H.R. 2431	Mr. Hall moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2431 — “To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System.”
5:36:46 P.M.	H.R. 2431	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:36:50 P.M.	H.R. 2431	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2431.
5:50:38 P.M.	H.R. 2431	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
5:52:01 P.M.	H. Res. 447	Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended. H. Res. 447 — “Supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear.”
5:52:02 P.M.	H. Res. 447	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:52:03 P.M.	H. Res. 447	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 447.
6:26:10 P.M.	H. Res. 447	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
6:26:16 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:27:36 P.M.	H.R. 2431	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2431 — “To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System.”
6:59:32 P.M.	H.R. 2431	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 365 – 21 (Roll no. 55).
7:00:04 P.M.	H. Res. 447	Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 447 — “Supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear.”
7:08:10 P.M.	H. Res. 447	On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 381 – 2 (Roll no. 56).
7:08:30 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal which had been postponed from earlier in the legislative day.
7:08:31 P.M.		On approving the Journal Agreed to by recorded vote: 241 – 123, 1 Present (Roll no. 57).
7:19:01 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:33:07 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

7:59:00 P.M.		Mr. Sessions filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 475.
7:59:30 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House continued with Special Order speeches.
9:30:00 P.M.		Mr. Jeffries moved that the House do now adjourn.
9:30:17 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
9:30:18 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 11, 2014.

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 2/7 the House

02/07/2014 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, February 10, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1963, the Military Retirement Pay Restoration bill.

As a reminder to all Senators, during Thursday’s session, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.1963. At 5:30pm Monday, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1963.

================================

Last Floor Action:
12:58:40 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on February 10, 2014.

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The Most-Shared Enhanced Slides from the State of the Union

02/07/2014 Nativegrl77

President Obama Travels the Country to Promote Opportunity for All

Following the State of the Union address, the President traveled around the country this week to talk more about the importance of opportunity for all.

As the President said Tuesday, “Today, women make up about half our workforce. But they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns.” It’s time for women to get equal pay for equal work.

Want all the facts? During the State of the Union, we hand out a “pocket card” to Members of Congress so they can get all the facts in one quick, easy to read place. This year we’re sharing it with you, too.

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