Stop Goldman Sachs ~~ Send a CAN


“[Goldman Sachs] is a great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity, relentlessly jamming its blood funnel into anything that smells like money.” – Matt Taibbi1

Please click on Graphic and Send a Can

Stop the banks. Send a can. Click here for instructions.

Five Ways the CFPB Can Help You With Your Student Loans


WethepeopleThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is a new government agency created after the financial crisis

– Their mission is to make markets for consumer financial products and services work for Americans

— whether they are applying for a mortgage, choosing among credit cards, or using any number of other consumer financial products.

Above all, this means ensuring that consumers get the information they need to make the financial decisions they believe are best for themselves and their families—that prices are clear up-front, that risks are visible, and that nothing is buried in the fine print. In a market that works, consumers should be able to make direct comparisons among products and no provider should be able to use unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices.

StudentDebtCrisis.org wants our members to know that there is help available for student loan borrowers. Here are 5 tools that can help you with your student loans, whether you are a first time borrower, or even if you’re in default. Check out these great tools provided by the CFPB to help you navigate your own loan situation:

1.  If you are a new borrower, or you’re considering taking out student loans, check out the CFPB tool for New Borrowers – Paying for College.

2. If you already have student debt, use this tool for Existing Borrowers Repaying Student Debt.

3. Suffering in Student Loan Default? What are your rights as a defaulted borrower?  Click here to find out.

4. If you are having trouble with your lender, or feel that something illegal has taken place regarding your student loan – Submit a complaint to the CFPB.

5. For general inquiries, check out the CFPB’s Q & A section  Ask CFPB.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support!

Sincerely,

StudentDebtCrisis.org

Greg Sutherland, via Rainforest Action Network


Pledge of Resistance
Pledge of Resistance members march on TransCanada
Pledge of Resistance volunteers march to TransCanada’s office in Houston. September 16, 2013.

Ran
When the march began, I was nervous. I had never done anything like this before, but by the time we reached the Houston office of TransCanada, the company trying to build the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, my nervousness had washed away. I was resolved and ready to be arrested for blocking the entrance to TransCanada’s office. When the police came for me, my voice was hoarse from chanting for President Obama to stop the pipeline.
I decided to risk arrest because I don’t want to leave my four grandchildren with a hellish world of climate disasters and resource wars. I hate that they might have to live in a much more dangerous, polluted and inhospitable world when they are my age. To protect the climate and usher in the future they deserve, we must collectively take on hundreds of tasks to transition to a clean energy economy in next five years. And stopping Keystone XL is one very concrete thing that we can do to protect the climate RIGHT NOW.
Will you help me stop the pipeline by joining the Keystone XL Pledge of Resistance?
The Keystone XL Pledge of Resistance is a project bringing together tens of thousands of people to risk arrest in peaceful civil disobedience, if necessary, to make it politically unfeasible for President Obama to approve the pipeline.
As for myself, I am organizing a Pledge of Resistance action in Atlanta because I want to demonstrate to the President that people all across the country are commited to fighting climate change, even in conservative Georgia, where I live. Hundreds of other volunteers are organizing actions in every part of the country. We need your help to make the actions as big as possible. If we do that, we can demand the President represent the people and not the corporations and reject Keystone XL.
Please join me in the Keystone XL Pledge of Resistance and commit to participating in a peaceful civil disobedience action to call on the President to reject Keystone XL.
The bonds I formed with the twelve others arrested in Houston are some of the most powerful I’ve ever made in such a short time. Those bonds, along with the tens of thousands coming together in the Pledge of Resistance, have made clear to me that we are finally ready to take the urgent stand necessary to protect the climate. If we take that stand, President Obama will not be able to ignore us.
Join the Pledge of Resistance to stop the Keystone XL pipeline.     

For the climate and our grandchildren,

Greg Sutherland                                 Keystone XL Pledge of Resistance Volunteer

P.S. Have you already signed the Pledge of Resistance? If so, please forward this email to your friends and family.

the Senate considers S.1086,ChildCare&Dev Block Grant Prg Bill ~~ CONGRESS 3/13 ~~ the House


blowing

The Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Thursday, March 13, 2014

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 10:30am with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Majority controlling the final half.

 Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization bill.

 Roll call votes are expected throughout the day in an effort to complete action on S.1086.  We are also working on an agreement on the flood insurance bill.  Senators will be notified when votes are scheduled.

At 12:15pm, the Senate will proceed to a series of up to 5 votes. We expect a roll call vote on Coburn #2830, as modified, and voice votes on the remaining amendments in the following list:

12:15pm:

–          Coburn #2830, as modified (no credits for millionaires) (roll call vote)

–          Portman #2827 (language and literacy development) (voice vote)

–          Tester #2834 (Tribal construction/renovation of facilities) (voice vote)

–          Thune #2838 (child care supply) (voice vote)

–          Warren #2842 (financial aid) (voice vote)

–           Bennet amendment #2839, as modified (voice vote)

No second degree amendments are in order to the amendments prior to the vote.

Upon disposition of the Bennet amendment, the Senate will proceed to voice votes on the following nominations:

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

#634 Puneet Talwar – to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Political-Military Affairs)

LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION

#625 Joseph Pius Pietrzyk – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation for a term expiring July 13, 2014 (Reappointment)

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

#550 Dwight L. Bush, Sr – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Morocco

12:15pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Coburn amendment #2830 (millionaires);

Agreed To: 100-0

The Coburn amendment was agreed to 100-0. The Senate then agreed to the remaining amendments and confirmed the nominations in the series by voice vote.

–          Portman #2827 (language and literacy development)

–          Tester #2834 (Tribal construction/renovation of facilities)

–          Thune #2838 (child care supply)

–          Warren #2842 (financial aid)

–          Bennet #2839 (Federal Buildings)

–          #634 Puneet Talwar – to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Political-Military Affairs)

–          #625 Joseph Pius Pietrzyk – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation for a term expiring July 13, 2014 (Reappointment)

–          #550 Dwight L. Bush, Sr – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Morocco

 The Senate continues to consider S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant legislation. We hope to be in a position to vote on any remaining amendments (we don’t expect any additional votes on amendments) and passage of the bill, as amended, after the luncheons.

The following amendments have been considered to S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization bill::

  • Enzi amendment #2812 (review of early learning and care programs); Agreed to: 98-0
  • Franken amendment #2822 (Indian tribes and tribal organizations; Agreed to: 93-6
  • Lee amendment #2821, as modified (personally identifiable information); agreed to by voice vote
  • Landrieu amendment #2818 (child care disaster plan); Agreed to: 98-0
  • Landrieu #2813 (foster care – immunizations); agreed to by voice vote
  • Landrieu #2814 (foster care coordination); agreed to by voice vote
  • Bennett-Isakson amendment #2824 (combined funding); agreed to by voice vote
  • Boxer-Burr amendment #2809 (background checks); agreed to by voice vote
  • Scott amendment #2837 (parental rights clarification); agreed to by voice vote
  • Coburn amendment #2830, as modified (no credits for millionaires); Agreed to: 100-0
  • Portman amendment  #2827 (language and literacy development) agreed to by voice vote
  •  Tester amendment #2834 (Tribal construction/renovation of facilities) agreed to by voice vote
  • Thune amendment #2838 (child care supply) agreed to by voice vote
  • Warren amendment #2842 (financial aid) agreed to by voice vote
  • Bennett amendment #2839, as modified (federal buildings) agreed to by voice vote
  • Vitter amendment #2845, as modified (priority requirements) agreed to by voice vote
  • Portman amendment #2847 (child care staff member) agreed to voice vote
  • Sanders amendment #2846 (child poverty) agree to voice vote
  • Harkin amendment #2811 (added “underserved” areas) withdrawn

2:20pm We are close to reaching an agreement to vote at 2:30pm on confirmation of Executive Calendar #686, the nomination of Caroline Diane Krass, of the District of Columbia, to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency. Another message will be sent once the agreement has been entered.

2:27pm The Senate began a 15-minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #686, the nomination of Caroline Diane Krass, of the District of Columbia, to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency

Confirmed: 95-4

3:17pm The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization bill

Passed: 97-1

We are close to reaching an agreement on Flood Insurance that would result in 2 roll call votes this afternoon. Under the agreement, there would be up to 1 hour and 15 minutes (45 minutes for Republicans and 30 minutes for Majority) for debate, prior to a vote on passage of H.R.3375, Flood Insurance, and a vote on passage of a Lee bill regarding second homes. Another message will be sent once the agreement is reached.

There will now be up to 45 minutes for debate prior to a vote on passage of H.R.3370, Flood Insurance, and S.2137, flood insurance for second homes (Lee). We expect some time may be yielded back and the vote could begin around 4:30pm. We expect a roll call vote on H.R.3370 and a voice vote on S.2137. Each bill is subject to a 60-affirmativevote threshold.

Further, the Senate will then vote (expect voice votes) on confirmation of the following nominations:

–        Exec. Cal. #647, Arun Madhavan Kumar, of CA, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service; and

–        Exec. Cal. #551, Timothy M. Broas, of MD, to be Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Flood Insurance agreement

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar #317, H.R.3370, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act; that there be up to 75 minutes of debate prior to a vote on passage of the bill, with the Majority controlling 30 minutes and the Republicans controlling 15 minutes; further, that upon disposition of H.R.3370, the Senate proceed to the consideration of S.2137, introduced earlier today by Senator Lee; that the bill be read a third time and the Senate proceed to vote on passage of the bill; that each bill be subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold; with all of the above occurring with no intervening action or debate; finally, there be two minutes equally divided in between the votes; and Senator Coburn be recognized for up to 30 minutes following the votes for his remarks relative to the flood insurance bill.

4:34pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on passage of H.R.3370, Flood Insurance;

Passed: 72-22

The Senate passed H.R.3370, Flood Insurance, 72-22. The Senate passed S.2137 by voice vote.

The Senate then confirmed the Kumar and Broas nominations.

–        Exec. Cal. #647, Arun Madhavan Kumar, of CA, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service; and

–        Exec. Cal. #551, Timothy M. Broas, of MD, to be Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Republican Leader, the motion to proceed to S.2124, a bill to support sovereignty and democracy in Ukraine, be agreed to; that there be one hour of debate equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the bill be read a third time and passed; with all of the above occurring with no intervening action or debate.

Senator Barrasso objected.

Senator Barrasso then asked unanimous consent to take up and pass H.R.4152, an act to provide for the costs of loan guarantees for Ukraine.

Senator Reid objected to Senator Barrasso’s request.

On Thursday, March 13, Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2124, a bill to support sovereignty and democracy in Ukraine. The cloture vote will occur at 5:30pm on Monday, March 24.

–          Calendar #581, Christopher Reid Cooper, of D.C., to be U.S. District Judge for D.C.;

–          Calendar #582, M. Douglas Harpool, of Missouri, to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Missouri;

–          Calendar #583, Gerald Austin McHugh, Jr., of Pennsylvania, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania;

–          Calendar #584, Edward G. Smith, of Pennsylvania, to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Coburn amendment #2830, as modified (no credits for millionaires) to S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization Act; Agreed to: 100-0

2)      Confirmation of Executive Calendar #686, the nomination of Caroline Diane Krass, of the District of Columbia, to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency; Confirmed: 95-4

3)     Passage of S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Reauthorization Act, as amended; Passed: 96-2

4)     Passage of H.R.3370, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2013; Passed: 72-22

Additional Legislative items

Passed S.2137, To ensure that holders of flood insurance policies under the National Flood Insurance Program do not receive premium refunds for coverage of second homes by voice vote.

 Discharged the Banking committee and passed S.1456, a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Shimon Peres with a Bennet amendment.

 Passed S.2147, a bill to amend Public Law 112-59 to provide for the display of the congressional gold medal awarded to the Montford Point Marines, United States Marine Corps, by the Smithsonian Institution and at other appropriate locations.

Passed H.R.4076, Home Heating Emergency Assistance Through Transportation Act of 2014.

Discharged the Indian Affairs committee and passed H.R.2650, a bill to allow the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in the State of Minnesota to lease or transfer certain land.

 Adopted S.Res.375, concerning the crisis in the Central African Republic and supporting United States and international efforts to end the violence, protect civilians, and address root causes of the conflict with committee-reported amendments to the resolution and the preamble.

 Adopted S.Res.376, Supporting the goals of International Women’s Day with a Shaheen-Kirk-Lee amendment to the preamble.

 Adopted S.Res.377, a resolution recognizing the 193rd anniversary of the independence of Greece and celebrating democracy in Greece and the United States.

 Adopted S.Res.388, designating March 22, 2014, as “National Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day.”

 Adopted S.Res.389, designating the week of March 9, 2014 through March 15, 2014, as “National Youth Synthetic Drug Awareness Week”.

 Adopted S.Res.390, designating March 11, 2014, as “World Plumbing Day”.

 Adopted S.Res.391, a resolution designating Jean M. Manning as Chief Counsel for Employment Emeritus of U.S. Senate.

 Adopted S.Res.392, a resolution to authorize document production and representation in Care One Management LLC, et al. v. United Healthcare Workers East, SEIU 1199, et al.

Adopted S.Con.Res.93, providing for technical corrections in the enrollment of H.R.3370.

Began the Rule 14 process of the following item in order to place the bills on the Legislative Calendar:

–        H.R.3474, the Hire More Heroes Act

–        H.R.3979, Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responder Act and

–        S.2148, the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2014 (Reed-Heller and others)

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.2122, the Responsible Medicare SGR Repeal and Beneficiary Improvement Act (Hatch) in order to place the bill on the Legislative Calendar.

Additional Executive items

Confirmed the following by voice vote:

–        Executive Calendar #634 Puneet Talwar – to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Political-Military Affairs)

–        Executive Calendar #625 Joseph Pius Pietrzyk – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation for a term expiring July 13, 2014 (Reappointment)

–        Executive Calendar #550 Dwight L. Bush, Sr – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of Morocco

–        Executive Calendar #647 Arun Madhavan Kumar – to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service

–        Executive Calendar #551 Timothy M. Broas – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kingdom of the Netherlands

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Last Floor Action:
4:16:38 P.M. -H.R. 3973
On agreeing to
the Ellison amendment (A002) Roll Call 127 – Yea and Nay vote pending.

Last Floor Action:3/12
10:01:40 A.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The
House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the
House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

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