I’m a veteran with PTSD, and medical marijuana changed my life. Tell the DEA to stop blocking groundbreaking research that could bring medical marijuana to other vets like me.

Sign Ryan’s Petition

Since my time on active duty in Iraq, I’ve suffered badly from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I’m haunted by nightmares and flashbacks, remembering the improvised explosive device that nearly took my arm.

My PTSD got so bad that I became prone to outbursts of anger and violence. I tried therapy, different kinds of medication, but it just kept getting worse — until I began using medical marijuana.

After I registered as a patient in in my home state of Maine, where medical marijuana is legal, I finally felt like myself again. I stopped having so many nightmares when I was asleep, so many outbursts when I was awake.

For years researchers have been trying to study if marijuana can help veterans and others with PTSD. But the DEA has been blocking the research. The DEA would rather force veterans like me to go untreated than allow research to prove whether medical marijuana can help.

I started a petition on Change.org asking the Drug Enforcement Administration to allow a study on the medical benefits of marijuana for PTSD.

The Food and Drug Administration has already approved protocols for the proposed study on marijuana and PTSD. And just last week, the National Institute on Drug Abuse gave the study their approval as well. The DEA is now the one and only agency blocking this potentially revolutionary study.

PTSD is the second-most common illness facing today’s veterans. Tens of thousands of service members suffer from stress rooted in their time overseas. And while many are able to find some relief from traditional medical treatments, others are left seeking something that will work for them — and scientists think that medical marijuana may be the answer.

Please click here to sign my petition to allow a study on the medical benefits of marijuana for those suffering from PTSD.

I know firsthand how devastating PTSD can be and I would be dead or in prison without medical marijuana. Thank you for helping me and other veterans like me to find some relief.

Thank you,

Sergeant Ryan Begin,
United States Marine Corps (Ret).
Belfast, Maine

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NMAAHC

04/04/2014 Nativegrl77

The Smithsonian’s Board of Regents has elected Dr. David J. Skorton, president of Cornell University and a board-certified cardiologist, as the 13th Secretary of the Smithsonian, effective July 2015. “David Skorton has demonstrated keen vision and skilled leadership as the president of two great American universities,” said John G. Roberts, Jr., Smithsonian Chancellor and Chief Justice of the United States. “His character, experience, and talents are an ideal match for the Smithsonian’s broad and dynamic range of interests, endeavors, and aspirations.” Dr. Daivd Skorton

To see videos of Dr. Skorton speaking and to learn more click here.

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 4/4 the House

04/04/2014 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, April 7, 2014.

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.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.3979, the legislative vehicle for the Emergency Unemployment Benefits Extension Act, post-cloture with the time until 5:30pm equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

At 5:30pm, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on H.R.3979, as amended.

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Last Floor Action:4/3
4/4 10:20:13 A.M. -H. Res. 539
On ordering the previous question Roll Call 157 – Yea and Nay vote pending.

9:00:01 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:04 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:01:01 A.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
9:01:03 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Barrow of GA to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:01:21 A.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.
9:13:50 A.M.	H. Res. 539	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 539 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1874) to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide for macroeconomic analysis of the impact of legislation, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1871) to amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to reform the budget baseline, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1872) to amend the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 to increase transparency in Federal budgeting, and for other purposes.”
9:18:00 A.M.	H. Res. 539	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 539.
10:20:13 A.M.	H. Res. 539	On ordering the previous question Roll Call 157 – Yea and Nay vote pending.

10:48:17 A.M.	H. Res. 539	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 222 – 193 (Roll no. 157).
10:55:31 A.M.	H. Res. 539	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by recorded vote: 220 – 194 (Roll no. 158).
10:55:32 A.M.	H. Res. 539	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
10:56:56 A.M.	H.R. 1874	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 539. H.R. 1874 — “To amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to provide for macroeconomic analysis of the impact of legislation.”
10:57:01 A.M.	H.R. 1874	The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1874, H.R. 1871, and H.R. 1872. The resolution provides for 1 hour of general debate for each bill. Specified amendments printed in Part B of House Report 113-400 are in order for H.R. 1874. The resolution allows for one motion to recommit with instructions for each bill.
10:57:10 A.M.	H.R. 1874	House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 539 and Rule XVIII.
10:57:10 A.M.	H.R. 1874	The Speaker designated the Honorable Doug Collins to act as Chairman of the Committee.
10:57:43 A.M.	H.R. 1874	GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1874.
12:05:09 P.M.	H.R. 1874	An amendment, offered by Mr. Connolly, numbered 1 printed in Part B of House Report 113-400 to subject Congressional appropriations bills to dynamic scoring, and to change the threshold to trigger such scoring to $1 billion.
12:05:12 P.M.	H.R. 1874	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 539, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Connolly Part B amendment No. 1.
12:12:53 P.M.	H.R. 1874	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Connolly amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Connolly demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
12:13:09 P.M.	H.R. 1874	An amendment, offered by Mr. Israel, numbered 2 printed in Part B of House Report 113-400 to add a bill’s impact on state and local governments to the parameters that CBO must analyze in a supplemental analysis under this bill.
12:13:11 P.M.	H.R. 1874	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 539, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Israel Part B amendment No. 2.
12:18:34 P.M.	H.R. 1874	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Israel amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Israel demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
12:18:54 P.M.	H.R. 1874	An amendment, offered by Mr. Cicilline, numbered 3 printed in Part B of House Report 113-400 to require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to include jobs impact statements (estimates of the number of jobs which would be created, sustained, or lost in carrying out such bill or resolution) using the CBO’s existing analytical principles and procedures, for “major bills or resolutions” as defined in H.R. 1874.
12:18:56 P.M.	H.R. 1874	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 539, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cicilline Part B amendment No. 3.
12:25:45 P.M.	H.R. 1874	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Cicilline amendment No. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Cicilline demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
12:26:28 P.M.	H.R. 1874	An amendment, offered by Mr. Bishop (NY), numbered 4 printed in Part B of House Report 113-400 to require the Congressional Budget Office to review the accuracy of the macroeconomic impact analysis for any enacted bill or joint resolution.
12:26:37 P.M.	H.R. 1874	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 539, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Bishop (NY) Part B amendment No. 4.
12:29:15 P.M.	H.R. 1874	On agreeing to the Bishop (NY) amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
12:30:41 P.M.	H.R. 1874	An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, numbered 5 printed in Part B of House Report 113-400 to require CBO to include as part of their macroeconomic analysis estimates of the potential impact on HUB ZONE areas as defined by the Small Business Act.
12:30:44 P.M.	H.R. 1874	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 539, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) Part B amendment No. 5.
12:37:53 P.M.	H.R. 1874	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment No. 5, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee (TX) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
12:38:54 P.M.	H.R. 1874	UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
1:05:29 P.M.	H.R. 1874	On agreeing to the Connolly amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 182 – 214 (Roll no. 159).
1:09:37 P.M.	H.R. 1874	On agreeing to the Israel amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 189 – 211 (Roll no. 160).
1:13:28 P.M.	H.R. 1874	On agreeing to the Cicilline amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 186 – 219 (Roll no. 161).
1:18:51 P.M.	H.R. 1874	On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 185 – 222 (Roll no. 162).
1:18:55 P.M.	H.R. 1874	The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1874.
1:19:39 P.M.	H.R. 1874	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
1:19:48 P.M.	H.R. 1874	The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
1:20:23 P.M.	H.R. 1874	Ms. Kuster moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Budget.
1:21:21 P.M.	H.R. 1874	Floor summary: DEBATE – The House proceeeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kuster 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 require any dynamic score under the bill to include impacts on job creation and economic growth of any investment in education, transportation and infrastructure. It also allows appropriations bills to benefit from dynamic scoring under the bill.
1:26:07 P.M.	H.R. 1874	The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
1:33:23 P.M.	H.R. 1874	On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 187 – 218 (Roll no. 163).
1:42:27 P.M.	H.R. 1874	On passage Passed by recorded vote: 224 – 182 (Roll no. 164).
1:42:28 P.M.	H.R. 1874	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:49:02 P.M.		COLLOQUY ON HOUSE SCHEDULE – The Chair recognized Mr. Hoyer for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with Mr. Cantor on the expectations regarding the legislative schedule for the House during the upcoming week.
2:11:41 P.M.		Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Friday, April 4, 2014, it adjourn to meet at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, April 7, 2014 for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.
2:11:50 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
2:16:00 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

4:26:12 P.M.		Mr. King (IA) moved that the House do now adjourn.
4:26:26 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
4:26:27 P.M.		The House adjournedpursuant to a previous special order.The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on April 7, 2014.

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The Affordable Care Act

04/03/2014 Nativegrl77

The Affordable Care Act had its most successful day ever and more than 7 million Americans have now enrolled:

And we’re starting TODAY by calling out everything terrible in the just-released Paul Ryan Republican Budget. Check out our new ad:

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Speak out against slavery

04/03/2014 Nativegrl77

Over the past months, I’ve been working on a report documenting the practices of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad (KLK), one of the most notorious producers of Conflict Palm Oil on the planet. I knew when I started that KLK’s practices were devastating, but nothing could have prepared me for what RAN has uncovered.

The sheer magnitude of the abuse that KLK has engaged in—from destruction of pristine tropical forest in Indonesia, to attempted land grabs from Indigenous communities in remote areas of the island of Papua New Guinea, to outright slavery and child labor—was shocking.

The worst part? Cargill is buying palm oil from KLK and then selling it to consumer product companies that make some of the most popular brand-name products in the world.

The expanse of this egregious behavior is breathtaking. And unfortunately, due to the murky world of palm oil traders and suppliers, KLK is able to continue to operate with absolute impunity while major traders like Cargill continue to purchase the palm oil it produces to sell to food manufacturers in the United States and around the world.

Tell Cargill’s new CEO, David MacLennan, that it’s time for his company to cut Conflict Palm Oil from its supply chains.

As long as Cargill continues to purchase Conflict Palm Oil, no questions asked, from reprehensible companies like KLK, KLK and its peers have absolutely no motivation to change. Why stop using child labor or stealing land when nobody is holding them accountable?

This has to change, and it will with your help.

Cargill needs to implement a responsible palm oil sourcing policy that blacklists any company that produces Conflict Palm Oil and engages in horrific human rights abuses immediately. Time is running out. Cargill is lagging behind other traders that have realized that business as usual is no longer tenable.

Tell Cargill that its dirty secret of cheap Conflict Palm Oil is out, and you won’t tolerate the human rights abuses from Cargill’s trading operations and partners.

Please send your message to Cargill’s new CEO. It’s crucial that Cargill hears from you.