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Monthly Archives: November 2014
The Senate ~~~ CONGRESS 11/24 ~~~ The House
The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, December 1, 2014.
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30pm. At 5:30pm, the Senate will vote on cloture on the Mamet and Bel nominations.
If cloture is invoked on either of the nominations, on Tuesday, December 2, 2014, at 10:30am, all post cloture time will be expired, and the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the nominations.
5:30pm—Up to 2 roll call votes:
- Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #892 Noah Bryson Mamet – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Argentine Republic
- Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #631 Colleen Bradley Bell – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Hungary
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Last Floor Action:11/20
1:05:34 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to pursuant to the order of the House of today.
The next meeting is scheduled for 12 noon on Monday, November 24, 2014,
unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in H. Con. Res. 119, in which case, the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.
| 9:00:21 A.M. | The House convened, starting a newlegislative day. 11/20 |
The House did not meet on 11/24 as scheduled
9:00:28 A.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Doug Collins to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.9:00:40 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.9:01:55 A.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.9:02:23 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Bilirakis to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.9:02:31 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.9:15:04 A.M.H.R. 4795Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 756. H.R. 4795 — “To promote new manufacturing in the United States by providing for greater transparency and timeliness in obtaining necessary permits, and for other purposes.”9:15:09 A.M.H.R. 4795Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012 and H.R. 4795. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012, and H.R. 4795. General debate is limited to 1 hour for each bill. The resolution specifies certain amendments are in order for H.R. 1422, H.R. 4012, and H.R. 4795. One motion to recommit with instructions is permitted for each bill.9:15:17 A.M.H.R. 4795House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 756 and Rule XVIII.9:15:18 A.M.H.R. 4795The Speaker designated the Honorable Randy Hultgren to act as Chairman of the Committee.9:15:29 A.M.H.R. 4795GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4795.9:46:13 A.M.H.R. 4795An amendment, offered by Mr. Waxman, numbered 1 printed in Part C of House Report 113-626 to state that outdated air quality standards do not apply toward a preconstruction permit if the applicable federal, state, or local permitting agency determines that applying it would likely increase air pollution, slow permitting, or increase regulatory uncertainty.9:46:16 A.M.H.R. 4795Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 756, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waxman Part C amendment No. 1.9:53:41 A.M.H.R. 4795POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Waxman Part C amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Waxman demanded a recorded vote and the chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.9:54:12 A.M.H.R. 4795An amendment, offered by Mr. Whitfield, numbered 2 printed in Part C of House Report 113-626 to clarify that Section 3(b) of the bill does not prohibit States from imposing new or revised federal air quality standards under state or local law.9:54:15 A.M.H.R. 4795Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 756, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Whitfield Part C amendment No. 2.10:00:17 A.M.H.R. 4795On agreeing to the Whitfield amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.10:00:30 A.M.H.R. 4795UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of an amendment which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.10:31:38 A.M.H.R. 4795On agreeing to the Waxman amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 183 – 225 (Roll no. 529).10:31:46 A.M.H.R. 4795The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4795.10:32:28 A.M.H.R. 4795The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.10:32:41 A.M.H.R. 4795The House adopted the amendment as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.10:34:06 A.M.H.R. 4795Ms. Kuster moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.10:34:50 A.M.H.R. 4795Floor summary: DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kuster motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment to ensure that nothing in the underlying legislation would affect the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) require compliance with a new ambient air quality standard in a preconstruction permit if doing so would protect children and seniors from dangerous air pollutants, including cancer-causing pollutants, located within 5 miles of a school, day care facility, hospital or nursing home or (2) require small businesses to comply with an outdated ambient air quality standard if doing so would result in higher costs or job losses for that small business.10:42:58 A.M.H.R. 4795The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.10:51:33 A.M.H.R. 4795On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 189 – 223 (Roll no. 530).10:59:58 A.M.H.R. 4795On passage Passed by recorded vote: 238 – 172 (Roll no. 531).11:00:00 A.M.H.R. 4795Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.11:00:59 A.M. MOMENT OF SILENCE – The House observed a moment of silence in memory of the tragic shooting in which four students died, and one student was wounded at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Marysville, Washington.11:03:33 A.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.11:18:44 A.M.H. Con. Res. 119Considered as privileged matter. H. Con. Res. 119 — “Providing for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives and a conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate.”11:21:06 A.M.H. Con. Res. 119On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.11:21:12 A.M.H. Con. Res. 119Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.11:21:27 A.M. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen asked unanimous consent That when the House adjourns on Thursday, November 20, 2014, it adjourn to meet at noon on Monday, November 24, 2014, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in H. Con. Res. 119, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution. Agreed to without objection.11:22:00 A.M. SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.1:05:14 P.M. Mr. King (IA) moved that the House do now adjourn.1:05:31 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.1:05:34 P.M. The House adjourned pursuant to pursuant to the order of the House of today. The next meeting is scheduled for 12 noon on Monday, November 24, 2014, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in H. Con. Res. 119, in which case, the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.
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Ken Ellis and Strong Families via Change.org
Four years ago, Albuquerque police shot and killed my son, Ken Ellis lll. He was a 25-year-old Iraq war veteran – wounded in action and suffering from severe PTSD – and a father. Nobody has ever been held accountable for his death.
Ken’s not alone – Albuquerque officers have shot and killed at least 27 people since 2010 in a pattern of unnecessary aggression and violence. Even the Department of Justice found that most of the police shootings in Albuquerque between 2010 and 2012 were unconstitutional.
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Families & Flexibility, The Supreme Court, Babygate, & Paid Sick Days Victories!
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Peggy Young v. UPS
Earlier this month A Better Balance and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) jointly filed a friend of the court (amicus) brief in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court supporting a woman who was forced off her job while pregnant, losing income and her health benefits in the process. Peggy Young worked for UPS in Maryland when she became pregnant and submitted a doctor’s note with a lifting restriction. She was told that she could not have light duty because of a company-wide policy, so she would have to resort to unpaid leave. This was despite the fact that UPS provided light duty to many other workers. Our brief uses real stories to explain to the high court how policies like UPS’s are clearly illegal under the plain text of the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) and contrary to Congressional intent. Click here to read more and click here to read the brief.
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Babygate, the Sequel. 
This month the Feminist Press re-published our guidebook for expecting and new parents about their workplace rights.
Babygate: How to Survive Pregnancy and Parenting in the Workplace, has a new cover, updated content and has been generating buzz, from the New Republic and The Maria Shriver Project this summer to the Brian Leher Show on WNYC in September. Coming up next? Babygate, the website. Stay tuned!
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ABB Senior Staff Attorney Jared Make (far right) with other advocates after the Paterson law was passed.
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Paid Sick Time Victories
The momentum for paid sick time is undeniable. In the past three months, we have helped to win seven new paid sick time laws across the country! In July, San Diego and Eugene (Oregon) both passed paid sick time laws. In September, California became the second state to legally guarantee paid sick time for its workers! This statewide victory will extend paid sick time to more than six million workers in California who currently receive no paid sick days for personal or family health reasons. Also in September we helped to pass four new paid sick time laws In New Jersey: the cities of Paterson, East Orange, Passaic, and Irvington recently joined Newark and Jersey City in ensuring that workers can earn paid sick time.
The momentum for paid sick time is undeniable. In the past three months, we have helped to win seven new paid sick time laws across the country! In July, San Diego and Eugene (Oregon) both passed paid sick time laws. In September, California became the second state to legally guarantee paid sick time for its workers! This statewide victory will extend paid sick time to more than six million workers in California who currently receive no paid sick days for personal or family health reasons. Also in September we helped to pass four new paid sick time laws In New Jersey: the cities of Paterson, East Orange, Passaic, and Irvington recently joined Newark and Jersey City in ensuring that workers can earn paid sick time.
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ABB Southern Office Director Elizabeth Gedmark (far right) with members of Respect the Bump and other advocates at Chicago Know Your Rights training.
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Know Your Rights
ABB is continuing to educate pregnant women and caregivers around the country about their legal rights. For example, our Southern Office recently provided educational Know Your Rights materials in Nashville, TN at an event called the “Best Baby Shower”. Hundreds of pregnant women and their partners were in attendance. ABB is also working with our partners at Respect The Bump (a group of pregnant and formerly pregnant workers at Walmart who have banded together to create change at the superstore) to educate workers about their rights under Walmart’s new policy on Accomodations in Employment.
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Protect our families from chemical disasters
ACTION ALERT
Tell the Environmental Protection Agency to Improve Chemical Plant Safety
Right now, 134 million Americans live in danger zones around facilities that use or store hazardous chemicals. And with around 30,000 documented incidents reported annually—from West Virginia to California—we remain devastatingly ill-prepared to protect the public from chemical disasters.
In fact, last year, 15 people died and three schools were destroyed as a result of a fertilizer plant explosion in Texas. After this tragic and avoidable accident, President Barack Obama took an important step to prevent disasters like this from happening again, calling on federal agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to strengthen chemical plant safety regulations.
For the first time in decades, we have a chance to make real strides in improving chemical safety and security. The EPA needs to hear your support to improve chemical plant safety and prevent future disasters. Tell Administrator McCarthy that the EPA must improve access to information about toxic chemicals, require the use of safer chemical processes, and protect vulnerable communities.
Let’s make sure the EPA enacts the necessary standards to keep our families safe from chemical disasters.
Sincerely,
Danielle Fox
Outreach Coordinator
Center for Science and Democracy
Union of Concerned Scientists
Be a Seed for Change 
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