Daily Archives: 05/01/2015

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 5/1 the House


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The Senate stands adjourned until 3:00pm on Monday, May 4, 2015.

The Senate will not be in session on Friday, May 1.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the veto message to accompany S.J.Res.8 (NLRB). Senators should expect a vote in relation to the veto message at 5:30pm on Monday.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

Legislative Business

Passed Calendar #33, S.665: Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act of 2015

Adopted S.Res.136, expressing support for the designation of May 1, 2015, as “Silver Star Service Banner Day”

Adopted the following resolutions, en bloc:

S.Res.158, Cinco de Mayo;

S.Res.159, 9-1-1 Education Month;

S.Res.160, Public Service Recognition;

S.Res.161, Financial Literacy Month;

S.Res.162, Alcohol Responsibility Month;

S.Res.163, Earthquake in Nepal;

S.Res.164, Dia de los Ninos; and

S.Res.165, World Malaria Day.

Executive Business

Confirmed the following nominations by unanimous consent:

Calendar numbers 84 – 94, 96 – 106

And all nominations placed on the Secretary’s Desk in the Foreign Service, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy.

ARMY

Cal. #84 – Col. Raymond S. Dingle to be Brigadier General

NAVY

Cal. #85 – Rear Adm. (lh) Ron. J. MacLaren to be Rear Admiral

Cal. #86 – Rear Adm. Herman A. Shelanski to be Vice Admiral

Cal. #87 – Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson to be Lieutenant General

AIR FORCE

Cal. #88 – Col. James J. Burks to be Brigadier General

Cal. #89 – The following to be Major General

Brig. Gen. James C. Balserak

Brig. Gen. Steven J. Berryhill

Brig. Gen. Kevin W. Bradley

Brig. Gen. Peter J. Byrne

Brig. Gen. Gretchen S. Dunkelberger

Brig. Gen. Richard J. Evans, III

Brig. Gen. Robert M. Ginnetti

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey W. Hauser

Brig. Gen. William O. Hill

Brig. Gen. Joseph K. Kim

Brig. Gen. Jerome P. Limoge, Jr.

Brig. Gen. Paul C. Maas, Jr.

Brig. Gen. John P. McGoff

Brig. Gen. Brian C. Newby

Brig. Gen. Marc H. Sasseville

Brig. Gen. Michael E. Stencel

Brig. Gen. Carol A. Timmons

AIR FORCE

Cal. #90 – Col. Kyle W. Robinson to be Brigadier General

ARMY

Cal. #91 – The following to be Major General:

Brigadier General Robert D. Carlson

Brigadier General Daniel J. Dire

Brigadier General Mary E. Link

Brigadier General Hugh C. Van Roosen

The following to be Brigadier General:

Col. Vincent B. Barker

Col. Lisa L. Doumont

Col. Robert D. Harter

Col. John F. Hussey

Col. Scott R. Morcomb

Col. Gerard L. Schwartz

Col. Richard K. Sele

Col. Tracy L. Smith

Cal. #92 – Chaplain (Col.) Thomas L. Solhjem to be Brigadier General

NAVY

Cal. #93 – Capt. Danelle M. Barrett to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

Cal. #94 – Capt. Ronald C. Copley to be Rear Admiral (lower half)

AIR FORCE

Cal. #96 – Maj. Gen. Timothy M. Ray to be Lieutenant General

Cal. #97 – Lt. Gen. Darryl L.  Roberson to be Lieutenant General

Cal. #98 – Maj. Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. to be Lieutenant General

ARMY

Cal. #99 – Brig. Gen. Eric C. Bush to be Major General

Cal. #100 – Maj. Gen. Alan R. Lynn to be Lieutenant General

Cal. #101 – Col. Jill K. Faris to be Brigadier General

Cal. #102 – Maj. Gen. Gary H. Cheek to be Lieutenant General

Cal. #103 – Col. Christian A. Rofrano to be Brigadier General

NAVY

Cal. #104 – Vice Adm. Nora W. Tyson to be Vice Admiral

MARINE CORPS

Cal. #105 – Maj. Gen. Mark A. Brilakis to be Lieutenant General

Cal. #106 – Maj. Gen. Robert S. Walsh to be Lieutenant General

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Last Floor Action:
12:01:51 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on May 5, 2015.

9:00:11 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:16 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:01:33 A.M. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – The Chair announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Thompson (PA) demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Thompson (PA) objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until a time to be announced. The point of no quorum was considered as withdrawn.
9:02:02 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Guinta to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:02:35 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.
9:10:18 A.M. H.R. 2028 Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2028 — “Making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes.”
9:10:34 A.M. H.R. 2028 The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
9:11:30 A.M. H.R. 2028 An amendment, offered by Mr. Duncan (SC), to appropriate additional funds for “Corps of Engineers, Civil, Department of the Army, Investigations” by reducing funds for Department of Energy, Energy Programs, Departmental Administration” by $2,500,000.
9:11:33 A.M. H.R. 2028 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 223, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Duncan (SC) amendment.
9:14:28 A.M. H.R. 2028 On agreeing to the Duncan (SC) amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
9:15:08 A.M. H.R. 2028 UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on adoption of amendments, which had been debated earlier, and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
9:58:26 A.M. H.R. 2028 On agreeing to the Rothfus amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: 232 – 172 (Roll no. 208).
10:03:43 A.M. H.R. 2028 On agreeing to the Gosar amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: 224 – 184 (Roll no. 209).
10:07:33 A.M. H.R. 2028 On agreeing to the Blackburn amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 159 – 248 (Roll no. 210).
10:11:41 A.M. H.R. 2028 On agreeing to the McClintock amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: 228 – 183 (Roll no. 211).
10:16:13 A.M. H.R. 2028 On agreeing to the LaMalfa amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: 239 – 174 (Roll no. 212).
10:19:29 A.M. H.R. 2028 On agreeing to the LaMalfa amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: 228 – 183 (Roll no. 213).
10:20:05 A.M. H.R. 2028 Mr. Simpson moved for the Committee of the Whole to rise and report.
10:20:11 A.M. H.R. 2028 On motion to rise and report Agreed to by voice vote.
10:20:15 A.M. H.R. 2028 The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2028.
10:21:11 A.M. H.R. 2028 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
10:21:24 A.M. H.R. 2028 The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
10:22:15 A.M. H.R. 2028 Mr. Bera moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Appropriations.
10:22:39 A.M. H.R. 2028 DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the 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 increase funds for “Water and Related Resources” by $15,000,000 and “Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability” by $15,000,000; and reduce funds for “Policy and Administration” by $30,000,000.
10:31:05 A.M. H.R. 2028 The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
10:40:12 A.M. H.R. 2028 On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 180 – 235 (Roll no. 214).
10:45:55 A.M. H.R. 2028 On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 240 – 177 (Roll no. 215).
10:45:56 A.M. H.R. 2028 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
10:45:59 A.M. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and put the question de novo.
10:46:20 A.M. On approving the Journal Agreed to by voice vote.
10:46:49 A.M. Mr. Sensenbrenner asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns on Friday, May 1, 2015, it adjourn to meet at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Agreed to without objection.
10:47:48 A.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
11:01:06 A.M. SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
12:01:45 P.M. Mr. Rush moved that the House do now adjourn.
12:01:46 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
12:01:51 P.M. The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on May 5, 2015.

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Nepal …
Dear friends,Whole hills swept down over the beautiful and delicate rural villages of Nepal on Saturday. Thousands were crushed, more are missing and the country is crying out for water, food, and shelter. It’s devastating and in the middle of it all this one brave local organisation, Abari, is using everything they have to put up tents in the hardest hit remote areas.

Aid experts say before the disaster they were doing some of the most impactful work in the country, and that they’re one of the best ways to get crucial aid to rural communities fast. That’s because this is their home.

We can make all the difference for this incredible group, and many others across Nepal, literally multiplying their relief budgets by 10, empowering them to build for the long term and keeping their emergency work funded in hard-to-reach places.

And by donating to local leaders ready for the hard years of rebuilding to come, we’ll plant the seeds of hope for a sustainable and safe future in Nepal’s poorest villages.

To give an amount other than the ones listed above, click here.
Nepal has a bad reputation for inefficiency and corruption, and its government is divided. That’s why Nepal’s vibrant civil society is likely to bring the most effective, life-saving support for many citizens.Abari, and many organisations like them in Nepal, have been at work in some of the worst hit regions building water tanks and housing, and making the connections aid workers need to navigate the remote areas and bypass corruption. The best part is that they are set up to take international donations directly right now.

Big international aid organisations have used established systems to mobilise money and expertise fast to meet this emergency, while local groups are improvising to respond to the vast needs. Supporting such groups can be riskier, but with that risk comes the possibility of a huge reward. When a cyclone hit Burma in 2008, our community raised two million dollars that was smuggled in through a network of monks working outside of the corrupt government system. For some, this bold tactic led to the only life-saving aid they ever saw.

We have the chance to do that again in Nepal. Click below to join in and Avaaz will collect and distribute our donations as soon as we raise enough to make a big difference for these inspiring local heroes:

To give an amount other than the ones listed above, click here.
Our movement was designed to break through bureaucracies and deliver hope directly. When disaster struck Burma and then again when it struck Haiti, theAvaaz Community opened our hearts and pledged millions to help people on the ground to get money to those most in need. Our common humanity united us to stand together in those times of greatest need. Now we can come together again toprovide the Nepalese people with the urgent support to survive this horror.With hope and determination,

Emma, Alex, Allison, Laila, Oli, Alaphia, Rowena, Mais and the rest of the team.

Sources:

Nepal’s relief effort must reach the rural poor (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/nepals-relief-effort-must-reach-the-rural-poor/article24135973


Nepal earthquake: authorities struggle to cope despite international aid efforts (The Guardian)

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/27/nepal-earthquake-authorities-struggle-to-cope-despite-international-aid-efforts

Villages Near Nepal Earthquake’s Epicenter Are Desperate (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/28/world/asia/nepal-earthquake.html

Nepal earthquake: Relief starts reaching remote villages (BBC)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-32507783


Abari Adobe and Bamboo Research Institute

https://www.facebook.com/abari.Nepal
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Migraines …


22 Things About Migraines You May Not Know – Migraine

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Mariah Carey on Meaning Behind ‘Infinity’ Lyrics, and …