the Senate ~~ CONGESS 7/10 ~~ the House


demsVrepub

The Senate stands adjourned until 3:00pm on Monday, July 13, 2015.

Following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business for 1 hour with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1177, Every Child Achieves Act.

At 5:30pm, the Senate will vote in relation to the following amendments:

  • Hatch SA #2080 (student privacy policy)
  • Kaine SA #2118 (post-secondary remediation)

We expect one of those amendments to be considered by voice vote.

The following amendments are pending to S.1177, Every Child Achieves Act:

  1. Alexander-Murray SA #2089 (substitute)
  2. Peters SA #2095 (financial literacy)
  3. Warren SA #2120 (crosstabulation)
  4. Kirk SA #2161 (student resources)
  5. Scott SA #2132 (low-income children)
  6. Hatch-Markey SA #2080 (student privacy)
  7. Franken SA #2093 (student non-discrimination)
  8. Kaine SA #2118 (post-secondary remediation)

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes:

  1. Daines SA #2110 (Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act); not agreed to: 44-54
  2. Brown SA #2099 (site source resource coordinator); agreed to: 98-0
  3. Toomey SA #2094 as modified (background checks); agreed to: 98-0
  4. Motion to Invoke Cloture on the McConnell Compound Motion to go to Conference on H.R.1735, NDAA; agreed to: 81-15
  5. Reed Motion to Instruct Conferees (OCO funding); not agreed to: 44-52

 

Legislative Business:

Passed H.R.2620, to amend the U.S. Cotton Futures Act to exclude certain cotton futures contracts from coverage under such Act.

Passed S.143, United States Merchant Marine Academy Improvements Act of 2015

Passed S.1180, Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015, with committee reported amendments.

Passed S.1359, E-Warranty Act of 2015

Adopted S.Res.219, Designating July 25, 2015, as “National Day of the American Cowboy”

Adopted S.Res.220, Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Medora Musical

Adopted S.Res.221, Recognizing the 100th anniversary of Rocky Mountain National Park

Agreed to the following amendments by Voice Vote:

  1. Portman SA#2147 (recovery support services)
  2. Manchin SA #2103 (volunteerism and community service)
  3. Kaine SA#2096 (career and technical education)
  4. Heller SA #2121 (consultation with governors)
  5. Feinstein SA #2087 (homeless certification)
  6. Fischer SA #2079 (local governance)
  7. Motion to Instruct the Chair to Appoint Conferees with Respect to H.R.1735

Notwithstanding adoption of the Gardner amendment #2119, the page and line numbers were modified.

No Executive Business

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

Last Floor Action:
12:14:31 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on July 13, 2015.

9:00:03 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:08 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:01:34 A.M. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS ON APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that he had examined the Journal of the last day’s proceedings and had approved it. Mr. Womack demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Womack objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of agreeing to the approval of the Journal until a time to be announced.
9:01:51 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Stefanik to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:02:12 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.
9:16:24 A.M. H.R. 6 Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 6 — “To accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of 21st century cures, and for other purposes.”
9:16:38 A.M. H.R. 6 The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
9:18:25 A.M. H.R. 6 An amendment, offered by Mr. Brat, numbered 1 printed in House Report 114-193 to reform the NIH and Cures Innovation Fund to make it a discretionary spending program.
9:18:44 A.M. H.R. 6 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 350, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Brat amendment No. 1.
9:32:48 A.M. H.R. 6 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Brat amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Brat demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
9:33:32 A.M. H.R. 6 An amendment, offered by Mr. Young (IN), numbered 2 printed in House Report 114-193 to create authority within NIH to conduct a prize program. The intent of the program would be to incentivize health innovation by offering competitors the chance to win a prize for creating breakthrough research and technology.
9:33:34 A.M. H.R. 6 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 350, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Young (IN) amendment No. 2.
9:39:51 A.M. H.R. 6 On agreeing to the Young (IN) amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
9:40:28 A.M. H.R. 6 An amendment, offered by Ms. Lee, numbered 3 printed in House Report 114-193 to strike the provision that applies any policy riders included in the annual LHHS Appropriations Bill to NIH funds in H.R. 6. Also strikes the provision that applies any policy riders applied to the FDA in the annual Agriculture Appropriations bill to FDA funding in H.R. 6.
9:40:34 A.M. H.R. 6 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 350, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Lee amendment No. 3.
9:53:05 A.M. H.R. 6 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Lee amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
9:54:08 A.M. H.R. 6 An amendment, offered by Mr. Castro (TX), numbered 4 printed in House Report 114-193 to ensure underrepresented individuals, such as women and minorities, are included in the Supporting Young Emerging Scientists Report.
9:54:12 A.M. H.R. 6 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 350, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Castro (TX) amendment No. 4.
9:57:52 A.M. H.R. 6 On agreeing to the Castro (TX) amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
9:58:15 A.M. H.R. 6 An amendment, offered by Ms. Slaughter, numbered 5 printed in House Report 114-193 to direct the CDC to conduct a study to determine how the additional payments are affecting the development of drug resistance.
9:58:18 A.M. H.R. 6 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 350, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Slaughter amendment No. 5.
10:10:37 A.M. H.R. 6 On agreeing to the Slaughter amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
10:11:00 A.M. H.R. 6 An amendment, offered by Mr. Fitzpatrick, numbered 6 printed in House Report 114-193 to express a sense of Congress that recording Unique Device Identifiers at the point-of-care in electronic health record systems could significantly enhance the availability of medical device data for post-market surveillance purposes.
10:11:02 A.M. H.R. 6 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 350, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Fitzpatrick amendment No. 6.
10:18:45 A.M. H.R. 6 On agreeing to the Fitzpatrick amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
10:18:55 A.M. H.R. 6 An amendment, offered by Mr. Polis, numbered 7 printed in House Report 114-193 to direct the Food and Drug Administration to issue a report on the risks and benefits associated with a two-tiered approval process that would permit certain medical devices to provisionally come to market if they have demonstrated safety but not efficacy.
10:18:57 A.M. H.R. 6 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 350, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Polis amendment No. 7.
10:27:00 A.M. H.R. 6 By unanimous consent, the Polis amendment was withdrawn.
10:27:19 A.M. H.R. 6 An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, numbered 8 printed in House Report 114-193 to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct outreach to Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Hispanic Serving Institutions; Native American Colleges; and rural Colleges to ensure that health professionals from underrepresented populations are aware of research opportunities under this Act.
10:27:22 A.M. H.R. 6 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 350, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 8.
10:36:12 A.M. H.R. 6 On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
10:36:26 A.M. H.R. 6 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.
11:08:16 A.M. H.R. 6 On agreeing to the Brat amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 141 – 281 (Roll no. 431).
11:16:25 A.M. H.R. 6 On agreeing to the Lee amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 176 – 245 (Roll no. 432).
11:16:32 A.M. H.R. 6 The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 6.
11:17:12 A.M. H.R. 6 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
11:17:30 A.M. H.R. 6 The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
11:27:46 A.M. H.R. 6 On passage Passed by recorded vote: 344 – 77 (Roll no. 433).
11:27:49 A.M. H.R. 6 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
11:28:02 A.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
11:28:58 A.M. Mr. Cole filed a report from the Committee on Appropriations on H.R. 3020.
11:29:35 A.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
11:57:45 A.M. Mr. Dold asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Friday, July 10, 2015, it adjourn to meet on Monday, July 13, 2015, when it shall convene at noon for morning-hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative business. Agreed to without objection.
11:57:55 A.M. H.R. 1735 The Speaker appointed additional conferees from the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, for consideration of matters within the jurisdiction of that committee under clause 11 of rule X: Nunes, King (NY), and Schiff.
11:58:01 A.M. H.R. 1735 The Speaker appointed additional conferees from the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for consideration of secs. 571 and 573 of the House bill and secs. 561-63 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Rokita, Bishop (MI), and Scott (VA).
11:58:02 A.M. H.R. 1735 The Speaker appointed additional conferees from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for consideration of secs. 314, 632, 634, 3111-13, 3119, 3133, and 3141 of the House bill and secs. 601, 632, 3118, and 3119 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Upton, Barton, and Pallone.
11:59:03 A.M. H.R. 1735 The Speaker appointed additional conferees from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for consideration of secs. 1011, 1059, 1090, 1092, 1201, 1203-05, 1215, 1221, 1223, 1226, 1234-36, 1247-49, 1253, 1257, 1263, 1264, 1267, 1270, 1301, 1532, 1541, 1542, 1663, 1668-70, 2802, 3118, and 3119 of the House bill and secs. 1011, 1012, 1082, 1201-05, 1207, 1209, 1223, 1225, 1228, 1251, 1252, 1261, 1264, 1265, 1272, 1301, 1302, 1531-33, 1631, 1654, and 1655 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Royce, Marino, and Engel.
11:59:54 A.M. H.R. 1735 The Speaker appointed additional conferees from the Committee on Homeland Security, for consideration of secs. 589 and 1041 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: McCaul, Miller (MI), and Thompson (MS).
12:00:05 P.M. H.R. 1735 The Speaker appointed additional conferees from the Committee on the Judiciary, for consideration of secs. 1040, 1052, 1085, 1216, 1641, and 2862 of the House bill and secs. 1032, 1034, 1090, and 1227 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Goodlatte, Issa, and Conyers.
12:00:56 P.M. H.R. 1735 The Speaker appointed additional conferees from the Committee on Natural Resources, for consideration of secs. 312, 632, 634, 2841, 2842, 2851-53, and 2862 of the House bill and secs. 313, 601, and 632 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Cook, Hardy, and Grijalva.
12:01:07 P.M. H.R. 1735 The Speaker appointed additional conferees from the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for consideration of secs. 602, 631, 634, 838, 854, 855, 866, 871, 1069, and 1101-05 of the House bill and secs. 592, 593, 631, 806, 830, 861, 1090, 1101, 1102, 1104, 1105, 1107-09, 1111, 1112, 1114, and 1115 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Hurd (TX), Russell, and Cummings.
12:01:48 P.M. H.R. 1735 The Speaker appointed additional conferees from the Committee on Rules, for consideration of sec. 1032 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Sessions, Byrne, and Slaughter.
12:02:19 P.M. H.R. 1735 The Speaker appointed additional conferees from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for consideration of sec. 3136 of the House bill and sec. 1613 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Lucas, Knight, and Johnson, E. B..
12:02:50 P.M. H.R. 1735 The Speaker appointed additional conferees from the Committee on Small Business, for consideration of secs. 831-34, 839, 840, 842-46, 854, and 871 of the House bill and secs. 828, 831, 882, 883, and 885 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Chabot, Hanna, and Velazquez.
12:03:11 P.M. H.R. 1735 The Speaker appointed additional conferees from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for consideration of secs. 302, 562, 569, 570a, 591, 1060a, 1073, 2811, and 3501 of the House bill and secs. 601, 642, 1613, 3504, and 3505 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Graves (LA), Curbelo (FL), and Edwards.
12:03:52 P.M. H.R. 1735 The Speaker appointed additional conferees from the Committee on Veterans Affairs, for consideration of secs. 565, 566, 592, 652, 701, 721, 722, 1105, and 1431 of the House bill and secs. 539, 605, 633, 719, 1083, 1084, 1089, 1091, and 1411 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Roe (TN), Bilirakis, and Brown (FL).
12:04:31 P.M. SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
12:14:21 P.M. Mr. Flores moved that the House do now adjourn.
12:14:30 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
12:14:31 P.M. The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on July 13, 2015.

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

Secretary Julián Castro, Department of Housing and Urban Development


The White House, Washington

When my tenure as Secretary is over, I won’t judge my time by how many initiatives my Department has launched, or how many press releases we’ve put out. I’ll judge my tenure by the results — by how we were able to make opportunity real for families across America.

I’m proud to be serving under a President who shares the same commitment to policies that put everyday Americans first. President Obama has guided our nation out of a historic crisis and into an economy that’s picking up momentum. In just six years — thanks in large part to his actions — millions of Americans have been able to stay in their homes, and home sales are up by nearly 50 percent.

We’re not stopping there. Today, the President announced that he’s directing the Federal Housing Administration to reduce mortgage insurance premiums, which will help 250,000 American families buy a home over the next three years.

Thanks to President Obama’s actions today, homeownership will be more accessible, and more sustainable for more Americans. Share the news, and take a look at a few charts that show exactly how far our housing system has come:

Share the news, and take a look at a few charts that show exactly how far our housing system has come

In 2008, home values were on the decline, but they’ve been rising for three years now.

New foreclosures are at their lowest levels since 2006.

The number of U.S. homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages — meaning they owe more than their home is worth — is down by nearly 10 million.

There’s no denying the progress we’ve made over the past few years, and we will continue working until every responsible, hardworking American is able to own a home.

Find out more about how far we’ve come, and what the President’s newest announcement means for you — whether you own a home, or hope to own one in the future. And make sure to share the news.

Thanks,

Julián

Secretary Julián Castro
Department of Housing and Urban Development
@SecretaryCastro

A Democracy Check – Up


By

A Round-up Of State Democracy News From Around The Country

Earlier this week, CAP Action released an 89-page report and accompanying interactive website that identifies 22 factors in three categories—accessibility of the ballot, representation in state government, and influence in the political system—to rank and grade states based on their democratic health. Many issues are encompassed in the 22 factors, and one of the key findings of the report was that every state has room to improve. There’s lots of activity in states on these issues, but not all of it is heading in the right direction. Here is a roundup of what has happened on voting and democracy issues since the report was released:

Florida Redistricting: According to CAP Action’s report, Florida’s Congressional districts skew 7.8 percent towards Republicans. That is just one of several factors that contributed to the state’s “D” grade on representation, which measured how closely a state’s elected officials reflect its population. Yesterday, the Florida Supreme Court confirmed the injustices in the state’s district maps and ordered that the state’s Congressional districts be redrawn.

Virginia Redistricting: Virginia ranks 50 out of 51 overall and gets an “F” in Representation, according to the report. The state’s congressional districts are already under attack from a federal lawsuit and another lawsuit is set to examine the maps’ fitness under the constitution.

Missouri Voter ID: This week, Jay Ashcroft, a Republican running for Secretary of State in Missouri, started circulating a petition to require a photo ID to vote. Missouri already received an “F” in accessibility, which measures how accessible voting is for citizens. Photo ID laws only make things worse: they are proven to raise the barriers to voting and decrease turnout, especially among people of color and seniors.

New Jersey Voter Reform Package: New Jersey is on its way to keeping its D+ accessibility grade. This week legislators were set to pass a comprehensive voter reform package (called the Democracy Act!) that would significantly increase voter access by introducing online voter registration, in-person early voting, and pre-registration for 17-year-olds among other reforms. But Gov. Chris Christie, perhaps trying to burnish his right-wing credentials on the national stage, looks likely to veto the bill.

BOTTOM LINE: From better voter access to a state government more representative of its citizens, every state has room to improve the health of its democracy. Photo ID laws and skewed congressional maps make it harder for citizens to participate in the democratic process and lead to an unrepresentative democracy. Redrawing congressional district maps and passing voter reform packages that make voting more accessible are steps in the right direction, but there is more to be done. Check out what your state needs to improve on the most at healthofstatedemocracies.org and share it using the hashtag #HealthyDemocracy.

How retirement benefits will change in 2015


US News

Social Security. Social Security recipients will receive 1.7 percent bigger payments in 2015, due to the annual cost-of-living adjustment. Most workers will continue to pay 6.2 percent of their earnings into the Social Security system, but the maximum taxable earnings amount will increase next year from $117,000 in 2014 to $118,500 in 2015. The Social Security administration will also mail Social Security statements to workers turning ages 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 and 60 in 2015 who have not created an online account.

Medicare. The standard Medicare Part B premium will remain $104.90 monthly in 2015, although high-income beneficiaries pay more, and the deductible is unchanged at $147 per year. The Medicare Part A hospital inpatient deductible will increase from $1,216 in 2014 to $1,260 in 2015. Medicare Part D premiums vary by plan and are expected to increase by 4 percent to an average $38.83 in 2015, assuming retirees stick with their current plan, according to an analysis of Part D plans by researchers at Georgetown University, the University of Chicago and the Kaiser Family Foundation. The maximum possible Part D deductible will be $320 in 2015, but some plans may charge smaller deductibles or no deductible. “Some plans, including many of the most popular plans, are increasing their premiums next year,” says Juliette Cubanski, a policy analyst at the Kaiser Family Foundation. “The open enrollment period is a good time to look to see whether the plan will continue to be offered next year and, if so, look to see how that plan might be changing in terms of the premiums you pay every month to be enrolled as well as the costs you pay for coverage, including the annual deductible and the costs that you pay for your prescription medications.” Beneficiaries have an opportunity to switch Part D plans each year during open enrollment.

401(k)s. The 401(k) contribution limit will increase by $500 to $18,000 in 2015. The catch-up contribution limit for workers age 50 and older will also grow by $500 to $6,000 in 2015. “There’s a considerable amount of tax deferral you can get on those savings,” says Kevin Brosious, a certified financial planner and president of Wealth Management Inc. in Allentown, Pennsylvania. A worker under age 50 who is in the 25 percent tax bracket and contributes the maximum amount to a traditional 401(k) in 2015 will save $4,500 on his federal income tax bill, compared with a tax break of $4,375 for maxing out in 2014.

IRAs. The IRA contribution limit will remain $5,500 in 2015, and savers age 50 and older can contribute an additional $1,000 as a catch-up contribution. Workers who have a retirement account at work can claim a tax deduction for making a traditional IRA contribution until their modified adjusted gross income is between $61,000 and $71,000 for individuals and $98,000 to $118,000 for couples in 2015, up $1,000 and $2,000, respectively, from 2014. Spouses without a workplace retirement plan who are married to someone with a 401(k) can claim the IRA contribution tax deduction until their income is between $183,000 and $193,000 in 2015. The Roth IRA income limits will also increase by $2,000 in 2015 to between $116,000 and $131,000 for individuals and $183,000 to $193,000 for married couples. However, investors who earn more than these limits may be able to convert traditional IRA assets to a Roth IRA. “High-income employees typically aren’t eligible for Roth IRAs, but they can add after-tax dollars and then roll that directly into their Roth IRA,” says Michael Hollars, a certified financial planner for Client First Finance in Sunnyvale, California.

Saver’s credit. Workers who save in a 401(k) or IRA may be eligible for the saver’s credit if their AGI is less than $30,500 for singles, $45,750 for heads of household and $61,000 for married couples in 2015. These limits are between $500 and $1,000 higher than in 2014. This valuable tax credit is worth 50 percent, 20 percent or 10 percent of your 401(k) or IRA contributions up to $2,000 ($4,000 for couples), with the biggest credit going to savers with the lowest incomes. The maximum possible saver’s credit is worth $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for couples.

New retirement account. The Treasury is expected to offer a new type of retirement account, the myRA. These Roth accounts with be funded with after-tax dollars via payroll deduction, but they are not tied to your job and are guaranteed by the government to never lose value. The myRA will be available to workers with an annual income of less than $129,000 for individuals and $191,000 for couples, and they can use the account for up to 30 years or until their account balance hits $15,000, after which the balance will transfer to a private-sector retirement account.

Got a question about your health insurance, retirement portfolio, or anything else finance-related? Drop us a line: YFmoneymailbag@yahoo.com. Yahoo Finance is answering your money questions on Tumblr!

More From US News & World Report

Southern ties and segregation …


So as i surfed the Saturday news,  I find MPH talking to a writer about what started out as a 2009 story seemingly about a prom, possible inclusion, promise and progress which tragically splinters off into three different stories as one ends with an unnecessary senseless death of #JustinPatterson,a young black man in 2011. The third is about a black man who struggles to become a sheriff.

In April of 2013, as politics and pop culture collided … while twitter and face book joined in as seeds of change for an event full of inclusion and progress … several side stories which didn’t make it to TV were in full effect . I along with others that night praised, laughed ,danced tweeted positive things about what was happening, while  two young men who possibly were in the wrong place are shot at and one killed . The story is one that hurts, makes me upset that this was a side story possibly swept under a damn rug not only by the media but authorities in this little town and brings to mind what happens when young black men are confronted treated as threats first above all else.

We hear that this story really begins in 2009 about couples and proms moves on to 2011 and the tragic death of #JustinPatterson by a white man, his friend is forever traumatized then ends with a black man struggling to be a Sheriff in this 21st Century environment of “jim crow” along with another prom and move toward progress in 2013

the information below is from MHP website ….

Then, drive 160 miles south of Atlanta and you’ll find the rural city of Mount Vernon, Georgia. Traditions run deep in this community situated in the Deep South.

Just in 2009, photojournalist Gillian Laub went to this town to photograph Montgomery County High School’s segregated proms.

And what “began as an exploration of segregated proms in the South became something much more complex, inspiring—and tragic—than [Laub] could ever have imagined.” Laub joins us this Saturday to discuss “Southern Rites,” her new HBO documentary  about racial division and progress in a small Georgia town.

Watch the powerful “Southern Rites” trailer here!

Tune In on May 18,2015 for the HBO documentary

Resource: MHP:taken from website