~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Dodd-Frank

07/23/2015 Nativegrl77

Five Years In, Congress’ Financial Reform Law Is Doing Important Work

Congress’s financial reform law turns five today. Dodd-Frank, the massive package of Wall Street reforms passed in the wake of the Great Recession, is massively underrated. The package overhauled the financial sector with the goals of tightening up enforcement and increasing consumer protections.

One major component of the law was the establishment of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB—the only financial regulator dedicated to protecting consumers. In its four years of existence, the CFPB has helped return more than $10.1 billion to more than 17 million consumers in addition to protecting Americans from predatory lenders and deceptive mortgage practices.

Despite this extraordinary success at keeping Wall Street responsible and protecting hard working Americans, the law continues to be under attack. In fact, even though Dodd-Frank isn’t even fully in place yet, Congress has tried 139 times to either amend or repeal parts of the law. And the financial industry has spent $3.25 billion to influence the government in the five years since the law was passed. That means that if financial industry spending in the last five years were a country, it would be the 158th largest economy—bigger than 30 developing nations.

The powerful lobby against the rule has been successful in hamstringing the full implementation of the law. As a part of the package, many regulatory agencies were tasked with creating separate rules and because of the excessive lobbying and infighting, there are still 83 separate rules that haven’t been written yet. Included in the unfinished laws, are important rules like mandating disclosure of CEO-to-worker pay ratios and strengthening the controversial “Volcker Rule.”

BOTTOM LINE: We have Dodd-Frank to thank for the common sense reforms that have helped keep Wall Street accountable and level the playing field between consumers and the financial industry. But despite Dodd-Frank’s success, powerful lobby groups and conservative lawmakers have continued to thwart the law’s implementation.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Why I’m at the White House today:

07/23/2015 Nativegrl77

The White House, Washington

by Manuel Contreras

When I stepped onto Brown University’s campus for my first semester, I wasn’t ready.

I’m the son of two Mexican immigrants, and the first in my family to go to college. During my freshman year, though, I felt surprisingly out of place — I had worked hard to get there, but so many of my classmates came from wealthy families, were better-read, and seemed more prepared. And at a few points, I felt like I didn’t actually deserve to be at Brown.

Fast forward a couple of years, and I’m now a rising senior, ready to get my diploma. Because I was able to connect with other people who had shared my experience and gotten through it, as well as professors and advisors who went out of their way to help me, I’ve learned how to feel comfortable in the uncertainty.

That’s why I’m at the White House today for the First Lady’s “Beating the Odds” summit — an event that will take a look at how we can help more students who are just like me successfully transition to college and give them the tools and resources they need to finish their higher education.

Today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, tune in to watch the summit live at WhiteHouse.gov/Live. And be sure to join the conversation online using the hashtag #ReachHigher.

At the summit, First Lady Michelle Obama will host more than 130 college-bound students from across America. These students come from all walks of life — urban, rural, foster homes, homeless, special needs, and other underrepresented areas.

But they all have one thing in common: They’ve all overcome substantial challenges and obstacles to get through high school and make it to college.

For every student who’s made it onto a college campus, though, there are far too many others who just don’t have the support and the tools they need to get to the next level.

As the First Lady said earlier this year, “We simply cannot afford to lose out on the potential of even one young person. We cannot allow even one more young person to fall through the cracks.”

So let’s do everything we can to prevent more kids from falling through the cracks. All too often, you hear the phrase, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Let’s do everything we can to make that “way” possible for more kids across our country.

Make sure to watch today’s summit at 11:00 a.m. Eastern — and be sure to spread the word to someone else who should listen in too.

Thanks,

Manuel

Black History

Please READ about CONGRESS 7/23 HR3009, HR369 & HR370

07/23/2015 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Thursday, July 23, 2015.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.22, post-cloture. All time during adjournment of the Senate will count post-cloture.

WRAP UP

No Roll Call Votes

Legislative Business

Passed Cal. #114, H.R.23, National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015.

Passed Cal. #149, H.R.2499, To amend the Small Business Act to increase access to capital for veteran entrepreneurs, to help create jobs, and for other purposes with a Vitter amendment

Discharged HSGAC and passed H.R.1626, DHS IT Duplication Reduction Act of 2015

S.Res.229, designating July 26, 2015, as “United States Intelligence Professionals Day”

No Executive Business

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

Please Read about HR3009 HR369 and HR370

Last Floor Action:
1:52:19 P.M. -H.R. 1599
On agreeing to the Polis of Colorado amendment to the title Roll Call 463 – Yea and Nay vote pending.

10:00:21 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:25 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable John J. Duncan Jr. to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:00:42 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Brian Bohlman, The Harvest Church, Lexington, South Carolina
10:02:19 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. Ms. Foxx 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. Ms. Foxx 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.
10:03:00 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Trott to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
10:05:03 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.
10:19:30 A.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on July 23, 2015 at 9:32 a.m.: That the Senate passed S. 1599.
10:20:48 A.M.	H. Res. 370	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 370 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3009) to amend section 241(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to deny assistance under such section to a State or political subdivision of a State that prohibits its officials from taking certain actions with respect to immigration.”
10:20:57 A.M.	H. Res. 370	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 370.
11:09:13 A.M.	H. Res. 370	The previous question was ordered without objection.
11:09:50 A.M.	H. Res. 370	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H. Res. 370 the Chair put the question on agreeing to the resolution and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Polis demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on agreeing to H. Res. 370 until later in the legislative day.
11:10:25 A.M.	H.R. 1599	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 369. H.R. 1599 — “To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to food produced from, containing, or consisting of a bioengineered organism, the labeling of natural foods, and for other purposes.”
11:10:30 A.M.	H.R. 1599	Resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1599 and H.R. 1734.
11:11:23 A.M.	H.R. 1599	House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 369 and Rule XVIII.
11:11:24 A.M.	H.R. 1599	The Speaker designated the Honorable Michael K. Simpson to act as Chairman of the Committee.
11:11:33 A.M.	H.R. 1599	GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1599.
12:21:52 P.M.	H.R. 1599	An amendment, offered by Mr. DeFazio, numbered 1 printed in Part B of House Report 114-216 to establish that if a U.S. company or their subsidiary labels their product as containing GMOs in any foreign country they must label the equivalent product the same way in the U.S.
12:21:54 P.M.	H.R. 1599	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 369, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeFazio amendment No. 1.
12:28:38 P.M.	H.R. 1599	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the DeFazio amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. DeFazio demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
12:28:57 P.M.	H.R. 1599	An amendment, offered by Mr. Huffman, numbered 2 printed in Part B of House Report 114-216 to ensure tribal sovereignty to prohibit or restrict the cultivation of genetically engineered plants on tribal lands.
12:29:00 P.M.	H.R. 1599	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 369, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Huffman amendment No. 2.
12:36:34 P.M.	H.R. 1599	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Huffman amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Huffman demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
12:37:00 P.M.	H.R. 1599	An amendment, offered by Ms. DeLauro, numbered 3 printed in Part B of House Report 114-216 to prohibit the use of the term “natural” on food when a food consists of a genetically engineered plant.
12:37:01 P.M.	H.R. 1599	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 369, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeLauro amendment No. 3.
12:46:06 P.M.	H.R. 1599	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the DeLauro amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. DeLauro demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
12:46:33 P.M.	H.R. 1599	An amendment, in the nature of a substitute offered by Ms. Pingree, numbered 4 printed in Part B of House Report 114-216 to strike the entire bill and adds back the section that creates a non-GMO certification program and label at USDA.
12:46:35 P.M.	H.R. 1599	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 369, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pingree amendment No. 4.
1:04:44 P.M.	H.R. 1599	On agreeing to the Pingree amendment; Failed by voice vote.
1:04:58 P.M.	H.R. 1599	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.
1:32:58 P.M.	H.R. 1599	On agreeing to the DeFazio amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 459).
1:39:16 P.M.	H.R. 1599	On agreeing to the Huffman amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 460).
1:43:24 P.M.	H.R. 1599	On agreeing to the DeLauro amendment; Failed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 461).
1:43:57 P.M.	H.R. 1599	The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1599.
1:44:05 P.M.	H.R. 1599	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
1:44:17 P.M.	H.R. 1599	The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
1:51:34 P.M.	H.R. 1599	On passage Passed by recorded vote: (Roll no. 462).
1:51:36 P.M.	H.R. 1599	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:51:59 P.M.	H.R. 1599	An amendment, offered by Mr. Polis, to change the title of the bill to read “A bill to enact the ‘Deny Americans the Right to Know Act’ or the ‘DARK Act’.”.
1:52:19 P.M.	H.R. 1599	On agreeing to the Polis of Colorado amendment to the title Roll Call 463 – Yea and Nay vote pending.

2:08:37 P.M.	H.R. 1599	On agreeing to the Polis of Colorado amendment to the title Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 87 – 337 (Roll no. 463).
2:08:47 P.M.	H.R. 1599	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:08:59 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of H. Res. 370, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
2:09:10 P.M.	H. Res. 370	Considered as unfinished business. H. Res. 370 — “Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3009) to amend section 241(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to deny assistance under such section to a State or political subdivision of a State that prohibits its officials from taking certain actions with respect to immigration.”
2:17:10 P.M.	H. Res. 370	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 243 – 174 (Roll no. 464).
2:17:10 P.M.	H. Res. 370	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:17:41 P.M.	H.R. 3009	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 370. H.R. 3009 — “To amend section 241(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to deny assistance under such section to a State or political subdivision of a State that prohibits its officials from taking certain actions with respect to immigration.”
2:17:46 P.M.	H.R. 3009	Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3009 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.
2:18:14 P.M.	H.R. 3009	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 3009.
3:30:59 P.M.	H.R. 3009	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
3:31:23 P.M.	H.R. 3009	Mr. Jeffries moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on the Judiciary.
3:32:26 P.M.	H.R. 3009	DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the motion to recommit with instructions, pending reservation of a point of order. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment to ensure that the Attorney General may not reduce or eliminate any funding provided to a State, or a political subdivision of a State, if the Attorney General determines that the reduction or elimination would result in: (1) an increase in the overall crime rate, including an increase in domestic violence, sex trafficking, or crimes against children; or (2) a decrease in the number of trained law enforcement officers. Subsequently, the point of order was withdrawn.
3:41:37 P.M.	H.R. 3009	The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
4:08:17 P.M.	H.R. 3009	On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 181 – 239 (Roll no. 465).
4:20:14 P.M.	H.R. 3009	On passage Passed by recorded vote: 241 – 179 (Roll no. 466).
4:20:14 P.M.	H.R. 3009	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:20:30 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of the Speaker’s approval of the Journal, which further proceedings had been postponed.
4:20:38 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
4:34:35 P.M.		Mr. McCarthy asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Thursday, July 23, 2015, it adjourn to meet at noon, Monday July 27, 2015, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.
4:34:47 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
4:48:25 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
6:19:08 P.M.		Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.
6:19:18 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
6:19:19 P.M.		The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on July 27, 2015.