Lumber Liquidators is in hot water, reportedly facing criminal charges from the U.S. Department of Justice — and for good reason. The nation’s leading hardwood floor retailer has allegedly imported illegally harvested wood from critical habitats, including the Russian Far East.

These forests are home to the world’s last remaining Siberian Tigers. With only around 450 of these majestic tigers remaining, we can do more to respond to illegal logging across the globe.

The Lacey Act, passed in 1900 to combat the illegal wildlife trade, was strengthened to fight illegal logging in 2008 — and it’s these forests’ best defense. If adequately enforced, the law would ensure that wood products have been sourced legally and violators like Lumber Liquidators would face fines or jail time.

Let’s not let Lumber Liquidators off the hook. Tell President Obama and his agency heads to fully enforce the Lacey Act!

Last year, thousands of RAN activists expressed outrage at Lumber Liquidator’s ties to illegal logging and destruction of the last habitat of the Siberian Tiger. Now, our friends at Sierra Club are taking the campaign one step further – by demanding criminal charges be pursued against Lumber Liquidators. We fully support this campaign and wanted to ask you to help out as well. See Sierra Club’s message below for details on how you can help.

Christy Tennery-Spalding, Rainforest Action Network

Taking criminal action against Lumber Liquidators sends a strong message that corporations will be punished for profiting from the illegal destruction of critical habitat.

With the Lacey Act, the U.S. can lead the world in combatting illegal logging. Yet, this powerful law can only be successful if enforcement is taken seriously and corporations are put on notice that violations will not be tolerated.

Protect the world’s ancient forests! Ask President Obama and his agency heads to continue holding Lacey Act violators like Lumber Liquidators accountable.

Thanks for all you do for the environment.

Sincerely,

Jesse Prentice-Dunn

Sierra Club

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

TAKE ACTION: Ask the Pope to protect the Ecuadorian Amazon

09/26/2015 Nativegrl77

Pope Francis:
Call on Ecuador to Protect the Amazon
and its Peoples!

“For human beings…to destroy the biological diversity of God’s creation; for human beings to degrade the integrity of the earth by causing changes in its climate, by stripping the earth of its natural forests or destroying its wetlands; for human beings to contaminate the earth’s waters, its land, its air, and its life – these are sins.”
– Pope Francis,
Laudato Si, On the Care of Our Common HomeTAKE ACTION

On July 5th, Pope Francis, who has called deforestation a “sin,” will visit Ecuador, the country with the highest deforestation rate in South America. A major driver of Ecuador’s deforestation is state oil company Petroamazonas, which is leading a massive expansion of the Amazonian oil frontier.

Most disturbingly, Petroamazonas is attempting to drill in Block 31 and ITT – the most fragile part of Yasuni National Park and home to Ecuador’s last indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation. The Ecuadorian constitution qualifies any operations there as “ethnocide” because such activity would threaten the very existence of those isolated communities. This behavior echoes Pope Francis’ warning in his encyclical that “environmental exploitation and degradation” can lead to “the disappearance of a culture,” which “can be just as serious, or even more serious than the disappearance of a species of plant or animal.”As His Holiness prepares to meet with Ecuador’s devout Catholic president Rafael Correa, let’s ask him to urge President Correa and Petroamazonas not to drill Yasuní National Park. We also ask him to meet with theKichwa ofSarayaku, the Amazonian community who wrote to him in May which has successfully protected its territory fromthe incursion of oil companies for decades.For the Amazon,

Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the Senate CONGRESS 9/28 the House

09/25/2015 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 4:30pm on Monday, September 28, 2015.

Following Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the House Message to accompany H.R.719 with the time until 5:30pm equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees.

As a reminder, during Thursday’s session Senator McConnell moved to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.719, with further amendment (SA #2689), and filled the amendment tree with date change amendments. The underlying bill is the TSA Office of Inspection Accountability Act of 2015. McConnell amendment #2689 is a Continuing Resolution to fund the government through December 11, 2015. Senator McConnell then filed cloture on the motion to concur with an amendment.

Monday at 5:30pm – 1 roll call vote

1. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.719, with further amendment (SA #2689 – clean CR through Dec. 11, 2015).

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

Last Floor Action:
7:20:33 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

Last Floor Action: 9/25/2015
12:26:58 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on September 28, 2015.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.719, with further amendment (SA #2689 – clean CR through Dec. 11, 2015); not invoked: 77-19.

Legislative Business

Passed Calendar #180, S.599, to extend and expand the Medicaid emergency psychiatric demonstration project, with committee-reported substitute.

Agreed to S.Res.271, recognizing the 100^th anniversary of Dinosaur National Monument and designating October 4, 2015, as “Dinosaur National Monument Day”.

Began the Rule 14 process to place on the Legislative Calendar of Business S.2089, American Energy Innovation.

Executive Business

Confirmed by unanimous consent all nominations on the Secretary’s Desk in the Air Force, Army, and Navy;

Executive Calendar #196, Brian J. Maggi, to be Lieutenant Commander; and

Executive Calendar #197, Anna W. Hickey, to be Commander and Kimberly C. Young-Mclear to be Lieutenant.

12:00:16 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:22 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Jeff Denham to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:39 P.M.		MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
12:08:14 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.
2:00:10 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 28.
2:00:16 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:01:30 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
2:01:31 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Kildee to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:02:35 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:06:37 P.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 September 25, 2015 at 5:12 p.m.: That the Senate passed S. 2082.
2:07:01 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00 P.M. today.
3:00:47 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 28.
3:01:00 P.M.		The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
3:02:14 P.M.	H.R. 1624	Mr. Pitts moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 1624 — “To amend title I of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act to revise the definition of small employer.”
3:02:33 P.M.	H.R. 1624	Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:02:39 P.M.	H.R. 1624	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1624.
3:14:29 P.M.	H.R. 1624	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
3:14:32 P.M.	H.R. 1624	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:15:19 P.M.	S. 136	Mr. Walberg moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 136 — “To amend chapter 21 of title 5, United States Code, to provide that fathers of certain permanently disabled or deceased veterans shall be included with mothers of such veterans as preference eligibles for treatment in the civil service.”
3:15:39 P.M.	S. 136	Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:15:41 P.M.	S. 136	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 136.
3:24:18 P.M.	S. 136	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
3:24:20 P.M.	S. 136	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:25:18 P.M.	H.R. 313	Mr. Walberg moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 313 — “To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide leave to any new Federal employee who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 30 percent or more for purposes of undergoing medical treatment for such disability, and for other purposes.”
3:25:28 P.M.	H.R. 313	Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:25:32 P.M.	H.R. 313	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 313.

3:33:55 P.M.	H.R. 313	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
3:33:58 P.M.	H.R. 313	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:34:32 P.M.	S. 565	Mr. Walberg moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 565 — “To reduce the operation and maintenance costs associated with the Federal fleet by encouraging the use of remanufactured parts, and for other purposes.”
3:34:54 P.M.	S. 565	Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:34:58 P.M.	S. 565	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 565.
3:42:33 P.M.	S. 565	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
3:42:35 P.M.	S. 565	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:43:04 P.M.	H.R. 3089	Mr. Walberg moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 3089 — “To close out expired grants, and for other purposes.”
3:43:22 P.M.	H.R. 3089	Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:43:26 P.M.	H.R. 3089	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3089.
3:49:52 P.M.	H.R. 3089	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
3:49:54 P.M.	H.R. 3089	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
3:51:11 P.M.	H.R. 3614	Mr. LoBiondo moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 3614 — “To amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, and for other purposes.”
3:51:29 P.M.	H.R. 3614	Considered under suspension of the rules.
3:51:32 P.M.	H.R. 3614	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3614.
4:08:44 P.M.	H.R. 3614	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:08:45 P.M.	H.R. 3614	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:09:14 P.M.	H.R. 2061	Mr. Ryan (WI) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2061 — “To amend section 5000A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an additional religious exemption from the individual health coverage mandate, and for other purposes.”
4:09:39 P.M.	H.R. 2061	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:09:46 P.M.	H.R. 2061	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2061.
4:15:17 P.M.	H.R. 2061	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
4:15:20 P.M.	H.R. 2061	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:16:07 P.M.	S. 139	Mr. Ryan (WI) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 139 — “To permanently allow an exclusion under the Supplemental Security Income program and the Medicaid program for compensation provided to individuals who participate in clinical trials for rare diseases or conditions.”
4:16:12 P.M.	S. 139	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:16:21 P.M.	S. 139	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 139.

4:29:14 P.M.	S. 139	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:29:16 P.M.	S. 139	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:30:05 P.M.	H.R. 3594	Mr. Bishop (MI) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 3594 — “To extend temporarily the Federal Perkins Loan program, and for other purposes.”
4:30:32 P.M.	H.R. 3594	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:30:35 P.M.	H.R. 3594	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3594.
4:45:55 P.M.	H.R. 3594	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:45:58 P.M.	H.R. 3594	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:47:02 P.M.	H.R. 2617	Mr. Bishop (MI) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2617 — “To amend the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 to postpone a scheduled increase in the minimum wage applicable to American Samoa.”
4:47:35 P.M.	H.R. 2617	Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:47:39 P.M.	H.R. 2617	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2617.
5:08:40 P.M.	H.R. 2617	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
5:08:43 P.M.	H.R. 2617	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:09:05 P.M.	H.R. 2786	Ms. McSally moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 2786 — “To require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to submit a report on cross-border rail security, and for other purposes.”
5:09:24 P.M.	H.R. 2786	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:09:26 P.M.	H.R. 2786	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2786.
5:15:32 P.M.	H.R. 2786	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
5:16:00 P.M.	H.R. 2835	Ms. McSally moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 2835 — “To actively recruit members of the Armed Forces who are separating from military service to serve as Customs and Border Protection Officers.”
5:16:13 P.M.	H.R. 2835	Considered under suspension of the rules.
5:16:15 P.M.	H.R. 2835	DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2835.
5:23:42 P.M.	H.R. 2835	At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
5:24:14 P.M.	H.R. 2051	Mr. Conaway moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
5:24:35 P.M.	H.R. 2051	DEBATE – The House proceeded with 40 minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 2051.
5:28:19 P.M.	H.R. 2051	On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
5:28:20 P.M.	H.R. 2051	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:28:41 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.
6:30:55 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of September 28.
6:31:13 P.M.		Ms. Foxx filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 444.
6:32:03 P.M.		UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:32:31 P.M.	H.R. 2835	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2835 — “To actively recruit members of the Armed Forces who are separating from military service to serve as Customs and Border Protection Officers.”
6:56:22 P.M.	H.R. 2835	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 410 – 0 (Roll no. 519).
6:56:23 P.M.	H.R. 2835	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
6:56:52 P.M.	H.R. 2786	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2786 — “To require the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to submit a report on cross-border rail security, and for other purposes.”
7:05:25 P.M.	H.R. 2786	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 412 – 0 (Roll no. 520).
7:05:25 P.M.	H.R. 2786	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:06:59 P.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:20:33 P.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

8:51:52 P.M.

Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.

8:51:59 P.M.

On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.

8:52:00 P.M.

The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 29, 2015.

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

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Take your pick … Jay Inslee

09/25/2015 Nativegrl77

Washington has a choice.

jayinslee.com

We can continue to focus on issues that matter: growing an economy that works for everyone, ensuring all our children get the education they need to succeed, and protecting our environment.

Or, if my Republican opponents’ dark money allies have their way, our state will start denying voting rights to disenfranchised communities, defunding Planned Parenthood, and balancing the budget on the backs of the middle class. Make no mistake: those are their priorities — we’ve seen it happen in state after state across the country.

We know the consequences that will come our way if we make the wrong choice. Now, our campaign is up against a big end-of-quarter filing deadline on September 30, with a goal of raising $30,000. Which choice will you make for our state? Contribute $5 to my campaign today.

Take your pick:

Disenfranchising voters, eliminating common-sense gun control, increasing tax cuts for the wealthy, reducing environmental standards, and defunding Planned Parenthood.

Growing an economy that works for everyone, funding education, making college affordable, taking action on climate change, increasing women's access to health care.

The choice is simple — together we can move our state forward or let my Republican opponents and their dark money allies move us backwards.

Today, national Republicans, including the Republican Governors Association, are targeting us for defeat. So, the choice is real, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. We need to reach this goal before our crucial deadline. Thank you, as always, for your support.

Very truly yours,

Jay Inslee

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