Monthly Archives: April 2016

~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

FDA ~~ Recalls& Safety Alerts April 2016


USFDA_footer

Foster Poultry Farms Recalls Poultry Products Due To Possible Foreign Materials Contamination

Foster Poultry Farms, a Farmerville, La. establishment, is recalling approximately 220,450 pounds of fully cooked frozen chicken nuggets that may be contaminated with extraneous blue plastic and black rubber materials.

04/30/2016 09:02 AM EDT

Greencore USA Recalls Meat, Poultry Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection –Greencore USA, Inc., a North Kingstown, R.I. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,341 pounds of meat and poultry products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection and outside inspection hours.  04/29/2016 10:33 AM EDT

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Christiane Amanpour – Journalism


Christiane Amanpour

Journalism in the age of Trump

Since the election, too often we have seen mainstream journalists and news outlets amplify Trump’s lies instead of fact checking them. Now is a time when courageous journalism is needed more than ever. Journalists should call out the lies, not enable them by repeating him. Trump’s blatant nonsense about voter fraud is a particularly galling example. Christiane Amanpour rallied journalists to stand up for the truth in the age of Trump, saying “I believe in being truthful, not neutral … we must stop banalizing the truth.” Watch the video of Amanpour’s speech and click here to share it on Facebook.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Too many Black families … a repost


 It’s a time of celebration and joy, but every year there are too many Black families who have empty seats around their holiday dinners.

Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Tanesha Anderson, John Crawford, and many, many more.

But there’s a vibrant movement on the streets demanding that our country value and protect Black lives, and it’s forcing many Americans — particularly our elected officials — to wake up to the realities of everyday violence against Black people.  

We’re in the middle of a transformative moment, and ColorOfChange has bold plans for 2015.

We are going to:

  1. Strengthen the police accountability work we’ve spear-headed throughout 2014. From ensuring Darren Wilson, Daniel Pantaleo, and other police officers are held fully accountable, to securing nationwide structural reforms addressing discriminatory police violence, there’s a lot to be done.
  2. Lift up the voices of our 1 million members to fight back against the new right-wing Congress. The Republicans who now control both houses are determined to pass legislation that will put our communities in harms way. And we’re determined to hold them accountable.
  3. Continue to combat toxic media representations of Black folks and the movements for justice springing up everywhere.
  4. Keep our fingers on the country’s pulse, ready to jump on rapid response moments and influence the national dialogue.

…and there’s a lot more in the pipeline.

Make a $1 holiday donation today to strengthen ColorOfChange’s civil rights campaigns this coming year. (Or give whatever you can.)

Every donation you make, every dollar you give, makes a BIG difference. Our small staff will stretch it out and ensure it has a real impact in 2015.

Thanks and peace,

–Rashad, Arisha, Matt, Bhavik, and the ColorOfChange team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

a day in history …


WethePeopleThe Fourteenth Amendment addresses many aspects of citizenship and the rights of citizens.

The most commonly used — and frequently litigated — phrase in the amendment is  “equal protection of the laws“, which figures prominently in a wide variety of landmark cases, including Brown v. Board of Education (racial discrimination), Roe v. Wade (reproductive rights),  Bush v. Gore (election recounts), Reed v. Reed (gender discrimination),  and University of California v. Bakke (racial quotas in education).

 

See more   …

Resource: Cornell University Law School

Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS ~~ the House


UScapitoltakenfromkenschramstory

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Thursday, April 21, 2016.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 11:00am. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.2028, Energy and Water Appropriations bill.

At 11:45am, the Senate will vote on Hoeven amendment #3811, with a 60 vote affirmative threshold for adoption. Additional roll call votes are possible during Thursday’s session.

Pending amendments to H.R.2028, Energy/Water Appropriations:

Alexander SA #3801 (substitute)

Alexander SA #3804 (Nuclear Regulatory Committee)

Hoeven SA #3811 (clean water/WOTUS)

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

House Floor Activities
Legislative Day of April 21, 2016

Last Floor Action:
12:55:15 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on April 25, 2016.

9:00:38 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:01:50 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:03:02 A.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
9:03:05 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Takano to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:03:24 A.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
9:13:19 A.M. H.R. 3724 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 688. H.R. 3724 — “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service from rehiring any employee of the Internal Revenue Service who was involuntarily separated from service for misconduct.”
9:13:24 A.M. H.R. 3724 Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Resolution provides for the consideration of H.R. 4890 and H.R. 3724.
9:14:44 A.M. H.R. 3724 DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 3724.
9:56:21 A.M. H.R. 3724 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
9:57:07 A.M. H.R. 3724 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 3724, the Chair put the question on passage and by voice vote announced that the yeas had prevailed. Mrs. Noem demanded the yeas and nays, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on passage of the bill until later in the legislative day.
9:58:10 A.M. H.R. 4890 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 688. H.R. 4890 — “To impose a ban on the payment of bonuses to employees of the Internal Revenue Service until the Secretary of the Treasury develops and implements a comprehensive customer service strategy.”
9:58:15 A.M. H.R. 4890 Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Resolution provides for the consideration of H.R. 4890 and H.R. 3724.
9:58:55 A.M. H.R. 4890 House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 688 and Rule XVIII.
9:58:56 A.M. H.R. 4890 The Speaker designated the Honorable Rodney Davis to act as Chairman of the Committee.
9:59:19 A.M. H.R. 4890 GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4890.
10:31:34 A.M. H.R. 4890 RISING INFORMALLY – The Committee of the Whole rose informally to receive a message. Subsequently the Committee resumed its’ sitting.
10:31:35 A.M. The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed S. 2012 and S. 1252.
10:40:45 A.M. H.R. 4890 An amendment, offered by Mr. Meehan, No. 1 printed in House Report 114-503, to clarify that the Act shall be carried out using using only funds that are appropriated.
10:40:51 A.M. H.R. 4890 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 688, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Meehan amendment No. 1 printed in House Report 114-503.
10:42:57 A.M. H.R. 4890 On agreeing to the Meehan amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
10:43:54 A.M. H.R. 4890 An amendment, offered by Mr. Sanford, No. 2 printed in House Report 114-503 to require the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary’s delegate to consult with the National Taxpayer Advocate while developing the comprehensive customer service strategy.
10:43:59 A.M. H.R. 4890 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 688, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Sanford amendment No. 2 printed in House Report 114-503.
10:49:35 A.M. H.R. 4890 On agreeing to the Sanford amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
10:50:12 A.M. H.R. 4890 The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4890.
10:50:49 A.M. H.R. 4890 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
10:51:22 A.M. H.R. 4890 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.
11:13:01 A.M. H.R. 4890 On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 260 – 158 (Roll no. 162).
11:13:03 A.M. H.R. 4890 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
11:13:10 A.M. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of passage of H.R. 3724 which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
11:13:52 A.M. H.R. 3724 Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 3724 — “To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to prohibit the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service from rehiring any employee of the Internal Revenue Service who was involuntarily separated from service for misconduct.”
11:21:55 A.M. H.R. 3724 On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 345 – 78 (Roll no. 163).
11:21:57 A.M. H.R. 3724 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
11:28:49 A.M. COLLOQUY ON HOUSE SCHEDULE – The Chair recognized Mr. Hoyer for the purpose of engaging the Majority Leader in a colloquy on the legislative schedule for the House during the upcoming week.
11:47:03 A.M. Mr. McCarthy asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Thursday, April 21, 2016, it adjourn to meet at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, April 25, 2016. Agreed to without objection.
11:49:39 A.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
12:10:48 P.M. SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
12:55:02 P.M. Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.
12:55:14 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
12:55:15 P.M. The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on April 25, 2016.