Daily Archives: 09/02/2016

Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the Senate ~ Congress September 2016 ~Republican led House


capitolphonelinesWhen the Senate adjourns on Friday, September 2, it will stand adjourned until 3:00pm on Tuesday, September 6.

On Tuesday, following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R.2577, MilCon-VA Appropriations.

At 5:30pm, the pending cloture motions will ripen on the conference report to accompany H.R.2577, MilCon-VA Appropriations and the motion to proceed to Calendar #524, H.R.5293, DOD Appropriations, and the Senate will vote on the motions to invoke cloture.

Tuesday, September 6 at 5:30pm – up to 2 roll call votes

  1. Motion to invoke cloture on the conference report to accompany H.R.2577, MilCon-VA Appropriations; then, if cloture is not invoked
  2. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #524, H.R.5293, DOD Appropriations

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House Floor Activities
Legislative Day of July 25, 2016

Last Floor Action:
12:37:55 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to S. Con. Res. 50. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on September 6, 2016.

12:30:03 P.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:30:15 P.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Mac Thornberry to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:30:36 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Rev. Michael Tyrrell, Jesuit Conference, Washington, DC
12:31:38 P.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to section 8(a) of H. Res. 820, the Journal stands approved.
12:31:52 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:32:11 P.M. S. Con. Res. 50 Considered as privileged matter. S. Con. Res. 50 — “Providing for an adjournment of the House of Representatives.”
12:33:25 P.M. S. Con. Res. 50 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
12:33:30 P.M. S. Con. Res. 50 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:34:07 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 the honor to transmit a sealed envelope received from the White House on July 22, 2016, at 5:56 p.m., said to contain a veto message from the President whereby he returns without his signature H.R. 1777, the “Presidential Allowance Modernization Act of 2016.”
12:34:08 P.M. H.R. 1777 The Chair laid before the House the veto message from the President.
12:34:36 P.M. H.R. 1777 The Chair announced that the objections of the President to H.R. 1777 would be spread at large upon the Journal and the veto message would be printed as a House document (114-155).
12:34:56 P.M. Further consideration of the veto message and the bill, H.R. 1777, is postponed until the legislative day of September 23, 2016
12:37:19 P.M. Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico – Pursuant to section 409(b) of the Puerto Rico Overisght, Management, and Economic Stability Act, and the order of the House of January 6, 2015, the Speaker appointed the following members of the House to the Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico: Mr. Duffy and Mr. MacArthur.
12:37:36 P.M. Congressional Task Force on Economic Grwoth in Puerto Rico – Pursuant to section 409(d) of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, and the order of the House of January 6, 2015, the Speaker appointed Mr. Hatch of Utah, as its Chair.
12:37:55 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to S. Con. Res. 50. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on September 6, 2016.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Don’t let automakers off the hook for higher MPGs


UnionofConcernedScientistsDon’t Let Automakers Limit your Clean Car Options

The fuel economy standards set in 2012 are still the country’s most successful national policy in reducing oil use and global warming emissions—all while saving people like you and me money at the pump.

But now these standards are up for review and automakers are trying to water them down. Don’t let them! Demand that the EPA and DOT strengthen the standards.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Gloria Akello via Change.org

My name is Gloria Akello, and I am 15-years-old. I love to read, sing, and play basketball with my friends.

I am also an orphan in Uganda. When I was 3, my mother was killed by rebels from the Lord’s Resistance Army while she was trying to prepare dinner for my family. I lived with my father – a hunter and my hero – until he died when I was 8. Since then, my brothers and I have been on our own.

In my country, growing up as a girl orphan isn’t easy. Rape and forced marriage aren’t far off, and there’s nobody to share your feelings with. At least that’s how it felt until I started learning, and realized that with an education I could have a future and help make my country better. I want to become a midwife so that I can help other women in Uganda and use the strength my parents gave me to make the world a better place.

In 2014, I met an American volunteer named Jared Hill. Jared and his family miraculously helped me to secure a place at a school in Indiana and agreed to sponsor my F1 student visa so that I could come to the United States and get an education. Unfortunately the U.S. government has denied my visa because, as an orphan, they say I have no reason to return to Uganda and will break the law by remaining in the U.S. after I finish school.

I love my country, and simply want the chance to get an education so that I can come back and help make it a better place. Will you sign my petition asking the U.S. government to consider a new visa application, so that I can learn at an American high school?

I know that if I stay in Uganda I will not be able to get the education I need to make my dreams come true. Tuition fees here are high, and as an orphan my opportunities are limited. I felt so blessed when I met Jared and his family, and believe that it is a sign that I am meant to do something great.

I pray that no matter where I end up I will be able to continue my studies, but my greatest hope is that I am able to receive the same type of education I read about in stories and see on film. I know that knowledge is power, and it is power that no one can take away from me or any other orphan girl.

Will you please stand with me to help show the U.S. government that I only wish to do good with my education, and ask that they grant me an F1 student visa to study in your country?

I am so grateful for your support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Gloria Akello