Protect the House Majority and our Fight for Progress and Justice in Congress


Jim and House Democrats are fighting to build back our country stronger and more equitably than before by expanding broadband, making health care more affordable, protecting and expanding voting rights, and ensuring opportunity for every American. 

But all of our progress will be lost if we lose the House, and Republicans only need five seats to take back the Majority.

Contribute today to help protect and expand Democrats’ House Majority.

Source: clyburnforcongress.com

Honoring the 70th Anniversary of V-E Day


In this week’s address, the President honored the 70th anniversary of V-E Day. On this occasion, we commemorate the Allied victory in Europe during World War II. It is a day to pay tribute to the men and women who decades ago served and sacrificed for the cause of freedom. This was the generation that, by ending the war, literally saved the world, laying a foundation for peace.

The President asked that in addition to commemorating this important anniversary, we honor the men and women in uniform who currently serve our country, and recommit ourselves to the values we share with our allies in Europe and beyond: freedom, security, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law around the world.

Watch the President’s Weekly Address here.

Watch the President's address here.

P.S. — Make sure to see the President’s exchange with World War II veteran Ernest Lovato, who served in the Army Air Corps’ 100th Bombardment Group.

The President hikes with his family in Maine.

President Barack Obama and his family hike on Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park in Maine, July 16, 2010.

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From Community College to the White House: Meet These Three Staffers

From students just out of high school to those returning to the classroom for more training or a career change, community college students make up 40 percent of the Americans enrolled in higher education.

Here at the White House, we understand the impact that community colleges are having on students throughout the country. On National College Signing Day, three White House staffers shared their story of attending community college and credited their schools with helping them reach their full potential.

Listen to the stories of these three staffers.

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“We’ve Got to Learn the Right Lessons”

Yesterday, the President dropped by Nike headquarters in Oregon to talk about the impact his trade deal — the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) — will have on American businesses, large and small.

President Obama talks about trade at Nike

Manufacturing and exports help drive the success of our businesses and the financial security of our workers. Companies that export their goods and services pay their employees up to 18 percent more, and are more able to expand and hire.

In fact, Nike announced that the President’s trade deal, if secured, could lead to the creation of up to 10,000 advanced manufacturing and engineering jobs — and up to 40,000 indirect supply chain and services jobs — here in the U.S. over the next decade.

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To see more from the past week, watch the latest edition of West Wing Week here.

1960 – The U.S. Senate passed the Civil Rights Bill –


Civil Rights act of 1960

credit: Civil Rights Act of 1960; RG 11, General Records of the United States Government

Senate Logo

It was designed to deal with discriminatory laws and practices in the segregated South, by which blacks and Mexican Texans had been effectively disenfranchised since the late 19th and start of the 20th century. It extended the life of the Civil Rights Commission, previously limited to two years, to oversee registration and voting practices. The act was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and served to eliminate certain loopholes left by the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

The final vote in the House of Representatives was 311–109 (132–15 in the House Republican Conference and 179–93 in the House Democratic Caucus) with 11 members voting present or abstaining, while in the Senate the final vote was 71–18 (29–0 in the Senate Republican Conference and 42–18 in the Senate Democratic Caucus) with 11 members voting present or abstaining.

Wikipedia · Text under CC-BY-SA license

1987 – Live models were used for the first time in Playtex bra ads


By BRUCE HOROVITZ

APRIL 21, 1987 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Brassieres, which haven’t made much news since some were symbolically burned two decades ago, are historical footnotes again. Television advertisements for some bras will soon use models instead of manikins.

On May 4, NBC is scheduled to air an ad for the Playtex-made Cross Your Heart bra, which shows a woman wearing the product. This brings to an end the decades-old ban by the networks on commercials that show models in their underwear.

“I don’t see why it should be taboo to show a woman in a bra,” said Hercules P. Sotos, vice-chairman of International Playtex, the Stamford, Conn.-based manufacturer. “It’s much more effective in showing the product’s attributes than a manikin.”

Playtex is not alone. In a soon-to-be-aired television ad campaign for men’s underwear, Fruit of the Loom has hired a male model to wear briefs. Both the $4-million Playtex campaign and the Fruit of the Loom campaign were devised by Grey Advertising.