All posts by Nativegrl77

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 1/28 ~~ the House


WethePeople

The Senate will convene at 10:00am on Tuesday, January 28, 2014. 

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.1926, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, post-cloture.

 The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly party caucus meetings.

 By consent, time during the adjournment and recess will count post-cloture.

 At 9:00pm, the President will deliver the State of the Union Address. All senators are invited to attend the joint session. The Senate will begin gathering in the Senate Chamber at 8:20pm and depart from the Senate Chamber at 8:30pm to proceed as a body to the Hall of the House.

The Senate has passed Calendar #230, S.1302, Cooperative and Small Employer Charity Pension Flexibility Act, as amended by the Harkin-Roberts substitute amendment #2701. By consent, if the Senate receives a bill from the House of Representatives that is identical to the text of S.1302, as passed by the Senate, then the House bill will be read three times and passed, with no intervening action or debate.

WRAP UP

No Roll Call Votes

Legislative Items

Passed S.1302, the Cooperative and Small Employer Charity Pension Flexibility Act with a Committee-reported substitute amendment and a Harkin-Roberts substitute amendment.  Additionally, if the Senate receives a bill from the House that is identical to the text of S.1302, the House bill be read three times and passed.

Discharged the HELP committee and adopted S.Res.334, recognizing the goals of Catholic Schools Week and honoring the valuable contributions of Catholic schools in the United States.

Completed the Rule 14 process of S.1963, a bill to repeal section 403 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 in order to place the bill on the Legislative Calendar.

No Executive Items

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

Last Floor Action:
10:01:06 A.M. – MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate.

At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.

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

What if every president did this?


FEATURED
What if every president did this?

On Tuesday we’re offering a special, enhanced version of President Obama’s State of the Union address that you won’t find anywhere else. Featuring graphics and charts that’ll lay out the case for making 2014 a year of action, it’s the best way for you to get the smartest take.

Which got us thinking: What if other presidents had an enhanced version of their State of the Union address?

Here’s what we think that might look like — watch, then RSVP to watch on Tuesday for the real deal:

Watch the video -- then RSVP

HERE’S WHAT ELSE YOU MISSED THIS WEEK

A Big Block of Cheese

In an homage — or fromage — to President Andrew Jackson’s 1837 open house, which featured a 1,400 lb. block of cheese, White House officials are answering your questions on social media. Make sure you take part this Wednesday, following the State of the Union:

Watch: Big Block of Cheese Day

 

Join a Virtual Road Trip

President Obama’s taking a virtual road trip this Friday to answer questions from across the country, and we want you to come along for the ride. Find out how to join us on Google+.

Join the roadtrip -- find out how to ask your questions

 

Taking Over Instagram

All this week, White House officials have been taking over our Instagram feed to take you #InsideSOTU. Check out some of the photos below, and follow us on Instagram to see what’s in store for the week ahead:

Go #InsideSOTU -- and see what we've been up to

1,600,000 And Counting…


By 

Bring the Unemployed in From the Cold

renewui2

The number of Americans who have lost their unemployment benefits is huge…and growing.

Today, we will hit the 1.6 million mark for the number of people who have been cut off from emergency unemployment benefits since December 28. That is 1.6 million Americans whose financial security, and in many cases their children’s financial security, is in jeopardy because Republicans in Congress have failed to act.

Last week, a majority of Senators voted to extend these benefits. But because of Republican obstruction, it didn’t pass the filibuster-proof 60 vote threshold. In fact, as shown below, many of the Republicans who voted against renewing unemployment benefits come from states where it is especially needed.

renewui

Not only did these and other Republican Senators vote against the unemployed in their states, they also voted against the will of a vast majority of Americans. Poll after poll (after poll!), including the latest from CBS News released yesterday, finds up to seven in 10 Americans want to extend unemployment insurance benefits for those that lost them when they expired at the end of 2013.

Meanwhile, Republican grandees gathered at the winter meeting of the Republican National Committee actually voted to call for an end to a successful crackdown on wealthy tax dodgers in order to help, as they explained it, raise more money from wealthy Americans living abroad. It’s no wonder that 63 percent of Americans believe the policies pushed by Republicans in Congress favor the wealthy, while just 9 percent think they favor the middle class.

BOTTOM LINE: Profits at the biggest banks may have bounced back to record highs, but the economy is still not working for too many struggling families.  Letting the extended, emergency unemployment benefits lapse through the next year would cost us 240,000 jobs and slash economic growth.  It already drained $400 million from state economies in the first week alone. We can’t afford for Republicans to oppose this vital program that would support their state economies and extend lifeline for those looking for work.

FDA is targeting … Trans Fat


11/07/2013 09:30 AM EST
FDA is targeting partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the major source in processed foods of artificial trans fat, which has been linked to heart disease. These oils have been used for decades to increase the shelf life and flavor stability of foods.
The agency is taking steps that, if finalized, could mean the end of industrially producedtrans fat in foods. It is estimated that further reduction of trans fat in the food supply could prevent as much as 20,000 heart attacks each year.

#199


#199

As the White House gets ready for Tuesday’s State of the Union, it’s been a busy week at the White House: The President announced important reforms to the National Security Agency and new measures to prevent sexual assault. He also honored Martin Luther King with a service project at DC Central Kitchen, signed the 2014 appropriations bill into law to fund the government, and hosted a conference of mayors.

Watch the 199th episode of West Wing Week:

West Wing Week 1/24/14 or, "199!"

 

Top Stories
A Day in the Life: Inside the State of the Union with Valerie Jarrett

Yesterday, Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett took over our Instagram account to give us an up close and personal look into preparation for this year’s State of the Union address.

READ MORE

Join a Virtual Road Trip with President Obama on Google+

Later next week, President Obama will take a virtual roadtrip across the country via Google+ Hangouts to discuss the issues and policies laid out in the speech with citizens joining from around the country.

READ MORE

Big Data and the Future of Privacy

Last Friday, the President spoke to the American people, and the international community, about how to keep us safe from terrorism in a changing world while upholding America’s commitment to liberty and privacy that our values and Constitution require. Our national security challenges are real, but that is surely not the only space where changes in technology are altering the landscape and challenging conceptions of privacy.

READ MORE