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Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS ~~ the House


capitolphonelinesThe Senate stands adjourned to then convene for a pro forma sessions only, with no business conducted on the following dates and times:

Monday, February 15th at 11:00am,

Thursday, February 18th at 9:00am.

When the Senate adjourns on Thursday, February 18th, it will next convene at 3:00pm on Monday, February 22nd, unless the Senate receives a message from the House that it has adopted S.Con.Res31. If the Senate receives such message, it will stand adjourned until 3:00pm Monday, February 22nd. Another message will be sent if and when the House adopts the adjournment resolution. If the House passes the adjournment resolution as expected, there would be no pro forma sessions next week.

thOn Monday, February 22, following the prayer and pledge, Senator Coons will be recognized to deliver Washington’s Farewell Address.

Following the reading of Washington’s Farewell Address, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 5:30pm, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #443, Robert McKinnon Califf, to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Department of Health and Human. If cloture is invoke (majority vote) there would be up to 30 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination.

During the week of February 22, in addition to consideration of the Califf nomination, we could resume consideration of the Energy bill and begin consideration of the Judiciary Committee’s legislation dealing with opioids.

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House Floor Activities
Legislative Day of February 12, 2016

9:00:37 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:50 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:01:51 A.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
9:01:54 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Schiff to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:02:27 A.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
9:15:36 A.M. The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
9:18:52 A.M. H.R. 757 Mr. Royce moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
9:19:03 A.M. H.R. 757 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 757.
9:51:27 A.M. H.R. 757 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.
9:52:01 A.M. H.R. 2017 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 611. H.R. 2017 — “To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to improve and clarify certain disclosure requirements for restaurants and similar retail food establishments, and to amend the authority to bring proceedings under section 403A.”
9:52:06 A.M. H.R. 2017 Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2017 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
9:54:42 A.M. H.R. 2017 House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 611 and Rule XVIII.
9:54:43 A.M. H.R. 2017 The Speaker designated the Honorable Garret Graves to act as Chairman of the Committee.
9:54:54 A.M. H.R. 2017 GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 2017.
10:42:42 A.M. H.R. 2017 An amendment, offered by Mrs. McMorris Rodgers, numbered 1 printed in House Report 114-421 to ensure that businesses will not be penalized for inadvertent human error in preparation or variation of ingredients.
10:42:43 A.M. H.R. 2017 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 611, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McMorris Rodgers amendment No. 1.
10:54:19 A.M. H.R. 2017 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the McMorris Rodgers amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Schakowsky demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
10:54:57 A.M. H.R. 2017 An amendment, offered by Mr. Schrader, numbered 3 printed in House Report 114-421 to strike “off-premises” ordering exception from bill.
10:54:59 A.M. H.R. 2017 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 611, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Schrader amendment No. 3.
11:05:40 A.M. H.R. 2017 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Schrader amendment No. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Schrader demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
11:06:41 A.M. H.R. 2017 UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
11:29:18 A.M. H.R. 2017 On agreeing to the McMorris Rodgers amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: 309 – 100, 1 Present (Roll no. 79).
11:33:42 A.M. H.R. 2017 On agreeing to the Schrader amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 148 – 258, 1 Present (Roll no. 80).
11:34:37 A.M. H.R. 2017 The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2017.
11:34:49 A.M. H.R. 2017 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
11:35:04 A.M. H.R. 2017 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.
11:42:24 A.M. H.R. 2017 On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 266 – 144, 1 Present (Roll no. 81).
11:42:25 A.M. H.R. 2017 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
11:42:40 A.M. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of a motion to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
11:43:53 A.M. H.R. 757 Considered as unfinished business.
11:50:12 A.M. H.R. 757 On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 408 – 2 (Roll no. 82).
11:50:14 A.M. H.R. 757 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
11:50:48 A.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
12:07:16 P.M. The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 487 and agreed to S. Con. Res. 31.
12:07:32 P.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House continued with one minute speeches.
12:15:12 P.M. SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
1:03:05 P.M. S. Con. Res. 31 Considered as privileged matter. S. Con. Res. 31 — “Providing for a conditional adjournment or recess of the Senate and an adjournment of the House of Representatives.”
1:05:17 P.M. S. Con. Res. 31 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
1:05:24 P.M. S. Con. Res. 31 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:05:43 P.M. SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House resumed Special Order speeches.
1:50:06 P.M. Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.
1:50:11 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
1:50:12 P.M. The House adjourned pursuant to S. Con. Res. 31. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on February 23, 2016.

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Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the Senate CONGRESS 2/1 the House


TumblrDoves-doves-31209090-2560-2069The Senate stands adjourned until 3:00pm on Monday, February 1, 2016.

Following any leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of Calendar #218, S.2012, Energy Policy Modernization Act.

There will be no roll call vote during Monday’s session of the Senate. The next roll call vote is expected at 2:30pm on Tuesday, February 2.

Amendments pending to S.2012, Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015

Murkowski amendment #2953 (substitute)

Cassidy amendment #2954 (Strategic Petroleum Reserve)

Murkowski amendment #2963 (bulk power system reliability);

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House Floor Activities
Legislative Day of January 28, 2016

2:00:14 P.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
2:00:21 P.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
2:01:01 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Kurt Gerhard, St. Patricks Episcopal Church, Washington, DC
2:01:36 P.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
2:01:39 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:02:02 P.M. The Chair announced that, without objection, when the House adjourns on Thursday, January 28, 2016, it adjourn to meet at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, February 1, 2016 for morning-hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Agreed to without objection.
2:03:01 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on February 1, 2016.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Martin Luther King


 

 

*****

Martin Luther King, Jr.:

“I have a dream…to go to war?!”

Watch the Video | Send To A Friend   

Video is below …

http://act.bravenewfilms.org/go/472?akid=1417.1058794.hi707v&t=1

The Pentagon sank to a new low this week in their attempt to sell the Afghanistan War to the American people. At their Martin Luther King, Jr., Day observance, a Pentagon official actually claimed that if King were alive today, he might support the war.

This is simply not true.  http://act.bravenewfilms.org/go/472?akid=1417.1058794.hi707v&t=4  <<<As shown in our new video, Dr. King could not have been more clear in his 1967 speech denouncing the Vietnam War:

“A true revolution of values will lay hand on the world order and say of war, “This way of settling differences is not just. …A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”

More than 10,000 people died in the Afghanistan War last year alone. This year, the government plans to spend $107 billion on the war. We believe that if Dr. King were alive today, he would repeat his admonition to U.S. policymakers on their responsibility:

“I speak as one who loves America…The great initiative in this war is ours; the initiative to stop it must be ours.”

Martin Luther King, Jr., was a national hero who called on us to have the moral courage to stop another war that wasn’t making us safer and that wasn’t worth the cost. Help us fight the Pentagon lies. Spread the truth by sharing this video with your family and friends.

Sincerely,

Derrick Crowe, Robert Greenwald

and the Brave New Foundation team

P.S. If you haven’t done so already, please join Rethink Afghanistan on Facebook and Twitter.

Donate today to help bring an end to this atrocious war that’s not making us any safer.  click on link below

http://bnf.actionkit.com/go/rethink/375?akid=1417.1058794.hi707v&t=9

Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the Senate Congress the House


redpeacesignDid you know the schedule for Congress is about 80days of work or in session, while President Barack Obama stated he has 282days of work left.

The Senate is in recess until 8:25pm tonight and upon reconvening will proceed as a body to the Hall of the House of Representatives for the joint session of Congress for President Obama’s State of the Union address.

Upon dissolution of the joint session, the Senate will stand adjourned until 11:00am on Friday, January 15, for a pro forma session only with no business conducted.

When the Senate adjourns on Friday it will stand adjourned until 2:00pm on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.

On Tuesday, following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:00pm. At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the nomination of Executive Calendar #305, Wilhelmina Marie Wright, of Minnesota, to be United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota. There will be 30 minutes of debate equally divided followed by a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination.

During today’s session Senator McConnell moved to proceed to Calendar #300, H.R.4038, American SAFE Act of 2015, and filed cloture on the motion. By consent, the cloture vote will occur at 2:30pm on Wednesday, January 20, and if cloture is invoked then the time will be counted as if it had been invoked at 6:00pm on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.

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House Floor Activities
Legislative Day of January 13, 2016

9:00:16 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:34 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:01:38 A.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
9:01:41 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Foxx to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:02:02 A.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 5 per side of the aisle.
9:15:41 A.M. S.J. Res. 22 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 583. S.J. Res. 22 — “Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the definition of “waters of the United States” under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.”
9:15:46 A.M. S.J. Res. 22 The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1644, S.J. Res. 22 and H.R. 3662. The resolution also provides for proceedings during the period from January 14, 2016, through January 22, 2016.
9:16:25 A.M. S.J. Res. 22 DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on S.J. Res. 22.
10:23:24 A.M. S.J. Res. 22 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
10:23:36 A.M. S.J. Res. 22 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on S.J. Res. 22, the Chair put the question on passage, and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Gibbs demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of passage until a time to be announced.
10:25:08 A.M. H.R. 3662 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 583. H.R. 3662 — “To enhance congressional oversight over the administration of sanctions against certain Iranian terrorism financiers, and for other purposes.”
10:25:13 A.M. H.R. 3662 The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1644, S.J. Res. 22 and H.R. 3662. The resolution also provides for proceedings during the period from January 14, 2016, through January 22, 2016.
10:25:39 A.M. H.R. 3662 DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 3662.
11:29:17 A.M. H.R. 3662 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
11:48:47 A.M. H.R. 3662 On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 0-0 (Roll no. 44).
11:48:48 A.M. H.R. 3662 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
11:48:49 A.M. S.J. Res. 22 Considered as unfinished business. S.J. Res. 22 — “Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to the definition of “waters of the United States” under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.”
11:55:56 A.M. S.J. Res. 22 On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 253 – 166 (Roll no. 45).
11:55:57 A.M. S.J. Res. 22 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
11:55:58 A.M. H.R. 3662 VACATING PROCEEDINGS ON ROLL CALL 44 – Mr. McCarthy asked unanimous consent that the vote on roll call 44 and the motion to reconsider thereon be vacated and that further proceedings on the question of passage of H.R. 3662 be postponed as though under clause 8 of rule 20 through the legislative day of January 26, 2016. Agreed to without objection.
12:07:42 P.M. Mr. Holding asked unanimous consent That when the House adjourns on Wednesday, January 13, 2016, it adjourn to meet at 1:00p.m. on Friday, Januray 15, 2016. Agreed to without objection.
12:08:35 P.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
12:27:13 P.M. SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
12:58:47 P.M. H. Con. Res. 107 Considered as privileged matter. H. Con. Res. 107 — “Providing for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives.”
12:59:57 P.M. H. Con. Res. 107 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
1:00:04 P.M. H. Con. Res. 107 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:00:44 P.M. Mr. Gohmert asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today on a motion offered pursuant to this order, it adjourn to meet at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 15, 2016, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in H. Con. Res. 107, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.
1:01:42 P.M. Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.
1:01:53 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
1:01:54 P.M. The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on January 15, 2016, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in H. Con. Res. 107, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Not One More

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In The Wake Of The Lafayette Shooting, A Look At Gun Violence In America

Yet another community is reeling from a senseless act of gun violence today. Last night, at a movie theater in Lafayette, Louisiana, a gunman opened fire, killing two people and injuring at least seven others, before turning the gun on himself. Three years ago this week, also on a Thursday, another gunman opened fire at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, killing 12 people and injuring 70 others.

Just hours before the shooting broke out, in an interview with BBC, President Obama said his biggest frustration so far as president is that “the United States of America is the one advanced nation on Earth in which we do not have sufficient, common-sense gun safety laws — even in the face of repeated mass killings.” It’s true. America has unfortunately earned its sad title as the land of mass shootings. By one count, there have been 204 mass shootings and 204 days in 2015. Of 32 comparable OECD countries, the United States makes up 30 percent of the total population but 90 percent of all firearm homicides.

Louisiana, the home of yesterday’s tragedy, has some of the weakest gun laws in the country and the nation’s highest rate of gun murders—the state gun murder rate is 164 percent higher than the national rate. Data shows that weaker gun laws are correlated with higher rates of gun violence across the country. According to a 2013 report by the Center for American Progress, the 10 states with the weakest gun laws have a level of gun violence that is more than twice as high as the states with the strongest gun laws.

While information about yesterday’s shooter, John Russell Hauser, is still evolving, early reports suggest that he, like the gunman in Charleston, may have been motivated by racial hatred. Further, other reports suggest that Hauser had a history of mental illness and spousal abuse, which may have prohibited him from lawfully possessing a gun.

Federal law prohibits people who’ve been involuntarily committed to a mental institution from purchasing or possessing gun – and, in this case, reports indicate that a court in Georgia did involuntarily commit Hauser to a facility in 2008. Unfortunately, Georgia is among a number of states have failed to supply all relevant mental health records to the FBI gun background check system. In fact, as of 2014, the state of Georgia had only submitted 8,263 mental health records to the FBI – for context, Michigan, which has a similar population to Georgia, had submitted more than 125,000 such records.

Additionally, federal law prohibits individuals subject to certain domestic violence protective orders and convicted of certain domestic violence misdemeanor crimes from possessing a firearm. Reports indicate that Hauser had a history of domestic abuse and that his wife got a protective order against him in Georgia. It is so far unclear whether Hauser’s history should have barred him under the current federal domestic violence protections. Notably, however, earlier this week new bipartisan legislation was introduced in Congress that would expand the scope of intimate partner violence that would make a person ineligible to possess guns. A new poll by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, also released this week, showed that 82% of Americans support this legislation to disarm intimate partner abusers.

BOTTOM LINE: Another community has been saddened by a tragic act of gun violence. There are common sense steps we must take to ensure that not one more has to.