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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Fired Up … Ready to Go …Campaign 2012 BarackObama.com


I am thrilled to make sure you are the first to hear some very exciting news. Charlotte, North Carolina, will host the 46th Democratic National Convention in 2012.

 Charlotte is a city marked by its southern charm, warm hospitality, and an “up by the bootstraps” mentality that has propelled the city forward as one of the fastest-growing in the South. Vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunity, the Queen City is home to innovative, hardworking folks with big hearts and open minds. And of course, great barbecue.

 Barack and I spent a lot of time in North Carolina during the campaign — from the Atlantic Coast to the Research Triangle to the Smoky Mountains and everywhere in between. Barack enjoyed Asheville so much when he spent several days preparing for the second Presidential debate that our family vacationed there in 2009.

 And my very first trip outside of Washington as First Lady was to Fort Bragg, where I started my effort to do all we can to help our heroic military families.

 All the contending cities were places that Barack and I have grown to know and love, so it was a hard choice. But we are thrilled to be bringing the convention to Charlotte.

 We hope many of you can join us in Charlotte the week of September 3rd, 2012. But if you can’t, we intend to bring the spirit of the convention — as well as actual, related events to your community and even your own backyard.

 More than anything else, we want this to be a grassroots convention for the people. We will finance this convention differently than it’s been done in the past, and we will make sure everyone feels closely tied in to what is happening in Charlotte. This will be a different convention, for a different time.

 To help us make sure this is a grassroots convention — The People’s Convention — we need to hear from you. We want to know what you’d like to see at next year’s convention, how and where you plan on watching it — and the very best way we can engage your friends and neighbors.

I can’t believe it has been more than two years since my brother Craig introduced me at the 2008 Convention in Denver. It truly feels like it was yesterday.

 As I looked out at a sea of thousands of supporters that night, I spoke about my husband — the man whom this country would go on to elect as the 44th President of the United States. I spoke about his fundamental belief — a conviction at the very core of his life’s work — that each of us has something to contribute to the spirit of our nation.

 That’s also the belief at the core of The People’s Convention. That the table we sit at together ought to be big enough for everyone. That the thread that binds us — a belief in the promise of this country — is strong enough to sustain us through good times and bad.

 Barack talked at the State of the Union of his vision for how America can win the future. That must be the focus now, and I know so many of you will help talk about our plans with your neighbors — that through innovation, education, reform, and responsibility we can make sure America realizes this vision.

Looking forward to sharing this together,

 Michelle

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Congress will be back on 6/13 @2pmET


The Senate Convenes at 2pmET June 13, 2011
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 6pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.Morning business has been extended until 7pm.
 

Votes:
There will be no roll call votes on June 13.
Unanimous Consent:
S.Res.207, supporting National Men’s Health Week

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on June 13, 2011.

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JUNE 13, 2011
112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION


CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF JUNE 13, 2011
112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION
 7:30 P.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches. 

7:27 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches. 

7:26 P.M. – Mr. Sessions filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 300.

H.R. 2055:
making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes 

7:25 P.M. – On retaining Title II (Department of Veterans Affairs) Agreed to by recorded vote: 409 – 1 (Roll no. 416). 

7:09 P.M. – Pursuant to section 2(a) of House Resolution 288, the Chair put the question on retaining Title II (relating to Veterans’ Affairs) of the bill and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded a recorded vote to decide the question. 

7:08 P.M. – The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.The previous question was ordered without objection.

7:07 P.M. – The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2055. 

7:06 P.M. – On agreeing to the Sherman amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 248 – 163 (Roll no. 415). 

6:58 P.M. – On agreeing to the Amash amendment Failed by recorded vote: 178 – 232 (Roll no. 414). 

6:53 P.M. – On agreeing to the LaTourette amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 204 – 203 (Roll no. 413). 

6:30 P.M. – The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration. 

6:29 P.M. – Considered as unfinished business.UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of June 13.

4:13 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.

H.R. 2055:
making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other purposes 

4:12 P.M. – Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 2055as unfinished business.On motion that the Committee now rise Agreed to by voice vote.

Mr. Culberson moved that the Committee now rise.

4:08 P.M. – On agreeing to the Fitzpatrick amendment Agreed to by voice vote. 

3:59 P.M. – DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Fitzpatrick amendment under the five-minute rule.Amendment offered by Mr. Fitzpatrick.

An amendment to prohibit the use of funds to be used for using procedures that do not give small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans any preference to obtaining the contracts under the Small Business Act.

By unanimous consent, the Coffman (CO) amendment was withdrawn.

3:53 P.M. – DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Coffman (CO) amendment under the five-minute rule, pending the reservation of a point of order.Amendment offered by Mr. Coffman (CO).

An amendment printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit the use of funds to provide disability compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, to any veteran for post-traumatic stress disorder if the required in-service stressor claimed by the veteran is related to the veteran’s fear of hostile military or terrorist activity and the places, types and circumstances of the veteran’s service did not include a combat zone.

On agreeing to the Flores amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

3:40 P.M. – DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Flores amendment under the five-minute rule.Amendment offered by Mr. Flores.

An amendment printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit the use of funds to enforce section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act.

3:39 P.M. – Mr. Culberson raised a point of order against the Amash amendment Mr. Culberson stated that the amendment seeks to change existing law and constitutes legislation in an appropriationbill. The Chair sustained the point of order. 

3:37 P.M. – DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Amash amendment number 5 under the five-minute rule, pending the reservation of a point of order. 

3:36 P.M. – Amendment offered by Mr. Amash.

An amendment nubered 5 printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit the use of funds for projects or programs named for an individual serving as a Senator in the United States Senate or as the President of the United States.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Sherman amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Dicks demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

3:26 P.M. – DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Sherman amendment number 2 under the five-minute rule.Amendment offered by Mr. Sherman.

An amendment numbered 6 printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit the use of funds in contravention of the War Powers Resolution.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Amash amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the noes had prevailed. Mr. Culberson demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

3:07 P.M. – DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Amash amendment number 4 under the five-minute rule.Amendment offered by Mr. Amash.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit the use of funds to enforce the Davis-Bacon Act.

3:06 P.M. – On agreeing to the Meeks amendment Agreed to by voice vote. 

2:56 P.M. – DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Meeks amendment number 1 under the five-minute rule.Amendment offered by Mr. Meeks.

An amendment numbered 1 printed in the Congressional Record to prohibit the use of funds to declare as excess to the needs of the Department of Veterans Affairs of otherwise take any action to exchange, trade, auction, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, or reduce the acerage of, Federal land and improvements at the St. Albans campus.

2:55 P.M. – POSPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the LaTourette amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Culberson demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced. 

2:23 P.M. – DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the LaTourette amendment under the five-minute rule.Amendment offered by Mr. LaTourette.

An amendment printed in the Congressional Record to strike section 415 of the bill.

2:22 P.M. – On agreeing to the Mica amendment Agreed to by voice vote. 

2:14 P.M. – DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with debate on the Mica amendment under the five-minute rule. 

2:13 P.M. – Amendment offered by Mr. Mica.

An amendment printed in the Congressional Record to increase the funding for Military Construction Authorization by $25 million through transfer.

2:12 P.M. – The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration. 

2:11 P.M. – Considered as unfinished business. 

2:02 P.M. – ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Rigell to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

2:00 P.M. – Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.The Speaker designated the Honorable Tom McClintock to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

 
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

The Clock’s Ticking for Wal-Mart Women – Be Among the First To Know …Fatima Goss Graves, National Women’s Law Center

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By the Numbers

 ** 10 years since Dukes and colleagues first brought their claims.

** 73 days since the Supreme Court heard arguments in Wal-Mart v. Dukes.

** 3 weeks remaining until the end of the Court’s term.

The clock is ticking — sign up today to be among the first to get news of the decision.    http://action.nwlc.org/site/R?i=oruVRq_y3jxuMJ-3gA7IPg..

On June 10, 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law. But, 48 years later, women still face discrimination in the workplace — women like Betty Dukes, who brought her case against Wal-Mart all the way to the U. S. Supreme Court in March.

We’re keeping a close eye on the outcome of her case, which is expected any day. We want you to be among the first to know, too!    www.nwlc.org/fairpay

The Supreme Court’s term is winding down, leaving only a few more weeks for the result to be announced. Will the Court allow women employed at Wal-Mart stores across the country to join together in a class action lawsuit?

With full-time working women still earning only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dukes case will have a huge impact on our work to close the wage gap. Don’t miss out: sign up to be among the first to learn about the Court’s decision. And once we know the results, we’ll need your help to spread the message via Facebook, Twitter and email.

We promise to give you a heads-up just as soon as we can — significant cases like this don’t happen every day, and we hope that you will continue to spread the word about this important case and stand with the women of Wal-Mart! The decision is expected sometime this month. The clock is ticking — make sure you don’t miss the big news.    http://action.nwlc.org/site/R?i=oruVRq_y3jxuMJ-3gA7IPg..

Sincerely,

 Fatima Goss Graves
Vice President for Education and Employment
National Women’s Law Center   

 
P.S. Join NWLC on Facebook to get the latest news and to interact with others interested in our issues.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell the EPA: Protect us from Toxic Air … Kathleen Rogers, Earth Day Network

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Mercury is so toxic… just 1/70th of a teaspoon can  contaminate a 20 acre lake. Imagine the damage 50 tons can do.

Coal-fired power plants emit over 50 tons of mercury into our air every  single year, more than any other source. Today, mercury exposure is so  widespread in our country that as many as 1 in 6 women of childbearing age have  blood mercury levels high enough to put a baby at risk of mercury poisoning.

There are no restrictions on the amount of toxic mercury  that utility companies can emit. But, at long last, the EPA has proposed a critical  rule to reduce the emission of mercury and other toxic chemicals that power  plants are now able to freely dump into our air.

The Power Plant Mercury and Air Toxics Standard is the most  important clean air rule since 1990 — and the EPA is predictably under  tremendous pressure by the coal industry and other polluters to weaken it. Now,  the EPA has asked us – the public – to weigh in on this critical  rule.

Tell the EPA to uphold this rule and protect Americans from dangerous air pollution. Submit your public comment now.

For decades, the electric industry has successfully fought  requirements to reduce these toxics.

They’ve kept releasing mercury into our air, where it finds  its way into the vast majority of our lakes and waterways, into our fish, and  then into our bodies, where the poison accumulates, causing deadly diseases and  impairing fundamental brain functions like the ability to walk, talk, read,  write and learn.

According to the EPA, reduced emissions from this new air  toxics rule will save as many as 17,000 American lives every year by 2015, and  will prevent up to 120,000 cases of childhood asthma. We must put our support  behind this lifesaving new emissions standard!

Tell  the EPA to uphold this rule and protect Americans from dangerous air pollution.  Submit your public comment now.

Thank  you for taking action during this critical comment period,
Kathleen  Rogers

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

What’s saving Grace? a word from Helene D. Gayle, CARE


“The corn should be this high now,” Grace Orwa says, holding her hand far above her head. “But the rains came late.”

In Grace’s village in western Kenya, rain was scarce this year and the corn crop — which villagers depend on for food and income — will be meager, if it comes in at all.

The good news is that Grace and her neighbors formed a CARE community savings and loan group, which provides a vital financial safety net during tough times. Even if the crop fails, the villagers have the means to make it through to the next harvest. Thanks to her group, Grace has enough money to keep her children in school.

Your tax-deductible gift today can help poor people access tools and resources to become as resilient and self-sufficient as Grace is today. Here are some ways your gift can help change lives:
$75 can provide three village savings and loan groups with a lock box, ledger and other start-up supplies to help them manage loans and help start small businesses
$115 can provide a community mobilizer with a bicycle to reach village savings and loan groups in remote villages
$150 can provide a farmers’ association with soil testing equipment to help improve harvests
With the price of food skyrocketing, many families are struggling to afford food — and experts predict prices will continue to rise in the future. Veronica Okongo was worried that the increasing cost of food would jeopardize her ability to pay her children’s school tuition. So she moved her life savings from a bank to a CARE-created community savings and loan group where she earns more interest.

 Unlike banks, CARE’s community savings and loan groups are owned by their members, and interest earned from repaid loans is shared among group members. The more money Veronica saves, the more interest she earns! Today, Veronica is confident that her children will be able to stay in school and she will be able to afford the food they need to stay healthy and focused on their studies.

Your tax-deductible donation to CARE today will help women like Veronica and Grace build a brighter future for themselves, their families and entire communities.

 Thank you for all you do to help empower women and girls to escape hunger and poverty — for good.

Sincerely,

Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH
President and CEO, CARE