We need jobs. Not unfair trade agreements.

Millions of people who are ready, willing and able to work are
unemployed or underemployed. But instead of focusing on job creation,
Congress is getting ready to take up unfair, job-offshoring trade deals.

With more than 25 million people desperately searching for full-time
jobs, the last thing our leaders should focus on is these unfair trade
deals. It’s the wrong thing to do, and it’s a huge distraction from our
jobs crisis.

Tell Congress: Get moving on jobs, and drop these unfair trade deals. Then, be ready to join our national call-in day this Tuesday. With your help, we’ll make our voices heard by flooding Congress with calls and messages.

Here’s why the three pending trade agreements are a bad deal for working families:

• The Korea agreement is the biggest trade deal since NAFTA. It would displace an estimated 159,000 net U.S. jobs, mostly in manufacturing.
• Colombia is the most dangerous place in the world for trade unionists.
  So how can we reward it with a free trade agreement? In 2010, 51 trade
  unionists were assassinated in Colombia—more than in the rest of the
  world combined. So far in 2011, another 22 have been killed, despite
  Colombia’s heralded “Labor Action Plan.” Would we reward a country where
  51 CEOs were killed last year?
• And Panama, with a history of failing to protect workers’ rights, is known as a tax haven for money launderers and tax dodgers.

Past
trade deals like NAFTA have been miserable failures for working
people—and these new deals follow in NAFTA’s footsteps. Working people
need to make our voices heard.

Please e-mail Congress now.
Then get ready to join our national call-in day this Tuesday. With your
help, we’ll flood Congress with calls and messages to make our voices
heard.

In Solidarity,

Richard L. Trumka

President, AFL-CIO

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by democracyforamerica

Can you take a photo of a bridge to create a bridge to jobs?

Last week, lots of people took photos of President Obama as he spoke on the Brent Spence Bridge over the Ohio River. It’s one of the nation’s busiest bridges, but it’s rated unsafe and functionally obsolete.¹ And like the president said, it’s hardly the only piece of our infrastructure in desperate need of repair.²I’m betting Seattle has things that need fixing too, and work that needs doing.

Our vital infrastructure is falling to pieces, but construction workers can’t find jobs. It’s not right. The Contract for the American Dream that we all created together made the solution clear: Congress needs to pass jobs legislation that puts people back to work rebuilding our bridges, roads, schools, and other necessary structures.And with our photos of work that needs doing, we’ll keep the pressure on them to do just that.

Can you take a picture of work that needs doing in Seattle?

Everything you need is right here:http://www.workthatneedsdoing.org/americandream/.

We’ll deliver your photos to Congress and use them to keep the focus on how we can rebuild the American Dream by putting unemployed workers back on the job fixing our communities.

By showing photos of real work that needs doing nationwide, we can make the problem harder for Congress to ignore and build the push for legislation like the president’s jobs plan.

Can you add a photo of failing infrastructure in your community?

http://www.workthatneedsdoing.org/americandream/

Once you’ve uploaded your picture, share this action to help it grow. The more photos we have, the more effective they are.

Thank you for being a part of, and believing in, this movement.

–Natalie, Van, Billy, Jim, Ian, Somer, and the rest of the Rebuild the Dream team

Sources:

1. “Obama Assails Boehner, McConnell Over Jobs Bill in Ohio Bridge Speech,” ABC News, September 22, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=264331&id=&id=31462-17809870-12%3Dvf7x&t=1

2. “Worn Ohio River bridge stars in Obama jobs speech,” The Newark Advocate, September 10, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=264309&id=31462-17809870-12%3Dvf7x&t=2

3. “Poor infrastructure fails America, civil engineers report,” CNN, January 28, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=264310&id=31462-17809870-12%3Dvf7x&t=3

the Senate Convened at 9:00amET September 23, 2011

• Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning
  business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
• We await House action on the continuing resolution.
• Senators will be notified when votes are scheduled.
• There will be a roll call vote at approximately 11:30am on a motion to table the motion to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.2608, the continuing resolution, as passed by the House.
•  11:16am The Senate began a roll call vote on the Reid motion to table the Reid motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.2608 with an amendment (House-passed CR)
• 11:16am The Senate began a roll call vote on the Reid motion to table the Reid motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R.2608 with an amendment (House-passed CR); Tabled: 59-36
• There will be no further roll call votes today; the next roll call vote will be at 5:30pm on Monday, September 26th.Senator Reid moved to concur in the House message to accompany H.R.2608, the continuing resolution with the Reid amendment #656, which is a 6-week continuing resolution with FY11 FEMA funding and filed cloture on the motion to concur.

  By unanimous consent, the cloture vote on the motion to concur will occur at 5:30pm on Monday, September 26th

   

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

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF SEPTEMBER 23, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

 1:24  P.M. –  SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

1:19  P.M. –  ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

1:17  P.M. –  Mr. Walden asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Monday, September 26, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2011. Agreed to without objection.

Mr. Walden asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Friday, September 23, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, September 26, 2011. Agreed to without objection.

H.R. 2401:

to require analyses of the cumulative and incremental impacts of certain rules and actions of the Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes 

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 249 – 169(Roll no. 741).

1:10  P.M. –  On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 180 – 233(Roll no. 740).

12:53 P.M. –  The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

12:45 P.M. –  DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McCollum motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to report the same back to the House with an amendment to protect Great Lakes drinking water from toxic substances.

12:44 P.M. –  Ms. McCollum moved to recommit with instructions to Energy and Commerce.

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.

12:43 P.M. –  The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to reportH.R. 2401.

12:42 P.M. –  On agreeing to the Richardson amendment Failed by recorded vote: 181 – 237(Roll no. 739).

12:38 P.M. –  On agreeing to the Latta amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 227 – 192(Roll no. 738).

12:34 P.M. –  On agreeing to the Whitfield amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 234 – 188(Roll no. 737).

12:30 P.M. –  On agreeing to the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 346 – 74(Roll no. 736).

12:27 P.M. –  On agreeing to the Connolly (VA) amendment Failed by recorded vote: 186 – 232(Roll no. 735).

12:23 P.M. –  On agreeing to the Hastings (FL) amendment Failed by recorded vote: 165 – 254(Roll no. 734).

12:18 P.M. –  On agreeing to the Dent amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 269 – 150(Roll no. 733).

12:14 P.M. –  On agreeing to the Kinzinger (IL) amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 269 – 145(Roll no. 732).

12:09 P.M. –  On agreeing to the Capps amendment Failed by recorded vote: 195 – 221(Roll no. 731).

12:05 P.M. –  On agreeing to the Moore amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 337 – 76(Roll no. 730).

12:00 P.M. –  On agreeing to the McNerney amendment Failed by recorded vote: 184 – 229(Roll no. 729).

11:54 A.M. –  On agreeing to the Welch amendment Failed by recorded vote: 173 – 236(Roll no. 728).

11:27 A.M. –  UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

11:26 A.M. –  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Richardson amendment No. 12, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Richardson demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

11:15 A.M. –  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions ofH. Res. 406, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Richardson amendment No. 12.Amendment offered by Ms. Richardson.

An amendment numbered 12 printed in House Report 112-213 to strike the offset provision ofH.R. 2401, which would reduce funding to the Diesel Emission Reductions Act.

11:14 A.M. –  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Latta amendment No. 11, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Latta demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

11:03 A.M. –  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions ofH. Res. 406, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Latta amendment No. 11.Amendment offered by Mr. Latta.

An amendment numbered 11 printed in House Report 112-213 to update the Clean Air Act’s criteria for what factors can be considered when promulgating National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Specifically, it would allow the EPA Administrator to consider feasibility and cost when setting these standards, which would negate the effect of a 2001 Supreme Court ruling that held implementation costs cannot be considered when setting NAAQS.

11:02 A.M. –  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Whitfield (KY) amendment No. 10, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Waxman demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

10:52 A.M. –  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions ofH. Res. 406, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Whitfield (KY) amendment No. 10.Amendment offered by Mr. Whitfield.

An amendment numbered 10 printed in House Report 112-213 to provide that the Cross State Air Pollution Rule has no legal force or effect, and directs EPA to continue to apply the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) for at least 3 years until after the study in the underlying bill is complete. The amendment also requires that the proposed Utility Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rule has no legal force and effect and that any subsequent Utility MACT rule be issued no sooner than 1 year after the study in the underlying bill is complete. If reissuing the rule, EPA is required to ensure that MACT standards are achievable in practice and that the compliance period is at least 5 years.

10:51 A.M. –  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment No. 9, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee (TX) demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

10:44 A.M. –  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions ofH. Res. 406, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee (TX) amendment No. 9.Amendment offered by Ms. Jackson Lee (TX).

An amendment numbered 9 printed in House Report 112-213 to extend the public comment period from 90 days to 120 days.

10:43 A.M. –  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Connolly amendment No. 8, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Connolly (VA) demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

10:34 A.M. –  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions ofH. Res. 406, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Connolly (VA) No. 8.Amendment offered by Mr. Connolly (VA).

An amendment numbered 7 printed in House Report 112-213 to require the committee to study policies which will lead to creation of American jobs in the clean energy sector.

10:33 A.M. –  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Hastings (FL) amendment No. 7, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Hastings (FL) demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

10:23 A.M. –  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions ofH. Res. 406, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hastings (FL) amendment No. 7.Amendment offered by Mr. Hastings (FL).

An amendment numbered 7 printed in House Report 112-213 to exclude from the committee’s jurisdiction all rules and regulations that undergo a cost-benefit analysis as a part of existing regulatory requirements.

10:22 A.M. –  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Dent amendment No. 6, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Rush demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

10:13 A.M. –  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions ofH. Res. 406, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Dent amendment No. 6.Amendment offered by Mr. Dent.

An amendment numbered 6 printed in House Report 112-213 to add the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) from the Portland Cement Manufacturing Industry and Standards of Performance for Portland Cement Plants to the Covered Rules within the bill.

10:12 A.M. –  The Committee of the Whole resumed its sitting.The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passedH.R. 2883.

H.R. 2401:

to require analyses of the cumulative and incremental impacts of certain rules and actions of the Environmental Protection Agency, and for other purposes 

10:11 A.M. –  The Committee of the Whole rose informally to receive a Senate message.POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Kinzinger amendment No. 5, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Rush demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

9:59  A.M. –  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions ofH. Res. 406, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kinzinger amendment No. 5.Amendment offered by Mr. Kinzinger (IL).

An amendment numbered 5 printed in House Report 112-213 to add upcoming EPA gasoline regulations to the list of measures to be analyzed for their cumulative impact on energy prices, jobs, and American competitiveness.

9:58  A.M. –  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Capps amendment No. 4, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Capps demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

9:49  A.M. –  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions ofH. Res. 406, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Capps amendment No. 4.Amendment offered by Mrs. Capps.

An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 112-213 to require the committee to include in its analyses an estimate of the incidence of birth and developmental defects and infant mortality that would result from a delay to covered rules and covered actions under the bill.

9:48  A.M. –  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Moore amendment No. 3, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Moore demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

9:41  A.M. –  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions ofH. Res. 406, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Moore amendment No. 3.Amendment offered by Ms. Moore.

An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 112-213 to ensure that the study will analyze the impact that a rule or action could have on low-income communities and public health.

9:40  A.M. –  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the McNerney amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. McNerney demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

9:32  A.M. –  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions ofH. Res. 406, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McNerney amendment No. 2.Amendment offered by Mr. McNerney.

An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 112-213 to add the effect on clean energy jobs and clean energy companies, including those that export clean energy technology, to the items to be considered in the analyses required by the bill.

9:31  A.M. –  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Welch (VT) amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. McNerney demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

9:20  A.M. –  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions ofH. Res. 406, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Welch (VT) amendment No. 1.Amendment offered by Mr. Welch.

An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 112-213 to add the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, as well as the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others, to the interagency council that this bill would create. Additionally, the amendment directs the committee to look at important health impacts on the most vulnerable subpopulations that would be affected by EPA’s proposed rules.

9:18  A.M. –  The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.Considered as unfinished business.

9:03  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.

9:02  A.M. –  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Lee of CA 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.

9:01  A.M. –  Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Charley Hames, Jr., Beebe Memorial Cathedral, Oakland, CaliforniaThe Speaker designated the Honorable Robert J. Dold to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

9:00  A.M. –  The House convened, starting a new legislative day.