Dear Friend,

Thank you to all our wonderful supporters who came out for our Spring Celebration last night! As we mentioned at the end of the program, we have until midnight tonight to make a big difference for our Southern Office.

A Better Balance’s Southern Office has been open just over a year bringing ABB’s successful model to the Southeastern United States, where poverty rates are some of the highest in the country. Today, we have a unique opportunity to expand our reach with your help!

Join Big Payback’s online one-day fundraiser TODAY, so we can continue our work in the South.

Officer Trischler

Here are just a few highlights from the last year:

-ABB represented Police Officer Lyndi Trischler against the City of Florence, after she was pushed onto unpaid leave while pregnant and in need of light duty. Officer Trischler’s story garnered national media attention and inspired a bill in the Kentucky legislature after lawmakers heard abut her story. We testified before the House committee and read a powerful letter from Officer Trischler herself. Her legal dispute is still ongoing, and we are continuing our hard work on her behalf.

ABB & SisterReach with training participants in Memphis

-Educated hundreds of families about their rights in the workplace across the South, and provided direct advice to many working families with questions about their rights.

-In Mississippi, a recent article called ABB a “breastfeeding warrior,” recognizing our role in public education in the state.

-In Tennessee, we worked with lawmakers and partners to introduce two important bills to protect the health and economic security of pregnant women and families. We are leaders of a campaign to make both bills a reality next legislative session when we get back to work at the Legislative Plaza.

Donate to ABB’s Southern Office Today!

With your support, we can continue this important work and expand to provide even more critical services.

Don’t forget donations must be received before midnight tonight to count for the Big Payback!

Thank you for all that you do,

The ABB team

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 5/6 the House

05/06/2015 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Wednesday, May 6, 2015.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for 1 hour with the Republicans controlling the first half and the Democrats controlling the second half. Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.1191, the legislative vehicle for the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015.

As a reminder, Senator McConnell filed cloture on the Corker-Cardin amendment #1140 (substitute) and on the underlying bill, H.R.1191. The filing deadline for first degree amendments is 1:00pm tomorrow, Wednesday, May 6. Unless an agreement can be reached, the cloture vote on the substitute amendment would occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Thursday, May 7.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

Legislative Business

Passed by voice vote Calendar #32, S.125, Bulletproof Vest Grant Program Reauthorization Act, with Lee amendment #1214 (reduces the authorization from $30 million to $25 million).

Passed Calendar #61, S.1124, WIOA Improvement Act, with Alexander/Murray substitute amendment.

Adopted S.Res.170, Travel and Tourism.

Adopted S.Res.171, National Charter Schools.

Adopted S.Res.172, Small Business Week.

Adopted S.Res.173, Syria.

Executive Business

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

Last Floor Action: 5/5
11:33:22 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 4(b) of H. Res. 223.

The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on May 8, 2015.

11:30:00 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:30:15 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Luke Messer to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
11:30:44 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Anthony Craig Diocese of Duluth, Pequot Lakes, MN.
11:32:01 A.M.		Pursuant to section 4(a) of H. Res. 223, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
11:32:06 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:32:27 A.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on May 4, 2015 at 2:47 p.m.: That the Senate passed S. 665.
11:33:22 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 4(b) of H. Res. 223. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on May 8, 2015.

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

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Photo: The President and First Lady Show Their School Spirit

05/05/2015 Nativegrl77

First Lady Michelle Obama traveled to Wayne State University on Friday to attend Detroit’s first-ever citywide College Signing Day Celebration — an event aimed at honoring those students dedicated to furthering their education.

The First Lady commended the 2,000 students present — and all college-bound high school seniors throughout America — on their college acceptances and called them real role models. In congratulating the soon-to-be graduates, the First Lady also called on them to help younger students reach this impressive goal of attending college.

See highlights from the First Lady’s trip — and check out how students across America celebrated College Signing Day.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama sport their college t-shirts in support of the First Lady’s “Reach Higher” initiative on College Signing Day, 2015. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Weekly Address: Ensuring Every Child Gets a Great Education

In this week’s address, the President reiterated his commitment to expanding access to education, and to spreading the joy of reading to more children and young adults. Earlier this week, the President announced two new efforts that help every student get a library card and provide more than $250 million in free e-Books for low-income students. The President also previewed his upcoming commencement speech at Lake Area Tech in Watertown, South Dakota.

President Obama traveled to the Anacostia Neighborhood Library in Washington, D.C. last week to announce new partnerships to expand access to free books for America’s students, and to ensure every student has easy access to their local libraries. While in a conversation with kids, the President shared new details of what he was like as a young student.

Last week, the President hosted the Japanese Prime Minister, joked around at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, sat down for an interview with the Wall Street Journal, took a walk with the 2015 National Teacher of the Year, and participated in a “virtual field trip” with students at D.C.’s Anacostia Neighborhood Library.

Isaac Bloom, Everytown for Gun Safety: Oregon Victory

05/05/2015 Nativegrl77

BREAKING: Oregon just passed a law to require background checks on all gun sales.

This is an incredible victory for Oregon — but also for gun sense across the country — because it shows what happens when we come together to stand up to the gun lobby. Not only do we win, we win BIG.

Now, THAT is a victory worth celebrating. Spread the word about this big win by sharing the image below on Facebook or on Twitter:

Check out the amazing ways that Everytown and Moms Demand Action supporters helped make this victory possible:

More than 100 volunteers came to the state capitol to advocate for a strong background checks law.

Everytown ran powerful TV ads across the state featuring Mike Reese, the former Portland police chief, and Paul Kemp whose brother-in-law was shot and killed in the Clackamas Town Center mall shooting.

Volunteers spent time making calls to lawmakers to build support for SB 941, the background checks bill.

Ted Alcorn, Everytown for Gun Safety’s Research Director, presented key findings on background checks at a legislative hearing on SB 941.

Our Moms Demand Action volunteers brought together law enforcement, gun violence survivors, and lawmakers to speak out in the press about the life-saving bill.

It turns out, the NRA has a formidable opponent in people like you, and we’re ready to take this fight across the country until every state joins Oregon on the background checks map.

But first, spread the word about today’s amazing victory in Oregon:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter

Here’s to many more to come,

Isaac Bloom
Deputy Organizing Director
Everytown for Gun Safety

As a movement of Americans fighting for common-sense gun policies, we depend on contributions from supporters like you to fund important work to reduce gun violence.

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 5/5 the House

05/05/2015 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, May 5, 2015.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the veto message to accompany S.J.Res.8 (NLRB). Senators should expect a vote on the motion to proceed to the Budget conference report at approximately 10:15am.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

Motion to proceed to the conference report to accompany S.Con.Res.11, Budget; agreed to: 53-44.
Adoption of the conference report to accompany S.Con.Res.11, the concurrent resolution on the Budget; adopted: 51-48.
Motion to table the veto message on S.J.Res.8, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to representation case procedures (NLRB rule); tabled: 96-3.

Legislative Business

Adopted S.Res.97, supporting the goals of International Women’s Day.

Adopted S.Res.155, establishing May 2, 2015, as a Day of Recognition for Ebola Orphans.

Adopted S.Res.169, expressing condolences to the family of Dr. Warren Weinstein.

Executive Business

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

Last Floor Action:
11:33:22 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 4(b) of H. Res. 223.

The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on May 8, 2015.

11:30:00 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:30:15 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Luke Messer to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
11:30:44 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Anthony Craig Diocese of Duluth, Pequot Lakes, MN.
11:32:01 A.M.		Pursuant to section 4(a) of H. Res. 223, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
11:32:06 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:32:27 A.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on May 4, 2015 at 2:47 p.m.: That the Senate passed S. 665.
11:33:22 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 4(b) of H. Res. 223. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on May 8, 2015.