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Protecting our Island Earth


The White House, Washington

Born and raised in Hawai’i, I’ve spent the better part of my life dedicated to the ocean that surrounds me. This is why President Obama’s recent expansion of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Sanctuary off the coast of northern Hawaii, means so much to me.

I have voyaged thousands of miles of open ocean by canoe, guided by the sun, stars and swells, practicing the art and science of Polynesian wayfinding and navigation. This tradition and legacy of wayfinding goes back centuries in my culture. We have worked hard to bring it back from the point of extinction, and perpetuate it as a means for understanding our environment, our history, our culture, our future and our world.

On long voyages, surrounded by the vast blue ocean, we come face to face with the Hawaiian concept of “mālama ” — or “caretaking.” My ancestors learned long ago that if they took care of their canoe and each other, they would arrive safely at their destination.

On islands, as on the canoe, we care for each other and our resources, and work together to protect that which is sacred and fragile — our Island Earth.

As I sail around the world, I’ve gotten a glimpse of what can happen to special places if they are not protected. Initiatives like the expansion of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument help us perpetuate and build upon more than a hundred years of protection efforts by thousands of people in our community and around the globe. Thanks to their work to advocate for protection of this area’s cultural and ecological resources and thanks to President Obama, Papahānaumokuākea will become the largest marine protected area on earth. This is a step in the right direction at this crucial time for Island Earth.

Ours is a blue planet, and the health of our Island Earth and her people is dependent on the health of the ocean. If climate change and protection of biodiversity and wildlife are part of the biggest challenge of the 21st century, then ocean protection is the strongest solution.

The expansion of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Sanctuary will help keep our waters safe — improving ocean resilience, helping the region’s distinct physical and biological resources adapt, and creating a natural laboratory that will allow scientists to monitor and explore the impacts of climate change on these fragile ecosystems.

Join me in celebrating the work of those who stand for and work to mālama our precious honua, those who are caring for our Island Earth.

And I’ll hope you’ll take the time to watch the President’s remarks on conservation from the Midway Atoll.

Aloha Pumehana,

Nainoa Thompson

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ADDITIONAL FREE TIME ENTRY PASSES — NMAAHC


NMAAHC-header_2016_600.pngADDITIONAL FREE TIME ENTRY PASSES will be available at 9:00 am (EDT) on Tuesday, September 6, 2016.

The museum will now be open to the public for additional hours over the Grand Opening Dedication Weekend through Sunday, October 2. The additional extended hours provide more than 80,000 new Timed Passes from Saturday, September 24 to Sunday, October 2. Timed Passes will also be released for November and December, 2016 on Tuesday, September 6.

To access Timed Passes go to nmaahc.si.edu/passes or call ETIX Customer Support Center at (800) 514-3849 or (919) 653-0443.
Ordering passes online will be faster, as phone wait times may be long.

For additional information about timed-passes, please visit nmaahc.si.edu.

  • Timed passes are required for entrance into the museum for every visitor including infants because of the time required for security screenings.
  • There are no same-day Timed Passes on September 24 and 25.

Online: Free timed passes for visitors will be available online atnmaahc.si.edu/passes. There is a limit of six free timed passes per order.

Phone: Up to six free timed passes obtained through the ETIX Customer Support Center will be emailed or mailed in advance. Contact ETIX Customer Support Center at (800) 514-3849 or (919) 653-0443. Hours of operation:Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 8 p.m. EDT.

Nonprofit Groups: School, student, religious and community-based organizations with groups of 10 or more may obtain free advance timed passes by phone. Contact ETIX Customer Support Center at (800) 514-3849 or (919) 653-0443.

Same-day Passes in Person: Beginning Monday, Sept. 26, a limited number of same day passes will be available. Four free timed passes per visitor can be obtained in person at the museum on the same day of the visit. There will be no same-day walk-up passes available Sept. 24 or Sept. 25. Passes are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis by the museum’s Visitor Services staff beginning at 9:15 a.m. daily. These Same-Day Passes cannot be reserved in advance.

We look forward to welcoming you to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Most sincerely,
edison signature
Edison R. Wato, Jr.
Membership Manager

Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the Senate ~ Congress September 2016 ~Republican led House


capitolphonelinesWhen the Senate adjourns on Friday, September 2, it will stand adjourned until 3:00pm on Tuesday, September 6.

On Tuesday, following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R.2577, MilCon-VA Appropriations.

At 5:30pm, the pending cloture motions will ripen on the conference report to accompany H.R.2577, MilCon-VA Appropriations and the motion to proceed to Calendar #524, H.R.5293, DOD Appropriations, and the Senate will vote on the motions to invoke cloture.

Tuesday, September 6 at 5:30pm – up to 2 roll call votes

  1. Motion to invoke cloture on the conference report to accompany H.R.2577, MilCon-VA Appropriations; then, if cloture is not invoked
  2. Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Calendar #524, H.R.5293, DOD Appropriations

****************************************************************

House Floor Activities
Legislative Day of July 25, 2016

Last Floor Action:
12:37:55 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to S. Con. Res. 50. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on September 6, 2016.

12:30:03 P.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:30:15 P.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Mac Thornberry to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:30:36 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Rev. Michael Tyrrell, Jesuit Conference, Washington, DC
12:31:38 P.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to section 8(a) of H. Res. 820, the Journal stands approved.
12:31:52 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:32:11 P.M. S. Con. Res. 50 Considered as privileged matter. S. Con. Res. 50 — “Providing for an adjournment of the House of Representatives.”
12:33:25 P.M. S. Con. Res. 50 On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
12:33:30 P.M. S. Con. Res. 50 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:34:07 P.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 the honor to transmit a sealed envelope received from the White House on July 22, 2016, at 5:56 p.m., said to contain a veto message from the President whereby he returns without his signature H.R. 1777, the “Presidential Allowance Modernization Act of 2016.”
12:34:08 P.M. H.R. 1777 The Chair laid before the House the veto message from the President.
12:34:36 P.M. H.R. 1777 The Chair announced that the objections of the President to H.R. 1777 would be spread at large upon the Journal and the veto message would be printed as a House document (114-155).
12:34:56 P.M. Further consideration of the veto message and the bill, H.R. 1777, is postponed until the legislative day of September 23, 2016
12:37:19 P.M. Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico – Pursuant to section 409(b) of the Puerto Rico Overisght, Management, and Economic Stability Act, and the order of the House of January 6, 2015, the Speaker appointed the following members of the House to the Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico: Mr. Duffy and Mr. MacArthur.
12:37:36 P.M. Congressional Task Force on Economic Grwoth in Puerto Rico – Pursuant to section 409(d) of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, and the order of the House of January 6, 2015, the Speaker appointed Mr. Hatch of Utah, as its Chair.
12:37:55 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to S. Con. Res. 50. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on September 6, 2016.
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Don’t let automakers off the hook for higher MPGs


UnionofConcernedScientistsDon’t Let Automakers Limit your Clean Car Options

The fuel economy standards set in 2012 are still the country’s most successful national policy in reducing oil use and global warming emissions—all while saving people like you and me money at the pump.

But now these standards are up for review and automakers are trying to water them down. Don’t let them! Demand that the EPA and DOT strengthen the standards.

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Gloria Akello via Change.org

My name is Gloria Akello, and I am 15-years-old. I love to read, sing, and play basketball with my friends.

I am also an orphan in Uganda. When I was 3, my mother was killed by rebels from the Lord’s Resistance Army while she was trying to prepare dinner for my family. I lived with my father – a hunter and my hero – until he died when I was 8. Since then, my brothers and I have been on our own.

In my country, growing up as a girl orphan isn’t easy. Rape and forced marriage aren’t far off, and there’s nobody to share your feelings with. At least that’s how it felt until I started learning, and realized that with an education I could have a future and help make my country better. I want to become a midwife so that I can help other women in Uganda and use the strength my parents gave me to make the world a better place.

In 2014, I met an American volunteer named Jared Hill. Jared and his family miraculously helped me to secure a place at a school in Indiana and agreed to sponsor my F1 student visa so that I could come to the United States and get an education. Unfortunately the U.S. government has denied my visa because, as an orphan, they say I have no reason to return to Uganda and will break the law by remaining in the U.S. after I finish school.

I love my country, and simply want the chance to get an education so that I can come back and help make it a better place. Will you sign my petition asking the U.S. government to consider a new visa application, so that I can learn at an American high school?

I know that if I stay in Uganda I will not be able to get the education I need to make my dreams come true. Tuition fees here are high, and as an orphan my opportunities are limited. I felt so blessed when I met Jared and his family, and believe that it is a sign that I am meant to do something great.

I pray that no matter where I end up I will be able to continue my studies, but my greatest hope is that I am able to receive the same type of education I read about in stories and see on film. I know that knowledge is power, and it is power that no one can take away from me or any other orphan girl.

Will you please stand with me to help show the U.S. government that I only wish to do good with my education, and ask that they grant me an F1 student visa to study in your country?

I am so grateful for your support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Gloria Akello

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