Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the Senate Congress the House

01/14/2016 Nativegrl77

redpeacesign Did 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

01/06/2016 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

By CAP Action War Room

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.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Rashad Robinson, ColorOfChange.org #StillCantBreathe

01/06/2016 Nativegrl77

Families should not have to spend years fighting for justice for their loved ones killed by police. But for thousands of Black families across the country, that is an every day reality. Eric Garner, Ramarley Graham, Tamir Rice, Rekia Boyd, Tanisha Anderson, Mya Hall, Freddie Gray, Dajerria Becton, and most recently Sandra Bland, are just a few of the police brutality cases the Department of Justice is yet to prosecute. The DOJ’s failure to do it’s job and hold abusive and discriminatory police accountable in a timely and effective manner has had an unconscionable human toll.

Since Eric Garner was killed, at least 12 Black people have been killed in New York, and countless others unjustly stopped and harassed.⁶ Last February, NYPD Officer fatally shot 28-year-old Akai Gurley as he walked up the stairs of an apartment building with his girlfriend.⁷ And in response to the growing resistance to the NYPD’s discriminatory practices, law enforcement is under reporting the number of times they stop and search people, creating an illusion of reform.⁸ In fact, the number of settlements New York has paid out for victims of police violence has sky rocketed in recent years.⁹

But in the face of injustice, we cannot back down. Recently, New York families spent months campaigning for a special prosecutor to oversee police killings in New York — and won ⁸ It is an incredible step in the right direction and speaks volumes to the power of Black and brown folks to create a safer and more just world for our communities. On this tragic 1 year anniversary, we must renew our calls for justice and send a clear message to our national leaders that we will not stop until justice is served.

Help increase pressure on US Attorney General Loretta Lynch to indict the police who killed Eric Garner and Ramarley Graham, and pave the way for even greater police accountability.

Thanks and peace,

— Rashad, Arisha, Shani, Lyla and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
July 17th, 2015

Please help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way.

References,

1. “One Year Later, Remembering Eric Garner,” New York Times 07-17-15
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5006?t=6&akid=4546.1174326.1nfLHg

2. “Officer Who Put Eric Garner in Fatal Choke Hold Would Like His Old Job Back,” New York Magazine 07-13-15
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5007?t=8&akid=4546.1174326.1nfLHg

3. “New York Police Department Is Undercounting Street Stops, Report Says,” New York Times 07-09-15
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5008?t=10&akid=4546.1174326.1nfLHg

4. “Eric Garner’s Family Urges Justice Department To Prosecute Officer,” NPR 07-14-2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5009?t=12&akid=4546.1174326.1nfLHg

5. Communities United for Police Reform Upcoming Events
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5010?t=14&akid=4546.1174326.1nfLHg

6. “The Counted,” The Guardian
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5011?t=16&akid=4546.1174326.1nfLHg

7. “Officer Charged in Akai Gurley Case Debated Reporting Gunshot, Officials Say,” NYTimes 02-11-2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5012?t=18&akid=4546.1174326.1nfLHg

8. See reference 3.

9. “Cost of Police-Misconduct Cases Soars in Big U.S. Cities,” Washington Post 07-15-2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/5013?t=20&akid=4546.1174326.1nfLHg

Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the Senate CONGRESS the House

01/03/2016 Nativegrl77 1 Comment

The Senate stands adjourned Sine Die under the provisions of H.Con.Res.104 until 12:00noon on Monday, January 4, 2016, for a pro forma session only with no business conducted.

When the Senate adjourns on January 4, it will stand adjourned under the provisions of H.Con.Res.104 until 2:00pm on Monday, January 11, 2016.

On Monday, 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.

At 5:00pm, the Senate will enter Executive Session to consider the nomination of Luis Restrepo to be US Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit. There will be 30 minutes of debate equally divided prior to a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination.

As a reminder, during today’s session cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.2232, Audit the Fed (Paul). That cloture vote will be on Tuesday, January 12, at 2:30pm.

Monday, January 11, 2016 at 5:30pm

Confirmation of Executive Calendar #213, Luis Felipe Restrepo, to be US Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 2:30pm

Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2232, Audit the Fed

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House Floor Activities
Legislative Day of December 18, 2015

9:00:02 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:08 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:01:14 A.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
9:01:18 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Kelly of IL to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:01:34 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.
9:17:49 A.M.	H.R. 2029	Considered as unfinished business
9:49:48 A.M.	H.R. 2029	On motion to concur in the Senate amendment with an amendment specified in section 3(a) of H. Res. 566 Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 316 – 113 (Roll no. 705).
9:49:57 A.M.	H.R. 2241	Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 2241 — “To direct the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development to submit to Congress a report on the development and use of global health innovations in the programs, projects, and activities of the Agency.”
9:50:39 A.M.	H.R. 2241	On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
9:50:46 A.M.	H.R. 2241	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
10:00:05 A.M.		The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.J. Res. 76, S. 284, H.R. 4246, S. 2261, and H.R. 2576. Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 102.
10:02:53 A.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
10:18:28 A.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The Chair recognized Members for special order speeches without prejudice to the possible resumption of legislative business.
11:03:08 A.M.		The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed H.R. 515 amended, and S. 227.
11:03:10 A.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House continued with Special Order speeches.
11:33:02 A.M.		United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission – Pursuant to section 1238(b)(3) of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2001, amended by Division P of the Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003, the Minority Leader appointed Ms. Carolyn Bartholomew, Washington, DC and Mr. Jeffrey L. Fiedler, Great Falls, VA.
11:34:53 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
1:00:06 P.M.		The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 18.
1:00:24 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 received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on December 18, 2015 at 12:34 p.m.: That the Senate concurred in the House amendments to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2029; that the Senate passed S. 2425 and H.R. 1321 without amendment.
1:01:28 P.M.	S. 2425	Mr. Price, Tom asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker’s table and consider.
1:01:28 P.M.	S. 2425	Considered by unanimous consent. S. 2425 — “To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to improve payments for complex rehabilitation technology and certain radiation therapy services, to ensure flexibility in applying the hardship exception for meaningful use for the 2015 EHR reporting period for 2017 payment adjustments, and for other purposes.”
1:01:58 P.M.	S. 2425	On passage Passed without objection.
1:02:00 P.M.	S. 2425	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:02:22 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 104	Considered as privileged matter. H. Con. Res. 104 — “Providing for the sine die adjournment of the first session of the One Hundred Fourteenth Congress.”
1:05:16 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 104	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
1:05:23 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 104	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
1:06:25 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 received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on December 18, 2015 at 12:56 p.m.: That the Senate passed S. 2152.
1:06:53 P.M.		CONDITIONAL ADJOURNMENT – Mr. Price, Tom asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today on a motion offered pursuant to this order, it adjourn to meet at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2015, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in H. Con. Res. 104, in which case the House shall stand adjourned sine die pursuant to that concurrent resolution. Agreed to without objection.
1:07:01 P.M.		Mr. Price, Tom moved that the House do now adjourn.
1:07:54 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
1:07:56 P.M.		The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2015, unless the House sooner receives a message from the Senate transmitting its adoption of H. Con. Res. 104, in which case the House will stand adjourned pursuant to that concurrent resolution.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

01/01/2016 Nativegrl77

DEADLINE APPROACHING
Progress: 85%

We had some big wins this year, but we have an even bigger job in the coming months as we enter scary knowns and even scarier unknowns.

Take a stand for science by renewing your support now >>

Renew Now

I won’t lie—there are a lot of reasons to be worried that Donald Trump’s presidency will be a disaster for science, public health, and the environment.

He named Scott Pruitt, who built his career suing to stop environmental safeguards, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. He takes policy advice from Bob Walker, who wants to eliminate NASA’s earth science research program.¹ The list goes on and on.

Worse than what we know, though, is what we don’t. Trump is the most erratic, unpredictable candidate to ever win the presidency. Will his administration’s attacks on science and climate policy be even worse than we expect?

That’s what keeps me up at night, Carmen: that uncertainty, coupled with the industry-funded advisers he surrounds himself with. And it’s exactly why your support is needed so much right now.

The uncertainty of the Trump presidency; you can’t avoid it, so what do you do about it?You double down on the facts. You put grassroots pressure behind them, and you raise the stakes for anyone who would ignore or undermine them. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it works.

We know it works because we’ve spent decades battling wealthy special interests that touted the same anti-science agenda as Trump and his team. And we won:

Our economic impact analysis showed that, per dollar invested, the solar and wind industries create far more American jobs than the fossil fuel sector. Our work has gotten states across the country, with both Republicans and Democrats in power, to adopt policies that accelerate the adoption of renewable energy.²
Our campaign to hold major fossil fuel companies accountable for their climate science deception galvanized state attorneys general from New York and Massachusetts to open investigations into possible investor fraud by ExxonMobil.³
Our effort to give consumers much needed information on nutrition resulted in a new labeling policy from the Food and Drug Administration, requiring companies to include the amount of added sugars in packaged food.⁴

Even with Congress, state legislatures, and industry groups fighting us tooth and nail, these big wins should remind us just how much change we can effect when we stick to the science, promote the facts, and band together.

There are just three days to go before the 2016 tax-deductible giving deadline.

Hold corporate and political leaders accountable to ensuring our health and safety and the future of our planet by renewing your support now.

Our unwavering commitment to scientific integrity and the facts is why the Union of Concerned Scientists is a top-rated organization on Charity Watch, accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and considered one of the most effective organizations working on climate change by Guidestar’s Philanthropedia. We operate 100 percent independently and receive no government or corporate funding, so there’s never a question about our independence or objectivity.

We’ve set an ambitious goal of raising $2,065,000 million in preparation for the fights ahead. Thus far, 19,505 have stepped up, contributing $1,755,432 million, but we still need to raise $309,568 more.

Be one of the defenders of science to step up this month by renewing your support today.

Thanks for putting your values into action, Carmen. And in the weeks and months to come.