| In the next few days, the U.S. Senate is set to vote on the Keystone XL pipeline, and we need to make sure your senators vote no. |
| The Keystone XL pipeline is a bad deal for the United States. The pipeline would mean millions of tons of new carbon pollution entering the air, and could also mean dozens of newly polluted waterways and poisoned communities all across the Midwest. The impact on the climate would be catastrophic — the equivalent of seven coal-fired power plants operating continuously for 50 years. |
| The fight against climate change is the fight of our generation. No elected official can claim to be on the right side of that fight if they vote to approve Keystone XL. |
| Tell your senators to oppose any bill that would approve the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. |
| Keystone XL will carry more than 800,000 barrels of dangerous tar sands through America’s heartlands. We know the pipeline will endanger our health, climate, and national security, while displacing American families for the benefit of a foreign oil company. |
| That is the future Big Oil has in mind, but it’s what we’re fighting to prevent. And it’s why you need to ask your senators to vote no. |
| Tell your senators to reject Keystone XL: |
| http://action.nextgenclimate.org/no-kxl |
| Thanks, |
| Thomas Steyer NextGen Climate |
a message from Gov.Inslee
The votes are in, and one thing is absolutely clear: I still need your help to build a working Washington. I’m going on offense
All the way up to Election Day, we fought off an incredible onslaught of false attacks by opponents who hoped to erase the progress we’ve made together.
When I emailed you last week, my colleagues and I were still fighting to make sure every vote was counted. Today, we know for certain that we continue to hold a majority in the state House, we re-elected every one of our Democratic members of Congress, we made history by passing legislation to require background checks for gun sales, and we made gains in county elections across the state.
Now it’s time for us to move forward.
Now that we’ve seen the election results, the good news is that we held our ground. The bad news is that, with Republicans continuing to hold control of the Senate, we’re going to have to continue fighting just as hard just to maintain the status quo — and even harder to make any progress.
I don’t know about you, but I’m done playing defense and ready to go on offense. I’m going to spend the next two years fighting harder than ever to fully fund our schools, create new jobs, repair our roads and bridges, and build a clean energy future — and I hope you’ll be right there with me.
Click here to contribute $5 and help me continue to move our state forward.
Thanks for standing with me once again.
Very truly yours,
Jay Inslee
Pass the #AmericansJOBsACT
What every voter wanted but gave their power up to Republicans #MidTerm2014MatteredGetting America Working Again
I support the American Jobs Act
To create jobs, the President unveiled the American Jobs Act – nearly all of which is made up of ideas that have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans, and that Congress should pass right away to get the economy moving now.
The purpose of the American Jobs Act is simple: put more people back to work and put more money in the pockets of working Americans – without adding a dime to the deficit.
President Obama’s Speech to a Joint Session of Congress Read the full remarks »
Read more about how the jobs act affects veterans »
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Tax Cuts to Help America’s Small Businesses Hire and Grow: Read more »
The President is proposing immediate incentives for small businesses to hire and grow from now into 2012.
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Putting Workers Back on the Job While Rebuilding and Modernizing America: Read more »
The President is proposing investments that would prevent layoffs of as many as 280,000 teachers, provide opportunities for long-term unemployed veterans, and put Americans to work rebuilding roads, railways, bridges, and schools in need of repair.
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Pathways Back to Work for Americans Looking for Jobs: Read more »
Drawing on the best ideas of both parties and the most innovative states, the President is proposing the most sweeping reforms to the unemployment insurance system in 40 years to help those without jobs transition to the workplace.
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More Money in the Pockets of Every American Worker and Family: Read more »
The President’s plan will expand the payroll tax cut, cutting workers payroll taxes in half next year. This provision will provide a tax cut of $1,500 to the typical family earning $50,000 a year.
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Fully Paid For: Read more »
The American Jobs Act is fully paid for as part of the President’s long-term deficit reduction plan. The President’s detailed deficit reduction plan will pay for every penny of the American Jobs Act.
Frost flowers: beauty in the far north … a repost from 2013
by Lynda V. Mapes
Photo by Matthias Wietz
Jeff Bowman was on an icebreaker in 2009 near the North Pole when his research team encountered miles and miles of new ice, covered with these frost flowers, each about one to two inches tall. The ice appears black to the eye, enhancing the visual effect. While it looks like rippled open water, the newly-formed sea ice is about three inches thick.
The team disembarked to collect samples of some of the flowers, which, it turned out, are teaming with bacteria. They also had surprising chemical properties, including very high levels of mercury, and formaldehyde, Bowman said.
His research team is still trying to understand just what these frost flowers are up to, chemically and biologically. But one thing that seems certain is whatever these flowers are, there are going to be many more of them as the area of perennial sea ice in the arctic shrinks. That means new sea ice forming on open water, blooming with frost flowers.
For more on Bowman’s research, here is a link to his blog.
the Senate ~~~ CONGRESS 11/17 ~~~ the House
The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, November 17, 2014.
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30pm. At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to 4 roll call votes on adoption of the motion to concur to S.1086 and on the Adams, Cohen, and Ross nominations.
5:30pm—4 roll call votes:
- Adoption of the motion to concur in the House amendment to accompany S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014;
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #856, Leslie Joyce Adams, to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia;
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #857, Mark Howard Cohen, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; and
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #858, Eleanor Louise Ross, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia.
6:05pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #856, Leslie Joyce Abrams, to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia;
Invoked: 68-28
Following the cloture vote on the Ross nomination tonight, the Senate will voice vote confirmation of the Leaf, Osius, Ruggles, and Stanton nominations (ambassadors).
Next Roll Call Votes:
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #857, Mark Howard Cohen, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; and
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #858, Eleanor Louise Ross, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia.
Voice votes:
Executive Calendar #1050 Barbara A. Leaf – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Arab Emirates
Executive Calendar #898 Theodore G. Osius III – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Executive Calendar #961 Erica J. Barks Ruggles – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Rwanda.
Executive Calendar #533 Karen Clark Stanton – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
5:33pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on adoption of the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014
Agreed To: 88-1.
The remaining votes in this series will be 10 minute votes.
Next:
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #856, Leslie Joyce Abrams, to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia;
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #857, Mark Howard Cohen, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; and
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #858, Eleanor Louise Ross, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia.
6:05pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #856, Leslie Joyce Abrams, to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia;
Invoked: 68-28
Following the cloture vote on the Ross nomination tonight, the Senate will voice vote confirmation of the Leaf, Osius, Ruggles, and Stanton nominations (ambassadors).
Next Roll Call Votes:
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #857, Mark Howard Cohen, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; and
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #858, Eleanor Louise Ross, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia.
Voice votes:
Executive Calendar #1050 Barbara A. Leaf – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Arab Emirates
Executive Calendar #898 Theodore G. Osius III – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Executive Calendar #961 Erica J. Barks Ruggles – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Rwanda
Executive Calendar #533 Karen Clark Stanton – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
6:25pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #857, Mark Howard Cohen, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia;
Invoked: 67-29
Next:
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #858, Eleanor Louise Ross, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia.
Voice votes:
- Executive Calendar #1050 Barbara A. Leaf – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Arab Emirates
- Executive Calendar #898 Theodore G. Osius III – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
- Executive Calendar #961 Erica J. Barks Ruggles – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Rwanda
- Executive Calendar #533 Karen Clark Stanton – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
6:45pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #858, Eleanor Louise Ross, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia;
Invoked: 66-29.
This will be the last roll call vote of the day.
Senate confirmed the Leaf, Osius, Ruggles, and Stanton nominations.
- Executive Calendar #1050 Barbara A. Leaf – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Arab Emirates
- Executive Calendar #898 Theodore G. Osius III – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
- Executive Calendar #961 Erica J. Barks Ruggles – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Rwanda
- Executive Calendar #533 Karen Clark Stanton – to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
WRAP UP
Roll Call Votes
- Adoption of the motion to concur in the House amendment to S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014; Adopted: 88-1.
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #856, Leslie Joyce Abrams, to be U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia; Invoked: 68-28.
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #857, Mark Howard Cohen, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; Invoked: 67-29.
- Cloture on Executive Calendar #858, Eleanor Louise Ross, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; Invoked: 66-29.
Legislative Business
Adopted S.Res.579: relative to the death of Howard O. Greene Jr.
Completed the Rule 14 process to place on the Legislative Calendar of Business H.R.2
Executive Business
Confirmed the following by voice vote:
- Executive Calendar #1050, Barbara A. Leaf, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the United Arab Emirates
- Executive Calendar #898, Theodore G. Osius III, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
- Executive Calendar #961, Erica J. Barks Ruggles, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Rwanda
- Executive Calendar #533, Karen Clark Stanton, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
=============================================
Last Floor Action:
8:27:27 P.M. – The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on November 18, 2014.
Last Floor Action:
6:32:23 P.M. -H.R. 5162
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Roll Call 520 – 2/3 Yea and Nay vote pending.
Last Floor Action:
3:32:57 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.
Last Floor Action:
12:20:17 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.
Last Floor Action: 11/14
2:49:19 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.
The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on November 17, 2014.
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| . |
| 12:00:30 P.M. | The House convened, starting a new legislative day. | |
| 12:00:40 P.M. | The Speaker designated the Honorable Virginia Foxx to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. | |
| 12:00:50 P.M. | MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business. | |
| 12:20:17 P.M. | The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today. | |
| 2:00:25 P.M. | The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of November 17. | |
| 2:00:42 P.M. | Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy. | |
| 2:01:51 P.M. | The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved. | |
| 2:01:53 P.M. | PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Wilson of SC to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. | |
| 2:02:18 P.M. | ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches. | |
| 2:06:57 P.M. | The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced. | |
| 2:07:03 P.M. | H.R. 5069 | Mr. Fleming moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 5069 — “To amend the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act to increase in the price of Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps to fund the acquisition of conservation easements for migratory birds, and for other purposes.” |
| 2:07:47 P.M. | H.R. 5069 | Considered under suspension of the rules. |
| 2:07:49 P.M. | H.R. 5069 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5069. |
| 2:13:00 P.M. | H.R. 5069 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. |
| 2:13:02 P.M. | H.R. 5069 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 2:13:31 P.M. | H.R. 5162 | Mr. Fleming moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 5162 — “To amend the Act entitled “An Act to allow a certain parcel of land in Rockingham County, Virginia, to be used for a child care center” to remove the use restriction, and for other purposes.” |
| 2:13:41 P.M. | H.R. 5162 | Considered under suspension of the rules. |
| 2:13:43 P.M. | H.R. 5162 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5162. |
| 2:21:49 P.M. | H.R. 5162 | At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed. |
| 2:23:35 P.M. | H.R. 5468 | Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 5468 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1103 USPS Building 1103 in Camp Pendleton, California, as the “Camp Pendleton Medal of Honor Post Office”.” |
| 2:23:48 P.M. | H.R. 5468 | Considered under suspension of the rules. |
| 2:23:50 P.M. | H.R. 5468 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5468. |
| 2:32:04 P.M. | H.R. 5468 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. |
| 2:32:06 P.M. | H.R. 5468 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 2:32:33 P.M. | H.R. 5331 | Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 5331 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 73839 Gorgonio Drive in Twentynine Palms, California, as the “Colonel M.J. ‘Mac’ Dube, USMC Post Office Building”.” |
| 2:32:42 P.M. | H.R. 5331 | Considered under suspension of the rules. |
| 2:32:43 P.M. | H.R. 5331 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5331. |
| 2:38:37 P.M. | H.R. 5331 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. |
| 2:38:39 P.M. | H.R. 5331 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 2:38:45 P.M. | H.R. 5386 | Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 5386 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 11662 Gravois Road in St. Louis, Missouri, as the “Lt. Daniel P. Riordan Post Office”.” |
| 2:39:08 P.M. | H.R. 5386 | Considered under suspension of the rules. |
| 2:39:10 P.M. | H.R. 5386 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5386. |
| 2:48:13 P.M. | H.R. 5386 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. |
| 2:48:15 P.M. | H.R. 5386 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 2:48:33 P.M. | S. 1499 | Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 1499 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 278 Main Street in Chadron, Nebraska, as the “Sergeant Cory Mracek Memorial Post Office”.” |
| 2:48:46 P.M. | S. 1499 | Considered under suspension of the rules. |
| 2:48:48 P.M. | S. 1499 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1499. |
| 2:52:16 P.M. | S. 1499 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. |
| 2:52:19 P.M. | S. 1499 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 2:52:20 P.M. | S. 1093 | Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 1093 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 130 Caldwell Drive in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, as the “First Lieutenant Alvin Chester Cockrell, Jr. Post Office Building”.” |
| 2:53:03 P.M. | S. 1093 | Considered under suspension of the rules. |
| 2:53:09 P.M. | S. 1093 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1093. |
| 2:57:50 P.M. | S. 1093 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. |
| 2:57:52 P.M. | S. 1093 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 2:58:24 P.M. | S. 885 | Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 885 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 35 Park Street in Danville, Vermont, as the “Thaddeus Stevens Post Office”.” |
| 2:58:31 P.M. | S. 885 | Considered under suspension of the rules. |
| 2:58:33 P.M. | S. 885 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 885. |
| 3:03:27 P.M. | S. 885 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. |
| 3:03:29 P.M. | S. 885 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 3:03:31 P.M. | S. 1512 | Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 1512 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1335 Jefferson Road in Rochester, New York, as the “Specialist Theodore Matthew Glende Post Office”.” |
| 3:03:58 P.M. | S. 1512 | Considered under suspension of the rules. |
| 3:04:00 P.M. | S. 1512 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1512. |
| 3:08:00 P.M. | S. 1512 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. |
| 3:08:02 P.M. | S. 1512 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 3:08:03 P.M. | H.R. 5142 | Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 5142 — “To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 113 West Jackson Street in Rich Square, North Carolina, as the “Chief Joseph E. White, Jr. Post Office Building”.” |
| 3:08:39 P.M. | H.R. 5142 | Considered under suspension of the rules. |
| 3:08:41 P.M. | H.R. 5142 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5142. |
| 3:14:45 P.M. | H.R. 5142 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. |
| 3:14:47 P.M. | H.R. 5142 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 3:15:29 P.M. | H.R. 5544 | Mr. Broun (GA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 5544 — “To increase the understanding of the health effects of low doses of ionizing radiation.” |
| 3:15:40 P.M. | H.R. 5544 | Considered under suspension of the rules. |
| 3:15:41 P.M. | H.R. 5544 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5544. |
| 3:21:55 P.M. | H.R. 5544 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. |
| 3:21:56 P.M. | H.R. 5544 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 3:22:16 P.M. | H.R. 5441 | Mr. Holding moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 5441 — “To amend the Federal charter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to reflect the service of women in the Armed Forces of the United States.” |
| 3:22:51 P.M. | H.R. 5441 | Considered under suspension of the rules. |
| 3:22:53 P.M. | H.R. 5441 | DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5441. |
| 3:32:31 P.M. | H.R. 5441 | On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. |
| 3:32:33 P.M. | H.R. 5441 | Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. |
| 3:32:57 P.M. | The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today. |
| 6:30:21 P.M. | The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of November 17. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6:30:31 P.M. | Mr. Burgess filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 756. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6:31:42 P.M. | UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was on a motion to suspend the rules, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6:32:00 P.M. | H.R. 5162 | Considered as unfinished business. H.R. 5162 — “To amend the Act entitled “An Act to allow a certain parcel of land in Rockingham County, Virginia, to be used for a child care center” to remove the use restriction, and for other purposes.” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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