Children or Political footballs


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The Border Crisis Is Not An Opportunity To Play Politics

A growing humanitarian situation at the Mexico-U.S. border, with tens of thousands of children fleeing violence and organized criminal activity in Central America to the U.S. and neighboring countries, has brought immigration to the forefront of the political conversation again, highlighting both the need for immediate action and long-term reform. Tens of thousands of children and families have come across the border recently, leaving immigration officials with overcrowded detention facilities and little capacity to process them.

President Obama has issued a request for Congress to provide $3.7 billion in emergency funds to care for and speed up the repatriation of the more than 57,000 children. Vice President Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson have all either visited Central America or the border to assess the crisis.

Meanwhile, too many Republicans are exploiting child refugees to score political points. Gov. Rick Perry, after meeting with Obama in Texas last week, asked “I don’t know whether [Obama’s] inept, or there’s something else going on.” Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) went even farther, going on a diatribe against the migrant children and urging Texas to unilaterally declare war. Here’s what he said:

Even with $3.7 billion that’s requested, there’s no way for what’s being called for is going to stop the invasion that’s occurring. That’s why I’m hoping that my governor will utilize Article 1, Section 10, that allows a state that is being invaded — in our case more than twice as many just in recent months, more than twice as many than invaded France on D-Day with a doubling of that coming en route, on their way here now under Article 1, Section 10, the state of Texas would appear to have the right, not only to use whatever means, whether it’s troops, even using ships of war, even exacting a tax on interstate commerce that wouldn’t normally be allowed to have or utilize, they’d be entitled in order to pay to stop the invasion.

Article 1, Section 10 of the Constitution provides that “[n]o state shall, without the consent of Congress, . . . engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay.” We are not talking about war. We are talking about children—many younger than 10—who have experienced horrible conditions in their home countries and on the journey, and who are alone and scared.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) stressed this point and called out the xenophobia in this debate yesterday: “There is American exceptionalism, I believe in it,” Gutierrez said. “I say we are the strongest, wealthiest, most powerful nation in the world, and children are coming to our borders, we should protect them.”

BOTTOM LINE: We need to show compassion and take care of these children who have traveled thousands of miles from three of the most dangerous countries in the world. They deserve a hearing to determine if their claims are valid, and we should treat them humanely throughout that process, while sending resources to expedite it. Meanwhile, House Republicans must take responsibility to fix the long-term issue of a broken immigration system and stop refusing to vote on the bipartisan, comprehensive immigration bill that passed the Senate a year ago.

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Affordable Care Act …


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The Affordable Care Act’s Dramatic Impact On The Uninsured, In One Chart

Yesterday we wrote about some of the GOP health care myths that have been busted with the latest good news from research on how the Affordable Care Act is working. Well, right after that, another great piece of new evidence showed up. This time (with consideration for your Friday afternoon), we can summarize it in a single chart:

gallup

As the chart above reveals, according to the latest polling by Gallup, the rate of Americans without insurance dropped by 3.7 points between the fourth quarter of 2013 and the second quarter of 2014, from 17.1 percent to 13.4 percent. That is a dramatic decline that directly coincides with the open enrollment period for new plans under the ACA.

How’s that for some good news?

BOTTOM LINE: The evidence continues to roll in. Millions of Americans are getting covered thanks to the Affordable Care Act — including huge numbers of individuals who were previously uninsured.

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 7/15 ~~ the House


budgetblow2climate

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Tuesday, July 14, 2014.

 

Following Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 12:00 noon, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each and with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. The Majority will control the first half and the Republicans will control the final half.

 

At 12:00 noon, the Senate will proceed to a series of 2 roll call votes on the following motions:

 

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #839, Norman C. Bay, of New Mexico, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #842, Cheryl A. LaFleur, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

 

Following the cloture vote on the LaFleur nomination, the Senate will recess until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

 

If cloture is invoked on either of the nominations, the time from 2:15pm until 3:00pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

 

At 3:00pm, the Senate would proceed to vote on confirmation of the nominations.

 

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #839, Norman C. Bay, of New Mexico, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #842, Cheryl A. LaFleur, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

At 12:00 noon today, the Senate will proceed to a series of 2 roll call votes on the following motions:

 

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #839, Norman C. Bay, of New Mexico, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #842, Cheryl A. LaFleur, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

 

If cloture is invoked on either of the nominations,  at approximately 3:15pm (previously scheduled to begin at 3pm) the Senate would proceed to vote on confirmation of those nominations:

 

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #839, Norman C. Bay, of New Mexico, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #842, Cheryl A. LaFleur, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

12:04pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #839, Norman C. Bay, of New Mexico, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;

Invoked: 51-45

 

Next:

–        Cloture on Executive Calendar #842, Cheryl A. LaFleur, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

 

3:15pm (if cloture is invoked on either nomination):

 

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #839, Norman C. Bay, of New Mexico, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #842, Cheryl A. LaFleur, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

3:17pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #839, Norman C. Bay, of New Mexico, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;

Confirmed: 52-45

Next:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #842, Cheryl A. LaFleur, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (roll call vote)
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #894, James D. Nealon, of New Hampshire, for the rank of Ambassador Extraplenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Honduras (voice vote expected);
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #704, Robert A. Wood,  of New York, for the rank of Ambassador Extraplenipotentiary of the United States of America to during his tenure of service as U.S. Representative to the Conference on Disarmament (voice vote expected); and
  4. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #508, Paul Nathan Jaenichen, Sr., of Kentucky, to be Administrator of the Maritime Administration (voice vote expected).

3:44pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Confirmation of Executive Calendar #842, Cheryl A. LaFleur, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #894, James D. Nealon, of New Hampshire, for the rank of Ambassador Extraplenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Honduras (voice vote expected);
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #704, Robert A. Wood,  of New York, for the rank of Ambassador Extraplenipotentiary of the United States of America to during his tenure of service as U.S. Representative to the Conference on Disarmament (voice vote expected); and
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #508, Paul Nathan Jaenichen, Sr., of Kentucky, to be Administrator of the Maritime Administration (voice vote expected).

 

The LaFleur nomination was confirmed by a roll call vote of 90-7. The Senate then confirmed the Nealon, Wood, and Jaenichen nominations by voice votes. We expect the next vote to begin around 10:30am tomorrow. That vote would be on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #850, the nomination of Ronnie L. White, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

Cloture on Executive Calendar #839, Norman C. Bay, of New Mexico, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Invoked: 51-45

Cloture on Executive Calendar #842, Cheryl A. LaFleur, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Invoked: 85-10

Confirmation of Executive Calendar #839, Norman C. Bay, of New Mexico, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Confirmed: 52-45

Confirmation of Executive Calendar #842, Cheryl A. LaFleur, of Massachusetts, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Confirmed: 90-7

 

Legislative items

Cal. # 461, S.517, Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act

 

The Senate began the Rule 14 process to place the following bills on the calendar:

S.2609, Marketplace and Internet Tax Fairness – Enzi/Durbin

H.R.5021, Highway and Transportation Funding Act

 

Additional Executive items

The Senate confirmed the following nominations by voice votes:

Executive Calendar #894, James D. Nealon, of New Hampshire, for the rank of Ambassador Extraplenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Honduras

Executive Calendar #704, Robert A. Wood,  of New York, for the rank of Ambassador Extraplenipotentiary of the United States of America to during his tenure of service as U.S. Representative to the Conference on Disarmament

Executive Calendar #508, Paul Nathan Jaenichen, Sr., of Kentucky, to be Administrator of the Maritime Administration

 

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

Last Floor Action:
10:42:50 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

Last Floor Action:7/14
10:44:51 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on July 15, 2014.

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

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 7/14 ~~ the House


voter-suppression_petition

The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, July 14, 2014.

 

Following any leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 6:00pm, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no roll call votes during Monday’s session of the Senate. The next roll call votes will begin at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, July 15. Those will be cloture votes on the Bay and LaFleur nominations to be members of the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission.

Today Senator Reid filed cloture on Executive Calendar #850, the nomination of Ronnie L. White, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri. He then filed cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2578, Protect Women’s Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014. The cloture vote on the White nomination is expected to occur Wednesday morning. If cloture is invoked, there would be up to 2 hours for debate equally divided prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. Upon disposition of the White nomination, the Senate would proceed to vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2578.

WRAP UP

No Roll Call Votes

 

Legislative items

Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2578, Protect Women’s Health From Corporate Interference Act of 2014

The Senate began the Rule 14 process to place the following bills on the Calendar:

H.R.4718, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify and make permanent bonus depreciation.

S.2599, Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act (Klobuchar)

 

Executive items

Senator Reid filed cloture on Executive Calendar #850, the nomination of Ronnie L. White, of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri

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

Last Floor Action:
7:12:09 P.M. -H.R. 5016
GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 5016.

Last Floor Action:
12:06:05 P.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now recess.

The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.

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

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