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50 Years Later

07/03/2014 Nativegrl77

In the latest installment of our audio series Being Biden, the Vice President reflects on the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, and shares a photo of himself with Representative John Lewis, Jesse Jackson, and other leaders of the civil rights movement.

Vice President Biden reminds us that, as we celebrate the Fourth of July, we must also celebrate and remember the struggles of a generation that pushed to make the Declaration of Independence’s inalienable rights — of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” — a reality for all Americans.

Take a listen to the latest episode, “50 Years Later.”

Expanding Medicaid

Twenty-four states have not yet expanded Medicaid — and if they don’t change course, 5.7 million people won’t have access to health insurance coverage in 2016. Check out our new resource center, featuring an interactive map that shows how Medicaid expansion will help people in each state — from access to affordable health insurance and preventive care, to new jobs created.

Yesterday afternoon, President Obama talked about infrastructure and the economy, with Washington, D.C.’s Francis Scott Key Bridge serving as the backdrop.

In the Rose Garden on Monday, President Obama reiterated his commitment to immigration reform and reproached House Republicans for their unwillingness to confront this important issue.

As hurricane Arthur churns up the East Coast: Be Prepared

07/03/2014 Nativegrl77

Hurricane Season: Be Prepared

As hurricane Arthur makes its way up the East Coast consumers need to be prepared. When the gale-force winds start blowing and the torrential rain raises water level, people and their food and water supplies need to be ready.

Read this Consumer Update to find helpful tips to be prepared when the flooding begins.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Celebrate oil savings solutions this Fourth of July

07/03/2014 Nativegrl77

NEW VIDEO
The Military is Leading the Way to Half the Oil

Half the Oil Leadership

This Fourth of July, salute our military’s commitment to developing oil saving technologies that will benefit our nation.

We see the costs of oil all around us, from the impacts of storms and droughts exacerbated by climate change to the pain of volatile prices at the pump. And it’s a reality that confronts our military daily: every time the price of a barrel of oil rises by ten dollars, the military spends more than one billion dollars more on oil, and that’s money that can’t be used to protect our service men and women or our national security.

In fact, the U.S. military is the largest user of oil in the world. That’s why the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard are leading the way on investing in oil saving solutions.

Across the United States and around the world, engineers, active-duty service men and women, and veterans are producing non-food based biofuels for aircraft and ships and deploying hybrid and electric vehicle technology on military bases and in the field. That’s good for fighting climate change and for our national security.

To tell the story of how our military is affected by oil and what they are doing about it, the Union of Concerned Scientists partnered with the Truman National Security Project—a group of national security experts who are working to address some of our biggest global challenges. Truman’s Operation Free project raises the voices of military veterans who have seen the costs of our oil use first-hand, and share an unparalleled commitment to making clean energy solutions a reality. We are proud to be partnering with Operation Free to support efficient and clean fuel technologies and policies, and hope you’ll join us in sharing the video that we made to explain what’s possible when we work together.

Watch the video and share this important story on Facebook, Google+ or on Twitter by sharing the tweets below:

* On #4thofJuly, salute our military’s work to cut #oil use. Share @ucsusa & @operationfree video: j.mp/1mFcZP5 #HalftheOil
* The military developed microchips & GPS. Now it’s clean vehicles & fuels. @ucsusa & @operationfree video explains: j.mp/1mFcZP5
* Learn what #electriccars & our military have in common, watch new @ucsusa & @operationfree video: j.mp/1mFcZP5 #HalftheOil

You might be surprised to learn how much progress the military is making on cutting oil use, and what citizens and scientists can do to help make these solutions a reality for all of us.

Sincerely,

Rachel Cohen
National Field Organizer
Clean Vehicles Program
Union of Concerned Scientists

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 7/3 the House

07/03/2014 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, July 7, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 5:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #738, the nomination of Cheryl Ann Krause, of New Jersey, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit. All post-cloture time will be considered expired and the Senate will vote on confirmation of the Krause nomination.

Upon disposition of the Krause nomination, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.2363, a bill to protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting, and for other purposes and vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2363.

Therefore, there will be 2 roll call votes at 5:30pm on Monday, July 7^th:

– Confirmation of Executive Calendar #738, the nomination of Cheryl Ann Krause, of New Jersey, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit and

– Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2363, the Sportsmen’s Act of 2014.

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12:30:20 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:30:27 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:31:49 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
12:32:31 P.M.		APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – The Chair announced that pursuant to section 3(a) of H. Res. 641, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
12:32:34 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:32:46 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 of the receipt of the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on June 30, 2014, at 12:35 p.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 2388, S. 1799, S. 2076, and S. Res. 494.
12:33:20 P.M.		The Speaker announced that pursuant to sec. 3(b) of H. Res. 641, the House stands adjourned until 1:00 p.m. on July 7, 2014.

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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Wow! Help us register thousands of people to vote!

07/02/2014 Nativegrl77

Help us mobilize the green vote!

Great news. An Earth Day Network supporter has just offered us a $25,000 matching grant tohelp us register thousands of new voters and make sure their voices are heard in November.

For more than a decade, Earth Day Network has partnered with African American and Latino organizations to register and turn out environmentally conscious voters. This year, we are working in 7 states to rally voters to the polls from communities that have been hardest hit by environmental disasters. And we aren’t leaving after the elections. EDN and our partners are committed to working with community partners for 3 solid years to make sure that local roots of this campaign grow deep and strong.

A generous donor has committed $25,000 to this campaign IF WE CAN MATCH this DONATION this week! We need YOUR help to reach our goal.

Over the past decade, this coalition has worked together to register nearly 1 million low-income, ethnically diverse voters. Help us bring thousands of new voters to the polls and into the environmental movement.

Please help us reach our goal and contribute to Campaign for Communities today!

— The Earth Day Network Team