Black History

the Senate ~ CONGRESS ~ the House


budgetblow2climateThe Senate stands in adjournment until 2:00pm on Monday, June 23, 2014.

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

Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and proceed to a series of up to 4 roll call votes:

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #779, Paul G. Byron, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida,

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #780, Carlos Eduardo Mendoza, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida,

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #781, Beth Bloom, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida, and

–          Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #836, Geoffery W. Crawford, of Vermont, to be United States District Judge for the District of Vermont.

6:06pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #780, Carlos Eduardo Mendoza, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida;

Invoked: 53-31.

Next:

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #781, Beth Bloom, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida, and
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #836, Geoffrey W. Crawford, of Vermont, to be United States District Judge for the District of Vermont.

6:06pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #780, Carlos Eduardo Mendoza, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida;

Invoked: 53-31.

Next:

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #781, Beth Bloom, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida, and
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #836, Geoffrey W. Crawford, of Vermont, to be United States District Judge for the District of Vermont.

6:20pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #781, Beth Bloom, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida

Invoked: 53-31

Next:

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #836, Geoffrey W. Crawford, of Vermont, to be United States District Judge for the District of Vermont.

6:35pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #836, Geoffrey W. Crawford, of Vermont, to be United States District Judge for the District of Vermont.

Invoked: 52-32

 

 

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #779, Paul G. Byron, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida; Invoked: 53-30

2)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #780, Carlos Eduardo Mendoza, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida; Invoked: 53-31

3)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #781, Beth Bloom, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida; Invoked: 53-31

4)      Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #836, Geoffrey W. Crawford, of Vermont, to be United States District Judge for the District of Vermont; Invoked: 52-32

 

Legislative items

Adopted S.Res.481, designating the month of June 2014 as “National Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Month”.

 

No additional Executive items

 

 

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Last Floor Action:
1:14:14 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on June 23, 2014.

12:00:23 P.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:27 P.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Adrian Smith to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:39 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.
12:01:33 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.
2:00:44 P.M. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of June 23.
2:00:48 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:01:57 P.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
2:02:00 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Foxx to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:02:33 P.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:06:59 P.M. The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification of the continuance of the national emergency with respect to the Western Balkans – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 113-123).
2:09:02 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 4:00 P.M. today.

4:00:17 P.M. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of June 23.
4:00:25 P.M. The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
4:00:35 P.M. S. 2086 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Moore amendment No. 5, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Moore demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
4:00:51 P.M. S. 2086 Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:01:04 P.M. S. 2086 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2086.
4:13:48 P.M. S. 2086 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:13:54 P.M. H.R. 4092 Mr. Kinzinger (IL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 4092 — “To amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to establish the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy as the lead Federal agency for coordinating Federal, State, and local assistance provided to promote the energy retrofitting of schools.”
4:14:20 P.M. H.R. 4092 Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:14:23 P.M. H.R. 4092 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4092.
4:21:01 P.M. H.R. 4092 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
4:21:26 P.M. H.R. 316 <Mr. Kinzinger (IL) moved that the House suspend the rules an agree to the Senate amendment.
4:21:52 P.M. H.R. 316 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on agreeing to the Senate amendment to H.R. 316.
4:28:53 P.M. H.R. 316 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.
4:29:01 P.M. H.R. 4801 Mr. Kinzinger (IL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 4801 — “To require the Secretary of Energy to prepare a report on the impact of thermal insulation on both energy and water use for potable hot water.”
4:29:29 P.M. H.R. 4801 Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:29:31 P.M. H.R. 4801 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4801.
4:33:56 P.M. H.R. 4801 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:34:20 P.M. S. 1044 Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. S. 1044 — “To direct the Secretary of the Interior to install in the area of the World War II Memorial in the District of Columbia a suitable plaque or an inscription with the words that President Franklin D. Roosevelt prayed with the United States on D-Day, June 6, 1944.”
4:34:39 P.M. S. 1044 Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:34:41 P.M. S. 1044 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1044.
4:43:29 P.M. S. 1044 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.
4:44:05 P.M. H.R. 4002 Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill. H.R. 4002 — “To revoke the charter of incorporation of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma at the request of that tribe, and for other purposes.”
4:44:10 P.M. H.R. 4002 Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:44:12 P.M. H.R. 4002 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4002.
4:48:53 P.M. H.R. 4002 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
4:49:02 P.M. H.R. 412 Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. H.R. 412 — “To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the mainstem of the Nashua River and its tributaries in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes.”
4:49:15 P.M. H.R. 412 Considered under suspension of the rules.
4:49:17 P.M. H.R. 412 DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 412.
4:56:47 P.M. H.R. 412 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
4:57:20 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 a message from the President whereby he submits a copy of a notice filed earlier with the Federal Register continuing the emergency with North Korea first declared in Executive Order 13466 of June 26, 2008.
4:57:35 P.M. The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notification of the continuance of the national emergency with respect to the proliferation of weapons-usable fissile material on the Korean Peninsula and the actions and policies of the Government of North Korea that destabilize the Korean Peninsula – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 113-124).
4:59:24 P.M. <action_description>The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. today.
6:32:51 P.M. The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of June 23.
6:32:53 P.M. UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
6:33:06 P.M. S. 1044 Considered as unfinished business. S. 1044 — “To direct the Secretary of the Interior to install in the area of the World War II Memorial in the District of Columbia a suitable plaque or an inscription with the words that President Franklin D. Roosevelt prayed with the United States on D-Day, June 6, 1944.”
6:58:42 P.M. S. 1044 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 370 – 12 (Roll no. 339).
7:09:21 P.M. H.R. 316 On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 379 – 3 (Roll no. 340).
7:09:22 P.M. H.R. 316 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
7:09:42 P.M. Mr. Bishop (UT) filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 636.
7:10:43 P.M. H.R. 4413 The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 4413.
7:11:00 P.M. H.R. 4413 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 629. H.R. 4413 — “To reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, to better protect futures customers, to provide end users with market certainty, to make basic reforms to ensure transparency and accountability at the Commission, to help farmers, ranchers, and end users manage risks to help keep consumer costs low, and for other purposes.”
7:11:05 P.M. H.R. 4413 Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4413 with 1 hour of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions allowed. The rule makes in order as original text for the purpose of amendment an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 113-47.
7:11:31 P.M. H.R. 4413 House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 629 and Rule XVIII.
7:11:32 P.M. H.R. 4413 The Speaker designated the Honorable Rob Bishop to act as Chairman of the Committee.
7:11:52 P.M. H.R. 4413 GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4413.
8:05:21 P.M. H.R. 4413 An amendment, offered by Mr. DeFazio, No. 1 printed in House Report 113-476 to add one requirement to the study on high frequency trading: Whether such trading increases market volatility, including short term market swings such as the “flash crash.”
8:05:23 P.M. H.R. 4413 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 629, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeFazio amendment No. 1.
8:07:47 P.M. H.R. 4413 On agreeing to the DeFazio amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
8:08:14 P.M. H.R. 4413 An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, No. 2 printed in House Report 113-476 to require a study on entities regulated by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission.
8:08:16 P.M. H.R. 4413 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 629, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 2.
8:14:17 P.M. H.R. 4413 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
8:15:01 P.M. H.R. 4413 An amendment, offered by Ms. DelBene, No. 3 printed in House Report 113-476 to ensure that the Commission’s assessment of costs and benefits regarding rules and orders will be affirmed by a court unless that assessment is found to be an abuse of discretion.
8:15:21 P.M. H.R. 4413 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 629, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DelBene amendment No. 3.
8:19:10 P.M. H.R. 4413 On agreeing to the DelBene amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
8:20:33 P.M. H.R. 4413 An amendment, offered by Ms. Waters, No. 4 printed in House Report 113-476 to prohibit judicial review of any consideration by the CFTC of the costs and benefits of its rules and orders.
8:20:35 P.M. H.R. 4413 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 629, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waters amendment No. 4.
8:27:07 P.M. H.R. 4413 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Waters amendment No. 4, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Waters demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
8:28:42 P.M. H.R. 4413 An amendment, offered by Ms. Moore, No 5. printed in House Report 113-476 to strike Section 203, and replace it with a Sense of Congress that the Commodities Future Trading Commission is already required by law to consider costs and benefits when promulgating rules and issuing orders, and is held accountable to this requirement by courts.
8:28:45 P.M. H.R. 4413 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 629, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Moore amendment No. 5.
8:37:13 P.M. H.R. 4413 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Moore amendment No. 5, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Moore demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
8:38:47 P.M. H.R. 4413 An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, No. 6 printed in House Report 113-476 to preserve existing law by striking “United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit or the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit,” and replace it with “United States District Court for the District of Columbia or the United States District Court for the district.”
8:38:49 P.M. H.R. 4413 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 629, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 6.
8:44:22 P.M. H.R. 4413 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 6, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
8:45:27 P.M. H.R. 4413 An amendment, offered by Mr. Fincher, No. 7 printed in House Report 113-476 to direct the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study of the efficiencies in leasing and rental costs at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
8:45:40 P.M. H.R. 4413 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 629, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Fincher amendment No. 7.
8:49:08 P.M. H.R. 4413 On agreeing to the Fincher amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
8:50:36 P.M. H.R. 4413 An amendment, offered by Mr. Garrett, No. 8 printed in House Report 113-476 to exempt Registered Investment Companies (RICs) that are currently registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 from duplicative registration requirements with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) allowing the SEC to continue to have full regulatory oversight and enforcement authority over RICs. Amendment does not remove the jurisdiction and regulatory authority that the CFTC has over all futures, options and swaps transactions that the RICs invest in on behalf of their customers who are pensioners, retirees, and savers.
8:50:38 P.M. H.R. 4413 DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 629, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Garrett amendment No. 8.

9:01:23 P.M. H.R. 4413 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Garrett amendment No. 8, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Peterson (MN) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
9:02:08 P.M. H.R. 4413 Mr. Lucas moved that the Committee rise.
9:02:26 P.M. H.R. 4413 On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
9:02:48 P.M. H.R. 4413 Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 4413 as unfinished business.
9:03:40 P.M. ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
9:04:33 P.M. Mr. Thompson (PA) moved that the House do now adjourn.
9:04:44 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
9:04:45 P.M. The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on June 24, 2014.

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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Invite: Join us LIVE today for the White House Summit on Working Families!


Summit Header

The Women’s Bureau invites you to watch the White House Summit on Working Families online TODAY starting at 9:00 a.m.

click on link below for live stream

 

http://www.workingfamiliessummit.org/

As you know, a growing number of working Americans – both men and women – struggle to balance the needs of their families with the responsibilities of their jobs. Yet while studies show that family-friendly workplace policies can actually enhance businesses’ profitability, many companies report that they lack the tools and expertise to redesign their workplaces to capture this competitive advantage.

Today, the White House, the Department of Labor and the Center for American Progress will host a Summit on Working Families to set an agenda for a 21st century workplace that works for all Americans, with a special focus on women and their families.

You’ve been with us at the Regional Forums in Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Chicago, New York, Rochester, Seattle and San Francisco, sharing your stories, perspectives, research and suggestions.  Your stories helped shape the agenda for the Summit, and we want to make sure you are plugged in to watch the event online.

Agenda highlights:

9:00AM: Opening remarks with Vice President Joseph Biden. Additional remarks from U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez, Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett, President of the Center for American Progress Neera Tanden, Dr. Jill Biden, and Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls Tina Tchen

9:20AM – 10:30AM: First panel discussion: Family Matters

11:00AM – 12:00PM: Online exclusive: Huffington Post Live discussion on Family Matters

12:30PM – 1:30PM: Second panel discussion: A 21st Century Economy that Works for Business and Workers

1:40PM: Remarks by President Barack Obama

3:30PM: Online exclusive: Huffing Post Live discussion on Career Ladders and Leadership

4:30PM – 5:30PM: Third panel discussion: Career Ladders and Leadership

5:30PM – 6:30PM: Closing remarks with First Lady Michelle Obama 

Get more details at www.workingfamiliessummit.org

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

I’m a mom with a rare form of cancer. ~~~ Victory


On February 18, Florida Hospital Healthcare System agreed to cover Holly’s surgery in DC. Holly said “I just received word that Florida Hospital/FHHS has formally signed the agreement and that my surgery can proceed as normal. I can’t even begin to thank you enough for your support and willingness to share this petition to help make this happen. I’m in the process of developing a CaringBridge link where my family and caregivers can share my progress once I’m hospitalized. THANK YOU!!”

 Florida Hospital/FHHS: Authorize a single case contract with Dr. Sugarbaker / Washington Hospital Center so I can have my lifesaving surgery

       By Holly Freuler

          St Cloud, Florida
My name is Holly Freuler. I am a 35 year old married mother of 2. I have a very rare form of cancer: Multicystic Peritoneal Mesothelioma. Only 130 cases have been reported worldwide.
I was first treated for this cancer back in June of 2012. Unfortunately, my most recent CT scan indicated a recurrence of my disease.
This type of disease requires a specialized surgery (Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC). No doctor within my insurance network has ever treated a case like this before and no doctor performs the surgery necessary to save my life: Cytoreductive Surgery with HIPEC (open perfusion). My local surgeon who is considered, “in network” recognizes this fact and is also recommending I have surgery with Dr. Sugarbaker in Washington, D.C. He has stated that, “No one here can cure what you have. You need to go to Dr. Sugarbaker.”
Cytoreductive surgerywithHyperthermic Peritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is the standard treatment for my disease. There is NO alternative curative treatment.Itis approved by the FDA and my surgeon has a 90% survival rate at 5 years (well above the rest).

In 2012, my health insurer, Florida Hospital/FHHS, authorized the surgery with the same surgeon/hospital I am requesting now after I created a Change.org petition. Now, I need FHHS to authorize this treatment and sign a single case contract with Dr. Sugarbaker/Washington Hospital Center again. Since they have set a precedent of treatment and clearly agreed with the points I raised in my appeal in 2012, I hope they will authorize this treatment once again.
My surgeon’s office has been attempting to obtain authorization in a timely manner prior to my surgery date of February 26th, 2014. Unfortunately, they have been given incorrect fax numbers, claims of numerous lost received faxes, and other roadblocks preventing us from receiving the authorization.
I am proud to have been a Florida Hospital employee for 3 years. I’ve been a registered nurse for over 10 years.  Through my work not only as a registered nurse but also in Information Technology, I strive to provide the best solutions for our patients. It’s time for Florida Hospital to “extend the healing ministry of Christ” to one of their own employees: Me. They can do this by signing a single case contract to let me have my life saving surgery to cure me of cancer.
Please sign my petition and help me once again to convince Florida Hospital Healthcare System to give me the same chance at beating cancer as they did in 2012.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

#NotOneMore


You helped make this powerful message unavoidabl​e

If you were in D.C., this ad was all over news sites, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Basically, all the places political offices have to monitor.”

That’s how our ad team described MoveOn members’ powerful ad campaign targeting decision makers in Washington, D.C. and state capitals across the country. The ad featured a call for action on gun violence from Richard Martinez, whose son was killed in the recent shooting at UC Santa Barbara.

This ad generated 8.1 million impressions in capital cities across the country in a week, including nearly 1 million in Washington, D.C. While not all of those “impressions” mean that someone watched the entire video, we do know that it was viewed thousands of times by government staffers and more than 600 times by members of the media.

Together, we’re working to make this powerful message unavoidable—to demand action in the face of the continued scourge of gun violence in communities across America. Sadly, in just the past few weeks, there have been multiple mass shootings since UCSB and countless individual gun deaths.

But passionate messages like Mr. Martinez’s can break through. As this video was being shared from coast to coast, MoveOn member and UCSB student Kyley Scarlet started a petition on gun violence to the Obama administration, and Vice President Joe Biden responded with a personal video message for students at the school.1

That’s why, no matter how frustrating this effort can be, we have to keep lifting our voices. If you haven’t already, please share the ad with everyone you know.

Thanks for all you do.

–Garlin, Jo, Nick, Alejandro, and the rest of the team

P.S. Have an idea for reducing gun violence in your community? Start your campaign today.

Sources:

1. “Vice President Joe Biden’s video message for UCSB graduates,” KCBX, June 11, 2014
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=299639&id=97504-17809870-5iignsx&t=4

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 8 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

A Win For Workplace Fairness


President Obama Just Announced The Single Largest Expansion Of LGBT Workplace Protections In Our Country’s History

Progress

As many as 9 out of 10 voters believe federal law already protects LGBT workers from discrimination. But it doesn’t. And while the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was passed by the Senate this year, it has stalled in the House; Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has made it clear that there is “no way” ENDA will pass this year.

Enter the latest chapter of the Obama Administration’s “year of action.” The White House announced today that President Obama will issue an executive order requiring that all companies who contract with the federal government must not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Think Progress reporter Zack Ford has the details:

The order, expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, is an extension of orders previously issued by past presidents — most recently Johnson — similarly banning employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin among all contractors and subcontractors who do over $10,000 in business with the government in any one year.

The protections will reach over one million LGBT workers across the country, making it the single largest expansion of LGBT workplace protections in our country’s history. There continue to be 29 states that offer no employment protections on the basis of sexual orientation and 32 with no protections based on gender identity, but many LGBT workers in those states will now have workplace protections for the first time ever. As many as 43 percent of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people and 90 percent of transgender people have experienced some form of harassment or discrimination in the workplace.

As with Obama’s executive order raising the minimum wage for employees of federal contractors to $10.10, this order will cover an enormous number of people but still relies on Congress to pass a law making sure that millions more LGBT Americans have the freedom to work.

Recently, some LGBT advocates have been giving second thoughts to the current ENDA bill in Congress, based on a religious liberty exemption that could have the potential interpreted too broadly. Here’s Zack Ford again:

The LGBT movement has also become increasingly divided over whether ENDA in its current form is worth pursuing. After two decades of failed consideration in Congress, the bill has been weakened by an exemption that would grant religious organizations unprecedented privilege to continue discriminating against LGBT people. A number of state groups and legal organizations have recently dropped their support for ENDA because they believe that the exemption goes too far and codifies into law the idea that LGBT identities are incompatible with faith. The executive order is thus an important step even if ENDA eventually passes.

BOTTOM LINE: Americans of any sexual orientation and gender identity should have the freedom to work and the right to equal treatment in the workplace. President Obama’s latest executive action is the biggest expansion of those rights in American history. There is more left to be done when it comes to giving all Americans equal protection, and Congress should follow the President’s lead by passing a federal law that ends unfair and discriminatory workplace practices that hurt LGBT workers and their families.

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