Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 5/2 ~~ the House


 

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The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, May 5, 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.

At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session and there will be up to 2 roll call votes:

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #575, Nancy L. Moritz, of Kansas, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit and

–        Confirmation of Executive Calendar #703 Peter A. Selfridge, of Minnesota, to be Chief of Protocol, and to have the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service.

During Thursday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.2262, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act.

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Last Floor Action:5/1
2:46:33 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on May 2, 2014.

12:00:18 P.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:00:34 P.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Steve Womack to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
12:00:56 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Cara Spaccarelli, Christ Church, Washington, DC.
12:01:55 P.M. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
12:02:00 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:02:38 P.M. The House received a communication from Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., Member of Congress. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Congressman Bishop of Georgia notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena, issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, for both documents and testimony in a civil case, and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he will determine whether compliance with the subpoena is consistant with the privileges and rights of the House.
12:03:12 P.M. The House received a communication from James E. Clyburn, Member of Congress. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Congressman Clyburn notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena, issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, for both documents and testimony in a civil case, and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he will determine whether compliance with the subpoena is consistant with the privileges and rights of the House.
12:03:47 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on May 6, 2014.

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Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS ~~ the House


WorldThe Senate stands adjourned until 9:30am on Thursday, May 1.

Following Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 11:15am, with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each, with the time equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.

At 11:15am, the Senate will proceed to a series of 3 roll call votes on the following motions:

  1. Cloture on Executive Calendar #591, Theodore David Chuang, of Maryland, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland
  2. Cloture on Executive Calendar #592, George Jarrod Hazel, of Maryland, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland
  3. Cloture on Executive Calendar #575, Nancy L. Moritz, of Kansas, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit

At 1:45pm, there will be up to 4 roll call votes on the following nominations:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #591, Theodore David Chuang, of Maryland, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #592, George Jarrod Hazel, of Maryland, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #730  Janice Marion Schneider, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior
  4. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #701 Suzan G. LeVine, of Washington, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Swiss Confederation, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Principality of Liechtenstein
  6. After the Senate convened, Senator Reid moved to proceed to S.2262, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitive Act of 2014
  7. 11:17am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #591, Theodore David Chuang, of Maryland,to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland.Invoked: 54-43
  8. At 11:45am, the Senate began a 10-minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Cloture on Executive Calendar #592, George Jarrod Hazel, of Maryland,to be U.S. District Judge for the District of MarylandInvoked: 55-42
  9. At 12:02pm, the Senate began a 10-minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Cloture on Executive Calendar #575, Nancy L. Moritz, of Kansas,to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Tenth CircuitInvoked: 60-38
  10. Senator Vitter asked unanimous consent that the Senate adopt the motion to proceed to S.2262, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014, that the only amendments be 5 unidentified Republican amendments related to energy policy; that each amendment be subject to a 60-affirmative vote threshold, andthatfollowingthe disposition of these amendments; the bill be read a third time and theSenateproceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended (with no limitation on debate for amendments or the underlying bill).Senator Durbin objected.
  11. 1:47pm The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #591, Theodore David Chuang, of Maryland,to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland;Confirmed: 53-42
  12. 2:12pm, the Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #592, George Jarrod Hazel, of Maryland,to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland;Confirmed: 95-0
  14. 2:29pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #730  Janice Marion Schneider, of New York,to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior;Confirmed: 64-32
  15. Executive Calendar #701 Suzan G. LeVine, of Washington, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Swiss Confederation, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Principality of Liechtenstein, was confirmed by voice vote
  16. The next votes will occur at 5:30pm on Monday, May 5 on the following nominations:
    1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #575, Nancy L. Moritz, of Kansas, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit
    2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #703 Peter A. Selfridge, of Minnesota, to be Chief of Protocol, and to have the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service
  17. Senator Paul asked unanimous consent the Committee on Foreign Relations be discharged from further consideration of S.2265, a bill to prohibitcertainassistance to the Palestinian Authority.Senator Menendez objected.
  18. Senator Reid filed cloture on the motion to proceed to S.2262,the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014. The cloture vote is expected to occur on Tuesday, May 6.
  20. WRAP UP
  21. Roll call votes1)     Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #591, Theodore David Chuang, of Maryland, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland; Invoked: 54-432)     Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #592, George Jarrod Hazel, of Maryland, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland;  Invoked: 55-42

    3)     Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #575, Nancy L. Moritz, of Kansas, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit; Invoked: 60-38

    4)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #591, Theodore David Chuang, of Maryland, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland; Confirmed: 53-42

    5)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #592, George Jarrod Hazel, of Maryland, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland; Confirmed: 95-0

    6)     Confirmation of Executive Calendar #730  Janice Marion Schneider, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior; Confirmed: 64-32

     

    Legislative items

    Began the Rule 14 process of S.2280, the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval bill (Hoeven-Landrieu-others) in order to place the bill on the Legislative Calendar.

     

    Additional Executive items

    Confirmed Executive Calendar #701 Suzan G. LeVine, of Washington, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Swiss Confederation, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Principality of Liechtenstein by voice vote. 

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  24. Last Floor Action:
    2:46:33 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on May 2, 2014.

Last Floor Action:
10:17:02 A.M. -H.R. 4487
DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 557, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Broun (GA) amendment No. 4.

9:00:30 A.M.  The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:33 A.M.  Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:01:51 A.M.  The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
9:01:56 A.M.  PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Norton to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:02:20 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.
9:12:35 A.M. H.R. 4487  Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 557. H.R. 4487 — “Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes.”
9:12:40 A.M. H.R. 4487  The resolution provides for 1 hour of general debate for both bills. For H.R. 4486, the resolution provides that the bill shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. For H.R. 4487, the resolution makes in order only those specified amendments printed in the report. The resolution provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions during consideration of each bill.
9:12:52 A.M. H.R. 4487  House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 557 and Rule XVIII.
9:12:52 A.M. H.R. 4487  The Speaker designated the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.
9:13:00 A.M. H.R. 4487  GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 4487.
9:50:17 A.M. H.R. 4487  An amendment, offered by Mr. Nugent, numbered 1 printed in House Report 113-426 to prohibit the CAO of the House of Representatives from making any payments from any Members’ representational allowance for the leasing of a vehicle, excluding mobile district offices and short-term vehicle rentals.
9:51:20 A.M. H.R. 4487  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 557, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Nugent amendment No. 1.
9:58:48 A.M. H.R. 4487  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Nugent amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mr. Nugent demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
9:59:20 A.M. H.R. 4487  An amendment, offered by Ms. Speier, numbered 2 printed in House Report 113-426 to appropriate $500,000 to provide for sexual harassment training for all House offices which will be carried out by the Congressional Office of Compliance. These funds are offset from the AOC General Administration fund.
9:59:21 A.M. H.R. 4487  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 557, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Speier amendment No. 2.
10:08:27 A.M. H.R. 4487  On agreeing to the Speier amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
10:09:48 A.M. H.R. 4487  An amendment, offered by Mr. Gosar, numbered 3 printed in House Report 113-426 to reduce the amount provided for the Botanic Garden to the fiscal year 2014 level and transfer the funds to the spending reduction account.
10:09:50 A.M. H.R. 4487  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 557, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gosar amendment No. 3.
10:16:41 A.M. H.R. 4487  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Gosar amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mr. Gosar demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
10:16:59 A.M. H.R. 4487  An amendment, offered by Mr. Broun (GA), numbered 4 printed in House Report 113-426 to reduce the funding for the Capitol Visitor Center by $243,000, returning it to FY14 levels.
10:17:02 A.M. H.R. 4487  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 557, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Broun (GA) amendment No. 4.

10:25:43 A.M. H.R. 4487  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Broun (GA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mr. Broun (GA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
10:26:06 A.M. H.R. 4487  An amendment, offered by Mr. Duffy, numbered 5 printed in House Report 113-426 to defund the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund.
10:26:10 A.M. H.R. 4487  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 557, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Duffy amendment No. 5.
10:36:05 A.M. H.R. 4487  On agreeing to the Duffy amendment; Failed by voice vote.
10:36:36 A.M. H.R. 4487  An amendment, offered by Mr. Hall, numbered 6 printed in House Report 113-426 to prohibit funds from being used to deliver a printed copy of the CAO’s Statement of Disbursements of the House to any Member of the House of Representatives.
10:36:38 A.M. H.R. 4487  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 557, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hall amendment No. 6.
10:39:40 A.M. H.R. 4487 On agreeing to the Hall amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
10:40:06 A.M. H.R. 4487  An amendment, offered by Mr. Wenstrup, numbered 7 printed in House Report 113-426 to prohibit funding for the delivery of printed copies of the Daily Calendar of the United States House of Representatives to member offices, as this document is accessible online.
10:40:08 A.M. H.R. 4487  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 557, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Wenstrup amendment No. 7.
10:43:23 A.M. H.R. 4487 On agreeing to the Wenstrup amendment; Agreed to by voice vote.
10:43:44 A.M. H.R. 4487  An amendment, offered by Mr. Holt, numbered 8 printed in House Report 113-426 to appropriate $2.5 million to re-institute the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), offset from funds in the House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund.
10:43:47 A.M. H.R. 4487  DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 557, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Holt amendment No. 8.
10:55:33 A.M. H.R. 4487  POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Holt amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mr. Holt demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
10:55:34 A.M. H.R. 4487  UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
11:27:57 A.M. H.R. 4487  On agreeing to the Nugent amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 196 – 221 (Roll no. 188).
11:33:27 A.M. H.R. 4487 On agreeing to the Gosar amendment; Agreed to by recorded vote: 219 – 198 (Roll no. 189).
11:37:50 A.M. H.R. 4487 On agreeing to the Broun (GA) amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 207 – 212 (Roll no. 190).
11:42:03 A.M. H.R. 4487  On agreeing to the Holt amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 164 – 248 (Roll no. 191).
11:42:14 A.M. H.R. 4487  The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4487.
11:42:49 A.M. H.R. 4487  The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
11:43:05 A.M. H.R. 4487 The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
11:43:40 A.M. H.R. 4487 Mr. Ruiz moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Appropriations.
11:43:54 A.M. H.R. 4487  DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ruiz motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to provide additional funds to hire Wounded Warriors and the Books for the Blind and Handicapped program.
11:54:57 A.M. H.R. 4487  The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.
12:03:43 P.M. H.R. 4487  On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 194 – 222 (Roll no. 192).
12:09:45 P.M. H.R. 4487  On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 402 – 14 (Roll no. 193).
12:09:46 P.M. H.R. 4487  Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
12:14:39 P.M.  COLLOQUY ON HOUSE SCHEDULE – The Chair recognized Mr. Hoyer for the purpose of engaging in a colloquy with Mr. Cantor on the expectations regarding the legislative schedule for the House during the upcoming week.
12:38:08 P.M.  Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 12:00 p.m. on May 2. Agreed to without objection.
12:38:40 P.M.  Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Friday, May 2, 2014, it adjourn to meet at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.
12:39:32 P.M.  ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
12:50:48 P.M.  SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

2:46:21 P.M. Mr. Gohmert moved that the House do now adjourn.
2:46:32 P.M. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
2:46:33 P.M. The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on May 2, 2014.

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In the Newsroom with Gov.Inslee ~~ April 2014


TumblrOrcasIsland featured pix is of orcas island

04/29/2014 – Gov. Inslee announces executive action to reduce carbon pollution and promote clean energy

 

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Colombia’s U’wa People Facing Violent Eviction


Amazon WatchURGENT – We are sending this critical update and call for support given signs the Colombian government is preparing to violently evict the U’wa indigenous people from their own territory. Amazon Watch is raising funds to bring two U’wa leaders (seen in this video) to the United States in mid-May so they can communicate their situation to the world in their own voice. They will attend the UN’s annual meeting of indigenous peoples in New York City and then carry out important advocacy meetings in Washington, DC. But we need your help to get them here!

A Tragedy Foretold?
Colombia’s U’wa People Facing Violent Eviction

Colombia's U'wa

The last time Colombian armed forces evicted an U’wa protest, it ended in tragedy. On February 11th, 2000, three indigenous children drowned in the Cubogón River as they fled helicopter-bound National Police. The U’wa were peacefully blocking a road and stopping materials for an oil exploration project, not miles from where they are currently camped out in La China.

This situation is at risk of repeating itself once again. Though the U’wa held high-level talks last Friday with the Colombian government, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Amylkar Acosta, stated this morning in a Caracol Radio interview that the government might declare a State of Emergency given that the shut-down of the Caño Limón pipeline is causing significant economic losses. Some 2.5 million barrels of oil have not been exported since the pipeline was bombed on March 25th, resulting in an estimated $8 million in daily revenue losses for the government.

Watch the video and read the rest here »

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Banned For Life …


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NBA Takes Decisive Action On Clippers Owner Donald Sterling After Racist Comments

The National Basketball Association has banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life, fined him $2.5 million, and urged the league’s Board of Governors to force a sale of the team. The decision was announced this afternoon in a news conference by NBA commissioner Adam Silver after confirming that it was in fact Mr. Sterling’s voice making racist comments on an audio recording that surfaced Saturday.

The ban will prevent Sterling from attending any of his team’s games or participating in any operations or personnel decisions. The $2.5 million fine is the “maximum allowable under the NBA’s constitution,” Silver said (it is really just a drop in the bucket for the billionaire Sterling). And the decision to force the sale of the team can only be made with the approval of three-fourths of the league’s owners, whose support Silver “fully expect[s]” to get.

Reaction to the initial comments came swiftly from across the sports world and beyond. NBA legend Michael Jordan — who is also the only current African American principal owner in the league — was “obviously disgusted” and “completely outraged”. Major advertisers dropped their Clippers sponsorships. President Obama chimed in to say, “when ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don’t really have to do anything, you just let them talk.”

The league’s decision today has been met with similar speed and almost universal acclaim. Numerous players voiced their support for the commissioner, including League MVP LeBron James:

Screen shot 2014-04-29 at 5.05.08 PM

The NBA Player’s Association, the union representing the players, held a press conference in which they universally praised the commissioner for showing “zero tolerance for institutional racism.” And other NBA owners, including Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who previously stated that efforts to remove Sterling from the league could be a “very very very slippery slope,” stood behind the decision “100%.”

But Donald Sterling has had a long history of charges of racial discrimination and sexual harrassment, which has caused some to ask why it has taken the NBA this long to act. Here is Travis Waldron at Think Progress:

Sterling’s racism is first and foremost an indictment of Sterling, and Silver should, on some level, be commended for taking strong action now. But as ESPN’s Bomani Jones so eloquently stated yesterday, the transgressions that went unnoticed and the implications of them are even bigger problems than Donald Sterling. And if we let this situation pass now without exploring why it took this long to hold him accountable and how we can address — or at least talk about — the litany of larger problems that Sterling both profited from and perpetuated, we will have accomplished far less from all of this than we could and should have.

BOTTOM LINE: Whether it comes from a rural rancher in Nevada or the owner of a major sports franchise in one of America’s biggest cities, racism clearly has no room in our culture. And given our country’s history, that’s progress. But we also must keep working to insist that discrimination — racial or otherwise — existing outside the spotlight is brought forward and treated with the same zero tolerance that we saw today.

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