~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Drought and its Effects on Your Family

02/28/2014 Nativegrl77

Photo: flickr/kecko

With no sign of rain, 17 rural communities in California providing water to 40,000 people are in danger of running out within 60 to 120 days. Thinking that drought isn’t having an impact on your family? Consider your food supply, drinking water and the fuel to the spread of fire.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

A brighter future

02/28/2014 Nativegrl77

Aubrey and Foster seem like typical kids.

Aubrey, a seventh grader, is a brilliant musician with a stunning voice. Foster is in the first grade and has an uncharacteristic tenderness for his age.

What you can’t see behind their bright smiles and fun dispositions is that their family is struggling with hunger.

I’m writing you today so that we can ensure that Aubrey and Foster’s futures remain bright.

You see, before their parents split up, they lived in a large, comfortable home in Denver without needing to worry about food. As a working mother, I know how challenging and worrying it can be to raise two active children. Now that Aubrey and Foster’s mom, Natasha, is left with the heavy responsibility of supporting her children on her own, she is struggling to provide Aubrey and Foster with the food essential to their success. She finally had to face the fact that she had to seek help and was relieved to find support through their school meals program.

What I want you to understand about Aubrey and Foster’s story is that school meals — breakfast and lunch — bridge a gap in their family, ensuring the kids have all the food they need to succeed.

That’s why we’re turning to No Kid Hungry team members like you.

Please help feed hungry kids like Aubrey and Foster by giving to No Kid Hungry today.

No Kid Hungry is working across all 50 states to make sure kids like Aubrey and Foster are connected to effective nutrition programs like school breakfast and summer meals. And we’re also making sure that working parents like Natasha are empowered to stretch their food budget so their kids get healthy meals at home. This work starts with you — today.
Please show your support with a gift to No Kid Hungry. I’m grateful for all that you do to create bright futures for hungry kids like Aubrey and Foster.

Sincerely,

Lindsey Spindle

Chief Communications & Brand Officer

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

six

Image 02/28/2014 Nativegrl77

Black History

the Senate CONGRESS 2/28 the House

02/28/2014 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, March 3, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #659, the nomination of Debo P. Adegbile, of New York, to be an Assistant Attorney General with up to 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form.

At 5:30pm, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Adegbile nomination.

During Thursday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on the following items in the following order. The number of post-cloture debate hours for each nominee is in parenthesis.

– Executive Calendar #659, Debo Adegbile to be Assistant Attorney General (8 equally-divided hours);

– Executive Calendar #568, Pedro A. Delgado Hernandez to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Puerto Rico (2 equally-divided hours);

– Executive Calendar #569, Pamela Reeves to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee (2 equally-divided hours);

– Executive Calendar #565, Timothy Brooks to be U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas (2 equally-divided hours);

– Executive Calendar #571, Vince Chhabria to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California (2 equally-divided hours);

– Executive Calendar #636, Rose Gottemoeller to be Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security (8 equally-divided hours); and

– Motion to proceed to Legislative Calendar #309, S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant.

As a reminder, when cloture is filed sequentially on several items, the Senate will consider one motion at a time. If cloture is invoked on the Adegbile nomination, there would be up to 8 hours for debate equally divided prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. If cloture is not invoked or upon disposition of the nomination, the Senate would immediately proceed to the cloture vote on the Hernandez nomination. If cloture is invoked on the Hernandez nomination, there would be up to 2 hours for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nomination. Upon disposition of the Gottemoeller nomination, the next vote will be on cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1086, the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act. We hope to vitiate the cloture motion and adopt the motion to proceed by consent and begin legislating on the bill.

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

Last Floor Action:
1:30:46 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on March 3, 2014.

Last Floor Action: 2/28
11:58:58 A.M. – SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

9:00:17 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:29 A.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Randy Hultgren to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
9:00:41 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
9:01:58 A.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
9:02:00 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Ms. Ros-Lehtinen to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:02:18 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.
9:16:28 A.M.	H.R. 899	Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 492. H.R. 899 — “To provide for additional safeguards with respect to imposing Federal mandates, and for other purposes.”
9:16:33 A.M.	H.R. 899	Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 899. The resolution provides for one hour of debate. The resolution makes in order only those amendments printed in the report. The resolution provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
9:17:09 A.M.	H.R. 899	House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 492 and Rule XVIII.
9:17:10 A.M.	H.R. 899	The Speaker designated the Honorable Randy Hultgren to act as Chairman of the Committee.
9:17:19 A.M.	H.R. 899	GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 899.
10:03:15 A.M.	H.R. 899	An amendment, offered by Mr. Cummings, numbered 1 printed in House Report 113-362 to strike section 5 of the bill, which would eliminate the current exemption from the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act for certain independent agencies.
10:04:03 A.M.	H.R. 899	action_description> DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 492, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cummings amendment No. 1.
10:08:31 A.M.	H.R. 899	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Cummings amendment No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Cummings demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
10:08:48 A.M.	H.R. 899	An amendment, offered by Mr. Connolly, numbered 2 printed in House Report 113-362 to ensure that other impacted entities, such as public interest organizations, are provided any opportunity for consultation afforded to the private sector under the Act.
10:09:45 A.M.	H.R. 899	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 492, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Connolly amendment No. 2.
10:17:37 A.M.	H.R. 899	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Connolly amendment No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Connolly demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
10:17:56 A.M.	H.R. 899	An amendment, offered by Ms. Jackson Lee, numbered 3 printed in House Report 113-362 to add Section 14 to the bill to clarify that the requirements of UMRA as amended by this Act do not apply if a cost-benefit analysis demonstrates that the benefits of the regulatory action exceed its costs.
10:18:56 A.M.	H.R. 899	DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 492, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 3.
10:27:59 A.M.	H.R. 899	POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 3, 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 adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.
10:56:38 A.M.	H.R. 899	On agreeing to the Cummings amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 185 – 224 (Roll no. 86).
11:00:57 A.M.	H.R. 899	On agreeing to the Connolly amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 194 – 216 (Roll no. 87).
11:05:24 A.M.	H.R. 899	On agreeing to the Jackson Lee amendment; Failed by recorded vote: 180 – 232 (Roll no. 88).
11:05:33 A.M.	H.R. 899	The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 899.
11:05:58 A.M.	H.R. 899	The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
11:07:07 A.M.	H.R. 899	Mr. Garcia moved to recommit with instructions to Oversight and Government.
11:07:31 A.M.	H.R. 899	DEBATE – The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Garcia 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 create an exception for any regulatory action that (1) provides hiring preferences and jobs for veterans; (2) protects patient safety in hospitals and nursing homes; (3) lowers the overall cost of health care, including out-of-pocket costs for consumers; or (4) protects communities from natural disasters and helps them rebuild in the event of a natural disaster.
11:25:44 A.M.	H.R. 899	On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 192 – 218 (Roll no. 89).
11:32:08 A.M.	H.R. 899	On passage Passed by recorded vote: 234 – 176 (Roll no. 90).
11:32:09 A.M.	H.R. 899	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
11:34:56 A.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.
11:53:50 A.M.		Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Friday, February 28, 2014, it adjourn to meet at 12 p.m. on Monday, March 3, 2014, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.
11:54:16 A.M.		ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
11:58:58 A.M.		SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

1:30:35 P.M.		Mr. Hoyer moved that the House do now adjourn.
1:30:45 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
1:30:46 P.M.		The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on March 3, 2014.

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

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Iron Man …

02/27/2014 Nativegrl77

We Might Be Building Iron Man

Yesterday, President Obama announced new public-private manufacturing innovation institutes — one in Chicago and one in the Detroit area — that will help attract the types of high-quality jobs that a growing middle class requires.

But the President had another announcement, too:

I’m here to announce that we’re building Iron Man. I’m going to blast off in a second… this has been a secret project we’ve been working on for a long time. Not really. Maybe. It’s classified.

Find out more about yesterday’s announcement and Iron Man. Maybe.

President Barack Obama delivers remarks announcing two new public-private Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, and launches the first of four new Manufacturing Innovation Institute Competitions, in the East Room of the White House, Feb. 25, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Get Your Popcorn Ready! It’s the First-Ever White House Film Festival

On Friday, February 28, the White House is hosting the first-ever Student Film Festival, featuring the work of more than a dozen young filmmakers who created short films celebrating the role of technology in the classroom.

In celebration of the fourth anniversary of Let’s Move!, the First Lady and comedian Will Ferrell hosted a “focus group” with young kids to ask them about eating healthy and being active. Watch what they had to say.

This weekend, governors from across the nation gathered in Washington, D.C. for the 2014 National Governors Association Winter Meeting. During the meeting, the President reiterated his desire to work closely with the governors in order to make their states — and our nation as a whole — even better.

READ MORE