~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

ABB Joins NYS Council on Women & Girls, Launches New Defending Democracy Project, & Wins Big in the States!


A Better Balance

 

ABB Joins First-Ever New York State Council on Women & Girls 

On August 2, Governor Cuomo announced the creation of the first-ever New York State Council on Women and Girls. ABB Co-President Dina Bakst is honored to serve on the Council’s Steering Committee, which is comprised of women leaders in academia, advocacy, business, and media. In addition to the Steering Committee, the Council is made up of the leaders of all New York State agencies, who are charged with ensuring every policy and program takes into account the experiences of women and girls. The Council will meet quarterly and focus on nine impact areas: education, economic opportunity, workforce equity, leadership, health care, child care, safety, STEM, and intersectionality. In January, the Trump administration disbanded the White House Council on Women and Girls. The New York State Council sends a strong message that women’s rights will not be overlooked in New York.
Know Your Rights: ABB’s Summer of Outreach & Education
This summer, ABB has been actively conducting outreach and education on a variety of topics impacting working families. August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and our staff has been spreading the word about nursing mothers’ rights in New York. ABB attorneys are conducting a series of trainings throughout New York City to educate pregnant women, new mothers, and birth professionals about breastfeeding rights.
We’ve also been ramping up our outreach efforts around paid family leave, as covered workers in New York State will be able to take paid family leave starting on January 1, 2018. These efforts have included trainings at the LGBT Center in Manhattan, focusing on how the paid family leave law specifically applies to LGBTQ families, and at the Manhattan VA Medical Center on key workplace rights for veterans and their caregivers including benefits that will be available to military caregivers under the paid family leave law. In addition to our efforts in New York, ABB also led a national webinar on recent developments around paid family and medical leave, featuring on-the-ground leaders from Washington State and Washington, D.C.
Finally, this month, Preston Van Vliet (shared staff person with Family Values @ Work) presented a workshop at the Family Week conference in Provincetown, Massachusetts about the need among LGBTQ parents for paid leave policies that are inclusive of every family, as well as an all-day workshop with Forward Together at the Western States Center’s Activists Mobilizing for Power conference in Portland, Oregon about the importance of inclusive family definitions for cross-movement, long-term advocacy.
Federal Watch
We’ve been paying close attention to the Trump administration’s and Congress’s attempts to roll back women’s rights, workers’ rights, and LGBTQ rights, threatening our core values of fairness and economic security for all families. Most recently we highlighted the administration’s restrictive definition of “close familial relationship” for the purposes of enforcing a travel ban on refugees and other people from six Muslim-majority countries; the devastating consequences repealing the Affordable Care Act would have had for women’s and maternal health; the Department of Justice’s disavowal of anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, and bisexual employees; and Donald Trump’s announced ban on transgender service members in the U.S. military. And we’ve been fighting back. We recently signed on to a letter opposing Congress’s attempt to limit collection of data from employers that helps to identify discriminatory pay practices. We will continue to keep the public informed about the latest challenges and developments in D.C. through our Federal Watchblog series.

 

Progress for Working Families in Massachusetts and Washington State 
On July 27, Governor Baker signed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) into law, making Massachusetts the 22nd state to ensure that pregnant workers do not have to choose between a paycheck and a healthy pregnancy. ABB worked closely with local advocates and lawmakers to make the PWFA a reality. Congratulations to our partners at MotherWoman, the coalition leading the PWFA effort in Massachusetts, and to all others who worked on this campaign!
We are continuing to work with advocates in Massachusetts to further progress for working families. Raise Up Massachusetts, the coalition we supported as they fought for and won paid sick days for the Bay State, recently filed for a 2018 ballot initiative to enact paid family and medical leave. We are proud to be part of this innovative effort to ensure that all working families can access the paid leave they need.
Washington State also achieved a significant victory for working families this summer. In July, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed the state’s new paid family and medical leave law. Washington is the sixth U.S jurisdiction to enact such a law and the third to do so in the last two years. Workers will be able to take leave under the law starting in 2020.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

the senate ~~ August 4,2017 Pro Forma Sessions &Tuesday,Sept 5,2017 ~~ the house


The Senate stands adjourned to convene for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted on the following dates and times:   Friday, August 4th at 9:45am; Tuesday, August 8th at 12:30pm; Friday, August 11th at 3:30pm; Tuesday, August 15th at 4:30pm; Friday, August 18th at 10:00am  MORE

Friday, August 25th at 11:30am;

Tuesday, August 29th at 2:30pm;  and

Friday, September 1st 3:00pm.

When the Senate adjourns on Friday, it will next convene at 3:00pm on Tuesday, September 5, 2017.

*********************************************************************

Last Floor Action:
11:02:41 A.M. – The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 481. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on August 29, 2017.

House Activity 8/25/2014

11:00:45 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:00:52 A.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Billy Long to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
11:01:08 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Rev. Vincent De Rosa St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Washington, D.C.
11:02:06 A.M. SPEAKER’S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – Pursuant to section 3(a) of H. Res. 481, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
11:02:29 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:02:41 A.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 481. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on August 29, 2017.

House Activity 8/22/2017

9:00:08 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:21 A.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Bob Goodlatte to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
9:00:44 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Rev. William Gurnee, St. Josephs on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC.
9:01:43 A.M. SPEAKER’S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – Pursuant to section 3(a) of H. Res. 481, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
9:01:55 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:02:40 A.M. Health Information Technology Advisory Committee – Pursuant to section 4003(e) of the 21st Century Cures Act (Public Law 114-255), the Democratic Leader appointed Mr. Arien Malec of Oakland, CA.
9:02:55 A.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 481. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on August 25, 2017.

House Activity 8/18/2017

10:00:01 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:14 A.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Jim Banks to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:00:33 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff, Retired Chaplain, U.S. Navy, Washington, D.C.
10:02:13 A.M. SPEAKER’S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – Pursuant to section 3(a) of H. Res. 481, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
10:02:23 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
10:02:47 A.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 481. The next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on August 22, 2017.

House Activity 8/15/2017

9:30:06 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:30:27 A.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Michael C. Burgess to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
9:30:42 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC
9:31:11 A.M. SPEAKER’S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – Pursuant to section 3(a) of H. Res. 481, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
9:31:48 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:32:41 A.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 481. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on August 18, 2017.

House Activity convenes 8/11/2017

9:00:33 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
9:00:49 A.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Scott Perry to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
9:01:02 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Rev. Alisa Lasater Wailoo, Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, Washington, DC
9:01:40 A.M. SPEAKER’S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – Pursuant to section 3(a) of H. Res. 481, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
9:03:20 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mrs. Comstock to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
9:04:09 A.M. H.R. 2288 Mrs. Comstock asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker’s Table and agree to the Senate amendment.
9:04:38 A.M. H.R. 2288 On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
9:04:39 A.M. H.R. 2288 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
9:04:58 A.M. H.R. 339 Mrs. Comstock asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker’s Table and agree to the Senate amendment.
9:05:21 A.M. H.R. 339 On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
9:05:22 A.M. H.R. 339 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
9:07:59 A.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 481. The next meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on August 15, 2017.

House Activity 8/8/2017

11:00:43 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:00:48 A.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Billy Long to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
11:00:49 A.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Scott W. Wilson, Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC
11:00:50 A.M. SPEAKER’S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – Pursuant to section 3(a) of H. Res. 481, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
11:01:26 A.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:01:36 A.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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 4, 2017, at 3:15 p.m.: That the Senate passed H.J. Res. 76.
11:02:55 A.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 481. The next meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on August 11, 2017.

House Activity 8/4/2017

1:00:02 P.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
1:00:21 P.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Andy Harris to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
1:00:51 P.M. Today’s prayer was offered by Rev. Roger L. Story, National Childrens Prayer Congress, Washington, DC.
1:02:23 P.M. SPEAKER’S APPROVAL OF THE JOURNAL – Pursuant to section 3(a) of H. Res. 481, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved.
1:02:39 P.M. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
1:03:41 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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 1, 2017, at 1:37 p.m.: That the Senate agreed to return the papers to the House at their request, H.J. Res. 76.
1:04:43 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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 2, 2017, at 12:40 p.m.: That the Senate passed S. 860, S. 190, S. 178, concurred in the House amendments to S. 114, and passed S. 582, S. 717, H.R. 2210, without amendment, H.R. 510, without amendment, H.R. 2288, with an amendment, H.R. 339, with an amendment, and H.R. 601, with amendments.
1:04:57 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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 3, 2017, at 9:22 a.m.: That the Senate passed S. 829, S. 81, S. 1282, and H.R. 3218, without amendment. Appointments: Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission.
1:05:15 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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 3, 2017, at 2:02 p.m.: That the Senate passed S. 581, S. 1052, S. 204, and H.R. 2430, without amendment.
1:06:20 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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 3, 2017, at 4:23 p.m.: That the Senate passed S. 765.
1:06:23 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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 3, 2017, at 4:54 p.m.: That the Senate passed S. 1616.
1:07:26 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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 4, 2017, at 9:53 a.m.: That the Senate passed S. 19, S. 96, S. 174, S. 134, S. 123, S. 88, S. 1182, S. 756, S. 1617, and agreed to S. Con. Res. 15, and passed S. 1141, S. 810, H.R. 374, without amendment, and H.R. 873, without amendment.
1:07:51 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 the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on August 4, 2017, at 12:13 p.m.: That the Senate passed S. 1099.
1:08:56 P.M. H.J. Res. 76 ENGROSSMENT CORRECTION – Unanimous consent was granted for the Clerk to make changes in the engrossment of H.J. Res. 76 that was placed at the desk. Agreed to without objection.
1:09:26 P.M. The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 481. The next meeting is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on August 8, 2017.

 

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

[Apply Now] Be a Part of the Movement. Join Us in Pittsburgh.


Watch a special panel with Vice President Gore and four Climate Reality Leaders.

My new film, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, was recently released in theaters across the United States. For two years, camera crews accompanied me around the world to visit areas greatly impacted by the climate crisis. From the melting ice sheets of Greenland to the flooded streets of Miami Beach, I saw time and time again how Mother Nature is calling out to remind us what will happen if we don’t take climate action now. And in places like the city of Georgetown, TX, which is moving to 100 percent renewable electricity, I also saw that so many have the will to step up and fight.

That’s why it’s imperative that we all do our part to protect our shared home. I’ve had the great privilege of personally training over 12,000 climate activists as part of our Climate Reality Leadership Corps program, which I’m happy to say is showcased in An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power. These activists have shown me what can happen when citizens take a stand, and every day, I’m amazed at their commitment and courage in educating their communities about the climate crisis and empowering them to take action.

Today, I’m excited to announce that we’ll be training our next group of activists at our 36th Climate Reality Leadership Corps Training in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from October 17-19, with support from the Heinz Endowments.

We’re at a critical moment in our movement’s history. In An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, you’ll also see what was happening behind the scenes at the UNFCCC’s COP 21, where 195 countries and parties agreed to the Paris Agreement. While nearly every other nation on Earth has committed to ending the climate crisis, the White House recently submitted its intention to withdraw the United States from the historic accord. This decision undermines America’s standing as a leader in the world and threatens to damage humanity’s ability to solve the climate crisis in time.

Make no mistake: if President Trump won’t lead, the American people will. We see this at every one of our Climate Reality Leadership Corps trainings – and we’ll see it again in Pittsburgh – where everyday activists commit to creating a better tomorrow for our planet.

Friends, learn how you can make a difference in your community and apply to join us at our next Climate Reality Leadership Corps Training in Pittsburgh from October 17-19.

My friends, it’s time to be inconvenient – our world depends on it.

With hope and gratitude,

Al Gore
Founder and Chairman
The Climate Reality Project

PS. Click here for your chance to take home a signed copy of my new companion book to An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.

politics,pollution,petitions,pop culture & purses