Tag Archives: Congress

“Give America A Raise”


By 

Obama Calls On Congress To Raise Minimum Wage, But States Aren’t Waiting

In his State of the Union speech last night, President Obama vowed to take action wherever he could to increase opportunity and create an economy that works for all Americans–with or without the help of Congress. For example, he announced that by executive action he will raise the minimum wage for federal contractors under new contracts to $10.10 per hour.

But raising the federal minimum wage for all Americans is in the hands of Congress, so he also made a direct pitch to those on the floor of the House chamber: “Join the rest of the country.  Say yes.  Give America a raise.”

We agree: Congress should join the rest of the country. Cities and states across the nation aren’t waiting for federal action, they are taking steps to raise wages for their workers right now:

EDITED_minimum_wages-03

BOTTOM LINE: Our country should continue to do everything it can to provide opportunity for those who work hard. Among many other benefits, raising the minimum wage will lift working families out of poverty, inject billions of dollars into the economy, and raise wages for an estimated 17 million women. States increasingly see this as a no-brainer, and Congress should too.

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 1/30 ~~ the House


matthew 25

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:00am on Thursday, January 30, 2014.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.1926, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act.

The time until 11:15am will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. The final 10 minutes will be equally divided and controlled between Senators Menendez and Toomey or their designees with Senator Toomey controlling the final five minutes.

At 11:15am, there will be up to 4 roll call votes in relation to the following:

– Toomey amendment #2707, as modified

– Coburn amendment #2697

– Merkley amendment #2709, as modified and

– Heller amendment #2700.

Following disposition of the Heller amendment, the Senate will recess until 2:00pm. At 2:00pm, there will be a roll call vote on passage of S.1926, as amended.  There will be two minutes of debate prior to each vote and all after the first vote will be 10 minutes in duration.

During Leader remarks, Senator Reid moved to proceed to Calendar #297, S.1950, a bill to improve the provisions of medical services and benefits to veterans. At 10:39am, the Senate resumed consideration of Calendar #294, S.1926, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014. The time until 11:30am will be equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees.

At 11:15am, there will be up to 4 roll call votes in relation to the following:

– Toomey amendment #2707, as modified (substitute);

– Coburn amendment #2697 (NARAB alternative);

– Merkley amendment #2709, as modified (forced planned insurance); and

– Heller amendment #2700 (state authority—private flood insurance).

Following the votes, the Senate will recess until 1:50pm  for the DPCC luncheon.

At 1:50pm the Senate will vote on the following:

–          Passage of S.1926, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, as amended.

All of the above listed votes are subject to majority vote thresholds. There will be 2 minutes for debate equally divided prior to each vote. All votes after the first will be 10 minute votes.

11:19am The Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on Toomey amendment #2707, as modified (substitute);

Not Agreed To: 34-65

11:49am The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Coburn amendment #2697 (NARAB alternative);

Not Agreed To: 24-75

Senator Merkley withdrew amendment #2709, as modified.

12:10pm The Senate began a 10 minute roll call vote on Heller amendment #2700 (state authority—private flood insurance

Not Agreed to: 49-50

At 1:55pm, the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on passage of S.1926, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, as amended.

Passed: 67-32

This will be the last vote of the week.

Senator Reid filed cloture on the conference report to accompany H.R.2642, the Farm bill.

By consent, the cloture vote will occur at 5:30pm, Monday, February 3rd.

If cloture is invoked, there will be 20 minutes remaining post-cloture at 2:15pm, Tuesday, February 4th, with the time equally divided between the two Leaders, or their designees.

Upon the use or yielding back of that time, all post cloture time will be considered expired and the Senate will proceed to vote on adoption of the conference report.

The Senate is considering the conference report to accompany H.R.2642, the Farm bill.

There will be no further roll call votes this week.

WRAP UP

Roll Call Votes

1)     Toomey amendment #2707, as modified (substitute) to S.1926, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act; Not Agreed To: 34-65

2)     Coburn amendment #2697 (NARAB alternative); Not Agreed To: 24-75

3)     Heller amendment #2700 (state authority—private flood insurance); Not Agreed to: 49-50

4)     Passage of S.1926, Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act of 2014, as amended; Passed: 67-32

Legislative Items

Adopted S.Res.342, designating February 3 through 6, 2014, as “National School Counseling Week”.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.1977, to repeal section 403 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, relating to an annual adjustment of retired pay for members of the Armed Forces under the age of 62, and to provide and offset (Ayotte and others) in order to place the bill on the Legislative Calendar.

No Executive Items

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

Last Floor Action:
12:31:09 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on January 31, 2014.

Mayor Bill de Blasio …


Climate


Dear friends across the US,

The world is about to sign up to a 100% clean energy future! But the goal to completely cut carbon is at risk at the Lima climate talks. Let’s flood negotiators with messages now to make sure they know the world is watching, and to stand strong for climate action!

SEND A MESSAGE

Something huge is happening this week — our governments are about to set a goal to cut carbon pollution completely, putting us on a path to 100% clean energy! This target is now in the draft Global Climate Agreement, but it is at risk.

Right now, Ministers from all over the world are on their way to Lima, Peru to hammer out the agreement. But oil, coal and fracking companies, and countries that want to keep polluting are lobbying hard to pull this crucial target from the text. That’s where we come in.

People power forced through this crucial goal, now we have to protect it! If we don’t, scientists are clear — catastrophic and runaway climate change is inevitable. Our best chance of blocking back-room deals with polluters is bombarding our Ministers with thousands of messages.

If enough of us act, they’ll know they’re being watched and expected to stand strong for the goal of 0 carbon, and 100% clean energy. Send your message now! 

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/lima_summit_100_clean_us/?biEWLbb&v=49777

The Avaaz team is on the ground and will ensure each country’s delegate and media know how many messages have been sent per country, and our messages could even be projected onto screens right in the conference hall and hand delivered to Ministers.

Long time climate activists are saying there is more hope for action now than ever! After hundreds of thousands of us took to the streets in September demanding climate action, the EU, US and China finally started to move in the right direction. Getting their commitment to reduce carbon pollution to zero would be a massive step forward. Let’s lock in this progress before the lobbyists can unravel it. Send a message now:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/lima_summit_100_clean_us/?biEWLbb&v=49777

For years we’ve been campaigning for climate action. And now our governments are finally moving in the right direction, but the stakes could not be higher, and what happens next will depend on us. Let’s do everything we can to win the deal we need to save the world!

With hope,

Alice, Iain, David, Emily, Laura, Oscar, Fatima, Ricken and the whole Avaaz team

MORE INFORMATION

UN climate talks begin as global temperatures break records (BBC)
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30225511

Prior to climate deal, talks begin in Peru (Times of India)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/global-warming/Prior-to-climate-deal-talks-begin-in-Peru/articleshow/45341101.cms

Will Lima climate talks pave way for a binding treaty in Paris in 2015? (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/dec/01/will-lima-climate-talks-pave-way-for-a-binding-treaty-in-paris-in-2015

Cautious optimism as delegates descend on Lima ahead of UN climate talks (ABC News)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-30/five-things-to-know-about-lima-climate-talks/5929290

Bigger lie: Keystone jobs or climate hoax?


NextGen ClimatePolitifact has announced its annual “Lie of the Year” nominees, and this year they have two whoppers we think deserve special recognition.
One claims that climate change is a hoax; the other overstates the economic impact of Keystone XL. And Politifact is letting you vote on which one should be honored as the Lie of the Year.
Call out these distortions by voting for 2014’s Lie of the Year.
When Transcanada CEO Russ Girling claimed that the Keystone XL pipeline would create 42,000 “ongoing, enduring jobs,” he was clearly warping the findings of a report that stated that the pipeline will only create 35 direct, permanent jobs.
Congressional candidate Lenar Whitney gets a nod for her campaign video entitled “Global Warming is a Hoax,” which went so far as to claim that the Earth is cooling.
The Lie of the Year is a widely-referenced distinction that discredits falsehoods in newspapers across the country. Help us call out climate change deniers by voting for one of these bold-faced lies.
Thank you,
Jesse Thomas
Digital Director
NextGen Climate