Tag Archives: Congress

Flood Congress with Support for Climate Action

http://action.ucsusa.org << Take Action

Global warming emissions present a danger to public health—from worsening ozone pollution to hotter, longer heat waves and other types of extreme weather. For instance, heavy rain and floods are likely to get worse in a warming world, leaving us more and more vulnerable to health risks such as drowning and exposure to contaminated water.

Floods are one of deadliest and most expensive natural disasters in the United States. The average annual U.S. flood losses in the past 10 years were more than $10.2 billion. More than half of all waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States occur in the aftermath of heavy rain, and floodwaters may contain more than 100 types of disease causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites.

In order to protect our health from these effects of climate change, we must reduce global warming emissions now.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is on the verge of releasing draft standards that will limit global warming emissions from power plants under the Clean Air Act. Unfortunately, dirty energy companies and their allies in Congress are trying to block the EPA from moving forward with these historic standards.

Tell your members of Congress to protect our health from the effects of climate change and oppose any legislation that would block or delay the EPA’s ability to reduce global warming emissions under the Clean Air Act.

Take Action Today!

Sincerely,

Chrissy Elles
Outreach Associate
UCS Climate & Energy Program

~ my 2cents ...

TGIF … &some News

03/16/2012 Nativegrl77

just another rant …

The weather is just as mad as what is going on politically No.

With a couple of weeks into March, the countdown to March Madness … the NCAA championships has begun unless you are living under a rock. I was psyched about the tournament until the sad news that the Huskies would not be going to the big dance, but good to know that Gonzaga would be though. Gonzaga is not considered a threat Washington State is proud that they won their first game 74 – 54 WVU. The fun sort of fell out when band members from Mississippi were reported shouting racist things at a NCAA player named Angel; Angel is Puerto Rican and while he holding it down this band members shouted,”where is your green card”. I have to say that our young people learn from various sources one being home school and our environment. If this happened here, these kids would be suspended from band as they are representatives of their school, some probably have scholarships and could be revoked if due process is implemented. Where is the outrage? Payback came when Angel Rodriguez was the guy who helped his team win. So, let the madness commence. The crazy climate (changes) around the country should have all of our attention yet Republican politicians that “We the People” pay to do our business are climate deniers, evolution deniers and apparently, they deplore jobs bills, specifically #theAmericansJOBsACT. They continue, if you hadn’t noticed to ignore the President’s bills creating their own that obviously scale back progress, include nasty pills that hurt seniors, minorities, immigration, gays, women and voter rights. If you have been watching closely, Republicans on both the state and federal level have been playing a nasty game with the lives of so many Americans; creating and passing bills that will screw Americans on the State level or will never pass in the U.S. Senate. If it is not already obvious, Republicans do not have your best interests in mind. End Scene … imagine – a camera does a 360 with a wide shot of several women Senators from any state clearly flummoxed about Conscience versus Contraceptive rights, the VAWA and several other bills waging War on Women. What ensue are several weeks of vulgar vile and nasty bills forcing Women into 2nd Class citizenship in at least 30 states. This new reality is happening in the right month though. As the madness on the Senate floor reaches a new low with bills against contraceptives, women, minority’s seniors and student’s debates votes taken on S.1813, the Surface Transportation bill passes 74 – 22 but remember “as amended” with more amendments than some want. The question is will House Republicans do what is right or avoid the bill while time runs out on great construction jobs. There are just about 2weeks left to pass S.1813; if you have time call a member of Congress to let them know a vote against this bill is an expression against America.

In 2010, President Obama was in Philadelphia right around now talking about what HCR will do for everyone, what the exchanges will offer when implemented. Though, if you listened to the Media garbage back then, we were supposed to believe that it is his last ditch effort to push, jam, ram and or dupe Senators to get HCR through; contrary to what Republicans and or “the Media” says the debate on HCR took longer than a year. I don’t know about you but that hardly qualifies for ramming or rushing in my opinion. The biggest issue for me about HCR was that Congress did not listen to the people and of course, “the media” kept the public from hearing all of what HCR could do for you personally. Now, with staff shake-ups we find out that FOX was NOT the only station with a strategy to limit the information “We the People” received by station bigwigs like Murdoch and the Koch brothers. Finding out that the 24/7 news cycle is actually manipulated should make us all give pause and question what we see or hear on the television machine.

On March 26, the Supreme Court will begin to hear arguments to the Affordable Care Act. FYI, the Affordable Care Act case, scheduled to last for 3 days and we all need to demand access to the case.

Calling March mad because of college basketball is an established thing but considering the madness in the political air lately but the behavior from Republican members of Congress will probably make us all go beyond mad if they keep voting to repeal, eliminate, and replace all things public service only to privatize it all.

FYI Republicans, Women are not 2nd class citizens; we have jobs, handle our own businesses and our families needs. The idea that a group of socially conservative people have gone out of their way to misinform Americans including some smart folks are in positions of creating ludicrous laws while on the floor of Congress on both the State and Federal level and it should raise the outrage on all people who are sane – The War on Women is not silly

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell Congress: Don’t cut off our clean air …Union of Concerned Scientists

02/24/2012 Nativegrl77

Tell Congress: Don’t Cut Off Our Clean Air
As you know, last December, the Obama administration finalized historic standards to limit the amount of mercury and other toxic pollutants that power plants can spew into the environment. And now the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is on the verge of releasing draft standards that will reduce global warming emissions from power plants.

Both of these standards, which will protect our health and the environment, wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the life-saving Clean Air Act.

Unfortunately, this landmark piece of legislation and its health standards are under attack. Fossil fuel lobbyists and their allies in Congress are spreading false claims about the impacts of these standards on our economy. But protecting our health and the environment is the fiscally responsible thing to do.
The total value of the net benefits provided to Americans by the Clean Air Act since its inception is a staggering $51 trillion and counting.

Nevertheless, Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) has introduced legislation that will revoke the historic mercury and air toxics standard, and other members of Congress have announced their plans to block the EPA from reducing global warming emissions under the Clean Air Act.

The Clean Air Act has a 40-year track record of cutting dangerous pollution—all while providing a net economic benefit to the country. The historic mercury and air toxics standard and soon to be released draft standards that will reduce carbon from power plants will save lives and contribute to a much-needed transition to a clean energy economy.
Tell your members of Congress to stop attacking mercury and carbon standards—and stop cutting off our clean air.

Take Action Now!
Sincerely, Chrissy Elles Outreach Associate UCS Climate & Energy Program
P.S. Want to expose and challenge attacks on science, help reduce global warming emissions, and advance smart, practical clean energy and transportation solutions?

Become a member of the Union of Concerned Scientists today and help us meet our goal of 1,000 new members by February 29.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

You helped to extend the payroll tax cut

02/20/2012 Nativegrl77

Good afternoon–This week, thousands of folks have shared how $40 less in every paycheck would affect them if Congress didn’t extend the payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans.And it worked.This afternoon, lawmakers got this done. The President will sign that bill into law next week, and we’ve already invited some of the folks who shared their stories to come to the White Housewhen he does.The past few days have been a constant reminder of how incredible it can be when people from all walks of life join together to speak out. On Tuesday, we sat down with another group of Americans who added their voices to the debate, and they recorded a message just for you. It’s a powerful thing to watch.

There will be other fights in the weeks and the months ahead when the kind of engagement they’re talking about in this video could make all the difference. So check it out, then pass it along to anyone who is skeptical that real people can’t have an impact:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/40dollars/stories

Thanks, David

David Plouffe Senior Advisor to the President

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Contribute now to the Women’s Health Rapid Response Fund

02/15/2012 Nativegrl77

This is just unconscionable: Republicans in Congress are trying to make it legal for ANY employer to deny birth control coverage to their employees.

Yes, you read that right. Republicans are on track to give corporations the power to deny women access to health care.

The vote is set for this week — we must act IMMEDIATELY.

We must raise $50,000 by midnight tonight to get activists mobilized and ads up and running in Republican districts about this atrocious assault on women’s health care.

Will you contribute $3 or more right now to our urgent Women’s Health Rapid Response Fund?

We can’t afford to fall short and delay taking action for another day. Women across the country deserve to know that right-wing Republicans intend to take women’s health care back to the dark ages. Please give what you can today.

Rep. Diana DeGette

Co-Chair, Pro-Choice Caucus