Tag Archives: Illinois

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My 4yo daughter shakes when she sees police


 

Change.org
My 4-year-old daughter was traumatized when police simulated a hostage crisis in our housing complex without warning residents. Tell HUD to stop allowing military-style trainings in public housing.
Sign My Petition

On March 21, my four year old daughter and her babysitter were trapped in our apartment in Albany, New York in the middle of a police drill to simulate a hostage situation. She woke up to flash grenades, assault rifles and real tear gas being used in our home. The police threatened my neighbors with arrest if they tried to leave.

I don’t disagree with the police providing training to their officers, but nobody in the complex, not even the tenants’ association, was warned about this drill. People thought it was real.

Last week, the Albany police department apologized for holding the training so close to occupied residences. But my daughter still shakes with fear when she sees the police and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which actually allowed the police to conduct the training in our community, hasn’t said anything.

I started a petition calling on HUD to pass a national policy to prevent public housing communities from being used as military-style training grounds. Click here to sign my petition now.

The Albany police department says that they chose our neighborhood, which is lower-income and mostly African American, for their training because they wanted it to be “more realistic.” I don’t think this ever would have happened in one of Albany’s wealthier neighborhoods.

This isn’t the first time this has happened, either. Similar exercises have happened in public housing in Illinois, Connecticut, Kentucky and Pennsylvania in the past two years and have even included fake bombs and helicopters.

Public housing is meant to help hardworking people like me build better lives for ourselves and our families through safe and stable communities. Allowing our homes to be used for war games is completely counter to HUD’s mission. That’s why I’m confident that HUD will tell local housing authorities not to allow trainings like these on HUD property — if the department hears from you and many others.

Click here to sign my petition now, calling on HUD to prevent public housing from being used for police or military trainings ever again.

Thank you.

Lauren Manning
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President Obama Speaks on American Energy


 
President Obama discusses the need to continue investing in American-made energy to help create jobs while further reducing our dependence on oil, better protecting consumers from spikes in gas prices, and reducing pollution. March 15, 2013.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Here’s how to know if you’d qualify for refinancing


The White House, Washington

Hello —President Obama’s plan to give mortgage relief to responsible homeowners boils down to one important principle. He wants to simplify the refinancingprocess.And the very first step is to let people know if they would benefit from the President’s proposal — so we’ve built a tool to help answer that question.Just enter a few basic facts about your mortgage, and this tool will help you figure out if you currently qualify for easy, low-cost refinancing — or whether, like millions of families, you need Congress to act to help you lower your interest rate.

Get started now.  

As tens of thousands of people have spoken up and written in to the White House, we’ve heard one message loud and clear: The refinancing process is anything but easy to navigate.

Even homeowners who have done everything right and made all their payments on time are getting caught up in unnecessary red tape. Sitting down and reading through some of these stories is a powerful reminder of why it’s so important that we get this done right away.

One mom in Maryland, raising two teenage boys by herself, wrote in to say that she’s working 15 hour days to make her mortgage payments and keep current on her bills. Another family from Illinois is hoping to lower their mortgage payments so they can help pay for college for their kids. One woman in Arkansas called the President’s plan a “no brainer” and talked about how much good it would do for the broader economy.

So if you are like these people and think that both you and our economy could stand to benefit from the President’s refinancing plan, give the tool a try, then take a moment to share it with your friends:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/refi

Thanks,

Brian

Brian Deese
Deputy Director
National Economic Council
Black History

Congress: the Republican led House back on 5/15 – the Senate considers Judicial nominees & HR2072,the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act.


the Senate Convenes: 2:00pmET May14, 2012

Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.

  • It is the Majority Leader’s intention to resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act on Monday. As a reminder to all Senators, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to H.R.2072 during Friday’s session.
  • At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following items:
  • Confirmation of the Russell nomination
  • Confirmation of the Tharp nomination and
  • Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act.

At approximately 5:30pm today, there will be up to 3 roll call votes in relation to the following items:

– Confirmation of Executive Calendar # 570 George Levi Russell, III, of Maryland, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Maryland;

– Confirmation of Executive Calendar #571 John Tharp, Jr., of Illinois, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois; and

– Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act.

5:30pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of the nomination of John J. Tharp, of IL, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois

5:43pm The Senate has reached an agreement to consider H.R.2072, Export-Import Bank Reauthorization. As a result, we were able to vitiate tonight’s cloture vote. The first judge in the series, George Levi Russell (Maryland) was confirmed by voice vote. The Senate is now voting on confirmation of the Tharp nomination (Illinois).

The agreement on Ex-Im is as follows:

At 11:15am, Tuesday, May 15th, the Senate will adopt the motion to proceed to Calendar #396, H.R.2072, an Act to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The only first degree amendments in order to the bill are the following:

– Lee #2100;

– Paul #2101;

– Corker #2102;

– Vitter #2103; and

– Toomey #2104.

No amendments are in order to any of the amendments prior to the votes. No motions or points of order are in order other than budget points of order and the applicable motions to waive. There will be up to two hours of debate to run concurrently on the amendments and the bill, equally divided, between the two Leaders, or their designees, prior to votes in relation to the amendments in the order listed. Upon disposition of the amendments, the Senate will proceed to vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended. There will be two minutes equally divided prior to each vote; and all after the first vote be ten minute votes. The amendments and passage of the bill are subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #571, the nomination of John J. Tharp, of IL, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District; Confirmed: 86-1

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.5652, Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012. (Republican request)

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #570, the nomination of George Levi Russell III, of MD, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland by voice vote

———————————————————————————————–

 

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on May 15, 2012.

House Hearings for 5/14

9:00 am Hearing: Joint Subcommittee Oversight Field Hearing on “Logs in the Road: Eliminating Federal Red Tape and Excessive Litigation to Create Healthy Forests, Jobs and Abundant Water and Power Supplies” Committee on Natural Resources: Multiple Subcommittees 2:00 pm Field Hearing: Honoring our Nation’s Veterans: Examining the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
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Congress: the Republican led House – both Chambers Back on 5/14 – the Senate will consider HR2072,the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act


the Senate will Convene at 2:00pmET May 14, 2012

  • Following the prayer and pledge, the Majority Leader will be recognized.
  • It is the Majority Leader’s intention to resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act on Monday. As a reminder to all Senators, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to H.R.2072 during Friday’s session.
  • At 4:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following items:
  • Confirmation of the Russell nomination
  • Confirmation of the Tharp nomination and
  • Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2072, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act.

—————-

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MAY 11, 2012

112TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

. -The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on May 15, 2012.11:03:23 A.M. -PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.11:03:01 A.M. -The Speaker announced approval of the Journal.  Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.11:01:34 A.M. -Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.11:01:22 A.M. -The Speaker designated the Honorable Steven C. LaTourette to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.11:00:59 A.M. -The House convened, starting a new legislative day