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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Republicans Block Democrats’ Efforts To Hold BP Accountable — GOP Leaving Taxpayers On The Hook For Bailing Out BP May 18, 2010

05/18/2010 Nativegrl77

Today, Democrats took to the floor to explain the urgent need to pass this legislation to hold BP accountable and protect the American taxpayer, but Republicans blocked us for a second time in less than a week. Excerpts of Democrats’ remarks today are below.

By blocking Democrats’ 2nd attempt to pass the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act – which would ensure BP pays for the full cost of its disastrous negligence by raising the outdated liability cap from $75 million to $10 billion – Republicans are leaving American taxpayers on the hook for bailing out BP.

Nevada Senator Harry Reid: “The fundamental principle behind the Wall Street bill we’ll finish this week is accountability. Those who created the mess bear the responsibility for cleaning it up. One of its most important provisions promises taxpayers they will never again be asked to bail out a big corporation that acted recklessly and put our economy at risk. When it comes to the ongoing catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, our motivation is no different… We have to put our foot down and make clear that taxpayers will not pick up the tab. I will do everything in my power to make sure the polluters pay the price.”

New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez: “After all, BP’s profits amounted to $5.6 billion for the first three months of this year. Profits, not proceeds. Profits. That breaks down to $94 million in profits each and every day. That means their current damages liability under the law of $75 million is less than one day’s profits. Less than one day’s profits… But they want taxpayers to bail them out when they spill. It’s fundamentally wrong. Our bill is as simple as it gets. It says no bailout for BP. It says BP pays for its own mess, not the nation’s taxpayers. It says you either want to fully protect the small businesses and communities devastated by the spill or you want to protect multibillion dollar oil companies from being held fully accountable.”

Florida Senator Bill Nelson: “We are looking at a gargantuan economic and environmental disaster facing this nation but particularly those states on the gulf coast and the Atlantic seaboard… The places like the sugary white beaches of northwest Florida, where I will be this Friday, where already the cancellations are coming right and left as their tourist season starts, and hotels that would normally have 85% occupancy are less than 20% occupancy. You see the economic consequences from this… For the life of me, I can’t understand someone objecting as they are going to do in raising an artificial limit of $75 million, up to at least $10 billion, and it’s probably going to exceed $10 billion. But the argument you’re going to hear is they are going to say oh, it shouldn’t be this, it ought to be tied to profit. Now, is it really responsible public policy to say that because of a company makes less money that it should be responsible for less damage? No.”

New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg: “And we’re going to see here today, as we saw the other day, a response from the other side, and I hope that they have the courage, the guts to stand up here and say where were the ordinary American taxpayers, or maybe we like the other guys better, maybe we like big oil better. Will the United States Senate stand with fishing industries and hard-working men and women who make a living providing sustenance to our nation, or will it continue its stand with big oil?… Our colleagues, they stayed true to the oil companies, they stood up and they wanted to make sure that they blocked any attempt to pass a bill that would raise the liability. So here we are back today again to urge our colleagues to stand up for the American taxpayers who are sick and tired of bailouts.”

Washington Senator Patty Murray: “Now, Mr. President, the questions are: who should be responsible for this cleanup? Who should bear the burden for big oil’s mistakes? Should it be the taxpayers, families and small business owners who are already being asked to bear so much today? Or should it be BP, the company that is responsible for this spill and that made $6.1 billion in profits in the first three months of this year alone? Mr. President, I cosponsored the prevention act because, to me the answer’s pretty clear. I believe that BP needs to be held accountable for the environmental and economic damage of this spill, and I’m going to continue to fight to make sure that our taxpayers do not end up using a single dime to pay for the mess this big oil company created. To me, this is an issue of fundamental fairness. If an oil company causes a spill, they should be the one to pay to clean it up, not the taxpayers.”

Maryland Senator Ben Cardin: “As Senator Murray has said and Senator Menendez has said and Senator Nelson has said, it’s basically whose side you’re on. Who should pay for this disaster? Should it be the taxpayers of this country? Should it be the small business owners whose livelihood is now in jeopardy? Should it be the property owners who are going to suffer damage? No. It should be BP oil and its affiliates. That’s what the Menendez bill does. It places responsibility on the appropriate party. BP should pay.”

Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar: “I recently saw firsthand the miles and miles of oil slick in the gulf coast. The scope of the disaster is staggering. This should not threaten the entire coast of our country. But beyond that, potentially, if they close the port of New Orleans, you think of the effect on Minnesota, if the oil keeps spreading the effect it will have on other parts of the country. I don’t think the taxpayers of this country should have to pay for that. That is why I support the Big Oil Bailout Prevention Act, which will ensure that the current liability act for a single oil spill will not apply to the gulf coast oil disaster. It will make sure that BP, which flaunted its record profits of $6 billion in the first-quarter of this year alone, that they pay for this. And the taxpayers of this country which are already burdened with the costs of the difficult times of this economy and what wall street has done that they are not stuck with the bill here.”

Senate Democrat Newsroom

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Weekend News/Reviews

05/16/2010 Nativegrl77

It’s Sunday and as most of us wake up, turn on the tv we see news of incredible turmoil and violence in Bangkok that appears to be all about control .. shouldn’t we all be able to protest without getting shot? i know, but i still wonder why can’t things be done differently.

Talkingheads are talking Primaries coming up this Tuesday ; we are at a time when people need to decide… the choice of taking Political sides… history shows that Republicans have questionable behavior; it also has to be understood what would happen if anyone from the Tea Party is voted into Political Office to represent We the People; when in fact the tea party people do not represent all the people only a select few and that does not include people of colour in my opinion. In some cases Republican Politicians have made comments that suggest women need to stay in the kitchen and off the floor of Congress. It’s an obvious choice to me because Republicans practice exclusion; say they want less govt but go to Wall Street, Big Banks, AIG and big Oil Corp for money to support them; even our Supreme Court has helped Republicans and that move to legally deem corporations and individuals equal

The idea of hearing Sarah Palin talking is bad enough but when she gets out there and gets paid… This woman is hardly qualified to be speaking for anyone … she is an ex-Gov of Alaska who apparently couldn’t finish out her job and some in Alaska do feel she abandoned them is now trying to tell the President what to do and campaigning for anti-abortion? it’s offensive to hear her talk, it’s offensive for her to be out there taking money to say negative things about other Politicians when she is a Political quitter herself; it’s offensive to think she honestly feels she is a supporter of Women or Family; because clearly she is not, WHY? includes all things effect by families: her inability to separate Church from State, a right to choose, English or else? marriage for all people, how did she do among blacks and 1st nation families in Alaska and immigration will affect women and their families.

Today the Gulf Coast Benefit is being held all day and headliners involved and performing include: Lenny Kravitz, Mos Def, Neville Brothers and more …

The BP effort to plug up a siphon tube is starting to work and is it just me or did anyone else feel strange watching all those fisherman standing in line getting pay checks? especially after the interviews, it definitely felt like some were getting better deals than others … pitting them against each other is just wrong and like some of them said… they? whoever can rectify the problem needs to start rotating boats … everyone should get a piece of the action … speaking of action … there should not be a small print clause about what happens … the people there still should and expect more … contracts with a no lawsuit clause are just wrong.

I get why they are using dispersants but the definition doesn’t get lost on me either …where will the oil plus poison go after being dispersed … EPA?

immigration … Gov Brewer has made a choice to go after the President and we all must remember how Brewer got her job and after looking at her FB page the idea of the ole bait and switch came to mind; not only was she considered sane at some point she was appointed to Obama’s federal council of governor’s panel, had many ideas that seem good in writing yet one has to wonder …is it power, politics and control that is making Arizona an example of how not to act if you truly are an American? or is it

Other News …

**Banks cut Emergency lending from Fed

**44thou Military Helmets recalled due to design problems

**California’s bleak financial outlook has deep cuts coming to social programs

**PBuchanan has it out for Jews? very offensive

**BP efforts to plug siphon tube is starting to work at this time

**All those near Oklahoma need to stay away as a tornado headed or is there… if you are near underground facility get there now

**UK is going to be closing airports again as the Volcano spews ash

**NCarolina… Republican territory has about a $788mil deficit,will be slashing teachers

**Feds approve of dispersals

**Former Mexican Senator is missing

C-SPAN

Monday at 2:30pm (ET) on C-SPAN
Senate Hearing on the Response to the Gulf Coast Oil Spill

Gregg: GOP Not Trying to Stop Financial Reform

On C‑SPAN’s Newsmakers, Budget Committee Ranking Member Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) clarified that Republicans were not interested in stopping financial reform but hoped their amendments could improve the bill. In particular, he went over Republican efforts to change the bill’s language regarding derivatives, saying the current bill will hamper the “nation’s ability to be resilient and economically competitive.”

Newsmakers: On C-SPAN at 10am and 6pm ET

Entire Interview Now on c-span.org

It’s Saturday … and as the weather heats up so does the political climate all over the country; what with primaries, laws that legalize racial profiling, Arizona is out of control … laws like the birther, the shoes please and now a ban on Ethnic Studies, reports of American troops leaving Haiti completely; troop numbers dropped to 900 and will drop again to 500 in June, a group of national business lobbyists in Florida want to take away health care from fellow Americans have joined in a suit against the new law of the land, capping that oil dump on the Gulf Coast, which, if you watched the hearings last week; it was the other guys fault show and continues to play itself out on national tv like the 3 stooges, only it wasn’t funny at all; it was offensive.

The President stated that watching them fall all over each other to blame and or point fingers at the other was offensive. We the People got the impression there was a whole lot of bad acting going on; 3 huge Corporations pretending to care but in the end seem to be standing firm on the liability cap amount and willing to waive the costs to taxpayers with the help of Republicans and some conserva-dems… how much more can Americans take. This oil dump will take a toll on every aspect of life on the Gulf Coast and includes oil drilling as well so … alternatives need to be started asap.

Other News …

**Striking at a lucrative bank business, the Senate on Thursday voted to force credit card companies to reduce fees for debit card transactions and permit merchants to offer customer discounts based on their payment method. The 64-33 vote inserted the fee requirement in a package of new financial rules the Senate is considering to ward off a repeat of the financial crisis.cbsnews

**Npr is reporting that McFarlane and her drains/bridges have helped save Haiti

**A joint lawsuit led by Florida, now 20 states was filed on March 23 by mostly Republican attorneys general.

Congress close to deal to pay for tax cutsCongress is finally getting around to extending more than 50 popular tax breaks that expired at the end of last year, including money savers for homeowners, businesses and shoppers in states with no income tax. Lawmakers want to raise taxes on investment fund managers to help cover the cost.

**The ban on Ethnic Studies could force Arizona int losing 10% in federal funds;Arizona plans to force schools to comply or be punished? State or Fed funds should be withheld immediately

**Feds/Justice Dept opens up criminal investigation regarding WVA underground mine

C-SPAN …

Today at 7pm (ET) on C-SPAN
America and the Courts: Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference Panel Moderated by U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan

President Obama Police Ceremony

Pres. Obama on Oil Spill

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar

Pres. Obama’s Weekly Address

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Five hidden dangers of Facebook (Q&A) by CBS Interactive staff

05/14/2010 Nativegrl77

Facebook claims that it has 400 million users. But are they well-protected from prying eyes, scammers, and unwanted marketers?

Not according to Joan Goodchild, senior editor of CSO (Chief Security Officer) Online.

She says your privacy may be at far greater risk of being violated than you know, when you log onto the social-networking site, due to security gaffes or marketing efforts by the company.

Facebook came under fire this past week, when 15 privacy and consumer protection organizations filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, charging that the site, among other things, manipulates privacy settings to make users’ personal information available for commercial use. Also, some Facebook users found their private chats accessible to everyone on their contact list–a major security breach that’s left a lot of people wondering just how secure the site is.

In two words, asserts Goodchild: not very.

On “The Early Show on Saturday Morning,” Goodchild spotlighted five dangers she says Facebook users expose themselves to, probably without being aware of them:

Your information is being shared with third parties
Privacy settings revert to a less safe default mode after each redesign
Facebook ads may contain malware
Your real friends unknowingly make you vulnerable
Scammers are creating fake profiles

Below is an edited transcript of the interview.

Is Facebook a secure platform to communicate with your friends?
Here’s the thing: Facebook is one of the most popular sites in the world. Security holes are being found on a regular basis. It is not as inherently secure as people think it is, when they log on every day.

Certainly, there are growing pains. Facebook is considered a young company, and it has been around a few years now. It is continuing to figure this out. They are so young, they are still trying to figure out how they are going to make money. It is hard to compare this to others; we have never had this phenomenon before in the way [so many] people are communicating with each other–only e-mail comes close.

The potential for crime is real. According to the Internet Crime Complaint Center, victims of Internet-related crimes lost $559 million in 2009. That was up 110 percent from the previous year. If you’re not careful using Facebook, you are looking at the potential for identity theft, or possibly even something like assault, if you share information with a dangerous person you think is actually a “friend.” One British police agency recently reported that the number of crimes it has responded to in the last year involving Facebook climbed 346 percent. These are real threats.

Lately, it seems a week doesn’t go by without some news about a Facebook-related security problem. Earlier this week, TechCrunch discovered a security hole that made it possible for users to read their friends’ private chats. Facebook has since patched it, but who knows how long that flaw existed? Some speculate it may have been that way for years.

Last month, researchers at VeriSign’s iDefense group discovered that a hacker was selling Facebook usernames and passwords in an underground hacker forum. It was estimated that he had about 1.5 million accounts–and was selling them for between $25 and $45.

And the site is constantly under attack from hackers trying to spam these 400 million users, or harvest their data, or run other scams. Certainly, there is a lot of criticism in the security community of Facebook’s handling of security. Perhaps the most frustrating thing is that the company rarely responds to inquiries.

Do people really have privacy on Facebook?
No. There are all kinds of ways third parties can access information about you. For instance, you may not realize that, when you are playing the popular games on Facebook, such as FarmVille, or take those popular quizzes–every time you do that, you authorize an application to be downloaded to your profile that gives information to third parties about you that you have never signed off on.

Does Facebook share info about users with third parties through things such as Open Graph?
Open Graph is a new concept for Facebook, which unveiled it last month at its F8 conference. It actually is basically a way to share the information in your profile with all kinds of third parties, such as advertisers, so they can have a better idea of your interests and what you are discussing, so Facebook can–as portrayed–“make it a more personal experience.”

The theory behind Open Graph–even if it has not implemented it–is its whole business model, isn’t it?
That is the business model–Facebook is trying to get you to share as much information as possible so it can monetize it by sharing it with advertisers.

Isn’t it in Facebook’s best interest to get you to share as much info as possible?
It absolutely is. Facebook’s mission is to get you to share as much information as it can so it can share it with advertisers. As it looks now, the more info you share, the more money it is going to make with advertisers.

Isn’t there also a security problem every time it redesigns the site?
Every time Facebook redesigns the site, which [usually] happens a few times a year, it puts your privacy settings back to a default in which, essentially, all of your information is made public. It is up to you, the user, to check the privacy settings and decide what you want to share and what you don’t want to share.

Facebook does not [necessarily] notify you of the changes, and your privacy settings are set back to a public default. Many times, you may find out through friends. Facebook is not alerting you to these changes; it is just letting you know the site has been redesigned.

Can your real friends on Facebook also can make you vulnerable?
Absolutely. Your security is only as good as your friend’s security. If someone in your network of friends has a weak password, and his or her profile is hacked, he or she can now send you malware, for example.

There is a common scam called a 419 scam, in which someone hacks your profile and sends messages to your friends asking for money – claiming to be you–saying, “Hey, I was in London, I was mugged, please wire me money.” People fall for it. People think their good friend needs help–and end up wiring money to Nigeria.

A lot of Web sites we use display banner ads, but do we have to be wary of them on Facebook?
Absolutely: Facebook has not been able to screen all of its ads. It hasn’t done a great job of vetting which ads are safe and which are not. As a result, you may get an ad in your profile when you are browsing around one day that has malicious code in it. In fact, last month, there was an ad with malware that asked people to download antivirus software that was actually a virus.

Is too big a network of friends dangerous?
You know people with a lot of friends–500, 1,000 friends on Facebook? What is the likelihood they are all real? There was a study in 2008 that concluded that 40 percent of all Facebook profiles are fake. They have been set up by bots or impostors.

If you have 500 friends, it is likely there is a percentage of people you don’t really know, and you are sharing a lot of information with them, such as when you are on vacation, your children’s pictures, their names. Is this information you really want to put out there to people you don’t even know?

This interview, “Five Hidden Dangers of Facebook,” was originally published on CBSNews.com.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Oklahoma Is At It Again: State Legislature Passes Bill Stripping Abortion Coverage From Health Insurance

05/13/2010 Nativegrl77

by Amanda Terkel

As ThinkProgress has reported, many far-right members of the Oklahoma legislature have made denying women rights a full-time mission. What the legislature has done in recent weeks:

– Both the House and the Senate passed a law mandating the collection of personal details about every single abortion performed in the state, which will then be posted on a public website.

– The legislature overrode the governor’s veto of an ultrasound mandate, which requires that doctor’s show women seeking an abortion ultrasounds of their babies and “describe the size of the fetus and any viewable organs and limbs. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.” The law also “limits who can do the ultrasound and which technology can be used — issues lawmakers are ill-equipped to decide.”

– The legislature also overrode the governor’s veto of a measure to prevent women from filing “wrongful life” lawsuits against “doctors who withhold information about a fetus or pregnancy that could cause a woman to seek an abortion.”

Yesterday, the Oklahoma House was at it again, this time passing a bill (HB 3290) by a 70-21 vote to bar private insurance companies from covering abortion. From the legislation:

No health plan, including health insurance contracts, plans or policies, offered outside of the state Exchange, but within the state, shall provide coverage for elective abortions except by optional separate supplemental coverage for abortion for which there must be paid a separate premium in accordance with subsection D of this act.

The bill does provide “exceptions in cases of rape and incest or to prevent the death of the mother.” Rep. Skye McNiel (R), the author of the legislation, said that it was simply meant to “ban state insurance exchanges created under the recently signed federal health care legislation from covering abortion procedures.” However, several legislators — including a Republican Rep. Doug Cox, who is also a doctor — spoke out against what the House was doing:

“This bill is nothing but pure politics so people can go home and stand up and beat their chests and say, ‘I voted against abortion of any type,’” Cox said. “You’re going to be trampling on some people who are good Christian people who are against abortion, but when it comes to one of these sad, terribly sad, freaks of nature that happen, you’re going to be punishing those good Christian people who are against abortion except in these cases.”

As CAP’s Jessica Arons has pointed out, making women purchase a separate abortion “rider” — as this legislation does — is discriminatory and requires women “to plan for a completely unexpected event.” Similarly, Rep. Jeannie McDaniel (D), who also voted against the bill, read a letter from a doctor who said that it’s unfair to require women to purchase special abortion coverage in advance because “a medically necessary termination of pregnancy is something that no family plans for or anticipates.” According to Cox, paying for abortion without insurance could cost a woman $10,000.

Oklahoma joins other states such as Arizona, Mississippi, and Tennessee in prohibiting insurers from offering abortion coverage in state exchanges, even if it’s paid for with private dollars.

State Sen. Steve Russell (R) recently tried to justify the abortion-reporting bill by saying, “This is not about women. It is about children in the womb deserving a life that got created.” The fact that lawmakers like Russell are leaving women’s interests out of the equation underscores the problem of what’s going on in Oklahoma.

Black History

Wednesday in Congress …

05/12/2010 Nativegrl77

The Senate will convene at 9:30am and will resume consideration of S.3217, Wall street Reform, the time until 10am equally divided and controlled between the Leaders or their designees.

At 10am, the Senate will proceed to vote in relation to the amendments listed below.

General Speeches, debates/votes on Financial Reform

The following amendments are pending to S.3217:
– Dodd-Lincoln amendment #3739 (Substitute)
– Collins amendment #3979 (leverage and risk-based capital)
– Brownback #3789, as modified (auto dealer exemption)
-Snowe #3883 (small business regulation transparency)
-Specter #3776, as modified (Aiders & Abettors)
-Leahy #3823 (health insurance antitrust enforcement)
-Durbin #3989 (interchange fee)
-Franken #3991 (credit rating)
-Sessions #3822 (bankruptcy)

Votes:
141: Merkley amendment #3962: (Underwriting);
Agreed To: 63-36

142: Corker amendment #3955: ;
Not Agreed To: 42-57

143: Hutchison-Klobuchar amendment #3759: , as modified
Agreed to: 90-9

Snowe amendment #3918: (Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection);
Agreed to by voice vote

145: Chambliss amendment #3816: (derivatives);
Not Agreed To: 39-59

146: Reed (RI) amendment #3943 (Military families)
Agreed To: 98-1

Unanimous Consent:
Accepted:
– Landrieu amendment #3956 (Credit Risk Retention Exemption)

– Crapo amendment #3992, as modified (credit risk requirements) to Landrieu amendment #3956

Adopted S.Res.522, a resolution recognizing National Nurses Week

Adopted S.Res.523, a resolution honoring the crew members who perished aboard the offshore oil rig, Deepwater Horizon, and extending the condolences of the Senate to the families and loved ones of the deceased crew members.

Confirmed the following Executive items:
PN1488, Stephen Ayers, Architect of the Capital

Cal #887, Parker Carl, US Marshal for Eastern District of KY

Cal #888, Gerald Holt, US Marshal for the Western District of WV

Cal #889, Robert Almonte, US Marshal for Western District of TX

Cal #890, Jerry Martin, US Attorney for the Middle District of TN

The next meeting in the House is scheduled 10amET on May 12, 2010

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MAY 12, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

Science/Technology programs and US-UK relations

8:01 P.M. –: SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.
8:00 P.M. –: Ms. Ros-Lehtinen requested the following general leaves to address the House on May 19: Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min, Mr. Jones for 5 min, and herself for 5 min. Ms. Ros-Lehtinen requested general leave to address the House for 5 minutes on May 18.
7:56 P.M. –: ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.
7:48 P.M. –: The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting the text of a proposed agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation for Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs .
7:47 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 transmitted to the House a sealed envelope received from the White House on Monday, May 10, 2010 at 2:47 p.m., and said to contain a message from the President whereby he submits a proposed Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation for Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.
7:45 P.M. –: The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President transmitting a notice that the national emergency with respect to the stabilization of Iraq is to continue in effect beyond May 22, 2010 – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed (H. Doc. 111-108).
7:43 P.M. –: President’s Export Council – the Speaker appointed the following members of the House to the President’s Export Council: Mr. Reichert and Mr. Tiberi . Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX, the Speaker postponed until a time to be announced, the roll call votes on the motions to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1337 and H. Res. 1338, which were ordered on Wednesday, May 12, 2010.

H. Res. 1155:

commending the progress made by anti-tuberculosis programs
7:42 P.M. –: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
7:34 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1155. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Engel moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H. Res. 1143:

commending the Community of Democracies for its achievements since it was founded in 2000
7:33 P.M. –: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
7:16 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1143. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Engel moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H. Res. 1303:

recognizing the close friendship and historical ties between the United Kingdom and the United States
7:15 P.M. –: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
7:03 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1303. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Engel moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

S. 1067:

to support stabilization and lasting peace in northern Uganda and areas affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army through development of a regional strategy to support multilateral efforts to successfully protect civilians and eliminate the threat posed by the Lord’s Resistance Army and to authorize funds for humanitarian relief and reconstruction, reconciliation, and transitional justice, and for other purposes
7:02 P.M. –: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
6:34 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1067. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Engel moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
6:33 P.M. –: The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.

H.R. 5116:

to invest in innovation through research and development, to improve the competitiveness of the United States, and for other purposes
6:31 P.M. –: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 5116 as unfinished business. On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

Mr. Gordon (TN) moved that the committee rise.
6:30 P.M. –: On agreeing to the Reyes amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 413 – 10 (Roll no. 266).
6:23 P.M. –: On agreeing to the Miller, George amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 250 – 174 (Roll no. 265).
6:16 P.M. –: On agreeing to the Markey (MA) amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 254 – 173 (Roll no. 264).
6:04 P.M. –: On agreeing to the Hall (TX) amendment Failed by recorded vote: 163 – 258 (Roll no. 263).
5:56 P.M. –: On agreeing to the Gordon (TN) amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 417 – 6 (Roll no. 262).
5:25 P.M. –: UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendmentments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings were postponed.
5:24 P.M. –: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Boccieri amendment number 34, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Hall (TX) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
5:16 P.M. –: DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1344, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Boccieri amendment number 34. Amendment offered by Mr. Boccieri.

An amendment numbered 34 printed in Part B of House Report 111-479 to increase the authorization level for funding for Federal Loan Guarantees for Innovative Technologies in Manufacturing from $50 million to $100 million.

On agreeing to the Gingrey (GA) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
5:10 P.M. –: DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1344, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gingrey (GA) amendment number 21. Amendment offered by Mr. Gingrey (GA).

An amendment numbered 21 printed in Part B of House Report 111-479 to direct the National Science Foundation to establish the Green Chemistry Basic Research and Development program and provide merit-based grants to support green chemistry applications. Green chemistry is chemistry that involves the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances, and it focuses on preventing pollution and waste from forming in the first place.
5:09 P.M. –: On agreeing to the Gordon (TN) amendments Agreed to by voice vote.
4:57 P.M. –: DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1344, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gordon (TN) amendments en bloc. Amendments offered by Mr. Gordon (TN).

An amendment offered en bloc consisting of amendments numbered 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 35, 42, 43, 49, 23, 24, 46, 78, and 9 printed in Part B of House Report 111-479.
4:56 P.M. –: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Reyes amendment number 13, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Reyes demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
4:50 P.M. –: DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1344, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Reyes amendment number 13. Amendment offered by Mr. Reyes.

An amendment numbered 13 printed in Part B of House Report 111-479 to require the STEM coordinating committee under OSTP to describe the approaches that will be taken by each agency to conduct outreach designed to promote widespread public understanding of career opportunities in the STEM fields. It also requires the establishment and maintenance of a publicly accessible online database of all federally sponsored STEM education programs.
4:49 P.M. –: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the George Miller amendment number 12, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Hall (TX) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
4:41 P.M. –: DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1344, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the George Miller amendment number 12. Amendment offered by Mr. Miller, George.

An amendment numbered 12 printed in Part B of House Report 111-479 to require public institutions of higher education, with respect to employees who are represented by labor organizations and who work on activities or programs supported by this Act, to maintain a policy to respond to union information requests, for information to which the union is legally entitled, on a timely basis in order to be eligible to receive facilities and administrative costs provided by any of the funding sources authorized by this Act. Failure to comply with such a policy would result in suspension of payments to the institution for facilities and administrative costs until compliance is achieved.
4:39 P.M. –: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Markey (MA) amendment number 6, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Hall (TX) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day
4:27 P.M. –: DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1344, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Markey (MA) amendment number 10. Amendment offered by Mr. Markey (MA).

An amendment numbered 10 printed in Part B of House Report 111-479 to establish a program to support the development and commercial application of cleamount not more than $10,000,000 per year and is for a period not to exceed 3 years.he Secretary of Energy. The Consortium would be regionally based and include research universities, national labs, industry, and other state and nongovernmental organizations with research or technology transfer expertise in clean energy technology. The Consortium would have a technology focus to which at least 50 percent of support would be directed. The grant to establish and operate the Consortium is for an amount not more than $10,000,000 per year and is for a period not to exceed 3 years.
4:26 P.M. –: On agreeing to the Gordon (TN) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
4:22 P.M. –: DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1344, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gordon (TN) amendment number 8. Amendment offered by Mr. Gordon (TN).
4:21 P.M. –: On agreeing to the Gordon (TN) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
4:17 P.M. –: DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1344, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gordon (TN) amendment number 7. Amendment offered by Mr. Gordon (TN).

An amendment numbered 7 printed in Part B of House Report 111-479 to ensure that biomass technology systems and related courses are included in the list of fields that would be encompassed by the energy systems science and engineering education programs.
4:16 P.M. –: POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Hall (TX) amendment number 6, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Hall (TX) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
4:13 P.M. –: DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1344, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hall (TX) amendment number 6. Amendment offered by Mr. Hall (TX).

An amendment numbered 6 printed in Part B of House Report 111-479 to strike title V of the bill (Innovation).
4:12 P.M. –: On agreeing to the Gordon (TN) amendments Agreed to by voice vote.
4:11 P.M. –: DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1344, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gordon amendments en bloc number 1.
4:10 P.M. –: Amendments offered by Mr. Gordon (TN).

An amendment offered en bloc consisting of amendments numbered 3, 4, 5, 11, 18, 19, 20, 25, 27, 39,and 47 printed in part B of House Report 111-479.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – At the conclusion of debate on the Gordon (TN) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Gordon (TN) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
3:53 P.M. –: DEBATE – Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1344, the Committee of the Whole House proceeded with 40 minutes of debate on the Gordon amendment number 1. Amendment offered by Mr. Gordon (TN).

An amendment numbered 1 printed in Part B of House Report 111-479 to make technical and clarifying changes to the bill. Would also amend Section 243 (“Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program”) and Section 702 (“Persons with Disabilities), and add new Sections 412 (“Report On the Use of Modeling and Simulation”) and Section 704 (“Budgetary Effects”), Section 705 (“Limitation”), and Section 706 (“Prohibition on Lobbying”), among other changes.
2:49 P.M. –: GENERAL DEBATE – The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 5116. The Speaker designated the Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 1344 and Rule XVIII.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5116 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Science and Technology now printed in the bill modified by the amendment printed in part A of the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this resolution.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1344.

H. Con. Res. 268:

supporting the goals and ideals of National Women’s Health Week, and for other purposes
2:47 P.M. –: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 – 0 (Roll no. 261).
2:41 P.M. –: Considered as unfinished business.

H.R. 5014:

to clarify the health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that constitutes minimum essential coverage

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 417 – 0 (Roll no. 260). Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:32 P.M. –: Considered as unfinished business.
2:31 P.M. –: UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of motions to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H. Res. 1344:

providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 5116) to invest in innovation through research and development, to improve the competitiveness of the United States, and for other purposes

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 243 – 177 (Roll no. 259).
2:03 P.M. –: The previous question was ordered without objection.
12:48 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 1344 Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 1333:

expressing support for the goals and ideals of Children’s Book Week
12:47 P.M. –: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
12:42 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1333. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Woolsey moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H.R. 959:

to increase Federal Pell Grants for the children of fallen public safety officers, and for other purposes
12:41 P.M. –: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
12:30 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 959. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Woolsey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H. Res. 1261:

recognizing National Nurses Week
12:29 P.M. –: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
12:16 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1261. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Woolsey moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H. Res. 1338:

recognizing the significant accomplishments of AmeriCorps and encouraging all citizens to join in a national effort to raise awareness about the importance of national and community service
12:14 P.M. –: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
12:02 P.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1338. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Titus moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

S. Con. Res. 61:

expressing the sense of the Congress that general aviation pilots and industry should be recognized for the contributions made in response to Haiti earthquake relief efforts
12:01 P.M. –: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
11:55 A.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. Con. Res. 61. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Cohen moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H. Res. 1284:

supporting the goals and ideals of National Learn to Fly Day, and for other purposes
11:54 A.M. –: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
11:39 A.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1284. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Cohen moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.

H. Res. 1337:

expressing the sympathy and condolences of the House of Representatives to those people affected by the flooding in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Mississippi in May, 2010

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
11:19 A.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1337. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Cohen moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H.R. 5014:

to clarify the health care provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs that constitutes minimum essential coverage
11:18 A.M. –: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
10:47 A.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5014. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Levin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

S. 3333:

to extend the statutory license for secondary transmissions under title 17, United States Code, and for other purposes
10:46 A.M. –: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
10:33 A.M. –: DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3333. Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
10:32 A.M. –: The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.
10:03 A.M. –: ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair, would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.
10:02 A.M. –: PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Poe of TX to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
10:01 A.M. –: Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Dr. Timothy Goble, Grace Evangelical Free Church The Speaker designated the Honorable Jose E. Serrano to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.