Tag Archives: Oregon

03/06/2013 01:23 PM EST

Bumble Bee Foods, LLC, has issued a voluntary recall on specific codes of 5-ounce Chunk White Albacore and Chunk Light Tuna products. The recall has been issued because the products do not meet the companyâ€™s standards for seal tightness.

Kroger Recalls Select Wheat Bread Products in Idaho, Oregon and Washington States

03/05/2013 12:36 PM EST

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) Bakery in Clackamas, Oregon is recalling select Wheat Bread products sold at the company’s Fred Meyer Stores in Idaho, Oregon and Washington and QFC stores in Oregon and Washington because these products may contain pieces of plastic. Customers should return the product to stores for a full refund or replacement.

~ FDA/USDA ~~ Alerts & Safety, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

FDA allows cancer chemicals in food

07/31/2012 Nativegrl77

Ask the FDA to ban cancer-causing chemicals in all of our food.

Sign Susan’s Petition

FDA: Get cancer-causing chemicals out of ALL food packaging now!

Started by: Susan, Portland, Oregon

The FDA just announced that baby bottles and sippy cups can no longer contain bisphenol A (BPA), a controversial hormone-disrupting chemical that studies show is linked with cancer, obesity, heart disease, and other life-threatening diseases.

This is a huge step towards getting dangerous chemicals out of our food supply. BPA isn’t just found in baby products — routine tests have found BPA in more than 80% of Americans’ bodies. It’s used in packaging food, lining cans for soups and sodas, and more.

Protecting my kids doesn’t stop when they graduate from bottles and sippy cups. I am counting on the FDA to help regulate this dangerous chemical so the people I care about most in the world are safe — no matter how old they are.

I know that together we can make a difference. Last year, I helped pass a ban on BPA in children’s products in my own community in Oregon. Doctors, researchers, and medical experts testified about the risks of this chemical and the importance of keeping BPA out of our children’s bodies. I was moved to tears by the hundreds of people who signed my Change.org petition in support of that campaign, and I hope this petition will make the FDA take notice, too.

Major brands have already begun distancing themselves from BPA due to consumer outrage. These companies have shown great leadership, but moving company by company and product by product is taking too long. BPA will continue to make people sick until it’s out of our food supply for good. We need strong action from the FDA now to protect us, and our kids, from these dangerous chemicals.

Tell the FDA to ban BPA now.

Click here to sign Susan’s petition, “FDA: Get cancer-causing chemicals out of ALL food packaging now!”.

You can also check out other popular petitions on Change.org by clicking here.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Contribute to Oregon’s Democratic Candidate-Suzanne Bonamici TODAY, before Monday’s media buy deadline… from Robby Mook

01/23/2012 Nativegrl77

BREAKING: Tea Party candidate Rob Cornilles just took thousands of dollars from the Koch Brothers‘ business PAC — “KOCHPAC” — in the Oregon Special Election.

We knew it would come to this. Voters in Oregon’s vote by mail only election have already started to receive ballots and sure enough Washington Republicans have swooped in with a television ad buy distorting Democrat Suzanne Bonamici’s record with half-truths, mistruths and lies.

Now we’ve learned her Republican opponent Rob Cornilles has received thousands of dollars from the billionaire Koch Brothers’ business PAC. This Oregon special election race is in its final throes and we need to have Suzanne’s back.

Be part of our people-powered movement and fight back. Help us raise $30,000 for Suzanne by Monday’s media buy deadline for her immediate rapid response operation.

Please contribute to Suzanne today for her rapid response operation before Monday’s media buy deadline.

A generous contribution to Suzanne will be put to work immediately to secure a Democratic victory in this district. A gift of even just $5 would go a long way, but gifts at the $25, or $50 level or even a $100 or more level are urgently needed now.

Don’t let Washington Republicans get the last word. Help Suzanne fight back and get her positive message out and deliver home another Democratic victory.

Onward to victory,

Robby

Robby Mook
DCCC Executive Director

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

New laws target abortion, immigration, alcohol and animals

12/30/2011 Nativegrl77

By Josh Levs, CNN

updated 5:32 AM EST, Fri December 30, 2011

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Nearly 40,000 laws were enacted in 2011, according to legislature group
Some of those laws go into effect January 1
Many of the new laws cited are in California

(CNN) — New laws going into effect Sunday cover some of the nation’s most contentious issues, from immigration to abortion, while others deal with tanning beds, tuition and where you can sell a pet.

In all, nearly 40,000 laws were enacted in 2011, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some take effect New Year‘s Day.

Among them is a controversial California provision requiring that schools add “lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans” to the list of those whose contributions “to the development of California and the United States” must be taught in schools.

Another California law adds “gender identity and gender expression” to the list of characteristics that require equal rights.

New laws in Delaware and Hawaii make same-sex couples eligible for civil unions and grant them the same rights and benefits as married couples under the law, the legislature group said.

In New Hampshire, starting January 1, minors will have to inform a parent before getting an abortion or seek a court order to avoid parental notification.

Immigrant investors purchase U.S. future

Gov. John Lynch had vetoed the bill, saying there must be an exception for rape, incest and abuse. The legislature overrode his veto.

New laws in Louisiana, Tennessee, South Carolina and Georgia require businesses to enroll in the federal E-Verify program to ensure that employees are eligible to work in the United States, the National Conference of State Legislatures says.

California, meanwhile, is prohibiting any state or local government office from requiring that employers use E-Verify, unless it is required by federal law as a condition of receiving federal funds.

E-Verify is a controversial program designed to check a prospective employee’s citizenship or immigration status. Supporters say it helps businesses avoid unintentionally hiring illegal immigrants. Critics complain that it is expensive to operate, pushes undocumented workers further underground, and is not always accurate.

Some laws ahead for the new year focus on health issues.

One in California prohibits the production or sale of beer to which caffeine has been added. Another in the state would prohibit the sale of dextromethorphan, or DXM, to minors without a prescription. DXM is in many over-the-counter cough suppressants, but it has been used as a recreational drug, the National Conference of State Legislatures says.

California also will ban stores from selling expired infant food and formula.

Another law in California focuses on school athletes suspected of having a concussion or head injury. A school must remove the athlete from that activity and not allow him or her to resume until clearance is given by a health care provider.

Many of the new laws cited by the legislature group are in California, including one prohibiting the use of ultraviolet tanning devices by minors and another making it a crime to sell “a live animal on any street, highway, public right-of-way, parking lot, carnival, or boardwalk.”

Both Oregon and California will prohibit the sale of shark fins in the new year.

Oregon is requiring state colleges and universities to waive tuition and fees for foster children under age 25.

Some new state laws amend crime provisions. Kentucky will require that certain inmates convicted of drug crimes serve the final six months of their sentences in the community, under supervision.

Oregon will require ignition interlock devices — computerized breath analyzers — for people convicted of driving under the influence and people who are under intoxicant diversion agreements, which allow prosecution on a DUI charge to be delayed.

And more states are joining a nationwide movement for tougher laws against distracted driving. Nevada will prohibit all drivers from texting and using handheld devices, the National Conference of State Legislatures says. North Dakota is banning drivers under age 18 from using cell phones in their cars and barring all drivers from texting.

Black History

Congress: the Senate debates votes and fails Americans ?

12/17/2011 Nativegrl77

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/hub.1324331373.html

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/hub.html

At approximately 9am, there will be a series of 4 roll call votes in relation to the following items:

– Reid substitute amendment to H.R.3630, 2 month extension of the payroll tax reduction, doc fix, and unemployment insurance (60-vote threshold);

((up to 15 minutes for debate))

– Passage of H.R.3672, emergency disaster funding (60-vote threshold);

– Adoption of H.Con.Res.94, a correcting resolution to provide offsets for the emergency disaster funding (60-vote threshold); and

– Adoption of the conference report to accompany H.R.2055, Omnibus Appropriations (60-vote threshold).

9:21am The Senate began a roll call vote on the Reid-McConnell substitute amendment #1465 (2-month extension of the payroll tax reduction) to H.R.3630, the Middle Class Tax Cut Act; Agreed to: 89-10

10:02am The Senate began a roll call vote on passage of H.R.3672, Emergency Disaster Funding; Passed: 72-27

10:21am The Senate began a roll call vote on adoption of H.Con.Res.94, a correcting resolution to provide offsets for the emergency disaster funding; Not Adopted: 43-56

**** The Congressional Budgetary Office announced this morning that the payroll tax cut extension package that passed in the Senate, by a vote of 89-10, reduces the deficit by approximately $3 billion. Read the CBO report here. ****

10:44am The Senate began a roll call vote on adoption of the conference report to accompany H.R.2055, Omnibus Appropriations; Adopted: 67-32

There will be no further roll call votes this year. The next roll call vote will be on Monday, January 23, 2012.

Senator Merkley asked unanimous consent the Banking Committee be discharged from further consideration of S.1874, the HUBZone Qualified Census Tract Act of 2011, and the bill be passed.

Senator Kyl objected to Senator Merkley’s request. The unofficial transcript of Senators Merkley, Snowe, Landrieu and Kyl’s remarks is below.

11:00:51 NSP} (MR. MERKLEY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MR. MERKLEY: THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. I RISE TO ASK UNANIMOUS

CONSENT OF ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, BEFORE I EXPLAIN THE UNANIMOUS

CONSENT REQUEST, I WILL GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. THIS

IS SENATE BILL 1874 THAT SENATOR SNOWE AND I HAVE WORKED ON FOR

SOME TIME BECAUSE OF OUR MUTUAL INTEREST IN MAKING THE HUB ZONE

PROCESS FOR RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORK BETTER. WHEN THIS

PROCESS OCCURS WITH EACH CENSUS, THERE IS A TWO-YEAR NIGHTMARE

OF RED TAPE BEFORE COMMUNITIES THAT SHOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS

{11:01:22} (MR. MERKLEY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SO, AND

ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT

ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BENEFIT FROM THIS MOST RECENT CENSUS. THEY

HAVE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATES. THEY ARE HIT HARD BY THE DROP IN

EXPORTS. THEY ARE HIT HARD BY THE COLLAPSE OF THE HOUSING

COMMUNITY. SAWMILLS HAVE SHUT DOWN, PAPER MILLS HAVE SHUT DOWN.

AND SO SO MANY FOLKS COME TO THIS FLOOR TO TALK ABOUT CUTTING

{11:01:55} (MR. MERKLEY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

RED TAPE AND TALKING ABOUT HELPING ECONOMY IN THE HEART OF

RURAL AMERICA. THEY COME TO THIS FLOOR AND THEY TALK ABOUT HOW

IMPORTANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOBS IS, AND THIS IS A

LITTLE FIX THAT TAKES A YEAR OUT OF THE BUREAUCRACY, AND THAT’S

WHY SENATOR SNOWE AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS PROCESS.

NOW, TWICE WE HAVE BROUGHT THIS FORWARD AND TWICE IT HAS BEEN

CLEARED BY EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BODY. NEITHER TIME DID IT MAKE

IT INTO A BILL THAT GOT TO THE PRESIDENT’S DESK. SO WE ARE

{11:02:31} (MR. MERKLEY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

COMING BACK ONCE MORE TO SAY LET COMMON SENSE TO FIX THIS

SNAFUS — THE SNAFUS IN THE BUREAUCRACY THAT ARE TAKING AWAY

OPPORTUNITY FOR RURAL AMERICA. LET’S PUT AN END TO THAT TODAY.

AND I WILL DEFER TO MY COLLEAGUE TO SPEAK AND THEN WE WILL ASK

FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT. I YIELD TO THE SENATOR FROM MAINE.

{11:02:54 NSP} (MS. SNOWE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MS. SNOWE: MR. PRESIDENT.

{11:02:57 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM MAINE.

{11:03:01 NSP} (MS. SNOWE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MS. SNOWE: THANK YOU, AND I WANT TO THANK THE SENATOR FROM

OREGON REGARDING THIS CRITICAL ISSUE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING

ON FOR A CONSIDERABLE PERIOD OF TIME, THAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD

REALLY CLEARED ON BOTH SIDES. THERE IS NO OBJECTIONS TO THIS

LANGUAGE, WHICH IS MIGHTILY IMPORTANT TO IMPROVING THE RURAL

ECONOMIES OF THIS COUNTRY, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE IT WOULD

EXPEDITE THE HUB ZONE DESIGNATION TO ALLOW SMALL BUSINESSES IN

THOSE HUB ZONES TO PROVIDE JOBS BY VIRTUE OF THE FACT THAT THEY

{11:03:31} (MS. SNOWE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

WOULD GET PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN THE CONTRACTING PROCESS. AS

WE KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS MORE THAN $400 BILLION

WORTH OF CONTRACTS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT SMALL BUSINESSES

AND PARTICULARLY THOSE LOCATED IN HARD-HIT AREAS OF OUR COUNTRY

HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE CONTRACTING DOLLARS AND ARE ABLE TO

PARTICIPATE ON AN EQUAL FOOTING. THIS WOULD CREATE JOBS. SO I

REGRET THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET SUPPORT TO MOVE

THIS LEGISLATION FORWARD BECAUSE I KNOW THE SENATOR FROM OREGON

{11:04:03} (MS. SNOWE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

HAS TESTED IT ON BOTH SIDES. WE HAVE RUN IT THROUGH THE

HOTLINE. THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS TO THE LANGUAGE, AND I CANNOT

UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN’T MOVE THIS VERY IMPORTANT PROPOSITION

THAT ABSOLUTELY WOULD BE CENTRAL TO CREATING JOBS IN THE AREAS

THAT NEED IT MOST THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE

GET SUCH A HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. SO THIS ISN’T A DIFFICULT

ISSUE TO UNDERSTAND. IT’S VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD. EVERYBODY

AGREES TO THE LANGUAGE. IT’S MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN IMPROVE

{11:04:35} (MS. SNOWE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

THE LANGUAGE SO WE CAN EXPEDITE THE TIME FRAME IN WHICH THESE

DES NATIONS OCCUR FOR HUB ZONES, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE HUB ZONES

ARE THOSE AREAS THAT ARE SUFFERING MOST WITH RESPECT TO THE

DOWNTURN OF THIS ECONOMY. WHEN WE HAVE A PALTRY ECONOMIC GROWTH

OF 1.3%, .4% OR 2%, WHEN WE HAVE AN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THAT’S

8.6% BUT WE HAVE HAD 9% OR HIGHER FOR A GOOD 28 MONTHS OR THE

LAST 34 MONTHS, WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, AND THIS

COULD HELP SMALL BUSINESSES AND IT COULD HELP THOSE PEOPLE IN

{11:05:09} (MS. SNOWE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

THOSE AREAS WHO ARE CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT

THERE WOULD BE NO OBJECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THIS INITIATIVE.

AND I WANT TO THANK THE SENATOR FROM OREGON FOR HIS LEADERSHIP

ON THIS MATTER.

{11:05:24 NSP} (MR. MERKLEY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MR. MERKLEY: I THANK MY COLLEAGUE. AND THE THIRD SPONSOR ON

THIS BILL IS SENATOR LANDRIEU, THE CHAIR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS

COMMITTEE, AND I YIELD TO HER.

{11:05:32 NSP} (MR. KYL) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MR. KYL: MR. PRESIDENT, I ASK THE INDULGENCE OF MY COLLEAGUE.

IF MY COLLEAGUE COULD ASK THE UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST TO

WHICH I CAN RESPOND, THEN I CAN LEAVE. WOULD MY COLLEAGUE BE

WILLING TO DO THAT, PLEASE?

{11:05:46 NSP} (MR. MERKLEY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MR. MERKLEY: WE WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT, ABSOLUTELY. MR.

PRESIDENT, I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THE BANKING COMMITTEE BE

DISCHARGED FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF S. 1874, THE HUB ZONE

QUALIFIED CENSUS TRACK ACT OF 2011, AND THE SENATE PROCEED TO

ITS CONSIDERATION, THAT THE BILL BE READ A THIRD TIME AND

PASSED AND THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER BE LAID UPON THE TABLE WITH

NO INTERVENING ACTION OR DEBATE, AND ANY STATEMENTS RELATING TO

THE BILL BE PLACED IN THE RECORD AT THE APPROPRIATE PLACE AS IF

READ.

{11:06:12 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: IS THERE OBJECTION?

{11:06:16 NSP} (MR. KYL) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MR. KYL: MR. PRESIDENT, ON — THERE IS OBJECTION ON OUR SIDE,

AND I WILL OBJECT, BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE THE POINT THAT AS A

RESULT OF SENATOR SNOWE AND SENATOR MERKLEY’S INTERCESSION

HERE, OUR STAFF HAS TALKED TO SENATOR SHELBY WHO SAYS THAT HE

WILL TRY TO WORK TO GET IT CLEARED AND TO HOTLINE IT AGAIN ON

OUR SIDE TODAY. SO AT THIS TIME I CANNOT CLEAR IT, BUT THERE

WILL BE AN EFFORT TO ACCOMPLISH THAT RESULT.

{11:06:40 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

THE PRESIDING OFFICER: OBJECTION IS HEARD. THE SENATOR FROM

OREGON.

{11:06:43 NSP} (MR. MERKLEY) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MR. MERKLEY: I THANK MY COLLEAGUE FROM ARIZONA. WE APPRECIATE

HIS HELP. WE APPRECIATE THE — THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE

BANKING COMMITTEE ASSISTING IN THIS MATTER, AND I YIELD TO MY

COLLEAGUE FROM LOUISIANA.

{11:06:57 NSP} (MS. LANDRIEU) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

MS. LANDRIEU: THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, I WANT TO ADD MY VOICE

TO THE STRONG WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE BY SENATOR MERKLEY AND

SENATOR SNOWE, AND AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE THAT HAS SOME

JURISDICTION OVER THE HUB ZONE PROGRAM, I WANT TO URGE THE

BANKING COMMITTEE AND THE STAFF AND OFFER THE STAFF OF THE

SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE FOR THE MAJORITY SIDE TO WORK VERY

HARD TODAY TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS CLEARED. IT’S VERY, VERY

IMPORTANT TO THE RANKING MEMBER OF OUR COMMITTEE WHO HAS WORKED

SO HARD ON THIS AND TO THE SENATOR FROM OREGON WHO HAS MADE

{11:07:27} (MS. LANDRIEU) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

VERY STRONG ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE EXPEDITING AND STREAMLINING

SOME OF THESE APPROVALS. SO I WISH THEM THE BEST. WE’RE GOING

TO WORK TODAY TO SEE IF WE CAN GET THIS CLEARED, AND IT WOULD

BE THE SECOND REALLY SUBSTANTIAL VICTORY IN SORT OF THE HOME –

IN THE SMALL BUSINESS SPACE, HAVING GOTTEN OUR SBIR BILL

THROUGH JUST RECENTLY, AFTER SIX YEARS OF VERY ACRIMONIOUS

DEBATE, IF WE COULD GET THIS FIX TO THE HUB ZONE PROGRAM, IT

WOULD BE TERRIFIC, AND I JUST THANK THE SENATORS FOR THEIR HARD

{11:08:02} (MS. LANDRIEU) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }

WORK, AND I YIELD THE FLOOR.

During Saturday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on the Reid motion to proceed to Calendar #70, S.968, a bill to prevent online threats to economic creativity and theft of intellectual property and for other purposes.

By unanimous consent, this roll call vote will be at 2:15pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

Senator Reid asked unanimous consent that the Senate take up and confirm the following nominations on the Executive Calendar and Senator McConnell objected to the request.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

# 67 Philip E. Coyle, III, of California, to be an Associate Director of the Office of Science and

Technology Policy

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

#86 Ben S. Bernanke – United States Alternate Governor of the International Monetary Fund

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

#108 Scott C. Doney – to be Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

#112 William J. Boarman – to be Public Printer

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

#258 Phyllis Nichamoff Segal – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service

#259 Lisa M. Quiroz — to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and

Community Service

#260 John D. Podesta — to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service

#261 Matthew Francis McCabe — to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service

#262 Marguerite W. Kondracke — to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service

#263 Jane D. Hartley – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service

#264 Richard Christman – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service

SECURITIES INVESTOR PROTECTION CORPORATION

#338 Anthony Frank D’Agostino – to be a Director of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation

#339 Anthony Frank D’Agostino – to be a Director of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (Reappointment)

#340 Gregory Karawan – to be a Director of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

#344 Martin J. Gruenberg – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Reappointment)

#345 Martin J. Gruenberg – to be Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

#346 Thomas J. Curry – to be Comptroller of the Currency

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

#403 Kenneth J. Kopocis – to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

#413 Richard Cordray – to be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection for a term of five years

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

#421 Joyce A. Barr – to be Assistant Secretary of State (Administration)

#422 Michael A. Hammer – to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Public Affairs)

HARRY S. TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION

#450 Laura A. Cordero – to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation for a term expiring December 15, 2015

AMTRAK BOARD OF DIRECTORS

#456 Albert DiClemente – to be a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

#494 David T. Danielson – to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy)

#495 LaDoris Guess Harris – to be Director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact, Department of Energy

#496 Gregory Howard Woods – to be General Counsel of the Department of Energy

STATE JUSTICE INSTITUTE

#499 James R. Hannah – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the State Justice Institute

#500 Daniel J. Becker – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the State Justice Institute

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

#501 Mari Carmen Aponte – to be Ambassador of the US of America to the Republic of El Salvador.

#502 Adam E. Namm – to be Ambassador of the US of America to the Republic of Ecuador.

#503 Michael Anthony McFaul – to be Ambassador of the US of America to the Russian Federation.

#504 Roberta S. Jacobson – to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Western Hemisphere Affairs),

#505 Elizabeth M. Cousens – to be Representative of the United States of America on the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador.

#506 Elizabeth M. Cousens – to be an Alternate Representative of the United States of America to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations, during her tenure of service as Representative of the United States of America on the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

#507 Michael E. Horowitz – to be Inspector General

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

#511 Rebecca M. Blank – to be Deputy Secretary of Commerce

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

#512 Ajit Varadaraj Pai – to be a Member of the FCC for a term of five years from July 1, 2011

#513 Jessica Rosenworcel – to be a Member of the FCC for a term of five years from July 1, 2010

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

#514 Jon D. Leibowitz – to be a FTC for a term of seven years from September 26, 2010

#515 Maureen K. Ohlhausen – to be a FTC for a term of seven years from September 26, 2011

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

#516 Kathryn Keneally – to be an Assistant Attorney General

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

#517 Maurice A. Jones – to be Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

#518 Carol J. Galante – to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

#519 Thomas Hoenig – to be Vice Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

#520 Thomas Hoenig – to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for a term of six years

NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

#521 Deepa Gupta – to be a Member of the National Council on the Arts for a term expiring Sept. 3, 2016

#522 Christopher Merrill – to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring Jan. 26, 2016

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY

#523 Stephanie Orlando – to be a Member of the National Council on Disability for the remainder of the term expiring Sept. 17, 2011

#524 Stephanie Orlando – to be a Member of the National Council on Disability for a term expiring Sept. 17, 2014

#525 Gary Blumenthal – to be a Member of the National Council on Disability for a term expiring Sept. 17, 2013

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

#526 Wendy M. Spencer – to be Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

#527 – Arunava Majumdar – to be Under Secretary of Energy

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

#529 Brad Carson – to be General Counsel of the Department of the Army

#530 Michael A. Sheehan – to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense

AIR FORCE

#531 to be Brigadier General – Col. Merle D. Hart

#532 to be Lieutenant General – Lt. Gen. Frank Gorenc

#533 to be Brigadier General – Col. Brian E. Dominguez

#534 to be Brigadier General – Col. John P. Currenti

#535 to be Brigadier General –

Colonel John D. Bansemer

Colonel David B. Been

Colonel Michael T. Brewer

Colonel Thomas A. Bussiere

Colonel Clinton E. Crosier

Colonel Albert M. Elton, II

Colonel Michael A. Fantini

Colonel Timothy G. Fay

Colonel Edward A. Fienga

Colonel Steven D. Garland

Colonel Thomas W. Geary

Colonel Cedric D. George

Colonel Blaine D. Holt

Colonel Scott A. Howell

Colonel Ronald L. Huntley

Colonel Allen J. Jamerson

Colonel James C. Johnson

Colonel Mark D. Kelly

Colonel Scott A. Kindsvater

Colonel Donald E. Kirkland

Colonel Bruce H. McClintock

Colonel Martha A. Meeker

Colonel John E. Michel

Colonel Charles L. Moore, Jr.

Colonel Gregory S. Otey

Colonel John T. Quintas

Colonel Michael D. Rothstein

Colonel Kevin B. Schneider

Colonel Scott F. Smith

Colonel Bradley D. Spacy

Colonel Ferdinand B. Stoss

Colonel Jacqueline D. Van Ovost

Colonel James C. Vechery

Colonel Christopher P. Weggeman

Colonel Kevin B. Wooton

Colonel Sarah E. Zabel

ARMY

#536 to be Major General – Brig. Gen. Michael J. Lally, III

#537 to be Brigadier General –

Colonel John W. Baker

Colonel Margaret W. Burcham

Colonel Richard D. Clarke, Jr.

Colonel Roger L. Cloutier, Jr.

Colonel Timothy R. Coffin

Colonel Peggy C. Combs

Colonel Bruce T. Crawford

Colonel Jason T. Evans

Colonel Stephen E. Farmen

Colonel John G. Ferrari

Colonel Kimberly Field

Colonel Duane A. Gamble

Colonel Ryan F. Gonsalves

Colonel Wayne W. Grigsby, Jr.

Colonel Steven R. Grove

Colonel William B. Hickman

Colonel Christopher P. Hughes

Colonel Daniel P. Hughes

Colonel Daniel L. Karbler

Colonel Ronald F. Lewis

Colonel James B. Linder

Colonel Michael D. Lundy

Colonel David K. MacEwen

Colonel Todd B. McCaffrey

Colonel Paul M. Nakasone

Colonel Paul A. Ostrowski

Colonel Laura J. Richardson

Colonel Steven A. Shapiro

Colonel James E. Simpson

Colonel Mark R. Stammer

Colonel Michael C. Wehr

Colonel Eric P. Wendt

#538 to be Major General – Brig. Gen. Lynn A. Collyar

#539 to be Lieutenant General – Maj. Gen. Mary A. Legere

#540 to be Major General – Col. Jimmie O. Keenan

#541 Mary John Miller – to be an Under Secretary of the Treasury

#542 Henry J. Aaron – to be a Member of the Social Security Advisory Board

#543 Kathleen Kerrigan – to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court for the term of fifteen years

#544 Alastair M. Fitzpayne – to be a Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Reid-McConnell substitute amendment #1465 (2-month extension of the payroll tax deduction, doc fix, and unemployment insurance) to H.R.3630; Agreed to: 89-10

2) Passage of H.R.3672, emergency disaster funding; Passed: 72-27

3) Adoption of H.Con.Res.94, a correcting resolution to provide offsets for the emergency disaster funding; Not Adopted: 43-56

4) Adoption of the conference report to accompany H.R.2055, Omnibus Appropriations; Adopted: 67-32

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed H.R.3630, a bill to extend the payroll tax holiday, unemployment compensation, Medicare physician payment, provide for the consideration of the Keystone XL pipeline, as amended.

Adopted S.Res.349, commemorating and honoring the service and sacrifice of members of the United States Armed Forces and their families as the official combat mission in Iraq draws to a close by voice vote.

Adopted H.J.Res.96, a 6-day continuing resolution.

Concurred in the House message to accompany S.278, the Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District Land Exchange Act of 2011.

Discharged the Banking Committee and Passed S.1874, the HUBZone Qualified Census Tract Act of 2011.

Discharged the Foreign Relations Committee and Passed S.1959, to require a report on the designation of the Haqqani Network as a foreign terrorist organization and for other purposes with a Burr amendment.

Discharged the EPW Committee and Passed S.1710, a bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 222 West 7^th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska, as the James M. Fitzgerald United States Courthouse.

Passed H.R.1264, To designate the property between the United States Federal Courthouse and the Ed Jones Building located at 109 South Highland Avenue in Jackson, Tennessee, as the “M.D. Anderson Plaza” and to authorize the placement of a historical/identification marker on the grounds recognizing the achievements and philanthropy of M.D. Anderson.

Passed Calendar #258, H.R.789, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20 Main Street in Little Ferry, New Jersey, as the “Sergeant Matthew J. Fenton Post Office”.

Passed Calendar #259, H.R.2422, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 45 Bay Street, Suite 2, in Staten Island, New York, as the “Sergeant Angel Mendez Post Office”.

Adopted S.Res.351, Recognizing the 40^th anniversary of the enactment of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.

Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.440, To provide for the establishment of the Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia.

Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.3012, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011.

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed the following:

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

#421 Joyce A. Barr – to be Assistant Secretary of State (Administration)

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

#503 Michael Anthony McFaul – to be Ambassador of the US of America to the Russian Federation.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

#529 Brad Carson – to be General Counsel of the Department of the Army

#530 Michael A. Sheehan – to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense

AIR FORCE

#531 to be Brigadier General – Col. Merle D. Hart

#532 to be Lieutenant General – Lt. Gen. Frank Gorenc

#533 to be Brigadier General – Col. Brian E. Dominguez

#534 to be Brigadier General – Col. John P. Currenti

#535 to be Brigadier General –

Colonel John D. Bansemer

Colonel David B. Been

Colonel Michael T. Brewer

Colonel Thomas A. Bussiere

Colonel Clinton E. Crosier

Colonel Albert M. Elton, II

Colonel Michael A. Fantini

Colonel Timothy G. Fay

Colonel Edward A. Fienga

Colonel Steven D. Garland

Colonel Thomas W. Geary

Colonel Cedric D. George

Colonel Blaine D. Holt

Colonel Scott A. Howell

Colonel Ronald L. Huntley

Colonel Allen J. Jamerson

Colonel James C. Johnson

Colonel Mark D. Kelly

Colonel Scott A. Kindsvater

Colonel Donald E. Kirkland

Colonel Bruce H. McClintock

Colonel Martha A. Meeker

Colonel John E. Michel

Colonel Charles L. Moore, Jr.

Colonel Gregory S. Otey

Colonel John T. Quintas

Colonel Michael D. Rothstein

Colonel Kevin B. Schneider

Colonel Scott F. Smith

Colonel Ferdinand B. Stoss

Colonel Jacqueline D. Van Ovost

Colonel James C. Vechery

Colonel Christopher P. Weggeman

Colonel Kevin B. Wooton

Colonel Sarah E. Zabel

ARMY

#536 to be Major General – Brig. Gen. Michael J. Lally, III

#537 to be Brigadier General –

Colonel John W. Baker

Colonel Margaret W. Burcham

Colonel Richard D. Clarke, Jr.

Colonel Roger L. Cloutier, Jr.

Colonel Timothy R. Coffin

Colonel Peggy C. Combs

Colonel Bruce T. Crawford

Colonel Jason T. Evans

Colonel Stephen E. Farmen

Colonel John G. Ferrari

Colonel Kimberly Field

Colonel Duane A. Gamble

Colonel Ryan F. Gonsalves

Colonel Wayne W. Grigsby, Jr.

Colonel Steven R. Grove

Colonel William B. Hickman

Colonel Christopher P. Hughes

Colonel Daniel P. Hughes

Colonel Daniel L. Karbler

Colonel Ronald F. Lewis

Colonel James B. Linder

Colonel Michael D. Lundy

Colonel David K. MacEwen

Colonel Todd B. McCaffrey

Colonel Paul M. Nakasone

Colonel Paul A. Ostrowski

Colonel Laura J. Richardson

Colonel Steven A. Shapiro

Colonel James E. Simpson

Colonel Mark R. Stammer

Colonel Michael C. Wehr

Colonel Eric P. Wendt

#538 to be Major General – Brig. Gen. Lynn A. Collyar

#539 to be Lieutenant General – Maj. Gen. Mary A. Legere

#540 to be Major General – Col. Jimmie O. Keenan

All nominations on the Secretary’s desk

All nominations received by the Senate during the 112th Congress, first session, will remain in status quo, notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXXI, paragraph 6, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, with the following exceptions:

Cal. #43 Caitlin Joan Halligan, to be US Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia

Cal. # 67 Philip E. Coyle, III, to be an Associate Director Office of Science and Technology Policy

Cal. #112 William J. Boarman – to be Public Printer

Cal. #185 Michael Green US District Judge for the Western District of New York

Cal. #413 Richard Cordray – to be Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

PN2 Victoria Frances Nourse, of Wisconsin, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit

PN14 Louis B. Butler, Jr., of Wisconsin, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Wisconsin

PN95 V. Natasha Perdew Silas, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia

PN96-112 Linda T. Walker, of Georgia, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia

PN158 Arvo Mikkanen, of Oklahoma, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma

PN317 Steve Six, of Kansas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit

PN653 Rebecca R. Wodder, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife