Tag Archives: Senate

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White House Women’s Update: Happy Women’s History Month


Friends-

We hope this message finds you well. Happy Women’s History Month! Today marks the beginning of a month dedicated to honoring the women who have made our country great and the moments that have defined this nation.

Thursday was a great day for women across the country with the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) passing in the House of Representatives, following the Senate’s passage of the same bill. Also this week, the Department of Labor announced the rescission of “Compensation Standards” and “Voluntary Guidelines.”

Today marks the beginning of a month dedicated to honoring the women who have made our country great and the moments that have defined this nation. You can find the President’s Women’s History Month Proclamation here.

Best wishes,

The White House Council on Women & Girls

President Obama Holds a Press Conference to Address the Sequester

President Obama held a press conference this morning after meeting with Congressional leaders to talk about his plans to move the country forward in light of the severe budget cuts that will start to take effect today.

These cuts, which are known as the sequester, will hurt our economy and cost us jobs, the President said. And as Americans all across the country work hard to keep our economic recovery going, arbitrary cuts to services and investments that businesses and workers depend on makes that far more difficult. As the President said:

“None of this is necessary. It’s happening because of a choice that Republicans in Congress have made. They’ve allowed these cuts to happen because they refuse to budge on closing a single wasteful loophole to help reduce the deficit. As recently as yesterday, they decided to protect special interest tax breaks for the well-off and well-connected, and they think that that’s apparently more important than protecting our military or middle-class families from the pain of these cuts.”

Read the President’s complete remarks here.

Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Passed by Congress

On Thursday there was exciting news for women across the country with the reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act passing in the House of Representatives. This bill, which the Senate has already passed, supports the reduction of domestic violence and the improved treatment of rape victims, extending these protections to members of the Native American and LGBT communities.

The President and Vice-President both released statements praising the bill’s importance for the country. Here is the President’s complete statement:

“I was pleased to see the House of Representatives come together and vote to reauthorize and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act. Over more than two decades, this law has saved countless lives and transformed the way we treat victims of abuse. Today’s vote will go even further by continuing to reduce domestic violence, improving how we treat victims of rape, and extending protections to Native American women and members of the LGBT community. The bill also reauthorizes the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, providing critical support for both international and domestic victims of trafficking and helping ensure traffickers are brought to justice. I want to thank leaders from both parties – especially Leader Pelosi, Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Senator Leahy – for everything they’ve done to make this happen. Renewing this bill is an important step towards making sure no one in America is forced to live in fear, and I look forward to signing it into law as soon as it hits my desk.”

VAWA: Valerie Jarrett Tweet

US Labor Department Rescinds Restrictions On Investigating Pay Discrimination

This week, the U.S. Department of Labor announced exciting news for women and all Americans. The Department is resending two documents, commonly known as the “Compensation Standards” and “Voluntary Guidelines,” that have dictated how pay discrimination can be investigated. This change will enable to Department of Labor to identify and remedy more forms of pay discrimination.

“Today, we are lifting arbitrary barriers that have prevented our investigators from finding and combating illegal pay discrimination,” said Patricia A. Shiu, a member of the President’s National Equal Pay Task Force.

The Department of Labor also plans to release new guidance for employers that will explain the procedures, analysis and protocols that will now be used in conducting compensation discrimination investigations.

“A strong American middle class hinges on ensuring equal pay,” said acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris. “As President Obama has made clear, everyone – including the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters among us – must be paid fairly and without discrimination. These new standards will strengthen our ability to ensure that women and men are fully protected under our nation’s laws.”

The new approach will enable investigators to better examine practices and available evidence to uncover discrimination.

Read the complete News Release here.

Black History, ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

CONGRESS: Republican led House :::::: Democratic led Senate


EmptyhouseChamber  Ask @SpeakerBoehner

Is Congress really doing the People’s Business and are they worth tax paid salaries of $174K

  • The Senate stands in adjournment until 2:00pm on Monday, March 4, 2013.

5:31pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #16, the nomination of Katherine Polk Failla, of New York, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York;

Confirmed: 91-0

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #16, the nomination of Katherine Polk Failla, of NY, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; Confirmed: 91-0

No LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #15, the nomination of Pamela Ki Mai Chen, of NY, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York by voice vote.

Senator Reid filed cloture on Executive Calendar #13, the nomination of Caitlin Joan Halligan, of New York, to be United States circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. Under the rule, the cloture vote would occur one hour after the Senate convenes on Wednesday, March, 6.

———————————————————————–

Last Floor Action:
2:07:08 P.M. – The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order.2/28

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on March 4, 2013.

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thinkprogress … VAWA


Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

Justice Scalia is worse than you already thought.

Washington doesn’t have to be broken.

Yes, the vast majority of our long-term debt is because of Bush-era policies.

GOP congressman says the debt is just as “immoral” as slavery.

Obama administration calls for marriage equality in upcoming Proposition 8 Supreme Court case.

Shocking but true: top GOP senator wants to give the NRA veto power over judges.

Another day, another extreme anti-abortion law enacted by the GOP.

FACT: low tax states have lower economic growth.

Violence Against Women Act Finally Passes

A year and a half after the landmark law expired, House Republicans finally relented and allowed the updated and expanded reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to pass. The bill had already passed the Senate with overwhelming, bipartisan majorities not once, but twice.

We say House Republicans allowed it to pass because they’ve done nearly everything in their power to block it from doing so, including:

  • refusing to even take up the Senate bill last year
  • passing a watered-down, partisan version that had no chance of passing the Senate
  • attempting to block a vote on the Senate bill as recently as this week
  • trying to remove protections for LGBT people and Native Americans from the Senate bill earlier today
  • voting against the Senate bill en masse today

Last time VAWA was reauthorized, in 2005, just two House Republicans voted against the measure. Sadly, 138 House Republicans voted against VAWA today. Even more shamefully, 27 House Republicans voted against both the Senate bill and the watered-down version Republicans themselves had proposed.

Take a look at these 27 Republicans. Notice a pattern?

BOTTOM LINE: Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act is a huge victory for women and their families — a victory that came in spite of the GOP’s best efforts to prevent it.

Climate change and the Arab Spring.

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H.J. Res. 118 & S.388


cbocloud

from: the Congressional Budget Office

H.J. Res. 118, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of Family Assistance of the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health

On September 17, 2012, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for House Joint Resolution 118. In response to Congressional questions we are providing the following additional explanation of the basis of that cost estimate.

S. 388, the American Family Economic Protection Act of 2013

As introduced in the Senate on February 26, 2013

S. 388 would eliminate the automatic spending reductions scheduled to occur under current law for 2013 and would partially eliminate the reductions scheduled for 2014. The bill also would eliminate direct payments to certain agricultural producers, provide funding for agricultural disaster assistance, and exempt from sequestration all mandatory funding provided for the Department of Agriculture.

Black History

CONGRESS : the Republican led House :::::: VAWA,PAYCHECK Fairness,Immigration and S.388 :::::: the Senate led by Dems


Wethepeople

The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00am on Wednesday, February 27, 2013.

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business for one hour with the Majority controlling the first 30 minutes and the Republicans controlling the second 30 minutes.
  • The nomination of Jacob Lew to be Treasury Secretary was reported out of the Finance committee on Tuesday.  We hope to reach an agreement to consider the Lew nomination on Wednesday.
  • Also during Tuesday’s session, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to S.388, the American Family Economic Protection Act (introduced by Senators Mikulski, Murray and Reid).  Under the rule, that cloture vote will occur on Thursday.

The Senate has turned to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #26, the nomination of Jacob Lew, of
New York, to be Secretary of the Treasury. There will now be up to 8 hours for
debate equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees. Upon the use
or yielding back of time, the Senate will proceed to vote on confirmation of the
nomination.

There will now be 10 minutes for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the
Lew nomination. If all times is used, the vote would begin at approximately
5:37pm.

5:38pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #26, the nomination of Jacob J. Lew, of New York, to be Secretary of the Treasury;

Confirmed: 71-26

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1)      Confirmation of Executive Calendar #26, Jacob J. Lew, of New York, to be Secretary of the Treasury; Confirmed: 71-26

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed H.R.307, a bill to reauthorize certain programs under the Public Health Service Act and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to public health security and all-hazards preparedness and response, and for other purposes with a Committee-reported substitute amendment.

Adopted S.Res.58, authorizing the reporting of committee funding resolutions for the period of March 1, 2013 through September 30, 2013.

Adopted S.Res.61, designating March 1, 2013, as “Read Across America Day”.

Adopted S.Res.62, a resolution to authorize the production of records by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

—————————————————————————————-

Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

Last Floor Action:
7:14:10 P.M. – The House adjourned. 2/26/13

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 27, 2013.

10:00:22 A.M. The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
10:00:27 A.M. The Speaker designated the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
10:01:02 A.M. MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 12:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.