Tag Archives: Syria

The Senate ~~ Pro forma Action ~~ The House


UScapitoltakenfromkenschramstory

The Senate will convene at 12:00 noon on Friday, September 6,

for the purpose of allowing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to file the reported joint resolution to authorize the limited and specified use of the United States Armed Forces against Syria.

Sep 5, ’13 12:35 PM
Author Categories Floor Updates

Pursuant to the authority provided by section 2 of S.Con.Res.22, the Majority Leader will convene the Senate at 12:00 noon on Friday, September 6, for the purpose of allowing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to file the reported joint resolution to authorize the limited and specified use of the United States Armed Forces against Syria. This will be a very short session with no other business conducted. This action will allow for a motion to proceed to the joint resolution to be in order on Monday.

Following Friday’s session, the Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, September 9. Senator Reid intends to move to proceed to the joint resolution on Syria soon after we convene on Monday.

At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following nominations, with 30 minutes for debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley, or their designees:

–       Valerie E. Caproni, of New York, to be a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; and

–       Vernon S. Broderick, of New York, to be a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York.

 

Upon the use or yielding back of time (approximately 5:30pm), the Senate will proceed to vote in relation to the above nominations. We expect one of the nominations to be considered by voice vote.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Last Floor Action:
12:06:45 P.M. – The Speaker announced
that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 4(b) of H. Res. 322. The next
meeting is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on September 9, 2013.

Syrian Refugee Crisis [MAP]: What you need to know


Mercy Corps Neal Keny-Guyer, Mercy Corps
Syria‘s civil war is poised to become the worst humanitarian disaster of our time.  The politics are complex and the numbers can be overwhelming.  But those numbers stand for real people in crisis, right now.  And the more of us who are aware of what’s going on, the more we can help them.
We hope you’ll take a minute to learn about the magnitude of the Syrian refugee crisis ▸

Syrian Refugee Crisis
See more infographics ▸

As the violence in Syria escalates, as many as 6,000 people escape across the borders every single day. The UN estimates there could be 3.5 million refugees by the end of the year — more than half of them children.
Visit our website to see more infographics and get the quick facts about the crisis ▸
Mercy Corps is responding to urgent needs in Jordan and Lebanon — the two smallest countries overwhelmed by the largest numbers of refugees.  But we must do more.  Please, join us to raise awareness and turn knowledge into action.
Thank you for standing with us — and the millions of Syrian refugees who need us now more than ever.
Sincerely,
Neal Keny-Guyer Neal Keny-Guyer Mercy Corps CEO

Stay out of Syria


VoteVets.org

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 15-3 in favor of arming and training the Syrian rebels.

This is a misguided and dangerous idea.

I helped to train the Iraqi Army during my second tour, and their concern is that many of the anti-Assad forces are the same terrorists they’ve fought before and who continue to target them.

Plus, as Senator Tom Udall noted, once we introduce weapons, we have zero control over them. The United States “could turn over the weapons we’re talking about and next day they end up in the hands of al-Qaida.”

Three Senators voted against the bill in committee, but we need you to send a  strong message to the other 97 that you oppose intervention in Syria’s civil war. You can do that here:

http://action.votevets.org/syria

Moreover, there is no winning scenario when we get involved in other nations’ civil wars and proxy wars.

On this point, Senator Chris Murphy said it best: “We have failed over and over again in our attempts to pull the strings of Middle Eastern politics.”

Let’s not make the same mistake again.

Jon Soltz
@jonsoltz
Iraq War Veteran and Chairman
VoteVets.org

The President Talks About How to Build a Rising, Thriving Middle Class


Obama Cares: On the Friday before Mother’s Day, President Obama explained how the Affordable Care Act is helping women. For example, the law prevents insurance companies from charging women more than men and requires insurance companies to cover preventive services like mammograms free of charge.

Thanks to the women in this room and people all across the country, we worked really hard — and it’s now been more than three years since Congress passed the Affordable Care Act and I signed it into law. It’s been nearly a year since the Supreme Court upheld the law under the Constitution. And, by the way, six months ago, the American people went to the polls and decided to keep going in this direction. So the law is here to stay.

Review of IRS: On Wednesday, the President delivered remarks on the Treasury Department’s review of the Internal Revenue Service and said the “misconduct that it uncovered is inexcusable.” The President said he will hold the responsible parties accountable, put in place new safeguards to make sure this does not happen again, and work with Congress as it performs its oversight role.

I’ll do everything in my power to make sure nothing like this happens again by holding the responsible parties accountable, by putting in place new checks and new safeguards, and going forward, by making sure that the law is applied as it should be — in a fair and impartial way.

Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey: On Thursday, President Obama and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan held a press conference at the Rose Garden. The leaders discussed U.S. – Turkey relations such as trade and investment, mutual security, and the conflict in Syria.

Prime Minister Cameron of Great Britain: On Tuesday, the President welcomed British Prime Minister David Cameron to the White House. The global partners spoke about the upcoming Group of Eight summit, sustaining the global economy, and the conflict in Syria.

As we’ve said before, the great alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom is rooted in shared interests and shared values, and it’s indispensable to global security and prosperity.

National Peace Officers Memorial Service: On Wednesday, the President headed to the U.S. Capitol for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service. The event paid respect to law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty the last year. The 143 fallen officers were recognized for their courage on the front lines and their dedication to our community.

They exemplified the very idea of citizenship — that with our God-given rights come responsibilities and obligations to ourselves and to others. They embodied that idea. That’s the way they died. That’s how we must remember them. And that’s how we must live.

#WeTheGeeks: On Thursday, the White House launched “We the Geeks,” a new series of Google+ Hangouts highlighting the future of science, technology, and innovation in America. The first “We the Geeks” Hangout covered Grand Challenges, which are “ambitious goals on a national or global scale that capture the imagination and demand advances in innovation and breakthroughs in science and technology.”

Bills & Hearings in the House 3/20


Hearing: Entrepreneurial Assistance: Examining Inefficiencies and Duplication Across Federal Government Programs

12:00 AM                                                 Host: Committee on Small Business | Full Committee

Hearing: POSTPONED: Oversight Hearing – Forest Service

9:30 AM                 | B-308 Rayburn                                Host: Committee on Appropriations | Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

Hearing: Crisis in Syria: The U.S. Response

9:45 AM                 | 2172 Rayburn HOB                                Host: Committee on Foreign Affairs | Full Committee

Markup: H.R. 1120, “The Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act”

10:00 AM                                                Host: Committee on Education and the Workforce | Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training

Hearing: The Posture of the U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command

10:00 AM                 | 2118 Rayburn HOB                                Host: Committee on Armed Services | Full Committee

Hearing: How Innovation Benefits Patients

10:00 AM                 | 2123 Rayburn HOB                                Host: Committee on Energy and Commerce | Subcommittee on Health

Hearing: Oversight Hearing – The Judiciary

10:00 AM                 | 2359 Rayburn                                Host: Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government

Hearing: Focusing on People: A Review of VA’s Plans for Employee Training, Accountability, and Workload Management to Improve Disability Claims Processing

10:00 AM                 | 334 Cannon House Office Building Washington DC                                Host: Committee on Veterans’ Affairs | Full Committee

Hearing: Measuring Outcomes to Understand the State of Border Security

10:00 AM                 | 311 Cannon HOB                                Host: Committee on Homeland Security | Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security

Hearing: Chairman Johnson Announces Hearing on the Challenges of Achieving  Fair and Consistent Disability Decisions

10:00 AM                                                Host: Committee on Ways and Means | Social Security

Hearing: POSTPONED: Budget Hearing – Federal Aviation Administration

10:00 AM                 | 2358-A Rayburn                                Host: Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

Hearing: Hearing entitled “State of Community Banking:  Is the Current Regulatory Environment Adversely Affecting Community Financial Institutions?”

10:00 AM                 | 2128 Rayburn HOB                                Host: Committee on Financial Services | Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit

Hearing: Oversight Hearing – Major Construction Projects of the Department of Energy

10:00 AM                 | 2362-B Rayburn                                Host: Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies

Hearing: Oversight Hearing – Children’s Mental Health

10:00 AM                 | 2358-C Rayburn                                Host: Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

Hearing: CLOSED: Oversight Hearing – Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure

10:00 AM                 | H-405 Capitol                                Host: Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Homeland Security

Business Meeting: meeting to consider the following measures:  H.R. 634, H.R. 677, H.R. 742, H.R. 992, H.R. 1003, H.R. 1038

10:00 AM                 | 1300 Longworth HOB                                Host: Committee on Agriculture | Full Committee

Markup: Markup on H.R. 367, and H.R. 982

10:00 AM                 | 2141 Rayburn HOB                                Host: Committee on the Judiciary | Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law

Hearing: POSTPONED: Budget Hearing – Commodity Futures Trading Commission

10:00 AM                 | 2362-A Rayburn                                Host: Committee on Appropriations | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies

Hearing: Oversight Hearing – National Guard and United States Army Reserve

10:00 AM                 | H-140 Capitol                                Host: Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Defense

Hearing: Improving EPA’s Scientific Advisory Processes

10:00 AM                 | 2318 Rayburn HOB                                Host: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology | Subcommittee on Environment

Business Meeting: H.R. 1211, H.R. 1163,H.R. 1162,H.R. 328, H.R. 1133, H.R. 1104, H.R. 249,H.R. 882, H.R. 313,and legislation concerning the DC CFO Act

10:00 AM                 | 2154 Rayburn HOB                                Host: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform | Full Committee

Markup: Markup on H.R. 527, H.R. 254, H.R. 291, H.R. 507, H.R. 588, H.R. 678, H.R. 716, H.R. 1033, and H.R. 1159

10:00 AM                 | 1324 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C.                                Host: Committee on Natural Resources | Full Committee

Hearing: Hezbollah’s Strategic Shift: A Global Terrorist Threat

1:30 PM                 | 2172 Rayburn HOB                                Host: Committee on Foreign Affairs | Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade

Hearing: Cyber Threats from China, Russia and Iran: Protecting American Critical Infrastructure

2:00 PM                 | 311 Cannon HOB                                Host: Committee on Homeland Security | Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies

Hearing: Fulfilling the Good Friday Agreement

2:00 PM                 | 2200 Rayburn HOB                                Host: Committee on Foreign Affairs | Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations

Hearing: Examining the Effectiveness of NIST Laboratories

2:00 PM                 | 2318 Rayburn HOB                                Host: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology | Subcommittee on Technology

Hearing: Oversight Hearing – National Aeronautics and Space Administration

2:00 PM                 | 2359 Rayburn                                Host: Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

Hearing: The Register’s Call for Updates to U.S. Copyright Law

3:30 PM                 | 2141 Rayburn HOB                                Host: Committee on the Judiciary | Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, And The Internet