Tag Archives: United States Congress

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National Geographic

01/29/2013 Nativegrl77

National Geographic Adventures

Venture off the beaten path with National Geographic Adventures! Our active trips blend spectacular sites, cultural immersion, and physical challenges. Whether you choose to kayak amid coral atolls in Belize, trek the Sahara by camel, or cross England on foot, there’s adventure in store!

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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Secretary Panetta lifts the “ground combat exclusion”

01/29/2013 Nativegrl77


	Join Us in Thanking Secretary of Defense Panetta



	Send your message today.

They told us we couldn’t vote, because we didn’t understand politics.

They told us we couldn’t play sports, because we couldn’t compete.

They told us we couldn’t fight, because women aren’t fit for combat.

We proved them wrong. And now those days are over…

Last week we bore witness to a historic event: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s decision toopened wide the doors of opportunity to women in the Armed Services and eliminated the last vestige of government-sanctioned sex discrimination in the United States.

Please join us in thanking Secretary Panetta for lifting the ground combat exclusion and opening opportunities for women to serve the United States in all military occupations.

The wars of the 21st century have no clear-cut front lines: For years, women have been performing superbly in a broad range of vital military occupations, including unofficially in ground combat, risking injury and death to serve our country. Secretary Panetta’s historic announcement reflects this reality. It also confirms that to be successful, a modern military must have access to the best and brightest, men and women.

This decision was the result of long, hard work.

For the Center, this decision is the culmination of years of work. In the early 1990s, our analysis of gender-stereotyped limitations and our advocacy efforts helped secure congressional legislation and Defense Department policies that opened 260,000 military positions to women, including on combat ships and in combat aircraft.

Since then we’ve had to beat back efforts by some in Congress to restrict women’s military service, and we’ve worked hard to educate the public and policymakers about the important military roles women are performing and how well they are performing them, including in combat. We also worked with Defense Department advisory committees and met with Pentagon officials to advance recommendations and press for opening all military positions to women. In 2010, submarine service was opened to women, and in 2012 approximately 14,000 additional positions were opened, both precursors of last week’s momentous decision to lift all restrictions on women’s military service.

Now, if the best person for the job is a woman, she will no longer be barred from that job simply because of her gender. As President Obama said in his inaugural address, “our journey is not complete,” but we have just passed a significant milepost along the way.

Please join us in sending thanks to Secretary Panetta.

Black History

CONGRESS: Republican led House :::: the Senate led by Democrats

01/03/2013 Nativegrl77

The 113^th Congress will convene at 12:00noon on Thursday, January 3, 2013.

Following the prayer and pledge, the Senate will be presented with the certificates of election and subsequently swear-in elected Members.
Following the swearing-in, the Senate will conduct a required live quorum. Senators are requested to be on the floor at this time.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.1, a resolution notifying the President that a quorum of each House has assembled.

Adopted S.Res.2, a resolution notifying the House that a quorum of the Senate has assembled.

Adopted S.Con.Res.1, a concurrent resolution to provide for the counting on January 4, 2013, of the electoral votes for President and Vice President of the United States.

Adopted S.Con.Res.2, a concurrent resolution extending the life of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Adopted S.Res.3, a resolution fixing the hour of daily meeting of the Senate.

Adopted S.Con.Res.3, a concurrent resolution providing for an adjournment or recess of the Senate.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

—————————————————

Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

11:00:05 A.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
11:00:18 A.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
11:01:24 A.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
11:01:28 A.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Culberson to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
11:03:59 A.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.

12:00:00 P.M.		<ACTION_DESCRIPTION>House convened, starting a new legislative day, pursuant to the 20th amendment to the Constitution, for the meeting of the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress of the United States.
12:01:01 P.M.		<ACTION_DESCRIPTION>Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
12:02:34 P.M.		<ACTION_DESCRIPTION>PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Clerk led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
12:03:31 P.M.		<ACTION_DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATION OF ELECTION – The Clerk announced that Certificates of Election covering 435 seats in the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress had been received and the names of those persons whose credentials show that they were regularly elected as Representatives in accordance with the laws of their respective States of the United States would be called. Without objection, the Representatives-elect were directed to record their presence by electronic device in order to determine whether a quorum was present.
12:27:27 P.M.		Call of the States Quorum responded: 429 present (Roll no. 1).
12:28:42 P.M.		ELECTION CREDENTIALS FOR DELEGATES – The Clerk notified the House that election credentials for all Delegates and Resident Commissioners had been received.
12:28:43 P.M.		The Clerk notified the House that she received letters from the Honorable Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. of Illinois and the Honorable Tim Scott of South Carolina indicating that they will not serve in the House in the 113th Congress.
12:29:01 P.M.		NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICE OF SPEAKER – Pursuant to law and precedent, the Clerk announced that the next order of business was the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 113th Congress and that nominations would now be in order. Accordingly, the Honorable Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington placed the name of the Honorable John Boehner into nomination for the Office of Speaker and the Honorable Xavier Becerra of California placed the name of the Honorable Nancy Pelosi into nomination for the Office of Speaker. No other nominations were put forward.
12:34:38 P.M.		APPOINTMENT OF TELLERS – The Clerk announced the appointment of the following Members-elect to act as Tellers during the Roll Call for Election of Speaker: Mrs. Miller of Michigan; Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania; Ms. Kaptur; and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen.
1:41:52 P.M.		Roll call 2 – Election of the Speaker Mr. Boehner: 220, Ms. Pelosi: 192, Cantor: 3, West: 2, Cooper of Tennessee: 2, Lewis of Georgia: 1, Powell: 1, Labrador: 1, Jordan: 1, Walker: 1, Amash: 1, Dingell: 1, and Present: 1. Mr. Boehner was elected Speaker of the House.
1:42:04 P.M.		COMMITTEE TO ESCORT THE SPEAKER-ELECT – The Clerk appointed a Committee of Members-elect to escort the Speaker-elect into the Chamber and to the Chair.
1:50:24 P.M.		>The Speaker-elect was escorted into the Chamber by the Escort Committee and introduced by Representative-elect Pelosi, Democratic Leader, before assuming the Chair.
2:00:33 P.M.		ADDRESS BY THE SPEAKER-ELECT – The Speaker-elect addressed the House prior to taking the Oath of Office which will be administered by the Dean of the House, Representative-elect John Dingell of Michigan.
2:08:24 P.M.		ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE – The Dean of the House administered the Oath of Office to the Speaker-elect.
2:09:38 P.M.		ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE – The Speaker administered the Oath of Office to the Members-elect of the 113th Congress.
2:11:31 P.M.		ANNOUNCEMENT OF LEADERSHIP POSTS – Mrs. McMorris Rodgers notified the House that, at the direction of the Republican Conference, Mr. Cantor of Virginia had been elected as Majority Leader and Mr. McCarthy of California had been elected as Majority Whip.
2:11:32 P.M.		ANNOUNCEMENT OF LEADERSHIP POSTS – Mr. Becerra notified the House that, at the direction of the Democratic Caucus, Ms. Pelosi of California had been elected as Minority leader, Mr. Hoyer of Maryland had been elected as Minority Whip, and Mr. Clyburn had been elected as Assistant Democratic Leader.
2:14:53 P.M.	H. Res. 1	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 1 — “Electing officers of the House of Representatives.”
2:14:56 P.M.	H. Res. 1	>Mr. Becerra demanded that the question be divided on the adoption of the resolution so as to have a separate vote on the election of the Chaplain. Agreed to without objection.
2:15:45 P.M.	H. Res. 1	portion of the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
2:15:46 P.M.	H. Res. 1	On agreeing to the remainder of the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
2:17:00 P.M.	H. Res. 1	Amendment offered by Mr. Becerra.
2:17:02 P.M.	H. Res. 1	On agreeing to the Becerra amendment; Failed by voice vote.
2:17:13 P.M.	H. Res. 1	>On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
2:17:22 P.M.	H. Res. 1	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:18:18 P.M.	H. Res. 2	>Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 2 — “To inform the Senate that a quorum of the House has assembled and of the election of the Speaker and the Clerk.”
2:18:46 P.M.	H. Res. 2	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
2:18:52 P.M.	H. Res. 2	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:18:53 P.M.	H. Res. 3	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 3 — “Authorizing the Speaker to appoint a committee to notify the President of the assembly of the Congress.”
2:19:24 P.M.	H. Res. 3	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
2:19:31 P.M.	H. Res. 3	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:20:25 P.M.	H. Res. 4	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 4 — “Authorizing the Clerk to inform the President of the election of the Speaker and the Clerk.”
2:20:45 P.M.	H. Res. 4	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.
2:20:51 P.M.	H. Res. 4	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2:21:26 P.M.	H. Res. 5	>Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 5 — “Adopting rules for the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress.”
2:23:30 P.M.	H. Res. 5	to be appointed by the Speaker, not more than three of whom shall be from the same political party, with instructions not to report back the same until it has conducted a full and complete study of, and made a determination on, whether there is any reason to deny Delegates voting right in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
2:24:39 P.M.	H. Res. 5	Mr. Cantor moved to table the motion to refer.
3:00:46 P.M.	H. Res. 5	On motion to table the motion to refer Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 224 – 187 (Roll no. 3).
3:00:58 P.M.	H. Res. 5	DEBATE – The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 5.
4:24:31 P.M.	H. Res. 5	On ordering the previous question Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 227 – 191 (Roll no. 4).
4:25:25 P.M.	H. Res. 5	Mr. Miller, George moved to commit with instructions
4:25:26 P.M.	H. Res. 5	DEBATE – The House proceeded with debate on the George Miller (CA) motion to commit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion direct that the resolution be committed to a select committee composed of the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader with instructions to report it forthwith back to the House with an amendment. The amendment would amend the Republican Rules Package to include legislation that would require that all Federal elections offer early voting for 10 hours per day for a period of 15 days, and ensure that no voter waits more than one hour to cast a ballot by providing sufficient voting systems, poll workers, and other necessary resources. The bill would also implement uniform standards for the counting of provisional ballots to ensure all voters have the opportunity to cast a ballot. Additionally, it would grant the Attorney General authority to enforce new requirements and grant private
4:25:46 P.M.	H. Res. 5	The previous question on the motion to commit with instructions was ordered without objection.
4:42:50 P.M.	H. Res. 5	On motion to commit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 194 – 229 (Roll no. 5).
4:43:06 P.M.		The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate agreed to S. Res. 2, S. Con. Res. 1, S. Con. Res. 2, and S. Con. Res. 3.
4:48:00 P.M.	H. Res. 5	>On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 228 – 196 (Roll no. 6).
4:48:01 P.M.	H. Res. 5	Subsequent to the adoption of the resolution, the Chair announced that, without objection, the word “General” in section 3(j)(1) is changed to “Government”.
4:49:01 P.M.	H. Res. 5	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
4:50:47 P.M.		Pursuant to H. Res. 3, the Chair announced the Speaker’s appointment of Mr. Cantor of Virginia and Ms. Pelosi of California to the committee on the part of the House to join a committee on the part of the Senate to notify the President of the United States that a quorum of each house has assembled and that Congress is ready to receive any communication that he may be pleased to make. Agreed to without objection.
5:01:08 P.M.	H. Res. 6	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 6 — “Electing Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives.”
5:01:41 P.M.	H. Res. 6	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:02:00 P.M.	H. Res. 6	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:02:21 P.M.	H. Res. 7	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 7 — “Electing Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives.”
5:02:31 P.M.	H. Res. 7	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:02:35 P.M.	H. Res. 7	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:02:40 P.M.	H. Res. 8	Becerra asked unanimous consent to consider as introduced.
5:02:40 P.M.	H. Res. 8	Considered by unanimous consent. H. Res. 8 — “Providing for the designation of certain minority employees.”
5:03:05 P.M.	H. Res. 8	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:03:20 P.M.	H. Res. 8	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:03:27 P.M.	H. Res. 9	Considered as privileged matter. H. Res. 9 — “Fixing the daily hour of meeting of the First Session of the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress.”
5:03:42 P.M.	H. Res. 9	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:03:46 P.M.	H. Res. 9	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:04:22 P.M.		<ACTION_DESCRIPTION>Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent that during the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, the Speaker, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader be authorized to accept resignations and to make appointments authorized by law or by the House. Agreed to without objection.
5:04:40 P.M.		Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent that during the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, all Members be permitted to extend their remarks and to include extraneous material within the permitted limit in that section of the record entitled “Extension of Remarks”. Agreed to without objection.
5:07:09 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 1	Considered as privileged matter. H. Con. Res. 1 — “Regarding consent to assemble outside the seat of government.”
5:07:44 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 1	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:07:51 P.M.	H. Con. Res. 1	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:08:22 P.M.		Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10:00 a.m. on January 4. Agreed to without objection.
5:08:55 P.M.		House Office Building Commission – Pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 2001, and the Order of the House of Today the Speaker appointed the following members of the House to the House Office Building Commission: Mr. Cantor and Ms. Pelosi .
5:09:14 P.M.		Appointment to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence – Pursuant to Clause 11 of Rule X, Clause 11 of Rule I and the Order of the House Today the Speaker appointed the following members of the House to the Appointment to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Mr. Rogers of MI and Mr. Ruppersberger .
5:09:44 P.M.		Joint Economic Committee – Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1024(a), and the Order of the House of Today the Speaker appointed the following members of the House to the Joint Economic Committee: Mr. Brady of TX and Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney.
5:10:03 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 1	Considered as privileged matter. S. Con. Res. 1 — “To provide for the counting on January 4, 2013, of the electoral votes for President and Vice President of the United States.”
5:11:07 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 1	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:13:03 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 1	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:13:28 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 2	Considered as privileged matter. S. Con. Res. 2 — “Extending the life of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.”
5:13:39 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 2	On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.
5:13:42 P.M.	S. Con. Res. 2	Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
5:14:00 P.M.		The Chair announced the Speaker’s policies with respect to particular aspects of the legislative process and inserted in the Congressional Record announcements concerning: first, privileges of the floor; second, introduction of bills and resolutions; third, unanimous-consent requests for the consideration of legislation; fourth, recognition for 1-minute speeches; fifth, recognition for special-order speeches; sixth, decorum in debate; seventh, conduct of votes by electronic device; eighth, use of handouts on the House floor; ninth, use of electronic equipment on the House floor; and tenth, use of the Chamber. The Chair further announced that these announcements will reiterate the origins of the stated policies and that the Chair intends to continue in the 113th Congress the policies reflected in those statements and that the policy announced in the 102nd Congress with respect to jurisdictional concepts
5:15:08 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Under clause 2(g) of rule II of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had designated Robert Reeves, Deputy Clerk, and Kirk D. Boyle, Legal Counsel, to sign any and all papers and do all other acts for her under the name of the Clerk of the House that they would be authorized to do by virtue of this designation, except such as are provided by statute, in case of her temporary absence or disability. This designation shall remain in effect for the 113th Congress or until modified by the Clerk.
5:15:32 P.M.		The House received a communication from The Honorable John A. Boehner, Speaker. Pursuant to H. Con. Res. 1, and also for purposes of such concurrent resolutions of the current Congress as may contemplate my designation of Members to act in similar circumstances, the Speaker notified the Clerk of his designation of Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia to act jointly with the Majority Leader of the Senate or his designee, in the event of his death or inability, to notify the Members of the House and the Senate, respectively, or any reassembly under any such concurrent resolution. In the event of the death or inability of that designee, alternate Members of the House are listed in the letter from the Speaker bearing the date of January 3, 2012 for the same purposes.
5:16:35 P.M.		The Chair announced that the Speaker has delivered to the Clerk a letter dated January 3, 2013, listing Members in the order in which each shall act as Speaker pro tempore under clause 8(b)(3) of rule I.
5:17:01 P.M.		SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE – the Speaker appointed the Honorable Jeff Denham, the Honorable Mac Thornberry, the Honorable Fred Upton, the Honorable Andy Harris, and the Honorable Frank R. Wolf to act as Speaker pro tempore to sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions through the remainder of the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress.
5:17:31 P.M.		ADJUSTMENT OF WHOLE HOUSE – Under clause 5(d) of rule 20, the Chair annnounced to the House that the whole number of the House is 429.
5:17:32 P.M.	H. Res. 1	Subsequent to the adoption of the resolution, the Chair announced that, without objection, H. Res. 1 is amended by striking “Florida” in the second place it appears and inserting “Oregon”.
5:18:14 P.M.		Mr. McHenry moved that the House do now adjourn.
5:18:25 P.M.		On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.
5:18:26 P.M.		The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on January 4, 2013.

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Pass the Farm Bill

12/27/2012 Nativegrl77

Tell Congress to Pass a Healthy Farm Bill
Farmers growing healthy food items such as organic milk often face hurdles that others do not. Congress is past overdue in passing legislation that would address these imbalances. Tell Congress you want a Farm Bill that invests in organic dairy & healthy-food farmers, NOW!

A Farm Bill for Organic Dairy & Healthy-Food Farmers

Imagine this: billions of taxpayer dollars support the production of unhealthy processed foods and sugary drinks, while farmers supplying healthier items such as organic milk are overlooked or even penalized. Worse, despite an overdue and ticking timeline, Congress is sitting on its hands instead of passing legislation to address these imbalances.

Sound like a bad dream? Unfortunately, it’s reality—but it doesn’t have to be.

Recent reports from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) showed how smarter agriculture policies can help farmers grow more of the healthy fruits and vegetables we need and boost local economies along the way. Now, a new UCS study, Cream of the Crop: The Economic Benefits of Organic Dairy Farms, reveals that public investment in organic dairy farmers would pay off in multiple ways. In addition to producing a healthier product and safeguarding the environment, organic dairy farms generate greater economic opportunity and more jobs in rural communities compared with conventional dairies.

But current agriculture policy favors big polluting CAFOs (confined animal feed operations) over organic dairy farms. And because Congress has failed to act on the now-overdue 2012 Farm Bill—the 5-year legislative package that shapes U.S. agriculture—the limited programs that currently help organic dairy farmers are at risk.

We can change this, but we need quick action. Tell Congress: pass a Farm Bill—one that calls for investments in organic dairies and other healthy-food farmers—NOW.

Sincerely, Ashley Elles National Field Organizer UCS Food and Environment Program