Tag Archives: United States Congress

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Take Action: Women and Families in Danger


The Republican House leadership is proposing major cuts in programs that affect women and families. The House is expected to vote on this “continuing resolution” later this week.

Please help us fight back by sending a clear message to the House of Representatives — Vote against the Continuing Resolution.   www.nwlc.org

The Continuing Resolution for FY 2011 proposed by House Republican leaders cuts supports for women and girls at every stage of life. It:

Eliminates the Title X family planning programs that provide funding for contraception and other preventive care to over five million women and men each year

Cuts Head Start and child care for 368,000 children

Cuts millions from nutrition programs for pregnant women and their children

Cuts funding for prenatal care

Eliminates funding for the Women’s Educational Equity Program that helps schools comply with Title IX

Cuts funding for Pell grants, which help low-income women afford college, by more than $800 per student

Cuts funding needed to keep Social Security offices open and for meals, housing, and other supports for elderly women

In addition, the Continuing Resolution also cuts funding for education, housing, food safety, environmental protection, and more.

Take action today and make sure your Representative opposes these drastic cuts.  www.nwlc.org

The debate over next year’s budget also moved into high gear this week, with the release of President Obama’s budget for Fiscal Year 2012. We’ll be sending you information shortly about what the President’s budget would mean for women and their families.

The fights over national priorities, for this year and years to come, will be tough. We’re counting on you!

Sincerely,

Joan Entmacher

Vice President, Family Economic Security

National Women’s Law Center

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Threats to Social Security Are Not Over

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The threats to undermine Social Security continue. This week the Wall Street Journal reported that four Senators, Crapo, Coburn, Conrad, and Durbin(!), are meeting regularly on a plan to reintroduce the ideas from the Deficit Commission that include raising the retirement age and cutting Social Security benefits. Meanwhile, in the House, Rep. Cantor says that Social Security is still on the table to be cut. We can’t let this happen.

We want to make sure that Congress understands what they are doing when they plan to cut the rug out from under working people who need Social Security to support themselves, their families, and their communities. That’s why we are collecting stories from folks like you to share with Congress and to put in TV ads for everyone to see.

Yes! I have a Social Security story I want to share! http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/466?akid=436.1480546.lkcsxe&t=3

I don’t have a Social Security story, but I’ll contribute $5 to put these stories on the air. http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/467?akid=436.1480546.lkcsxe&t=2

Social Security is a promise we made with each other to support one another in retirement or in cases of disability. This promise is how we keep our communities stable and secure when we need it most.

We will share these stories with Progressive Members of Congress to talk about on the House and Senate floor, we will send your stories to all Members of Congress, and we will use some stories for a TV ad to make sure that everyone knows the faces of people who depend on Social Security.

Yes! I want to make sure members of Congress hear my story! http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/466?akid=436.1480546.lkcsxe&t=1

I don’t have a Social Security story, but I’ll contribute so that others’ stories can be shared. http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/467?akid=436.1480546.lkcsxe&t=4 

Thank you for all that you do.

-Levana

Levana Layendecker, Communications Director

Democracy for America

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Congress: what’s going on 2/9


 The Senate will not be in session on Wednesday, February 9th

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 The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on February 9, 2011.

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF FEBRUARY 9, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

2:12 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

2:06 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.

H. Res. 78:

The title of this measure is not available

2:05 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to without objection.

2:04 P.M. –

Considered as privileged matter.

H.R. 519:

to secure the return to the United States the $179 million overpaid into the United Nations Tax Equalization Fund as of December 31, 2009, and for other purposes

2:03 P.M. –

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 259 – 169 (Roll no. 28).

1:55 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

S. 188:

to designate the United States courthouse under construction at 98 West First Street, Yuma, Arizona, as the “John M. Roll United States Courthouse”

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 429 – 0 (Roll no. 27).

1:30 P.M. –

Considered as unfinished business.

1:29 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.R. 519:

to secure the return to the United States the $179 million overpaid into the United Nations Tax Equalization Fund as of December 31, 2009, and for other purposes

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.

12:39 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 519.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

S. 188:

to designate the United States courthouse under construction at 98 West First Street, Yuma, Arizona, as the “John M. Roll United States Courthouse”

12:38 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.

12:16 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 188.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Denham moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.

12:15 P.M. –

United States Capitol Preservation Commission – Pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 2081, the Minority Leader appointed Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, (re-appointment) .

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission – Pursuant to section 4(b) of House Resolution 5, 112th Congress, the Minority Leader appointed James P. McGovern of Massachusetts, Co-Chair, (re-appointment) .

Congressional Award Board – Pursuant to section 803(a) of the Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Act (2 U.S.C. 803(a)), the Minority Leader appointed Shelia Jackson Lee of Texas .

12:01 P.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.

12:00 P.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Jackson 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.

Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Daniel Coughlin.

The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of February 9.

10:29 A.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 P.M. today.

10:00 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.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Daniel Webster to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.

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Stop the radically anti-choice, anti-woman H.R. 3


The anti-choice caucus in Congress is still pushing an extreme anti-choice bill that would significantly restrict women’s access to abortion services.

Republicans may have caved to pressure to remove an outrageous provision in their bill that sought to redefine rape in order to limit the number of rape victims with access to abortion services. But the bill if passed remains a horrific rollback in a woman’s right to choose.

We must redouble the pressure on Congress and defeat this radically anti-woman and anti-choice bill.

I just signed a petition urging my U.S. Representative to oppose this extreme bill and protect women’s health. You should too. Click below to take action.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/stop_hr3/?r_by=16100-2591629-wh0ZoYx&rc=confemail

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This needs to be a headline …OFA


Yesterday, Democrats in the Senate successfully blocked the repeal of health reform — preventing Republicans from tacking it on as an amendment to a completely unrelated bill.

But Republicans in Congress aren’t finished with the political games.

Instead of focusing on creating jobs and growing the economy, they are insisting on re-litigating the battles of the last two years. They’ve vowed to do whatever it takes to tear apart the Affordable Care Act bit by bit, and they’re already planning to go after it at every turn.

These opponents of reform are in full campaign mode.

But we don’t just have the facts on our side — we also have the millions of Americans who already benefit from reform. And it’s up to us to help tell their stories, to make sure everyone understands the costs of repeal.

So, in the next week, we want to make sure those stories are on the letters pages of your local papers — one place we know lawmakers and folks in your community are sure to look.

http://my.barackobama.com/RepealLTE1?keycode=f73ee748a8755ee96cbf68fb490ba6bac3a1b3eea88077a8e4437e5b3f5b84a5&email=louvenia77@comcast.net

Will you write a letter to the editor exposing repeal — and highlight how the Affordable Care Act is improving lives in your community?

Using our letter-to-the-editor tool is easy, and we’ll even get you started with a few tips and helpful points you can use to make your case.

But, discussion points aside, you already know why we can’t afford repeal. The Affordable Care Act is helping millions of people around the country — and these are our friends and neighbors.

We’re on their side.

We’re on the side of the folks who used to worry about losing their coverage when someone on their plan got sick.

We’re on the side of the young adults who can now stay on their parents’ health plan until they turn 26.

We’re on the side of the seniors who used to pay thousands out of pocket because they fell in the “donut hole” in prescription drug coverage.

We’re on the side of the people the insurance companies can no longer discriminate against, like children who have a pre-existing condition.

That’s why we fought for reform in the first place.

That’s why we can’t stand by while the other side tries to tear it down, exposing millions of Americans once again to the whims of the insurance industry.

It’s why we can’t just sit back while a few activist judges rehash last year’s debate as they attempt to legislate from the bench and strike down provisions in the bill.

Because it shouldn’t be repeal that we should be reading about in tomorrow’s papers. The headlines we see should be about the people whose lives are improving because of reform.

They’re counting on you.

Tell their story — or yours. Write a letter to the editor today to protect our progress:

http://my.barackobama.com/RepealLTE

Thanks,

Yohannes

Yohannes Abraham

Political Director

Organizing for America