Tag Archives: United States

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 10/05 ~~ the House


shutdownohnolook

The Senate stands in adjournment until 12:00pm on Saturday, October 5, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only until 4:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Wrap UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Completed the Rule 14 process of:

–          H.R.3230, making continuing appropriations during a government shutdown to provide pay and allowances to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who perform inactive-duty training during such period and

–          H.J.Res.72, making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes.

Began the Rule 14 process of:

–          H.J.Res.75, making continuing appropriations for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes.

–          H.J.Res.85, making continuing appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes and

–          H.R.3223, to provide for the compensation of furloughed Federal employees.

At a time to be determined by the Majority Leader with the concurrence of the Republican Leader, the Senate will consider the following nominations:

–          Executive Calendar #206, the nomination of Andrea R. Wood, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois; and

–          Executive Calendar #207, the nomination of Madeline Hughes Haikala, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama.

There will be 30 minutes for debate in the usual form prior to votes on confirmation of the nominations.

 

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Last Floor Action:
1:53:38 P.M. – The House adjourned. 10/05

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on October 7, 2013.

House Floor Activities
Legislative Day of October 05, 2013

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Help the EPA … Stop the shutdown


Want to know who some of the biggest victims of the government shutdown are? The agencies that protect our environment, including the EPA!

Tell Congress to end the shutdown!

In addition to costing hundreds of thousands of people their jobs, the shutdown has prevented key agencies from serving the American people. The EPA is one of the hardest-hit. The agency has basically been shut down, and 94% of its employees have been sent home.

Employees who “ensure continued public health and safety, including safe use of food and drugs and safe us of hazardous materials” have been sent home. Workers who protect federal lands and research properties have been sent home, as have employees who provide disaster and emergency aid. 505 Superfund cleanup sites in 47 states have been closed. And staff who write and implement greenhouse gas regulations can no longer come to work.

Tell Congress to end the shutdown and let the EPA get back to work protecting our environment.

It gets worse. The national parks are closed to visitors, but open to oil and gas drilling. Just a few employees will stick around to monitor the drilling activities. The Forest Service had to cut its staff, too, right in the middle of peak forest fire season.

Meanwhile, the threats to our environment will not rest. We simply can’t afford to let this happen—there’s too much at stake. Tell Congress to end the shutdown immediately!

-The Earth Day Network Team

BioMarin said No to her friend with Cancer


The first thing I have to say is thank you. More than 140,00 people — including you — have signed my petition to help save the life of my friend Andrea Sloan.

Andrea is in desperate need of a new cancer drug made by pharmaceutical company BioMarin, but they say she’s “not eligible” for any of their current trials. Andrea needs access to the drug under a “compassionate use” program, and because of our petition, it’s looking like that could really happen.

Just last week, a leaked internal email from BioMarin proved that they are taking this petition seriously and really considering helping Andrea.

Now is the time to turn up the pressure on BioMarin. Can you share my petition on Facebook to help it gain more signatures and momentum?

We are so close to getting Andrea the medicine she needs. She has dedicated her life to helping others — I know we can do what it takes to help her.

Thank you,

Carol Carter
Lake Dallas, TX

P.S. Have you seen this video that Andrea made explaining compassionate use? Click here to watch, and feel free to share that as well!

ACTION ALERT: Join the Indigenous Mobilization in Brazil!


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Help Make History!
Take Action for Indigenous Rights in Brazil!

Join the Indigenous Mobilization in Brazil!

Last week, courageous indigenous leader Mayalú Txucarramãe shared her concerns about threats to the Kayapó people and the Xingu Basin due to construction of the Belo Monte dam and recent attacks on indigenous peoples’ rights in Brazil. This week she joins her family and thousands of indigenous people from throughout Brazil in a national mobilization in defense of their constitutional rights. Take action today to show your support!

In response to a widespread attack on indigenous peoples’ rights and territories by the Brazilian Congress backed by agribusiness, mining and energy interests, Brazil’s National Indigenous Association (APIB) has called for a national mobilization until October 5th, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Brazilian Constitution guaranteeing the rights of indigenous peoples.

Let’s make sure that these rights are guaranteed.
Take action today to show your support!

The Brazilian Congress is about to consider proposals that would eliminate indigenous rights to resources in cases of “relevant public interest” and to reduce protections to indigenous territories and stop any new demarcations. This means more dams, mining and agribusiness expansion – not good for the Amazon, not good for people like Mayalú who live there…not good for me or for you living on this planet that we share.

Indigenous peoples are marching in cities across Brazil this week, meeting with congressional representatives and holding press conferences in defense of their rights and territories throughout the Amazon and beyond. Amazon Watch is on the ground with them. Wherever you are, won’t you join us?

Stand with Mayalú and indigenous peoples throughout Brazil by sending a message to President Rousseff today!

For indigenous rights and the Amazon,

Leila Salazar-Lopez
Leila Salazar-Lopez
Program Director

We won! Pregnancy Discrimination Bill Is Signed Into Law


   abetterbalance.org
Dina Bakst stands behind  Mayor Bloomberg as he signs the bill into law
Dear Friend,
Today, Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed the New York City Pregnant Workers Fairness Act into law! This victory, which will have a profound impact on the health and economic well-being of NYC women and families would not have been possible without your unwavering support. This victory brings us one step closer on the road to justice and equality!
A Better Balance worked with legislators to draft the bill, which was inspired by Co-Founder & Co-President Dina Bakst’s New York Times Op-Ed. The law will ensure that pregnant women and new mothers in New York City are not pushed off the job just because they need a reasonable accommodation in order to stay healthy. Thank you for your support as we move forward in our efforts to enforce this law and strengthen pregnancy discrimination laws around the country.
With much appreciation,
The ABB Team: Sherry, Dina, Phoebe, Jared, Elizabeth, Risha, Liz, and Rachel