Tag Archives: United States

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Our next fight: DREAM Act now


Reform Immigration FOR America Share This Message:
Pass the DREAM Act
We’ve waited long enough
We always knew that our fight didn’t begin – or end – on Election Day.
Two weeks ago, we stood up all over the country for what we believed in. We showed Congress where we stood, and how powerful we are. Now it’s time to remind them of what we want. 

Before the election, Harry Reid promised that he would put the DREAM Act up for a vote before the end of the year. Nancy Pelosi wants that vote to happen. It’s up to us to show Reid and the rest of the Senate that our movement isn’t going to wait.

Click here to send a fax to leaders in Congress:

We have waited long enough to reform our broken immigration system. Pass the DREAM Act during the lame duck session this year.

Passing the DREAM Act would be a clear sign from Congress that they’re willing to work with us moving forward. It’s time to stand together and show the policymakers in DC what we’re made of.

Thank you,
Marissa Graciosa
Reform Immigration FOR America
We’re fighting to fix our broken immigration system, but we can’t win without you!
contribute $30 today to sponsor 80 faxes and 100 calls to Congress.
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Congress back in Session – 11/15/10 -updates when needed


The Senate will stand adjourned under the provisions of H.Con.Res.321 until 2:00pm on Monday, November 15.

When the Senate convenes there will be a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no roll call votes during Monday’s session of the Senate.

The Senate will be in session the  entire week of November 15-19, 2010.

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The next meeting in the House is scheduled for Monday November 15, 2010 2:00pmET

CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS
LEGISLATIVE DAY OF NOVEMBER 15, 2010
111TH CONGRESS – SECOND SESSION

9:17 P.M. –
The House adjourned pursuant to a previous special order. The next meeting is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. on November 16, 2010. On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.  

Mr. King (IA) moved that the House do now adjourn.

7:00 P.M. –
SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.  

6:56 P.M. –
Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on November 19: Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, himself for 5 min, Mr. Garrett of NJ for 5 min, and Mr. Moran of KS for 5 min. Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on November 18: Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, himself for 5 min, Mr. Garrett of NJ for 5 min, Mr. Paul for 5 min, and Mr. Moran of KS for 5 min.  

6:55 P.M. –
Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on November 17: Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, himself for 5 min, Mr. Garrett of NJ for 5 min, Mr. Paul for 5 min, Mr. Moran of KS for 5 min, and Mr. Diaz-Balart, Lincoln of FL for 5 min. Mr. Poe of TX requested the following general leaves to address the House on November 16: Mr. Burton of IN for 5 min, himself for 5 min, Mr. Garrett of NJ for 5 min, Mr. Paul for 5 min, Mr. Moran of KS for 5 min, and Mr. Diaz-Balart, Lincoln of FL for 5 min.  

6:54 P.M. –
ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with further one minute speeches.  

6:52 P.M. –
The House received a message from the Senate. The Senate passed S.J. Res. 40. SPEAKER’S APPOINTMENT – Pursuant to section 1002 of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 (P.L. 107-306) as amended by section 701(a)(3) of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 (P.L. 111-259), and the order of the House of January 6, 2009, the Chair announces the Speaker’s appointment of the following member on the part of the House to the National Commission for the Review of the Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community: Mr. Maurice Sonnenberg, New York, NY.  

H. Con. Res. 328:

expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the successful and substantial contributions of the amendments to the patent and trademark laws that were initially enacted in 1980 by Public Law 96-517 (commonly referred to as the “Bayh-Dole Act”) on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its enactment 

 

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 385 – 1 (Roll no. 568). Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

6:44 P.M. –
Considered as unfinished business.  

H. Res. 1713:

recognizing the 50th anniversary of Ruby Bridges desegregating a previously all-White public elementary school 

 

6:43 P.M. –
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 376 – 0 (Roll no. 567).  

6:34 P.M. –
Considered as unfinished business.  

S. 3689:

to clarify, improve, and correct the laws relating to copyrights 

 

6:33 P.M. –
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.  

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 385 – 0, 1 Present (Roll no. 566).

6:02 P.M. –
Considered as unfinished business.  

6:01 P.M. –
Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX, the Speaker postponed until a time to be announced, the roll call vote on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.Res. 716, which was ordered on Monday, November 15, 2010. 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.  

6:00 P.M. –
The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of November 15.

 

3:50 P.M. –

The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:00 P.M. today.

H. Res. 1713:

recognizing the 50th anniversary of Ruby Bridges desegregating a previously all-White public elementary school

3:49 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.

3:32 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1713.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

S. 3689:

to clarify, improve, and correct the laws relating to copyrights

3:31 P.M. –

S. 3689:

to clarify, improve, and correct the laws relating to copyrights

3:26 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 3689.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

H. Con. Res. 328:

The title of this measure is not available

3:25 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.

3:15 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Con. Res. 328.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H.R. 6397:

The title of this measure is not available

3:14 P.M. –

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

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

2:58 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6397.

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

Considered under suspension of the rules.

S. 1376:

to restore immunization and sibling age exemptions for children adopted by United States citizens under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption to allow their admission to the United States

2:54 P.M. –

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

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

2:47 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1376.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

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

H. Res. 716:

recognizing Gail Abarbanel and the Rape Treatment Center, and for other purposes

2:46 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.

2:42 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 716.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

H.R. 5566:

to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit interstate commerce in animal crush videos, and for other purposes

2:41 P.M. –

House agreed to Senate amendment with amendment pursuant to H. Res. 1712.

H. Res. 1712:

Providing for the consideration of the bill H.R. 5566 and the Senate amendment thereto

2:39 P.M. –

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

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

2:23 P.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1712.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

Mr. Conyers moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until 6:00 p.m. today.

2:15 P.M. –

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

H.R. 3808:

to require any Federal or State court to recognize any notarization made by a notary public licensed by a State other than the State where the court is located when such notarization occurs in or affects interstate commerce

2:14 P.M. –

VETO MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT – The Chair laid before the House the veto message from the President on H.R. 3808. The objections of the President were spread at large upon the Journal, and the veto message was ordered to be printed as a House Document No. 111-152. Pursuant to the order of the House of earlier today, further consideration of the veto message and the bill are postponed until the legislative day of Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010, and that on that legislative day, the House shall proceed to the constitutional question of reconsideration and dispose of such question without intervening motion.

2:13 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk transmitted H.R. 3808, the “Interstate Recognition of Notarization Act of 2010,” and a Memorandum of Disapproval thereon received from the White House on October 8, 2010, at 12:55 p.m.

Mr. Scott (VA) asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Monday, November 15, 2010, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 16, 2010, for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.

Mr. Scott (VA) asked unanimous consent That, when a veto message on H.R. 3808 is laid before the House on the legislative day of today, then after the message is read and the objections of the President are spread at large upon the Journal, further consideration of the veto message and the bill shall be postponed until the legislative day of Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010; and that on that legislative day, the House shall proceed to the constitutional question of reconsideration and dispose of such question without intervening motion. Agreed to without objection.

2:04 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on September 30, 2010, at 11:13 a.m.: That the Senate passed without amendment H.R. 6200, H.R. 4543, H.R. 5341, H.R. 5390, H.R. 5450 and H. Con. Res. 319.

2:03 P.M. –

The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the notified the House that she had received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on September 30, 2010 at 11:14 a.m.: That the Senate passed H.R. 1061 with amendments; passed H.R. 1722 with an amendment; passed S. 685, S. 3794, and S. 2847; agreed to S. Con. Res. 52, S. Con. Res. 72, and S. Con. Res. 74.

2:02 P.M. –

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mrs. Christensen 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.

2:00 P.M. –

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

The Speaker designated the Honorable Jesse L. Jackson Jr. to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.


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Open Letter to the American People

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To the American People:

The midterm elections that just passed were not about political parties and partisan scorekeeping. They were about you: your families, your jobs, your economic security and your future.

The message that you sent to Washington is that you want Democrats, Republicans and Independents to work together to find the common ground needed for real solutions and real progress. Democrats agree. We understand the frustration felt by all Americans – especially our middle class. We heard you, loud and clear. We’re frustrated too and will continue to fight for what you demand and deserve.

Democrats will keep fighting to make sure that big banks, big oil, those who want to privatize Social Security and other powerful special interests are prevented from taking advantage of you. We also welcome every opportunity to work with our Republican colleagues as we know the challenges that lie ahead of us know no political affiliation.

And with Republicans securing more seats in both houses of Congress, it is imperative they take their responsibility to offer bipartisan solutions more seriously. Simply saying ‘no’ will do nothing to create more jobs and strengthen our economy.

You will hear many of the media pundits say this was a tough election for those on the ballot this year, but we know that is nothing compared to the fight that middle-class families are facing to stay in their homes, find good jobs and make ends meet.

The time for politics is now over. Democrats will spare no effort to get back to work immediately in order to restore the American Dream for you and your families.

Sincerely,

Harry Reid

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Bitter Cold Winter for Unemployed Workers


EMERGENCY PETITION
If Congress breaks for Thanksgiving without extending emergency unemployment benefits, every day of inaction will cause more of the 14.8 million people who are willing and able to work but can’t find a job to lose their lifeline—and possibly even their homes.

Sign the petition: Tell Congress to extend long-term unemployment insurance now.

 

Across the nation, jobs just aren’t there. Many workers are in the job search of their lives.

In October, 14.8 million people were unemployed. A shocking 41.8 percent of them were jobless for 27 weeks or longer.*

But get this: Some lawmakers—many of the same ones who want to pass tax cuts for people who make more than $250,000 per year—want to cut off emergency unemployment benefits.

Sign the petition: Tell Congress to extend emergency unemployment insurance now.

Congress is coming back next week, and we need our lawmakers to take dramatic action. Congress has never let unemployment benefits expire when this many people have been out of work—and if it happens, economists predict catastrophic results. More parents who can’t put food on the table. Families losing their homes…real estate values sinking further, faster….And devastation for local businesses as pockets are empty during the critical holiday shopping season.

Sign the petition: Tell Congress to extend unemployment insurance now.

This is serious. The number of people out of work for more than six months is the longest on record. The National Employment Law Project estimates that—if Congress fails to act soon—800,000 people nationally will immediately lose unemployment benefits in the coming weeks. Two million workers will lose their benefits by the end of December. And the longer Congress delays extending benefits after that, the worse things will get for people who are out of work.

Please sign our petition today: Tell Congress unemployed people aren’t invisible.

Time is running out for Congress to take action without causing massive pain—and even homelessness—for long-term job-seekers. Our society, and our government, must not ignore our friends, family and neighbors who are unemployed through no fault of their own. These people have kids to feed, heat to keep on and homes to keep out of foreclosure—and you and I could easily be in their shoes.

Sign the petition: Make sure Congress doesn’t look the other way.

Thanks for standing in solidarity with your unemployed friends, family members and neighbors.

Manny Herrmann
Online Mobilization Coordinator, AFL-CIO

P.S. Next week, the same Congress that’s been in power for the past two years will be coming back for its “lame duck” session. But time is short. And an extension of unemployment faces an uphill battle in the Senate—Republicans may try to block extending unemployment so they can use it as political leverage.

Demand Congress take urgent action to renew emergency unemployment insurance now.

* “The Employment Situation – October 2010,” Bureau of Labor Statistics
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hell no!


 

Social Security cuts are coming for “virtually every American alive and those yet to be born.”1

And for what? Corporate tax cuts.2

Seriously: the co-chairs of President Obama’s deficit commission want to cut Social Security benefits for everyone making more than $25,000 a year. And then lower corporate taxes to just 26%.

Every member of this commission, every member of Congress, and President Obama himself must reject these insane ideas. We’re starting an emergency petition to President Obama and his Catfood Commission to take Social Security cuts off the table.

Sign our petition to President Obama and his Catfood Commission: hands off Social Security. Click here to add your name:

http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/handsoffss

The proposed cuts to Social Security are so deep, for so many people. This is a direct attack on America’s middle class for the benefit of Corporate America.

These ideas are so awful, sixteen other members of the Catfood Commission didn’t want to touch it.3 Problem is, this is the “starting point” for discussions. This will be negotiated, and many of these awful ideas could be in the final proposal. We need to stop it now.

It’s bad enough to even think about cutting Social Security – but to do it to pay for corporate tax cuts? That’s insane.

This is President Obama’s commission, and he has the power to shut it down. The other commission members can put their feet down and say no to Social Security cuts. Let’s make them do it.

Say “Hell No” to Social Security cuts. Click here to sign the petition.

Thanks for all you do to protect Social Security.

Michael Whitney
Firedoglake.com

1. Statement of Eric Kingson, Co-chair, Strengthen Social Security Campaign. 11/10/10
2. “Fiscal Commission Recommendations: VA Co-Pays, Top Tax Rate 23%” David Dayen, Firedoglake. 11/10/10 http://fdl.me/9DQmLx
3. U.S. Debt Proposal Would Cut Social Security, Taxes, Medicare. Bloomberg News, 11/10/10 http://fdl.me/aaTRoL