Headlines from the Senate

Ayotte Congratulates Sessions on Nomination to Be Attorney General


After Efforts by Blumenthal, Murphy, & DeLauro, Defense Department Seeks to End Reliance on Russian-Made Helicopters for Afghan Forces

Blunt Statement on Senator Jeff Sessions

Booker Statement on President-elect Trump’s Intention to Nominate Sen. Jeff Sessions as Attorney General

Senate Intel Chairman Burr Statement on Nomination of Pompeo to CIA

Cantwell Calls for FTC Investigation into Reports that Office Depot Pushes Unnecessary Computer Repairs on Consumers

Cardin Statement on Trump National Security Positions

IRS Warns of Fake Tax Bills

Cassidy Comments on Administration's Plan to Halt Arctic Resource Exploration

Headlines from The House

Jeff Sessions was Trump's selection as United States Attorney General

Bill against Midnight Rules was passed

The Midnight Rules Relief Act, H.R 5982, amends the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to allow Congress to pass one piece of legislation disapproving multiple regulations issued by a president in their final year of office

"No U.S. Financing for Iran Act"

REP. LIEU STATEMENT ON OBAMA ADMINISTRATION’S NEW OFFSHORE DRILLING PLAN

Long statement on Obama administration's five-year plan for offshore oil and natural gas lease sales


LOVE VOTES TO RE-AUTHORIZE IRAN SANCTIONS ACT


LOWEY STATEMENT ON SELECTION OF GEN. MICHAEL FLYNN AND SEN. JEFF SESSIONS FOR NATIONAL SECURITY POSITIONS

Luetkemeyer Supports Bill to Ensure Congress Can Stop Midnight Regulations

Lujan Grisham Joins Colleagues in Request to President-Elect to Withdraw Bannon Appointment

LUJAN CELEBRATES NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

Lynch Again Calls on FERC to Halt Pipeline Projects in West Roxbury and Weymouth Following Pipeline Explosions

Interesting Headlines (November 15)

JOYCE NURSING REAUTHORIZATION BILL PASSES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Jordan statement on IRS denying Albuquerque Tea Party non-profit status

BUTTERFIELD, JONES CALL ON DOT TO DESIGNATE U.S. HIGHWAY 264 AS A FUTURE INTERSTATE

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas Statement Denouncing Planned Ku Klux Klan Victory Parade in North Carolina

Hurd Fights to Hold Iran Accountable

Hudson, Butterfield Bipartisan Life-Saving EMS Bill Passes House

Hill Statement on Outdoor Recreation’s Economic Contributions Act
What this is doing is assessing the total $ made from the sale of hunting, fishing, and camping (etc) equipment like guns, tents, flashlights, etc. in order to note the feasibility of taxing these items in order to pay for the care of wildlife refuges without charging Americans more for the use of these areas. Of course, it doesn't say that.

Hastings Urges House Leadership to Bring H.Res.752, Condemning the Dog Meat Festival in Yulin, China, and Urging China to End the Dog Meat Trade to the Floor For a Vote

House Passes Guthrie Bill to Help Local Industry
The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act (H.R. 985), a bill introduced by Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) to allow the concrete masonry industry to conduct research, education, and promotion regarding their products.

Reps. Grijalva, Huffman, 21 Members of Congress, Recommend Steps to President Obama to Deescalate Tensions at Dakota Access Pipeline

Rep. Tom Graves Statement on House GOP Leadership Elections

Goodlatte Statement on Secret Service Inspector General Report

Gohmert’s Statement on Speaker Ryan Caucus Vote

Other Interesting News Releases for November 9

Four WWII Veteran Judges, All in 90s, Still Going Strong

ActionAid USA Reaction To U.S. Elections

ALPA Congratulates President-Elect Donald Trump, New Congress


AAM (Alliance for American Manufacturing) Statement on Donald Trump’s Election

Free Market and Limited Government Principles Prevail Across the Nation

AJC CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP, URGES QUICK STEPS TO UNITE NATION AND REASSURE ALLIES

POST-ELECTION MESSAGE BY ROBERT BANK, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE

American Life League Statement on the 2016 Presidential Election

APA (American Psychiatric Association) Congratulates President-Elect Donald Trump on Winning the Election; Pledges to Work With New Administration


ATA (American Trucking Association) Congratulates President-elect Trump

Interesting stuff from House Members November 9, 2016

Click the Headlines to read the articles

Cohen Praises DOJ for Sending Election Monitors to Shelby County


COLLINS STATEMENT ON FBI'S DECISION TO END CLINTON RE-INVESTIGATION

Cooper Statement on Presidential Election


Courtney Announces EPA Has Issued A Final Rule Establishing A New Eastern Long Island Sound Dredging Disposal Site


CRAMER: BOBBY VEE’S NORTH DAKOTA LEGACY LIVES ON IN HIS MUSIC


Cárdenas: "DOJ Allegations Against AT&T Are Troubling"

Rep. Peter DeFazio Statement on 2016 Presidential Election Results


DeGette, Brooks Seek Details from FDA on Cybersecurity for Medical Devices


Dingell on Death of Second Recruit at Parris Island: “We Must Get to Root of this Issue”

On Secretary Clinton's Speech Today

FaceBook Discrimination?, FBI Director

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II joined Congresswoman Robin Kelly and other Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Members in sending a letter to Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. The letter addresses reports of advertisers on Facebook, using a customization feature that excludes racial and ethnic groups when placing housing advertisements online. The customization feature allows for an “Ethnic Affinities” selection. By allowing online advertisers to promote or market a certain community for home sales, Facebook is therefore promoting restrictive housing practices. “This is a direct violation of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and it is our strong desire to see Facebook address this issue immediately,” stated the letter, signed by Congressman Cleaver, CBC Chairman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL), and Congresswoman Yvette Clark (D-NY). “Facebook may not have intentionally created this feature to separate communities, but there are minority families who have not seen or heard of the housing opportunities and sales that are being marketed and made available to others. Everyone should have the same opportunity to see what’s available to them,” said Congressman Cleaver. The Members are asking Mr. Zuckerberg to correct this customization feature in online housing advertisements. It is also important that technology industries like Facebook include more African Americans and minorities within their workforce to promote diversity and prevent future discriminatory practices.

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Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, today called on James Comey to resign as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Read more...

Drinking Water, Tax Code, Overtime Rule, Constitutional Amendment

Congressman Brendan Boyle Introduces Legislation to Require Enforceable Nationwide Standard for Perfluorinated Compounds in Drinking Water
Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-13) recently introduced legislation (H.R. 6125) that would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set an enforceable, nationwide primary drinking water standard for PFCs (including PFOA & PFOS). Currently, the EPA sets voluntary advisory guidelines. Congressman Boyle feels the current approach is too weak considering the growing science on the risks these chemicals present to our drinking water and the national scope of the problem. Click HERE to read more.

Americans Invited To Help Shape New Tax Code
U.S. Congressman Brady, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and leader of the House GOP Better Way effort to reform America's broken tax code, announces a new national video on the tax reform plan.
"This is not Washington's tax code, it belongs to the American people. Taxpayers ought to have a real say in the way you are taxed. We invite you to view this video, come to our website to learn more about our "Built for Growth” tax reform plan, and speak up," said Brady.

House Republicans have developed the first consensus GOP tax reform plan in 30 years, and are planning to bring a simpler, fairer and flatter tax reform plan to the House floor for a vote in 2017.

CLICK HERE to watch video.


Rep. Brat: 'Lawless' Obama regulations hurting small businesses and American economy
"Today I heard from local business owners on the imposing number of costly rules and regulations that the federal government has saddled on them, including the new 'overtime' rule and the joint-employer rule. As an economist, I understand that these bureaucrat-imposed regulations will only reduce hiring and hurt employment, while increasing costs at a time of stagnant economic growth. It's time for Congress to reassert its authority to write laws and push back against the executive branch and its thousands of regulations imposed by unelected Washington bureaucrats. We cannot allow this lawless administration to create such negative consequences for the American economy." Click HERE to read more...

Bishop Proposes Constitutional Amendment
Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-01) introduced H. J. Res. 100, a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that would provide states with the authority to repeal any federal rule or regulation if two-thirds of the states are in agreement. Upon introduction of this legislation, Rep. Bishop offered the following statement:

“The founding fathers crafted the Constitution to include the concept of checks and balances. Those checks and balances are not simply to provide horizontal protections, but also to ensure there are vertical safeguards between state and federal governments. This amendment halts the erosion of federalism that has chipped away at states’ powers for the past five decades. This is a tool for states to use when the executive branch of the federal government goes too far.” Click Here to read more...

Sit In, Immigration, Voting Rights, Osama's Bodyguard, IRS abuse

Members of Congress has decided to stage a sit in in order to get gun control laws passed. They say they are sitting in on the House floor in tribute to the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting and all those who have lost their lives or loved ones to senseless gun violence. Check me if I am wrong, but weren't most of the shootings lately done by ISIS extremists? Seems to me that the problem is who's holding the weapon, not the weapon itself.

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The Supreme Court has blocked President Obama’s executive actions to shield illegal immigrants from deportation. According to Congressman John Shimkus (R-IL, 15th), “This is a major victory for the separation of powers and the rule of law. The Supreme Court’s ruling reaffirms that Congress – not the president – has the sole power to write laws and that individuals who came to our country illegally remain subject to deportation.”

Democrats are blaming it on not being able to place a new judge on the Supreme Court bench since Scalia's death.

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Congressman Marc Veasey, co-chairman of the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus, introduced H.R. 5557, The Poll Tax Prohibition Act, to ensure the underlying costs of restrictive photo voter ID laws don’t prevent everyday Americans from exercising their right to vote. That is all well and good, as long as it doesn't open the door for illegal immigrants to vote.

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Osama bin Laden’s bodyguard Abdel Malik Ahmed Abdel Wahab al-Rahabi has been released from Guantanamo Bay.

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On June 14, 2016, the U.S. House of Representative passed H.R. 5053, the Preventing IRS Abuse and Protecting Free Speech Act. This legislation would eliminate the Schedule B form requirements for non-profit, tax-exempt organizations that require the disclosure of personal donor information.

The next day, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passed a House Resolution 737 to censure Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner John Koskinen unlawfully targeting conservative tax-exempt organizations.

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Legal Aid, Cuba, Net Neutrality, Weapons, GOP Agenda

On June 16, 2016, Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ, 5th) announced the tenth bill in his 2016 Shrink our Spending Initiative to highlight and cut wasteful taxpayer-funded programs. Upon introduction of his latest bill to eliminate the duplicative and wasteful Legal Services Corporation, he said, “Legal Aid services are a very common mechanism to assist our society’s poor who need legal representation. But these programs are funded at the state and local level, and connected directly to the people they serve. The Legal Services Corporation was chartered to be a federal variant, but in recent years it has been abused as a way to line the pockets of wealthy, well-connected lawyers who use its funds to lobby for new government programs, and then sue to expand them. And let’s not even mention the bogus charges for booze and travel. Let’s give the taxpayer a break and put an end to this waste.”

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The Senate Appropriations Committee approved an amendment to the Senate Financial Services Appropriations bill that would allow travel to Cuba.

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The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals just issued its long-awaited decision striking down the FCC’s network neutrality rule. This is the second time in four years that this court struck down the FCC’s attempt to adopt a network neutrality rule. It is now legal for AT&T or Verizon to block Slate, your blog, or any other site. You can read more about this by clicking HERE

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Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA, 28th), the Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, sent a letter to President Obama urging the Administration take a small step to help prevent future attacks like the Orlando massacre. Schiff encourages the Administration to consider providing F.B.I. agents with the discretion to place a tag on someone who had been under a terror investigation that would generate a hit when they go to purchase a weapon. Schiff also reiterated his support for “No Fly No Buy” legislation to prevent known or suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms or explosives.

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House Republicans Unveil Bold Agenda to Restore Balance of Powers, Reassert Congress' Unique Constitutional Role. Check out "A Better Way" by clicking HERE

Veterans, Carbon Tax, Organ Harvesting, Printing, Shooting

On June 7, 2016, Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN, 1st) introduced the Ethical Patient Care for Veterans Act, legislation to require clinicians practicing at the VA to report directly to state licensing boards whenever they witness unacceptable behavior from other VA clinicians. Currently, it takes at least 100 days for the VA to decide whether or not a complaint of substandard health care practices reported to the VA should be referred to the state licensing board.

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The Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2016, passed the House of Representatives on June 8, 2016. This legislation would extend the implementation deadlines for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) costly ozone standards. Studies by the EPA have shown ozone levels have dramatically declined since 1980.

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H.Res. 343, Expressing concern regarding persistent and credible reports of systematic, state-sanctioned organ harvesting from non-consenting prisoners of conscience in the People's Republic of China, including from large numbers of Falun Gong practitioners and members of other religious and ethnic minority groups – passed by voice vote, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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Congressman Steve Russell’s (OK-5) amendment, also known as Federal Register Printing Savings Act, was adopted in the House by a voice vote, and was included in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act which was passed Friday morning. Russell’s amendment curtails the printing and distribution of unnecessary copies of the Federal Register that is distributed to each Congressional and House Committee office daily. Since the Federal Register is available online, any office that needs the information can find it digitally; therefore, almost all of the printed copies are discarded. Of course, if a member of Congress, or other federal official, wishes to receive the printed copies of the Federal Register they may still register to do so. The annual savings of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars could then be put to better use.

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About the Orlando Shooting: (for those who want to make the issue about guns) I think a gun that can shoot one bullet to kill one human being is just as dangerous in the wrong hands as one that can shoot 700 rounds. I also believe that if anyone takes away my right to own either is putting me into danger when face to face with a criminal who obtained his weapon illegally. Whether he got the weapon legal or not, not having the option of owning a gun with the same firepower diminishes my ability to defend myself.

And, if you think you are going to make such weapons disappear completely so they can't be obtained illegally, you are dreaming.