DOCSLIB.ORG

Senate Section (PDF)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Senate Section (PDF) E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 112 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 157 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011 No. 59 Senate The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was Mrs. GILLIBRAND thereupon as- ing waters of the Ohio River and other called to order by the Honorable sumed the chair as Acting President rivers in the region. KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND, a Senator from pro tempore. I have a photo that shows the devas- the State of New York. f tation, which I witnessed personally last Friday. This is an area of southern PRAYER RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME Illinois, one that has been hard pressed The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- economically, has been struggling, and fered the following prayer: pore. Under the previous order, the now is inundated with flooding. Let us pray. leadership time is reserved. A few days ago when I visited Olive Eternal Lord God, the Father of mer- Branch and Cairo, IL, near the south- cies, show mercy to our Nation and the f ern tip of the State, I saw this flooding world. In Your mercy, give our Sen- MORNING BUSINESS firsthand. Homes, barns, and roads ators a discerning spirit so that they were covered by floodwater. Voluntary The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- will understand our times and know ex- evacuations have been called for in a pore. The Senate will be in a period of actly what they should do. Lord, in- dozen Illinois towns, and people are morning business for debate only until struct them in knowledge that trans- scrambling to find a place to stay with 12 p.m. with Senators permitted to forms, enabling them to guide others friends and family and shelters to wait speak therein for up to 10 minutes through exemplary living. Provide for out the flood. each, with the first hour equally di- their needs, lighten their burdens, and They worry about what will happen, vided and controlled between the two fill them with Your joy. Refresh them when they will get back in their leaders or their designees, with the ma- with Your presence as You equip them homes, and when the kids will get back jority controlling the first 30 minutes to serve You and humanity. to school. and the Republicans controlling the We pray in Your holy Name. Amen. This is another photo which dem- next 30 minutes. f onstrates the kind of floodwaters that The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- people are struggling with in my part PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE pore. The Senator from Illinois. of the world in southern Illinois. My The Honorable KIRSTEN E. f colleague, Senator KIRK, was in south- GILLIBRAND, led the Pledge of Alle- SCHEDULE ern Illinois over the last couple of days giance, as follows: and has witnessed this firsthand as I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, the well. United States of America, and to the Repub- filing deadline for all second-degree We are both prepared to do whatever lic for which it stands, one nation under God, amendments to S. 493, the small busi- indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. we can to help our State and all of the ness jobs bill, is at 11 a.m. There will States in the region that have been af- f be up to two rollcall votes at noon. The fected by this terrible flooding. In APPOINTMENT OF ACTING first rollcall vote will be on the motion many cases this flooding is, unfortu- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE to invoke cloture on S. 493, the small nately, going to be there for some The PRESIDING OFFICER. The business jobs bill. If cloture is not in- time. clerk will please read a communication voked on the bill, the Senate will im- One of the properties I showed was in to the Senate from the President pro mediately proceed to a second vote on Cairo, IL. The water is already waist tempore (Mr. INOUYE.) the motion to invoke cloture on the high and will continue to rise. It can be The legislative clerk read the fol- nomination of John McConnell to be weeks before people can return home to lowing letter: U.S. District Judge for the District of see what, if anything, they can salvage. Rhode Island. U.S. SENATE, Late Monday night, the Army Corps PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, f of Engineers made a very difficult deci- Washington, DC, May 4, 2011. sion. They blew a hole in a levee on the To the Senate: MIDWEST FLOODING Missouri side of the Mississippi River Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, hun- near Cairo, IL, to relieve pressure on of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby dreds of local first responders, 500 Na- the levee and on other levees along the appoint the Honorable KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND, a Senator from the State of New tional Guardsmen, and hundreds of vol- Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. That deci- York, to perform the duties of the Chair. unteers in southern Illinois are work- sion will flood farmland, and that DANIEL K. INOUYE, ing around the clock to try to protect flooding will relieve some of the pres- President pro tempore. homes and communities from the ris- sure on the towns and communities, ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S2639 . VerDate Mar 15 2010 02:41 May 05, 2011 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A04MY6.000 S04MYPT1 tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with SENATE S2640 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 4, 2011 the families and homes which have and create jobs, the jobs Americans President was not whether to solve been threatened by these rising river need. As part of that effort, we out- these crises but whether or not to give waters. lined a comprehensive jobs agenda yes- a speech about them. The decision to disable the levee at terday. Last year, we waited for weeks to Birds Point in Missouri, as difficult as And today we will oppose pre- hear the President’s position on one of it was, may have saved the lives of maturely ending debate on the small the biggest ecological disasters in his- some of the nearly 3,000 people in business bill. The other side has re- tory. And throughout this past winter Cairo, IL, and surrounding commu- fused to allow votes on some of the and spring, we waited to hear what he nities. There are early indications that best ideas Republicans have offered for thought about a debt that had spiraled the Army Corps plan is starting to creating jobs as a part of this legisla- so out of control that America’s eco- work. The Ohio River has already tion, including an important amend- nomic outlook has been downgraded to dropped 11⁄2 feet at Cairo since 10 ment by the ranking member of the ‘‘negative’’ for the first time ever. o’clock Monday night. Engineers esti- Small Business Committee, Senator We can not wait for the President on mate the water level may go down as SNOWE. And we intend to oppose their this one. much as 7 feet as a result of the release efforts to short circuit this debate The consequences of sweeping our of water at Birds Point. until they do. problems under the rug again are just I want to make it clear to the people Republicans are also committed to too great. of Missouri, to my colleagues from stopping the administration’s inexcus- So let me be clear: As even some Missouri, that I will stand with them able war on American energy at a time Democrats have conceded, a failure to to make certain there is compensation of near-record gas prices. And we are do anything meaningful about the debt given to those farmers and homeowners committed to repealing the Democrat would be far more harmful to our eco- who were affected by this decision to health care bill that is already raising nomic future than a failure to raise the open this levee. Their misfortune is costs and destroying jobs. debt limit. going to spare literally thousands of But hovering above all of this is a The warnings are simply too loud to homes and businesses from the inunda- growing fear about our Nation’s debt. ignore. tion of these floodwaters, and we The administration knows this. That In early 2008 most of us had no idea should stand with them just as if they is the reason for tomorrow’s debt meet- we were headed for a financial crisis. were the victims of the original flood- ing at the White House. Only a few prophetic voices were say- ing. So this morning I would like to start ing anything about the dangers in the I am thankful for the good news that there, because anyone who has felt housing market. the river levels are coming down, but even the slightest twinge of pain from Over the past few years, we have seen the flooding is far from over. Water the recession has a vested interest in the painful consequences of that crisis: continues to rise and overtop levees this debate. unemployment lines, lost savings, mil- throughout the southern part of my Here is why: if we do not act to re- lions of homes foreclosed. State. My heart goes out to the men duce our debt, this country could very Despite this largely unforeseen eco- and women piling sandbags, to the Na- well experience a crisis that makes the nomic catastrophe, the American peo- tional Guard—God love them; every economic meltdown of 2008 look like a ple have dug in.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Friday, 20 November 2020 1 (10.00 Am) 2 LORD JACK Mcconnell
    1 1 Friday, 20 November 2020 2 (10.00 am) 3 LORD JACK McCONNELL (affirmed) 4 (10.01 am) 5 [The Inquiry’s Hearing on Friday, 20 November 2020 was delayed from 6 its normal start time at 10:00 a.m. due to a global outage of the 7 Cisco Webex video conferencing platform. Once the outage was 8 resolved, the Inquiry’s Hearing resumed at approximately 10:33 9 a.m.] 10 (10.33 am) 11 LADY SMITH: We are now able to carry on, but before doing 12 so, I would just like to explain the problem that's been 13 experienced is persisting. It's a global problem with 14 the Webex system, so anybody who is using Webex at the 15 moment is suffering the same problem. It's not our 16 particular systems in this Inquiry. 17 I hesitate to apologise for that because it's not 18 our fault. However, we do have one recording system in 19 place and a back-up recording system in place, so there 20 will be a transcript from today, but it may take 21 a little while to get that transcript up. 22 Now, Jack, I'm sorry. You have heard. Very 23 frustrating. But if we can now get back to your 24 evidence, if that's all right with you. 25 A. Of course. 2 1 LADY SMITH: We'd like to do that. 2 Mr Peoples. 3 MR PEOPLES: Thank you. Because we have lost a bit of time, 4 can I just say at the outset that, as I said earlier, 5 your evidence in the statement is evidence and will be 6 considered and is part of the evidence, but you'll 7 perhaps appreciate that we'll, because of the 8 constraints of time, particularly of what's happened, 9 focus on what's happened in some of the issues that have 10 arisen in the course of the hearing and are of 11 particular interest, perhaps, to the Inquiry and those 12 who campaigned for the Inquiry.
    [Show full text]
  • Second Annual Women in Macro Conference May 31 – June 1, 2019 Gleacher Center 450 Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago, IL, 60611
    Second Annual Women in Macro Conference May 31 – June 1, 2019 Gleacher Center 450 Cityfront Plaza Drive, Chicago, IL, 60611 Conference Organizers: Marina Azzimonti, Stony Brook University Alessandra Fogli, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Veronica Guerrieri, University of Chicago Friday, May 31st – Room 404 10:00 – 11:00 Laura Veldkamp, Professor of Finance, Columbia University “Might Uncertainty Promote International Trade?” joint with Isaac Baley and Michael Waugh Discussant: Claudia Steinwender, Assistant Professor of Applied Economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 11:00 – 12:00 Hélène Rey, Professor of Economics, London Business School; Member of the Commission Economique de la Nation (France) “Answering the Queen: Online Machine Learning and Financial Crises” joint with Misaki Matsumura Discussant: Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan, Professor of Economics and Finance, University of Maryland 12:00 – 1:30 Lunch – Room 450 1:30 – 3:15 Policy Panel on “The Global Economy: Challenges and Solutions” Participants: Janice Eberly, Professor of Finance, Northwestern University; former Chief Economist of the United States Department of Treasury Silvana Tenreyro, Professor of Economics, London School of Economics; Monetary Policy Committee Member, Central Bank of England Hélène Rey, Professor of Economics, London Business School; Member of the Commission Economique de la Nation, France Moderator: Şebnem Kalemli-Özcan, Professor of Economics and Finance, University of Maryland 3:15 – 3:30 Break 3:30 – 4:30 Monika Piazzesi, Professor of Economics,
    [Show full text]
  • Ministers, Law Officers and Ministerial Parliamentary Aides by Cabinet
    MINISTERS, LAW OFFICERS AND Scottish MINISTERIAL PARLIAMENTARY AIDES BY Parliament CABINET: SESSION 1 Fact sheet This Fact sheet provides a list of all of the Scottish Ministers, Law Officers and Ministerial Parliamentary Aides during Session 1, from 12 May 1999 until the appointment of new Ministers in the second MSPs: Historical parliamentary session. Series Ministers and Law Officers continue to serve in post during 30 March 2007 dissolution. The first Session 2 cabinet was appointed on 21st May 2003. A Minister is a member of the government. The Scottish Executive is the government in Scotland for devolved matters and is responsible for formulating and implementing policy in these areas. The Scottish Executive is formed from the party or parties holding a majority of seats in the Parliament. During Session 1 the Scottish Executive consisted of a coalition of Labour and Liberal Democrat MSPs. The senior Ministers in the Scottish government are known as ‘members of the Scottish Executive’ or ‘the Scottish Ministers’ and together they form the Scottish ‘Cabinet’. They are assisted by junior Scottish Ministers. With the exception of the Scottish Law Officers, all Ministers must be MSPs. This fact sheet also provides a list of the Law Officers. The Scottish Law Officers listed advise the Scottish Executive on legal matters and represent its interests in court. The final section lists Ministerial Parliamentary Aides (MPAs). MPAs are MSPs appointed by the First Minister on the recommendation of Ministers whom they assist in discharging their duties. MPAs are unpaid and are not part of the Executive. Their role and the arrangements for their appointment are set out in paragraphs 4.6-4.13 of the Scottish Ministerial Code.
    [Show full text]
  • Newsletter Vol
    RESEARCH EXCELLENCE • POLICY IMPACT Summer 2020 Newsletter Vol. 41, No. 1 COVID-19 Magnifies Race and Health Disparities IPR research unmasks disparities and offers ideas to address them 50-State COVID-19 Survey showing that African iStock American, Asian American, and Hispanic respondents’ worries about getting the virus were at least 12 points higher (>70%) than for White respondents (58%). (See pp. 7 and 24.) A Pioneering Approach to Understanding Health Disparities Since its founding in 1968, another significant period of social unrest, IPR’s researchers have tackled disparities in many insidious and persistent forms, whether racial, wealth, gender, education, social, health, or others. In 2007, a new generation of IPR researchers came together, with unique expertise in emerging academic areas like “psychobiology” or “biological anthropology.” Their idea was to Only 30% of Chicago’s residents are African “We are seeing dramatic inequities in the risk bring together the social, life, and biomedical American, yet as of late July they comprised of infection, and the risk of death, across the sciences to study how social, racial, and 43% of those who have died from COVID-19, U.S. and especially in Chicago,” said IPR economic disparities “get under a person’s according to Chicago’s Department of Public biological anthropologist Thomas McDade, skin.” To do this, they founded C2S, which Health. Both African American and Latinx who directs IPR’s Cells to Society (C2S): The McDade now directs, as a catalyst for probing residents are also getting sick from COVID-19 Center on Social Disparities and Health. how these social connections matter to human at higher rates than White residents.
    [Show full text]
  • Zillow Progressive Policy Institute and Columbia Business School Present
    Zillow Progressive Policy Institute and Columbia Business School Present: April 4th and 5th, 2012 New York, New York Table of Contents Welcome and Introduction Five years into the deepest and longest housing recession in recent history, this country’s 3 Welcome and Introduction housing market is still facing unparalleled challenges. Although a bottom in home values is Stan Humphries, Dr. Christopher J Mayer, Jason R. Gold in our sights, almost a quarter of homeowners with mortgages languish in negative equity, and home values are still falling in the majority of markets. 4 Housing in a Global Context April 4th, 6:00 pm, Columbia Club, 15 West 43rd Street During this housing recession, we’ve seen prolific public policy innovation aimed at solving the daunting problems confronting the housing and mortgage markets. Moreover, the Special Presentations by Nobel Prize Winning Economist Joseph E. Stiglitz and Ronnie private sector has not waited for policy direction before tuning existing business practices Chan, Chairman of Hang Lung Properties, Ltd. or seizing new opportunities. Builders have slashed operating expenses and learned to be profitable with fewer sales, real estate brokerages have learned how to buy and sell 6 America’s Housing Crisis Forum distressed inventory as never before, and investors are capitalizing on the booming rental April 5th, 8:00 am - 12 pm, Grand Hyatt New York, 109 East 42nd Street market by transforming once-distressed properties into much-needed rentals. Congressional Perspective: Representative Jim Himes, CT – D This week, Zillow, the Progressive Policy Institute and Columbia Business School are bringing together some of the individuals on the forefront of both public policy and private Private-Sector Responses to the Crisis: What’s Working and What’s Not? Moderated by S.
    [Show full text]
  • Fact Sheet Session 3 Msps Not Standing Or Not Returned in the 2011 Election 6 May 2011 Msps: Historical Series
    The Scottish Parliament and Scottish Parliament I nfor mation C entre l ogo Scottish Parliament Fact sheet Session 3 MSPs Not Standing or Not Returned in the 2011 Election 6 May 2011 MSPs: Historical Series 48 Session 3 MSPs were not returned to the Scottish Parliament in Session 4. They either did not stand as a candidate for re-election, or they stood but were not re-elected. This fact sheet is divided into two sections. The first section lists those MSPs who stood for re- election but failed to win a seat. The second section lists those MSPs who were serving at the end of Parliamentary Session 3 (22 March 2011) but chose not to stand for re-election. Abbreviation Party Con Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Green Scottish Green Party Ind Independent Lab Scottish Labour LD Scottish Liberal Democrats NPA No Party Affiliation Session 3 MSPs who stood for re-election in 2011 but failed to win a seat: MSP Party Constituency (C) or Region (R) Robert Brown LD Glasgow (R) Derek Brownlee Con East Lothian (C), South Scotland (R) Bill Butler Lab Glasgow Anniesland (C) Cathie Craigie Lab Cumbernauld and Kilsyth (C) Ross Finnie LD Greenock and Inverclyde (C), West Scotland (R) Karen Gillon Lab Clydesdale (C) Charlie Gordon Lab Glasgow Cathcart (C) Andy Kerr Lab East Kilbride (C) Marilyn Livingstone Lab Kirkcaldy (C) Frank McAveety Lab Glasgow Shettleston (C) Tom McCabe Lab Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse (C) Anne McLaughlin SNP Glasgow Provan (C), Glasgow (R) Pauline McNeill Lab Glasgow Kelvin (C) Des McNulty Lab Clydebank and Milngavie (C)
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 117 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
    E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 117 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 167 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 No. 163 House of Representatives The House met at 9 a.m. and was To these iconic images, history has school sweetheart, 4.1 GPA at Oakmont called to order by the Speaker pro tem- now added another: that of a young High School, ‘‘one pretty badass ma- pore (Mrs. DEMINGS). marine sergeant in full combat gear rine,’’ as her sister put it. She could f cradling a helpless infant in her arms have done anything she wanted, and amidst the unfolding chaos and peril in what she wanted most was to serve her DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO the besieged Kabul Airport and pro- country and to serve humanity. TEMPORE claiming: ‘‘I love my job.’’ Who else but a guardian angel amidst The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- The entire story of the war in Af- the chaos and violence of those last fore the House the following commu- ghanistan is told in this picture: the days in Kabul could look beyond all nication from the Speaker: sacrifices borne by young Americans that and look into the eyes of an infant WASHINGTON, DC, who volunteered to protect their coun- and proclaim: ‘‘I love my job’’? September 21, 2021. try from international terrorism, the Speaking of the fallen heroes of past I hereby appoint the Honorable VAL BUT- heroism of those who serve their coun- wars, James Michener asked the haunt- LER DEMINGS to act as Speaker pro tempore try even when their country failed ing question: Where do we get such on this day.
    [Show full text]
  • Speaker Biographies
    The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: A Boost to Growth or a Missed Opportunity? Speaker Biographies Janice Eberly is the James R. and Helen D. Russell professor of finance and former chair of the finance department at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Before joining the Kellogg faculty, she was a faculty member in finance at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Eberly was the assistant secretary for economic policy at the US Treasury from 2011 to 2013. She was the chief economist at the Treasury, leading the Office of Economic Policy. Eberly’s research focuses on finance and macroeconomics. Her current research emphasizes household finance and intangible investment. Her work has been published many academic journals. She has received a Sloan Foundation research fellowship and grant funding from the National Science Foundation. Eberly was an associate editor of the American Economic Review and senior associate editor of the Journal of Monetary Economics. Previously, Eberly served on the staff of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers and on the advisory committees of the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Congressional Budget Office. She was elected to the executive committee of the American Economic Association in 2008. Eberly was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2013 and is editor of the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity. She has won numerous awards for her teaching and is a member of the board of TIAA-CREF. Eberly received her PhD in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Jason Furman is professor of the practice of economic policy at Harvard Kennedy School.
    [Show full text]
  • MEMO Is Produced by the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities in Partnership with BEMIS
    3 November 2008 ISSUE 151 Minority Ethnic Matters Overview MEMO is produced by the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities in partnership with BEMIS . Supported b y It provides an overview of information of interest to minority ethnic communities in Scotland, including parliamentary activity at Holyrood and Westminster, new publications, consultations, forthcoming conferences and news reports. Contents Immigration and Asylum Other News Race Relations Bills in Progress Equality Consultations Racism and Religious Hatred Job Opportunities Other Holyrood Events/Conferences/Training Other Westminster Useful Links New Publications Note that some weblinks, particularly of newspaper articles, are only valid for a short period of time, usually around a month. Please send information for inclusion in MEMO to [email protected] and requests to be added to circulation to [email protected] Immigration and Asylum Holyrood Parliamentary Questions Jack McConnell (S3W-16800): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Leave to Remain visas have been requested in each year since the launch of the Fresh Talent initiative. Reply from Linda Fabiani: This is a matter for the UK Government. The Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme was managed by the Home Office, and information on the total number of Leave to Remain visas requested in each year is not routinely made available to the Scottish Government. I have asked the Home Office to write to you direct with this information. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-08/wa1030.htm Jack McConnell (S3W-16801): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Leave to Remain visas have been granted in each year since the launch of the Fresh Talent initiative.
    [Show full text]
  • Econ-At-Nwu-45-2012.Pdf
    Economics at Northwestern Page 1 of 16 Economics at Fall 2012 No. 45 Northwestern University Editor: Margene Lehman This edition covers the period of September 1, 2011 through August 31, 2012 In This Edition Economics Department News Economics Department News … 1-4 Northwestern Welcomes Econometric Society North New Faculty Members American Summer Invitation to the Meetings held at Annual Cocktail Party Northwestern University welcomes at the ASSA Meetings three new faculty members for the Northwestern in 2012 in San Diego … 5 start of the 2012-13 academic year. Northwestern University hosted the Associate Professor Guido Lorenzoni Honors, Awards, North American Summer Meetings and Grants … 6-9 (pictured on page 2) is a of the Econometric Society. The macroeconomist and joins us from meeting was held from June 28 to Faculty in the Massachusetts Institute of July 1, 2012, and was attended by the News … 10-11 Technology. Assistant Professor 420 people. It featured 330 David Berger (pictured on page 2) contributed papers, 14 papers in invited sessions, the Walras-Bowley Publications … 12-16 has just completed his PhD at Yale Lecture by Ernst Fehr (University of University. He is also a Zurich), the Cowles Lecture by macroeconomist with interests in Martin Eichenbaum (Northwestern Northwestern University Department of Economics international trade and finance. University), and the inaugural 2001 Sheridan Road Public finance economist Lee Samuelson Lecture by Jonathan Evanston, IL 60208-2600 Levin (Stanford University). Lockwood (pictured on page 2) has PHONE: (847) 491-5140 also joined us as an Assistant http://www.econ.northwestern.edu/ FAX: (847) 491-7001 seminars/NASM.html WEB: Professor.
    [Show full text]
  • December 2020 Election Heartening for FFRF’S Work for the Freedom from Religion Paign, a D.C
    Photoshop # White Black Skeptics FFRF chapters Winners of uplift through stay engaged, student activist social justice build support awards announced PAGE 11 PAGES 16-17 PAGE 18 Vol. 37 No. 10 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. December 2020 Election heartening for FFRF’s work For the Freedom From Religion paign, a D.C. lobbyist, and our educa- Foundation, the results of the U.S. pres- tional efforts have played a major role idential election mean the Christian in the secular surge. We’ll continue to Nationalist takeover of the federal gov- fight and remain vigilant no matter ernment should end. The Joe Biden/ which party is in the White House or Kamala Harris administration will controls Congress. mean a renewed chance to advocate FFRF has been working with our for secularism allies to develop and a return to a common secu- rational debate. lar agenda that “We the Peo- Congress and the ple” have spoken. new administra- Unfortunately, the tion can quickly Senate is unlikely implement. We to flip (barring look forward to two positive out- repairing damage comes inGeorgia inflicted on sec- seats up for runoff elections), which ularism and its values. This will entail will complicate recovery from a Chris- repealing many Trumpian executive tian Nationalist executive. However, orders, regulations and extrajudicial the results overall look like a victory for bodies (such as the Religious Liberty science over faith, for reproductive and Task Force), but must also include ma- individual rights over theology, and for jor judicial reform. reason over ideology. Unprecedented obstructionism in After years of playing defense, FFRF the Senate blocked President Obama can now push forward.
    [Show full text]
  • AGENDA ITEM No, -.Zlin
    NORTH LANARKSHIRE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM No, -.Zlin.... REPORT To: POLICY AND RESOURCES Subject: TACKLING SECTARIANISM IN COMMITTEE SCOTLAND From: CHIEF EXECUTIVE Ref: JL108 I Date: 20 May2005 I I 1. Purpose of Report 1.I The purpose of this report is to advise Committee of the findings and recommendations of the ‘Summit on Sectarianism’ hosted by the First Minister and held on 14 February 2005. 2. Background 2.1 The Scottish Executive is committed to addressing sectarianism in all its forms across Scotland. In February of this year, the Executive held a summit, the first event of its kind, which brought together representatives from a range of sectors including: 0 education; 0 the police; 0 local authorities; 0 churches and religious organisations; 0 the Scottish Football Association, individual clubs and supporters groups; and, 0 media representatives. 2.2 The aim of the summit was to recognise achievements to date, at both a national and community level, in addressing sectarianism and discuss how bigotry and religious intolerance could be tackled through co-operation, joint initiatives and understanding. During the seminar the First Minister also published the Executive’s statement and commitment to end sectarianism - ‘A Nation of Opportunity, Not a State of Fear.’ The statement is attached as Appendix One to this report and it summarises what the Executive has done over the last two years to challenge bigotry and tackle sectarianism. Council Leader, Councillor Jim McCabe represented North Lanarkshire Council at the summit. 3. Key Discussion Points and Recommendations 3.1 Those attending the summit expressed a clear desire to work with the Scottish Executive across a range of different areas of life and work to tackle sectarianism.
    [Show full text]