More than 40 percent of private-sector workers and 70 percent of low wage workers do not have a single paid sick day off of work to take care of themselves or family when ill. In many cases, workers have to make the decision to stay home and take care of a child when sick, or paying bills. No one should have to risk their paycheck and job because they're sick. Vermont is considering a new law that will ensure that all Vermonters have paid sick time off of work to use when sick. A similar measure was proposed last year but did not get the votes to pass. Send a message to Governor Peter Shumlin and the Vermont legislature - tell them now is the time for a paid sick days law.

Afford US Representatives and Senators an opportunity to feel the effects of their vote to shut down the Federal Government. My and my wife's healthcare and social security payments could be impacted. My children's and grandchildren's futures as members of a failed government would be damaged.

Cassidy Lynn Campbell is a transgender teenager who was named homecoming queen at Marina High in Huntington Beach. Since her recent victory, she has faced hateful attacks from her peers at school. Assembly Bill 1266 is a piece of legislation which would protect the safety of students like Cassidy by ensuring that public schools in California are responsible for the well-being of their transgender students. Under this bill, all students regardless of gender identity will be able to fully participate in all school activities, programs, and facilities. Additionally, AB 1266 makes it clear to all California public school administrators, teachers, parents, and students that California's nondiscrimination law requires them to respect transgender students identities in these spaces. While this bill has passed both the Assembly and Senate, and has been signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, conservative groups are seeking to repeal this very important law. As transgender students are becoming more visible and working hard to take advantage of spaces and activities that their fellow students have enjoyed for years, it's more important than ever that we support Assembly Bill 1266 and ensure that California Public Schools are responsible for protecting the happiness and well-being of students like Cassidy. In the face of opposition to this important bill, please ask your representatives to stand with Cassidy and all other transgender students in California by standing up for Assembly Bill 1266.

FOSTER CARE NEEDS REFORM. ENFORCE KINSHIP FOSTER PARENTS RIGHTS NOW!

This Thursday, September 26 has special significance to those who want to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. It is the date for the UN High-Level Meeting on Nuclear Disarmament. Instead of working in good faith to achieve nuclear disarmament, the United States chose to schedule two tests of its Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile on September 22 and September 26. On the same day that most countries will send their head of state or foreign minister to New York for the UN’s first-ever High-Level Meeting on nuclear disarmament, the U.S. plans to send a Minuteman III missile from California to the Marshall Islands. These missiles are designed to carry nuclear warheads capable of killing thousands of times more people than the chemical weapons used in Syria. Urgent actions have helped stop Minuteman III tests before: in 2011 on the International Day of Peace, and in 2012 on the anniversary of the largest-ever nuclear weapon test conducted by the U.S. (Castle Bravo in the Marshall Islands). Everyone’s signature is needed to try to stop the September 26 test as well. Send a message to President Obama, telling him to cancel this second provocative nuclear missile test and to attend the UN High-Level Meeting on September 26.

It is very unfair to give preference (points) to veterans over people better qualified with foreign language skills, graduate or professionals degrees and law enforcement experience. Although I have respect for veterans, there should be an equal opportunity to all citizens when applying to federal agencies.

for testing

The animals trapped for canned hunts experience the same emotions as people do… believe it or not, it is true. My friend has been to one of these farms following a very young lioness she fell in love with. All during their youth on the farms they are poked by long stick like devices... to have the humans you depend on for food also be abusive. This alone is cruel and then to be put in a larger enclosure with no way to escape and be exploring new territory in all of it's excitement and turn around only to be met by a human being's bullet is like the ultimate betrayal. The joy is gone. The Golden Rule applies to animals too. All animals have the right to life. Aren't you happy you have had a chance to live a full most natural life and not be gunned down while you are exploring some new place?

To have true Democracy and not a one party system.

US citizens deserve to have organic labels on food to be accurate and truthful. The USDA has, without public input or debate, allowed the regulations for this labeling to be extended to include synthetic products indefinitely. This is wrong.

Tired of violence and hate? When everyone chooses inner peace we will have a peaceful society. Gang violence, school shootings and outrage will eventually become a thing of the past. Gun laws won’t be necessary when anger is replaced with inner peace. Inner peace replaces the need for drugs to escape a fearful world.

Sword Art Online (SAO) is a widely known Manga that has been adapted into an Anime, which lately has grown a large fan-base within the last year. Recently as of "March 14th 2013" Namco Bandai Games Inc. released a video game adaptation of the popular series to its Japanese public only. The games title; "Sword Art Online: Infinity Moment" for the PlayStation Portable. This Petition is to help convince the developers of this game to create an English rendition of the game and release it to the North American public.