The House will soon vote on the Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA). Also known as “Fast Track,” the legislation was pushed hard by President Obama to ease the passage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a massive trade agreement with 12 countries that account for nearly 40% of the global economy. President Obama has repeatedly stated that the TPP is “the most progressive trade bill in history” due to its “higher labor standards, higher environmental standards,” and “new tools to hold countries accountable.” We have no way to verify his claims, though, because he is keeping the language classified so nobody can see what’s really in it. And the history of previous trade agreements betrays a harsh truth: every president promises that the new trade agreements will have better labor standards, but the actual enforcement of labor provisions lags far behind the promises. A new report just issued by Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office shows that labor standards in trade agreements are almost never enforced (read it here: http://www.warren.senate.gov/files/documents/BrokenPromises.pdf). In a classic example, it was recently revealed that Qatar and the United Arab Emirates—in direct violation of U.S. trade policy—have completely outlawed labor unions and are among the worst countries in the world in terms of human trafficking. And in Columbia, where we just signed a new trade agreement, union leaders are still being murdered at an alarming rate. These violations are unacceptable. We have no idea if the TPP will have tough, new labor, environmental, and human rights standards, but frankly the odds are against it. Even if these standards are included, they will mean nothing if they aren't enforced.

A lot of young people who become adults are overreacting to meaningless situations that lead to violent actions to include death in some cases. The news is covered with horrendous tragedies around the country due to the lack critical problem solving skills. It is a sad and annoying problem that needs to be attacked at the youngest age. If we all join together in this redirection of our youth, we could make a real difference in their lives as well as our own.

The San Carlos Apache holy land has long been protected under a mandate of the Forest Service. The land has had special protections since 1955, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower decreed the area closed to mining because of its cultural and natural value. A large group of people from the San Carlos Apache have been camped out Oak Flat for more than three months, protesting the latest assault on their culture. In December 2014, Congress promised to hand the title for Oak Flat over to a private, Australian-British mining concern. A fine-print rider trading away the Indian holy land was added at the last minute to the must-pass military spending bill, the National Defense Authorization Act. By doing this, Congress has handed over a sacred Native American site to a foreign-owned company for what may be the first time in our nation’s history. This article was published in the New York Times Opinion Page on May 29, 2015: "Selling Off Apache Holy Land" by Lydia Millet

When shopping at Harris Teeter, we have a right to make healthy, responsible, and informed choices about the food we buy. But we can’t do that because Harris Teeter doesn’t label its products that contain GMOs. While more research needs to be done to understand the full impact of GMOs, they are not without risk. For example, some GMOs are designed to allow for increased use of pesticides, which have been linked to serious health and environmental impacts. And GMOs usually don’t undergo safety testing before they’re allowed onto the market. More than 60 countries, including the entire European Union, already require GMO labeling. And 93 percent of the American public polled supports labeling GMOs.[1] However, Monsanto and other giant agribusinesses are spending millions to counter this public support and block GMO labeling laws. Big Ag even spent close to $40 million against a GMO labeling initiative in California. But while they’re standing in the way of change, the grocery and food industries are slowly starting to respond to the growing demand for labeling. Some stores, like Whole Foods, have started labeling their GMO products. And General Mills recently announced that Cheerios will now be GMO-free. Harris Teeter should follow the lead set by Whole Foods and others, and start labeling their store-brand products that contain GMOs. -------------------------------------- [1] http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/science/strong-support-for-labeling-modified-foods.html

Maine has had medical marijuana since 1998. Legalizing adult recreational use of marijuana will create a whole new economic sector for the state, and will decrease arrests and incarceration for marijuana offenses, thereby creating needed criminal justice reform. It is time for the nonsensical prohibition of what is essentially a plant to end. Personal freedom, economic possibilities and criminal justice fairness demand it.

My children have been Students at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter school for several years. The school serves the community, and the families of it's students in many ways, and has done a fantastic job at creating an environment while young minds can grow and thrive, and families can build skills. Helping them to progress as a school, will no doubt help the community they serve.

Hardworking people are being driven from their homes or working 80+ hours in order to barely survive. Rental cost controls should be based on demographic regional data and basic quality of life measurements. If the minimum wage is $7.50 per hour before taxes, that totals $1,200 per month, so a small efficiency or one-bedroom should be between $400-$600 per month. Online tools already exist for renters and tenants to rate each other, which may include both subjective and non-subjective sections.

Senator Graham's remarks about Iranians are unacceptable.

[PLEASE WHEN SIGNING THE PETITION, USE YOUR REAL FIRST AND LAST NAME] I am a student at Jesse M. Bethel High School in Vallejo and have talked to a multitude of students and parents who feel that Dr. Ramona Bishop has done nothing to improve school safety over a period of four years. She has continuously ignored parents' and students' complaints and has constantly refused to discuss safety concerns for all schools in the district. In the past two years there have been mobs, weapons pulled on both of the high school campuses, and a gas line explosion. Dr. Bishop claims that our schools are safe and there are no concerns about student safety from her point of view. We need change and if she can't make it happen, then we need someone who can. I would like to have as many signatures as possible to have her removed from her position if she continues to do nothing. Please this can only be signed by people who live or work in the city of Vallejo to be effective. If you graduated from on of the Vallejo high schools but no longer live or work in Vallejo, you can sign this petition as long as you mention that note. Also if you have family in one of the Vallejo schools please mention that. Please sign and share.

URGENT APPEAL TO NEIGHBORS, GUESTS OF WILDERNESS LAKE, AND FRIENDS The CT State Police and the CT Department of Environmental and Public Protection's proposed new Firearm Training Facility has been narrowed down to prospective 2 sites, with the major one located in Willington, consisting of 327± acres east of Ruby Road (the other site is located in East Windsor). A brief description of what is proposed: 55,000 square feet of buildings (one, or a combination of smaller buildings) that will contain: - classrooms to hold up to approximately 100 troopers and/or cadets - firearms simulator room - open area training room - indoor active-shooter training (not sure if this means an indoor range) - gun cleaning and smithing space - file storage room - staff offices - firearms vault - ammunition storage vault - recruit/staff kitchen and dinning area - reloading area - target storage area - bathrooms with lockers and showers - a garage Outdoor facilities will consist of: - 2 Range Control Towers - Qualifying Pistol Range (approximately 200 ft x 170 ft) - Active Shooter Training Range (approximately 200 ft x 170 ft) - Rifle Range (approximately 300 yd x 50 yd) - Shotgun Rifle Range (approximately 100 yd x 30 yd) - Approximately 125 parking spaces and the requisite well, septic systems, telecom, and electrical utilities. Residents have overwhelmingly opposed this facility, as has the Board of Selectmen. The concerns voiced range from the noise of the gunfire to the potential lead contamination of soil and water, as well as significant loss of property value throughout the town. There is also concern that, given the size of the parcel, this facility could be expanded to include other related functions under the control of the Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection. As owners of Wilderness Lake Campground, the impact to our pristine park that offers a rural setting getaway, a quiet solitude setting in which our guests share and balance with nature and animals, we recognize that this facility would change the setting of this town treasure. As Willington residents, we work diligently to protect our land and what it provides for us. We are acutely aware of the change that a firearm facility of this magnitude will have on our existence. We ask our neighbors, our friends, our guests, as well as all concerned residents in the region, to please use your voice and speak out against the violation of the rural residential character of this region of Connecticut and our quality of life. This proposed project has now moved into the Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) phase. It is now too late for comments to be addressed in the EIE, which is scheduled for release in October, 2015. However, your voice still needs to be heard by our state officials who will have an influence on how this project proceeds. Important contacts are: State Representative Sam Belsito [email protected] Legislative Office Building, Room 4200 300 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106-1591 860-240-8700, 800-842-1423 (toll free) State Senator Tony Guglielmo [email protected] Legislative Office Building, Room 3400 300 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106-1591 860-240-8800, 800-842-1421 (toll free) Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman State Capitol, Room 304 210 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106 860-524-7384, 866-712-6998 (toll free) Governor Dannel Malloy State Capitol 210 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106 860-566-4840, 800-406-1527 (toll free) Benjamin Barnes [email protected] Secretary of Office of Policy and Management 450 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106-1379 860-418-6200, 800-286-2214 (toll free) Commissioner Dora Schriro [email protected] Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection 1111 Country Club Road Middletown, CT 06457 860-685-8000

Every day animals around the world are mistreated and abused due to callousness or ignorance. As human beings of good conscience, it is our duty to protect those who can't protect themselves, especially innocents like children and animals. This petition aims to protect some of the most vulnerable among us, creatures that, with open hearts, place themselves entirely in our hands. We must act now to protect the pets of Illinois.

Responsible RI citizenship is needed NOW.