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.

The entire global community needs to get together NOW to contain the worst of the damage at Fukushima Daichi. Reactor #4 is in dire shape, with 1300 spent fuel rods dangling 100 feet above the ground, on top of a building that is irreparably damaged. TEPCO and Japan can't handle the overwhelmingly complicated problem by themselves. I personally don't want to breathe irradiated air from Fukushima, nor should the rest of the world, for decades to come -- we must act now to prevent medical emergencies all over the world!

This petition is to stop the onslaught of bigotry and racism that is being spewed forth by Rep. King. I am in his district, though he did not carry the county in which I reside, he is still my representative. I have heard nothing that he has said that in any way represents me, or anyone that I know, and strongly believe that the House of Representatives, and his constituents, will be much better, and more fairly, served by someone else.

Members of Congress who refuse to raise the debt ceiling even to pay for expenses they themselves have approved are threatening a world economic crisis if the US defaults. But they personally pay no price and keep their job as long as their constituents continue to support their extremism. Meanwhile many of their districts take in more federal dollars than they pay in taxes. President Obama should immediately instruct the Treasury that if Congress prevents the US from raising the debt ceiling, the first debts not paid should be those to the districts of members of either party who voted against raising the debt ceiling. That should free up enough money to pay expenses in other districts and interest on the national debt and avoid default. Let those responsible be the first to experience the results of their destructive strategy. Only constituents in those districts can pressure their Congress members to change their vote. If Congress members think this is unfair or illegal, let them hold hearings or even sue the President, but in the meantime the US economy will be saved from default.

A dog known as Puppy Doe was discovered in Quincy Massachusetts on August 31, 2013 with injuries consistent with long term abuse. Her torturer inflicted knife wounds, burns, broken bones, starvation and also split her tongue. The torture was described as a "medieval" form of torture. The injuries were so significant that Puppy Doe needed to be euthanized. Animal abuse in Massachusetts is a felony with a maximum penalty of five years incarceration. There is no minimum mandatory for egregious cases. Strengthening our existing laws should be a top priority in light of this case. A mandatory minimum of a one year incarceration is needed to get these abusers off the street.

The reason i want you to sign this petition is because teens are not being allowed to go to Devers Middle Schools and Teen Center. This stops them from experienceing the great activities at the teen center. This is why i would like to you to sign this petition

All Americans should have access to quality health care.

At $1.5 trillion, Lockheed Martin's boondoggle F-35 fighter plane is the most expensive weapons program in world history. It doesn't work as promised and steals money from urgent priorities. Fat cat Pentagon contractor Lockheed Martin is trying to protect its taxpayer-funded gravy train by pressuring Senator Durbin to keep the F-35 alive. Tell Senator Durbin not to cave to Lockheed's pressure. Senator Durbin has likened the F-35 to a corrupt Wall Street megabank, questioning whether the F-35 is "too big to fail." We'll create more jobs in Illinois and people in Illinois will be better off if we kill the F-35, return the money to Illinois taxpayers, and use the money for Illinois priorities.

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.