I propose keeping DNA samples from active military members in a database. Knowing this is a horrendous problem, not only in the military but in civilian life as well. The no-tolerance policy can only be enhanced by a DNA database. There have been an estimated 26,000 rape cases in 2012, with just a little over 3,000 reported. Due to the tests and DNA samples already required from military personnel throughout their military careers, there would be minimal cost to the government or Department of Defense to enact this program. A DNA database would reinforce the military's no-tolerance policy and aid in the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault and rape cases. It would also send a clear message to our society regarding rape and sexual assault in our local communities. Let's take the question of "guilty or not guilty?" out of the equation with a positive reinforcement message to keep all of our troops safe.

On Tuesday, the Georgetown City Council will vote on a proposal to have the city abandon a regional effort to build commuter rail linking Georgetown to cities as far south as San Antonio. Traffic on I35 is some of the worst in the nation. A commuter rail system will allow people in Georgetown to easily visit Austin and San Antonio without the maddening traffic and impossible parking. It'll also help reduce air pollution and our dependence on oil. Unfortunately, some on the Georgetown council want to quit the Lone Star Rail District, which means Georgetown wouldn't be a stop on the line. We could have regional rail within 6 to 10 years, but Georgetown would be left out. Tell the Georgetown City Council to reject this proposal and stick with rail.

Taller utility poles affect the view plane and beauty of many Oahu neighborhoods, and decrease property values. There are strong concerns that these 60 - 70 ft. poles are less safe in adverse weather conditions. Taller poles cause more visual pollution and are not in keeping with Hawaii's Constitution which states that the State and its political subdivisions shall conserve and protect Hawaii’s natural beauty.

There are thousands of Starbucks stores in the world, and every day, millions of people people buy cold drinks in plastic cups with plastic straws and throw them in the trash. This creates thousands of tons of plastic waste per year, contributing to our mounting global pollution and climate change problems - even when the plastic is recycled. I love my iced coffee drinks, and I would like to enjoy them without feeling guilty about waste!

We all know that the only way to fix our broken government is to set term limits for Congress equal to the presidency and vice presidency. This is the only way to stop corporate lobbyists from running the country and give the country back to the people.

The current language in all six bills "HB-4858, 4859, 4860, SB-434, 435 and 436" fails to include those, the Vendors and/or Independent Contractors who own, operate and manage their private ATMs that would or will fall, slipping through the cracks, holes or gaps in legally mandating compliance with the law, justifies our request to amend said same.

This week, Oregon officials reported a pesticide is to blame for the deaths of tens of thousands of bumble bees. If we wish to have any bees left at all, drastic cut backs on insecticides will have to be made mandatory. Otherwise we could find our food supply at great risk.

Edward Snowden risked everything to expose the secret NSA spying program of our calls and emails. Now he’s been formally charged with violating the Espionage Act—the same law used to charge Bradley Manning, who provided information to WikiLeaks. For his trouble, Manning was held in solitary confinement for 23 hours per day and forced to sleep naked and sheetless, in conditions even a military judge called “excessive.” By bringing to light information that the powers-that-be would rather keep secret, whistleblowers like Snowden play a fundamental role in our democracy. We can’t just let them be thrown into darkness. As the Department of Justice moves in on Snowden, we need to raise our voices to ensure that Snowden is treated fairly and legally. Sign the statement urging President Obama to guarantee due process for Snowden and to crack down on unconstitutional spying programs—not whistleblowers.

Members of Congress should represent all of their constituents -- but that's not how Darrell Issa, a Republican Congressman from Southern California, apparently sees it. Recently, Rep. Issa's staff kicked one of his constituents out of a scheduled meeting simply because of their immigration status. If that's not bad enough. Rep. Issa claims to support immigration reform. In the past, Rep. Issa has said, "We're party of Lincoln, and the party of Lincoln would not accept people living in our country and not being citizens, or not being given the opportunity to become citizens." But systematically discriminating against an entire block of people is becoming a disturbing trend among Republican members of Congress. One Republican member of Congress even recently tweeted, "Illegal Aliens' Are Invading My Office!" when young undocumented immigrants tried to meet with him.

In 2011, 1.3 million vehicle accidents were caused by texting and driving. Teens, young adults, and adults all over America have admitted to texting while driving. Sending a text makes an accident 23xs more likely to occur. Put it down. It Can Wait.

Dear Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menio, Superintendent Carol Johnson and Mr. John McDonough, I recently read that the City of Boston and the Boston School Department has partnered with Verizon in an Anti-Bullying Partnership. • http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/verizon-foundation-partners-with-boston-public-schools-to-ensure-students-stay-safe-online-100990779.html In 2004 when I decided to make a stand against inappropriate mistreatment to Verizon employees in general, the punishment and targeting began to evolve. One form of retaliation and punishment was that I had to sit in the back of the room in a corner, as I was not allowed to choose where I sat while attending some Directors Meetings at Verizon. I had to listen to Verizon management tell me that because I’m black, I will never be an equal. I had to sit there and listen to Verizon management state that blacks were stupid and less deserving, and that our positions were only granted to us because of Affirmative Action. I had to sit and listen to why female black lesbians were hired and promoted as well as listen to the type of foods black people like to eat. I was advised by an upper level minority manager prior to making complaints to the Verizon’s EEO and Verizon’s Security Officer’s; that if I decided to report these acts of racial harassment, racial torment, racial jokes and bullying, I would be blackballed, retaliated against and it was career sabotage my career would be over. Mr. Lopez also stated this to two other minority managers within Verizon of these as well; when they came to him for advice because of the racial harassment they endured while working at Verizon as well. Verizon put the fear of GOD into these two female black managers within Verizon that if they reported racial harassment or discriminative act, they would never advance and be blackballed, and used me as an example of my demise caused by them. I would like to bring to your attention about the company that responded to a Federal and State Agency when asked about a manager that was bulling a minority manager. Verizon responded: The investigation yield that Benvie had a reputation of being a BULLY and an equal opportunity offender. Race was not an issue with Benvie’s condescending and obnoxious behavior and inappropriate comments to almost everyone that he had contact with. McGovern had substantiated complaints from Caucasian technicians concerning Benvie’s offensive management style. Best simply had a foul mouth and did not differentiate between anyone with the manner in which she spoke. A female technician in Massachusetts made complaints to Verizon as well about a male manager touching her inappropriately, Verizon responded to her by saying: “He only touched you once.” Verizon responded in a federal deposition in 2011 that they received over 104,000 complaints into the EEOC a year. More than ½ of their employees are having issues of their unethical abuse and bullying tactics, and they are ignored. We the employees of Verizon and others against workplace bullying are asking you to please break your ties. This is the company you’re really in a partnership with. I request that you choose your partnerships with companies that actually have ETHICS. Read the employees respond in these petitions: • Verizon – Enough is Enough / Petition: http://signon.org/sign/bullying-at-verizon-enough?source=c.em.cp&r_by=4096164 • Enough is Enough - Stop Workplace Bullying / National Petition: http://signon.org/sign/enough-is-enough-stop-1?source=c.url&r_by=4521742 “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” -Edmund Burke Neal W. Dias 774-991-3663 [email protected] [email protected] My Blog Page: Blog Address (GOOGLE): Bullying at Verizon – Enough is Enough Facebook: • Justice at Verizon • Enough is Enough – Stop Workplace Bullying President Obama – Workplace Bullying Meeting http://justicefor7.wordpress.com/2012/11/11/the-president-of-the-united-states-bullying/ My Story: http://justiceatverizon.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/bullying-at-verizon/ Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination: http://justiceatverizon.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/unjustice-at-verizon-and-the-massachusetts-commission-against-discrimination/ Verizon - Federal Violation and Criminal Investigation http://justiceatverizon.wordpress.com/2013/06/15/civil-rights-act-of-1964-verizon/ My Speeches: Healthy Workplace Bill Press Conference in Boston Massachusetts July 7, 2012 (Video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85HKgP-dfyI Healthy Workplace Bill Press Conference in New York April 30, 2012 (Video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6pPe2gqGRI&feature=share Civil Rights and Anti-Bullying Leadership Summit in Hartford Connecticut at the Legislators Building, August 9, 2012 **(Neal W. Dias – fast forward to 02:41:56 – 02:56:09)** http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?ID=8061 National Workplace Bullying Press Conference in Washington DC October 15th 2012 http://youtu.be/bid5DK97rq8 http://www.workplacebullying.org/2012/10/21/npc-dias/ Huffington Post Article: Title: Verizon: Plenty Of Good Middle Class Jobs But Would You Want To Work There? http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/09/14/verizon-plenty-of-good-middle-class-jobs-but-would-you-want-to/

The North Carolina governor and a state legislator made a callous decision to change unemployment benefits under HB 4 beginning in July 2013 rather than January 2014. Not being able to wait six months is now forcing the loss of federal unemployment benefits to over 70,000 individuals and families like myself who are still struggling to find work. North Carolina has the fifth highest unemployment rate in the country.