Our federal budget is in shambles, our infrastructure is in need of repair, people are homeless because of mortgage fraud. Our people need aid.

Ever since an Exxon pipeline spilled more than 200,000 gallons of tar sands oil in their community in March, the families of Mayflower, Arkansas have been living in a public health nightmare – not knowing if their air and water could be poisoning their children, but having nowhere else to go. Now they have made one simple request of Secretary of State John Kerry: come visit the site of the tar sands spill in Arkansas and see why you must reject the risky Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. These families don’t want their tragedy repeated in towns across America, so they are calling on Secretary Kerry to come see with his own eyes what we’d be risking if we allow the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline to run straight through our heartland. Please stand with the families of Mayflower and join the movement to stop the risky Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by signing this petition today.

On March 5, NC legislators introduced a bill that would allow for children as young as 13 to be placed in the adult criminal justice system. HB 217 would remove judicial discretion and give prosecutors absolute power to prosecute children in the adult criminal justice system. Do you know what this means for kids who are prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system? - Youth are 36 times more likely to commit suicide in an adult facility than a juvenile detention facility; - Kids in the adult system are 34% more likely than youth in the juvenile court system to reoffend; - Kids are at a higher risk of physical and sexual assault when placed in adult facilities; and - African American youth are 9 times more likely and Latino youth are 4 times more likely than white youth to receive an adult prison sentence for the same crime. Currently under North Carolina law, judges weigh the protection of the public and the best interest of the juvenile in determining whether to transfer the case to adult court. Just by a written motion, the Juvenile Transfer section of HB 217 gives prosecutors the power to prosecute kids in the adult criminal justice system and strips juvenile court judges of their decision making power. Youth justice allies, including judges, university professors, attorneys, youth, legislators and advocates, have taken action to strongly oppose this counterproductive policy recommendation. Because of the quick response from advocates, the bill has been amended to only apply to 15 year olds who have allegedly committed certain felonies. But our work is not over. We refuse to allow the removal of judicial discretion and refuse to let this ineffective policy throw more kids into the adult criminal justice system. In a state that is currently trying to evaluate how to most effectively use its limited resources, the North Carolina juvenile transfer section of HB 217 clearly reads as a misinformed and counterproductive policy recommendation. TAKE ACTION! Join judges, university professors, attorneys, youth leaders, and advocates in calling on NC Senators to oppose HB 217!

With the prohibitive cost of the Death Penalty it is time for the State of Florida to reconsider. It is Wrong to take someone's life, it is even more unjust to repeat the act and call it JUSTICE !

Fellow Americans: Please join me in expressing the need for Members of Congress to use terms such as “undocumented” and “undocumented workers” in describing foreign nationals and immigrants, rather than offensive references like “illegals”, “illegal aliens”, or “illegal immigrants”. By standing together against the use of these latter terms publicly elected Representatives can avoid unproductive debates and discussions, which are extremely offensive to those who have not been born in the U.S. The United States of America is home to nearly 40 million immigrants, which is more people than makes up the total population of California. Nearly 16% of the U.S. labor force is foreign-born and, as of 2010, nearly one-fifth of all Fortune 500 companies had at least one founder who was an immigrant. Clearly, foreign nationals and immigrants have made significant contributions and sacrifices that add measurably to America’s prosperity and the sustenance of our way-of-life. The words and labels that America selects to describe and refer to non-citizens and to those not born in the U.S. are supremely important. Your support of this movement will promote a way forward on merits and produce a comprehensive and sensible immigration reform legislative package. I grew up in a time where people of color were given numerous labels and called horrific names. I have worked though my youth into the present to fight against all of those negative labels. Because of this, I cannot stand aside while other groups are marginalized by the labels placed on them by others, so I will join with them to prevent such atrocities from continuing. Please follow the link below for facts about immigration in your state: http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/economic-and-political-impact-immigrants-latinos-and-asians-all-50-states Respectfully, BOBBY L. RUSH Member of Congress

The Smarter Solutions for Students Act (HR 1911) is a Republican plan that is the classic bait and switch. Worse yet, it could be voted on as soon as Wednesday, May 22. According to estimates provided by Congressional Budget Office, under the proposal, federal student interest rates will be higher than current fixed rates for millions of borrowers seven of the next ten years. The bill will make attending college more expensive for students and families, and deepen the student debt crisis. We must act now to make sure our members of Congress oppose this bill!

if Congress can't pass a budget then they dont get paid for the year.

Learning a foriegn language such as French in highschool for 1-2 years is not enought to grasp the language and help our future as promised. It is a necessary prerequisite for a working political, economic, and social community such as ourselves in the United States. Bilingual education is important to our present and future generations because it will better qualify our people for the challenges of tomorrow. Bilingual education should be considered to start in primary school. Reform our education!

This is a comprehensive approach that strengthens the reporting requirements, improves disclosure, modernizes the online filing system, and increases the fines for violations. SB 2, 3, and 27: • Close the non profit reporting loophole. This would prevent future campaigns from Receiving millions from donors, or out of state interests, without having to disclose their sources. • Requires candidates to“stand by their ads.” • Toughens slate mailer disclosures • Requires the Secretary of State to create a new online reporting system • Creates regular, more frequent reporting requirements • Increases fines for violations • Requires disclosure of the top donors on all television, radio, print and web ads. Back in January, when the bills were introduced, there was some conflicting language between them, even though all four bills were dedicated to disclosure of campaign contributions. So the authors, Senators Lieu, Leland, Correa, and Leno worked with each other to ensure that all four bills were compatible and made a comprehensive package. Now, all four senators have endorsed each other’s bills and Common Cause has endorsed all four bills. The Sunshine in Campaigns Act • SB 2 authored by Sen. Ted Lieu • SB 3 authored by Sen. Leland Yee • SB 27 authored by Sen. Lou Correa The Disclose Act • SB 52 authored by Sen. Mark Leno. California could turn the tide on election reform by passing the The Sunshine in Campaigns Act and the California Disclose Act, measures that would shed light on the shadowy interests who depend on secrecy to influence elections.

I want to team up with CT’s movie theaters to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the “Ju-Ji’s Sensory Friendly Films” program. My son Julian “JuJi” has his difficult moments at times when my family takes him to the movie theaters because it is too loud and dark. I have to bring his headphones and at times take him out of the theater if it is overwhelming for him and therefore misses parts or most of the movie. In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing-in other words; the silence policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned.

I want to team up with CT’s movie theaters to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the “Ju-Ji’s Sensory Friendly Films” program. My son Julian “JuJi” has his difficult moments at times when my family takes him to the movie theaters because it is too loud and dark. I have to bring his headphones and at times take him out of the theater if it is overwhelming for him and therefore misses parts or most of the movie. In order to provide a more accepting and comfortable setting for this unique audience, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down, families will be able to bring in their own gluten-free, casein-free snacks, and no previews or advertisements will be shown before the movie. Additionally, audience members are welcome to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing-in other words; the silence policy will not be enforced unless the safety of the audience is questioned.

There needs to be a new Works Progress Administration. WPA2.0 if you will. It would all be training on the job.