In 1959, the U.S. Congress designated Dyke Marsh as part of the National Park system, "so that fish and wildlife development and their preservation as wetland wildlife habitat shall be paramount." These wetlands provide crucial habitat to migratory and resident waterfowl and other birds, as well as numerous other animals and plants. Dyke Marsh, along the Potomac River in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County, Virginia, has lost at least 100 acres since 1937 and continues to lose 1.5 to 2 acres a year. According to a U.S. Geological Survey study, Dyke Marsh could disappear completly.

The founding fathers created an amendment that allows us to bear arms. This amendment was created when single shot pistols and muskets were the prevalent firearm. It's funny how politicians choose to select what rights to pick and bring into the 21st century and which to leave in the 18th century. The right to bear arms was never intended to include assault rifles. We need to speak up and ban these firearms!

Workers at fast food and retail chains across Chicago should have at least $15 an hour and the right to form a union. Their employers are making huge profits, but aren't paying their workers enough to cover basic needs like food, rent, heat, health care, and transportation. It’s outrageous and it has to stop. The brave workers are willing to risk their jobs and their livelihoods to stand up and say ENOUGH – and we can’t let them stand alone.

Stop the slaughter of horses and their transport for slaughter in the USA. Support S541 and HR1094.

Our country has a long and rich heritage of immigration. New Mexican’s have always embraced our country’s diversity, but we also recognize that our current immigration system is broken. With the introduction of S. 744: The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, we are finally on our way to a common sense immigration process. But this is only the beginning of a long road ahead. During this important debate for our country, and especially for our families, we need to stand united for common sense immigration reform that will keep our families together and will allow a fair pathway to citizenship. Join us in standing with the millions of families, friends, and DREAMers that need our support now more than ever by signing this petition. The introduction of comprehensive immigration reform is just the first step in this journey – and we can’t reach our destination without you. Sign this petition now in support of common sense immigration reform!

I have attended Virginia State University and have heard many complaints about there not being enough food choices to choose from on campus. There are campuses that are about the same size as VSU''s that have more of a variety of food choices than we do as well as more healthier ones. The students' health at VSU should be one of VSU's top priorities and the Foodmaster should be built.

In just over a decade, “fracking” for oil and gas has spread rapidly across many states, leaving a trail of contaminated water, polluted air, and marred landscapes in its wake. And now there’s a major push to bring fracked gas to Maine. Republican House Leader Ken Fredette and the Democratic Chair of the Energy Committee, Sen. John Cleveland, are sponsoring a bill (LD 1187) that aims to build a new pipeline to bring fracked gas from the Marcellus Shale (in Pennsylvania and surrounding states) to Maine. 

In addition, Rep. Fredette has a second bill (LD 1262) that would force Mainers — not the oil and gas industry — to pay for it. 
 
Maine’s legislative leaders have strong track records on the environment, but right now the bills are moving forward under the radar screen, and a backroom “deal” is in the works. We need to put a stop to it right now by shining a light on it. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves pumping millions of gallons of water mixed with sand and a cocktail of chemicals into the ground at such high pressure that it fractures rock and releases gas. 

In numerous states, it's become one of the greatest threats to the environment in decades.

Henry Hudson Regional School is planning to emit the Senior Slideshow from the Senior Graduation Ceremony. Last year, the graduation's run time was under an hour, with the Senior Slideshow. Last year, several students did not submit pictures to the Slideshow, and yet, the show went on, using those students' yearbook pictures instead. The two thirds of students that submitted their pictures should not be penalized for the faults of others, and in past years, they were not. Please, consider keeping the great tradition of the Senior Slideshow intact.

A new pipeline to bring water halfway across the state of Connecticut to UConn would threaten the future ecological health of the Farmington River and the water needs of the communities within the watershed. This cross-basin transfer of water - with the potential for far greater withdrawals in the future - is a poor precedent to set in an increasingly uncertain water future and especially in the absence of regional and state-wide water planning. Already, periods of prolonged drought have led to inadequate flows below the reservoir system which have placed significant stress on the trout and aquatic life in the river and pose further economic hardships on the riverside communities which rely on the angling and recreational tourism the river provides.

I am frustrated with the no action on guns so maybe a different approach will work.

We are closer now than ever to holding Ms. Rhee accountable. I believe we should follow Atlanta's example and do so. See the link to the memo published in one of the Washington Post blogs. http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/local/consultants-memo-on-dc-schools/101/ The first year Ms. Rhee was in office she offered teachers $8K and principals $10K for making gains of 20 percentage points or more in math or reading. I remember the start of the following school year after the test scores came back. Teachers were gathered at the convention center for a back to school pep rally. Rhee used the word "unbelievable" at least 10 times to describe those test scores gains yet she handed out the checks to those staff anyway. Staff of several schools were handed checks. One school claimed to have made gains 30% in reading AND 40% in math. 40%!!!! I mean if those scores had been real, every magazine in the country would have featured the staff on the cover of their magazines. Anyone with two brain cells should have investigated because anyone who works with real educational improvement knows how very difficult even a 5% gain can be. The memo further proves that there was enough evidence in that year to support further investigations. I believe Michele Rhee suspected that those scores were false, yet because they made her look good, she never properly nor fully investigated. Instead she paid out the big bucks. I wonder how much of her overall success of raising test scores 6% in reading and 15% for elementary schools over the 4 years she served came from those dramatic (yet likely false) gains of that first year. http://video.msnbc.msn.com/all-in-/51523921#51523921 Bottom line, a person without integrity is a person not to be trusted, nor respected. Lets bring justice to yet another "DC scandal."

The Democracy, our Constitution and our Humans Rights are being violated by this illegitime Government. #SOS VENEZUELA