Introduced.Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide independent counsel to Congress on policy issues associated with the recruitment for, and retention, research, and reinvestment in, the profession of social work. Directs the Commission to study and report to Congress on issues facing the social work profession, including: (1) fair market compensation, high social work educational debt, social work workforce trends, translating social work research to practice, and social work safety; and (2) state-level social work licensure policies and reciprocity agreements for providing services across state lines. Requires such study to assess the professional capacity of the social work workforce to serve and respond successfully to the increasing biopsychosocial needs of individuals, groups, and communities in certain areas, including aging and child welfare. Terminates the Commission 30 days after it submits such report within 18 months of its first meeting. Authorizes the Secretary to award: (1) workplace improvement grants to eligible entities and individuals to address workplace concerns for the social work profession, including caseloads, compensation, social work safety, supervision, and working conditions; and (2) research grants, education and training grants, and community-based programs of excellence grants. Directs the Secretary to: (1) contract with a national social work entity to serve as a coordinating center and clearinghouse for information on activities funded under the grants, and (2) develop a multi-media outreach campaign and issue public service announcements that advertise and promote the social work profession.

If you read the title, to a homeowner, I don't think there is anything to explain. If your not a homeowner then you are a renter. Do you think your landlord is entitled to the same amount for rent for your residence, if there is a half way house next door. I think, we should all donate a dollar,and, open a half way house ,with government grants ,next to every public official. Maybe, it is time for a better zoning system. The government wants to take away my right to defend myself ,yet, helps fund the formation of a halfway house next door. Say no to destroying neighborhoods and family values. Tell them this is "your" land.

Politicians must pledge NOT to cut benefits that are vital to the poor and elderly to give more tax cuts to the rich in order to get our votes.

Please read the information below. If you agree that hydraulic fracturing should be banned in Colorado, sign my petition using your full name, and if you're part of a couple please take time to sign individually. Hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) is a process used in the majority of natural gas wells in Colorado, where millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are pumped to depths as much as 10,000 feet below the surface of the earth to break apart bedrock formations and release trapped natural gas [1]. Many of the chemicals used in fracking are known to cause adverse health effects, including cancer [2]. Fracking also releases radioactive substances and other naturally occurring toxins embedded deep in bedrock [3]. After a well is fracked, an average of 50% of the toxic soup returns to the surface (called “flowback”). It’s either dumped into an open pit “holding pond" and the toxins allowed to evaporate into our air and leach into our soil, or transported “away” and dumped into injection wells, often in undisclosed locations, where its presumably gone “forever” [4]. Clean water is “recycled” over and over again for new fracks until it becomes so saturated with toxic chemicals that it can’t be returned to the water cycle from which it came [5]. To make matters worse, the oil and gas industry is exempt from numerous environmental laws including the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Air Act and Hazardous Waste Regulations [6]. There is no such thing as "away" and "forever". When a toxic chemical is introduced into the surface environment it mixes with our soil, air and water where it continues to circulate. Once fracked, toxic chemicals can percolate slowly upward from the subsurface through existing natural fractures and deteriorated well casings, creating a long-term threat to our aquifers and drinking water [7]. According to the COGCC’s own records, thousands of releases have occurred in Colorado where toxic chemicals from fracking have poisoned the land, wildlife, and humans [8],[9]. In some cases, even death has resulted [10]. No business, and no benefits resulting from doing such a business, is worth the loss of our health, safety and the pursuit of happiness. Fracking threatens our air and water and all living organisms that rely on a healthy environment. There is growing evidence that chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing are increasing cancer rates [11],[12]. Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers has opened at least 17 cancer centers across Colorado in the last decade [13]. Could the next boom in our economy be the treatment of cancer, resulting from the chemical exposure of fracking fluids in our soil, water and air? Please sign this petition and let Colorado's Governor and state legislature know the People of Colorado want a ban on the dangerous and life-threatening process of hydraulic fracturing. To learn more and support the campaign, visit: Banfrackingcolorado.blogspot.com Mary Russell, Garfield County Endorsed by*: GrassRoots Energy activist Network (GREEN) (http://grassrootsenergynet.blogspot.com/p/aboutsupport.html) Our Healthy Earth: Inspiring Sustainability through Education Renewable Communities Alliance (http://www.renewablecommunities.org) Citizens for Huerfano County (www.huerfanofrack.com/) Commerce City Unite NOW (https://www.facebook.com/CommerceCityUniteNow/timeline) Adams County Unite NOW (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adams-County-Unite-NOW/437630749622216) The Mother's Project-Colorado (http://www.mothersforsustainableenergy.com) Rio Grand Watchdogs (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rio-Grande-Watchdogs/109319245803522) Sustainable Earth Education and Development (http://www.seed-llc.org) Denver Community Rights (http://www.denvercommunityrights.org) Citizens for a Healthy Community (http://www.citizensforahealthycommunity.org/) What the Frack?! Arapahoe (http://frackingcolorado.wordpress.com) Colorado Citizens Against Toxicwaste, Inc (http://www.ccatoxicwaste.org) *If your group is interested in endorsing this petition contact: [email protected] ___________________________________________________________________ [1] ProPublica, What is Hydraulic Fracturing?, http://www.propublica.org/special/hydraulic-fracturing-national [2] Earthworks, Hydraulic Fracturing 101, http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/hydraulic_fracturing_101#CHEMICALS [3] Hammer, Rebecca and VanBriesen J. Ph.D., PE, “In Fracking’s Wake: New Rules are Needed to Protect Our Health and Environment from Contaminated Waste Water”, NRDC Document, May 2012: 12-05-A, http://www.nrdc.org/energy/fracking-wastewater.asp [4] Garfield County pits, A Photo Essay by Judy Jordan (former Garfield County Oil & Gas Liaison. http://fromthestyx.wordpress.com/2012/10/08/garfield-county-pits/ [5] The Endocrine Disruption Exchange, “Chemicals in Natural Gas Operations:Introduction”. http://www.endocrinedisruption.com/chemicals.introduction.php and US House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, “Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracturing”, April 2011 (view or download here). [6] Earthworks: “Gaps in Federal Oversight of Oil and Gas Production”, http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/gaps_in_federal_oversight [7] Tom Myers. “Potential Contaminant Pathways from Hydraulically Fractured Shale to Aquifers.” Ground Water. April 17, 2012, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-6584.2012.00933.x/abstract [8 Earthworks, Colorado Contamination incidents, http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/colorado_contamination_incidents [9] Bruce Finley, Denver Post, Drilling spills rise in Colorado, but fines rare, http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_18881512 [10] Dr. Sandra Steingraber, Letter to Governor Cuomo about fracking: http://steingraber.com/ [11] Dave Fehling, NPR State Impact, Texas, Texas ‘Needs More Research’ into Health Risk of Living Near Drilling Sites, http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/08/20/texas-to-investigate-health-risk-of-living-...

All Republican Senators and Congressmen who signed the No New Tax Pledge pushed by Grover Norquist are guilty of treason. Selling their votes in advance of a proposed act.

The last play of the Packers, Seahawks game!!!!!!!!!

The GOP, Romney and Ryan have steadfastly refused to reveal their plans for Social Security, Medicare and taxes for the middle class. Their silence is deafening. When they do speak on those issues, it's mostly sloganeering and generalities. We need answers before the elections, not after. The Democratic party needs to force the issue by challenging Romney et al. for answers to those pressing questions.

All Corporation doing business in our country should pay a taxes. These Companies use our infrastructure ( i.e. roads, electric grid, telecommuication, etc.) Companies like GE should not be allowed to pay zero in income tax. Thus, any company doing business in the U.S.A. should be requied to pay a minimum amount to cover cost of maintaining infrastructure.

I recently read a story about millionaires collecting unemployment. Being self-employed, I've never had that luxury. When work is slow, the bank account drops, sometimes to nothing. Last year I was looking into getting a job during school hours when the public school suspended my five year old son. After months of testing, he was diagnosed with Asperger's and a mood disorder. Over the summer, I confided to a friend how hard it is as a single mom caring for a special needs child while keeping up with all the expenses. She understood. She also cared for a child on the spectrum. She told me about the respite their family received through Social Services because their child, with a similar diagnosis, received Disability. She urged me to apply to get help. When I did, I was told that he would not qualify because of his $3,800 college savings account. It was a slap in the face that it was the educational savings account they found objectionable. What message does that send? Disabled people don't belong in college? Do we want to keep them uneducated, sequestered in group homes, out of the public eye? Are we ashamed of our disabled children? If a disabled child can make it through college, they're much more likely to become a productive, tax paying citizen! I'm proud of my son. He's now back in public school, excelling in a smaller, quieter classroom setting. He's a brilliant little boy, and might someday make a fine engineer - IF I can ever afford to send him to college! Low-income families with disabled children should not be punished for saving to send their children to college. The rules need to change. Please join me with this petition to give 529 college savings accounts the same exemption status as 401ks!

The African elephants need our help! They are being slaughtered in record numbers by poachers. How can they destroy these majestic, gentle, family-loving animals? We need to be the voice that speaks for them.

It is now harder than ever to discharge the huge amounts of debt incurred in attending colleges and universities. Schools sell degrees based on a hope for higher income potential. That potential is not being realized.

We,the people,should be able to see who spongers our elected legislators and officials. A NASA style jacket or vest with logos should be required apparel at all times they are addressing the public,so we know who we are acrually listening too.