Hush money has been paid to keep those who have been harassed by members of Congress quiet using U.S. tax dollars. This is absolutely appalling! Who told them to use OUR money for THEIR indiscretions? These actions were in response to complaints relating to sexual harassment, but also to complaints regarding racial and religious discrimination, as well as discrimination against people with disabilities. These payments should have been a personal expense.

Constitution of an International Court of Justice for the Rights of Animals, i.e. (ICJRA) whose jurisdiction would cover all voiceless animals throughout the world irrespective of country, state, or province and to make the contemporary obsolete and USELESS anti-cruelty law stringent and non-bailable.

Both Republican and Democratic Senators have expressed grave concerns about the huge reductions in top level personnel that Sec. Tillerson is carrying out. His actions are endangering US interests throughout the globe. For example, how can we use diplomacy to end the Korean nuclear crisis when the position of US Ambassador to S. Korea remains vacant?

You may not have heard of Thomas Homan, but he’s one of the top officials responsible for the tens of thousands of deportations we’ve seen under the Trump Administration. Homan has been the acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Donald Trump, and now Trump wants him to be the official director of the agency. This means the Senate -- and first, the Senate Homeland Security Committee -- will have to vote on his confirmation. Homan has said that “no population is off the table” when it comes to deportations and that immigrants “need to be worried.” He wants all immigrants, from young children to Dreamers to parents, to live in fear of deportation. Even worse, ICE agents under Homan’s leadership have operated unchecked. Last month in Oregon, they entered a home to arrest a man without a warrant. All year, agents have detained immigrants outside schools, churches, hospitals, and courthouses -- “sensitive” locations where they’re not supposed to operate. Hate groups like the Federation for American Immigration Reform are celebrating Homan’s nomination, which makes him an unacceptable choice for ICE Director. Homan means bad news for immigrants and their allies, which is why we need to tell the Senate Homeland Security Committee to vote NO on his nomination. Learn more about Homan's unacceptable record as Acting Director of ICE here. https://americasvoice.org/blog/homan-nominated-ice-director/

Middle-class families will once again be hurt by this bill.

One of the most beautiful creatures in the world is the elephant. Nothing in the world like these majestic giants. Horrifically our president signed legislation just today allowing ivory imported into to our country agan, reversing important legislation to protect the dwindling numbers of elephants. I don't know about you but I don't want my kid saying to me one day., "Daddy what did elephants look like, and how did they make that trumpet noise and shoot water out of their trunk?" This is not something that can wait until another day. Elephants could be no more if we do not stand up and fight Trump now for allowing ivory in our country again. His actions benefit no one but his trophy hunting son. Elephants are near extinction already. Lifting the band on ivory will only multiply the slaughter of elephants. This goes beyond politics. Extinction is forever and that day should never come for elephants. This must be stopped now. Tell Washington to keep ivory out of our country forever.

The test was not on the original syllabus when registering for courses, therefore it is unfair for current students to be unwilling guinea pigs in an experiment we didn't sign up for, especially if it affects our overall grades

I am a 61-year-old female who is chronically ill with primary progressive MS. I am wheelchair-bound and require 24/7 aides to assist me with all activities of daily living. On average, individuals suffering from serious, chronic illnesses like cancer, cystic fibrosis, and multiple sclerosis, spend between $50,000 to $100,000 annually on treatments and medications. Individual Americans, such as myself, rely on the availability of the itemized deduction on their tax return to help reduce the effect of their overwhelming medical expenses. The value of this deduction to those whose lives are already faced with serious challenges is not offset by any of the proposed tax cuts and increasing the standard deduction would not ease the burden for the very sick. Nobody asks to be sick and it is demeaning to classify the itemization of medical expenses as a tax loophole. Maintaining this deduction should not fall prey to partisan politics. Special interest groups have the political and monetary clout to advocate on behalf of the preservation of deductions seen by them as useful to a particular industry. Those of us who are faced with serious illnesses must advocate for ourselves. Eliminating the medical deduction is cruel and unjust and should not be a part of any tax reform legislation.

You may not have heard of Thomas Homan, but he’s one of the top officials responsible for the tens of thousands of deportations we’ve seen under the Trump Administration. Homan has been the acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under Donald Trump, and now Trump wants him to be the official director of the agency. This means the Senate will have to vote on his confirmation. Homan has said that “no population is off the table” when it comes to deportations and that immigrants “need to be worried.” He wants all immigrants -- from young children to Dreamers to parents -- to live in fear of deportation. Even worse, ICE agents under Homan’s leadership have operated unchecked. Agents have detained immigrants outside schools, churches, hospitals, and courthouses -- “sensitive” locations where they’re not supposed to operate. Hate groups like the Federation for American Immigration Reform are celebrating Homan’s nomination, which makes him an unacceptable choice for ICE Director. Homan means bad news for immigrants and their allies, which is why we need you to tell the Senate Judiciary Committee to vote NO on his nomination. Learn more about Homan's unacceptable record as Acting Director of ICE here: https://americasvoice.org/blog/homan-nominated-ice-director/

All elephants must be protected. In just three years 100,000 elephants have been killed by poachers. Bringing elephant heads into the United States must be outlawed.

As a father, husband, brother and uncle, I am outraged that a US Senator would behave in this manner. His BS apology ("I don't remember it that way") is totally unacceptable. As a member of the Hollywood Elite, he is another in a long line of perverts who have tried to force themselves on unwilling innocent women. Lets all take a stand and demand his removal from the Senate. He does not deserve our trust, nor should he be collecting a salary paid for by honest citizens.

On December 14, 2012, a gunman with mental illness killed his mother in her bed then he drove down to the Sandy Hook Elementary School to brutally murder 20 innocent children and six educators with an AR-15 with high capacity magazines. Congress has only offered up thoughts and prayers and it has failed to take action. Therefore, during the anniversary month of the tragic shooting, the volunteer advocates from the Newtown Action Alliance have traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with Congress and to hand-deliver coalition letters asking Congress to take action to #EndGunViolence in America. Once again, we will be joined by nearly 100 families and survivors directly impacted by gun violence from cities and towns across America on December 6th and 7th. Together, we will meet with Congress and hand-deliver our coalition letters to every Member of Congress. This year, we invite all Americans to #HonorWithAction by signing onto our coalition letters to Congress. Together, we can #DemandAction to #EndGunViolence in America.