Trump nominated Bernard McNamee to fill Robert Powelson's vacancy at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. McNamee is a pro-fossil fuel idealogue who wrote in his Earth Day op-ed for The Hill this year that fossil fuels "have dramatically improved the human condition – and continue to do so". Don't put him in charge of approving natural gas pipelines and LNG terminals and regulating the energy market. We are out of time.

Discourage Minnesota law enforcement agencies from sending police officers to the Dakota Access Pipeline protest at Standing Rock.

It is critical that the state amend the Illinois Child Care Act of 1969 and allow DCFS to create licensing standards for outdoor preschools in Illinois. Our preschool-age children deserve outdoor education options, and our state must act now to make this possible. Your support of this bill will improve the mental, physical, and academic well-being of generations of Illinois children.

Your ongoing partnership with the National Rifle Association is supporting an extremist organization that has stopped all reasonable gun safety laws. Please divest from the NRA.

President Donald J. Trump's recent tweet about his having a "bigger and more powerful nuclear button" than North Korea's Kim Jong-Un proves that Trump is not merely reckless, but mentally unfit to be President. We demand that Congress use the 25th Amendment to immediately replace Trump because his mental unfitness is an extremely dangerous threat to our national security.

Election officials, stand with me in taking three key steps to ensure that every eligible voter can vote in the 2012 U.S. elections under the new, tightened regulations in many states: 1. Recruit poll workers early and training them to understand the new laws. 2. Publicize voter drives and eligibility requirements. 3. Reach out to to all voters, including those whose native language is not English.

Solar Jobs a Million Petition to our federal law makers Create a million private sector jobs and other benefits by providing a 20 year federal interest free loan to 60 million willing homeowners, specifically to purchase a domestic solar water heating system. Any homeowner can participate because no up-front money required. This will save homeowners 25% energy bills which would be at least double the loan payment. Homeowners make money immediately, the benefits increase over time as non-solar energy costs inflate, and government payback is guaranteed. This common sense idea is different. It provides a way for any homeowner to use free solar energy to stimulate the economy, from the bottom up, through savings instead of spending. Based on 75% participation (60 million homeowners) and five hours average sunshine per day, calculated benefits are enormous. Create over a million jobs (impact would start immediately) Create thousands of solar related companies (long term commitment guaranteed) Save homeowners over ¼ energy bills ($24 billion each year) Offset power consumed by over 11 million homes (no utility power increase needed for new home construction for years) Offset 123 power plants of 250 megawatts each (allows retiring our dirtiest plants) Lower yearly coal consumption by 137 megatons (one-eighth US output) – (equivalent to 490 million barrels of oil each year) – (equivalent to 67% of Strategic Petroleum Reserve each year) Save 150 million tons CO2 pollution each year (equivalent to removing 25 million cars) Help reduce global warming (year 2012 one of the hottest on record) Reduce national debt (economic stimulus and greater long term investment return) Start a culture of real solar energy use as our economics and environment demand To appreciate the merits of this idea, it is first necessary to iterate a few facts. (1) There are over 80 million single family homeowners in the US, yet less than 1% use solar as a free energy source. (2) Heating water accounts for over 1/4 of a homeowner’s domestic energy bill, costing $43 billion each year. (3) The sun produces heat directly, not electricity. That is why solar thermal (heat) panels are 7 times more efficient, cost 10 times less and use 7 times less space than solar photovoltaic (electric) panels. (4) Solar water heating systems work in every climate no matter in which state you may reside. Because of these facts, solar water heating should be the first solar endeavor any homeowner would undertake. Providing government incentive money alone to entice homeowners to “go solar” does not work because individuals are left on their own for the up-front money to have a system installed. Most cannot afford it and/or do not realize the benefit. At the same time, it is paramount that participation be high in order for solar energy to have a significant impact. That is why it is extremely important to have a long term national program that provides the means for any homeowner to participate. System costs range from about $2,500 to $10,000 depending on size, location and contractor. Maximum loan could be set at $10,000. Payback for any loan amount would be based on a 20 year maturity with once a year payment, accomplished by a line item entry on federal tax return. If the home is sold, the loan would be transferred to the new homeowner through the closing process. Example: For a family of four, a $4,300 system, after 30% federal tax credit, costs about $3,000. Divide $3,000 by 20 produces a $150 payment once a year for 20 years while expected savings would be $300 to $500 per year in today’s money. It is important to remember that these savings will increase over time as non-solar energy costs inflate. No matter how you figure the economics, government agencies, private agencies and solar companies all agree that a domestic solar water heating system will pay for itself in less than 10 years. Therefore a 20 year loan will insure payments of less than 1/2 the savings. Unlike the other stimulus programs which provide temporary relief with no payback, this loan program “guarantees payback and lasting benefits.” Here is how the process would work: The homeowner applies for federal authorization which includes a tracking number. Then he would get three bids for a solar water heating system. The selected contractor gets local building permit, completes the work and calls for inspection. Once inspection passes, the contractor invoices a federal agency for direct payment. The agency then subtracts any incentive money due the homeowner and treats the remainder as a no-interest 20 year loan. The no-interest feature is more than offset by the economic stimulus created. The people are begging for a “common sense” way they can personally contribute to the wellness of our society. At the same time, there is a sea of roofs out there, doing nothing, but baking in the sun. And every day, we hear we must use less energy and create jo...

Please bring back the Rescue Me Tuesday program in Harnett County.

We demand that the Mayor Jim Kenney immediately adopt the gun violence resolution (#200447) and the actions set within. In September 2020, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier and 13 other councilpersons cosponsored a resolution (#200447) “Calling on Mayor James F. Kenney to declare gun violence a citywide emergency and develop an urgent, unrelenting response to the gun violence epidemic plaguing Black and Brown neighborhoods in Philadelphia, and re-affirming the commitment of the City Council of Philadelphia to continue collaborating with, and supporting the work of, the Mayor, our City agencies, the criminal justice community, and non-governmental partners, to mitigate this deadly epidemic.” After months of waiting, Mayor Kenney has yet to respond to or take action on this vital need.

Take Kenny's murderer off the streets and allow a Change Of Venue. Let us get his murderer to trial. Kenny's Law...