The Daily Ripple-News Music Ideas

“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were: any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.” ― John Donne, No man is an island – A selection from the prose

Freedom in the World 2018 - Democracy in crisis, featuring Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE)

AEI, Freedom House, Center for American Progress - Washington, DC  January 2018

Event Summary

"On January 17, AEI, Freedom House, and the Center for American Progress convened a group of experts to celebrate the launch of Freedom House’s report “Freedom in the World 2018.”

In his introductory remarks, Freedom House’s Mike Abramowitz stressed that 2017 was the 12th consecutive year of decline in global freedom. In the first panel, the Center for American Progress’ John Norris mentioned that America must fulfill its commitment to supporting democracy abroad. Laura Rosenberger of the German Marshall Fund of the United States noted that public opinion of democracy is at a record low. AEI’s Danielle Pletka expressed support for those who escaped authoritarian regimes and now campaign against oppressive government. Open Russia’s Vladamir Kara-Murza stated that his goal is to stop Western countries from supporting kleptocracies."  Read more...

 

 

 

Congress and the 2018 national security landscape: A conversation with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)

AEI - Washington, DC  January 2018 

 Event Summary

"On Wednesday, AEI hosted Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) for a wide-ranging discussion with AEI’s Marc Thiessen on the 2018 national security landscape.

Sen. Graham laid out his vision for how immigration reform will move forward and how those efforts may affect defense spending. He highlighted the importance of addressing the question of legal status for “Dreamers” and undoing the damage sequestration has done to military readiness. He expressed optimism that there would be enough bipartisan agreement on these issues for deals to be made.

The discussion also addressed some of the most pressing national security issues, including how the United States should proceed regarding North Korea and Iran. Sen. Graham expanded on his assessment of possible US military action in North Korea, expressing doubt that a traditional containment strategy would work. On the detention and interrogation process for terror suspects, Sen. Graham said the government needs to change its legal approach so the criminal justice system does not compromise the government’s ability to gather valuable intelligence."  Read more ...

 

 

 

Defending Defense: A Conversation with Speaker Ryan on Military Readiness

CSIS (Center for Strategic & International Studies) - Washington, DC  January 2018

"Please join us for a conversation with House Speaker Paul Ryan on Thursday, January 18th. Topics of discussion will include national security challenges to the United States, and restoring and enhancing our military capabilities. Dr. John J. Hamre, President and CEO of CSIS, will moderate a conversation following Speaker Ryan's opening remarks."  Read more ...

 

 

 

Visit the Senate in Session

Capitol, Senate Gallery - Washington, DC  January 2018

 

The Senate in Session

Senate Chamber

"The ringing of bells throughout the Capitol and the three Senate office buildings signals the opening of a day’s session and announces votes, quorum calls, and other legislative activities. The bells correspond with a series of lights above the doors on the north side of the chamber and at various locations on the Senate side of Capitol Hill.

At the beginning of each daily meeting, the presiding officer accompanies the Senate chaplain to the rostrum for the opening prayer and leads the Senate in the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The vice president of the United States serves as president of the Senate and therefore its presiding officer. In the vice president’s absence, the president pro tempore -- who is generally, but not always, the most senior member of the majority party -- presides or designates other senators from the majority party to take the chair. Senators must direct all remarks to the presiding officer, whom they address as “Mr. President” or “Madam President.”"    Read more ....

 

S. 139: FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017

This was a vote to pass S. 139 in the Senate.

This bill became the vehicle for passage of the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017. The bill would extend so-called "section 702" government surveillance under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

The bill was originally introduced and passed the Senate in 2017 as the Rapid DNA Act, a bill to expand the use of DNA in law enforcement. In August 2017, its identical companion bill H.R. 510 was enacted in its place. On January 11, 2018, the House replaced the text of this bill, which had become moot by the enactment of an identical bill, with the FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act, which was originally introduced as S. 2010.   Read more ...

 

Date: Jan 18, 2018

Question: On the Motion to Concur in the Senate

Required: Simple Majority

Result: Motion Agreed to

Source: senate.gov

Connect with tdr ...

 Facebook Twitter

“Feed the soil, not your plants.”
― Charles Dowding, Charles Dowding's Skills for Growing

Most Read

A+ A A-

Environment Resources

.  1% for the Planet

.  American Geophysical Union

.  350.org

.  CERES

.  Clean Water Action

.  Climate Central

.  Climate Change Guide

.  Climate Docket

.  Climate Mobilization

.  Earth911

.  Earth Institute

.  Earthjustice

.  Environmental Defense Fund

.  Ecowatch

.  Environmental Law Institute

.  European Commission Climate Action

.  Fires - Global Forest Watch

.  Green America

.  Moms Clean Air Force

.  National Science Foundation

.  Nature Is Speaking

.  NASA

. NASA Climate Change: Vital Signs

.  National Science Foundation

.  Nature is Speaking

.  NOAA

.  NRDC

.  Rainforest Alliance

.  Sierra Club

.  TerraCycle.com

.  Union of Concerned Scientists

.  World Resources Institute

.  World Wildlife Fund

 .  World Wildlife Fund - Climate

 

 

 

fShare
Pin It

Politics Resources

.  American Prospect

.  Cambridge University Press

.  Circuit Breaker

.  Committee to Investigate Russia

.  Defense One

.  Federal Register

.  Fernwood Publishing (Roseway Publishing)

.  Haymarket Books

.  Institute for the Study of War

.  Israel Lobby and American Policy

 . The Moscow Project

.  MapLight

.  McClatchy

.  Middle East Eye

.  Military.com

.  MoveOn.org

.  Nation Books

.  Politico

.  Roll Call

.  SunLight Foundation

.  USA.gov

.  US Dept os State

.  US House of Representatives

.  US Senate

.  Versobooks.com

.  Win Without War

.  Washington Spectator

.  Washington Report on Middle East Affairs

 

fShare
Pin It

Food/Health Resources

.  Beyond Pesticides

.  Center for Food Safety

.  Civic Dinners

.  Civil Eats

 .  Food First

.  Foodtank

.  Food & Environment Reporting Network

.  Food & Water Watch

.  Food Day

.  Food Revolution Network

.  GM Watch

.  Slow Food International

.  World Resources Institute

.  EDF Seafood Selector

.  1% for the Planet

.  SAFE Project

.  Healthy Campaign

.  National Nurses United 

.  Center for Food Safety

.  Fair Trade Certified - Coffee

.  Up Top Acres - MD & DC  

.  Planned Parenthood

.  NARAL

.  Moms Clean Air Force

.  What's On My Food?

 

 

 

fShare
Pin It
News aggregator updating headlines throughout the day to top news & Links to international news, social commentary and columnists creating a better world. External links are provided for reference purposes. The Daily Ripple is not responsible for the content of external Internet sites. tlr workshop 2015