Williams

21st Century Policing

Tackling Implicit Bias. Congressman Hughes will tackle an all-but-forgotten issue in America as it relates to contentious relationships between law enforcement and, particularly, minority communities they serve. He will commit to investing $1 billion to find and fund the best law enforcement training programs, support new research, and make tackling generalizations and stereotyping in law enforcement a national policing priority.

End Racial Profiling. Congressman Hughes will support legislation that aims to put an end to racial profiling in local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including strengthening the U.S. Department of Justice’s unit that monitors civil rights violations by increasing the department’s resources, working to secure subpoena power, and improving data collection for pattern or practice investigations.

Form National Recommendations on the Use of Force by Police. Congressman Hughes will create a national commission, guided by human rights champions and law enforcement officials, entrusted with formulating national recommendations on the application of authority by law enforcement within communities to better improve the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Invest in State of the Art Policing. Congressman Hughes will combat disorder in our communities through modern investments that foster state-of-the-art law enforcement preparation programs at every level on issues like de-escalation, community policing and problem-solving, the use of force, alternatives to imprisonment, emergency intervention, and police protection and wellbeing.

Gay Rights and Equality

End Conversation Therapy. Congressman Hughes supports a national initiative to ban the practice of so-called "conversion therapy" on minors in America.

Support gay unions. Congressman Hughes believes states ought to have the right to expand marriage equality and supports repealing the provision of DOMA that may prohibit the federal government from providing benefits to people in states that recognize same-sex marriage. He will also support a national initiative to prohibit discrimination against same-sex unions and support a legal case for gay marriage in the courts. 

Support universal adoption. Senator Williams will support a federal initiative that prohibits discrimination for both sexual orientation and gender identity in America as it pertains to adoption. 

Promote the Human Rights of the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual community Around the Globe. Senator Williams will promote LGB human rights and ensure America’s foreign policy is inclusive of LGB people, including increasing our investment in the advancement of human rights so that America can be a pioneer of acceptance around the world. 

Women's Rights and Opportunity

Ensuring Equal Pay and Closing the Pay Gap. Congressman Hughes believes we ought to enact legislation to provide better efficient remedies for sufferers of prejudice in the payment of wages on the basis of sex. This will finally ensure pay equity and close the gender pay gap in America.

Protect Women's Reproductive Rights and Health. Congressman Hughes will fight to preserve Roe vs. Wade. He will additionally support women’s healthcare, ensuring it's more affordable; advocating Medicaid expansion; ensuring it's easier for women to obtain contraceptives; valuing healthy pregnancies and births, and guaranteeing that all women have the ability to obtain access to the healthcare they need for themselves and their families.

Equal Opportunity for Women in the Economy. In addition to ensuring pay equity, Congressman Hughes believes there’s much more that can be done to empower women in the workplace, such as solving the problem women face of inflexible schedules by proposing a national initiative to provide affordable, high-quality caregiving options for families. Congressman Hughes also understands that raising the minimum wage will lift millions of women and their families out of poverty, which is why he has proposed to raise the minimum wage to $12.50, beyond the $7.50 Congress is aiming at in the 110th Congress. 

Promote Women's Empowerment. Congressman Hughes supports enabling women from all walks of life to participate fully in our society through the full participation of women is integral to the health and growth of our economy. That is why Congressman Hughes is promoting more women to be in positions of power in business and politics and believes there are enough qualified women to hold seats in the Cabinet of the United States and the Supreme Court.

Addressing Maternal and Infant Health. Congressman Hughes believes elevate the issue of infant and maternal mortality, which is why he supports increased investment in evidence-based home visiting programs. These programs aim to support pregnant moms and new parents, providing increased access to telehealth to provide access to care to women in rural areas. Hughes will seek funds in the federal budget to expand the maternity health care workforce and improve clinical services that address physical maternal health.

Pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Congressman Hughes supports passing the Equal Rights Amendment and adding the language to our Constitution to better defend women's rights in the courts. 

Aye

Aye

*RAPS GAVEL*

Debate on the legislation, the Campaign Expenditure Accountability Act, has concluded and a final vote, pursuant to House rules, shall commence for the next 72 hours! *Raps Gavel*

Here's the full legislation as presented before Congress for a final vote:

Quote

 

IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. HUGHES of Delaware, for himself, Mr. GERBHARDT of Pennsylvania, Mr. HARMON of Ohio, and Mr. ALLEN of New Mexico, with thanks to Mr. SCHIFF of California, introduce the following bill;
 

A BILL,

 

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit authorized committees and leadership PACs of a candidate or an individual holding Federal office from making payments to the candidate’s or individual’s spouse, to require such committees and PACs to report on disbursements made to the immediate family members of the candidate or individual, and for other purposes.

 

SECTION. 1. SHORT TITLE.

   This Act may be cited as the, "Campaign Expenditure Accountability Act".

 

SEC. 2. PROHIBITING PAYMENT OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO SPOUSES OF CANDIDATES; DISCLOSURE OF PAYMENTS TO FAMILY MEMBERS.

   (a) Prohibition.—Section 313 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

 

      “(c) Restrictions On Payments To Spouses; Disclosure Of Payments To Family Members.—

 

         “(1) PROHIBITION.—

 

            “(A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an authorized committee of a candidate and a leadership PAC of a candidate or individual holding Federal office may not make any payment to the spouse of the candidate or individual (as the case may be) for services provided to the committee or leadership PAC.

 

            “(B) EXCEPTION FOR REIMBURSEMENTS FOR TRAVEL.—Subparagraph (A) does not apply to amounts paid to reimburse a spouse for any travel expenses which the committee or leadership PAC involved is permitted to reimburse under this Act.

 

         “(2) DISCLOSURE OF PAYMENTS TO IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS.—In addition to any other information included in a report submitted by an authorized committee or a leadership PAC of a candidate or individual holding Federal office under section 304, the committee or PAC shall include in the report a separate statement of any disbursements made to any immediate family member of the candidate or individual (as the case may be) during the period covered by the report, as well as any disbursements made to the spouse of the candidate or individual which the committee or leadership PAC is permitted to make under the exception described in paragraph (1)(B).

 

         “(3) TREATMENT OF PAYMENTS TO CERTAIN ENTITIES.—For purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), a payment to an entity shall be considered to be a payment to the spouse or an immediate family member of the candidate or individual (as the case may be) if the spouse or immediate family member is an officer or director of the entity.

 

         “(4) EXCEPTION FOR NOMINAL REIMBURSEMENTS.—Paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply to nominal amounts paid to reimburse a spouse or immediate family member for supplies and equipment used by the committee or leadership PAC involved, so long as the total amount paid by the committee or leadership PAC for all such reimbursements during a calendar year does not exceed $500.

 

         “(5) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection—

 

            “(A) the term ‘immediate family member’ means the son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, mother, father, brother, sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, or grandchild of the candidate or individual involved; and

 

            “(B) the term ‘leadership PAC’ means a political committee which is directly or indirectly established, maintained, or controlled by a candidate for election for Federal office or an individual holding Federal office but is not an authorized committee of the candidate or individual, except that such term does not include any political committee of a political party.”.

 

   (b) Conforming Amendment.—Section 313(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 439a(a)(1)) is amended by striking “for otherwise” and inserting “subject to subsection (c), for otherwise”.

 

SEC. 3. IMPOSITION OF PENALTY AGAINST CANDIDATE OR OFFICEHOLDER.

   Section 309 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

 

      “(e) In the case of a violation of section 313(c) committed by an authorized committee or leadership PAC of a candidate or individual holding Federal office, if the candidate or individual knew of the violation, any penalty imposed under this section shall be imposed on the candidate or individual and not on the committee or leadership PAC.”.

 

SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE.

   The amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to elections occurring after December 2007.

 

 

PES: Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit authorized committees of a candidate or any other political committee established, maintained, or controlled by a candidate or an individual holding federal office (other than a political committee of a political party) from directly or indirectly compensating the spouse of the candidate or the individual (as the case may be) for services provided to or on behalf of the committee.

 

Requires any such committee to report on disbursements to the spouse or an immediate family member of the candidate or individual.

 

Requires any penalty imposed for violation of this Act to be imposed on the candidate or federal office holder whose spouse receives compensation. Prohibits the committee involved from reimbursing the candidate or office holder for any such penalty.

 

*RAPS GAVEL*

The time allotted to vote on this legislation has passed. By unanimous consent of the House, this bill HAS PASSED.

*RAPS GAVEL*

*RAPS GAVEL*

The time allotted for debate on this legislation has concluded. This bill shall move to a final vote

*RAPS GAVEL*

*RAPS GAVEL*

Debate on the legislation, the House Independent Ethics Commission Creation Act, has concluded and a final vote, pursuant to House rules, shall commence for the next 72 hours! *Raps Gavel*

Here's the full legislation as presented before Congress for a final vote:

Quote

 

IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. HUGHES of Delaware, for himself, Mrs. KING of Illinois, and Mr. HOBSON of the District of Columbia, with thanks to Mr. HILL of Indiana, introduce the following bill;
 

A BILL,

 

To establish the House Independent Ethics Commission, and for other purposes.

 

SECTION. 1. SHORT TITLE.

   This Act may be cited as the, "House Independent Ethics Commission Creation Act".

 

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF HOUSE ETHICS COMMISSION.

   (a) Establishment.--There is established an independent ethics commission within the legislative branch of the Government to be known as the House Independent Ethics Commission (in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').

   

(b) Membership and Terms of Office.--

 

      (1) The Commission shall consist of 14 individuals. Six former Democratic Members shall be appointed by the Republican leader and 6 former Republican Members by the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives. Two members who have never served in either House of Congress shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House and the House Majority and Minority Leaders acting in concert. Except as provided by paragraph (2), the terms of all members of the Commission shall be 2 years and no member may serve for more than 6 years.

 

      (2) Of the members first appointed--

 

         (A) 2 appointed by each leader shall be for a term of 2 years;

 

         (B) 2 appointed by each leader shall be for a term of 4 years; and

 

         (C) 2 appointed by each leader shall be for a term of 6 years; as designated by each such leader at the time of appointment.

 

   (c) Chairman and Vice Chairman.--The chairman and the vice chairman of the Commission shall be selected by the members of the Commission at its first meeting. No member may serve for more than one 2-year term as chairman and no member may serve for more than one 2-year term as vice chairman.

 

   (d) Qualifications.--Except as stated in sub section (1) above, only former Members of the House of Representatives shall be eligible for appointment to the Commission.

 

   (e) Dismissal. -- A member of the Commission can be removed prior to the conclusion of their respective term from the Commission by a unanimous agreement of the House Republican and House Democratic leaders.

 

   (f) Compensation.--Members shall each be entitled to receive the daily equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay in effect for Level III of the Executive Schedule for each day (including travel time) during which they are engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in the Commission.

 

   (g) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. (g) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the chairman or a majority of its members.

 

SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

   The Commission is authorized--

 

      (1) to investigate any alleged violation, by a Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives, of any law, rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable to the conduct of such Member, officer, or employee in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities, and after notice and hearing (unless the right to a hearing is waived by the Member, officer, or employee), shall report to the House of Representatives its findings of fact and recommendations, if any, upon the final disposition of any such investigation, and such action as the Commission may deem appropriate in the circumstances;

 

      (2) to issue any letter of reproval or admonishment with respect to such an alleged violation;

 

      (3) to report to the appropriate Federal or State authorities any substantial evidence of a violation, by a Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives, of any law applicable to the performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities, which may have been disclosed in a Commission investigation; and

 

      (4) to adopt rules governing its procedures to provide protections to respondents comparable to those that were provided by clause 3 of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives in effect immediately before the amendments to such rule made by section 8.

 

SEC. 4. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

   (a) Hearings and Evidence.-- The Commission or, on the authority of the Commission, the chairman or vice chairman, may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act--

 

      (1) hold such hearings and sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, receive such evidence, administer such oaths; and

 

      (2) subject to subsection (b), require, by subpoena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents, as the Commission or the chairman or vice chairman may determine advisable.

 

   (b) Subpoenas.--

 

      (1) In general.--A subpoena may be issued only under the signature of the chairman or the vice chairman, and may be served by any person designated by the chairman or the vice chairman.

 

   (c) Obtaining Information.--Upon request of the Commission, the head of any agency or instrumentality of the Government shall furnish information deemed necessary by the panel to enable it to carry out its duties.

 

SEC. 5. PROCEDURAL RULES.

   (a) Majority Approval.--No report or recommendation relating to the official conduct of a Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives shall be made by the Commission, and no investigation of such conduct shall be undertaken by the Commission, unless approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commission.

 

   (b) Investigations.--Except in the case of an investigation undertaken by the Commission on its own initiative, the Commission may undertake an investigation relating to the official conduct of an individual Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives only--

 

      (1) upon receipt of a complaint, in writing and under oath, made by or submitted to a Member of the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Commission by such Member, or

 

      (2) upon receipt of a complaint from the chairman of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of Representatives, in writing and under oath, made by that committee.

 

   (c) Prohibition of Certain Investigations.--No investigation shall be undertaken by the Commission of any alleged violation of a law, rule, regulation, or standard of conduct not in effect at the time of the alleged violation.

 

   (d) Disclosure.--No information or testimony received, or the contents of a complaint or the fact of its filing, shall be publicly disclosed by any member of the Commission or staff of the Commission unless specifically authorized in each instance by a vote of the Commission.

 

SEC. 6. STAFF OF COMMISSION.

   The Commission may appoint and fix the compensation of such staff as the Commission considers necessary to perform its duties. The director shall be appointed jointly by the Speaker and minority leader and shall be paid at a rate not to exceed the rate of basic pay payable for Level III of the Executive Schedule.

 

SEC. 7. ACTION ON COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.

   (a) Printing of Reports in Congressional Record.--Upon receipt by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the House of Representatives of any report of the Commission, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall have the report printed in the Congressional Record.

 

   (b) House Consideration of Independent Ethics Commission Recommendations.--Within 14 calendar days after a report referred to in subsection (a) is printed in the Congressional Record, that portion of the report recommending action by the House of Representatives respecting any alleged violation, by a Member, officer, or employee of the House of Representatives, of any law, rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable to the conduct of such Member, officer, or employee in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities shall be introduced (by request) in the House by the Speaker of the House, for himself and the minority leader of the House in the form of a resolution.

 

   This resolution shall constitute a question of privilege under rule IX of the Rules of the House of Representatives. Any Member favoring the resolution may call it up as a question of privilege but only on the third day after the calendar date upon which such Member announces to the House his intention to do so.

 

SEC. 8. AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF THE HOUSE TO CHANGE THE DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT.

   (a) House Rules Amendments.--Clause 3 of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives is amended as follows:

 

      (1) In paragraph (a), strike subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3), and redesignate subparagraphs (4), (5), and (6), as subparagraphs (1), (2), and (3), respectively.

 

      (2)(A) Paragraph (b)(1) is amended by striking ``(A)'', by striking ``a resolution, report, recommendation, or'' and inserting ``an'', and by striking ``, or, except as provided in subparagraph (2), undertake an investigation'', and by striking subdivision (B).

 

         (B) Paragraph (b) is further amended by striking subparagraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) and by redesignating subparagraphs (6) and (7) as subparagraphs (2) and (3), respectively.

 

      (3) Strike paragraphs (j) (k), (l), (m), (n), (o), (p), and (q). (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 803 of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 is amended by striking subsections (c) and (d).

 

SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.

   This Act shall take effect upon the date of its enactment, except that sections 3, 4, and 8 shall not take effect until the later of 6 months after such date of enactment or immediately prior to noon January 3, 2009.

 

 

PES: Establishes an independent House Independent Ethics Commission within the legislative branch. Amends Rule XI (Procedures of Committees and Unfinished Business) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to revise the duties of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to conform with this Act.

 

*RAPS GAVEL*

The time allotted for debate has concluded. This bill shall move to a final vote. 

*RAPS GAVEL*

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE SPEAKER

Dear Members of Congress,

The following appointment shall be made:

- Representative John Matheson as the Deputy House Speaker

Furthermore, the membership of the Select Committee on Iraq War Accountability shall be:

SELECT COMMITTEE ON IRAQ WAR ACCOUNTABILITY

MEMBERS:

- Chair, Liam Reeves @Bass Reeves

- Vice Chair, Garrett Hobson @Bolster

- Ranking Member, John Starnes @Starnes

So ordered,

/s/ Christopher Williams /s/

Speaker of the House of Representatives

CS

Who is comfortable drafting this?

Press Briefing #4 | Office of the Speaker of the House | Immediate Release

Christopher Williams

Speaker of the House

Olivia Greiner

Communications Director

Speaker Williams & Congressman John Matheson Have Productive Meeting: Will Work on Immigration Reform and Announcement Of New Deputy Speaker

- Speaker Williams had sought to stand by Representative Smith and defend against bullying - further evidenced recently by rumors not rooted in facts about the Speaker in the press - that she received before her decision to remove herself from the Democratic House Caucus. However, it has become clear that her Deputy Speaker status - nothing more than a procedural move of succession - has become a distraction from the business of the House. This is something Speaker Williams views as extremely unfortunate and intolerable. Therefore, Speaker Williams will indeed be removing Rep. Smith from the Deputy Speaker role. 

- Speaker Williams has sat down and had a productive meeting with Blue Dog Congressman John Matheson - his opponent for the Speakership - about moving the party forward together in light of recent struggles and rumors being fed to the press. Speaker Williams and John Matheson have agreed to forge forward in a united front as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, leading the House Democrats' together, for the sake of the progress in the chamber and in opposition to turmoil. John Matheson will not only serve as Deputy Speaker, but the two will be working together on the party's efforts to fix our broken immigration system, having already teamed-up in forming a task force and outline of a potential reform bill. 

- The Speaker is looking forward to keeping the focus on policy; disregarding any background noise; and is firmly at the head of the party as the Speaker of the House. He looks forward to working with John Matheson and getting on with the business of the House. 

ANY QUESTIONS MAY BE DIRECTED TO OUR COMMS OFFICE. THANK YOU.

MORNING IN AMERICA

Quote

JULIAN HERNANDEZ: Just 5 years ago, the Congress and the President passed and signed legislation giving economic and democratic development assistance, particularly to civilians, within Afghanistan as the War on Terror against al-Qaeda rages in the country. It gave them military assistance, as well. John McCain and Chuck Hagel supported it on the Republican side. Joe Biden and John Edwards supported it on the Democratic side. We’re still fighting that war. We still have thousands of American troops in Afghanistan. And yet, when a measure to extend that legislation was brought before the House by Speaker Christopher Williams, conservatives in the Democratic and Republican parties opposed this bill.

Quote

 

JULIAN HERNANDEZ:  The big issue was the fact that Mary Smith, the sponsor of the bill, sought to extend it by 40 years - a politically tough move to take. Speaker Williams tried to amend it and so did Congresswoman Emily King, which went ignored in favor of partisan rhetoric, and eventually, conservative Democrats banded together with one particular conservative Republican, John Starnes, to table the bill. Speaker Williams pulled the bill before the table motion could pass. Then he lit into those in the House, presumably calling out these conservatives - some in his own party - for ‘wasting’ the American people’s time with ‘partisan political motions’ that he claimed were ‘out of spite’ and amounted to these people ‘playing games’ with America’s War on Terror. 

 

Political strategists are wondering why conservative Democrats would join John Starnes - a particularly inflammatory Republican - in opposing this measure. Why would Republicans oppose it other than out of outright partisanship? Why not amend the sunset provision down to 2 or 5 years? Was there any consideration for how this would look? Not only is it sloppy, but it also sends the wrong message to the world that America is wavering on its support for Afghanistan. If that’s the case, what does that say about our posture toward the Afghanistan War? If you don’t agree on the exact number to appropriate for our Defense spending toward the War on Terror, are we going to derail that legislation outright and not at least offer solutions on it? I don’t know what these people were thinking!

 

AMERICA TODAY

Quote

 

JAMES LAWSON: I can digest the Republicans trying to table it over the 30, 40-year sunset provision as a political move against the ruling party. What I cannot understand and what boggles my mind about this are the usual culprits, John Matheson, Joshua Bauman, and O’Hallaron who think it's a sound strategy to get behind embarrassing their own party to make a political point. Just amend the bill! If the amendment fails and you cannot vote for the full bill, that’s one thing. But to knowingly try to embarrass your party? For what? Let’s look at this clown - really, a clown, trying to run for President from the right of the Democratic party - Joshua Bauman…

 

 

Quote

 

Joshua Bauman: Mr. Speaker, the gentlewoman from Vermont, takes a very paternalistic view of her vision to turn Afghanistan into a modern state through nation-building. In a pretty famous movie, as Jeff Goldblum said, life finds a way. 

 

Nothing is that simple, and we see it within the ethnic makeup of Afghanistan. Pashtuns, Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, and other ten ethnic groups. Each group is in severe tension with the other.

 

Quote

James Lawson: So what’s the plan on this? Mr. Bauman? Let these poor little Afghan girls and boys die without the support of America. I guess it’s easy for you to say as a Representative in Congress, with the perks that come with it. The privileges and smugness for you to tell these people: ‘sorry, this is too much of an inconvenience…a struggle for us, the greatest country on Earth, to support you’. We’ll fight the people who’re bombing you and oppressing you, especially when the defense contractors contribute to our campaigns, but we won’t actually directly support your freedom because, well, ‘life goes on’! What the hell, Congressman!? 

Let’s take a look at what Emily King had to say on the floor that I think is particularly poignant…

Quote

EMILY KING: If our mission in Afghanistan is to continue and to be for anything at all, then contributing to the freedom of Afghan women whose deprivation of rights under the Taliban has at times been weaponized as a token against those who ever express doubts about the wisdom of US military adventurism could at least be one small positive part of that legacy, and so my amendment moves to ensure that the provisions of the Afghan Freedom Support Act specifically relating to Afghan women and girls remain funded through 2012.

Quote

JAMES LAWSON: Wow. See what she did was the right thing. What the Speaker tried to do in amending the bill was the right thing. Allowing and actively derailing this legislation is malpractice at its height. 

 

And then Congressman Bauman further twisted the knife, calling this legislation - that extends legislation passed almost unanimously in 2002 to mount the crux of our efforts in Afghanistan - he called it “terrible,” saying that we should be ‘given facts’ on the best way to move forward through the Select Committee hearings. 

 

Mr. Bauman, you shouldn’t need a committee hearing to know that we must stay closely and actively engaged in helping Afghanistan through a very dangerous and difficult transition to stability, security, and, ultimately, a democratic government. And if you’re having trouble, at this stage, understanding and realizing must make the appropriate investment of resources and capital to meet our objective of a stable and prosperous country in Afghanistan - so that we don’t fail in the epicenter of the War on Terror - you’re not just delusional, you should NOT be running to lead this country. 

 

Immigration Reform

Dear Members of the House Democratic Caucus, 

In keeping with my promise to establish policy planning groups within the party to develop legislation and promote the party's message on various issues, I am hereby appointing Representative John Matheson and myself,  to the Democratic Policy Planning Committee on Immigration Reform.

This committee will be tasked with developing legislative initiatives focused on the following:

- Develop policies aimed at securing America's Southern border.

- Find solutions regarding the millions of undocumented Americans currently in America.

- Support DREAMers, who've grown up in America undocumented, through no fault of their own.

- Seek remedies to the broken immigration system in America, including addressing a backlog of immigration-related cases.

Thank you to the members of Congress working on this vitally important policy matter and I look forward to be a part of forging progress on this issue.

/s/ Christopher Williams /s/ 

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Press Briefing #3 | Office of the Speaker of the House | Immediate Release

Christopher Williams

Speaker of the House

Olivia Greiner

Communications Director

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE SPEAKER ON THE PULLING OF THE AFGHAN FREEDOM SUPPORT BILL FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR:

Speaker Williams: It is disheartening and unfortunate that certain members of caucuses are teaming up with each other to derail this legislation brought before the House of Representatives without any interest in amending the legislation to assuage concerns, but otherwise waste the time of the American people and compromise the business of the chamber. Partisan political motions out of spite are not the way to conduct sound legislative progress and members engaging in this kind of behavior, consciously or subconsciously, are put on notice. Nevertheless, it appears that those who took it upon themselves to derail this legislation, without motivation to make the bill better, is playing games with American foreign policy and it's mission in Afghanistan. That, is unacceptable and heartbreaking, particularly to the thousands of American troops fighting the War on Terror.

*BANGS GAVEL*

Per the ruling of the Chair, voting shall conclude. 

*BANGS GAVEL*

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE SPEAKER

Dear Members of Congress,

Pursuant to the House Rules: The Afghanistan Freedom Support Act of 2007 is hereby pulled from the floor.

So ordered,

/s/ Christopher Williams /s/ 

Speaker of the House of Representatives

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE SPEAKER

Dear Members of Congress,

In the Interest of Efficiency: Per the former ruling in the appointment of Representative Mary Smith as Deputy House Speaker, the Deputy shall have the authority to assume the gavel for processing procedural matters in mine absence of doing so, upon the Deputy's discretion.

So ordered,

/s/ Christopher Williams /s/ 

Speaker of the House of Representatives

The Williamsville Policy Institute is a think tank funded by The Williamsville Company.

Headquarters: Washington, D.C.

POLICY PLANNING TEAM

Policy advisors, funded through The Williamsville Company's think tank, the Williamsville Policy Institute, work to develop policies anchoring the presidential campaign platform of Jamal Hughes. Daily, vehicles from such advisors are seen constantly entering and leaving the gates of The Williams Estate.

FULL PLATFORM TEXT

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

Mr. HARMAN (for himself, Mr. HOBSON, Mr. GERBHARDT, Mr. HUGHES, and Mr. ALLEN, with inspiration from Mr. CONYERS and Sen. WYDEN) introduced the following bill;

 

A BILL

To amend the Internet Tax Freedom Act to extend the moratorium on certain taxes relating to the Internet and to electronic commerce.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the "Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act of 2007".

 

SECTION 2. PERMANENT MORATORIUM ON INTERNET AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE TAXES.

Section 1101(a) of the Internet Tax Freedom Act (47 U.S.C. 151 note) is amended by striking "taxes during the period beginning November 1, 2003, and ending November 1, 2007:" and inserting “taxes:”.

 

SECTION 3. EXPANSION OF DEFINITION.

For the purposes of the Internet Tax Freedom Act, "Internet services" is further defined to include services such as a home page, electronic mail and instant messaging (including voice- and video-capable electronic mail and instant messaging), video clips, and personal electronic storage capacity, whether independent from or incidental to the provision of the Internet.

 

SECTION 4. GRANDFATHER PROVISIONS.

The grandfather provisions of the Internet Tax Freedom Act are inapplicable if the state with a grandfather claim has repealed or otherwise nullified its tax laws at any point prior to the passage of this Act.

 

PES.

Permanently extends the moratorium on internet and electronic commerce taxes (which is due to expire on November 1, 2007). Includes emails, home pages, video clips, and other services under the defintiion of "Internet services." Removes the ability of a state to claim a grandfather provision if that state with the grandfather clause has repealed its law.

 

 

By the Powers vested in the House of Representatives of the United States, this Act is PASSED by UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

/s/ Christopher Williams /s/

Speaker of the House of Representatives

110th Congress of the United States

 

*Raps Gavel*

With the rejection to the motion of unanimous consent being withdrawn before the original motion of unanimous consent was to expire, the time allotted for any other objection to unanimous consent has passed. Therefore, this bill HAS PASSED.

Furthermore, the concerns from those who've expressed exasperation over the 'Closed Rules' designation are duly noted.

*Raps Gavel*

After handing off the gavel to a deputy, Speaker Williams walks over to Representative Harman and gives him a congratulatory hug.