Thursday, June 07, 2012

Bath Salts are not difficult to regulate.



The FDA provides approval of products on the market. For products with dual purposes the FDA can easily decide if any substance can be used for smoking, ingestion or application to the skin. I mean give me a break, why not come out with a cocaine cream to rub on your nose? 


These can be regulated, should be regulated and should be considered a designer drug when used for purposes outside the parameters indicated by the FDA as its purpose. This is ridiculous. There are medications that go through very rigorous screening, why not substances of questionable purpose. 

The UN needs intelligence out of Syria. Assad is unable and/or unwilling to provide it.


Hama, Syria

MOSCOW, June 7 (RIA Novosti)
16:47 07/06/2012

Moscow considers a new massacre in Syria, which has claimed the lives of scores of civilians, as a vicious and despicable provocation aimed at hampering implementation of the Annan plan, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.
Opposition activists and the Syrian government have accused each other of responsibility for the deaths of over a hundred civilians, including women and children, late on Wednesday in a new massacre in the country’s northern Hama province.
“There I no doubt that certain forces once again used vicious and despicable provocations to frustrate Kofi Annan’s plan,” spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said....
The Russian analysis is correct, but, it limits the ability to resolve the circumstances. I realize words from Russia to help define the violence is important, but, the massacres are continuing and there has to be some resolve to end them. It isn't enough to have an open mind about the words al Assad has stated in regard to whom exactly is carrying out these assassinations of innocent people. It is obviously death squads and the USA saw their work in Iraq, however, the question is very much open to the fact these militias may or may not be under the influence of the Assad government.


If these militias are a part of the government then it would be best all were called to their bases by Assad and accounted for while intelligence of the area is shared with the United Nation Peacekeepers and quite possibly NATO to discern the best approach to end the violence. If the Assad military can be accounted for by the United Nations it would limit the possibility it is them and stop the accusations. 


The real problem is how much is Assad in control of his own country, has the country fallen into chaos and possibly on the way to being another Somalia and what indeed has to be done. I remind this is the Middle East. If Syria cannot control its internal affairs, Israel is not far away and such randomness to the violence will engage Israel in self defense.


Also at risk is Lebanon and not just the refugee problem either. Lebanon has been the focus of Assad criticism and his surrogate militias that acted to kill Late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. The imbalance and unpredictability won't improve the stability of the Middle East, but, will escalate it. Russia has to bring some intelligence to the UN to begin to resolve this, saying it isn't enough. We all know the Middle East is a powder keg and we don't need Assad providing the fuse.



UN Monitors Fired On Amid Debate Over Next Steps On Syria (click here)

By Flavia Krause-Jackson and Donna Abu-Nasr - Jun 7, 2012 1:46 PM ET

United Nations monitors in Syria were shot at when they tried to reach the scene of a reported massacre in Hama province, as UN envoy Kofi Annan asked the international community to help force President Bashar al-Assad to abide by a cease-fire.



“Clearly, the time has come to determine what more can be done to secure implementation of the plan -- and/or what other options exist to address the crisis,” Annan told the General Assembly today in New York. “If things do not change, the future is likely to be one of brutal repression, massacres, sectarian violence and even all-out civil war.”
The international community remains reluctant to intervene militarily in Syria, the opposition remains divided, and Russia now wants to include Iran, a longtime Syrian ally, in efforts to seek a possible successor to Assad, a move U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rejected immediately.
The UN observers, some of about 300 unarmed military monitors charged with overseeing the cease-fire, were fired at en route to the village of Qubair to verify reports by the opposition that at least 78 people were killed by army shelling and attacks by Shabbiha militia. While no one was injured, one of the vehicles was damaged, according to UN spokesman Martin Nesirky. He said at this stage it couldn’t be ascertained who was responsible for the shooting....

"Corporations are people, too."


"We are the same age."



Mitt Romney is of the Vietnam Era as the gentleman he spoke to. Besides telling a gay man his love was not worthy of spousal rights I have to honestly ask, whom of the two looks as though lived a more rough life? Romney doesn't look the age of his peers. In this case, the veteran definitely has had worries and stresses other Americans have not suffered due to discriminatory practices and laws with his life long partner. I can only imagine aging in a relationship where a partner is unable to provide comfort in the way of health care benefits to his partner. 













Question.

How do women in burkas prevent Vitamin D deficiency?


Answer: They don't. Women and girls in burkas are susceptible to Vitamin D deficiency.


...Many of these diseases (click here) and manifestations of vitamin D deficiency can be disabling, painful and fatal.

People with high levels of melanin in their skin such as Middle Eastern men and women and people of African descent etc. are at a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency than people of European descent (white people) because the melanin (pigment) levels in their skin are higher, making it more difficult for sunshine to penetrate to the underlying skin layers to make vitamin D.....so they need more sunshine to produce vitamin D in healthy, adequate amounts to sustain healthy body function.

The real action today is over Richard Wagner.

Richard Wagner was born on May 22nd. The day after my birthday, but, in 1813. He had absolutely no knowledge of Adolf Hitler and the fact his music was used to calm concentration camp populous has nothing to do with the artist or the music.


The Holocaust did not happen because of Wagner, it happened because of Hitler.


...Wagner (click here) was a man of many mistresses, fine food and drink, and the beautiful comforts of life. And his point in the quotation is that to create at the highest level, the Wagnerian creator needs high-level stimulation in all areas of life....


He was a colorful guy. Enjoyed life and its passions.


Richard Wagner's life (click here) journeys from the heights of Romanticism to the movement's supreme crisis which he himself orchestrated. His musical language overturned all the accepted concepts of harmony as it pointed to the beginnings of the post-Romantic period and beyond....


At any rate, the death camps of Hitler used to pay his music. There are contentions it could never be his music because it requires at least one hundred musicians to play his little tunes. So, there are survivors stating his music was played but by recording. Hm?


So, the real controversy comes from Israel itself. The Israel Chamber Orchestra is playing Wagner without regret. I think it is time and there is absolutely no disrespect to any survivors, quite the contrary, it is a rebirth of the innocence of Wagner and the further persecution of Hitler. 


The Israel Chamber Orchestra (click here) plans to play music by Richard Wagner, the composer revered by Hitler, during the annual Wagner Festival in Bayreuth next year. The move is controversial in Israel, where the composer's work has been shunned for decades.



The music of Richard Wagner, Hitler's favorite composer, is hated in Israel and has been unofficially banned there for decades. But the Jewish Austrian conductor Roberto Paternostro, the musical director of the Israel Chamber Orchestra, is breaking new ground with a plan to perform Wagner's Siegfried Idyll along with works by the Jewish composers Gustav Mahler and Felix Mendelssohn and a contemporary Israeli composer next year in a public hall in Bayreuth on July 26, 2011, one day after the annual Wagner opera festival opens there.

"I realize that parts of Richard Wagner's weltanschauung and Bayreuth's relationship to the Nazi regime can neither be justified nor whitewashed," Paternostro said in a statement. "Yet I am convinced that it is possible to convey the musical significance of Wagner in a new and sophisticated way to the generation which is now coming of age without having to ignore the burdens or historic responsibility."


I applaud Conductor Paternostro for his bravery while dedicated to music and its appreciation in the way it is to be appreciated. Many in Israel are looking forward to the concert, even some survivors.

How many times does Ben Bernanke have to say the same thing to be heard?

No one Fed Bailouts. The economy is improving slowly because of the sluggish housing crisis and yes, Europe has to be watched. Is this like the third time he has said the same thing?


Basically, steady as she goes.

...“The situation (click here) in Europe poses significant risks to the U.S. financial system and economy and must be monitored closely,” Bernanke said today in testimony to the Joint Economic Committee in Washington. “As always, the Federal Reserve remains prepared to take action as needed to protect the U.S. financial system and economy in the event that financial stresses escalate.”...

I don't know of a better man for the job, actually.

Little is ever said about the qualifications of the First African American Attorney General.


The AG  served as a judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and a United States Attorney.


He also has a tough reputation of taking no prisoners. Rostendowski was a Democratic Representative from Illinois.  


Rostenkowski's political career ended in 1994 after a two year investigation by the Justice Department. In a case led by future U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Rostenkowski was indicted on corruption charges for his role in the House post office scandal. He was forced to step down from all Congressional leadership positions. In elections later that year, Rostenkowski lost his seat and retired from political life. Charges against Rostenkowski included keeping "ghost" employees on his payroll, using Congressional funds to buy gifts such as chairs and ashtrays for friends, and trading in officially purchased stamps for cash at the House post office.


AG Eric Holder was the first African American to serve the US Justice in many instancesIn 1997, after the retirement of Jamie Gorelick, Clinton nominated Holder to be the Deputy Attorney General under Janet Reno. Holder was confirmed several months later in the Senate by a unanimous vote. During his confirmation hearing, Holder's opposition to the death penalty was questioned, but he pledged his intention to cooperate with the current laws and Reno, saying, "I am not a proponent of the death penalty, but I will enforce the law as this Congress gives it to us."




There is a great deal of gamesmanship with Issa today in the House Justice Committee and quite frankly I am sick of it. Eric Holder has answered question after question in numerous sessions of the House Committee and he has become their favorite political punching bag. 

Eric Holder could not be covert about anything even if he tried. The Right Wing is only providing more news feed for Murdoch's FOX audience today. Issa is nothing more than a paid congressional lackey for Murdoch and it is time this harassment stops!


continued...

Let's give credit where credit is due.

Former President Clinton said 'Sterling." Yes? Yes. 

Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925.
Fine silver (99.9% pure) ...

Sterling Silver isn't even a commodity.

Purity: .999+ (pure) Silver price : $29.56 / troy ounce

Doesn't come close to the commodity price of gold or platinum of which I am sure Romney has significant quantities of considering he closed out all his foreign investments last year and hasn't done a darn thing in generating investments in the USA.

Now if the former President really meant and this is quoting Merrium-Webster 
": conforming to the highest standard".

You betcha. Romney made money had over fist at Bain and a sterling career as a wealth merchant is definitely in his resume.


So, the former President is absolutely correct, if parents what their children to grow up to be a ruthless venture capitalist, Willard Mitt Romney is your man and role model!

Another "Bill Moment. He had a few during Hillary's campaign, too.

The former President is a wonderful person and his Clinton Global Initiative is proof of the strength of his insight and policies. There was simply no doing without President Clinton when he left the White House. 

But, when it comes to Romney and the Bush Tax Cuts he is "W"rong. The Clinton Presidency was in a very different time and he left the White House with a budget surplus. President Clinton used his policies to enlist tourism and international cooperation globally to boost the American economy to a place it had never been before. Wall Street did well under Clinton and had no drastic problems, so in many ways Wall Street was still an ally to the American economy.

...Recently (click here) he has been on the wrong end of at least three different statements he has had to clarify—defending Bain Capital, testifying to Mitt Romney's "sterling" business career, suggesting the country was still in a recession, and suggesting he favored extending the Bush-era tax cuts. Clinton is doing such good work for Mitt Romney that he now appears in the Republican nominee’s press releases. Even Sarah Palin praised Clinton last night, in an effort to make President Obama look way out of the mainstream....

But, today, it is very different and President Clinton no longer has a Wall Street interested in the American economy. I realize he sees Wall Street as a friend and ally, but, in reality it has turned away from the American people, at least the banks have and banks are a big part of Wall Street today.


Wall Street was never bailed out during the Clinton years, nor did they pick up their money and go elsewhere. The times have changed a great deal from the boom days of he and Al Gore. We have been fighting terrorists he tried to stop, but, couldn't; we were dragged into fighting an illegal and immoral war in Iraq, and the Simpson-Bowles Bill never made it out of committee for a vote.


What Former President Clinton should say is, "The Bush Tax Cuts have caused this disaster, the policies of "W" have been a disaster and now without the help of the GOP in the House and Senate the country is a literal target of their abandonment to win elections. Republicans are attempting to be elected by NOT solving the problems of the country, they are expecting to win elections by causing bigger problems." 


The Bush Tax Cuts didn't exist during the Clinton Presidency, so before he starts saying they should be extended he needs to remind himself of the solvency he enjoyed because of the tax structure supporting his administration and policies.


Bill. The money is STUCK at the top of the income tax structure and the country is suffering because of it. The wealthy have no intention of 'sharing' or 'attempting' to grow the economy because they had to tighten their belts a little after the global economic collapse of 2008. The world is a very different place. The economies of every country on Earth have been effected and there is protectionism in large measure. Before, the former President can actually speak about tax cuts, he needs to walk in the shoes again. We need to pay down our national debt and support the national budget, it isn't going to happen by taxing the Middle Class and with all the money sequestered in the upper income bracket there is only one place to look.


The Bush Tax Cuts cannot be renewed, they are ADVERSE to the American economy and the future of our children. We are better off rescinding them and voting to put in place the provisions of Simpson-Bowles which more than adequately addresses the needs of the nation. The tax code has to be revived to actually mean something to this country, because right now it only serves the best interests of wealth in the USA like that of Romney and Bain Capital.

Luka Rocco Magnotta audition for Cover Guy - Narcissism



I believe Jeffery Dahmer also had Narcisstic Personality Disorder. Here is another one like him and why there was such a concentrated manhunt to find him. Dahmer killed animals as well. Magnotta filmed his animal killings.

Narcissistic personality disorder is a condition in which people have an inflated sense of self-importance and an extreme preoccupation with themselves.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

The causes of this disorder are unknown. An overly sensitive personality and parenting problems may affect the development of this disorder.

Symptoms

A person with narcissistic personality disorder may:
  • React to criticism with rage, shame, or humiliation
  • Take advantage of other people to achieve his or her own goals
  • Have excessive feelings of self-importance
  • Exaggerate achievements and talents
  • Be preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, beauty, intelligence, or ideal love
  • Have unreasonable expectations of favorable treatment
  • Need constant attention and admiration
  • Disregard the feelings of others, and have little ability to feel empathy
  • Have obsessive self-interest
  • Pursue mainly selfish goals

Signs and tests

Like other personality disorders, narcissistic personality disorder is diagnosed based on a psychological evaluation and the history and severity of the symptoms.

Treatment

Psychotherapy (for example, talk therapy) may help the affected person relate to other people in a more positive and compassionate way.

Expectations (prognosis)

The outcome depends on the severity of the disorder.

Complications

  • Alcohol or other drug dependence
  • Relationship, work, and family problems


1 Lunatic 1 Icepick Reaction (Luka Rocco Magnotta) - Obscene language throughout this video.



Did the world actually need to see this video? I didn't watch the video of Magnotta. I don't need to see the actions of a cannibal. 

The American Jobs Act - Title II


TITLE II – Putting Workers Back on the Job While Rebuilding and Modernizing America
Subtitle A - Veterans Hiring Preferences
Sec. 201. Returning Heroes and Wounded Warriors Work Opportunity Tax Credits

Wasn't there recently another attempt at carrying this out by President Obama? Yeah, he did, it was about credentialing. But, the Congress is playing around with a Veteran's Spending Bill now?

Posted: 6/1/2012 8:23:22 AM 
Updated: 6/1/2012 8:24:40 AM
WASHINGTON (WLS) - President Obama (click here) will unveil a new initiative on Friday that will, for the first time, allow some U.S. service members to receive civilian credentials and licenses for skills they learn in the military.
The effort, announced by the White House late Thursday, is aimed at boosting employment among post-9/11 veterans, some of whom have had difficulty obtaining jobs in high-skill industries because their training is not immediately transferrable to the private sector.
The current unemployment rate among post-9/11 veterans is 9 percent, based on a three-month weighted average, officials said. Veteran unemployment is 8.4 percent overall. 
Obama will announce that a Defense Department task force he created has penned a deal with several major U.S. credentialing agencies for engineering, logistics, machining, maintenance and welding skills to provide the “opportunity” for 126,000 service members to get “industry-recognized, nationally-portable certifications” starting this summer....

The Veteran's Spending Bill cuts other domestic programs. $148 billion on this bill alone. The GOP will do anything to increase military spending whenever they can regardless of the EXISTING law that passed last year when the debt ceiling was raising and the SuperCommittee didn't come to an agreement other than equal cuts to domestic and military budgets. The GOP House is already breaking the law they passed just last year, imagine what next year will bring if they can't keep their promises already. The Bush years are deficit spending and the GOP just can't help themselves. 
Published: May 30, 2012

...The Veto Promise comes because House GOP leaders are breaking faith with last summer's budget deal by cutting overall funding for agency operating budgets by $19 billion, almost 2 percent.
The House takes up the $148 billion measure Thursday.
The veto promise doesn't find fault with the funding levels in the veterans' measure itself. Instead, it says that the GOP moves on spending will force deep cuts to domestic programs like education, research and health care in subsequent legislation.

There is no sense for the House to take a vote on a bill the President won't sign because they won't be able to override the veto. The veterans need this spending bill  and it needs to be realistic within the guidelines already passed last year. There is a law. The House needs to live within it unless they want to be in violation of it.

This section of the American Jobs Act changed definitions and levels of income for veterans to make the unemployment laws more useful to them giving them preference for their service. This section also provided a credit to employers to hire a veteran. This section applied to all states and possessions of the USA.
Subtitle B - Teacher Stabilization
Section 202: Purpose
The purpose was to stop layoffs and assist in hiring from Early Childhood through Secondary Education all the way to the end of the School Year 2013. 
Ah, no one needed teachers. The classrooms are over crowded and the students under achieving in a global economy, but, teachers thrive best under adverse conditions, don't they?  Right? The harder the challenge the more they love it, after this is the USA where a person can hold down three jobs to makes end meet, why not a classroom of thirty children or more for the same reason.
Sec. 203. Grants for the Outlying Areas and the Secretary of the Interior; Availability of Funds.

This is the handling of the funds, including monies for the Secretary of Education to administer the fundings.

Sec. 204. State Allocation
Sec. 205. State Application

This is all about the process to qualify and to the extent a state would receive the funding.

Sec. 206. State Reservation and Responsibilities

This talks about how the state divides up the grants to insure there is only 2% spending on administering the funds to school districts, 10% for Early Childhood, etc. and so forth. I went though all this before. it is a matter of responsibility the sate has to show to make sure the children/students receive the benefit for teachers in the classroom and not just people in administration talking about the teachers in the classroom.

Sec. 207. Local Educational Agencies

Local Educational Agencies can receive a subgrant and it briefly describes the use of the funds.

Sec. 208. Early Learning
Sec. 209. Maintenance of Effort

More definitions to be used and insure for teachers. The monies are not to be used for capital investments. That comes under a different section. Just governance verbiage to insure Early Learning already exists in school districts obtaining the monies and that it will continue after the monies are exhausted by September 30, 2013.

Sec. 210 Reporting

How much funds received and how many jobs created or maintained. Fairly straight forward reporting. No gimmicks to trip anyone up for the sake of politics.

Sec. 211. Definitions


Self explanatory.


Sec. 212. Authorization of Appropriations


There are authorized to be appropriated, and there are appropriated, $30,000,000,000 to carry out this subtitle for fiscal year 2012.


Republicans could not stomach spending that money on teachers regardless of whether it was paid for or not. Why do I get the feeling, outside Abstinence Education, the GOP simply give a hoot about a child's education. When would schools ever have a chance to maintain or improve their teacher numbers? When was it ever more important to do so. Like Scott Walker, cut the funding and improve it in the future when it can be done. That could have been completely averted and a child would not be in jeopardy of receiving a degraded learning experience. This is the GOP, they see the cuts to Education at the State level and they couldn't care less, instead they use it as a wedge to destroy democracy and principled government. The day where government actually operates on principles to insure its purpose is fulfilled is never on the GOP agenda. It is only about dollars and cents and how they can best cut spending to line their pockets. Never once did Walker ever say, "If we had the American Jobs Act Bill none of this would be necessary." Nor did he ever plan to. The American Jobs Act was paid for by federal government redistribution of funds so children receiving education would not be effected because of a bad economy. The GOP always operates on politics and never, ever on what is best for the country and this is a stark example.



SUBTITLE C—FIRST RESPONDER STABILIZATION
Sec. 213. Purpose


To prevent layoffs of, and support the creation of additional jobs for, law enforcement officers and other first responders.

SEC. 214. Grant Program

This grant program falls to the jurisdiction of the Attorney General 

SEC. 215. Appropriations

$5 billion program of which $1 billion was to be used by Homeland Security for First Responders.

Subtitle D - School Moderization
Part I - Elementary and Secondary Schools
Sec. 221 Purpose


To modernize, renovate and repair. 


Sec. 222 Authorization of Appropriations


There are authorized to be appropriated, and there are appropriated, $25,000,000,000 to carry out this part, which shall be available for obligation by the Secretary until September 30, 2012.


Sec. 223 Allocation of Funds


Monies to Native American education and State funds to be targeted to students ages 5-17 living in poverty to improve their circumstances.


Nah, the GOP can't do that. Not allowed. Poor kids are poor kids and they need to get over it early in life. Absolutely, Secretary Boner, absolutely.


Sec 224. State Use of Funds


After allocations were to be made under the previous section, the remaining funds could be distributed to other educational agencies including Charter Schools. Imagine that, plenty to go around, too.


Sec. 225 State and Local Application


Just explains the application process, including the quality assurance in energy efficiency to obtain the funds. Nice. Modernization and all that as well as energy efficiency to lower the energy costs to schools, especially needy schools so their energy costs are contained now and in the future. No, we couldn't do that, it makes too much sense to actually HELP disadvantaged schools to improve their budgets by applying energy efficiency to lower maintenance costs to increase monies for better books and more teachers even after these monies are spent. I'll be darn. Heck of an idea.


Sec. 226 Use of Funds


To make sure the local educational agencies using the funds know what it is to be allocated for and it is to be used to SUPPLEMENT monies already received for projects to make the project better. These were not to be 'instead of' funds. ALL the monies for a project were to be used for the purpose of making a good school, the best school. These funds were to be used for renovations and improvement of existing school buildings, not stadiums, not maintenance or any other purpose. 


Sec. 227 Private Schools


Private Schools were to receive allocations and were not to impinge the title of the property or be used to purchase property. The monies could be used for asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls as private schools sometimes are older buildings and not under code as public buildings have been. Would have been nice. Especially nice during tough times when so much has to be put off due to lack of funding and income considering the impact the housing crisis had on property values, foreclosures and ultimately taxes.


Sec. 228 Additional Provisions 


Lists all the extraneous laws that apply covering all necessary laws in all the states.


Part II - Community Colleges


Sec. 229 Federal Assistance for Community College Modernization


Not for professional degrees such as bachelors, etc. Each state to receive no less than $2.5 million with a potential to reallocate funds to states having a need when one state might now. Same prohibitions of the use of money for maintenance, etc. as noted in the Primary Secondary School provisions. Same application of energy efficiency. Same reporting.


Part III General Provisions



Sec. 230. Definitions

Self explanatory

Sec. 231. Buy American




I would think this was self explanatory as well.


Section 1605 of division A of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5) applies to funds made available under this title.


There were actually complaints that "Buy American" was causing problems in the Recovery Act Funds, in that the money could not be spent immediately. The receiving parties actually had to put in an effort to satisfy that provision. That is sad. To realize the recipients of those funds literally didn't have sources in use already to supply "Buy American" is such a poor management directive. How are people going to be employed if there aren't directive by local school boards to purchase 'Buy American' for building their schools? How are cities and towns insuring people can pay the property tax necessary to run the schools if they are not using "Buy American" goods to build schools and other municipal buildings. China is not going to pay property tax. The cities and states themselves are limiting their jobs by not finding incentives to build these manufacturing plants right  here in the USA. Cities and States will pander to large corporations to build in their area and provide all kinds of tax incentives. Why can't they do the same thing for manufacturing plants to produce "Buy American" products? Does it make sense to do it any other way. STOP COMPLAINING and start taking control of the deficit of American manufacturing in this country. Don't complain for political purposes, MAKE MONEY and get out your own way to find the cheapest path.


That reality is just amazing to me. Billions of dollars waiting for infusion into the USA economy to get it rolling and there are no takers to make it happen. WOW. I don't think it is laziness, but, I do believe it is a learned helplessness in the USA that is now complacency. No different than Wisconsin. Why didn't the people tell Walker to bring pressure on DC to make it happen to prevent what happened rather than razing the public employees and negatively effecting the economy? 


Think about it, people. Wall Street or Main Street, where should building supply products come from?


Subtitle E - Immediate Transportation Infrastructure Investment


Sec. 241 Immediate Transportation Infrastructure Investment


DON'T COMPLAIN WHEN INFRASTRUCTURE DOESN'T MAKE THE GRADE OR MEET THE NEED. There were people in Washington that wanted to see it happen. When a complaint comes on the lips simply say FILIBUSTER. Then complain.



(a) GRANTS-IN-AID FOR AIRPORTS.--
(1) IN GENERAL.--There is made available to the Secretary of Transportation $2,000,000,000 to carry out airport improvement under subchapter I of chapter 471 and subchapter I of chapter 475 of title 49, United States Code.


(b) NEXT GENERATION AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL ADVANCEMENTS.--
(1) IN GENERAL.--There is made available to the Secretary of Transportation $1,000,000,000 for necessary Federal Aviation Administration capital, research and operating costs to carry out Next Generation air traffic control system advancements.


(c) HIGHWAY INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.--
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is made available to the Secretary of Transportation $27,000,000,000 for restoration, repair, construction and other activities eligible under section 133(b) of title 23, United States Code, and for passenger and freight rail transportation and port infrastructure projects eligible for assistance under section 601(a)(8) of title 23


(9) PUERTO RICO AND TERRITORIAL HIGHWAY PROGRAMS.--Of the funds provided under this subsection, $105,000,000 shall be set aside for the Puerto Rico highway program authorized under section 165 of title 23, United States Code, and $45,000,000 shall be for the territorial highway program authorized under section 215 of title 23, United States Code.

(10) FEDERAL LANDS AND INDIAN RESERVATIONS.--Of the funds provided under this subsection, $550,000,000 shall be set aside for investments in transportation at Indian reservations and Federal lands in accordance with the following:.

(11) JOB TRAINING.--Of the funds provided under this subsection, $50,000,000 shall be set aside for the development and administration of transportation training programs under section 140(b) title 23, United States Code.

(12) DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.--Of the funds provided under this subsection, $10,000,000 shall be set aside for training programs and assistance programs under section 140(c) of title 23, United States Code. Funds set aside under this paragraph should be allocated to businesses that have proven success in adding staff while effectively completing projects.

INTERCITY PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE.--
(1) IN GENERAL.--There is made available to the Secretary of Transportation $4,000,000,000 for grants for high-speed rail projects as authorized under sections 26104 and 26106 of title 49, United States Code, capital investment grants to support intercity passenger rail service


(e) CAPITAL GRANTS TO THE NATIONAL RAILROAD PASSENGER CORPORATION.--
(1) IN GENERAL.-- There is made available $2,000,000,000 to enable the Secretary of Transportation to make capital grants to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), as authorized by section 101(c) of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-432).



(f) TRANSIT CAPITAL ASSISTANCE.--
(1) IN GENERAL.-- There is made available to the Secretary of Transportation $3,000,000,000 for grants for transit capital assistance grants as defined by section 5302(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code. Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 53 of title 49, however, a recipient of funding under this subsection may use up to 10 percent

SUBTITLE F -- BUILDING AND UPGRADING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT


SEC. 242. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.


(a) Short Title- This subtitle may be cited as the “Building and Upgrading Infrastructure for Long-Term Development Act”.


SEC. 243. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.


This section validates the USA's need for improving infrastructure. It is a legal argument, with brevity, STIPULATING the need for this spending and why it is important.


(6) according to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the current condition of the infrastructure in the United States earns a grade point average of D, and an estimated $2,200,000,000,000 investment is needed over the next 5 years to bring American infrastructure up to adequate condition;


(7) according to the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, $225,000,000,000 is needed annually from all sources for the next 50 years to upgrade the United States surface transportation system to a state of good repair and create a more advanced system


Hello? Anyone thinking out there about reality rather than Republican rhetoric? No? Don't be surprised at the next bridge collapse then. Take responsibility. Politics gets very interesting then.


SEC. 244. DEFINITIONS.


Self Explanatory


Part I American Infrastructure Authority


Sec. 245 - 252 explains the AIFA (American Infrastructure Authority) and how it would help with improving the nation's infrastructure. It is a tedious read and I did it all before.


Part II Terms and Limitations on Direct Loans and Loan Guarantees


Sec. 253 - 256 is more about the loans and their servicing from the AIFA 


Part III Funding of the AIFA


Sec. 257 -259 explains all the funding for the agency.


Part IV is where I will pick up tomorrow.


Kindly remember these were monies the federal government already had. There were no new taxes. This was monies coming from other areas to pay for all this. 


There is the expression among Americans that says, "We need nation building at home."  Well, what happened to it? The President had a plan and it would not have cost anything to the National Debt or add to the budget deficit. What happened here?