Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, the first female veteran with disabilities to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, left her wheelchair to join other Democrats on the floor of Congress. Duckworth lost her legs as an army helicopter pilot in Iraq and now represents Illinois in Congress. She spoke directly to the camera in the above video.
Democratic members of Congress led by Rep. John Lewis (D Ga.) staged a sit-in Wednesday morning on the House floor, demanding a vote on gun reforms in the wake of the Orlando, Florida, massacre. More than two dozen members joined in. Right after they started, the GOP took steps to make sure few saw the sit-in.
A conservative nonprofit group filed an ethics complaint Monday against House Democrats involved in Wednesday’s sit-in over gun violence, saying they violated House ethics rules by fundraising off the stunt — and they have alleged proof of the violation.
Democratic members of Congress led by Rep. John Lewis (D Ga.) staged a sit-in Wednesday morning on the House floor, demanding a vote on gun reforms in the wake of the Orlando, Florida, massacre. More than two dozen members joined in. Right after they started, the GOP took steps to make sure few saw the sit-in.
Update: House Democrats’ sit-in to force a vote on gun control passed its 20th hour early Thursday morning, with a handful of members still gathered on the floor of the chamber wrapped in blankets and vowing to hold out until Republicans schedule a vote on a bill that would ban suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms.
The sit-in at times grew raucous.
When Ryan — who dismissed the sit-in as a “publicity stunt” — entered the floor to schedule a vote on an unrelated spending bill, Democrats in the chamber loudly chanted over him.
A crowd of protesters gathered outside to support the sit-in at times grew so loud their chants could be heard in the House chamber.
Update: Democrats ended a 25-hour long sit-in to push for a vote on gun control legislation Thursday afternoon, saying that while they did not succeed in pushing for a vote, they “must never give up.”
Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, took over the Senate floor on Wednesday to protest what they call a lack of action on gun control in the wake of this weekend’s mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.
Murphy began speaking at 11:21 a.m. Eastern, and along with his Democratic colleagues will continue speaking until Republicans compromise on gun reform legislation. They are hoping one new law specifically is passed.
With Republican control of the Senate in doubt, some have begun to wonder if Democrats could also seize control of the House. Polling has Trump in trouble in traditional Republican strongholds, and if he drags Republican politicians down the ballot, it could help Democrats shave off the GOP majority. But one main obstacle stands in the way.
A small public elementary school in Mississippi announced it would make a big change in 2018 by changing its name to honor former President Barack Obama. And while this is a nice gesture on its own, it becomes even more significant when you consider the school is currently named after Confederate president Jefferson Davis. Read more.