He’s not my representative, but I called his Washington office after reading this story to let him know we respect him at this time. Frank Pallone went to Baku, and the dictator (that’s the real word for autocrat) didn’t appreciate his presence. In fact, not only was he excluded from a Aliyev’s press conference for his criticism of Azerbaijan’s human rights record, he was the target of hired thugs.
Nine members of Congress went to Baku but Pallone is the chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus; Pallone and the two U.S. Senators there called for the release of all Armenian and Azerbaijani political prisoners.
Pallone is also on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and with other members of Congress is urging Biden to close off coastal waters from oil and gas drilling leases urged on by big oil that gave billions to this year’s political campaigns to elect fossil fuel supporters who will undoubtedly support their greedy goals.
Prayer for the Day
Too much a people of the flesh and wanting comfort,
We live in slavery to our possessions and or fears;
Unable to see your eternal spirit in the world around us.
We look for substitutes that promise us stability.
Be with us in this world so we are not possessed by it,
Destroying the earth and the seas you created.
In the name of the One who walks with us,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
As you cement your legacy to be the nation’s greatest climate president, we urge you to use your authority to permanently withdraw unleased and at-risk areas of the Outer Continental Shelf from fossil fuel development.
Letter to President Biden from Members of Congress
The climate crisis was not caused by one president and the climate crisis will not be solved by one president. New York, New Jersey, New England combined, would be the fifth-largest economy in the world. We’re all in.
Ed Markey, U.S. Senator Massachusetts
Let everything praise the name of the Lord, for God commanded and they were created,
God established them forever and ever, fixed their bounds which cannot be passed.
Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,
Fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling God’s command
Psalm 150: 5-8