Source: European Parliament
Breast cancer affects globally 2.3 million new women every year.
Known best for its pink theme colour, the Breast Cancer Awareness Month aims at promoting screening and prevention of the disease.
Actions such as early detection, timely diagnosis, comprehensive treatment and providing support for persons with lived experience, are crucial for tackling the disease and to address the existing disparities and challenges in access to breast cancer care.
Source: European Parliament
to wind up the debate on the statement by the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rasa Juknevičienė, Michael Gahler, Andrzej Halicki, Sebastião Bugalho, David McAllister, Željana Zovko, Nicolás Pascual De La Parte, Isabel Wiseler‑Lima, Antonio López‑Istúriz White, Wouter Beke, Daniel Caspary, Sandra Kalniete, Ondřej Kolář, Andrey Kovatchev, Andrius Kubilius, Miriam Lexmann, Vangelis Meimarakis, Ana Miguel Pedro, Davor Ivo Stier, Michał Szczerba, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Matej Tonin, Milan Zver
on behalf of the PPE Group
B10‑0079/2024
European Parliament resolution on the democratic backsliding and threats to political pluralism in Georgia
The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia,
– having regard to the statement by the High Representative and the Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement of 17 April 2024 on the adoption of the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ law,
– having regard to the statement by the High Representative of 18 September 2024 on the Georgian law on ‘family values and protection of minors’,
– having regard to the statement by the European External Action Service Spokesperson of 4 April 2024 on the draft law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’,
– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 14 and 15 December 2023,
– having regard to the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 entitled ‘2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy’ (COM(2023)0690),
– having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part[1],
– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,
– having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights,
– having regard to the joint statement by the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus and the European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur on Georgia of 18 April 2024 on the reintroduction of the draft law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’ in Georgia,
– having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas the exercise of freedom of opinion, expression, association and peaceful assembly is a fundamental rights enshrined in the Georgian Constitution;
B. whereas Georgia, as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as a member of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, has committed itself to the principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights;
C. whereas Article 78 of the Georgian Constitution provides that ‘the constitutional bodies shall take all measures within the scope of their competence to ensure the full integration of Georgia into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’;
D. whereas the EU expects Georgia, a candidate country for EU accession, to abide fully by the Association Agreement and other international commitments it has made and, in particular, to fulfil the conditions and take the steps set out in the Commission’s recommendation of 8 November 2023; whereas the European Council decided to grant candidate status to Georgia solely on the understanding that these steps would be taken, including combating disinformation and interference against the EU and its values, engaging opposition parties and civil society in governance, and ensuring freedom of assembly and expression, as well as meaningfully consulting civil society and involving it in legislative and policymaking processes and ensuring that it can operate freely;
E. whereas on 20 February 2024 the Parliament of Georgia passed amendments to the electoral code, changing the procedure for the election of chairman and so-called professional members of the Central Election Commission and abolishing the post of deputy chairman, which is filled by an opposition representative;
F. whereas on 4 April 2024 the Georgian Parliament adopted amendments to the country’s electoral code, abolishing mandatory parliamentary quotas for women, which required that at least one in four candidates on a party list be of a different gender than the majority;
G. whereas on 28 May 2024, the Georgian Parliament adopted the so-called transparency of foreign influence law, which requires organisations receiving over 20 % of their funding from abroad to register within two months as ‘organisations pursuing the interests of a foreign power’ and label themselves as such; whereas these organisations are subjected to additional scrutiny, reporting requirements and possibly sanctions, including administrative penalties of up to GEL 25 000; whereas this law seriously restricts media and civil society organisations’ ability to operate freely; whereas adopting this law has led to the suspension of EU financial assistance for Georgia;
H. whereas on 6 June 2024 the US imposed visa restrictions on dozens of Georgian officials over the adoption of the ‘foreign agents law’;
I. whereas on 11 July 2024 the US Congress Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted Georgia sanctions legislation known as the Megobari Act, which imposes sanctions against Georgian officials responsible for undermining the country’s democratic system;
J. whereas on 17 September 2024 the Georgian Parliament passed a law on ‘family values and the protection of minors’, which strips the LGBTI community of its rights and bans Pride events and public displays of the rainbow flag;
K. whereas a parliamentary election will take place in Georgia on 26 October 2024; whereas there is growing anti-Western and hostile rhetoric from the Georgian Dream party against Georgia’s democratic partners, as well as promotion of Russian disinformation and manipulation; whereas the Georgian Dream party is pursuing a narrative of the West as a ‘global war party’ trying to push Georgia back into a war with Russia;
L. whereas on 28 August 2024, the leader of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, at the inauguration of his party’s electoral campaign, spoke of his desire to ban democratic opposition parties; whereas he was seconded by the Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, who stated that if their party achieved a majority in the Georgian Parliament, it would ban certain opposition parties;
1. Strongly condemns the adoption of the law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’ and the law on ‘family values and protection of minors’, as well as the changes to the electoral code; considers that the foregoing are incompatible with EU values and democratic principles, run against Georgia’s ambitions for EU membership, damage Georgia’s international reputation and endanger the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration; strongly underlines that unless the abovementioned legislation is rescinded, progress cannot be made in Georgia’s relations with the EU; regrets that Georgia, once a champion of democratic progress with Euro-Atlantic aspirations, has been in a democratic backsliding free fall for a considerable period;
2. Expects Georgian Dream to respect the will and free choice of the Georgian people in the upcoming parliamentary election and to relinquish power peacefully if defeated; demands that Georgian Dream and its leaders immediately stop the violence, intimidation, hate speech, persecution and repression that it is committing against the opposition, civil society and independent media;
3. Strongly believes that the EU should consider temporarily suspending its visa-free regime with Georgia if the conduct of the election is not in line with accepted international standards and base its decision to do so also on Georgia’s fulfilment of the visa liberalisation benchmarks, in particular the fundamental rights benchmark;
4. Strongly believes that the upcoming election will be decisive in determining Georgia’s future democratic development and geopolitical choice, as well its ability to make progress with its EU member state candidacy; considers that the result of the Georgian election should allow the country to return to its pro-Western democratic agenda, implement the necessary reforms and launch accession negotiations with the EU;
5. Reiterates its unwavering support for the Georgian people’s legitimate European aspirations and their wish to live in a prosperous country, free from corruption, that fully respects fundamental freedoms, protects human rights and guarantees an open society and independent media; underlines that the decision to grant Georgia EU candidate country status was motivated by the wish to acknowledge the achievements and democratic efforts of Georgia’s civil society, as well as the overwhelming support for EU accession among its citizens; appreciates the efforts made by Georgia’s President Salome Zourabishvili to return Georgia to the democratic and pro-European path of development;
6. Deplores the personal role played by Georgia’s sole oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who returned to active politics on 30 December 2023 when he became ‘honorary chairman’ of the Georgian Dream party, in the current political crisis and in yet another attempt to undermine the country’s Western-oriented course in favour of pivoting towards Russia; reiterates its call on the Council and the EU’s democratic partners to consider imposing personal sanctions on Ivanishvili for his role in bringing about the deterioration of the political process in Georgia and in working against the interests of its people;
7. Calls for the EU and its Member States to hold to account and impose personal sanctions on all those responsible for undermining democracy in Georgia, who are complicit in the violence committed against political opponents and peaceful protesters and who spread anti-Western disinformation; welcomes the personal sanctions imposed by the US on Georgian Dream officials;
8. Highlights the worrying fact that many recent legislative decisions of Georgian Dream betray the aspirations of the large majority of the Georgian people to live in a democratic society, continue democratic and rule of law reforms, pursue close cooperation with Euro-Atlantic partners and commit to a path towards EU membership;
9. Emphasises that the rights to freedom of expression and assembly and to peaceful protest are fundamental freedoms and must be respected under all circumstances, particularly in a country aspiring to join the EU;
10. Recalls that the European Council of 14 and 15 December 2023 granted Georgia candidate country status on the understanding that the relevant steps set out in the Commission recommendation of 8 November 2023 would be taken; stresses that recently adopted legislation clearly goes against this ambition and has effectively put on hold Georgia’s integration into the EU;
11. Urges the Georgian Government to return to its European path, uphold its commitment to respect, strengthen and promote democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and genuinely engage in the full implementation of the steps required to fulfil the conditions for candidate country status and EU membership, in a spirit of engagement and cooperation with Georgia’s civil society and political opposition;
12. Reiterates the tangible opportunities that Georgia would take advantage of once the accession negotiations begin, such as pre-accession assistance that would improve the standard of living of Georgian citizens, as well as support the institutions, infrastructure and social services;
13. Expresses deep concern about the increased influence of Russia in Georgia, the increased number of Russian citizens residing in Georgia, increased trade ties with Russia, and Georgia’s willingness to pursue reconciliation with Russia despite Russia’s war in Ukraine and its occupation of a fifth of Georgian sovereign territory; calls on the Government of Georgia to impose sanctions against Russia in response to its war of aggression against Ukraine;
14. Reiterates its call on the Georgian authorities to release former President Mikheil Saakashvili from prison;
15. Calls on the Georgian Bureau of Investigation to conduct a thorough investigation of police brutality during the spring protests against the law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’ in Georgia;
16. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the President, Government and Parliament of Georgia.
Source: European Parliament
Precise, detailed and official data on the proportion of the defence budget of each Member State that is spent on domestic production and imports from Member States or third countries is currently not available.
There are, however, strong indications of persistent fragmentation in the European defence equipment market and an increasing reliance on imports from third countries.
More details can be found for instance in the European Defence Industrial Strategy[1] and in the Staff Working Document accompanying the proposal for a regulation establishing the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP)[2].
The EU programmes that can be used to support the capacity of the Greek defence industry include in particular: the European Defence Fund[3], which supports collaborative defence research and development projects with a budget of over EUR 7 billion over 2021-2027; the regulation on supporting ammunition production (ASAP)[4], which was adopted as an emergency response following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and supported the ramp-up of ammunition and missiles production capacity across Europe; the EDIP[5] proposal, through which the Commission foresees in particular the extension of the ASAP support logic in time (over 2025-2027) and in scope (beyond the field of ammunition and missiles only).
Also, Member States may use the Cohesion Policy Funds[6] for the modernisation and building of industrial capacities, including defence industry capacities, as far as the investments contribute to the objectives of the respective funds[7].
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001903/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová (Renew)
In the light of President von der Leyen’s commitment to establishing a ‘European Democracy Shield’ aimed at tackling deceitful online content, I would like to request further clarification on the role envisaged for digital platforms, which are often conduits for the dissemination of disinformation, including content generated by AI.
Submitted: 1.10.2024
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001895/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Vangelis Meimarakis (PPE)
There have recently been two worrying developments concerning Türkiye:
its application to join the BRICS countries and the inclusion and teaching of the revisionist narrative about the ‘Blue Homeland’ in school textbooks.
Türkiye is an EU candidate country that has an Association Agreement and is in a customs union with the EU. It is also a member of NATO. How is this compatible with BRICS membership given these countries’ conflicting interests with the EU and NATO?
Meanwhile, the ‘Blue Homeland’ narrative violates the sovereign rights of Greece and Cyprus under the Convention on the Law of the Sea and has led to the illegal Memorandum of Understanding between Türkiye and Lebanon. This narrative undermines the EU’s work in the field of energy in the Eastern Mediterranean and can become a source of conflict. It will also instil in Türkiye’s young generations a false understanding of the country’s history and obligations.
In view of this:
Submitted: 1.10.2024
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001904/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová (Renew)
In light of the ongoing negotiations between institutions regarding the legislation to combat online child sexual abuse, which envisages the establishment of an independent EU Centre on Child Sexual Abuse (EUCSA) as a hub of expertise:
Could the Commission provide comprehensive details on the current status of preparations, any progress made, and specific developments concerning the potential creation and operational framework of the EUCSA?
Submitted: 1.10.2024
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001899/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Fabio De Masi (NI)
What is the Commission’s assessment of the sale of shares in Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) to the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), and does it intend to initiate a formal State aid procedure owing, for example, to the suspected sale of undervalued shares[1]?
Submitted: 1.10.2024
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001902/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Hilde Vautmans (Renew)
According to a recently published report by Human Rights Watch, Rwandan troops and M23 rebels have committed large-scale violence against civilians, including women and children, in eastern Congo, especially in camps for displaced persons. The European Union has pledged EUR 20 million to Rwandan troops through the European Peace Facility, which gives rise to the following questions about the potential impact of our financial aid:
Submitted: 1.10.2024
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001918/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE)
The transfer of loans to servicers and funds has created a new, stressful environment for debtors. Many risk losing their first home due to aggressive debt collection practices. Vulnerable groups such as low-income earners and people with disabilities, in particular, find themselves in deep water. Meanwhile, the lack of transparency over how management companies and funds operate makes it difficult to protect borrowers’ rights. This problem is especially felt in Greece where the economic crisis has left deep scars in society and many citizens are having serious trouble paying back their loans.
In view of this:
Submitted: 1.10.2024
Source: European Parliament
All Member States bordering the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, together with the European Union, participate in the management of fisheries in this area, in cooperation with several third countries, in the framework of the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). As a contracting party to the GFCM, the EU is bound to adopt its decisions. The European Commission has therefore proposed to transpose a number of recently adopted GFCM measures into EU law.
Source: European Investment Bank
European Union Finance ministers have welcomed an Action Plan to be deployed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, to support the development of the Capital Markets Union. The Plan includes measures to untap private savings and channel them into productive investment, to boost innovation, competitiveness, strategic autonomy, and productivity growth in Europe.
The Action Plan was discussed at the meeting of EIB Group President Nadia Calviño with finance ministers at the Eurogroup in Luxembourg today. It was developed after months of intensive engagement with member states and financial markets partners, and received broad support by the Boards of Directors of the EIB and of the European Investment Fund (EIF) last week.
EIB Group President Nadia Calviño, said “The EIB Group is itself already a Capital Markets Union instrument. The Action Plan discussed with ministers will help European innovators scale up their business and contribute to channel savings into productive investments, boost innovation, create jobs and lead Europe toward a more robust growth model, ensuring that European companies born in Europe, stay in Europe”.
The Action Plan covers three main areas:
Today’s meeting has focused on the second area, with proposals to finance the scale-up of European unicorns, including through an extension of the successful European Tech Champions Initiative, scaling up equity and venture debt investments and a new dedicated fund, an “exit platform”, for financing acquisitions and listing of tech start-ups by European companies.
These proposals will be further discussed and finalised by the EIB’s Board of Directors, in partnership with the Commission. Today’s discussion follows up on the Eurogroup’s mandate in March for the EIB Group to support the integration of European capital markets with new instruments that will further facilitate access to financing for small and medium-sized businesses and innovators.
EU leaders committed, in April 2024, to advancing work without delay toward integrating the Union’s capital markets, while a Savings and Investment Union, including banking and capital markets, is among the flagship goals included in the political guidelines of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for the new institutional cycle. Helping develop well-functioning cross border capital markets is among the EIB Group’s core priorities, included in the Strategic Roadmap for 2024-2027, which was unanimously endorsed by EU finance ministers in June.
Capital markets fragmentation has been singled out as a key impediment to European competitiveness by both Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi in their flagship reports. The European Central Bank has repeatedly emphasized that deep and integrated single market for capital is essential for financial stability and for achieving some of the EU’s flagship policy goals, from financing the green and digital transitions to enabling savers to earn higher returns.
The EIB Group is uniquely positioned to support the development of a European Savings and Investments Union, as it is the only truly pan-European financial institution, with operations in every member state and every region of the EU. It has an unparalleled record and expertise in introducing and shaping innovative financing instruments and tools.
The EIB Group has just reached the €100bn milestone of green bond issuance, since pioneering this market back in 2007, and is the largest provider of venture debt in Europe. It offers a full range of products and services, from debt and equity to advisory, to clients ranging from public sector and large corporates to SMEs and innovative startups. The EIB Group has a stellar AAA credit rating, and outstanding Environmental, Social and Governance credentials.
Background information
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment contributing toward EU policy goals. The EIB Group is the largest provider of venture debt in Europe and the largest public investor in European venture capital funds. It is also a major financier of climate investment, with over €100 in cumulative green bond issuances, and is well on track to support €1 trillion in green investment in the critical decade to 2030.
The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed a total of €88 billion in new financing for over 900 projects last year. These commitments are expected to mobilise around €320 billion in investment, supporting 400 000 companies and 5.4 million jobs. Over half of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment. Approximately half of the EIB’s financing within the European Union is directed towards cohesion regions, where per capita income is lower. This underscores the Bank’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and the convergence of living standards.
Source: European Parliament
As explained in the Commission’s answer to the Written Question E-0001438/2024 on the same issue, on 1 August 2024, a letter has been sent to the Hungarian Minister of the Interior in which the Commission’s concerns about the extension of the ‘National Card’ scheme to citizens of Russia and Belarus were expressed.
Hungary was reminded of the importance of upholding enhanced standards of scrutiny and vigilance with regards to the entry of Russian nationals into the Schengen area.
The dialogue with the Hungarian authorities is ongoing to assess the implications of the ‘National Card’ extension for the security of the Schengen area.
Hungary remains bound by the obligation to thoroughly check whether all entry conditions of Article 6 of the Schengen Borders Code[1] (SBC) applicable to third-country nationals have been met.
This includes, amongst others, the absence of alerts issued in the Schengen Information System or other indications that an individual poses a threat to public policy, internal security, public health or the international relations of any of the Member States. A third-country national who does not fulfil the entry conditions must be refused entry (Article 14 SBC).
On 30 September 2022, the Commission issued updated guidelines on controls of Russian citizens at the external borders in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine[2].
According to these guidelines, border guards should exercise intensive individual scrutiny in assessing the potential heightened security risk posed by Russian nationals.
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001908/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Yannis Maniatis (S&D)
After storm Daniel hit in September 2023, extensive parts of the Region of Thessaly were ravaged by floods, which caused severe damage to infrastructure and businesses. On top of this, towards the end of August this year, thousands of dead fish washed up on the shores of the Pagasetic Gulf causing a major environmental disaster, which brought the area to its knees and drove tourists away. The tourism sector, a mainstay of the local economy, in particular Magnesia’s economy, now finds itself in a critical situation as businesses are unable to return to business as usual without direct financial support.
Given how serious and urgent a matter this is, can the Commission answer the following:
Submitted: 1.10.2024
Source: European Parliament
Source: European Parliament
Source: European Parliament
Source: European Parliament
Source: US State of New York
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today filed a petition to dissolve the Community Resource Collaborative (CRC), a Monroe County not-for-profit, for misusing government funds intended to support local organizations that provide services to Rochester-area communities. The CRC, founded by Tina Paradiso, was created in 2021 to distribute millions of dollars in federal funds to 12 local organizations that provide housing, food, and other essential services to New Yorkers in the Rochester area as part of a program known as the Neighborhood Collaborative Project. However, the CRC’s executives used tens of thousands of dollars in federal funds to pay for personal expenses and failed to deliver more than $243,000 to the local organizations that were promised aid. Attorney General James seeks to dissolve CRC and appoint a receiver to liquidate its remaining assets to distribute owed funds to the local nonprofits.
“Vulnerable communities in the Rochester area were relying on financial support from the Community Resource Collaborative, but they only saw a fraction of what they were promised,” said Attorney General James. “The CRC’s executives cheated local organizations that provide essential services to the needy to pay for their personal luxuries instead. To right this wrong, my office is taking action to dissolve CRC for rampant financial mismanagement and to help recoup funds for nonprofits that were promised aid and were left empty-handed.”
In November 2022, CRC was chosen to receive $7.1 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act over a four-year period for the Neighborhood Collaborative Project, an initiative intended to fund 12 local nonprofits that serve the Rochester area. In 2023, CRC received $1,067,971 in federal funding, but only $750,514 was distributed to the local nonprofits.
An audit into CRC by Monroe County found that the nonprofit paid for expenses unrelated to its mission, including $28,000 in transportation expenses, most of them Uber charges for CRC executives, and $180,000 in disbursements to repay loans made by CRC’s founder, Tina Paradiso. The organization also made direct payments to its directors for no apparent reason, including $28,000 in rent payments to Tina Paradiso’s company Imprintable Solutions, $10,000 for personal security, and $20,000 in direct payments to CRC board member Anthony Hall. The report also concluded that CRC failed to maintain a proper financial management system and financial records. In many instances, accounting entries lacked detail and disbursements were not accounted for by the program and/or agency.
As a result of this self-dealing and financial mismanagement, the CRC failed to deliver $243,907.02 to community charities that provide food, housing, and other services and were promised aid.
Through this petition, Attorney General James seeks to dissolve CRC for violating New York’s not-for-profit corporation laws and to appoint a receiver to liquidate CRC’s assets and use those funds to pay the local nonprofits the money they are owed.
Attorney General James thanks the Monroe County Law Department for their cooperation and assistance in this matter.
Attorney General James has always held nonprofits, organizations, and bad actors accountable when they misuse charitable funds. In May 2024, Attorney General James secured nearly $6.3 million for individuals who were defrauded by an Albany attorney and a financial advisor who looted family trusts intended to benefit charitable organizations throughout the Capital Region. In August 2023, Attorney General James recovered $510,000 for charity from Long Island lawyers who allegedly illegally paid themselves more than $1.3 million from a deceased client’s trust and charitable foundation. In February 2022, Attorney General James sued the former President and CEO of the Humanitarian Organization for Multicultural Experiences, Inc. (H.O.M.E.) for diverting or misusing nearly a million dollars in H.O.M.E.’s charitable assets for her personal gain. In May 2019, Attorney General James announced a settlement with Oneonta Elks over their wrongful use of charitable assets to pay for capital improvements to its lodge building and property, as well as covering general operating expenses.
This matter is being handled by Deputy Assistant Attorney General in Charge Benjamin Bruce and Assistant Attorney General Audrey Cooper both of the Rochester Regional Office which is led by Assistant Attorney General-in-Charge Ted O’Brien. The Rochester Regional Office is a part of the Division of Regional Offices, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs Jill Faber and First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.
Source: US State of New Mexico
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement Monday on the passing of Senator John Arthur Smith
“Today, I join New Mexicans in mourning the loss of Sen. John Arthur Smith, an extraordinary public servant and a cherished colleague and mentor of mine and many other public servants in our state.
Senator Smith was committed to fiscal responsibility while consistently aiming to improve quality of life for all New Mexicans. His leadership of the Senate Finance Committee helped put the state on sound financial footing and earned respect from colleagues across the political spectrum. Senator was not only a masterful legislator; he was kind and honest. He provided an example of ethical and decent conduct that all elected officials, including those in Washington, D.C., would be wise to follow.
Senator Smith’s lifetime of dedication to New Mexico leaves a legacy that will continue to benefit our communities for generations to come. All New Mexicans owe him a debt of gratitude.
An announcement regarding lowering state flags in honor of Senator John Arthur Smith’s many contributions to New Mexico will be forthcoming.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Janette, his family, and the countless individuals whose lives he touched.
May he rest in peace.”
Source: US State of West Virginia
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Source: US State of West Virginia
CHARLESTON, WV – Gov. Jim Justice and the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs (HHOMA) announced today the next stop in a statewide listening tour on Thursday, October 10, in Welch.
This listening tour aims to actively engage with community members across West Virginia, fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration to address their needs and priorities.
The Welch Listening Tour features two key sessions:
Senior Visit — McDowell County Commission on Aging
725 Stewart St, Welch, WV 24801
10-11:30 a.m.
General Public Meeting — Jack Caffrey Arts & Cultural Center
143 Wyoming Street, Welch, WV 24801
5:30-7:30 p.m.
“The Welch community and residents of nearby areas are invited to join this listening session and share their experiences and views,” Jill Upson, Executive Director of HHOMA, said. “This is a great way to promote meaningful dialogue and collaboration as we work to create a more equitable and resilient future for everyone.”
These sessions provide citizens and community leaders with a platform to voice their concerns and raise awareness of issues affecting residents. Attendees are encouraged to actively participate in discussions and share their insights.
For more information about the Listening Tour, please visit http://www.minorityaffairs.wv.gov.
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency
Headline: South Dakotans Have One Week Left to Apply for FEMA Assistance
South Dakotans Have One Week Left to Apply for FEMA Assistance
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakotans in Davison, Lincoln, Turner, and Union counties impacted by this summer’s severe storms have one week remaining to apply for federal disaster assistance. The deadline is October 15, 2024.
For an accessible video on three ways to apply for FEMA assistance, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI
Since President Biden’s major disaster declaration for South Dakota on August 15, federal agencies have approved $13,970,610.76 in grants and loans to assist in recovery (as of Oct. 6).
To date, a total of 1,370 people in Davison, Lincoln, Turner, and Union counties have applied with FEMA for assistance. FEMA has approved $8,440,710.76 through the Individuals and Households program, consisting of $5,734,872.33 in Housing Assistance for home repairs and rental expenses, and $2,705,838.43 in Other Needs Assistance for repair or replacement of personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, moving expenses and other disaster-related needs.
In addition, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved $5,529,900 in low interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, and businesses.
If you have already applied for disaster assistance with FEMA, it is important that you stay in touch and keep your contact information updated. FEMA may need additional information from you in order to process your assistance or determine your eligibility. Please note that calls from FEMA may come from an unknown number on your caller-ID.
# # #
FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @femaregion8
jamie.casterton
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency
Headline: FEMA Issues Public Notice for North Carolina
FEMA Issues Public Notice for North Carolina
Raleigh, NC – A public notice has been posted describing available FEMA assistance and proposed FEMA-funded actions, including activities that may affect historic properties, threatened and endangered species, critical habitat, or wetlands and floodplains in North Carolina.
FEMA is required by law to provide public notice of its intent to provide federal assistance and grant opportunities via the Individual Assistance, Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs following the major disaster declaration for Tropical Storm Helene.
The public notice is posted on FEMA’s disaster web page at /disaster-federal-register-notice/dr-4827-nc-public-notice and on the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management website at https://www.ncdps.gov/our-organization/emergency-management/hurricane-helene.
This may be the only public notice. Interested persons may obtain information about these actions or a specific project by writing to the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 4, 3005 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30341-4112, or by email to FEMA-R4EHP@fema.dhs.gov. Please include in the subject line of the email, “DR-4827-nc EHAD.” Comments should be sent in writing within 30 days of the date of this notice.
For the latest information about North Carolina’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4827. Follow FEMA on X at x.com/femaregion4 or on Facebook at facebook.com/fema.
martyce.allenjr
Source: US Energy Information Administration
In-brief analysis
October 7, 2024
Biofuels are making up an increasing share of total distillate fuel oil consumed in the United States. Beginning in the September 2024 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), we began publishing forecasts for several new series that help to better capture how biofuels are being consumed and overall demand for distillate fuel oil, a classification of petroleum products that includes diesel, fuel oil, and heating oil.
We made these changes to clarify how much biofuel is included in petroleum products, particularly distillate fuel. These updates are largely based on data series we were already reporting in our Petroleum Supply Monthly (PSM) and forecasting in STEO. The new data are available in STEO Table 4d.
What’s new in the September STEO?
The most notable of the new series is total distillate fuel oil consumption. The total distillate fuel oil consumption calculation includes distillate fuel oil product supplied (published in PSM and STEO) and two new data series:
How did we previously account for diesel consumption in STEO?
Previously, we only published distillate fuel oil product supplied (the proxy we use for consumption) in STEO Table 4a. These data included volumes of biodiesel and renewable diesel reported to EIA as refiner and blender net inputs. Net inputs are the volumes of these fuels that refiners and blenders report that they blended with petroleum distillate. We include these volumes in our distillate fuel oil product supplied data because they are commingled with the petroleum distillate fuel supply. However, distillate fuel oil product supplied does not include the biofuel consumption that we report as standalone biodiesel product supplied and renewable diesel product supplied, although much of these volumes are likely blended with petroleum-based distillate fuel further downstream of the data captured in our surveys. Because distillate fuel oil product supplied does not include significant volumes of biodiesel and renewable diesel, it does not capture the total volumes of fuel being consumed as distillate fuel oil.
What are biomass-based diesel fuels?
Renewable diesel and biodiesel are the two biomass-based diesel fuels that can be used in place of petroleum-based distillate.
Renewable diesel is a transportation and heating fuel that is chemically equivalent to petroleum-based distillate fuel but is produced using fats, oils, or greases rather than petroleum. Renewable diesel can be used in diesel engines in any concentration.
Biodiesel is made with the same feedstocks as renewable diesel, but it is typically blended with petroleum distillate at concentrations of 20% or less for vehicle consumption because of some chemical differences from petroleum distillate. Regardless of whether renewable diesel or biodiesel are blended with petroleum distillate or consumed directly, they generally serve the same end uses and can displace volumes of petroleum-based distillate.
Why are we publishing a new total distillate fuel oil series?
We chose to publish a total distillate fuel oil consumption series because biofuels are making up a noticeable and increasing share of distillate supplied to the market. Most of this growth is occurring on the West Coast because of state-level policies in that region, most notably California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, that add to the incentives from federal clean-fuel programs such as the Renewable Fuel Standard and biodiesel tax credit.
We estimate the average share of biofuels in total distillate fuel oil consumption was about 4% from 2016 to 2020. Recently, rising production of renewable diesel has increased the biofuels share of total distillate fuel oil consumption from 5% in 2021 to 7% in 2023.
Renewable diesel product supplied has more than tripled from nearly 70,000 barrels per day (b/d) in 2021 to 240,000 b/d so far this year, as an influx of private investment helped increase production capacity. We expect the biofuels share of total distillate fuel oil consumption will increase to 9% in 2024.
Total distillate fuel oil consumption better measures distillate consumption in the market because of the growing share of biofuels in distillate supplied to end users. Distillate product supplied data (which capture petroleum-based distillate fuel and only the portion of biofuel blended as net inputs) over the past five years suggest distillate consumption has not recovered to 2019 levels. However, the total distillate fuel oil consumption series that more fully accounts for biofuels shows distillate consumption surpassing 2019 levels in 2022.
Several macroeconomic indicators that drive distillate consumption (including U.S. real GDP, U.S. real imports of goods, and manufacturing activity as measured by the Federal Reserve’s Industrial Production Index) all surpassed 2019 levels by 2022, lending support to total distillate fuel oil consumption as a more appropriate measure for distillate consumption.
In the first half of 2024, distillate fuel oil product supplied suggests consumption declined 5% compared with the past five-year (2019–23) average. Total distillate consumption over the same period shows consumption was effectively the same as the five-year average. The difference between the two reflects the biofuels share of distillate consumed in the market.
We have revised our forecasting method for distillate consumption to better account for biofuels in distillate supplied to the market. We now forecast total distillate fuel oil consumption using macroeconomic indicators to determine overall consumption by end users. We forecast distillate fuel oil product supplied by subtracting our forecast for renewable diesel product supplied and biodiesel product supplied from our total distillate fuel oil consumption forecast.
Principal contributors: Jimmy Troderman, Alex de Keyserling
Source: NASA
The golden records placed aboard Voyager 1 and 2 each have a cover with special etchings, seen here in this photo from Sept. 4, 1977. These drawings show how the record should be used to receive a message from Earth.
For example, the drawing in the bottom right corner is of the phonograph record and the stylus carried with it; the stylus is in the correct position for the record to be played from the beginning. The lines around the record mark the time of one rotation of the record, 3.6 seconds, in binary arithmetic. The drawing also indicates that the record should be played from the outside in.
The Golden Record itself contains 115 images and a variety of natural sounds, such as those made by surf, wind and thunder, birds, whales, and other animals, as well as musical selections from different cultures and eras, spoken greetings from Earth-people in fifty-five languages, and printed messages from President Carter and U.N. Secretary General Waldheim. The contents of the record were selected for NASA by a committee chaired by Carl Sagan.
Discover what the other drawings on the Golden Record cover reveal.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet
Denver — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released the following statement marking one year since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel:
“On October 7th, 2023, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, brutally killing 1,200 innocent people and kidnapping 250 more. A year later, Hamas still holds almost 100 hostages, among them at least seven Americans: Edan Alexander, Itay Chen z”l, Sagui Dekel-Chen, Gadi Haggai z”l, Omer Neutra, Keith Siegel, and Judith Weinstein z”l. At the same time, Iran and its proxies continue to sow chaos throughout the Middle East – including by attacking U.S. troops and targeting American interests. The U.S. must defend our people and our allies, including Israel.
“This terrible war has inflicted enormous human suffering and trauma on Israelis, Palestinians, and people far beyond the Middle East, itself. As the families of Hamas’ hostages continue to call for an agreement to free their loved ones and secure a mutual ceasefire in Gaza, the U.S. must continue leading efforts to achieve such a deal. The U.S. must also lead efforts to secure an enforceable agreement that allows tens of thousands of displaced civilians on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border to return to their homes.
“These diplomatic efforts are essential; indeed, they are the only way to bring lasting peace and prosperity to the region. These negotiations are a predicate to building a just two-state solution out of the tragedy of the last year.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet
Denver — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse, Jason Crow, Brittany Pettersen, and Diana DeGette, wrote to the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) in support of the Colorado River Water Conservation District’s (CRWCD) application for federal funding to purchase two of the oldest water rights on the Colorado River mainstem in Colorado, known as the Shoshone Permanency Project. The lawmakers offered their support as part of an ongoing BOR funding opportunity to provide environmental benefits in response to drought, which remains open for additional projects in Colorado and the rest of the Upper Colorado River Basin.
“The Colorado River District’s mission is to promote the protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River water basin for the welfare of the state of Colorado,” wrote the lawmakers. “Preserving the Colorado River’s historical flow regime as intended by the Shoshone Permanency Project will benefit the Colorado River ecosystem every year, and especially in dry years.”
The 1902 Senior and the 1929 Junior Shoshone Water Rights currently held by Xcel Energy are used to generate power at the Shoshone Power Plant and then return it to the river. Communities across Western Colorado have already committed over $55 million, and are applying to BOR for funding from the Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation program to help complete the purchase and create stability for communities, water and recreational users, and the environment. The Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation program funding opportunity is open for application through November 22, 2024, and the lawmakers welcome other applicants to contact their offices on the opportunity to provide support.
“This strong show of funding reflects the local recognition of the Shoshone Water Rights’ importance to the health of western Colorado’s environment and local economies,”continue the lawmakers. “We recognize the Shoshone Permanency Project’s complex nature and ongoing technical review, but believe the opportunity to protect historical Colorado River flows deserves your attention.”
As part of the Shoshone Permanency Project, CRWCD will seek a change in these rights to include an alternate beneficial use and preserve the historical flow regime. The state process for changing these decreed water rights is distinct from any federal funding review or outcome, and will proceed separately. As acknowledged in the letter, data collection and analysis related to the Shoshone water rights’ historic use is ongoing and important to the state of Colorado’s formal review.
As the Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation, Climate, Forestry and Natural Resources, Bennet has consistently worked with his colleagues to help communities in Colorado and across the American West as they face the effects of climate change. In June 2022, as Subcommittee Chair, Bennet held the Senate’s very first hearing on Western drought. In June 2024, Bennet and Subcommittee Ranking Member U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) held a field hearing in Burlington, Colorado, to hear from Western producers and agricultural leaders facing historic drought.
Bennet and Hickenlooper fought to include $8 billion for Western water infrastructure, $10 billion for forests, $19 billion for agricultural conservation, and $4 billion for drought in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In September 2022, Bennet, Neguse, and Crow urged BOR to prioritize funding for long-term, permanent solutions to the Colorado River drought crisis as it worked to allocate the $4 billion for Western drought from the IRA. After calling on the Biden administration to make further investments to address long-term drought caused by climate change in April 2024, Bennet welcomed $400 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for investments at the irrigation district scale to address drought in August. The lawmakers will continue to work with communities and water users across the state to ensure as much of this funding as possible comes to the state of Colorado.
The text of the letter is available HERE and below.
Dear Commissioner Touton:
We write in support of the Colorado River Water Conservation District’s (the River District) application to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (USBR) Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation funding opportunity, referred to as Bucket 2E. As you know, the Inflation Reduction Act provided a historic $4 billion to address issues caused by drought, including activities to support environmental benefits, and ecosystem and habitat restoration. If selected, the River District will leverage Bucket 2E funding alongside significant state and local investment to purchase two of the oldest water rights on the Colorado River mainstem in the State of Colorado – the Shoshone Water Rights – to preserve their historical flow regime in perpetuity.
The River District was established in 1937 as a local governing entity to represent water users across 15 counties in Western Colorado – including the headwaters of the Yampa, White, Gunnison, and Colorado Rivers. The Colorado River District’s mission is to promote the protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River water basin for the welfare of the State of Colorado.
Now, the River District is pursuing the Shoshone Permanency Project, which aims to preserve the historical Colorado River flow regime created by the 1902 Senior Shoshone Water Right and the 1929 Junior Shoshone Water Right (the “Shoshone Water Rights”). The River District has signed an agreement to purchase the Shoshone Water Rights from Xcel Energy, which currently holds the rights for its Shoshone hydropower plant. Today, the Shoshone Water Rights are decreed as non-consumptive water rights: the water is used to generate hydropower at the Shoshone Power Plant and is returned to the stream. The Shoshone Water Rights’ senior status “pulls” water to Glenwood Canyon, which ensures that water continues to flow and benefits the downstream environment. Preserving the Colorado River’s historical flow regime as intended by the Shoshone Permanency Project will benefit the Colorado River ecosystem every year, and especially in dry years.
Data collection and analysis of Shoshone Water Rights’ historic use is not yet completed, and ongoing–a key step for understanding the historic flow regime on the Colorado River. The Shoshone Permanency Project seeks to change the water rights to include an alternate beneficial use for instream flow purposes, a legally recognized beneficial use in Colorado, to preserve the historical Shoshone flow regime. The proposed decree associated with these flows is still under technical review by the State of Colorado. The River District is actively discussing the proposal with other water users across the state. The Colorado Water Conservation Board and the State of Colorado Water Court will conduct a formal review in the coming months. Ongoing modeling will also help quantify the environmental benefits of the Shoshone Water Rights flows. One potential benefit is to the critical habitat of four fish in the Colorado River listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), known as the 15-Mile Reach, located near Palisade, Colorado.
The State of Colorado and our water users are making their own significant investments to ensure that the historical Shoshone flows can continue in perpetuity. The Colorado River District has allocated $20 million, the State of Colorado has appropriated another $20 million for the acquisition, provided the State’s instream flow requirements are met, and a coalition of Western Slope water users and local governments have formally committed over $15 million. This strong show of funding reflects the local recognition of the Shoshone Water Rights’ importance to the health of western Colorado’s environment and local economies.
We recognize the Shoshone Permanency Project’s complex nature and ongoing technical review, but believe the opportunity to protect historical Colorado River flows deserves your attention. We encourage you to give the River District’s proposal your full and fair consideration consistent with all applicable rules and regulations. Thank you for your review, and please notify our offices of any funds awarded.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Florida Marco Rubio
Rubio, Scott Support Florida’s Request for Pre-landfall Emergency Declaration Ahead of Hurricane Milton
Oct 7, 2024 | Press Releases
Major Hurricane Milton is forecasted to impact Florida with devastating storm surge, winds, and inland flooding. After just being hit by Hurricane Helene, it’s crucial for the State of Florida to have the support of the federal government.
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging his immediate approval of the State of Florida’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration for 51 Florida counties.
“Currently, Milton is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane on Florida’s Gulf coast. Milton’s anticipated strong winds, torrential rains, and devastating storm surge are likely to wreak havoc across much of Florida…. Ensuring that the state has access to the federal resources it needs is imperative to protecting Floridians, property, and our communities. As such, we request that you promptly approve Governor DeSantis’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration.”
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Mr. President:
We write in support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration in preparation for Hurricane Milton, which is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane and impact Florida in the coming days.
Currently, Milton is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane on Florida’s Gulf coast. Milton’s anticipated strong winds, torrential rains, and devastating storm surge are likely to wreak havoc across much of Florida. Although our state is familiar with the dangers posed by hurricanes, this major hurricane approaches toward Florida’s Gulf coast that recently endured severe impacts from major Hurricane Helene, rendering them particularly vulnerable to catastrophic effects from this approaching storm.
Ensuring that the state has access to the federal resources it needs is imperative to protecting Floridians, property, and our communities. As such, we request that you promptly approve Governor DeSantis’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
October 07, 2024
As conflict in the region escalates, Duckworth reiterates call for permanent mutual ceasefire that secures release of hostages and alleviates suffering of innocent civilians
[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator and combat Veteran Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who serves on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, issued the following statement recognizing the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s terror attacks against Israel on October 7th, 2023:
“One year ago, Hamas committed the single deadliest atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust, killing nearly 1,200 innocents and taking hundreds more hostage—nearly 100 of whom remain in captivity to this day. My thoughts are with them, and with their loved ones, today and every day.
“My heart breaks for those who lost loved ones during the attacks, for the families of tens of thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians killed in the days since, for those who suffered the unique torture of having their hopes of ever seeing their captive loved ones again so heartlessly dashed—like the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin—and for the millions in Gaza who are still suffering through unimaginable, inhumane conditions.
“As we reflect on the tragedies of the last year—and as tensions in the region rise—the urgent need for a permanent, mutual ceasefire that ends this devastating war is as critical as it’s ever been. For my part, I will do everything in my power to encourage de-escalation that ultimately brings about a two-state future that strengthens the safety of Israel, eliminates the threat posed by Hamas and ends the prolonged and continuing suffering of innocent Palestinians.”
Since October 7th, 2023, Duckworth has worked with her Senate colleagues to end the war in Gaza and ensure the safe return of hostages. A comprehensive account of the Senator’s efforts can be found on her website.
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US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement on the first anniversary of the October 7 attack on Israel:
“Today is an incredibly sad and somber day as we remember the twelve hundred innocent people who were brutally murdered a year ago in the October 7 attack. These were grandparents, parents, children, and infants. They were young people at a concert, families building their lives, and advocates working for peace. My heart and prayers are with their families and friends. May their memories be a blessing.
We must also remember that there are around one hundred hostages still being held by Hamas, including a number of Americans. While the situation remains extremely difficult, we must recommit ourselves to bringing them home as swiftly as possible. I pledge that I will not rest until they’re back home.”