Dr LAWRENCE XU-NAN (Green): [Chinese text to be inserted by the Hansard Office.]
Almighty God, we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed upon us. Laying aside all personal interests, we acknowledge the King and pray for guidance in our deliberations that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom, justice, mercy, and humility for the welfare and peace of New Zealand. Amen.
Dr LAWRENCE XU-NAN (Green): [Chinese text to be inserted by the Hansard Office.]
Almighty God, we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed upon us. Laying aside all personal interests, we acknowledge the King and pray for guidance in our deliberations that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom, justice, mercy, and humility for the welfare and peace of New Zealand. Amen.
Hon SIMEON BROWN (Deputy Leader of the House): Today the House will adjourn until Tuesday, 15 October. In that week, the House will consider the second readings of the Gambling (Definition of Remote Interactive Gambling) Amendment Bill, the Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, and the Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. Wednesday will be a member’s day.
Census release of iwi data a significant resource for Te Whata –26 September 2024 –From today, individuals and dwellings data by Māori descent and iwi affiliation will be available on Te Whata.
Te Whata is a by iwi, for iwi data platform developed by Te Kāhui Raraunga and supported by Stats NZ. It is available athttp://www.tewhata.io.
Customised census iwi data requests are also available throughTe Ara Takatū.
This is the second time Stats NZ has partnered with Te Kāhui Raraunga to release Māori data from the 2023 Census on the Te Whata platform. The historic joint initiative is part of work under theMana Ōrite Relationship Agreement between the Data Iwi Leaders Group and Stats NZ.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)
Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) has been awarded the Guardian of Small Business Award for the 118th Congress by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization. NFIB’s Guardian of Small Business Award is reserved for lawmakers who vote consistently with small businesses on key issues identified by small business owners. “I am truly ho… Read More »
Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06) recently toured the Valley Health Winchester Medical Center, where he was briefed on Valley Health’s upcoming projects. Guided by Kris Maddalena, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Congressman Cline received an in-depth tour of the facility. During his visit, Valley Health honored him with an award recognizing his leadership, dedication, and support for patient… Read More »
Winchester, VA – Yesterday, Congressman Ben Cline concluded his three-day healthcare tour across Virginia’s Sixth District. Throughout the tour, he visited various healthcare facilities, engaging with dedicated professionals and witnessing firsthand the vital efforts of hospitals, clinics, and organizations committed to delivering quality care in our communities. “This Healthcare tour has been an … Read More »
Yesterday, Congressman Ben Cline continued his three-day healthcare tour across Virginia’s Sixth District, building on the momentum from Tuesday’s kickoff in Roanoke. On Wednesday, he visited additional healthcare facilities, engaging with professionals and examining the vital efforts of hospitals, clinics, and organizations committed to providing quality care in the community. “The tour has been … Read More »
Yesterday, Congressman Ben Cline kicked off the first day of his comprehensive three-day Sixth District Healthcare tour, visiting key healthcare facilities on Tuesday in Roanoke. The tour will take Congressman Cline to various communities across Virginia’s Sixth Congressional District, where he will engage with healthcare professionals and explore the work of hospitals, clinics, and organizations … Read More »
James Madison University | JMU Office of Federal Relations and Communications HARRISONBURG, Va. – Congressman Ben Cline visited the JMU School of Nursing Wednesday to receive feedback from students in the online doctoral program and to tour the school’s labs and classrooms. The congressman, whose 6th District covers western areas of Virginia from Roanoke to Winchester, became interested in touring… Read More »
WSLS | Connor Dietrich ROANOKE, Va. – Rep. Ben Cline is taking time to recognize some of the everyday heroes in the Roanoke Valley. On Monday, Cline stopped by Roanoke Fire-EMS’s station one to honor Capt. Peter Matthiessen. The fire captain is one of the head organizers of the annual Roanoke 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. “You’re truly just an amazing credit to this community and it’s an honor to get… Read More »
The Virginian Review | Rebecca Stalnaker COVINGTON, Va. (VR) — Congressman Ben Cline will visit the Virginian Review office on Aug. 1 at 3 p.m. to present a special plaque commemorating the paper’s 110-year anniversary. The visit will honor the publication’s long-standing contribution to the community and recognize its significant milestone. During his visit, Cline will formally present a plaque t… Read More »
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Ben Cline (R-VA) released the following statement regarding President Joe Biden dropping out of the presidential race. “The undeniable truth is that Joe Biden’s mental incapacity forced him out of the race, rendering him unfit for the presidency,” Rep. Ben Cline said. “If Biden can’t handle running a campaign, he can’t handle holding the highest office. Biden’s … Read More »
Roanoke, VA – Following the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump on Saturday in Pennsylvania, Congressman Ben Cline condemned the terrible attack and called for national unity in rejecting political violence. This violent act is unacceptable, and completely goes against the fundamental values of our nation. “Our thoughts and prayers are with President Trump, his family, and the victim… Read More »
Today, Congressman Ben Cline (R-VA) introduced the No Bias in the Baseline Act to revise the fiscal distortions embedded in the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) baseline projections. This legislation will empower Congress with the tools needed to make informed financial decisions and eliminate the baseline bias in the budget process in favor of higher spending. “It is essential that Congress is… Read More »
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Ben Cline (R-VA) led his colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden, demanding that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) do not move forward with adopting the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as the minimum energy efficiency standard. In April of this year, HUD and USDA announced the … Read More »
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Ben Cline (R-VA) announced his candidacy to become the next chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC). “It’s time to turn the tide on the dangerous path our Nation has been led down by the disastrous policies of the Biden Administration,” Rep. Cline said. “We need a strong, conservative compass to set us back on the right course – one that puts America … Read More »
Colby Johnson | WHSV HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – Sixth District Representative Ben Cline was appointed to the House select committee on the Chinese Communist Party. The committee will study and determine the best ways to counter Chinese influence across multiple areas including telecommunications, immigration, foreign affairs issues, and national security. “My specialty coming from the judiciary co… Read More »
Jon Solomon Reports |Just The News Representative Ben Cline (R-VA) says President Biden’s immigration executive order will do little to nothing to help the dire situation at the southern border, commenting on the amount of loopholes that the order allows is like “trying to catch water with a strainer.” Additional interviews with Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, National Council of Resistanc… Read More »
Source: The White House
Metropolitan Museum of ArtNew York, New York
5:49 P.M. EDT
THE FIRST LADY: Good evening. (Applause.)
Aren’t all of our U.S. military musicians spectacular? (Applause.) Thank you for all that you — for joining us this evening. It’s great to be with so many friends here.
For Joe, diplomacy is personal. It’s why, for more than 50 years, he’s created deep personal bonds with world leaders. He shows up for our allies and our partners. He listens and is always eager to debate complex international issues to find common ground.
Serving as first lady has be- — of the United States is the honor of my life. This is our — (applause). Thank you.
This is our fi- — our United Nations — our final United Nations General Assembly as president and first lady. So, tonight, I want to take this moment to celebrate Joe and honor the relationships he’s built with all of you — (applause) — to honor these relationships with all of you to shape a brighter future for people around the world.
Please join me in welcoming my husband, President Joe Biden. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: (Laughs.) That was worth the trip. (Laughter.)
Well, welcome, everyone. I’m delighted to see you all. You know, my fellow leaders and friends we’ve honored here, it’s an honor to welcome you here tonight.
I should start off by saying we owe a special thanks tonight to — to Mayor Bloomberg. He’s not the mayor right now, but he’s still the mayor. (Laughter.) Mr. Mayor, thank you for all you’ve done.
I want to begin by quoting someone who I wish was here tonight: my mom, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden. (Applause.) Growing up, my mom had an expression. She had a lot of expression. She had a backbone like a ramrod. But my mom, she used to say, “Joey, remember, never bow, never bend, never yield, and never give up.”
Folks, as I said yesterday at the United Nations, I recognize the challenges the world faces: Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, war, hunger, poverty, climate change. But my message to you tonight is this: We must never, ever, ever bow, bend, yield, or give up. And most importantly, we must never lose faith — lose faith in our abilities to do so much.
I was first elected to the United States Senate when I was 29 years old, 280 years ago. (Laughter.) Since then, I’ve seen the impossible become — the impossible become reality, for real. I’ve seen the Berlin Wall come down. I’ve seen Poland leave the (inaudible) — I shouldn’t go on, I guess. But I’ve seen apartheid end. I’ve seen humanity pull together to prevent a nuclear war. I’ve seen war criminals and dictators face justice and accountability for human rights violations. And I’ve seen countries in the Middle East make peace. We must always remember.
In America, I was (inaudible) — I spent a lot of time with Xi of China, and we were in the Tibetan Plateau, and it was one of my 90-some hours alone with him. And he looked at me; he said, “Can you define America for me?” This is an absolutely true story. He said, “Can you define America for me?” I said, “Yes. In one word: possibilities — possibilities.” (Applause.) We believe anything is possible. No, I really mean it. Remember, nothing is impossible.
And, folks, look, in our time, we turn the page on the — on the — on a whole range of issues. We turned the page. Nothing is impossible, as I said, but we turned the page on the worst pandemic in a century. We defended Ukraine as a tyrant threatened to wipe it off the map. We made the largest investment in history to fight climate change, the existential threat to humanity.
And, folks, time and again — and I mean this sincerely — time and again, our nation and our world found a way forward. But make no mistake: It didn’t happen by accident. Nothing was inevitable. It took people like all of you assembled here tonight refusing to give up, rejecting the forces that pull us apart, believing that change is possible, and fighting to make it so every single day. That’s what you in this room assembled have done.
Ladies and gentlemen, that’s our change. Together, we can broker deals, end wars and suffering. We can stop the spread of disease and dangerous weapons alike. We can make AIempower people, not shackle them. We can cut our emissions and achieve our climate ambitions. We can leave our children, literally, a better world.
That’s our obligation, and we can. We can do this.
I can say to you — and I mean this sincerely — I’ve never more optimistic in my life because of all of you, and I mean it from the bottom of my heart.
So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Keep it up.
And every time I’d walk out of my grandpop’s house up in Scranton, he’d yell, “Joey, keep the faith.” My grandmother would go, “No, Joey, spread it.” Spread it. Spread it. Spread it. (Applause.)
Folks, remember, nothing is beyond our capacity when we work together. Nothing at all.
So, thank you, thank you, thank you for all you’re doing. I appreciate it very, very much.
It’s an honor to be with you. Thank you. (Applause.)
5:54 P.M. EDT
Source: The White House
It is time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes. The exchange of fire since October 7th, and in particular over the past two weeks, threatens a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians. We therefore have worked together in recent days on a joint call for a temporary ceasefire to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalations across the border. The statement we have negotiated is now endorsed by the United States, Australia, Canada, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Qatar. We call for broad endorsement and for the immediate support of the Governments of Israel and Lebanon.
Source: The White House
The situation between Lebanon and Israel since October 8th, 2023 is intolerable and presents an unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation. This is in nobody’s interest, neither of the people of Israel nor of the people of Lebanon.
It is time to conclude a diplomatic settlement that enables civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes in safety.
Diplomacy however cannot succeed amid an escalation of this conflict.
Thus we call for an immediate 21 day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement consistent with UNSCR 1701, and the implementation of UNSCR 2735 regarding a ceasefire in Gaza
We call on all parties, including the Governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately consistent with UNSCR 1701 during this period, and to give a real chance to a diplomatic settlement.
We are then prepared to fully support all diplomatic efforts to conclude an agreement between Lebanon and Israel within this period, building on efforts over the last months, that ends this crisis altogether.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after securing an extension to the period that victims may file claims with the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office as part of the Continuing Resolution:
“Today, we voted for a Continuing Resolution to keep the government open and avoid a costly shutdown for millions of Americans. As part of this Continuing Resolution, the period to file claims with the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office has been extended to December 20, 2024, which will give victims of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire additional time to apply for relief.
“But make no mistake, the job is not over yet. We will continue to work with our colleagues to deliver a long-term federal funding solution for the American people and keep the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office open longer. We continue to encourage New Mexicans to apply for assistance as soon as possible.”
The extension will run the length of the Continuing Resolution to December 20, 2024. In October 2023, Heinrich, Luján, and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández introduced the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Extension Act, legislation that would extend the period a victim can file a claim with the Hermit’s Peak Claims Office. Since the devastating wildfire, Heinrich, Luján, and the N.M. Delegation has delivered a total of $3.95 billion in federal funding for the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire recovery.
Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich
Before legislative hearing, Heinrich’s bipartisan Indian Buffalo Management Act also advanced out of Senate Committee
WASHINGTON – Today, the Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act and the Navajo Nation Rio San José Stream System Water Rights Settlement Act, bills sponsored by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), received a key hearing before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.
VIDEO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich testifies in support of the Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act and the Navajo Nation Rio San José Stream System Water Rights Settlement Act during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs onSeptember 25, 2024.
“The failure of the United States to work with Tribal Governments to ensure that they could use the water they have always owned has reverberated through generations,” said Heinrich. “It has a direct impact on the well-being of Tribal members today. It’s time we make this right for Zuni and the Navajo Nation.”
Heinrich and U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) introduced the Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act in July. The bill would unlock federal funding to support a trust for sustainable water management and infrastructure development that upholds the federal government’s trust responsibility while protecting the sacred Zuni Salt Lake. The bill ratifies the settlement between the federal government, State of New Mexico, and Zuni Tribe that affirms their water rights for irrigation, livestock, storage, and domestic and other uses. During the hearing, Zuni Tribe Governor Arden Kucate testified in support of the legislation.
Heinrich and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) introduced the Navajo Nation Rio San José Stream System Water Rights Settlement Act earlier this month to approve the water rights settlement for the Navajo Nation as well as participating non-Tribal parties in the Rio San José watershed. During the hearing, Navajo Nation President Dr. Buu Nygren testified in support of the legislation.
Heinrich and Leger Fernández previously introduced the Rio San José and Rio Jemez Water Settlements Act, which would implement the water settlements agreed to by the Pueblos of Acoma and Laguna, the United States, the State of New Mexico, and non-Tribal parties, in the Rio San José watershed. That bill received a hearing and was reported out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in December. The House version of this bill received a legislative hearing in the House Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee in July. The bill introduced this month and heard today in the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs would further resolve Tribal water claims in the Rio San José basin by settling the Navajo Nation’s claims.
Before the hearing on Tribal water rights settlements legislation, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs also held a business meeting in which members voted to advance Heinrich’s Indian Buffalo Management Act. That legislation received a hearing before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in June.
“This legislation will further foster growth of Tribal bison herds, and I am grateful for the committee’s support,” said Heinrich.
The Indian Buffalo Management Act, which Heinrich introduced last year alongside U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), provides secure, consistent funding for Tribes and Tribal organizations that have established buffalo herds, as well as provides resources for Tribes that would like to establish new herds.
The bill creates a permanent buffalo restoration and management program within the Department of Interior to:
Promote and develop the capacity of Tribes and Tribal organizations to manage buffalo and buffalo habitat;
Protect and enhance buffalo herds for the maximum benefit of Tribes; and
Ensure that Tribes are directly involved in the Interior Department decision-making regarding buffalo.
The bill has been endorsed by the InterTribal Buffalo Council, the National Bison Association, The Nature Conservancy, the National Wildlife Federation, and the National Parks Conservation Association.
Full video of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee Business Meeting and Legislative Hearing can be found here.
Heinrich’s full remarks as prepared for delivery are below:
Chairman Schatz and Vice Chairman Murkowski, I want to first thank you for considering the Indian Buffalo Management Act a few minutes ago.
This legislation will further support growth of Tribal bison herds, and I am grateful for the committee’s support.
Turning to the hearing agenda, I want to thank you for holding this hearing on the Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act and the Navajo Nation Rio San José Stream System Water Rights Settlement Act, two bills of critical importance for the water future of New Mexico’s Tribes.
I am happy to welcome the Governor of Zuni Pueblo, Arden Kucate, who is here today to provide testimony on the Zuni Water Rights Settlement Act.?
The Zuni people have been stewards of the Zuni River Basin for millennia.
Their traditional agricultural practices and careful stewardship of water sustained the tribe over thousands of years.
Unfortunately, the United States has failed to protect Zuni’s water rights and has allowed their water to be diverted to other purposes.
Overuse of water in the Zuni Basin has caused the Zuni people to suffer from a lack of water for their community, their businesses, and their traditional agricultural practices.
This injustice continues today. Without reliable access to clean water, it is difficult for Zuni to attract new businesses that create jobs and revenue for the Tribe.
This legislation would not only fully settle Zuni’s water rights claims in the Zuni River Basin; it would also provide funding for several key water infrastructure projects.
It is an opportunity for the United States to make the Zuni Tribe whole for the water that they have always been entitled to.
And it will support Zuni’s traditional irrigation practice, their people, and their future business development, in a manner that builds resilience in the face of a drying climate.
This piece of legislation would also protect the Zuni Salt Lake, a sacred place of great cultural significance to the Zuni Tribe and others in the region.
I am also happy to welcome the President of Navajo Nation, Dr. Buu Nygren, who is here to provide testimony for the Navajo Nation Rio San José Stream System Water Rights Settlement Act.
This legislation would settle the water rights of the Navajo Nation in the Rio San José basin – it is the final step in an adjudication process that began more than forty years ago.
In that time, we’ve seen aridification in the Southwest further strain water resources for Tribes, including the Navajo Nation, that don’t have the resources to fully use their water rights.
This settlement is an important step towards giving the Navajo Nation an equal voice amongst water users in the southwest.
Today, there are more than 200 Navajo households within the Rio San José and Rio Puerco Basins without access to running water.
These households instead have to rely on hauling water.
The lack of reliable drinking water systems in these communities contributed to the widespread health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Navajo Nation, which took the lives of far too many.
I am committed to working with the Navajo Nation to build a future where they have full access to their water rights.
This access to water will facilitate the preservation of Navajo culture and tradition.
Both of these pieces of legislation would implement settlement agreements that have been carefully negotiated between the Tribes, the State of New Mexico, neighboring water users, and the United States.
I want to thank all of the parties for their tireless work in reaching settlements for these basins, and Senator Luján for cosponsoring these settlements along with me.
The failure of the United States to work with Tribal Governments to ensure that they could use the water they have always owned has reverberated through generations.
It has a direct impact on the well-being of Tribal members today.
It’s time we make this right for Zuni and the Navajo Nation.
Thank you to the committee for your consideration today, and I yield back the remainder of my time.
Our new research details the history of raupō (bulrush) from the time before people arrived in Aotearoa. It shows this resilient, opportunistic plant – and taonga species – can play an important role restoring wetlands and freshwater quality.
An unexpected finding was that the decline of freshwater quality in many lakes did not really kick in until the mid-20th century with intensification of agriculture. Until then, lake water quality indicators generally showed these ecosystems remained healthy. The prolific expansion of raupō after Aotearoa was first settled may have helped.
Thriving on material washed from disturbed catchments, raupō acted as an ecological buffer, intercepting nutrients and sediments, and reducing potentially harmful effects on freshwater ecosystems.
From the mid-20th century, as water quality began to deteriorate, raupō populations – and any buffering effects – were generally in decline as wetlands and lake shallows were drained for grazing land and better access to water supply.
Lessons from this plant’s past can be put to good use today as we strive to bring back the mauri (life force) of our freshwater systems.
Survival strategies for hard times
Before settlement, when dense forest covered most of the country, raupō was surviving on the fringes. As a wetland plant, it likes its roots submerged, but needs light to grow.
Its preferred niche is the shallow margins of lakes, ponds and streams or nutrient-rich swamps. Before people, these places were much less common. Forests typically grew right up to the water’s edge and extended across some swamps.
Under these conditions, raupō evolved strategies for survival: aerated roots to cope with water logging; tiny, abundant seeds that spread far and wide on the wind; rhizomes (underground stems) that extend from the mother plant and store carbohydrates to keep the plant alive in lean times.
Raupō has several attributes that allow it to grow on disturbed land. 1. large, resilient structures; 2. small, wind-dispersed seeds; 3. long-lived seed bank; 4. flowers produce abundant pollen; 5. aerated roots; 6. rhizomes store energy over winter; 7. rhizomes anchor in substrate, trapping sediment; 8. aggressive clonal propagation; 9. floating rhizome mats. Author provided, CC BY-SA
Raupō can even build floating root mats, from sediment trapped by its rhizomes, that extend out across open water and even detach from the shoreline to become mobile raupō islands.
With these survival strategies, raupō could wait for better times which, in Aotearoa’s dynamic environment, duly arrived.
Episodic agents of disruption – storms, floods, earthquakes, landslides, volcanic ashfall – created opportunities. Local forest damage allowed light to penetrate to ground level, and slips and floods brought nutrient-rich sediment from soils.
Raupō would seize these opportunities to expand. But they were typically short-lived as the inevitable process of forest succession returned the environment to stability – and raupō back to a state of patient hibernation.
Hitting the jackpot
Then people arrived, with fire and hungry mouths to feed. This time, the disturbances persisted. Forest clearances endured, sediments rich in nutrients flooded wetlands and lakes, and raupō, supremely equipped for just this scenario, spread across swamps and lake shores as wildfires spread on land.
Our tūpuna (ancestors) observed this behaviour, as well as what was happening around raupō. Insects and birds were feeding and nesting. Freshwater fish, crays, shellfish and eel spawned among its fertile beds.
This new-found abundance also offered a range of resource opportunities. Raupō’s flax-like leaves were woven into mats, rope and string. Leaves and stems were used like thatch to cloak the roofs and walls of whare.
This graphic shows how raupō responded to environmental changes during the past millennium (upper panels), informed by pollen analysis of lake sediments (lower panels). Author provided, CC BY-SA
Traditional poi were often made from raupō leaves. Some iwi, particularly in the south, used the stems to build lightweight boats for navigating rivers and lakes. Flower stalks, shoots and young leaves were eaten, and the rhizomes and roots, when cooked, provided edible carbohydrates. The most cherished raupō kai, however, were cakes baked using the copious raupō pollen.
Unsurprisingly, for many iwi raupō remains a taonga species today, treasured for this array of resources and for its ecological and even spiritual roles in maintaining the mauri of freshwater habitats, upon which so much depends.
For some iwi, raupō are seen as kaitiaki (guardians) watching over a lake or wetland, and signalling its health. In these ways, raupō also connects us with other Indigenous communities. Although raupō is native to this country, the same species is found in Australia and parts of East Asia, while relatives in the genus Typha (Greek for marsh) occur naturally on all continents, except Antarctica.
Similar practices occurred wherever raupō and its relatives are found.
This connection between cultural and ecological roles is one of the fascinating findings from our research. We describe raupō as a “human-associated species”, not just because of its taonga status, but because its fate seems so closely linked to people.
More work needs to be done, but history tells us raupō has an important role in restoring the health of our freshwater ecosystems. Not only can it soak up nutrients and contaminants, but as both a native and taonga species it can assist remediation solutions that are ecologically and culturally supportive and sustainable.
This research was funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment research programmes – Our lakes’ health; past, present, future (C05X1707) and Our lakes, Our future (CAWX2305).
Source: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
The Federal Court has ordered EnergyAustralia to pay $14 million in penalties for making false, misleading or deceptive statements to hundreds of thousands of consumers about electricity prices, and failing to provide mandatory information required by the Electricity Retail Code (the Code).
EnergyAustralia admitted it had breached the Australian Consumer Law and the Code in its communications sent between 20 June and 12 September 2022 to around 566,000 consumers about electricity prices, by failing to state the lowest possible price in the communications and misrepresenting the estimated annual price of its electricity offer for an “average” customer.
In addition, Energy Australia admitted, that between 1 July and 27 September 2022, it published 27 electricity offers online that failed to state the difference between the reference price and the unconditional price expressed as a percentage of the reference price, or the ‘lowest possible price’ as required under the Code. These offers were viewed about 220,000 times.
“EnergyAustralia breached laws which were designed to help consumers to compare electricity offers and identify the best deal by increasing transparency,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
“EnergyAustralia’s failure to fully inform consumers meant they could not accurately compare offers from competing retailers and may have been denied the opportunity to choose the best deal for them.”
“Some consumers may also have been misled by EnergyAustralia’s statements into thinking that a price change was less than it actually was, causing them to stay with their existing plan when in fact a different plan may have represented a better deal,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
This conduct occurred when electricity prices were rising and many consumers were looking to switch to cheaper plans.
“It is essential that electricity retailers provide consumers with accurate information so they can compare and access the most competitive prices in the market. This enforcement action is a reminder that the ACCC is closely monitoring the electricity market, conducting regular compliance checks and ready to take strong action when appropriate,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
The Court also ordered EnergyAustralia to review its compliance program and pay a contribution to the ACCC’s costs.
Note to editors
The Electricity Retail Code applies to all electricity retailers that supply electricity to residential and small business customers in applicable distribution regions in New South Wales, South Australia, and South-East Queensland. It is a mandatory industry code under the Competition and Consumer Act and establishes enforceable requirements in relation to how electricity retailers must communicate pricing information to small customers. It was introduced to increase transparency in the retail electricity market and allow consumers to easily compare offers against a common benchmark. Under the Code, electricity retailers must include certain information when communicating prices. These requirements include the difference between the reference price and the unconditional price as a percentage of the reference price, as well as the lowest possible price.
The ‘reference price’ is the per-customer annual price based on the Default Market Offer determined by the Australian Energy Regulator. It is used as a benchmark to compare market offer prices.
The ‘lowest possible price’ is the total amount a representative customer would be charged for the supply of electricity in the financial year at the offered prices, assuming that all conditional discounts (if any) are met. (If there are no conditional discounts, the lowest possible price is the same as the unconditional price.)
Since the Code was introduced in 2019, the ACCC has issued infringement notices to Locality Planning Energy, CovaU, ReAmped Energy and Dodo Power & Gas for allegedly failing to include certain mandatory information when communicating prices. The ACCC has also accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from CovaU and Dodo in response to breaches of the Code.
The proceedings against Energy Australia were the first court proceedings brought by the ACCC in relation to alleged breaches of the Code.
Consumers can compare electricity plan information on the Government comparison website Energy Made Easy and Victorian Energy Compare. For further information for consumers on comparing energy plans, see the ACCC website.
Background
EnergyAustralia is one of the ‘big three’ energy retailers.
In September 2023, the ACCC commenced proceedings against EnergyAustralia in relation to these alleged breaches of the Code and the Australian Consumer Law.
EnergyAustralia’s conduct was identified by the ACCC’s regular compliance checks of electricity retailer’s compliance with the Code.
Previously, in April 2014, the Federal Court imposed a $1.2 million penalty on EnergyAustralia for making false and misleading representations and engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct while calling on consumers at their homes to negotiate agreements for the supply of retail electricity, in proceedings brought by the ACCC.
In March 2015, the Federal Court also ordered EnergyAustralia to pay a $1 million penalty for making false or misleading representations and engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct when dealing with certain consumers to sell electricity and gas plans, in proceedings brought by the ACCC.
Showing a profound disregard for the people of New Zealand, the Government has allowedonly five daysfor the public to make submissions on the Government’s climate denying law to restart oil and gas exploration.
The Crown Minerals Amendment Bill was only introduced into Parliament on Tuesday, September 24. Today, the chair of the Economic Development Select Committee decided the closing date for public submissions is Tuesday night October 1st. The Bill aims to restart offshore oil and gas exploration and weaken the requirement for oil companies to pay for the clean-up after they finish work.
Greenpeace Aotearoa executive director Russel Norman says, “The Government has already shown complete disregard for climate science in proposing to restart oil and gas exploration.
“The decision to allow only five days for public submissions on the bill, three working days, shows they also have complete disregard for the people of New Zealand who care about climate change.
“Regardless of whether this climate denying bill passes through Parliament, the Government is dreaming if they think oil and gas exploration will restart. The people of New Zealand mobilised in their tens of thousands to end oil and gas exploration and they will again.
“Whatever Chris Luxon might think, the future of Aotearoa is in clean energy not climate destroying fossil fuels.”
Over thirty thousand people have signed on to an ‘open letter of resistance’ to the oil industry published by Greenpeace.
Attributable to Senior Sergeant Ross Smith, Hawke’s Bay Police:
A man is facing the courts after being spotted attempting to steal items from a Napier building site yesterday, Wednesday 25 September.
Police responded to the scene around 4:40pm where a man was attempting to walk out with building materials, including wiring.
It wasn’t his lucky day, and Police quickly swept in apprehending the offender.
A 43-year-old man has been remanded in custody due to appear in the Napier District Court Wednesday 16 October on charges including burglary, procuring cannabis, and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
This is a timely reminder to ensure your building sites are well-secured and items aren’t left in the open.
While it can add a few minutes to your day, ensuring the site is secure could be the deterrent needed to ensure your not the one paying the price.
Prevention is the best offence to decrease the chance of burglaries, here are some useful prevention tips.
1) If you work on a construction site, be vigilant and secure building materials. 2) Take your tools home with you or lock them up in a shed on site. 3) For construction companies that own tools, engrave company names and phone numbers onto the goods. 4) Engrave your tools with your driver licence number. That way, if we find your tools, there’s a better chance of us getting them back to you. 5) Keep a record of the serial numbers. 6) If you work on a construction site, be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Police.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
‘Flower basket’ decorates Tian’anmen Square ahead of National Day holiday
Updated: September 26, 2024 09:35Xinhua
This photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a “flower basket” at Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China. The 18-meter-tall display in the shape of a flower basket is placed at Tian’anmen Square as a decoration for the upcoming National Day holiday. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a “flower basket” at Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a “flower basket” at Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]People visit a “flower basket” at Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]People visit a “flower basket” at Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]People pose for photos with a “flower basket” at Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows a “flower basket” at Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]A “flower basket” at Tian’anmen Square is seen with the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China to advance building of China-Serbia community with shared future — Chinese FM
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
NEW YORK, Sept. 25 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Tuesday that China is ready to steadily advance the building of a China-Serbia community with a shared future in the new era.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when he met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
He said that China is ready to work with Serbia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and firmly safeguards the ironclad friendship between the two countries.
On the Kosovo issue, China firmly supports Serbia in maintaining its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in defending its legitimate rights and interests, Wang said.
For his part, Vucic said that Serbia cherishes its ironclad friendship with China and will never forget China’s support.
Serbia is willing to work with China to push for greater development of bilateral relations, he added.
A bronze sculpture of ancient Chinese philosopher Laozi (about 571 BC- 471 BC) was installed on Wednesday in Greece’s National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
The artwork titled “Harmony between Humankind and Nature — statue of Laozi” was crafted by Professor Wu Weishan, who is curator of the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC).
The sculpture, which won the gold medal at the 2012 Louvre International Art Exhibition in France, will be on display permanently here, engaging in dialogue with the museum’s artifacts, Wu said at an inauguration ceremony.
“I am moved that the museum’s visitors will from now on be able to see a sculpture created by a Chinese artist,” Wu said.
“It is our duty to bring closer our peoples via an honest and open dialogue,” Anna Vassiliki Karapanagiotou, general director of the National Archaeological Museum, said.
“Dialogue between Chinese and Greek civilizations” was the title of Wednesday’s event and this dialogue is deepening in recent years thanks to many initiatives, Karapanagiotou said.
The Greek Museum has collaborated with NAMOC to exchange exhibitions and more are planned in the future, she said.
The is not the first piece by Wu to be displayed in Greece. In 2021, his sculpture “Socrates and Confucius: An Encounter,” depicting the two great philosophers of ancient Greece and China, was respectively installed at the Ancient Agora of Athens, a historic site at the foot of the Acropolis once serving as the social, political, and commercial hub of the city.
A Chinese film festival kicked off in Bratislava Wednesday evening, with Slovaks from all walks of life enjoying the first film “One and Only” with relish.
As one of a series of events celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and Slovakia, the film festival is co-sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in Slovakia, the Slovak Ministry of Culture and the State Film Administration of China.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Slovakia Cai Ge said that China-Slovakia relations have made great progress over the past 75 years, and films play a unique role in enhancing people-to-people ties between the two countries.
He extended invitations to the Slovak people to visit China and experience in person the lives of the Chinese people and the development of China.
Mario Maruska, State Secretary of the Slovak Ministry of Culture, said in his speech that this long-term mutual cooperation contributed to the development of material, intellectual and also spiritual wealth of the two countries, while “the persisting driving force of the rapprochement of our nations” is undoubtedly the area of cultural cooperation.
Alzbeta Moravcikova, who has visited China herself, said she was touched by the Chinese young man’s unremitting efforts to pursue his dream depicted in the film “One and Only,” and watching films is one of the best ways to enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples.
During the festival which will run until Sept. 28, the audience can also enjoy “The Wandering Earth II”, “B for Busy”, “Chang An”, “My Love Dunhuang”, “Nice View” and “Song of Spring” with Slovak or Czech subtitles.
People visit the booth of China Publication during the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair at Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 25, 2024. A delegation of Chinese publishers on Wednesday showcased more than 700 volumes of premium Chinese books at the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair (IIBF), held from Sept. 25-29 in Jakarta. Organized by China National Sci-Tech Information Import & Export Co., Ltd, the collection featured over 400 types of books, covering topics such as traditional Chinese culture, Mandarin learning, literature, social sciences, children’s books, and traditional Chinese medicine. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
A delegation of Chinese publishers on Wednesday showcased more than 700 volumes of premium Chinese books at the 2024 Indonesia International Book Fair (IIBF), held from Sept. 25-29 in Jakarta.
Organized by China National Sci-Tech Information Import & Export Co., Ltd, the collection featured over 400 types of books, covering topics such as traditional Chinese culture, Mandarin learning, literature, social sciences, children’s books, and traditional Chinese medicine.
The delegation set up a digital reading stand showcasing Chinese history, culture, and advancements in fields like economics and ecology. The stand’s interactive photo feature allowed visitors to capture memorable moments.
A highlight of the event was a signing ceremony between China’s publisher Higher Education Press and Indonesia’s PT Legacy Utama Kreasindo, which secured the Indonesian language rights for “Experiencing Chinese for Primary Schools (International Version).” This comprehensive series, designed for overseas elementary students, will be published in Indonesia later this year.
IIBF Chairperson Wedha Stratesti remarked that the 2024 event, featuring publishers from 15 countries, represents a milestone for the fair.
The death toll from the continued Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday across Lebanese rose to 51, with injuries up to 223, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
The ministry confirmed casualties in several locations across southern and eastern Lebanon, including Bint Jbeil, Ain Qana, Qabrikha and Tebnine.
Military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes targeted approximately 90 villages and towns in southern and eastern Lebanon. Among the casualties was Kamel Karaki, a photojournalist for Lebanese Al-Manar TV, killed in a strike on the southeastern village of Qantara.
Meanwhile, local media reported at least seven fatalities and 16 injuries from strikes near Beirut, with three deaths in Maaysrah, northeast of the capital, and four in Joun, Chouf district.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that Hezbollah fired a surface-to-surface missile at Tel Aviv early Wednesday, triggering sirens in the city and surrounding areas. The IDF said it intercepted the missile using the David’s Sling defense system, with no injuries or damage reported. The military later stated it had struck the Hezbollah launcher in southern Lebanon’s Nafakhiyeh.
In a statement, the IDF announced that it had called up two reserve ground brigades to the Israel-Lebanon border following a “situational assessment,” adding that the troops would be deployed for “operational activities on the northern front.”
It noted that the mobilization would “enable the continuation of combat against Hezbollah, the defense of Israel, and create the conditions for northern Israel’s residents to return to their homes.”
This surge in violence follows Israeli bombardments on Monday and Tuesday, the most extensive Israeli attacks on Lebanon since 2006. Official figures indicate the two-day strikes have killed more than 550 and wounded around 1,800 in Lebanon.
On Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Beirut’s southern suburbs killed Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Muhammad Qubaisi and five others, according to the Shiite militant group.
The escalation comes after last week’s explosions targeting communication devices across Lebanon, which left dozens dead. The cross-border conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has been ongoing since Oct. 8, 2023, following Hamas’s attack on southern Israel.
People gather at the Jdeidat Yabous border crossing in the countryside of Damascus, Syria, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Thousands of Lebanese and Syrian families fled Lebanon for Syria as Israeli airstrikes continued, said the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued by the UN Refugee Agency, hundreds of vehicles were backed up in queues at the Syrian border, with many people arriving on foot, carrying whatever belongings they can. Large crowds, including women, children and babies, reportedly waited in line after spending the night outdoors in falling temperatures. “Some carry fresh injuries from the recent bombardments,” the statement added.
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, expressed deep concern over the ongoing violence, stating that the bloodshed was taking a heavy toll, displacing tens of thousands of people from their homes.
He highlighted the plight of families who had previously fled the war in Syria, only to now face bombings in the country where they had sought refuge. Grandi urged the international community to prevent further scenes of despair and devastation, warning that the Middle East could not endure another displacement crisis. He emphasized that protecting civilian lives must be the top priority.
Israel has carried out its most extensive bombardment of Lebanon since 2006, starting on Monday, resulting in over 550 deaths and more than 1,800 injuries nationwide. The attacks have also forced thousands of residents in Lebanon to flee their homes.
The UNHCR, along with its partners, has been present at border crossings, offering essential supplies such as food, water, blankets, and mattresses to incoming refugees, said the statement.
The death toll from a coal mine blast in the eastern Iranian province of South Khorasan has risen to 50 after one of the injured succumbed to his wounds, the official news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday.
Of the 16 workers injured in the mine explosion in Tabas County, two were in critical condition, with one declared dead after suffering brain death, IRNA quoted Mohammad-Ali Akhoundi, director general of the provincial crisis management headquarters, as saying.
The explosion occurred Saturday night in a mine tunnel about 540 km southeast of Tehran, triggered by a sudden rise in methane gas. At the time, 65 workers were present in the mine, the report quoted Akhoundi as saying, revising the initial figure of 69 workers.
China’s investment in water conservancy projects totaled 801.94 billion yuan (114.23 billion U.S. dollars) in the first eight months of this year, up 10.7 percent year on year, a government official said on Wednesday. At a press conference on water conservancy infrastructure construction held in Beijing, Wang Bao’en, vice minister of water resources, said that water conservancy project construction on a massive scale has contributed to employment. Construction of such projects created nearly 2.1 million jobs in the first eight months, up 6.9 percent year on year. Wang said that during the period, the five provinces of Hebei, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong and Anhui each posted investment exceeding 40 billion yuan in the sector. Government data also shows that since the beginning of this year, a total of 42,000 water conservancy projects have been implemented nationwide, up 14.1 percent year on year. Among them, 28,000 are newly started projects, up 18.7 percent. Wang said that in the next step, the Ministry of Water Resources will continue to make solid efforts to promote water conservancy infrastructure construction after the main flood season.
An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 25, 2024 shows the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Core Array of China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in southwest China’s Guizhou Province. [Photo/Xinhua] The construction of the Core Array of China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) started Wednesday, highlighting China’s growing potential in global radio astronomy research. As a proposed extension of FAST, the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope, the Core Array integrates 24 secondary 40-meter antennas implanted within 5 kilometers of the FAST site, said Jiang Peng, deputy director of the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The Chinese-designed array will combine the unprecedented sensitivity of FAST with a high angular resolution, thereby exceeding the capabilities at similar frequencies of next-generation arrays in the world. The FAST Core Array is estimated to be completed and put into operation in 2027. According to a study conducted by CAS, the Core Array will be equipped with advanced devices to improve the survey efficiency of FAST, whose broad frequency coverage and large field of view (FOV) will be essential to study transient cosmic phenomena such as fast radio bursts and gravitational wave events; conduct surveys and resolve structures in neutral hydrogen galaxies; monitor or detect pulsars; and investigate exoplanetary systems. Jiang said that once operational, the FAST Core Array could provide more possibilities for global radio astronomy research, owing to a wide range of potential scientific applications from cosmology to exoplanet science. Wednesday also marks the eighth anniversary of the launch of FAST. In less than a decade, FAST has already significantly expanded its astronomical observation capability, and the FAST Core Array is set to enhance its observational capabilities further. Jiang said observations made solely with FAST are like using a pencil to draw a sketch, while the FAST Core Array is akin to capturing the night sky with a digital camera. To date, FAST has identified more than 900 new pulsars since its launch in 2016. The number of new pulsars discovered by FAST is more than three times the total number of pulsars found by foreign telescopes during the same period. FAST started formal operations in January 2020 and was officially opened to the world in March 2021. The telescope provides astronomers around the globe with a powerful tool to uncover the mysteries and evolution of the universe. Since its formal opening to the global scientific community on March 31, 2021, FAST has facilitated over 900 hours of observations for research teams from 15 countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, and Australia, covering various scientific objectives. On April 6 this year, FAST reopened applications for observation projects for the 2024-2025 season, offering 1,600 hours of telescope time for freely applied projects. British astronomer Ralph Eatough said that opening up FAST to the world means that astronomers can now perform experiments that were previously not possible due to insufficient telescope sensitivity, with a prime example of this being the potential to detect pulsars located in external galaxies. Chen Xianhui, an academician at CAS, said, “FAST is helping mankind explore the origins, evolution, and structure of the universe, providing crucial observational data for understanding pressing scientific questions, while also serving as an important platform for international scientific exchange and collaboration.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)
Washington, D.C. –Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04)issued the following statement after she voted in support of H.R. 9747, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025:
“After months of Republican inaction and hyper-partisan messaging bills, we were brought to the brink of another government shutdown at the hands of Speaker Johnson and the Republican conference. From day one, House Democrats stood ready to pass a bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through the end of the calendar year to give Congress the time needed to finish the twelve year-long appropriations bills.
“Republicans tried repeatedly to advance their restrictive voting bill, the SAVE Act, through this funding legislation, because they knew it could not become law on its own merits. House Democrats defeated their efforts and successfully negotiated a clean CR that funds our federal agencies at current levels through December 20th, provides increased funding for the Secret Service, and ensures critical federal services remain functional and available to the American people.
“While we avoided a catastrophic government shutdown, this CR is not cause for celebration. The federal government should not have to operate on these temporary stopgap measures, and the American people should not have to worry about whether or not they will have access to critical services should a shutdown occur. The entire process is emblematic of Republicans’ inability to govern and put the American people above their own party’s politics. Today, House Democrats were the adults in the room, carrying the legislation over the finish line and providing more votes in support of the bill than Republicans.
“When we return to Washington after the District Work Period, Republicans need to abandon their extreme agenda and work with House Democrats to expeditiously pass the appropriations bills to fund the government for Fiscal Year 2025. It is our duty as Members of Congress and what the American people deserve.”
H.R. 9747 passed on a vote of 341 Yays to 82 Nays. Read H.R. 9747 bill texthere.
Census release of iwi data a significant resource for Te Whata – 26 September 2024 – From today, individuals and dwellings data by Māori descent and iwi affiliation will be available on Te Whata.
Te Whata is a by iwi, for iwi data platform developed by Te Kāhui Raraunga and supported by Stats NZ. It is available at http://www.tewhata.io.
Customised census iwi data requests are also available through Te Ara Takatū.
This is the second time Stats NZ has partnered with Te Kāhui Raraunga to release Māori data from the 2023 Census on the Te Whata platform. The historic joint initiative is part of work under the Mana Ōrite Relationship Agreement between the Data Iwi Leaders Group and Stats NZ.
Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this news story:
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement on the Senate and House passage of a Continuing Resolution, which will fund the government through December 20th and avoid a costly government shutdown:
“It’s unacceptable that some in Congress view paying your bills and keeping the lights on as ‘optional.’ Tonight, we should have negotiated and passed a bipartisan budget bill that looks forward to 2025 and beyond. It’s long-past time every one of my colleagues—in the Senate and the House—commits to passing a budget every year, instead of using government funding and the economic security of hardworking Vermont families as a bargaining chip.
“By its very function, a Continuing Resolution should continue the government services and funding our communities rely on. This bill does not hit that mark. The disaster relief and recovery provisions in this package will not meet the long-term needs of Vermont, or any state recovering from a disaster. This bill risks another depletion of FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund. Spending down next year’s funds early, especially as we deal with more catastrophic weather, threatens to create a perfect storm by our next funding deadline.
“It is our responsibility to fund the government and avoid a shutdown, so tonight I voted for this bill—despite its flaws. But I will keep working across the aisle and across the Capitol to secure the disaster recovery funding Vermont and every state devastated by natural disasters needs.”
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
Published: 09.25.2024
WISCONSIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) applauded the Senate’s bipartisan vote to confirm Byron Conway to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
“The people of Wisconsin deserve to have qualified, experienced, impartial judges working for them – and I am confident that’s just what we will get with Byron Conway. I was proud to work with Senator Johnson to stand up our bipartisan nominating commission and earn the support from both Democrats and Republicans alike in the Senate. Byron Conway has a proven track record and temperament for this position, and I look forward to seeing him faithfully serve Wisconsin’s Eastern District with fairness and distinction,” said Senator Baldwin.
Conway was recommended to Senators Baldwin and Ron Johnson (R-WI) by the bipartisan Wisconsin Federal Nominating Commission that they established to help find candidates for federal judicial positions and United States Attorneys during the 118th Congress. The Senators then recommended Conway to the White House and, in July, the White House announced that they heeded that call and nominated Conway for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Later that month, both Senators returned their blue slips to the Senate Judiciary Committee, leading to the Judiciary Committee’s bipartisan vote in support of his nomination and teeing up his confirmation by the full Senate today.
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
Published: 09.25.2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) released the following statement on the Senate’s passage of a bill to keep the government funded until December:
“American families suffer if we let the government shut down. It threatens to take Border Patrol off the beat, halt benefits for our Veterans, and block food for families in need. I joined my Democratic and Republican colleagues to vote to avoid a harmful shutdown, boost funding for the Secret Service, and keep the lights on as we work to pass our bipartisan funding bills. I will continue to make sure Wisconsin has a seat at the table in our ongoing negotiations and that our full year government funding bills support our Made in America economy, lower costs for working families, and tackle the opioid and fentanyl crisis.”
Source: United States Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement regarding a recent deceptive attempt to engage in communication under false pretenses:
“In recent days, a malign actor engaged in a deceptive attempt to have a conversation with me by posing as a known individual. After immediately becoming clear that the individual I was engaging with was not who they claimed to be, I ended the call and my office took swift action, alerting the relevant authorities. This matter is now in the hands of law enforcement, and a comprehensive investigation is underway.”
