Source: Australia Government Statements – Agriculture
23 September 2024
Approved arrangements operators, customs brokers, importers, manned depots, and freight forwarders who are required to book and manage requests for inspections through the Biosecurity Portal using the ‘Sign in with your digital identity’ (myGovID) pathway.
Restored time:
As of: 14:30 Monday 23 September 2024 (AEST).
Detail:
The unplanned service…
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
BISMARCK, N.D. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced a $1,600,000 investment in North Dakota State University (NDSU) to support research pertaining to the economics of markets and trade. Specifically, the award will be distributed to the following projects at NDSU:
$800,000 to support a project assessing the resilience of the supply chain systems of corn and soybeans, the drought-induced impediments in the network under uncertainty, and the resulting impacts on trade, food security, and farm income.
$800,000 to support a project assessing the impacts of regulations for genetically modified organisms.
Source: United States Department of Justice
Director Rachel Rossi of the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) traveled to Kansas this week to engage with stakeholders about the access to justice challenges rural communities face and to discuss innovative solutions. The visit built upon the ongoing work of ATJ to address the rural access to justice gap in the United States.
Director Rossi began by meeting with the Executive Director of Kansas Legal Services, a grantee of the Legal Services Corporation that serves all 105 counties in Kansas, to discuss the importance of civil legal aid, the barriers that low-income Kansans face in addressing their civil legal needs and the operational challenges of providing legal services in rural areas of the state. Director Rossi highlighted various initiatives, including the office’s work to expand and modernize the Federal Government Pro Bono Program — which mobilizes federal government employees to engage in pro bono work, often in partnership with legal service providers, and the online resource developed through the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable to make federal funding opportunities more accessible for legal service providers.
Following her meeting with Kansas Legal Services, Director Rossi met with the Dean of the University of Kansas (KU) School of Law and Directors of the Law School’s Legal Aid Clinic, which offers students the opportunity to represent low-income clients in civil, criminal and juvenile cases under the guidance of supervising attorneys. Director Rossi and KU Law faculty discussed the recruitment and retention issues plaguing public defense and youth defense systems in Kansas. The clinical professors and Dean shared unique insight into current challenges and potential solutions to several access to justice issues in Kansas, focusing on creative recruitment strategies to encourage law students to pursue public interest and public defense careers.
Later in the day, Director Rossi met with the Executive Director and the Director of Special Projects for the Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services (BIDS), which oversees Kansas’ 18 regional public defender offices and manages the statewide assigned counsel program, legal services for people in prison, non-capital appellate services and capital defense. Director Rossi shared ATJ’s Public Defense Resource Hub, a digital compilation of federal resources and materials that can be used to support public defense. The meeting included a discussion of caseload and workload standards, the public defense recruitment and retention crisis and the expansion of public defense in Kansas. Following her meeting with BIDS, Director Rossi met with the Federal Public Defender for the District of Kansas, who also serves as the chair of the Defender Services Advisory Group, to discuss issues federal public defenders are facing, implementation of the Report and Recommendations Concerning Access to Counsel at the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Pretrial Facilities and the innovative defense provided laptop program within the district that ensures discovery access for detained clients.
On Thursday, Sept. 19, Director Rossi met with the Rural Justice Initiative Committee, which was created in 2022 by the Kansas Supreme Court to collect information and data on unmet legal needs and the availability of legal help in rural Kansas and to issue a report and recommendations to address gaps and promote effective solutions. Director Rossi also met with the Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Committee and the Language Access Committee to discuss their programs in rural Kansas and ways in which ATJ can advance access to justice in rural areas. Director Rossi also had the opportunity to meet with a group of state court judges and Kansas Supreme Court justices who serve on these committees to hear their perspective on the role that the judiciary plays in addressing access to justice barriers in the state. She highlighted the work of ATJ to convene all 40 state access to justice commissions quarterly, and the office’s work to expand language access under the leadership of the department-wide language access coordinator.
Director Rossi next met with the Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) Legal Foundation, an organization established by the Kansas Farm Bureau to provide legal education, information and research for those directly engaged in agriculture or related enterprises. They discussed the civil legal help provided by the KFB Legal Foundation to agricultural communities, including programs to educate farmers and ranchers about significant legal issues such as farm bankruptcy and probate issues, farm ownership transitions, agricultural land use and zoning and more. They also discussed the need for more attorneys and legal help in rural communities, and how the KFB Legal Foundation recently responded through the launch of a Rural Law Practice Grant to help defray the educational costs of law school and to encourage new attorneys to locate their legal practice in rural Kansas.
To conclude the trip, Director Rossi traveled to Washburn University Law School (Washburn Law), in Topeka, Kansas, to meet with faculty, administrators and students participating in Washburn Law’s Rural Law program that focuses on identifying rural externship and employment opportunities and providing support for students to transition into rural law practice. They discussed the program’s effort to expand the range of accelerated and remote study options to lower the barriers to rural students seeking a degree. This engagement highlighted the perspectives of law students, many with backgrounds from rural communities, on effective solutions to the rural lawyer shortage.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Steve Daines (R-MT), chairman and ranking member of the Subcommittee on National Parks respectively, and John Barrasso (R-WY), ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, have introduced bipartisan legislation to help combat the housing shortage that the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Forest Service and other land management agency employees are facing across the country. The Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act would authorize the NPS, U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior (DOI) to expand their authority to secure and build more workforce housing on or close to the federal lands. The legislation is especially needed in Maine; just months ago, a fundraiser was held in Bar Harbor to create additional housing for up to 300 seasonal workers at Acadia National Park.
“Every corner of Maine and the country is being impacted by the housing crisis — and our National Parks are no exception,” said Senator King, Chairman of the National Parks Subcommittee. “The lack of safe, quality housing that doesn’t break the bank has made it difficult for park employees, and those who are called to preserve our public lands, to live in the communities they serve. The bipartisan Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act is a commonsense step, that allows the National Park Service and Forest Service use new approaches and public-private partnerships to combat the housing shortage. While this bill won’t solve the shortage on its own, it is a key part of a wider strategy to support our Parks and Forest Service employees. Safe, quality, and affordable housing is critical to ensuring that our parks stay staffed and open, and that visitors fully appreciate ‘America’s Best Idea.’”
“Wyoming is home to the most beautiful national parks in the country. We are blessed to host millions of visitors from across the country and around the world each year,” said Senator Barrasso, ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “To continue to do so, employees of the National Park Service and the Forest Service need access to affordable and adequate housing on or near the lands where they work. Our bipartisan bill will help address the growing demand for housing by making it possible for these agencies to partner with the private sector to find solutions to the housing shortage.
“This legislation will provide much-needed housing relief to Montanans who are living paycheck to paycheck and bearing the brunt of the Biden-Harris administration’s sky-high inflation,” said Senator Daines. “By prioritizing National Park Service workforce housing and supporting local gateway communities, we are one step closer towards addressing the housing shortage both in Montana and across the U.S.”
Specifically the Land Manager Housing and Workforce Improvement Act would authorize:
the National Park Service (NPS) to engage philanthropic partners to address workforce housing needs through matching grants and other cooperative efforts;
the Secretary of the Interior to use income from rent for the development, construction, rehabilitation, and management of workforce housing;
the Secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts for workforce housing within the private sector; and
the secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture to hire to fill vacant positions at NPS and Forest Service units if government housing is not available.
As Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks and a lifelong advocate for conservation, Senator King has spent decades championing environmental stewardship and advocacy. Senator King was an active participant in discussions to ensure that the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument would not be designated against the will of local citizens. Prior to rising to the position of National Parks Subcommittee Chairman, Senator King also led the Great American Outdoors Act to address the $12 billion maintenance backlog in our national parks. For his continued leadership, Senator King was awarded the inaugural National Park Foundation “Hero” Award.
Senator King has also long been committed to ensuring Maine people across the state can access safe and affordable housing, as well as working with his colleagues on creative solutions to combat the housing shortage. He introduced the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to create nearly two million new affordable homes across the country — including thousands in Maine. He also worked with his Republican colleagues to improve affordability of rural homes and farms through the Access to Credit for our Rural Economy (ACRE) Act of 2023 and the Farmhouse-to Workforce Housing Act. Additionally, he has worked to expand affordable workforce housing on Mount Desert Island to support the economic development surrounding Acadia National Park. Earlier this year, he co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to expand affordable housing availability in Maine through redevelopment of historic buildings.
Source: European Parliament
To attract and sustain young farmers, supporting generational renewal in agriculture, is a high priority under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) with a number of tools and interventions available to achieve this objective.
The legislation requires from Member States to dedicate an amount equal to at least 3% of their national direct payments envelope to supporting young farmers.
Member States include in their CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs) different tools (called interventions) to encourage and support young people into farming, such as: complementary income support for young farmers; setting-up grants; investment support with higher intensity rates of up to 80%; support for intergenerational exchange.
The conditions and criteria for support are defined at the national level. The CPSs reflect the different approaches of Member States in providing support to young farmers through the combination of available tools, dedicated resources and prioritisation of support.
To improve the consistency of EU and national actions, the Member States provide in their CPSs an overview of all (EU and national) interventions and policies related to young farmers.
Potential new actions at EU level, will be discussed when preparing the legislative proposals that will accompany the proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework in 2025.
According to targets set currently in the Member States’ CPSs, the CAP aims to help around 377 000 young farmers start farming over the 2023-2027 period, with a total budget of EUR 8.5 billion.
The Commission launched an online dashboard to show the targets set at national level approved in the CSPs, as well as targets at EU level[1].
Source: WTO
Headline: WTO members seek fresh momentum for agriculture talks
Summarizing his informal consultations with members last week, the Chair of the negotiations, Ambassador Alparslan Acarsoy of Türkiye, highlighted a recurring emphasis on the need to rebuild trust among members.
The Chair highlighted a widespread desire to resume negotiations as soon as possible and to focus on substance, with the goal of initiating text-based talks early enough before the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14).
There was a suggestion, he noted, to enhance political leadership by convening periodic negotiation meetings at the Head-of-Delegation level to review progress and to involve senior officials in addressing particularly intractable issues.
Regarding the procedural steps forward, the Chair outlined two suggestions from the consulted members. One option is to establish informal small groups on various topics, each led by key proponents. The second option is for the Chair to appoint facilitators to lead such thematic negotiations.
Other recommendations included setting milestones in the lead-up to MC14, adopting a comprehensive approach in the negotiations, and considering the relevance of past mandates when defining priorities.
Members welcomed the Chair’s efforts to advance the negotiations and shared their views on the way forward. Members emphasized the importance of inclusiveness and transparency and the central role of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session as the primary forum for negotiations.
Questions were raised about the possible structure of the suggested thematic working group discussions. Some members called for pragmatic interest-based discussions, while others emphasized the need to honour past mandates or underscored the need for a balanced and realistic approach across the board.
Several members also called for fresh perspectives. They noted the quality of the discussions held on agriculture during the Public Forum and the workshop organized by the WTO in early July and suggested convening additional seminars to introduce new insights into the negotiations.
The African Group and the Cairns Group informed delegates that their bilateral meetings, which resumed after the summer break, have been conducted on a weekly basis. These technical-level discussions aim to find common ground and to draft modalities across all topics, in particular domestic support and public stockholding for food security purposes. They stressed the willingness of participants to engage constructively and expressed the hope that a joint proposal will be submitted to the committee for consideration in the near future.
The Chair encouraged members to engage in substantive discussions on specific topics. He cited the ongoing collaboration between the African Group and the Cairns Group as a positive example.
On the same day, members also participated in discussions at dedicated sessions on public stockholding and the Special Safeguard Mechanism.
Brazil’s new submission on sustainable agriculture
Brazil presented its submission titled “Dialogue on sustainable agriculture in the multilateral trading system” (JOB/AG/261), also circulated to the General Council and other WTO bodies in July. Brazil emphasized the urgent need to address more forcefully in the WTO critical sustainability challenges, with a view to ensuring WTO disciplines better support a more sustainable and resilient food and agriculture system, while not creating unnecessary trade restrictions, distortions or discrimination, and not weakening the fight against hunger and poverty.
The submission noted the cross-cutting nature of this issue across various committees and called for the General Council to take the lead with a retreat on the topic in the second half of 2024, followed by a report on progress made at a senior officials’ meeting on agriculture in the second half of 2025.
Members welcomed Brazil’s initiative and agreed that sustainability is a critical component of agricultural reform. Many expressed a willingness to engage in thematic discussions and participate in the proposed retreat. Members also suggested specific topics for further deliberation, including technology transfer, climate-smart agriculture, precision farming, and trade-restrictive measures implemented under the guise of environmental protection.
Several members stressed the need to address jointly the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainability, encompassing food security and the livelihood of small farmers.
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MIL ASI Translation. Region: Polish/Europe –
Fuente: Gobierno de Polonia en poleco.
The Minister of Health, Izabela Leszczyna, took part in the morning crisis team in Wrocław. She presented the current situation regarding access to medical care for patients from flood areas. The Minister of Exterior Design, Cezary Tomczyk, prepared an update on the functioning of the temporary hospital in Nysa. Two crisis management representatives were appointed in Głuchołazy and Lewin Brzeski. Full access to medical services
Patients from flood-affected areas can seek medical advice from any primary care physician. Additionally, each sanitary-epidemiological station provides free disinfectants.
We have introduced a regulation by the president of the National Health Fund that family doctors do not only accept their own patients, they accept everyone and we will reimburse such visits
– She informed the Minister of Health during the crisis team in Wrocław. The Ministry of Health has launched a 24/7 NFZ hotline, where you can get information about points of medical service implementation.
Consultants provide ongoing information on where you can receive primary health care services, where you can receive hospital services, where pharmacies are open, and where you can get your prescription filled.
– Izabela Leszczyna said. We also provide psychological care, thanks to two dedicated helplines. Children and young people can get support at 116 111. The number 116 123 is reserved for adults.
There will be a mobile point with psychological help. For now, we have feedback that people need to clean up the area first and that the eventual reconstruction of their homes is important to them. I think that when the adrenaline subsides, this psychological help will probably be more necessary
– the head of the Ministry of Health noted. The Minister of Health presented the information of the Chief Sanitary Inspector in the context of the epidemiological threat. She also reminded that flooded food is not fit for use.
We have 89 waterworks flooded – in Lower Silesia 55, but in 36 the water is drinkable after boiling, so in 19 it is not. We deliver water there in tankers and in screw-top bottles. In Opole 31 waterworks are flooded, of which in 19 the water is drinkable after boiling and in Silesia 3, of which in 1 the water is drinkable after boiling
– said Izabela Leszczyna. Patients who require dialysis therapy are provided with medical transport. On the other hand, people from flooded health resorts are informed about the postponed stay.
Military Health Support
In Nysa, the district hospital was flooded up to the first floor. An estimated 101 patients were evacuated. The military set up a temporary hospital, which will also provide pediatric care from today.
I talked to General Sokołowski to get 100 soldiers to the hospital in Nysa within the next 6 hours to restore the hospital’s operational capacity as soon as possible.
– emphasized Minister of National Defense Cezary Tomczyk. In the smallest towns that suffered from flooding, 10 mobile medical clinics will be created. The army has also launched a clinic that accepts patients 24 hours a day.
Efficient crisis management
Two representatives of the Ministry of Interior and Administration have been appointed to coordinate the rescue operation. In Głuchołazy, senior brigadier Arkadiusz Kuśmierski, and in Lewin Brzeski, brigadier Dariusz Kulawinek.
We believe that there is a need to strengthen the position and to coordinate even better, as General Kamieniecki does in Lądek Zdrój and Stronie Śląskie. We are ready to provide any support.
– Tomasz Siemoniak handed over the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration.
These proxies are there to help. Crisis management in extreme situations, such as the situation at the moment in Lewin Brzeski and still in Głuchołazy, requires such support
– Prime Minister conveyed. The point is to ensure proper crisis management and efficient removal of flood effects. The Minister announced another amendment to the regulation on the state of natural disaster.
Support for farmers
The head of government announced that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is working on solutions that will help farmers affected by the flood.
I want to reassure concerned farmers who have also suffered very serious losses – this is particularly true for small farms, so we are also preparing assistance there.
– said Donald Tusk in Wrocław. El prime minister appealed to the services and local government officials for full further concentration and mobilization.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
Source: WTO
Headline: Canada pledges CAD 250,000 to support food, animal and plant health standards
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala expressed her appreciation for Canada’s generosity. “I thank Canada for its longstanding commitment to the STDF. Canada’s contribution will allow the STDF to advance agricultural innovation, facilitate safe trade, and promote global food security. This support is necessary for fostering inclusive trade and enabling developing countries to actively participate in the global marketplace,” she said.
The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Canada’s Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, said: “Canada has a role to play when it comes to supporting efforts to improve food security, reduce poverty, and promote sustainable economic growth around the world. This investment will create opportunities for developing countries to enhance their trading relationships and competitiveness, while supporting a safe and secure global food system.”
The donation underscores Canada’s long-standing commitment to the STDF’s mission, bringing its total contributions to CHF 7.4 million since 2001.
Canada has contributed over CHF 15 million to WTO trust funds over the past 22 years.
The STDF is a global multi-stakeholder partnership that promotes safe and inclusive trade. It was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank Group, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the WTO, which houses and manages the partnership.
In support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the STDF responds to evolving needs, drives inclusive trade and contributes to sustainable economic growth, food security and poverty reduction.
Developing economies and least developed countries are encouraged to apply to the STDF for SPS project and project preparation grants. Information on how to apply is available here.
To date, the STDF has funded over 250 projects benefiting LDCs and other developing economies.
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Source: US State of Georgia
ATLANTA (September 20, 2024) — On Tuesday, September 24,at 9:00 a.m., the Senate Rules Subcommittee on Homeowners Associations, chaired by Sen. Matt Brass (R–Newnan), will hold its first hearing.
MEETING DETAILS:
ABOUT THE MEETING:
Chairman Brass and fellow committee members will discuss the role of HOAs in Georgia communities by analyzing their current compliance with state law. The members will also review best and worst practices and the role of HOAs concerning Georgians’ constitutional rights. The total membership of the subcommittee includes Vice Chair Donzella James (D–Atlanta), Majority Leader Steve Gooch (R–Dahlonega), Minority Leader Gloria Butler (D–Stone Mountain) and Senators Brandon Beach (R–Alpharetta), Clint Dixon (R–Gwinnett) and Michael “Doc” Rhett (D–Marietta).
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:
We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.
# # # #
Sen. Matt Brass serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules. Sen. Brass represents the 28th Senate District, which includes Coweta and Heard, as well as parts of Douglas and Fulton County. He can be reached by email at matt.brass@senate.ga.gov.
Source: US State of Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Dennis “Rick” Dingle and Dell Hoard Sr. and the reappointment of Tina Clary and Tammy “Chereese” Stewart to the Clay County Development Authority.
Dennis “Rick” Dingle
Dingle is the Chief Administrative Officer for the Clay County Clerk of the Court and Comptroller’s Office. Active in his community, he currently serves as a member of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association. Dingle earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Flagler College and his master’s degree in business administration from the University of North Florida.
Dell Hoard Sr.
Hoard is the Owner of Grumpy’s Restaurant. Previously, he served as a Transportation Coordinator for Walmart Transportation Center. A lifelong resident of Clay County, Hoard attended St. Johns River State College.
Tina Clary
Clary is the Principal and Chief Executive Officer for Clary & Associates. Previously, she served as a member of the Florida Surveying and Mapping Society, the American Society of Highway Engineering, and the Clay County Chamber of Commerce. Clary earned her associate degree from Florida State College at Jacksonville.
Tammy “Chereese” Stewart
Stewart is the Assistant County Manager for the Clay County Board of County Commissioners. She was previously elected as a Clay County Commissioner and currently serves as a member of the Clay County Cattlemen Association, the Clay County Farm Bureau, and the Florida Planning and Zoning Association. Stewart earned her bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and her master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from the University of North Florida.
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Source: US State of New York
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced an additional $5.4 million in grant awards for Urban and Community Forestry Grants funded through the Federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The funding expands on $7.1 million awarded on July 25, increasing expected project outcomes and reach, and bringing the total amount awarded to $12.5 million. The awards support Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State initiative to plant 25 million trees by 2033, recent commitments through the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, and other New York State investments to expand tree canopy and cultivate greener, healthier communities.
“Investing in community green space is a significant step towards revitalizing our cities and towns, and ensuring a sustainable, resilient future for all New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “These investments will help to provide cleaner air and water to every corner of our state, and move us closer to achieving our climate goals.”
Funded projects represent a collaborative effort between local governments, not-for-profit organizations, and community groups to create more equitable and resilient urban forests in the face of increased storms and extreme heat driven by climate change. Projects are focused in disadvantaged communities and include initiatives to engage with the public in tree planting and stewardship efforts, and increase tree canopy in public open space and along roadways. The efforts align with Governor Hochul’s broader conservation and environmental agenda, including enhancing existing open spaces and land preservation goals, supporting the state’s ambitious climate goals, and advancing environmental justice statewide.
The grants are administered through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Urban and Community Forestry program, which works to increase public awareness of the importance of trees and helps communities create healthy forests while enriching quality of life for residents.
Funding for this grant is made available through the state allocation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service through the IRA. The USDA Forest Service is allocating this funding to support projects in disadvantaged communities to increase and maintain a healthy urban canopy and equitable access to trees and the benefits they provide. The Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program authorizes funding for a broad range of activities, such as urban wood utilization, urban food forests, extreme heat mitigation and workforce development.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “Urban trees are more than just a touch of nature in our cities—they help mitigate extreme heat, improve air quality, and support public health. By enhancing green spaces in areas impacted by climate change and other environmental challenges, we cool streets and homes while improving the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Trees are an integral part of our urban landscapes and leave a legacy for future generations.”
New York State is celebrating the 16th annual Climate Week from September 22-29, 2024. The projects included in this announcement support New York’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, make communities more resilient, drive action to tackle climate change and advance environmental justice, ensure affordability as part of the clean energy transition, and create new jobs and opportunities for future generations.
The 17 awarded projects receiving additional funding are listed below by region:
Capital Region
Albany County
Greene County
Rensselaer County
Central New York
Onondaga County
Finger Lakes
Genesee County
Monroe County
Mid-Hudson Valley
Ulster County
Westchester
New York City
The Bronx
Brooklyn
Manhattan
North Country
Clinton County
Jefferson County
Western New York
Chautauqua County
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, “New York, get your shovels out and get ready to dig for more new trees because over $5 million, in addition to the over $7 million we announced earlier this summer, is on the way to create more urban forests, from Albany to Kingston and more! I fought hard to plant this funding in the Inflation Reduction Act so that cities across New York could have access to the funding they have long needed to breathe new life into our most underserved neighborhoods. More trees mean cleaner, greener, and much cooler communities. I’m grateful for Governor Hochul’s partnership ensuring that these federal dollars are put to good use building a cooler and greener future for New York.”
Representative Paul Tonko said, “Thanks to our Inflation Reduction Act, we’re taking action to deliver critical resources directly to communities here in the Capital Region and across New York State. This significant infusion of federal funding will help plant trees, increase canopy cover, and build more resilient urban forests – all while addressing climate change and advancing environmental justice. As we continue to build on the successes of the IRA, I’m thrilled to see the benefits of our historic legislation taking root right here at home.”
Representative Pat Ryan said, “Tree coverage is an absolute necessity for a thriving city and these historic investments will increase canopy cover, improve climate resilience, and create good-paying jobs along the way. I’m proud that this $240,824 will add to the $528,600 from the landmark Inflation Reduction Act that I delivered for Kingston’s urban forestry program last year. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with officials at every level of government as we make the Hudson Valley a sustainable and vibrant home for generations to come.”
To further progress New York’s climate goals, Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State address established a goal of planting 25 million trees statewide by 2033 — a $47 million effort supported by the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and the FY25 Enacted Budget. The goal will invigorate the state’s tree planting efforts through multi-year annual grants to municipalities to plant trees in support of resilient reforestation and urban forests, modernize DEC’s Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery and engage the next generation of environmental stewards.
Source: US State of California
Director Rachel Rossi of the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) traveled to Kansas this week to engage with stakeholders about the access to justice challenges rural communities face and to discuss innovative solutions. The visit built upon the ongoing work of ATJ to address the rural access to justice gap in the United States.
Director Rossi began by meeting with the Executive Director of Kansas Legal Services, a grantee of the Legal Services Corporation that serves all 105 counties in Kansas, to discuss the importance of civil legal aid, the barriers that low-income Kansans face in addressing their civil legal needs and the operational challenges of providing legal services in rural areas of the state. Director Rossi highlighted various initiatives, including the office’s work to expand and modernize the Federal Government Pro Bono Program — which mobilizes federal government employees to engage in pro bono work, often in partnership with legal service providers, and the online resource developed through the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable to make federal funding opportunities more accessible for legal service providers.
Following her meeting with Kansas Legal Services, Director Rossi met with the Dean of the University of Kansas (KU) School of Law and Directors of the Law School’s Legal Aid Clinic, which offers students the opportunity to represent low-income clients in civil, criminal and juvenile cases under the guidance of supervising attorneys. Director Rossi and KU Law faculty discussed the recruitment and retention issues plaguing public defense and youth defense systems in Kansas. The clinical professors and Dean shared unique insight into current challenges and potential solutions to several access to justice issues in Kansas, focusing on creative recruitment strategies to encourage law students to pursue public interest and public defense careers.
Later in the day, Director Rossi met with the Executive Director and the Director of Special Projects for the Kansas State Board of Indigents’ Defense Services (BIDS), which oversees Kansas’ 18 regional public defender offices and manages the statewide assigned counsel program, legal services for people in prison, non-capital appellate services and capital defense. Director Rossi shared ATJ’s Public Defense Resource Hub, a digital compilation of federal resources and materials that can be used to support public defense. The meeting included a discussion of caseload and workload standards, the public defense recruitment and retention crisis and the expansion of public defense in Kansas. Following her meeting with BIDS, Director Rossi met with the Federal Public Defender for the District of Kansas, who also serves as the chair of the Defender Services Advisory Group, to discuss issues federal public defenders are facing, implementation of the Report and Recommendations Concerning Access to Counsel at the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Pretrial Facilities and the innovative defense provided laptop program within the district that ensures discovery access for detained clients.
On Thursday, Sept. 19, Director Rossi met with the Rural Justice Initiative Committee, which was created in 2022 by the Kansas Supreme Court to collect information and data on unmet legal needs and the availability of legal help in rural Kansas and to issue a report and recommendations to address gaps and promote effective solutions. Director Rossi also met with the Supreme Court’s Access to Justice Committee and the Language Access Committee to discuss their programs in rural Kansas and ways in which ATJ can advance access to justice in rural areas. Director Rossi also had the opportunity to meet with a group of state court judges and Kansas Supreme Court justices who serve on these committees to hear their perspective on the role that the judiciary plays in addressing access to justice barriers in the state. She highlighted the work of ATJ to convene all 40 state access to justice commissions quarterly, and the office’s work to expand language access under the leadership of the department-wide language access coordinator.
Director Rossi next met with the Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) Legal Foundation, an organization established by the Kansas Farm Bureau to provide legal education, information and research for those directly engaged in agriculture or related enterprises. They discussed the civil legal help provided by the KFB Legal Foundation to agricultural communities, including programs to educate farmers and ranchers about significant legal issues such as farm bankruptcy and probate issues, farm ownership transitions, agricultural land use and zoning and more. They also discussed the need for more attorneys and legal help in rural communities, and how the KFB Legal Foundation recently responded through the launch of a Rural Law Practice Grant to help defray the educational costs of law school and to encourage new attorneys to locate their legal practice in rural Kansas.
To conclude the trip, Director Rossi traveled to Washburn University Law School (Washburn Law), in Topeka, Kansas, to meet with faculty, administrators and students participating in Washburn Law’s Rural Law program that focuses on identifying rural externship and employment opportunities and providing support for students to transition into rural law practice. They discussed the program’s effort to expand the range of accelerated and remote study options to lower the barriers to rural students seeking a degree. This engagement highlighted the perspectives of law students, many with backgrounds from rural communities, on effective solutions to the rural lawyer shortage.
Source: Government of India (2)
Lac processing units will be set up to promote lac products: Union Minister
There is a need to increase the minimum support price of lac, we will make efforts for this in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs: Shri Chouhan
5000 lac producing farmers will be trained at Ranchi Agricultural Education Research Institute: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Ranchi will be made the country’s leading center for Agricultural Education and Research: Union Minister
Posted On: 20 SEP 2024 5:32PM by PIB Delhi
The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu graced the centenary celebration of the ICAR-National Institute of Secondary Agriculture (NISA) in Ranchi, Jharkhand today. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that besides making farming a profitable venture, there are three other major challenges before agriculture in the 21st century. It is maintaining food and nutrition security, sustainable use of resources and climate change. She stated that activities related to secondary agriculture can help meet these challenges. The secondary agriculture includes the value addition of primary agricultural products as well as other agriculture-related activities like beekeeping, poultry farming, agricultural tourism etc. She said that agricultural waste can be utilized properly through secondary agriculture activities. They can be processed to make useful and valuable things. In this way, the environment can be protected and the farmers’ income will be increased as well.
The President said that lac is produced in India mainly by the tribal community. It is an important source of their income. She was happy to note that the National Institute of Secondary Agriculture has taken several steps for research and development as well as commercial development of Lac, Natural Resins and Gums. It includes the development of a Small small-scale lac Processing Unit and an Integrated Lac Processing Unit; the development of lac-based natural paints, varnishes and cosmetic products; development of lac-based coating to increase the shelf-life of fruits, vegetables and spices. She expressed confidence that all these steps will help in improving the living standards of tribal brothers and sisters. The President said that NISA has done good work in lac farming. But, there are still many areas in which we can go further. For example, there is a demand for high-quality lac in the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries. If the quality, supply chain and marketing of Indian lac are improved, our farmers will be able to supply it in the country and abroad and will get better prices.
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in the centenary celebrations of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – National Institute of Secondary Agriculture (NISA). During his address, Shri Chouhan said that today President Smt. Draupadi Murmu is present among us who has a special attachment to Jharkhand. Even when she was the Governor, she has been working a lot for the welfare of the people. The history of lac is as old as India. There is a mention of Lakhshagriha in Mahabharata, that too was made of lac. From then, lac has been cultivated. In today’s time, lac has great importance. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s goal is to double the income of farmers. To increase the income of farmers, the goal is to increase production in the fields, reduce the cost of production, give fair prices for the produce, compensate for losses and diversify farming.
The Union Minister said that we will have to move towards other farming along with traditional farming. Prime Minister Shri Modi has also drawn attention towards agro-forestry i.e. income from trees. He said that if we think about all these aspects, then lac farming is very important. We export lac 400 crore rupees. There are many people associated with this farming who are earning more than 1 lakh rupees. Different groups have also been formed; many of them have an income of 25 to 30 lakh rupees. There are infinite possibilities in lac farming, so lac is important for increasing our income and it is also an alternative to plastic. We can use lac to save the environment from plastic.
Welcoming the women who attended the program, Shri Chouhan said that with the power of women empowerment, our sisters can also cultivate lac very easily. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s goal is to make women Lakhpati Didi, that is, every woman’s income should be at least 1 lakh rupees annually, we have to make arrangements for this. Lakhpati Didi Yojana has been created for this. He said that the department of Lakhpati Didi Yojana is with me. Lakhpati Didis can also be created through lac. We will leave no stone unturned to increase your income more than 1 lakh rupees. The Department of Agriculture and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research are working on how to process lac, increase production and get a fair price after processing, etc. He said that with the President’s visit, lac cultivation should progress here and the problems of the lac producing farmers and the poor should be solved. The poor, tribals and backward people are engaged in this farming, so the production of lac should at least double, they should get more encouragement, their income should increase.
Shri Chouhan said that lac production comes under the Forest Department, therefore, the farmers producing lac do not get the benefit of the schemes of the Agriculture Department. I will try to get lac recognized as an agricultural product across the country. He said that the Government of India will focus on helping in setting up cluster-based processing units of lac so that the processing work becomes easy and the farmers also get a fair price after processing. He said that together with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, we will try to fix the minimum support price (MSP). The cost of lac should be fixed by adding at least 50 percent profit to the cost so that the farmers can get more money. He said that right now 1500 farmers are being trained here. From this year, not 1500 but 5000 farmers will be trained here so that farmers can earn more profit by getting training. He said that I assure that Ranchi will be made the country’s leading center in agricultural education and research.
Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Bhagirath Choudhary said in his address that earlier the slogan of Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan was raised and then the dream of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to make the country a developed nation by raising the slogan of Jai Anusandhan is being reflected today. The food provider of this country not only feeds 145 crore people but also works day and night in every field. When prosperity comes to the houses of the food providers, not only the houses develop but the country also develops. The farmer cultivating any crop cannot prosper until he is protected from middlemen. The country can become a developed nation only when the farmers of this country prosper. Lac cultivation is the main source of income for many tribal communities of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
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(Release ID: 2057077) Visitor Counter : 122
Source: Government of India (2)
Posted On: 20 SEP 2024 4:54PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Commerce (DoC) has focused on empowering exporters, streamlining processes, and promoting economic growth through innovative solutions during the first 100 days of this Government. These achievements underscore the. Below are some of the key highlights:
1. Empowering Exporters through Trade Connect e-Platform
The launch of a comprehensive Trade Connect e-Platform has connected over 6 lakh IEC holders, 185 Indian Mission officials, and over 600 Export Promotion Council members with Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)/DoC offices and banks. This digital initiative enhances the ease of doing business for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by providing them with information and guidance, fostering a more seamless and transparent export ecosystem.
2. Enhanced Insurance Cover for MSME Exporters
To boost exports, the government has introduced enhanced insurance cover for MSME exporters, which is expected to provide credit worth ₹20,000 crore at lower costs. This initiative will make Indian exports more competitive, benefitting around 10,000 exporters.
3. Reducing Compliance Burden through Self-Certified Electronic Bank Realisation Certificate (eBRC) system
The introduction of a self-certified electronic Bank Realisation Certificate system has significantly reduced compliance costs for exporters. Previously costing between ₹500-₹1,500 per eBRC, this system now saves exporters over ₹125 crore and simplifies the process for claiming benefits and refunds. This paperless system also aligns with the government’s broader goals of promoting a digital, eco-friendly economy, cutting down both administrative and environmental expenses.
The bulk generation and Application Programming Interface (API) integration of eBRCs significantly reduce time and effort, streamlining the process for exporters and stakeholders. This system is particularly beneficial for small exporters, especially in e-commerce, as it efficiently handles high-volume, low-cost transactions. As a result, it enables them to claim benefits and refunds more effectively, supporting their growth and participation in international trade.
4. Connecting SME Exporters to the World through E-Commerce Export Hub (ECEH)
The launch of the E-Commerce Export Hub (ECEH) is poised to revolutionize India’s cross-border e-commerce ecosystem, with projections indicating a potential export value of USD 100 billion by 2030. ECEHs will provide artisans, SMEs, and One District One Product (ODOP) producers easy access to global markets, reduce costs and simplify logistics.
These hubs will boost employment opportunities in transport, warehousing, and quality assurance. Linking Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, as well as rural areas, with the global marketplace ECEH will play a significant role in driving the digital transformation of these regions. This connection will enable smaller cities to access broader opportunities in international trade, fostering economic growth and inclusion.
5. Reducing Transaction Costs for MSMEs on GeM Portal
To promote greater MSME participation in the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), the number of pricing slabs has been reduced, making it easier for vendors to understand and comply with. New cap on charges ensures greater affordability for high-value transactions as Orders above ₹10 Crore will now pay a flat fee of ₹3 Lakh, a massive reduction from the transaction charges previously capped at ₹72.5 lakh.
6. Bharat Mart in Dubai
In a groundbreaking initiative, the Department of Commerce has facilitated the establishment of Bharat Mart in Dubai. This hub will provide Indian MSMEs cost-efficient access to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), African, and CIS markets, thereby boosting India’s exports to these regions.
7. Eliminating Human Interface through Jansunwai
The government has further enhanced ease of doing business by launching Jansunwai, a platform that facilitates smooth communication eliminating intermediaries and providing direct communication between stakeholders and the Department. This fosters transparency and saves businesses time and effort, reducing the need for physical office visits.
8. Strengthening the Organic Regulatory Ecosystem
A revamped National Programme of Organic Production (NPOP) is set to benefit approximately 20 lakh farmers from 5,000 grower groups through enhanced export opportunities. With a focus on improving certification standards, organic exports are expected to surpass USD 1 billion by 2025-26.
9. Pradhan Mantri Cha Shramik Protsahan Yojana (PMCSPY)
Under this initiative, more than 10 lakh workers across 1,210 tea gardens in Assam and West Bengal will have access to better healthcare, education, and resting shed facilities. This marks a major step toward improving the quality of life for tea garden workers and their families.
10. Rollout of ICEGATE Across All Non-IT/ITES SEZs
The ICEGATE portal has been expanded to cover all non-IT/ITES SEZ units, enabling them to apply for benefits under the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) Scheme. This move enhances ease of doing business, offering 24×7 helpdesk support to SEZ units and ensuring more seamless trading operations.
These transformative initiatives reaffirm the government’s commitment to expanding India’s global trade footprint while ensuring the development and welfare of its people. With the continued efforts of the Department of Commerce, India is well on its way to becoming a global economic powerhouse by 2047.
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(Release ID: 2057038) Visitor Counter : 69
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Rose (TN-06)
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, H.R. 4657, a bill introduced by U.S. Representative John Rose (TN-06) passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of a broader legislative package by a vote of 215-203-1.
U.S. Rep. Rose released the following statement:
“Retirement accounts are at risk of underperforming due to left-wing activist investors forcing public companies to take social and political positions that diminish economic growth,” said Rep. Rose. “My bill, which I am extremely proud to have led its passage through the U.S. House, prevents this from happening. ESG investments have no place in Tennesseans’ retirement accounts, and I am proud to have led the charge in the U.S. House to return retirement portfolios to what matters most—maximizing gains.”
Rep. Rose delivered the following remarks on the House Floor during debate of H.R. 4790, which included the text of his legislation. Watch here.
“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, economic growth has been sacrificed to pursue a woke agenda detrimental to Tennesseans. This is one of the many reasons I rise in support of my Michigan colleague’s legislation, H.R. 4790. The Tennesseans I represent can be assured that I will continue to prioritize working families over the woke, socialist agenda known as ESG that far-left progressives are inserting into retirement accounts.
“My bill, that is included in this package, would protect retail investors and retirement savings from left wing, activist shareholders and socially directed investment funds abusing the shareholder process to advance their progressive political agendas. Activist investors that force companies to take social positions on issues like abortion and climate change shouldn’t be making business decisions.
“My bill would offer companies respite from these harmful and extremist shareholder proposals, which is why my bill is referred to as the RESPITE Act in the Senate.
“Tennesseeans know firsthand how woke priorities don’t align with our values or our financial interests. That’s why we stood up to Tractor Supply Company and forced them to care about people again and not politics.
“When the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, came after our farmers to collect ESG-related information, the Tennessee Attorney General’s office sued the SEC to remind them that they were overstepping by engaging in environmental policy.
“Tennessee is proud to lead the charge against the woke agenda championed by the Biden-Harris Administration.
“That’s why, Mister Speaker, I urge Members to join me in voting ‘Yes’ on H.R. 4790 so that we can turn the focus back on promoting economic growth and not social wokeness.”
Background:
On July 19th U.S. Representative John Rose introduced H.R. 4657 to protect retail investors and retirement savings from activist shareholders and socially-directed investment funds abusing the shareholder process to advance their activist and oftentimes progressive political agendas.
Currently, under the SEC’s recent Staff Legal Bulletin 14-L, significant social policy issues, like climate-related proposals, no longer need to have a nexus between an individual company and the policy to be included in a proxy statement. This makes it easier for activists to force public companies to take positions on social and political issues. Under Chair Gensler, the SEC has tasked unelected bureaucrats with making subjective judgments about whether a company should include these proposals on its proxy statement.
Read the full text of the bill here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug Lamborn (5th District of Colorado)
Washington, D.C. –Today, Congressman Doug Lamborn attended the Hudson Institute and the Space Foundation workshop with congressional, government, and industry officials to discuss the future of the American hypersonic missile program. Space Foundation CEO, Maj. Gen. (Ret) Heather Pringle and Rebeccah Heinrichs, Senior Fellow and Director, Keystone Defense Initiative at the Hudson Institute gave introductory remarks. Congressman Lamborn delivered a keynote address as well as a Q & A directly following the keynote. Congressman Lamborn was joined by several members of Congress, including Reps. Bacon, Norcross, and Fong.
“My position as Chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee has allowed me to gain unique insight into some of the nation’s most pressing threats and the development of technological sectors across the defense landscape. I have fought hard to ensure the United States stays at the forefront of advancements in warfare, and I have sounded the alarm in areas where we are falling behind. We must correct this downward trajectory now. My future hope is that events like today’s will continue and that we will one day be the leaders in hypersonics,”said Congressman Doug Lamborn.
“When applied to space, hypersonics are a critical leadership element for our defense and for driving further technology innovation. From a defense perspective, hypersonic technology could enhance our ability to deter adversaries in space which is without a doubt a contested environment. Moreover, the dual use aspect of hypersonics contributes to technological leadership, innovation and collaborative space missions with our allies,”said Maj. Gen. (Ret) Heather Pringle, Space Foundation CEO.
“I am grateful for the leadership of Chairman Lamborn and the Hudson Institute for organizing this very timely assessment of the state of U.S. hypersonic weapons programs,”said Congressman Don Bacon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Information Technology and Innovation and member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee. “We’ve made significant progress in technology development, but more must be done to advance hypersonic weapons technology, especially in fielding defensive capabilities for hypersonic weapons and developing our industrial base and test infrastructure. Today’s event generated useful insights that will inform Congress’ oversight of these vital national security programs,”said Congressman Don Bacon.
“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I’ve witnessed both the potential for U.S. hypersonic capabilities and potential threats from adversaries. We must bolster our supply chain and industrial base to handle the complexity and durability needed for hypersonic missiles and other critical technologies. I’m glad I was able to join my Republican colleagues for a bipartisan discussion on this topic as we explore how to ensure safety and security for all Americans,”said Congressman Donald Norcross.
“Today’s event was a great opportunity to promote the commercial hypersonic industry and talk about the continuing work that must be done,” said Rep. Vince Fong (CA-20). “Getting to speak about the innovative developments being done in this industry in my district by the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards Air Force Base, and NAWS China Lake and my proposal, the MACH Act, to the NASA Reauthorization bill, was an important part of demonstrating the innovative technologies that are advancing the space market and all the prospect in an effort in advancing commercial hypersonic. As a nation, we must build off the legacies to continue to be on the cutting-edge,“said Congressman Vince Fong.
“As China and Russia continue to expand their hypersonic capabilities, it is crucial that our nation updates its defense systems to combat and deter these modern threats. In order to maintain strategic stability as well as competitive advantage, we must focus on developing our offensive hypersonic capabilities as well as investing in defensive counter-hypersonic systems. In order to accomplish this, adequate testing facilities are necessary to replicate the conditions which are unique to hypersonic flight,” said Congressman Pat Fallon.
Click here to watch the Congressman Lamborn’s keynote address
Click here to watch Congressman Lamborn’s Q&A
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Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The 2024 Enabling Native Researchers and Other Minorities Through Graduate Engineering (ENRGE) internship cohort. From left, Javier Moscoso, Chelsea Neely, Success Oluwole, Adrian Gomez, Zain ul Abdeen, and Danish Saleem. Photo by Josh Bauer, NREL
Internships offer students the opportunity to gain valuable experience in their field before joining the workforce—but for interns at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), they have the added motivation of contributing to meaningful work in energy efficiency and renewable energy. For interns in the Enabling Native Researchers and Other Minorities Through Graduate Engineering (ENRGE) program, undergraduate and graduate students at minority-serving institutions gain valuable experience in power, energy, and cybersecurity. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration’s Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program, which aims to create and support a sustainable career pathway that prepares a diverse workforce of talented students to make immediate and significant contributions in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
ENRGE brings undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at minority-serving institutions with underrepresented backgrounds—such as Native, Black, Asian, Hispanic, and Latino Americans—to NREL for hands-on summer internships. The interns work on research projects that look at how human or natural threats may disrupt the U.S. electrical grid, assess the cybersecurity of distributed energy systems, or research pathways to strengthen the U.S. electrical grid.
“Many companies and teams look forward to new pools of student interns, as they’ll bring with them fresh ideas, new perspectives, and creative approaches to the projects or processes,” said NREL’s Danish Saleem, senior engineer and ENRGE program leader.
This past summer, Javier Moscoso, Adrian Gomez, Zain ul Abdeen, and Success Oluwole participated in NREL’s second ENRGE summer internship program.
“We were fortunate to have Javier, Zain, Adrian, and Success this year at NREL,” Saleem said. “Their exceptional work, dedication, and contributions toward NREL’s clean energy goals was invaluable.”
For Javier Moscoso, energy and climate issues hit home—that is, they affect him and all the people of Puerto Rico. “It’s a personal mission,” Moscoso said.
Hurricanes Maria and Fiona wreaked havoc on Puerto Rico in 2017 and 2022. Fiona knocked out power for 80% of the island’s customers who depended on an already fragile power system. Moscoso has witnessed the damage the hurricanes—and the loss of power—cause. He spoke with a woman using an oxygen tank earlier in 2024 about issues she faced when power goes away. She died following a power outage this summer. “I’m talking because I live this,” he said.
The ENRGE internship allows Moscoso to work on important cybersecurity projects, but it also allows him to talk with NREL people—like Laboratory Director Martin Keller, who Moscoso met with earlier this summer—about the issues Puerto Rico faces. “Not having a strong cybersecurity background before coming here, I have felt comfortable with my team, and I was always eager to learn more and get out of my comfort zone,” Moscoso said. “It gives me the opportunity to test out what I like and see new things that I maybe didn’t think I would ever like or work with. I have come to familiarize myself with cybersecurity and how crucial it is in power systems today. If I’m honest, I have come to appreciate how impactful this experience will be for my future. I think there is no better place than NREL to be exposing myself to this through many readings, workshops, and conversations with mentors. I look forward to continue learning and contributing in the best way I can.”
Moscoso’s work at NREL involves looking at the cybersecurity of utility-scale batteries and distributed energy resources (DER) deployment for underserved communities on separate projects. He completed a literature review on the cybersecurity of DERs, and his background informed the case studies he wrote on Puerto Rico. “It’s my opportunity to give visibility to Puerto Rican communities,” he said.
Moscoso said that there is intention to everything he does, which is why the ENRGE internship was enticing. It allowed him to bring his personal story and experience to NREL, which he will then take back to Puerto Rico. Encouraged by his time at NREL and with ENRGE, he will begin graduate school in Puerto Rico, where part of his time will be spent continuing a renewable energy project he began before coming to NREL.
Prior to arriving at NREL, Moscoso engaged other students on the design and architecture of a solar gazebo to be constructed at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. The gazebo will provide power on campus for students in the event of an outage. Moscoso has presented on this project at NREL and to many national outlets. The project includes an educational component where talks will be given on renewable energy and energy consumption.
What started as a napkin drawing is morphing into a reality that will benefit other Puerto Ricans, and Moscoso hopes that this first gazebo can be replicated across the island.
“Javier serves as an excellent example of someone who took full advantage of the networking and professional development opportunities that NREL and the ENRGE internship offered,” said NREL’s Chelsea Neely, cybersecurity researcher and ENRGE program coordinator. “Almost every week, he came to me to tell me who he met at NREL and what research and development opportunities he was excited about. We are so proud of the impact he has made here at NREL and can’t wait to see him continue his mission towards clean energy transformation.”
The path to NREL was not a straight line for Adrian Gomez. From the U.S. Army to education in criminal justice, his background was outside of energy. When Gomez decided that the criminal justice route was not what he wanted, he enrolled in the Ecotech Institute to learn about sustainable technologies.
Then the school closed permanently.
Gomez returned to criminal justice briefly before he learned about ENRGE. When he found the ENRGE internship opportunity at NREL, it felt like a fit. “It’s the right choice,” he said. “Everything led up to this. This is something I can do.”
At NREL, Gomez brings a cybersecurity background to the Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator—which aims to expedite the deployment of novel or emerging operational technology security solutions—and learned from researchers involved in the cybersecurity situational awareness tool designed for renewable energy systems. For the Clean Energy Cybersecurity Accelerator, Gomez researched cyberattack scenarios involving solar panels and what types of attacks might cause disruptions.
“It’s interesting to see how everything is interconnected—how everything in a system affects everything else,” Gomez said. Researching cybersecurity has made Gomez hyperaware of cybersecurity concerns. He is paying attention to what is happening in the world in that regard. “I’m vigilant about those interconnections and how my role in cybersecurity is involved in that sphere.”
Following the ENRGE internship, Gomez will return to school to pursue a master’s degree in cybersecurity.
“For someone new to research, Adrian embraced the uncomfortable, often nonlinear path his research took him down this summer,” Neely said. “I was impressed with his ability to take on new concepts and come away from this experience with research he felt proud of. With the encouragement of researchers at NREL, we’re thrilled to hear he’s decided to pursue an advanced degree in cybersecurity. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for him as he builds on the skills he has learned here at NREL.”
Zain ul Abdeen came to NREL with a background in machine learning and artificial intelligence through a previous internship in NREL’s Computational Science Center, which comes in handy when asked to anticipate and respond to cyberattacks on power systems. Zain had worked as a computational scientist prior to arriving at NREL, and his computational skills were put to good use on cybersecurity projects.
Zain helped to test the performance of power system algorithms during adversarial attacks and built a model to detect anomalies in the system. With both, Zain was able to apply computational knowledge to specific challenges in cybersecurity. “We considered various kinds of attacks on the grid and how the algorithm was affected and how another model performed at detecting the attack,” he said.
A key component of Zain’s work is training models well enough that they are trustworthy when it comes to detecting and responding to attacks. That means designing robust systems that are well trained on possible scenarios and attacks.
“ENRGE is so well structured, and the mentors are very helpful,” he said. “They’re always there to help you solve a problem in your research. They listen, provide guidelines, and guide you in the right direction.”
“Zain’s final presentation of his projects this summer were incredibly impressive,” Neely said. “He made a big impact on his projects in such a short period of time. His successes clearly reflect the strong relationships he built with his mentors, Dr. Shuva Paul and Dr. Vivek Singh. We were very lucky to have his talents in the cybersecurity center this summer, and I can’t wait to read his next publications!”
When Success Oluwole went to her mentor and mechanical engineering department chair at Alabama Agriculture and Mechanical University, she asked him to keep his ears open for relevant opportunities. He called her up one day and directed Oluwole to an opportunity in the ENRGE program.
“I noticed it was a cybersecurity position and I’m quite in the mechanical engineering field,” she said. “So, I remember saying, ‘I’m not sure if this is the right fit for me.’”
The chair told Oluwole that she should not think like that—that she should be open to opportunities, even if the fit is not a direct match for her experience.
She applied to the ENRGE program. “I have always wanted to work at a national lab because I have research experience and working at the lab will give me more opportunities to do research full time,” she said.
When she interviewed for the role, it was the first time Oluwole had been interviewed by a panel, and she was nervous but optimistic, she said. When the offer came, Oluwole jumped at it. “The program gives people from minority communities the opportunity to work at a national lab. I’m Nigerian, and not many international students like me who come to this country have this opportunity. I knew working at NREL would be a great stepping stone for my career.”
Oluwole quickly realized that there was overlap between cybersecurity and mechanical engineering. She said she had the notion that there would be a lot of coding, but the actuality of the cybersecurity projects she worked on allowed her to use skills she brought with her to NREL.
She was able to deploy project management experience—data collection and budgeting—to help coordinate Liberty Eclipse, an annual full-scale cybersecurity preparedness exercise run by the U.S. Department of Energy. Oluwole also worked on a project involving cyber-informed engineering (CIE), which provides engineers a framework to integrate cybersecurity into the early design stages and throughout the life cycle of engineered systems. “I’ve been trying to apply the principles of CIE to the design, development, and operations of the wind turbines in the United States. I’ve been trying to apply the 12 principles of CIE to basically each level of a wind turbine,” she said.
“Success truly blossomed during her 10 weeks here at NREL,” Neely said. “She did a fantastic job collaborating with her mentor and I could tell she was really open trying things outside of her comfort zone. The fact that she left her experience better able to understand how cybersecurity affects her work as a mechanical engineer is a huge win for all of us. I feel so privileged to witness her growth and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for such a promising young researcher.”
Oluwole values the experiences she is gaining in the ENRGE program.
“Every single day since I started my internship here, I have been grateful, because this has been a blessing,” she said. “This program has been transformative. I’ve met great people. I’ve been able to apply my academic knowledge. I hope the program grows so that other people from minority communities can have the opportunities to learn like I have this summer.”
Before joining NREL, Oluwole did not have cybersecurity as a potential career path, but she is glad she has been able to gain this experience in an unexpected field.
ENRGE began with one intern in 2023 and has grown to four interns, two of whom have decided to pursue higher education as a result of their time in the program.
“Coming from diverse engineering and technical backgrounds, ENRGE interns learned to appreciate the importance of taking an interdisciplinary approach to the cybersecurity of energy systems,” Neely said. “Each of them has a very bright future as leaders in this important field. I hope their experience at NREL influences how they design and build critical cyber-physical systems of the future.”
Learn more about NREL’s ENRGE program and about NREL’s internship opportunities.
Source: US State of Colorado
AURORA — Today, Governor Polis and the Department of Agriculture announced a new tax credit for Colorado’s small food retailers and small family farms to help increase access to healthy groceries in communities across the state.
Eligible businesses who have made equipment purchases for the purpose of expanding access to healthy food for low access populations can apply for the refundable income tax credit for eligible equipment purchases. Starting this year, up to $10 million per year is available to help small businesses that fit the criteria. The Community Food Access Tax Credit will continue through 2030.
“Colorado is the proud home to the best produce and food in the world, and this new support will increase access to healthy food and decrease the cost of groceries, especially in underserved rural and urban areas. It will also support small farms and food retailers that put food on the table for millions of people here in Colorado and around the world,” said Governor Jared Polis.
“Both rural and urban communities across Colorado experience lack of access to freshly harvested or grown food. This refundable tax credit program will help small food retailers and small farms bring healthy food to communities with low access to fresh, nutritious food,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. “Small businesses will be able to get back 75 percent or more of the cost of expensive equipment necessary to provide fresh produce, meat, and dairy products to communities across Colorado.”
The Community Food Access Tax Credit is intended to increase access to healthy groceries and help to lower their cost. Communities with low access to fresh and healthy food can be found across the state. These tax credits, funded through House Bill 23-1008, will build on the success of the Community Food Access Grants, which were created through House Bill 22-1380, signed by Governor Polis. These grants help stores, farm stands, farmers markets, and farms purchase equipment or cover operating expenses that would allow them to increase the availability of healthy food. To date, 117 grants have been awarded in 42 Colorado counties. Of those, 45 percent of awarded businesses self-identified as BIPOC led, and 58 percent were located in rural Colorado. A total of $5 million in grants has been awarded.
Kusi Appiah, owner of Ghana International Market in Aurora, received a Community Food Access Grant to purchase new refrigeration equipment for his store.
“My retail store is an African International grocery retail store that serves mostly low-income population including mostly refugees, Caribbeans, other international [people] residing in Aurora, East Colfax Neighborhood,” Appiah said. “I would not have been able to afford this freezer or this cooler without the grant funds. I am already seeing an impact on my electricity bill.”
The improved and expanded cold storage at Ghana International Market will allow for better storage of healthy food like eggplant, cucumbers, tomatoes, spinach, fish and meat. It will also result in lower prices due to the savings from more energy-efficient equipment.
The Community Food Access Tax Credit is intended to be used by small food retailers, farm-direct operations, and small family farms who are serving low-income, low-access communities in Colorado. Examples of such businesses include:
The tax credit is available for costly equipment purchases that will increase access to or lower prices for healthy foods in low-income, low-access areas. Businesses can receive tax credits for items such as cold storage, food preservation equipment, shelving and displays, delivery vehicles, and more. Non-eligible expenses include things such as office supplies, food and product costs, installation costs, or salaries.
Coloradans can learn more about the tax credit program by attending a virtual presentation:
Anyone interested in attending can register on the Community Food Access website.
Reducing food insecurity has been one of the strategic priorities CDA has focused on over the past several years, in partnership with other state agencies and food access nonprofits. This tax credit program is operated by the Community Food Access team at CDA, which has helped improve the infrastructure for small retailers and small farmers to bring fresh food to their communities through a grant program.
More about Community Food Access grants
The Small Food Business Recovery and Resilience grants were established through House Bill 22-1380. The final round of funding was just awarded in the program. You can review the map identifying grant recipients on the Small Food Business Recovery and Resilience website.
To qualify for the Community Food Access grants, stores, farm stands, farmers markets, and farms submitted proposals to purchase equipment or cover operating expenses that would allow them to increase the availability of healthy food for sale in low income, low access communities.
Through a competitive grant process, 117 applications were selected to be awarded in 42 Colorado counties. Of those, 45 percent of awarded businesses self-identified as BIPOC led, and 58 percent were located in rural Colorado. A total of $5 million in grants has been awarded.
The application and selection process was developed with the guidance of the Small Food Business Recovery and Resilience Grant Advisory Committee, made up of farmers, retailers, as well as financing and food justice experts. The program also hosted three public listening sessions to gain insight on the program’s development.
“The success of this grant program can really be attributed to the great number of stakeholders who engaged with its development and conception,” said Amanda Laban, Markets Division Director at CDA.
To educate Colorado’s eligible businesses about the grant, CDA contracted with seven grassroots organizations across the state to help businesses learn about and apply for the grant. The application was offered in English, Spanish and any other language by request to encourage diverse businesses to apply.
“Technical assistance from trusted local organizations was an essential part of reaching retailers in communities that would benefit from this grant the most,” said Mickey Davis, Community Food Access Program Manager. “Without the help of our partners, these small businesses may never have known about this opportunity, or may have been too intimidated to apply.”
The grant – which had a maximum award value of $50k and an average amount of $43,000 – is already making a big impact in Colorado communities.
The Community Food Access program is funded by the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
###
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore)
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the Farmers Conservation Alliance in Bend has earned a $200,000 Energizing Rural Communities award from the U.S. Department of Energy.
“In my meetings and town halls throughout Oregon, I hear regularly from farmers and ranchers about the negative impacts the climate crisis is wreaking on their land and crops,” Wyden said. “Organizations like Farmers Conservation Alliance that work to optimize irrigation and energy resources are crucial to help our farmers continue to produce the fresh, local bounty we enjoy here in Oregon.”
“Climate chaos continues to make the West hotter and dryer, depleting water resources for people, farms, and wildlife,” said Merkley. “This federal funding is great news for the Farmers Conservation Alliance in Bend to modernize irrigation systems. I will keep fighting to make sure our water systems are sustainable, reliable, and climate smart.”
“Farmers Conservation Alliance works with rural communities to improve their water and energy infrastructure,” said Julie Davis O’Shea, Executive Director, Farmers Conservation Alliance. “The recognition and financial support from the Department of Energy’s Energizing Rural Communities Prize supports our continued ability to build energy resiliency in some of the nation’s most underserved communities.”
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
There is some good news for farmers in Yinjiayuan, a village in Jiangsu Province, east China. The cost of watering their land has dropped by 20 percent, and pump malfunctions have significantly decreased — all thanks to a local political advisor.
Shi Weidong is a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s political advisory body. As former president of Nantong University in Jiangsu, he is also an expert on fluid machinery.
In 2023, Shi submitted a proposal through the CPPCC highlighting the advantages of using a digital twin platform — a virtual replica of physical systems — to improve the precision and efficiency of pump management. His suggestion resonated with a nationwide initiative to invest heavily in extensive water conservancy infrastructure. That year alone, the country began the construction of 23,000 water supply facilities in its rural areas.
Shi’s proposal provides a glimpse into the important role of the CPPCC as an institutional platform for consultative democracy, an essential element of China’s political system, alongside electoral democracy. According to political scientists, these two complimentary facets of socialist democracy allow China to better pool wisdom and strengths for the overarching endeavor of modernization.
Consultative democracy takes many forms in China. For example, the government listens to ideas and opinions from all sectors throughout the processes of planning, decision-making and administration. With the CPPCC celebrating an important anniversary this year, many will be reviewing its crucial role and growing list of accomplishments.
Effective democracy
The CPPCC plays vital roles in multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Its members are drawn from political parties, people’s organizations, personages without party affiliation and various sectors of society. Among the CPPCC’s diverse membership are political figures, celebrities and experts. Shi himself is a member of the Jiusan Society, a political party primarily composed of scientists and researchers.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the CPPCC. On Sept. 21, 1949, driven by great hopes for a bright future, more than 600 deputies from various sectors overcame obstacles to gather in Beijing.
Decades later, the CPPCC has now transformed and improved itself to play a more effective role in state governance.
One of its most notable recent developments is the addition of the environment and resource sector to the CPPCC National Committee in 2023. This is one of the biggest changes to the Committee’s composition in 30 years. The last such adjustment was the establishment of the economic sector in 1993.
Over the past decade, China has undergone comprehensive changes in ecological and environmental protection. The country is making unprecedented efforts to conserve its ecology. The establishment of a new sector dedicated to this initiative would help pool efforts, facilitate research and promote consultation, said experts on the CPPCC.
Moreover, the consultation topics have evolved over time to address emerging national challenges and public concerns.
Zhang Yi, a national political advisor from Shanghai, has closely examined the ethical and judicial implications of algorithms.
A partner at the law firm King & Wood Mallesons, Zhang represents the country’s new social groups.
Zhang submitted a proposal in March on AI algorithms governance. He recently presented a report on social trends and public sentiment regarding privacy protection. “It’s great to see how my work as a political advisor turns into policies and measures that really push forward the development of the economy and society,” he said.
Strengthening the foundations
The CPPCC is also improving its foundational elements — institutions, standards and procedures — to facilitate in-depth consultations.
Earlier this month, municipal political advisors in Beijing met to discuss how the integration of AI and digital technologies could help the city respond to natural disasters and workplace accidents. It was one of 12 key topics highlighted by the municipal CPC committee and government to be included on the consultation and deliberation agenda this year.
In the summer of 2023, Beijing experienced its heaviest rainfall in more than 140 years. This year, heavy rain and gales battered the city again, uprooting trees and causing chaos across the urban road network.
Political advisors began their investigation and research in March. It included 14 collective and group studies, 13 discussions, as well as fact-finding trips to Fujian and Guangdong provinces, which were attended by non-CPC political party members, scholars and experts.
A vice mayor overseeing city administration, traffic, agriculture and rural areas attended a session on Sept. 6 to gather advice. Along with him were officials from departments including water resources, emergency response, digital resources, firefighting and meteorology.
Wei Xiaodong, chairman of the CPPCC Beijing municipal committee, encouraged participants to speak openly about issues and provide advice tailored to reality.
While most speakers focused on the application of technologies, Zhang Chengfu, a professor at the School of Public Administration and Policy, Renmin University of China, cautioned against inappropriate development practices and over-reliance on technology.
A final report incorporating the session’s advice is expected to feed into a government plan to enhance the city’s emergency response capabilities for the next three years.
Greater solidarity
As a legacy of the CPC’s cooperation with other political parties and social stakeholders during the revolutionary years, the CPPCC is also the patriotic united front’s most inclusive organization.
China is currently undergoing profound changes in areas such as social structure, relations between strata, and ways of thinking. Coupled with drastic global shifts, these factors have made it more challenging for the country to foster unity and pool strength.
On March 5, 2023, new leaders of non-CPC political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce made a collective debut at a press conference during the first plenary session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee. They pledged to stand in solidarity with the CPC through thick and thin, and build China into a modern socialist country in all respects.
Political advisors are also key in ensuring that the frank exchange of views that build consensus and fortify unity occurs at the grassroots.
In Shanghai, they set up tables in the open air to collect public opinions about the renovation of a decades-old plaza in 2023. They also engaged with neighborhood leaders and posted topics online.
When streetlights were swiftly installed on the plaza at the request of elderly residents, “people realized that authorities are serious about their opinions,” said district political advisor Li Peilei.
The prompt resolution to a community issue inspired more members of the public to get involved in decisions regarding the plaza’s logo and facilities. The plaza has now been completely revamped. More importantly, residents were made aware of the value that consultation plays in such processes.
During a 2018 trip to a village in Chongqing, in southwest China, entrepreneur Shan Yi was struck by the stark contrast of cement houses among hundreds of stilted wooden homes — the traditional residence of the Tujia people. This jarring sight, coupled with stagnating local tourism due to poor management and inadequate facilities, inspired him to take action.
Shan himself identifies as Tujia and runs a domestic services company in town. Leaving his business in his wife’s care, Shan moved to the village. He soon set to work building a museum showcasing Tujia architecture and opened stilt-house homestays to explore successful models.
So far, the mu
seum, featuring traditional structures, including residences and academies, is starting to take shape along the bank of a broad, winding river. And the village received over 50,000 visits in the first half of the year, generating more than 20 million yuan (around 2.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue.
“Personal and family comfort aside, you’ve got to do something for society one way or another,” said Shan, who became a political advisor last year.
The CPPCC is also reaching out to the younger generation. For example, two students sat in on the session of political advisors of Beijing on emergency response on Sept. 6.
It was part of an experimental program that invites students from middle school to university to observe the CPPCC sessions.
Qi Xin, a sophomore at Miyun High School Affiliated with Capital Normal University, has a keen interest in public governance. He signed up as soon as he learned about the opportunity.
“I noticed how CPPCC members shared the realities of their communities,” he said. “The will of the people is respected and reflected here.”
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
There is some good news for farmers in Yinjiayuan, a village in Jiangsu Province, east China. The cost of watering their land has dropped by 20 percent, and pump malfunctions have significantly decreased — all thanks to a local political advisor.
Shi Weidong is a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s political advisory body. As former president of Nantong University in Jiangsu, he is also an expert on fluid machinery.
In 2023, Shi submitted a proposal through the CPPCC highlighting the advantages of using a digital twin platform — a virtual replica of physical systems — to improve the precision and efficiency of pump management. His suggestion resonated with a nationwide initiative to invest heavily in extensive water conservancy infrastructure. That year alone, the country began the construction of 23,000 water supply facilities in its rural areas.
Shi’s proposal provides a glimpse into the important role of the CPPCC as an institutional platform for consultative democracy, an essential element of China’s political system, alongside electoral democracy. According to political scientists, these two complimentary facets of socialist democracy allow China to better pool wisdom and strengths for the overarching endeavor of modernization.
Consultative democracy takes many forms in China. For example, the government listens to ideas and opinions from all sectors throughout the processes of planning, decision-making and administration. With the CPPCC celebrating an important anniversary this year, many will be reviewing its crucial role and growing list of accomplishments.
Effective democracy
The CPPCC plays vital roles in multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Its members are drawn from political parties, people’s organizations, personages without party affiliation and various sectors of society. Among the CPPCC’s diverse membership are political figures, celebrities and experts. Shi himself is a member of the Jiusan Society, a political party primarily composed of scientists and researchers.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the CPPCC. On Sept. 21, 1949, driven by great hopes for a bright future, more than 600 deputies from various sectors overcame obstacles to gather in Beijing.
Decades later, the CPPCC has now transformed and improved itself to play a more effective role in state governance.
One of its most notable recent developments is the addition of the environment and resource sector to the CPPCC National Committee in 2023. This is one of the biggest changes to the Committee’s composition in 30 years. The last such adjustment was the establishment of the economic sector in 1993.
Over the past decade, China has undergone comprehensive changes in ecological and environmental protection. The country is making unprecedented efforts to conserve its ecology. The establishment of a new sector dedicated to this initiative would help pool efforts, facilitate research and promote consultation, said experts on the CPPCC.
Moreover, the consultation topics have evolved over time to address emerging national challenges and public concerns.
Zhang Yi, a national political advisor from Shanghai, has closely examined the ethical and judicial implications of algorithms.
A partner at the law firm King & Wood Mallesons, Zhang represents the country’s new social groups.
Zhang submitted a proposal in March on AI algorithms governance. He recently presented a report on social trends and public sentiment regarding privacy protection. “It’s great to see how my work as a political advisor turns into policies and measures that really push forward the development of the economy and society,” he said.
Strengthening the foundations
The CPPCC is also improving its foundational elements — institutions, standards and procedures — to facilitate in-depth consultations.
Earlier this month, municipal political advisors in Beijing met to discuss how the integration of AI and digital technologies could help the city respond to natural disasters and workplace accidents. It was one of 12 key topics highlighted by the municipal CPC committee and government to be included on the consultation and deliberation agenda this year.
In the summer of 2023, Beijing experienced its heaviest rainfall in more than 140 years. This year, heavy rain and gales battered the city again, uprooting trees and causing chaos across the urban road network.
Political advisors began their investigation and research in March. It included 14 collective and group studies, 13 discussions, as well as fact-finding trips to Fujian and Guangdong provinces, which were attended by non-CPC political party members, scholars and experts.
A vice mayor overseeing city administration, traffic, agriculture and rural areas attended a session on Sept. 6 to gather advice. Along with him were officials from departments including water resources, emergency response, digital resources, firefighting and meteorology.
Wei Xiaodong, chairman of the CPPCC Beijing municipal committee, encouraged participants to speak openly about issues and provide advice tailored to reality.
While most speakers focused on the application of technologies, Zhang Chengfu, a professor at the School of Public Administration and Policy, Renmin University of China, cautioned against inappropriate development practices and over-reliance on technology.
A final report incorporating the session’s advice is expected to feed into a government plan to enhance the city’s emergency response capabilities for the next three years.
Greater solidarity
As a legacy of the CPC’s cooperation with other political parties and social stakeholders during the revolutionary years, the CPPCC is also the patriotic united front’s most inclusive organization.
China is currently undergoing profound changes in areas such as social structure, relations between strata, and ways of thinking. Coupled with drastic global shifts, these factors have made it more challenging for the country to foster unity and pool strength.
On March 5, 2023, new leaders of non-CPC political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce made a collective debut at a press conference during the first plenary session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee. They pledged to stand in solidarity with the CPC through thick and thin, and build China into a modern socialist country in all respects.
Political advisors are also key in ensuring that the frank exchange of views that build consensus and fortify unity occurs at the grassroots.
In Shanghai, they set up tables in the open air to collect public opinions about the renovation of a decades-old plaza in 2023. They also engaged with neighborhood leaders and posted topics online.
When streetlights were swiftly installed on the plaza at the request of elderly residents, “people realized that authorities are serious about their opinions,” said district political advisor Li Peilei.
The prompt resolution to a community issue inspired more members of the public to get involved in decisions regarding the plaza’s logo and facilities. The plaza has now been completely revamped. More importantly, residents were made aware of the value that consultation plays in such processes.
During a 2018 trip to a village in Chongqing, in southwest China, entrepreneur Shan Yi was struck by the stark contrast of cement houses among hundreds of stilted wooden homes — the traditional residence of the Tujia people. This jarring sight, coupled with stagnating local tourism due to poor management and inadequate facilities, inspired him to take action.
Shan himself identifies as Tujia and runs a domestic services company in town. Leaving his business in his wife’s care, Shan moved to the village. He soon set to work building a museum showcasing Tujia architecture and opened stilt-house homestays to explore successful models.
So far, the mu
seum, featuring traditional structures, including residences and academies, is starting to take shape along the bank of a broad, winding river. And the village received over 50,000 visits in the first half of the year, generating more than 20 million yuan (around 2.8 million U.S. dollars) in revenue.
“Personal and family comfort aside, you’ve got to do something for society one way or another,” said Shan, who became a political advisor last year.
The CPPCC is also reaching out to the younger generation. For example, two students sat in on the session of political advisors of Beijing on emergency response on Sept. 6.
It was part of an experimental program that invites students from middle school to university to observe the CPPCC sessions.
Qi Xin, a sophomore at Miyun High School Affiliated with Capital Normal University, has a keen interest in public governance. He signed up as soon as he learned about the opportunity.
“I noticed how CPPCC members shared the realities of their communities,” he said. “The will of the people is respected and reflected here.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Published: September 20, 2024
Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Steve Daines (R-Montana) sent a letter to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pushing back against a proposed amendment to the National Forest System’s 128 Forest Plans. The amendment would add unnecessary red tape guidelines on local forests and halt necessary forest management work, increasing the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
“Every fire season more acres of our western National Forests are scorched in catastrophic wildfires while needed management work is put on hold, the Senators. “Drought, insects, and disease continue to make our forests more vulnerable to these wildfires. Already this year 7.3 million acres have burned across the country. Addressing this crisis should be the top priority of the Forest Service.
“Instead the Forest Service has moved forward with an unprecedented proposal to amend all 128 Forest Plans at once without making it clear why these changes are needed or even that the proposed changes will address the real threats to old growth forests… Unfortunately, the proposed Amendment will take staff time away from on-the-ground work to address the wildfire threat and refocus the agency’s limited capacity on deciding if the Forest Plan needs to be updated to comply with the new standards… This is the opposite of what our forests need during this crisis. The Forest Service should be focused on expediting needed on the ground work, not putting new hurdles in place to delay hazardous fuels mitigation work. This new layer of guidelines will also open the door to additional litigation against proposed projects further slowing the process.”
Read the full letter HERE.
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Source: Minister for Trade
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-AL) bipartisan Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act of 2024 was signed into law. Sen. Tuberville’s legislation reauthorizes the Poison Control Centers (PCC) Network program through 2029, providing lifesaving care to millions of families.
“Poison Centers across the country play a critical role in keeping our families and kids safe,” said Senator Tuberville. “I’m particularly proud of Alabama’s Poison Center at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham. In addition to providing life-saving treatments, these centers do a great job helping families in crisis, mitigating the burden on emergency rooms, and tracking valuable data about the flow of illicit drugs across the country. I’m glad to see this important bill signed into law.”
“For more than 70 years Poison Centers have saved countless American lives and continued to keep communities and families safe from poison-related emergencies. By providing expert, confidential, and free guidance through the Poison Help line (1-800-222-1222) Poison Centers also save health care dollars and prevent unnecessary hospital visits,” said Richard Fogelson, CEO of America’s Poison Centers. “Today, Poison Centers are often the unsung heroes on the front lines of responding to emerging public threats. We thank and extend our appreciation to Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Sen. Ben Luján (D-NM), and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) for championing our mission and recognizing the critical role the nation’s 55 Poison Centers play in protecting the nation’s public health.”
Full text of the bill can be found here.
BACKGROUND:
In May, Senator Tuberville introduced the Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act of 2024 with U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Mitt Romney (R-UT). Following the introduction of the bill, Senator Tuberville and his colleagues passed the legislation unanimously out of HELP committee, 21-0.
Identical legislation cleared the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously in March.
The PCC Network program runs the Poison Control National Toll-Free hotline (1-800-222-1222) and 55 poison control centers nationwide, which are medical support facilities staffed by toxicologists, nurses, and other professionals operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The program is supported by a combination of public and private funding. In 2022, the PCC Network responded to more than 2 million human exposures—receiving an exposure case every 15 seconds on average. Alabama’s Poison Information Center is housed at Children’s of Alabama in Birmingham.
The Poison Control Centers Reauthorization Act of 2024 reauthorizes the PCC Network program, Poison Control National Toll-Free phone number, and national media campaign, through 2029.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
09.27.24
President Biden signed the SIREN Reauthorization Act into law yesterday, extending funding for SIREN Act grants to support fire and EMS agencies in rural communities
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today praised President Biden for signing their bipartisan SIREN Reauthorization Act into law yesterday. The legislation will extend funding for five additional years for SIREN Act grants to rural fire and EMS agencies nationwide. The funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which was created through Durbin’s Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act, supports rural EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment, including naloxone to address the opioid overdose epidemic.
“In rural areas across the country, EMS agencies serve as a lifeline for their communities. These first responders are on the front lines, providing medical care to Americans in emergencies when the nearest hospital is miles away. That’s why it’s critical that EMS personnel, many of whom are volunteers, are provided with the resources, staffing, training, and equipment to treat the medical emergency in front of them,” said Durbin. “Because a Nauvoo, Illinois, constituent and paramedic Mark Kennedy met with me to advocate for rural EMS agencies back in 2018, I worked to pass the bipartisan SIREN Act to support Mark and other rural EMS agencies in caring for their communities. This week, President Biden signed Senator Collins’ and my bipartisan SIREN Reauthorization Act into law, ensuring that rural EMS agencies will have access to the funding they need for five more years.”
“It is vital that Americans who live in rural parts of Maine and across the country have access to lifesaving emergency medical services, which is why I have long advocated for funding to support access to quality rural health care,” said Collins. “This law will help to alleviate staffing shortages, upgrade training and equipment, and ultimately boost response times when seconds count. This program has made a real difference for recruiting and retaining EMS personnel in Maine’s rural communities.”
The bipartisan bill was initially signed into law in 2018 as part of the Farm Bill. Since then, Durbin and Collins have led the appropriations effort to grow the program from $5 million annually to $11.5 million this year, resulting in a total of $40 million in grants nationwide to 42 states. The SIREN Act has resulted in new funds to rural EMS/fire agencies in Carbondale, Nauvoo, Amboy, Jerseyville, Mt. Carmel, Paris, and Gibson City, Illinois. Thanks to SIREN Act funding, the Nauvoo Fire Protection District has been able to increase the number of annual calls it responds to across Hancock County, Illinois, from 140 to 360.
A decline in primary care and hospital service availability, workforce shortages exacerbated by the pandemic, great distances between health care facilities, and low insurance reimbursement for transport and emergency treatment have all strained rural EMS agencies. At the same time, EMS agencies today are tasked with ever-greater responsibilities— preparing for natural and manmade disasters and bioterror threats, supporting the chronic and emergency care needs of an aging population, and responding on the front lines of the opioid epidemic. These first responders are often the only health care providers in their area and face difficulty in personnel recruitment and retention, and securing expensive equipment.
The companion legislation in the House of Representatives is led by Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) and Dave Joyce (R-OH-14). The SIREN Reauthorization Act is endorsed by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, International Association of Fire Fighters, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Rural Health Association, National Volunteer Fire Council, and National Fire Protection Association.
Last week, Durbin spoke about the importance of the SIREN Reauthorization Act on the Senate floor.
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Source: US National Republican Congressional Committee
The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –
September 27, 2024
Chicken Little Marcy Kaptur just DECLINED the Toledo Blade debate with Derek Merrin in what can be defined as the most cowardly move from her panicking campaign.
In the most pathetic fashion, Cowardly Kaptur is hiding from her voters, too afraid to answer for her extreme liberal policies, and refusing to address why she’s only passed 5 bills during her 41 years in Congress while collecting over $5.8 million in taxpayer dollars to pay her salary.
“Cock-a-doodle do-nothing Marcy has taken over $5.8 million from Ohio taxpayers to pay for her salary, and now she’s taking away the voters’ opportunity to hear the truth about her extreme record that has left Northwest Ohio behind. Voters deserve so much more than the lies and cowardice from Chicken Little Marcy Kaptur.” — NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska) introduced the Securing American Agriculture Act, which would protect domestic agriculture supply chains and reduce America’s reliance on foreign adversaries.
“Close and continued oversight evaluating America’s relationship with the CCP is vital to our national security and protecting our nation’s food supply chain,” said Crapo. “It is in our best interest to take every step toward mitigating potential threats from the CCP.”
“Congress can’t allow Communist China to seize control of America’s food supply chain,” said Risch. “Idaho’s farmers and ranchers fuel our economy and feed the world. The Securing American Agriculture Act will help defend against threats to Idaho agriculture from China’s influence.”
“The CCP is the single greatest threat to America’s national security and financial independence,” said Ricketts. “A CCP-led world would mean coercion instead of choice, tyranny instead of liberty, and dictatorship instead of democracy. The only way to combat this threat is with a strong, strategic, all-of-government approach. This bill moves us closer to that.”
In recent years, China gained significant market share in the production of essential agricultural inputs like vitamins, veterinary pharmaceuticals and crop protection tools. Losing access to these key inputs could drastically reduce agricultural productivity, increase food prices, and undermine domestic food security.
The Securing American Agriculture Act would:
Require the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce, to conduct an annual threat assessment of critical food and agricultural supply chains.
Require the Secretary of Agriculture to provide recommendations to mitigate potential threats from China and for legislative and regulatory actions to reduce barriers to domestic critical input production.
Crapo, Risch and Ricketts are joined in introducing the legislation by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), John Borrasso (R-Wyoming), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Rick Scott (R-Florida) and Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri).
Source: US State of Florida
Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 24-209 on September 24, amending EO 24-208 and declaring a state of emergency for 61 counties.
To learn more, residents can visit FloridaDisaster.org/Guide. For updates on county resources available visit FloridaDisaster.org/Counties for a list of all 67 county emergency management contacts.
State Preparedness Effort
Transportation Modes
Seaports
Airports
Rail
Transit
Health and Human Services
Infrastructure, Roads and State Closures
Resources for Employees, Businesses and Consumers
For previous updates see below:
9/24/2024
9/25/2024
9/26/2024
Follow FDEM on X, Instagram, and Facebook for updates and visit FloridaDisaster.org/Updates for information relating to Hurricane Helene.
###
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
75th National Day Farm and Gourmet Festival opens today (with photos)
75th National Day Farm and Gourmet Festival opens today (with photos)
*********************************************************************
The 75th National Day Farm and Gourmet Festival runs for four consecutive days between today (September 28) and October 1 at Fa Hui Park in Mong Kok to showcase a variety of local agricultural and fisheries products, offer authentic Hong Kong style cuisine and share the joy of National Day with members of the public. Officiating at the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. By co-organising the Festival, the departments bring together local agricultural, fisheries, and catering industries to promote local agricultural and fisheries products and authentic cuisine. Members of the public can share the joy by indulging in this sumptuous feast for the eyes, ears and palate at the Festival. The Festival is co-organised by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD); the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD); the Vegetable Marketing Organization (VMO); and the Fish Marketing Organization (FMO). Themed “Celebrating National Day Together, Vibrant Farm and Gourmet Exhibition, Intangible Cultural Heritage Adds Charm, Celebrities Perform for All”, a total of 60 agricultural and fisheries stalls will be on-site offering an array of agricultural and fisheries products for sale, including premium agricultural products (such as eggplants, mushrooms, dragon fruits, corn, sweet potatoes and various hydroponic vegetables) produced by local organic, accredited and hydroponic farms. Fresh fisheries products (such as spiny lobsters, pompanos, grey mullets, jade perches and speckled blue grouper) cultured and produced by local accredited fish farms, as well as premium local dried fisheries products, are also on offer. ???The FMO and the VMO have also set up stalls to sell premium local agricultural and fisheries products, along with several newly launched signature products (including cherry wood smoked cobia fillet, four different flavors of collagen jelly and Shanghai smoked fish) for members of the public to choose from. In addition, there are 26 gourmet stalls on-site offering a variety of delicate dim sum, desserts and street food, as well as authentic cuisine made from local agricultural and fisheries products for members of the public to enjoy. Meanwhile, with a view to allowing members of the public to learn more about the latest developments in local agricultural and fisheries industries, the Hong Kong agricultural and fisheries technology exhibition has been set up at the Festival. The exhibition area demonstrates how the industry boosts productivity, enhances the quality of local produce and promotes the sustainable development of the industries with the use of technology. The exhibition area provides an opportunity for members of the public to experience controlled environment hydroponic technology, farm mechanisation, smart greenhouse technology and a modern mariculture demonstration farm through virtual reality. Additionally, the exhibition area showcases a recirculating aquaculture system featuring newly cultivated local fisheries species. Visitors can also participate in agriculture and fisheries workshops to experience organic seedling planting and Gyotaku printing, as well as acquiring agricultural and fisheries knowledge and winning prizes by participating in booth games. Furthermore, a photo-taking spot displaying seasonal local crops and mascots of the Agriculture Hall and the Fisheries Hall is set up in the exhibition area for the public to take photos. The FEHD will also set up a food and environmental hygiene exhibition area at the venue to introduce various livelihood-related services provided by the Department, including public cleansing services, and information relating to food business licenses. The Centre for Food Safety of the FEHD will also disseminate food safety information and introduce its collaboration with the food trade in safeguarding food safety. Apart from watching videos, members of the public may also participate in quiz games on interactive electronic devices in the exhibition area. The FEHD’s publicity vehicle, the Mobile Education Centre, will also be parked at the venue to allow members of the public to learn about food, personal and environmental hygiene in a fun and educational way. In addition, a photo-taking spot featuring Keep Clean Ambassador Ah Tak will be set up in the exhibition area to publicise the message of “Keep Hong Kong clean, we can do it”. The Festival features an array of exhibitions related to intangible cultural heritage of the Mainland and Hong Kong. These exhibitions highlight the inheritance and transformation of Chinese culture for family enjoyment. The Festival also offers a variety of entertaining performances, including singing and cultural performances, as well as cooking demonstrations. Moreover, souvenirs will be given out while stocks last to visitors who answer simple questions related to the 75th National Day and the Festival. Other officiating guests at the opening ceremony include Legislative Council Members Mr Tommy Cheung, Mr Steven Ho, Mr Yang Wing-kit; the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food), Miss Vivian Lau; the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong; the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Ms Irene Young; and the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Mickey Lai. The Festival is open from 10am to 8pm, with a free shuttle bus service provided by the organisers available to and from Shek Kip Mei MTR Station Exit C. Admission is free. Members of the public are welcome. Details of the event can be found at www.afcd.gov.hk/english/The75thNationalDayFarmandGourmetFestival/Main.html and on the Festival’s social media pages. The Farm and Gourmet Festival is one of the highlight events in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. For the latest information regarding other events, please visit the dedicated website (www.nationalday75.gov.hk/en).
Ends/Saturday, September 28, 2024Issued at HKT 15:38
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Source: Government of India (2)
Posted On: 28 SEP 2024 11:57AM by PIB Delhi
Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi held a meeting with Vice-President, South Asian Region, World Bank Shri Martin Raiser yesterday at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi. The agenda of the meeting was to discuss the priorities of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and deepening collaboration on ongoing issues, including soil health, climate resilient agriculture and access to carbon markets and digital agriculture.
Secretary informed the World Bank delegation about the priorities of the government in agriculture sector. He informed that the government is making efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds, promoting of sustainable agriculture, implementing policies to overcome the challenge of small holding size, and implementing policies to improve delivery of services to the farmers and bring behavioral change at scale.
During the meeting, the discussion was focused on ways to ensure the benefits of the carbon credit to the small and marginal farmers; challenges of decreasing farm size; access of capital to the Farmers Producers organization; leveraging digital, and soil health infrastructure for behavioral change at scale for sustainable use of input; designing policies to incentivize farmers to adopt sustainable agriculture practices and climate smart and resilient agriculture.
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