Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
This training from the Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) Campaign focuses on helping public agencies understand how to measure impact using measurement and verification practices (M&V) and how to ensure the best outcomes and results from ESPC projects. The event was presented by the Energy Services Coalition and included content from Tracy Phillips, Chair of the IPMVP Committee for EVO, as well as George Buchanan, CEO of 2KB Services.
Source: US Congressional Budget Office
H.R. 1709 would require the Department of Commerce to assess the effectiveness of cybersecurity practices employed by providers of mobile communications services and to report to the Congress on cybersecurity vulnerabilities of mobile networks and devices.
Using information about the cost of similar requirements, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000. Such spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aldo Prosperi. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel
Director, Congressional Budget Office
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
Welch: “I’m very disturbed about what is happening…how it’s affecting our families here in Vermont, how it’s affecting our businesses here in Vermont, and how it’s affecting the mutual cooperation that we had the blessing of enjoying for generations—between us and Canada. I am opposed to tariffs against our Canadian allies.”
NEWPORT, VT — Today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, convened Vermont and Canadian business leaders for a roundtable in Newport, Vermont —near the U.S.-Canada border—to discuss President Trump’s Trade War and how the Trump Administration’s reckless tariffs are hurting workers, families, and farmers.
Senator Welch’s remarks from the beginning of the roundtable are included in-full below:
“We in Vermont really value both our friendship with Canadians, and our economic partnerships with Canada. I believe what’s happening here with the rhetoric from the Trump Administration and from these tariffs is very destructive—for you and for us.
“I don’t want to be a part of it. I want to be a part of doing everything we can to maintain the very cordial, friendly, economically mutually-beneficial relationships that we have. I can understand an appropriate place for a tariff, and Canada can make its own decisions about where it would be appropriate for you to have a tariff. I cannot think of why we would be having a tariff or trade war with our best neighbor. Your environmental standards — your labor standards — match or exceed ours, and that’s really important to you and it’s important to us.
“What I’m seeing with the tariffs is that they’re being imposed in a very arbitrary way. Not to mention that they’re on again, they’re off again.
“Every time I speak to any anybody in business on our side (and it’s really nice that we’re going to hear from the Canadian side of the border) one of the things that’s really essential is stability. No business, and frankly no family, can deal with, ‘yes, we’re on no, we’re off.’ Nobody can do that. And it is not, in my view, good for international relationships. It’s not good for business relationships. And it’s not even good for family, where there’s constant instability. You don’t know what the rules are—they keep changing.
“I’m very disturbed about what is happening from [the Trump] Administration and I’m disturbed from the perspective of how it’s affecting our families here in Vermont, how it’s affecting our businesses here in Vermont and how it’s affecting the mutual cooperation that we had the blessing of enjoying for generations, between us and Canada. I am opposed to tariffs against our Canadian allies.
“That’s just to set the stage of where I’m coming from, and it’s why I am so grateful that we have this joint meeting where we can talk about the real problems that are caused as a result of these tariffs. And mobilize as much support as we can to renewing that friendship, that business relationship, that economic relationship that we’ve had. So, thank you all for coming and [the Hon. Marie-Claude] Bibeau, I’m so, so delighted that you’re here. I want to turn it over to you after I expressed my gratitude for all the work you’ve done and your willingness to be here deep in the south reaches of Newport, Vermont.”
Photos of the event are included below:
Senator Welch was joined by the Hon. Marie-Claude Bibeau, Member of Parliament for Compton-Stanstead, and Vermont and Canadian business owners. Attendees included representatives from Newport Downtown Development; Built By Newport; Columbia Forest Products; Kingdom Brewing; Morrison Custom Feeds, Inc.; Kingdom Trails Association; Hill Farmstead Brewery; Vermont Brewers Association; Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development; Northeastern Vermont Development Association; Caledonia Spirits; Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association; Judd’s Wayeeses Farm; Khrome Product-Transport; Weidmann Electrical Technology; TRACK, Inc.; Larue; Motrec International; UTV Internationale; Ville de Sherbrooke; and the Sherbrooke Chamber of Commerce.
Nearly half of all U.S. imports—more than $1.3 trillion—come from Canada, China, and Mexico. Canada is the largest trading partner for 34 U.S. states, including Vermont. In 2024 alone, trade with Canada accounted for 35% of Vermont exports, 67% of our imports, and 56% of its total trade. One in four businesses in Vermont relies on trade with Canada.
In many cases, Vermont manufacturers buy imports from Canada to manufacture into products. Tariffs on Canada threaten business closures and job layoffs, higher homebuilding costs, increased costs of grain for farmers, and more expensive equipment for maple producers—among other costs that will get passed on to working families.
Senator Welch has blasted Trump’s tariffs and trade war, and shared stories from constituents about how President Trump’s economic policies have impacted their businesses, farms, and communities. This event follows a roundtable Senator Welch held in St. Albans in January and virtually in February where he heard from businesses and state and local leaders about the President’s threats to reignite a trade war.
Vermonters are invited to share how these tariffs will impact their lives and businesses by sharing their story on Senator Welch’s website.
Source: US State of Hawaii
Posted on Mar 18, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
KA ‘OIHANA KUMUWAIWAI ‘ĀINA
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
DAWN CHANG
CHAIRPERSON
CORAL PROJECT SEEKS FEEDBACK FOR OʻAHU TRANSPLANTING SITES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2025
HONOLULU — Community input is sought in shaping the restoration of Oʻahu’s coral reefs. The DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) encourages participation in meetings or an online survey to help determine the locations of new sites for transplanting coral, or outplanting.
The potential restoration sites are:
These nearshore locations were chosen to help rebuild our reefs and provide an educational opportunity for residents and visitors to see restoration in action due to their proximity to popular scuba diving and snorkel sites. “These sites were selected because of their need for restoration and the strong likelihood of successful coral outplanting,” said Christina Jayne, curator of DAR’s Hawaiʻi Coral Restoration Nursery. “We want to hear from stakeholders because they access these sites frequently and notice subtle changes in the reef. They provide valuable insights as partners in our decision making.”
Many species of Hawaiʻi’s coral exist only in the waters around our islands. They are extremely slow growing compared to other corals found around the world, which makes natural recovery challenging. This project aims to restore the reef ecosystem by planting 80-100 nursery-grown corals at the selected sites by the end of 2026.
Stakeholder feedback opportunities:
In-Person Meeting: March 27 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Waikīkī Aquarium Classroom. Light refreshments will be provided, with the exhibit hall open to guests after the meeting.
Zoom Meeting: April 1 from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. and April 9 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
# # #
RESOURCES
(All images/video courtesy: DLNR)
Meeting flyer: see attached
For in-person meeting at Waikīkī Aquarium, March 27: RSVP HERE
Zoom Meeting registration: April 1 from 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Zoom Meeting registration: April 9 from 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
For the online survey: click here
More information: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/coralreefs/hcrn/coral-restore-proj/
HD Video, Photographs and site maps – DAR Oʻahu Coral Outplanting Project: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/lc82vk93ja11pds3djf3x/ADAEwyudrNlhrXamxpz5Ouw?rlkey=rpx0s30c86i34lrp0qs1g0qyb&st=0x8f84t8&dl=0
Media Contact:
Patti Jette
Communications Specialist
Hawaiʻi Dept. of Land and Natural Resources
808-587-0396
Email: [email protected]
Source: US State of California 2
What you need to know: Governor Newsom and Los Angeles community-based organizations (CBOs) today announced $25 million to advance educational outreach to workers and businesses about vital health, safety, and workplace protections.
LOS ANGELES — As rebuilding in the Los Angeles area continues at record speed, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the state is awarding $25 million and strengthening partnerships with local communities to ensure fire recovery workers and businesses have access to additional workplace safety information through a California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP).
“We’re helping ensure that brave fire recovery workers and businesses have vital workplace safety information.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
California Labor & Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), California State Labor Commissioner, and representatives from Los Angeles Community Based Organizations (CBOs) will issue $25 million in funding for the CWOP to support 89 community-based organizations across the state.
CWOP is a DIR partnership with CBOs to provide critical information about workplace protections, labor rights, and health and safety measures for workers in high-risk industries. The outreach work will help notify workers and businesses about vital health and safety protections, hazard prevention, and other worker protections for people and businesses helping Los Angeles cleanup and rebuild.
Today’s actions build on multiple efforts across the state to support workers and businesses who are helping the Los Angeles community recover and rebuild.
And California has worked with local communities and federal and local providers to help businesses and workers in many ways, including:
Source: US State of California 2
What you need to know: With the release of a new draft working report by leading artificial intelligence experts, California continues to lead in advocating for the responsible use of emerging AI technology and the study of its impacts and opportunities.
SAN FRANCISCO – California’s leadership in the AI industry is helping to guide the world in the responsible implementation and use of this emerging technology. Today, a group of world-leading AI academics and experts, convened at the request of Governor Newsom, released a new draft report on workable guardrails based on an empirical, science-based analysis of the capabilities and attendant risks of frontier models — which will help pave the way for the use of AI for the benefit of all Californians.
“The future happens in California first – including the development of powerful AI technology. As home to over half of the world’s top AI companies, our state carries a unique responsibility in leading the safe advancement of this industry in a way that improves our communities, maintains our economic dominance, and ensures that this fast-moving technology benefits the public good.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
AI is already changing the world, and California will play a pivotal role in defining that future. As the fifth-largest economy in the world and the birthplace of the tech industry, California continues to dominate this sector as the leader in AI. The state is home to 32 of the 50 top AI companies worldwide. In addition to championing responsible use of this emerging industry, California is harnessing its potential to increase efficiency and support state operations.
Studying AI’s risk and opportunities
Today’s working report is a result of the Governor’s convening of leading experts on artificial intelligence and policy to help California develop workable guardrails for deploying generative AI (GenAI), focusing on developing an empirical, science-based trajectory analysis of frontier models and their capabilities and attendant risks. Authors include the “godmother of AI,” Dr. Fei-Fei Li, Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University and Founding Co-Director of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute; Mariano-Florentino “Tino” Cuéllar, President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and member of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Social and Ethical Implications of Computing Research; and Dr. Jennifer Tour Chayes, Dean of the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society at UC Berkeley.
The working report includes recommendations on ensuring evidence-based policymaking, balancing the need for transparency with considerations such as security risks, and determining the appropriate level of regulation in this fast-evolving field. As a working white paper, the authors invite public participation. Academics, experts, and other stakeholders can submit comments or suggestions regarding their recommendations here.
California’s AI global leadership
California has launched efforts to help the state take advantage of this emerging technology, while also creating responsible policy guardrails to protect Californians, businesses, and workers. In 2023, Governor Newsom signed an executive order laying out California’s measured approach to state GenAI procurement. That EO has shaped the future of ethical, transparent, and trustworthy GenAI deployment, all while California remains the world’s GenAI leader.
Harnessing the power of AI
In 2024, Governor Newsom announced the state’s efforts to help utilize GenAI technologies to solve challenges, everything from reducing traffic to helping address homelessness.
Governor Newsom also co-hosted a GenAI summit in May 2024 with leaders across academia, industry, civil society, and government to discuss how the state can best use this transformative technology on behalf of Californians.
First-of-its-kind effort with NVIDIA
In August 2024, the state partnered with NVIDIA to launch a first-of-its-kind AI collaboration. The initiative, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and NVIDIA founder & CEO Jensen Huang, aims to:
Among other goals, it strives to bring new AI resources into community colleges from NVIDIA – including curriculum and certifications, hardware and software, AI labs and workshops, and more – to open new pathways for students, educators, and workers to learn new skills and advance their careers.
Staying ahead of threats
Last year, Governor Newsom also signed a series of bills to crack down on sexually explicit deepfakes and require AI watermarking, protect performers’ digital likenesses, and combat deepfake election content.
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001003/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Dolors Montserrat (PPE), Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez (PPE)
The agreement between the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) and the Junts per Catalunya party on the delegation of competences in the area of immigration to Catalonia provides that the community is to play a role in monitoring the security of ports, airports and ‘critical areas’, as well as in the management of residence permits for migrants and the issuing of documents for foreigners.
Immigration policy is a shared competence between the European Union and the Member States, governed by the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and the Schengen Acquis, with binding rules such as the Visa Code, the Dublin Regulation and the Return Directive.
Submitted: 7.3.2025
Source: US State of South Carolina
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of Timothy Jared Vise, 45, of Cowpens, S.C., on six charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office made the arrest. Investigators with the Attorney General’s Office, also a member of the state’s ICAC Task Force, assisted with the investigation.
Investigators state Vise possessed files of child sexual abuse material.
Vise was arrested on March 13, 2025. He is charged with six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree (§16-15-410), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count.
This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.
* Child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, is a more accurate reflection of the material involved in these heinous and abusive crimes. “Pornography” can imply the child was a consenting participant. Globally, the term child pornography is being replaced by CSAM for this reason.
Source: US State of South Carolina
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the arrest of John Joseph Techman, 31, of Moncks Corner, S.C., on five charges connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Attorney General’s Office made the arrest. Investigators with the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Secret Service, all also members of the state’s ICAC Task Force, assisted with this investigation.
Investigators state Techman distributed files of child sexual abuse material.
Techman was arrested on March 12, 2025. He is charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, second degree (§16-15-405), a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count.
The case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.
Attorney General Wilson stressed all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.
* Child sexual abuse material, or CSAM, is a more accurate reflection of the material involved in these heinous and abusive crimes. “Pornography” can imply the child was a consenting participant. Globally, the term child pornography is being replaced by CSAM for this reason.
Source: US State of Missouri
MARCH 18, 2025
Jefferson City — JEFFERSON CITY – Today, Governor Mike Kehoe expanded his request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for joint preliminary damage assessments (PDAs) for Individual Assistance to include Dunklin and Madison counties. Yesterday, the Governor requested that FEMA participate in joint PDAs in 23 counties following the March 14-15 severe storms that brought destruction to many parts of the state. The requests begin the process of obtaining federal disaster assistance.
“As local teams survey, confirm and tally the damage, the scale of the destruction to homes and communities is growing,” Governor Kehoe said. “Damage totals and emergency response costs received and reviewed late yesterday and today have led me to add Dunklin and Madison counties to the request to FEMA for joint preliminary damage assessments. I appreciate the emergency managers, officials and responders who are laboring 24/7 to meet people’s immediate needs while at the same time working to expedite the recovery of their communities.”
Joint PDAs have now been requested for the following 25 counties: Bollinger, Butler, Camden, Carter, Dunklin, Franklin, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Laclede, Madison, New Madrid, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Louis, Stoddard, Wayne, Webster, and Wright.
Joint PDA teams are made up of representatives from FEMA, SEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and local emergency management officials. Beginning Thursday, March 20, six teams will survey and verify documented damage to determine if Individual Assistance can be requested through FEMA. Individual Assistance allows eligible residents to seek federal assistance for temporary housing, housing repairs, replacement of damaged belongings, vehicles, and other qualifying expenses.
Initial damage assessments now estimate approximately 369 houses were destroyed, 366 sustained major damage and over 1,000 have minor damage. Damage assessments for roads, bridges and other public infrastructure are ongoing, likely resulting in a request for additional PDAs for Public Assistance later this week. Requests for additional PDAs could be made if local officials become aware of significantly more damage.
Outages continue to decrease as power is restored. As of 11 a.m., fewer than 8,000 customers remained without power. The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated to assist in Missouri’s response and recovery.
Missourians with unmet needs are encouraged to contact United Way by dialing 2-1-1 or the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767. For additional resources and information about disaster recovery in Missouri, including general clean-up information, housing assistance, and mental health services, visit recovery.mo.gov.
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000999/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Daniel Buda (PPE)
The President of the USA bemoans his country’s trade deficit with the European Union, especially in the area of agri-food products, and has called for the EU to buy more US products. The main barrier to this, though, are the differences in food safety rules, as the EU bans imports of US products that have been treated with hormones or hazardous pesticides or which are genetically modified. Similarly, Europe’s farmers are reluctant to engage in unfair external competition with products that are produced to lower standards, making it all the more complicated to resolve this trade dispute.
How will the Commission safeguard the European Union’s food safety standards in the context of trade agreements with the United States, given the significant regulatory differences as regards the use of hormones, pesticides and genetically modified organisms in imported foodstuffs?
Submitted: 7.3.2025
Source: US State of Pennsylvania
March 18, 2025 – York, PA
Shapiro Administration officials from the Departments of Health (DOH), and Aging (PDA) visited Country Meadows of York-West to highlight the success of investments that helped optimize its workforce and improve resident safety.
Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-2026 budget proposal includes $7.5 million to invest in more quality investment projects (QIP) for long-term care facilities.
“Residents at nearly 100 long-term care facilities across the Commonwealth positively benefitted from participating in quality investment pilot projects over the past two years,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “Continuing to invest in these efforts benefit both the residents living in the facilities and the health care professionals who are dedicated to delivering the care older adults rightfully deserve.”
Speakers Include:
Amy Wagaman, Senior Vice President of Operations for Country Meadows
Dr. Debra Bogen, DOH Secretary
Gabrielle Szymanski, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Aging
Source: US State of Colorado
DENVER – Governor Polis calls on Trump administration to show transparency, follow due process in detention of Jeanette Vizguerra.
“I have met with and know Jeanette Vizguerra. Jeanette is a mother and grandmother, has spent decades in our country, helping the community, has a job, has no history of violence, is not a threat to the community, and above all else, deserves due process pursuant to the law. I continue to urge President Trump and ICE to focus their actions on violent offenders and be more transparent with states they are operating in, including being transparent about the cost and impact of detentions, raids, and the cost to taxpayers. The state has not seen any transparent accounting of ICE operations in our state and has not been notified beyond press reports of the apprehension of Ms. Vizguerra,” said Governor Jared Polis.
###
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that NELSON ALEXANDER OCHOA-VEGA (“OCHOA-VEGA”), age 32, a native of Honduras, was indicted on March 13, 2025, in a recently unsealed indictment, for reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, OCHOA-VEGA, an illegal alien, was found in Jefferson Parish on or around March 10, 2025. He had previously been deported to Honduras on November 6, 2019.
If convicted, OCHOA-VEGAfaces a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
MADISONVILLE, La. – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) explained how the federal government has failed to put America’s public land assets to use to help pay down the debt in a speech on the Senate floor.
Key excerpts of the speech are below:
“I have seen an estimate from the private sector—there are several of these—that our public land, our 620 million [acres], if we managed that land properly, could generate $90 million in revenue. So, $90 million could be generated by our public land. How? Through mineral harvesting, natural gas production, oil drilling, grazing for agriculture, hunting licenses, fishing licenses [and] camping permits. Do you know what our federal lands actually generate in money? We know the potential: $90 billion a year. That would help us pay down this debt.
“In 2023, our federal lands actually lost money. They lost $13 billion. We went from a potential of $90 billion—according to land-use experts, that is what they ought to be generating—to a loss of $13 billion. It’s embarrassing.”
. . .
“Under President Biden . . . they banned offshore drilling for most of America’s coastlines. They prohibited mining on over a million acres of lands. They canceled leases for oil and natural gas production. They paused all new permits for [liquified natural gas] LNG, which Europe is hungry for. They restricted hunting. They restricted fishing. They restricted hiking, and they buried our federal lands in red tape. That is why we lost $13 billion instead of gaining $90 billion a year.”
. . .
“We need to do better. I know that the focus right now, Madam President, is on spending—and it should be—and it is on designing a tax code that looks like somebody designed it on purpose, and it should be. All those things are important, but, at some point, we need to recognize the enormous amount of assets that the American people own through their federal government and the fact that we are actually losing money by the way we are managing them instead of generating money.”
Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
EMERADO, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven and representatives from BlueHalo today announced that the company is expanding its operations to the Grand Forks region, tying into a range of operations critical to the future of the nation’s defense, like counter-drone, while laying the groundwork to also connect with the region’s growing space operations. Specifically, BlueHalo:
“Partnerships are the foundation on which North Dakota’s UAS ecosystem is built, and these initiatives being undertaken by BlueHalo are adding new capabilities and opportunities to link the many exciting operations going on in the Grand Forks region,” said Senator Hoeven. “Importantly, BlueHalo is bringing the VigilantHalo system to GrandSKY at the same time as we are establishing access to the unfiltered FAA radar data feed, giving private companies a unique advantage as they work to develop counter-UAS technologies under Project ULTRA. Combined with the company’s support for the Sky Range hypersonic missile testing and the potential to bring their phased array technology to our satellite mission, today’s announcement ties together North Dakota’s role in some of the most critical missions for the future of our nation’s defense.”
“North Dakota is a hub for national security research, development, and operations–from drones to hypersonic missiles to total airspace command and control,” said Trip Ferguson, BlueHalo Chief Operating Officer. “The state’s unique blend of leaders like Senator Hoeven who understand these urgent priorities with organizations like GrandSKY who are leaning forward to bring solutions to the table is creating an environment of rapid innovation. BlueHalo is already hard at work here to develop and transition solutions to the frontlines. We’re excited to expand these efforts alongside partners who share the same focus and commitment to the mission.”
“This agreement with BlueHalo allows GrandSKY to further expand its capabilities in BVLOS operations, and the integration of VigilantHalo as a ground-based sense-and-avoid system strengthens the safety and efficiency of uncrewed flights,” GrandSKY President Tom Swoyer Jr. said. “This collaboration addresses the critical challenges of integrating UAS into the national airspace system while also integrating counter-UAS capabilities which are becoming increasingly critical to national security.”
Installing VigilantHalo at GrandSKY
VigilantHalo is an advanced command and control system capable of combining multiple feeds from radars and sensors, enabling:
The new system supports Hoeven’s efforts to increase the size and scope of Project ULTRA to develop new tools and methods for the U.S. to counter the malicious use of drone technology. To this end, the senator continues working to secured an increase contract ceiling for Project ULTRA, which would enable it to serve as a bridge between an existing Department of Defense contracting vehicle and new counter-UAS capabilities being developed in the private sector.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
Click for video and audio.
WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun accepting applications for the $10 billion in market-based assistance that he worked to secure as part of the year-end legislation in December. Hoeven has been working with Agriculture Secretary Rollins to implement and quickly deliver the assistance, encouraging USDA to utilize a streamlined application process to help ensure an efficient and timely process. At the same time, the senator continues his efforts to secure a new farm bill that makes needed investment in the farm safety net to help prevent the need for future ad-hoc disaster assistance.
Details of the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) are as follows:
“This $10 billion in assistance is an important step to help producers recover from the challenging markets and comes as part of our commitment to keep our farmers and ranchers in the game, whether they face natural disasters, challenging markets or trade disputes,” said Senator Hoeven. “We worked to ensure a streamlined process to provide producers with certainty and timely access to assistance. Pre-filled applications will be going out shortly, and Secretary Rollins has committed to getting the funds distributed as quickly as possible, with payments to start going out by March 21.”
Additional information and resources are available to producers on USDA’s website here: https://fsa.usda.gov/ecap. Hoeven also continues working with USDA to advance the $21 billion in weather-related assistance for losses in 2023 and 2024, which includes $2 billion set aside for livestock producers, including those with losses due to wildfires.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) today introduced the Security and Oversight of International Landholdings (SOIL) Act to enhance oversight and transparency over foreign purchases of American agricultural land that threaten national security.
“America has some of the best farmland in the world, and it would be a grave mistake to allow Communist China to take ownership of this valuable resource,” said Risch. “The SOIL Act will provide strict guidance and oversight to prevent bad actors, like China and Russia, from purchasing our agricultural land—particularly land near U.S. military installations.”
“China continues to buy up American farm land, steal our patents, and expand their authoritarian world view. America will demonstrate to the world our values and maintain our economic and military strength to assure the globe has the best opportunity for freedom. No one in China should doubt America’s resolve and commitment to liberty,” said Lankford.
The SOIL Act deters criminal investment in US agriculture by:
Requiring the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review agriculture real estate purchases by certain foreign entities;
Banning federal assistance for certain foreign-held real estate holdings; and
Broadening disclosure requirements for land purchases made by foreign entities.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Lujan, Schiff, Klobuchar, and Shaheen spearhead effort to stop “further pain at a time of high food prices and instability within U.S. agricultural markets”
Anthony, N.M. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, led a group of 31 Senators demanding a reversal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s cancelation of food purchase programs across the United States, warning of the harmful impacts this move will have on both families and American farmers.
In a letter led with U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), the lawmakers said the reported $1 billion in canceled purchases by the USDA adds further pain at a time of high food prices and instability within U.S. agricultural markets. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) also signed onto the letter.
“We ask that you reverse the cancellation,” the Senators wrote. “We have grave concerns that the cancellation…poses extreme harm to producers and communities in every state across the country. At a time of uncertainty in farm country, farmers need every opportunity to be able to expand market access for their products.”
The purchases from American farmers fund food for food banks, schools, and child care centers in all 50 states, territories, tribal governments, and the District of Columbia.
The letter was also signed by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-N.M.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeffrey Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Peter Welch (Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
The full letter sent to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins can be found here and below:
Dear Secretary Rollins:
We write to express serious concerns regarding the cancellation of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs supporting local and regional food purchases providing assistance to those in need. These successful programs, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), allow states, territories, and Tribes to purchase local foods from nearby farmers and ranchers to be used for emergency food providers, schools, and child care centers.
At a time when food insecurity remains high, providing affordable, fresh food to food banks and families while supporting American farmers is critical. Notably, LFPA and LFS have benefitted producers and consumers by providing funding for purchases through all 50 states, four territories, and 84 tribal governments. Through LFPA and LFS, USDA has prioritized the procurement and distribution of healthy, nutritious, domestic food. It has also taken an important step towards igniting rural prosperity by expanding and strengthening markets among farmers and rural economies. As of December 2024, the programs had supported over 8,000 producers, providing increased marketing opportunities.
Most importantly, we ask that you reverse the cancellation of LFPA and LFS. We also ask that you provide a thorough and complete update on USDA’s implementation of LFPA and LFS, including answers to the following questions:
1. What is the status of reimbursements for entities that have agreements with USDA through LFPA and LFS? What is the last date for which states, territories, and Tribes received reimbursements for food purchases under LFPA and LFS?
2. Has the Administration conducted any assessments of how these program cancellations will impact producers and recipient organizations (e.g., food banks, schools, child care centers)? If so, please provide a copy of any such assessments.
We have grave concerns that the cancellation of LFPA and LFS poses extreme harm to producers and communities in every state across the country. At a time of uncertainty in farm country, farmers need every opportunity to be able to expand market access for their products.
Please provide responses to the information requested in our questions no later than Friday, April 4. Thank you for your attention to this urgent and important matter.
Source: US Department of Labor
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced Keith E. Sonderling as the 38th Deputy Secretary of Labor.
Sonderling returns to the department, where he served as Acting and Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division. He most recently served as the Commissioner of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity from 2020-2024.
During his first stint at the Department of Labor from 2017-2020, the Wage and Hour Division set records for enforcement collections and educational outreach events. Sonderling also oversaw the development and publication of large-scale deregulatory rules and authored numerous Opinion Letters, Field Assistance Bulletins, and All-Agency Memorandums. In addition, Sonderling was instrumental in developing the division’s first comprehensive self-audit program, which collected more than $7 million for nearly 11,000 workers.
“Keith’s institutional knowledge and policy expertise will continue to be invaluable in our fight to put the American Worker First,” Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said. “I’m thrilled to have him on the team and look forward to working alongside him to renew the American Dream.”
“Returning to the U.S. Department of Labor, where I began my career in government, is truly an honor,” said Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling. “In my new role, I am committed to helping Secretary Chavez-DeRemer in advancing President Trump’s labor agenda and most importantly putting American Workers first!”
Before entering government service, Sonderling was a partner at Gunster, one of Florida’s oldest and largest law firms. There, he counseled employers and litigated labor and employment disputes. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor at Nova Southeastern University. He has also been a Professional Lecturer in the Law at the George Washington University Law School, teaching employment discrimination.
Source: US GOIAM Union
IAM and other transit unions are joining forces in Illinois to save public transit and demand immediate action from legislators.
The state’s $771 million transit funding gap is a significant issue, and the different agencies, like Metra, the Chicago Transit Authority or CTA, Pace, and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), play a crucial role in the city’s public transit infrastructure.
Some lawmakers want to merge the four agencies. But the Labor Alliance for Public Transportation, a coalition made up of more than 30 labor unions, has proposed the “United We Move Illinois” bill as a stronger, more strategic solution to tackle this challenge.
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Source: US State of North Dakota
An indictment was unsealed today charging five former principals of Theia Group Inc., a Washington, D.C.-based aerospace start-up company, with conspiracy and fraud.
According to the indictment, Erlend Olson, John Gallagher, Stephen Buscher, Joseph Fargnoli, and Jamil Swati held various executive positions at the company, including chief executive officer, executive vice president, chief financial officer, chief technology officer, and head of strategic investment, respectively. They allegedly perpetrated a multi-year scheme to defraud investors and lenders out of $250 million, and Olson evaded more than $3.9 million in personal federal income taxes.
According to the indictment, Theia planned to launch 112 satellites starting in 2022 at a cost of $10 billion to $15 billion. Theia’s principals allegedly originally planned to raise the requisite funds from various nation-states by promising perpetual data and analytics for an upfront payment of $2 billion. However, from Theia’s founding in 2015 through its placement into receivership in 2021, Theia was allegedly unsuccessful in obtaining any funding except for approximately $250 million in loans and investments received from institutional and individual investors and lenders. To secure the funding, Olson, Gallagher, Buscher, Fargnoli, and Swati’s fraud scheme allegedly included making materially false statements about revenue from non-existent government contracts, providing multiple false financial statements, including a fake $6 billion escrow account statement, and making false representations about Theia’s technical capabilities.
The indictment further alleges that the IRS assessed over a million dollars in taxes, penalties, and interest against Olson for tax years 2009 through 2011, which Olson acknowledged in 2018. Instead of paying the outstanding debt to the IRS, which he acknowledged he owed, Olson allegedly directed his compensation from Theia to a nominee entity. Olson then allegedly used the nominee entity to pay personal expenses such as a private jet membership, $64,500 annual rent payments for his home, a new Land Rover, personal debts, and a pair of condominiums in Las Vegas. Olson now allegedly owes $1.6 million to the IRS related to those years. In addition, Olson allegedly also used the nominee entity to conceal his income from the IRS for 2018 through 2020.
Olson, Gallagher, Buscher, Fargnoli, and Swati are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud for the overall scheme, and additionally charged with multiple wire or mail fraud counts arising from their various misrepresentations to investors. Olson is also charged with four counts of attempted tax evasion.
If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy and for each wire fraud or mail fraud count. Olson would face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each tax evasion count. Each would also face a period of supervised release, restitution, monetary penalties, and forfeiture. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Interim U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation and the FDIC Office of Inspector General are investigating the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Nanette Davis and Trial Attorney Alexis Hughes of the Tax Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Ross and Joshua Gold for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) in issuing the following joint statement after President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, claiming wartime power to deport noncitizens without due process:
“Over the weekend, President Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport noncitizens without due process. This attempt to use an archaic wartime law —not used since World War II — for immigration enforcement is yet another unlawful and brazen power grab.
“Let’s be clear: we are not at war, and immigrants are not invading our country. Furthermore, courts determine whether people have broken the law — not a president acting alone, and not immigration agents picking and choosing who gets imprisoned or deported. It’s what our Constitution demands, and it’s the law Trump is bound by no matter how much he tries to mislead the American people otherwise. These protections are there to help ensure U.S. citizens aren’t wrongfully deported, or people who haven’t committed a crime aren’t wrongfully punished.
“A District Court issued a temporary restraining order to block the Administration’s use of this wartime law, and ordered deportation flights already underway to return to the US. We cannot allow Trump to flout the rules and due process.
“All of us, including the courts, must continue to hold this Administration accountable, and prevent the Trump Administration from taking us down a dark and dangerous road.”
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio meets with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters at the Department of State, on March 18, 2025.
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Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.
The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.
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US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Every County In Nevada Is Experiencing A Shortage Of Medical Professionals
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced a bipartisan bill to bring more doctors to areas currently facing severe shortages, like Nevada. The bipartisan Physicians for Underserved Areas Act would revise the graduate medical education process to increase the likelihood of areas with physician shortages getting more medical residency slots after hospital closures take place elsewhere in the country. Every county in Nevada is experiencing a shortage of medical professionals, and in 2024, Nevada was ranked 45th in the nation with regard to the availability of physicians per 100,000 residents.
“The dire shortage of doctors in our state is hurting Nevadans’ ability to get quality medical care,” said Senator Rosen. “We know that when more doctors train in our communities, they are more likely to stay here. That’s why I’m working across the aisle to bring more doctors to Nevada by increasing medical residency slots. I’ll keep working on commonsense solutions to ensure families can access affordable, quality health care.”
“Rural communities in Arkansas and across the country continue to face health care challenges starting with a lack of available medical providers,” said Senator Boozman. “I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan solution to ensure more medical school graduates practice in the communities that desperately need them so all Americans, no matter where they live, get the care they need.”
“At the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, we recognize the critical need to expand Graduate Medical Education (GME) opportunities to address physician shortages in underserved areas,” said Marc J. Kahn, Dean of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “The Physicians for Underserved Areas Act is a crucial step toward ensuring that residency slots are redistributed in a way that prioritizes communities with the greatest need. By streamlining the process and expediting the timeline for GME slot reallocation, this legislation will help fill gaps in healthcare access and strengthen our medical workforce. We fully support this bipartisan effort led by Senator Rosen and Senator Boozman and appreciate their commitment to improving healthcare for all.”
“Nevada continues to struggle with expanding residency positions to address enduring physician workforce shortages,” said Dr. John Packham, Associate Dean of the University of Nevada, Reno’s School of Medicine. “This important legislation will support efforts by medical schools and teaching hospitals across the state to expand graduate medical education opportunities to prepare and retain tomorrow’s doctors in Nevada.”
“It is critically important for a clear and immediate pathway to exist from medical school to residency in areas with physician shortages or that are otherwise underserved,” said Dr. Renee Coffman, Co-Founder and President of Roseman University. “Without adequate GME spots, future doctors have no practical ability to stay in communities that need them most. Roseman University thanks Senators Rosen and Boozman for the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act and for their continued efforts in supporting the growth of the health care workforce.”
“The Nevada Primary Care Association, representing the state’s Community Health Centers, is grateful to Senator Rosen for re-introducing this important legislation,” said Nancy Bowen, CEO of the Nevada Primary Care Association. “Nevada has been blessed with rapid population growth throughout its modern history, but this has come at a cost of persistent and profound health provider shortages. The Physicians for Underserved Areas Act is an important step to increasing the number of providers who are trained in the state and stay to deliver health care to our residents.”
“The National Rural Health Association strongly supports the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act as a critical step in addressing physician shortages in rural communities,” said Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association. “By ensuring that unused residency slots are swiftly redistributed to hospitals that need them most, this bill will help strengthen the rural health workforce and expand access to care in underserved areas. We applaud Senators Rosen and Boozman for their leadership in advancing policies that prioritize rural patients and providers, and we urge Congress to move quickly on this important legislation.”
Senator Rosen is working to address Nevada’s health care professional shortage and improve medical care access in the state. Last week, she introduced the bipartisan REDI Act to increase the number of doctors and dentists in underserved areas by allowing them to defer student loan payments without interest until the completion of their residency or internship programs. Last month, she introduced the bipartisan Train More Nurses Act to address the nursing shortage affecting communities across the nation. Rosen’s bipartisan Maximizing Health Outcomes through Better Investments in Lifesaving Equipment for (MOBILE) Health Care Act was signed into law in 2022 to allow community health centers to use federal funds to establish new mobile health care units to increase access to health care services in rural and underserved communities.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) joined Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and 29 of their colleagues in demanding the Department of Agriculture reverse its cancellation of food purchase programs across the United States, warning of the harmful impacts this move will have on both families and American farmers. Nevada utilizes these federal funds to support the state’s food bank network and school nutrition programs by purchasing local foods from farmers and producers in Nevada, benefiting students, families, and the local economy.
“We write to express serious concerns regarding the cancellation of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs supporting local and regional food purchases providing assistance to those in need,” wrote the Senators. “These successful programs, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS), allow states, territories, and Tribes to purchase local foods from nearby farmers and ranchers to be used for emergency food providers, schools, and child care centers.”
“At a time when food insecurity remains high, providing affordable, fresh food to food banks and families while supporting American farmers is critical,” they continued. “We have grave concerns that the cancellation of LFPA and LFS poses extreme harm to producers and communities in every state across the country.”
The full letter can be found HERE.
Senators Rosen and Cortez Masto have been vocal opponents of the Trump Administration’s efforts to cut critical programs Nevadans rely on all while trying to give further tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy. The Senators have pushed multiple Departments under the Trump Administration for detailed, public information regarding the impacts of President Trump’s federal funding freeze, hiring freeze, and terminations on Nevada – including to the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture, and the General Services Administration. Earlier this year, Rosen and Cortez Masto urged the Department of the Interior to immediately cease its freeze of Inflation Reduction Act funding for the Lower Colorado River System Conservation and Efficiency Program.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
Following Dr. Michael Faulkender’s previous statements that Georgians on Medicaid need to be “self-sufficient,” Senator Reverend Warnock highlighted the range of Georgians who rely on Medicaid, including children, working people, seniors in nursing homes, and one in 10 veterans
Faulkender is nominated by the Trump Administration to be the Deputy Treasury Secretary
Senator Reverend Warnock highlighted how Medicaid recipients receive more scrutiny than Elon Musk, who has received $38 billion in government grants, loans, and subsidies
Earlier this year, Senator Reverend Warnock also opposed Scott Bessent’s nomination to become Treasury Secretary, due to Bessent’s steadfast commitment to protecting tax cuts for the nation’s wealthiest
Senator Reverend Warnock during the hearing: “Who does he [Dr. Michael Faulkender] think should be self-sufficient? Should children and seniors in nursing homes, veterans? One in 10 veterans are enrolled in Medicaid. People with mental illness or substance [use] Who is he talking about?”
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) pushed back against the misperception of Medicaid recipients during a Senate Finance Executive Session before opposing Dr. Michael Faulkender’s nomination to become the Deputy Treasury Secretary in the Trump Administration. Senator Warnock cited several issues with Faulkender’s nomination, most notably Faulkender’s perception of Americans that are on Medicaid. Last week, Faulkender suggested Georgia Medicaid recipients, including children, veterans, seniors in nursing homes, people struggling with addiction, and people working full time simply needed to become “self-sufficient.”
“I am disappointed that Dr. Faulkender does not seem understand or care about the concerns of hard-working Georgia families, the people I know,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “When we talked about Washington Republicans plans to cut Medicaid, and I asked the nominee his thoughts, he suggested that people just need to “Be self-sufficient” and just get better jobs with better benefits.”
After defending the many Georgians and millions of hardworking Americans on Medicaid, Senator Warnock highlighted that Elon Musk, the leader in slashing government spending, accepted over $38 billion in government contracts, loans, subsidies and tax credits.
“These folks have jobs and responsibilities, they are construction workers, restaurant workers, home caregivers, farmhands, and they are doing exactly want the nominee wants them to do, but he and Washington Republicans want to kick them off of Medicaid anyway,” continued Senator Warnock. “Who else does this nominee think should be self-sufficient? I wonder if he thinks Elon Musk should be self-sufficient? He has received $38 billion in government contracts, government loans, government subsidies and tax credits.”
Earlier this year, Senator Warnock also opposed now Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s nomination. During the hearing Senator Warnock grilled Bessent on his glaring commitment to tax cuts for exclusively the nation’s wealthiest. Bessent indicated there wasn’t any high level of income which he wouldn’t continue to provide tax cuts for, including Americans making upwards to $1 billion.
Senator Warnock has always been a champion for tax cuts, credits, and programs that support working families and fought to make sure the nation’s wealthiest pay their fair share. Senator Warnock fought to secure the Expanded Child Tax Credit as part of the American Rescue Plan and has advocated to make the Expanded CTC permanent in the effort to slash child poverty in Georgia and across America.
Watch the Senator’s full remarks HERE.
See below a transcript of Senator Warnock’s remarks on his vote opposing Michael Faulkender’s nomination:
Senator Reverend Warnock (SRW): “A week like this in Washington a reminds me of why I return every week to my pulpit. Spending time with people in my church and all across my community. They are the folks who keep me grounded. These are the folk who are seeing their paychecks buy less and less, while the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. These are ordinary people who I am thinking about when I consider whether Congress should spend trillions of dollars on a huge tax cut that overwhelmingly benefits millionaires and billionaires while the entire half of working families pick up the tab through cuts to their health care. In addition to that, blow a $4.5 trillion hole in the debt.”
“I am disappointed that Dr. Faulkender does not seem understand or care about the concerns of hard-working Georgia families, the people I know. When we talked about Washington Republicans plans to cut Medicaid, and I asked the nominee his thoughts, he suggested that people just need to “Be self-sufficient” and just get better jobs with better benefits.”
“I was raised by a dad who poured into me a serious work ethic, so I believe in self-sufficiency. Almost all of the adults on Medicaid are either working, or in school, or they are caregivers. If they can work, they do work. These folks have jobs and responsibilities, they are construction workers, restaurant servers, home caregivers, farmhands, and they are doing exactly want this nominee wants them to do, but he and Washington Republicans want to kick them off of Medicaid anyway. Who else does this nominee think should be self-sufficient? I wonder if he thinks Elon Musk should be self-sufficient?”
“He has received $38 billion in government contracts, government loans, government subsidies and tax credits. Who does he think should be self-sufficient? Should children? And seniors in nursing homes, veterans? One in 10 veterans are enrolled in Medicaid. People with mental illness or substance [use]? Who is he talking about?”
“Let’s be clear. If folks want to have a serious, bipartisan conversation about reducing our debt, I am all in on the conversation. I am deeply worried about the debt that we will leave our children and our grandchildren, as the father of two young children myself. If you want to have a conversation about that, I am ready. If you want to have a conversation about lowering health care costs, I am ready to do it in a bipartisan way. But, I am unwilling to give a hand out to the wealthiest people in our country while blowing a huge hole in the debt.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock – Georgia
In a new letter, Senator Reverend Warnock led 42 of his colleagues in an effort to push back against U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner’s proposed cuts to disaster recovery programs
HUD disaster recovery programs help rebuild houses and small businesses, repair roads and bridges, restore clean drinking water service, and invest in workforce development for Georgians who’ve lost jobs
Georgia is scheduled to receive $256 million under the HUD program for Helene and Milton recovery
The cuts would reduce the number of employees at the HUD office responsible for getting disaster relief directly to Georgians and Americans from 936 to 150 – an 84% reduction
The proposed cuts come as Georgia and several other states throughout the Southeast are in the midst of the recovery process following Hurricanes Helene and Milton
Senator Reverend Warnock recently called for the Trump Administration to distribute federal disaster assistance for Georgia farmers that Congress secured after Hurricane Helene
Senator Reverend Warnock has been outspoken on aimless cuts to key government agencies, departments, and federal programs that hardworking Americans rely on
Senator Reverend Warnock, lawmakers: “The CDBG-DR [disaster recovery] program is critical to our states’ ability to recover from natural disasters, and it is essential that HUD distributes funding as quickly and efficiently as possible”
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) led an effort with 42 of his Senate colleagues pushing back on U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner’s proposed cuts to crucial disaster recovery programs that are under the umbrella of HUD.
The cuts would reduce employees at HUD’s office of Community Planning and Development, which administers the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program, a crucial pot of funding that helps impacted communities with disaster recovery following extreme weather events like hurricanes. Under this program, Georgia is scheduled to receive $256 million for Helene and Milton recovery, which would likely be in jeopardy due to the cuts.
This disaster relief work includes rebuilding houses and small businesses, repairing roads and bridges, restoring water services, and investing in workforce development for Georgians who’ve lost jobs. The proposed employee reduction at HUD is roughly 84%, a massive drop from 936 to 150, and would likely impede the hurricane recovery process in Georgia.
“Communities across the country experienced significant natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. States across the South—including Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia—were devastated by Hurricanes Milton and Helene,” wrote the Senators. “CDBG-DR provides states, cities, counties, and Tribes with funding to support recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters.”
The news of the proposed cuts comes as Georgia is still in the midst of the ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene. Senators Warnock and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) recently called for the Trump Administration to distribute federal disaster assistance for Georgia farmers that Congress secured after Hurricane Helene.
“Specifically, you [Secretary Turner] stated that “one of [your] top priorities” as HUD Secretary would “be to ensure that the disaster recovery funding passed by Congress gets out to communities swiftly” and “into the hands of Americans who have been impacted by recent disasters.” Your statements indicated a strong commitment to providing our disaster-impacted communities with the resources they need, but we are concerned that recent actions at the Department have not matched that verbal commitment,” the Senators continued.
“We urge you to immediately stop any additional cuts to the workforce and contracts involved in disaster recovery oversight, and reinstate any recently terminated probationary staff,” the lawmakers concluded.
In November of last year, Senator Reverend Warnock, Congressional Appropriators, and Governor Brian Kemp requested $3 billion in CDBG-DR funding for Georgia’s recovery from Hurricane Helene. Additionally, Senator Warnock has pushed back on several efforts, spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency, to aimlessly cut key government agencies, departments, and federal programs that hardworking Americans rely on. Senator Warnock fought back against cuts to Medicaid in the tax bill proposed by Washington Republicans, spoke out when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was effectively closed, and most recently warned Georgians of the impact when the announcement of five Georgia Social Security Administration offices would be closed.
Read the letter HERE and below.
Dear Secretary Turner:
We write today regarding our concerns that recent actions taken by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are hampering our states’ ability to access Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds, and could degrade the ability to recover from both current and future disasters. The CDBG-DR program is critical to our states’ ability to recover from natural disasters, and it is essential that HUD distributes funding as quickly and efficiently as possible. We request additional information on your plans to ensure that communities continue to receive the resources they need to rebuild.
Communities across the country experienced significant natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. States across the South—including Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia—were devastated by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, while Alaska, Louisiana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Illinois experienced severe storms. States in the Northeast— including Vermont and Massachusetts —faced life-threatening floods, while states in the West —including California, Washington State, and Hawaii—saw catastrophic wildfires.
CDBG-DR provides states, cities, counties, and Tribes with funding to support recovery efforts in the wake of natural disasters. In December 2024, Congress appropriated $12 billion in emergency supplemental CDBG-DR funding. During your confirmation process, you made clear that, if confirmed, you would prioritize getting our constituents CDBG-DR funding as quickly as possible. Specifically, you stated that “one of [your] top priorities” as HUD Secretary would “be to ensure that the disaster recovery funding passed by Congress gets out to communities swiftly” and “into the hands of Americans who have been impacted by recent disasters.” Your statements indicated a strong commitment to providing our disaster-impacted communities with the resources they need, but we are concerned that recent actions at the Department have not matched that verbal commitment.
For years, the HUD Office of Inspector General listed disaster recovery oversight as a top management challenge at HUD, noting the need for systems and staff to keep pace with increases in CDBG-DR funding, as well as the need to build the capacity of CDBG-DR grantees. The latest Top Management Challenges report highlighted multiple ways in which HUD has made “meaningful progress,” largely due to the investment Congress has made over the years to support staff, systems, and capacity building. Over the last week, however more than one thousand HUD employees (13% of HUD’s workforce) were fired or accepted the Administration’s deferred resignation offer – including staff supporting the CDBG-DR program. Furthermore, according to recent reports, HUD “plans to discharge 50% of its overall workforce”, and the Office of Community Planning and Development, which is responsible for supporting disaster recovery efforts, is targeted for a staggering 84% cut. Should such cuts move forward, it is unclear how the Department will continue to ensure the efficient delivery of CDBG-DR funds so our states and communities can continue to rebuild after devastating disasters.
HUD has also postponed previously scheduled trainings designed to help grantees understand CDBG-DR program requirements, and it is not clear when those trainings will resume. Moreover, continued uncertainty on whether and the extent to which HUD may change the current Universal Notice governing the latest allocations from the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2025 (Public Law 118-158) could cause additional delays. At least one grantee has already started accepting public comments on their draft action plan. Any major deviations from current requirements could be a huge setback for communities, adding months to recovery efforts.
We urge you to immediately stop any additional cuts to the workforce and contracts involved in disaster recovery oversight, and reinstate any recently terminated probationary staff.
To help us better understand the current status of the CDBG-DR program and your plans to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of CDBG-DR funds for our states and others across the country, we request information to the following questions no later than Monday, March 24, 2025:
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Top appropriators press McMahon on how the Department will carry out requirements of federal law and its critical responsibilities despite far-reaching, illegal firings of approximately 50% of staff
Washington, D.C. — Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee, and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee, sent a letter to the Department of Education (ED) demanding detailed answers about the mass firings it has conducted and how it is carrying out requirements of federal law and its critical responsibilities despite the sweeping reductions in force.
“We write to request your immediate response to questions we have raised about actions taken by the Department of Education and additional questions related to the massive reduction in force announced on March 11,” write the lawmakers. Citing the wide scope of responsibilities the Department is required by bipartisan laws to undertake to help students learn and thrive, the top appropriators in the Senate and House add: “Recent actions of the Department appear to undermine the Department’s obligation under these laws.”
“The staff at the Department provide real services that impact the daily lives of students and their families from enforcing students’ civil rights and providing transparent information on how our schools are doing to processing critical aid such as Pell Grants to helping low-income students all over our nation attend college and further their careers,” Murray, DeLauro, and Baldwin write. “Firing the people that ensure states, school districts, and institutions of higher education live up to their legal obligations is neither efficient nor accountable.”
In the letter, the lawmakers note that the Department’s staffing levels have largely remained flat in recent years despite significant growth in the programs it administers and the responsibilities it carries out. They write that the mass layoffs and other detrimental actions risk major reductions in support for and oversight of our nation’s K-12 schools and institutions of higher education and threaten vital support for students with disabilities, access to Pell Grants and other financial aid, oversight of student loan servicers, scrutiny of for-profit colleges, and more.
The letter follows an earlier March 6 letter the lawmakers sent alongside colleagues demanding answers about the chaotic, harmful actions taken by ED since January—which the Department has yet to respond to.
“Given the profound change to staff, budgets, and agency operations promised by this administration, it is critical that we receive additional information on these staffing reductions and changes to agency operations,” conclude Murray, DeLauro, and Baldwin before posing a series of detailed questions. “The President’s disregard for appropriations and other laws and the need for stability and productivity in government creates an imperative for the Department to provide accurate, timely responses on its use and planned use of taxpayer resources provided by the laws passed by Congress.”
Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:
| The Honorable Linda McMahon Secretary U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202 | Dr. Matthew Soldner Acting Director Institute of Education Sciences 550 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20024 |
Dear Secretary McMahon and Acting Director Soldner:
We write to request your immediate response to questions we have raised about actions taken by the Department of Education (“the Department”) and additional questions related to the massive reduction in force announced on March 11, 2025. We believe the Department plays a critical role in fulfilling the purpose of our Constitution to “promote the general welfare of the United States” and strongly support the purposes Congress established for the Department to ensure equal access to educational opportunity, including by administering education programs and carrying out important functions established in law and funded each year by Congress. However, recent actions of the Department appear to undermine the Department’s obligation under these laws, despite your statement on March 11th that “Today’s reduction in force reflects the Department of Education’s commitment to ensuring efficiency, accountability, and ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most: students, parents and teachers.”[1]
According to the Department’s most recent Congressional justifications and prior to this administration’s personnel actions, staffing levels at the Department were largely unchanged from 2016 despite the fact that the discretionary budget for the Department’s programs increased by 16.5 percent and the federal student loan portfolio grew by more than 30 percent between 2016 and 2024.[2] Further, the Department has the smallest staff of the 15 cabinet agencies despite representing the government’s third largest discretionary budget after the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services.[3] The Department also said that it had been tasked with “addressing some of the greatest challenges facing public education today: academic acceleration, students’ well-being and mental health, chronic absenteeism, school safety, and emerging and changing pathways from high school to college and career,” and, “modernizing and improving the entire student aid process to better help students and families, as well as implementing major legislation, including the FAFSA Simplification Act and FUTURE Act.”[4] The staff at the Department provide real services that impact the daily lives of students and their families from enforcing students’ civil rights and providing transparent information on how our schools are doing to processing critical aid such as Pell Grants to helping low-income students all over our nation attend college and further their careers. Firing the people that ensure states, school districts, and institutions of higher education live up to their legal obligations is neither efficient nor accountable.
We are very concerned that the Department’s staffing reductions will result in significant reductions in the support and oversight of critical Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) requirements for state and local educational agencies (SEAs/LEAs) to provide school report cards on the achievement of students, qualifications of teachers, and per-pupil spending in understandable and uniform formats. This is critical information parents, families, and communities need to have about their public schools and public school options that might be available. The ESEA also requires states to use a portion of Title I-A for grants to implement school support and improvement activities in the lowest performing schools and in schools with historically underserved student subgroups performing significantly lower than other subgroups of students, including through evidence-based interventions. However, the Department’s recent elimination of federally supported assistance used by SEAs and LEAs to effectively implement these requirements and limited state capacity will likely prevent effective implementation in many states and schools .[5][6][7][8] When combined with these massive staffing reductions, we are concerned that the Department’s ability to monitor or support implementation of the law will be nearly non-existent, leaving students and families with the long-term consequences for the Department’s short-sighted actions.
We are concerned that students with disabilities will also be harmed by the Department’s actions. The Department is required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to monitor and support effective implementation of IDEA requirements. This includes the evaluation of results and outcomes for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities through the State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report processes intended to improve results and outcomes for more than seven million children with disabilities.[9] It is not clear to us how effective oversight will be conducted at the significantly lower staffing levels created by the Department’s recent actions.
The Department is also required by law to operate federal student aid programs and conduct oversight and enforcement of colleges and universities to ensure access to postsecondary education for our nation’s students and to help make college more affordable for American families.[10] Some of these responsibilities include ensuring students can apply for Pell grants and other financial aid to go to college, ensuring colleges and universities have the information and resources they need to disburse such aid to students, ensuring colleges and universities protect students’ civil rights, certifying universities compliance with administrative and fiscal rules to ensure low-quality colleges and universities cannot participate in Title IV aid programs, overseeing and approving accreditors, and protecting students and taxpayers from fraudulent universities that leave students with worthless degrees and debt. The vast reduction in force across the office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), the Office of General Counsel (OGC), and other offices puts all of this work in jeopardy.
However, your stated commitment to ensuring that resources are directed where they matter most rings hollow to us. Our actions should absolutely start with supporting students, just as we have directed through our federal education laws. The guiding purpose is to direct federal resources so all students have access to a high-quality education and schools close achievement gaps. For example, our laws include maintenance of effort requirements that generally prohibit SEAs and LEAs from reducing their support for education after receiving federal funds and only use federal funds to supplement, not supplant other funds.[11] It’s the Department’s statutorily required job to enforce these responsibilities.[12][13] Moreover, ESEA requires school districts receiving Title I-A funds to reserve a sufficient amount of these funds to identify and meet the needs of students experiencing homelessness. The Department has taken important steps in recent years to increase oversight of this provision and planned additional monitoring and technical assistance in fiscal year (FY) 2025.[14] Without the effective oversight and support of Department staff, we are concerned that students may not benefit from the additional federal resources Congress requires to be made available to identify and meet their needs.
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces the nation’s civil rights laws in federally-funded education programs. Disability discrimination is typically the most frequent complaint received by OCR.[15] While OCR received the highest number of complaints in its history last year—and nearly three times the level in 2009—its staffing declined from 629 to 588 during this period.[16] Reporting also indicates that a change in priorities at OCR since January 20, 2025, has stalled work on investigations of disability complaints, preventing timely consideration of such complaints and appropriate remedies.[17] We are greatly concerned that the Department’s personnel actions will only add to delays in remedies that would provide students with disabilities the access to free appropriate education in the least restrict environment as required by federal law.
Given the profound change to staff, budgets, and agency operations promised by this administration, it is critical that we receive additional information on these staffing reductions and changes to agency operations.[18] The President’s disregard for appropriations and other laws and the need for stability and productivity in government creates an imperative for the Department to provide accurate, timely responses on its use and planned use of taxpayer resources provided by the laws passed by Congress. Finally, we expect all of the questions below are ones the Department itself would have already considered before making significant staffing reductions. We request you provide written answers to the following questions as soon as possible, but not later than, March 21, 2025:
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your prompt response.
Sincerely,