Today U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) re-introduced his Protecting Our Kids from Child Abuse Act, legislation that would allow those who were harmed by gender-transition procedures as minors to bring lawsuits against the participating individuals and entities. Yesterday, President Trump issued an Executive Order that expressly calls for this legislation.
“Our children should no longer suffer from irreversible and dangerous child mutilation procedures, which the Biden administration enabled and promoted,” said Senator Hawley. “I welcome President Trump’s strong action to reverse this child abuse and look forward to working with his administration to advance legislation that protects our kids.”
Yesterday, the White House issued an Executive Order on “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” which reverses federal support for the gender mutilation industry that has targeted children. Among other provisions, this order directs the Attorney General to work with Congress on legislation that establishes a private right of action—with a lengthy statute of limitations—for children who were harmed by gender-transition procedures. Senator Hawley’s bill would do just that.
The Protecting Our Kids from Child Abuse Act would:
Create a private right of action for individuals who were harmed by a gender-transition procedure performed on them when they were minors.
The following individuals and entities would be liable for damages: a pediatric gender clinic where the procedure was performed; a medical practitioner who performed the procedure or was employed by the clinic; and a university or hospital that is affiliated with the clinic.
Prohibit federal funding to any pediatric gender clinic, to any university or hospital that is affiliated with a pediatric gender clinic, and for any gender-transition procedure performed on minors.
Read full text here.
Ahead of the first Senate vote to advance Lee Zeldin as Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) secured Zeldin’s commitment to visit and clean up the West Lake Landfill Superfund site in Bridgeton, Missouri.
“For years, the EPA has dragged their feet and refused to clean up the West Lake Landfill. And Missourians have been left to suffer. I was happy to hear Lee Zeldin commit to changing the failed status quo, if confirmed as EPA Administrator,” said Senator Hawley. “He’s committed to visiting the West Lake Landfill site, to finally start cleanup – and get it finished. This is a tremendous step in the right direction. And now we must pass RECA.”
BACKGROUND
The West Lake Landfill Superfund site contains radioactive contamination dating back from the Manhattan project. In the 1960s, the federal government hired a company to dispose of this waste, which originated from a processing facility in St. Louis, but the waste was placed in the landfill in 1973 without proper remediation. The EPA has jurisdiction over the site.
Senator Hawley’s proposal to expand and reauthorize the RECA program passed the Senate twice, with strong bipartisan support. Last week, Senator Hawley reintroduced his proposal to give nuclear radiation victims compensation.
Source: United States Senator for Wyoming Cynthia Lummis
January 29, 2025
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) joined Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to introduce the Educational Choice for Children Act, a bipartisan bill to expand education freedom and student opportunity. It offers a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarships for K-12 public and private education expenses.
“This National School Choice Week, I am reaffirming my commitment to educational freedom and equal opportunity for all American children,” said Lummis. “A child’s zip code should not dictate their quality of education, and I am proud to cosponsor this legislation ensuring Wyoming’s future leaders, regardless of their educational needs, are set up for success.”
The Educational Choice for Children Act would:
Provide a non-refundable federal tax credit to individuals and corporations making charitable donations to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). The Treasury Department would administer these credits with a total annual cap of $10 billion, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Use a limited government approach with respect to federalism, thus avoiding mandates on states, localities, and school districts.
Ensure that faith-based educational institutions would be included.
A copy of the bill can be found here.
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the Senate Judiciary Committee today, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) voted against advancing Pamela Bondi’s nomination to be the next Attorney General of the United States. In remarks following his vote, Senator Welch cited Ms. Bondi’s evasion on questions about the 2020 presidential election and concerns about her willingness to stand up against the President to preserve an independent Department of Justice. He called on his colleagues in the United States Senate to fulfill their role in serving as a check and balance to President Trump’s illegal power grabs.
“I would like to think that Pam Bondi would have the ability to stand up because she is qualified, she is engaging, but I was very disturbed on the question from Senator Hirono: ’Who won the election?’ And she couldn’t answer it. It was the Trump-permissible answer: that President Biden is the President, but could not say that he won the election. That bodes poorly,” said Senator Welch. “That is the reason for my no vote. But this raises a question that I think we as the United States Senate have to ask ourselves in view of the nine days of the reckless conduct and the illegal conduct of the President. Will we fulfill our Constitutional role as a separate and independent branch of government to maintain the principle of separation of powers and checks and balances? Our founders knew that would be needed. What they didn’t know is whether those who served in this position as United States Senators would meet the challenge when the check and balance was needed.”
Watch video of his remarks below:
Read his remarks in the Senate Judiciary Committee below:
“Pam Bondi is qualified. She has done outstanding work as an Attorney General, both as a County Prosecutor and as the Florida Attorney General, and I actually quite admire the grit that she had to take on a challenging statewide campaign to become Attorney General.
“Number two, she had very good testimony from Republicans and Democrats about her managerial style, and when I met with her, she was very engaging and responsive to the concerns I have about criminal justice. She is qualified.
“The question that we face as a Senate is: What kind of Department of Justice will we have? There has been a bipartisan recognition of the importance of independence at the Department of Justice. Will we have a Department of Justice that is independent, or will we have a Department of Justice that, in the words of President Trump, is ‘my’ Department of Justice, where I have the right to do anything I want to do.
“There is no question about where President Trump is going. Nine days into the President’s administration, he is on a rampage — a rampage of reckless conduct and illegal conduct. The reckless conduct, of course, are these horrible pardons. People who grabbed the shields that police were using to defend themselves and then started battering police with them, stomping them, kicking them, spitting on them, and then these folks who are pardoned, they get out and they say they want to come back here, and they want those who certified the election of the president to be hanged. We have people who are pardoned, who are wanted for soliciting sex with a minor. Those pardons are so disrespectful to the men and women of law enforcement. It is absolutely despicable in my view.
“But then the illegal conduct: The President says that he can do what he wants to do, regardless of the law.
“One of the laws that I am so proud of is something, Mr. Chairman, you authored and it’s the Inspector Generals. And he fired them all, despite the specific provision in the law that you wisely included, that there be a 30-day notice. Illegal. Clearly illegal. He did the same thing at the National Labor Relations Board.
“There are specific statutory, legislative responsibilities if you want to remove a person. Just blew by it. Illegal. Then, of course, the shocking announcement about impoundment. Absolutely illegal, interfering with the Constitutional right of the Article I branch of Congress to be the appropriator of funds. And what he is doing is illegal.
“Then TikTok—we passed a law in Congress—bipartisan—that it has to comply or be sold. The president picks and chooses and says, ‘No, we are not applying the law.’ Illegal.
“At the Justice Department, before the new AG is even there, the President has installed his personal lawyers. His personal lawyers. And they started doing dirty work, firing career prosecutors.
“There is no mystery here about what the president is going to insist upon. It’s that the DOJ will be ‘my’ law firm. That’s what it is. And there is no question because, if past is prologue, goodbye to Attorney General Barr, goodbye to Attorney General Sessions when they didn’t comply with the demands of an overbearing president.
“Now, I would like to think that Pam Bondi would have the ability to stand up because she is qualified, she is engaging, but I was very disturbed on the question from Senator Hirono: ’Who won the election?’ And she couldn’t answer it.
“It was the Trump-permissible answer that ‘President Biden is the President,’ but could not say that he won the election. That bodes poorly.
“That is the reason for my no vote. But this raises a question I think we as the United States Senate have to ask ourselves – in view of the nine days of the reckless conduct and the illegal conduct of the President: Will we fulfill our constitutional role as a separate and independent branch of government to maintain the principle of separation of powers and checks and balances? Our founders knew that would be needed. What they didn’t know is whether those who served in this position as United States Senators would meet the challenge when the check and balance was needed.”
Watch Senator Welch’s questioning of Ms. Bondi during her confirmation hearing, as well as legal and ethics experts and former colleagues.
India Leading the Global Energy Transition with Unprecedented Speed, Scale, and Scope: Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi India has not only set ambitious energy transition goals but has also been achieving them at a record pace : Union Minister Joshi
Posted On: 29 JAN 2025 7:11PM by PIB Delhi
Emphasizing India’s remarkable progress in Renewable Energy sector, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi said that India is leading the global energy transition with unprecedented speed, scale, and scope. He was addressing the third India Energy Transition Conference, organized by FICCI in New Delhi.
Shri Joshi underlined that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India has not only set ambitious energy transition goals but has also been achieving them at a record pace. India has already achieved almost 100 GW of solar capacity and is set to add 50 GW of new renewable capacity annually in the coming years.In the last ten years, India’s installed renewable capacity has surged by almost 200%, from 75.52 GW in 2014 to 220 GW today. Additionally, he pointed out that the tariff for grid-connected solar power plants has decreased by 80%, from ₹10.95 per unit in 2010-11 to just ₹2.15 per unit,making India a leader in affordable renewable energy.
The Minister also credited India’s policy stability and long-term vision as key drivers of its renewable energy success. The country is on track to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, with an even more ambitious target of 1,800 GW by 2047. He also said that PM SuryaGhar Yojana, which aims to facilitate the installation of 1 crore solar panels, of which 8.5 lakh installations have already been completed. Union Minister Joshi also highlighted examples of PMSGY beneficiaries who started generating income from the rooftop solar installations.
As India’s energy demand is expected to double by 2032, the Minister highlighted the need of even higher RE financing to meet 50 % of expected rise in demand through renewable energy. Union Minister Joshi also said that the Ministry is working towards ironing out the bottlenecks in RE sector by engaging more with stakeholders, and in this regard, MNRE will hold further consultations.
Shri Joshi also highlighted India’s global recognition in the renewable energy sector. The Minister also said that India has now overtaken Brazil to become the third-largest renewable energy market globally.
Speaking about Green Hydrogen, the Minister reiterated that India has been quick to recognize its potential and is now regarded as a global leader in this field. The SIGHT Programme, which focuses on electrolyser manufacturing and green hydrogen production, is expected to further drive innovation and industrial growth in this segment.
He also highlighted the strong investor confidence in India’s renewable energy sector, citing that at the 4th RE-Invest event of Minister of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in Gandhinagar, investment commitments worth ₹32.45 lakh crore were made, along with pledges for 540 GW of solar and wind capacity.
UnionMinister Joshi also launched the FICCI report on ‘Powering India’s Energy Transition’ at the event. Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Shri M Nagaraju was also present.
Chaired the 3rd Edition of the India Energy Transition Summit today and also launched the report – Powering India’s Energy Transition.
Addressed the gathering and spoke about the Speed, Scale and Scope of growth in India’s #renewableenergy sector. Expressed confidence that India… pic.twitter.com/e0APn2OJgD
On the first day of each spring semester, sophomores like first-generation student Flormarie Lopez ’27 (NUR), are gifted a stethoscope before entering their junior year when clinical rotations begin.
NURS 3120 Health Assessment taught by Michele Cole, DNP, MSN, RN, CPN, and Yashika Sharma, Ph.D., RN, teaches students how to take and interpret vital signs, exercise sound clinical judgment, and how to approach patients – skills that they will use every day as a practicing nurse.
Through an endowed scholarship by UConn Nursing alum Margaret E. “Peggy” Sczesny ’69 (NUR), ’79 MS, these gifted stethoscopes are a fundamental tool that enhances confidence and symbolizes professionalism. It can help aid in diagnosis and assessment and serves as a constant companion.
I cherish this gift as a UConn student nurse – David Gorski ’26 (NUR)
“I cherish this gift as a UConn student nurse,” says David Gorski ’26 (NUR). “I use my stethoscope every day in clinical. It’s very important to me to know how to use it and what to look for as we transition from students to health care practitioners.”
In addition to providing stethoscopes for sophomores, the Traditions Fund (as part of this scholarship) also finances nursing pins for all undergraduate and accelerated Certificate of Entry into Nursing (CEIN/BS) students at graduation.
“The fact that donors provided this gift to nursing students is both touching and encouraging because getting a stethoscope is the first step towards feeling prepared for new endeavors in the clinical setting,” says associate clinical professor Marianne (Mimi) Snyder, Ph.D., MSN, RN.
Lopez says, “As a first-gen student, it’s so honoring to be able to show this to my mom and my family in Guatemala, being the first in my family to do something like this.”
Thanks to this generous gift, generations of UConn Nursing students will carry a reminder of their educational roots with them for years to come.
To contribute to the UConn School of Nursing please visit:https://nursing.uconn.edu/info-for/donors/
Question for written answer E-000240/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Barbara Bonte (PfE)
The Commission announced last week that it had reached a political agreement with Mexico on modernising the Global Agreement with that country, which was concluded in 2000, and had begun negotiations with Malaysia on a free-trade agreement.
1.What has been the impact of the Global Agreement with Mexico on the EU’s trade balance?
2.What products and services does Mexico supply the EU with that we cannot produce within the EU ourselves?
3.What products and services will Malaysia supply the EU with that we cannot produce within the EU ourselves?
NEA President Becky Pringle issued the following statement in response to the unprecedented and harmful action by the Trump White House.
“All of our students deserve nothing less than to be their true, authentic selves. By design, Trump’s anti-LGBTQ+ executive order attempts to dehumanize transgender, intersex, and non-binary people. It aims to divide us while endangering the lives of our students and communities. More to the point, by interfering with the medical decisions of parents and doctors, politicians in Washington now are in the driver seat to limit families’ access to the care their children need. It is clear that this administration, through this executive order, believes that some individuals are worth less than others.
“For the families who are seeking gender-affirming care for their children, this isn’t about politics. Yet, politicians behind Project 2025 are pushing the White House to divide our nation and now they are targeting our most vulnerable among us. This is cruel, plain and simple.
“We will not fall for their divide-and-conquer tricks. Together, we will support student learning and development by ensuring that students across our great nation—no matter their race, place of birth or gender identity—are respected and kept safe.”
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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more atwww.nea.org
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that he has joined 22 other state attorneys general in filing a brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case Iowa Pork Producers Association v. Bonta. This case challenges California’s Proposition 12, a law that imposes strict animal welfare regulations on pork producers across the country, regardless of the state that they operate in.
“California’s Californication of our food supply is out of control—first, they come for pork, next, they’ll have us eating crickets. Proposition 12 is nothing more than a power grab by coastal elites who want to dictate how the rest of America farms, eats, and does business. South Carolina won’t stand by while they force their radical agenda on the entire country.” said Attorney General Wilson.
The brief argues that California’s Proposition 12 Law:
Harms agricultural states and consumers by imposing costly regulations that raise pork prices nationwide.
Encourages economic protectionism by allowing one state to impose its regulatory preferences on others, creating a dangerous precedent that could lead to conflicting state mandates.
Violates the U.S. Constitution, including the Dormant Commerce Clause, Import-Export Clause, and Full Faith and Credit Clause.
Proposition 12 requires that all pork sold in California come from pigs raised under specific housing conditions but also requires these standards for pork produced in other states. Given California’s position as the largest consumer of pork in the nation while producing very little itself, the law effectively forces out-of-state farmers to comply with California’s regulations or be excluded from the market.
“The Constitution was designed to prevent exactly this kind of economic balkanization,” Attorney General Wilson said. “If Proposition 12 is allowed to stand, it will set a dangerous precedent where states can impose their own regulatory will on others, leading to chaos in national markets.”
The U.S. Supreme Court is being urged to review the Ninth Circuit’s decision, which declined to consider key constitutional issues raised by the petitioners. The coalition of attorneys general argues that the Supreme Court must step in to clarify the limits of state power and uphold the principles of free and fair interstate commerce.
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement on her legislative priorities for the budget reconciliation package:
“With President Trump back in office and a GOP majority in both the House and Senate, Republicans have the opportunity of a lifetime to achieve real results for the American people through the budget reconciliation process. We need to make President Trump’s tax cuts permanent, reduce the tax burden on seniors, and increase access to health care for families who live in rural America. We also need to build on President Trump’s efforts to restore a strong and secure southern border by empowering local law enforcement to assist the federal government and curbing human trafficking. I support President Trump’s efforts to limit the power of unelected bureaucrats in Washington and to hold federal agencies more accountable for how they spend Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars, and I’m fighting to secure big wins for Tennesseans in the upcoming reconciliation package.” – Senator Blackburn
Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
Watch Kennedy’s comments here.
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) explained why Congress must focus on spending cuts over the next six months even as it bolsters America’s national defense, extends its 2017 tax cuts, addresses inflation and grows the country’s economy enough to pay down its national debt in a speech on the Senate floor.
Key excerpts of Kennedy’s speech are below:
“If we don’t extend those tax cuts, it is going to drive our GDP and our economy on a journey to the center of the Earth. Even my Democratic friends know those tax cuts have to be extended, but we have got other things we have to do, too. We are deficit spending. We are spending money around here like it was pond water, like it was ditch water. . . . I don’t want to blame it all on President Biden, but, if the shoe fits, wear it, Cinderella.”
. . .
“We have now got $36 trillion worth of national debt. . . . That is the most debt we have ever had, well over 100% of GDP. So, we have got to renew the tax cuts, . . . and we have got to stop the deficit spending, and we have got to reduce our debt—but there’s more. There’s more.
“We have got to increase defense spending because President Xi is working with President Putin, who is working with the Ayatollah in Iran. . . . I don’t want America to be the world’s policeman, but I don’t want President Xi or President Putin or the Ayatollah in Iran to be the world’s policemen either. Weakness invites the wolves, and we have got to start spending more money on defense.
“Now you don’t have to be Einstein’s cousin to figure out that all the things that I just described that we have to do in the next year-to-six-months could be called ‘competing interests’—tax cuts, stop deficit spending, reduce the debt, but find more money for defense. Something has got to give . . . we are going to have to reduce spending.
“Since 2019, the American population has grown 2%. We are not having babies. Two percent—and that is after all the illegal immigration. Do you know what has happened to our budget? It has gone up [nearly] 55%.”
. . .
“We’re going to have to reduce spending to pre-pandemic levels, and that is what this [Office of Management and Budget] memorandum today—which temporarily held up the spending of some money, consistent with President Trump’s executive orders—was the first baby step toward. That is what this is all about. That is what this is all about. The world is not going to spin off its axis.”
. . .
“So, I hope all the folks today will go home and take off their Batman t-shirts, wash them [because they’re] probably a little sweaty. I hope everybody will go home—those who drink, have a cocktail—take their meds and put this all in perspective. That’s what that OMB memorandum was all about.”
. . .
“If you don’t believe we’re going to have to cut spending substantially in order to get out of this mess that has been created, then you shouldn’t be driving.”
Watch Kennedy’s full speech here.
Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven
01.28.25
WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Sean Duffy to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“We look forward to working with Secretary Duffy and the Trump administration to ensure that Americans can safely travel on our roads and bridges, railways and in the air. He’s also committed to help reform the permitting process so we can more efficiently build the infrastructure we need to securely move people and goods in this country.”
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
January 28, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (CST)—released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Rep. Sean Duffy by a vote of 77-22 to serve as Secretary of the Department of Transportation.
“Heading into this week, I was prepared to vote to confirm Rep. Duffy. Our conversations were productive and encouraging, and I thought he was sufficiently qualified to serve as Transportation Secretary. But President Trump’s sweeping order to freeze federal grant funding—including historic investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—is illegal and hurting Americans in red and blue states alike, and I cannot vote to confirm a Transportation Secretary while transportation funding is being unlawfully withheld.”
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Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
January 28, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Today, combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC) who still receives her own health care services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—slammed President Donald Trump’s dangerous executive order that bypasses Congress and freezes billions of dollars in grants that help fund programs run by VA and that offer lifelines to millions of Americans, including those who sacrifice for our country. In her remarks, Duckworth also underscored the importance of robust communication between VA and community care providers, calling for VA to remain the “medical center home” for all Veterans, including those who choose—as is their right—to seek care in the community. Video of Duckworth’s remarks and questions can be found on the Senator’s YouTube.
“It’s ironic that while policymakers and citizens came together today to discuss expanding access to care for Veterans, Donald Trump was actively preparing to restrict their access to care this evening,” said Duckworth. “After all that our Veterans have sacrificed, we should be doing everything we can to make it easier for our heroes to receive the timely, high-quality care they’ve earned through their service. Yet, Trump’s dangerous executive order would jeopardize critical and life-changing VA grants that support community-based suicide prevention efforts, rural telehealth access and more. Congress alone has the ‘power of the purse,’ and I hope my Republican colleagues will have the spine to oppose Donald Trump in the face of this cruel, chaotic and unconstitutional order that would hurt everyday Americans, including Veterans.”
Despite campaigning on the promise that he would look out for our Veterans and working families, Donald Trump’s dangerous and unlawful executive order would halt critical, life-changing VA grants that our nation’s heroes rely on. Among the VA efforts that would be impacted by this illegal federal grant freeze include those that aid in the VA’s mission to help homeless Veterans in need of shelter, provide community-based suicide prevention resources, support rural Veteran telehealth access and transportation services, promote the hiring and retention of nurses at state Veterans’ homes, improve specially-adapted housing assistive technology and much more.
Throughout her tenure in Congress, Duckworth has been a fierce supporter of and an effective legislator for our Veterans. During the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee’s confirmation hearing for President Trump’s VA Secretary nominee Doug Collins last week, Duckworth pressed Collins to oppose any effort to privatize VA health care, which would place many Veterans at risk of receiving less effective and less cost-efficient care. In her remarks, Duckworth underscored that VA health care professionals are better positioned to provide the best care possible for our Veterans due to specialized training that informs providers with a unique understanding of Veterans’ experiences and comprehensive medical needs—something that is not replicated in the civilian health care system.
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Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) delivered the following remarks at a hearing to consider the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
As prepared for delivery:
“Thank you to my colleagues and to Mr. Kennedy for being here today. Congratulations on your nomination.
“Throughout this process, Mr. Kennedy, you have been accessible to members and staff on both sides of the aisle and have demonstrated a strong commitment to fulfilling the responsibilities of this role.
“The Department of Health and Human Services oversees our nation’s largest health care programs, providing coverage for nearly two in every five Americans.
“Improving Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, among other initiatives, presents challenges, especially in the face of a rapidly aging population, stubbornly high costs and persistent barriers to access.
“However, this also provides us an opportunity to deliver bold, transformative solutions.
“As a Committee, we share a commitment to advancing commonsense, bipartisan policies that improve the delivery of health care in this country.
“This Committee has worked to realign incentives in the prescription drug supply chain, enhance access in rural communities, expand the availability of telehealth and improve the broken clinician payment structure.
“Across these and other issues, I look forward to working with the Administration to continue pursuing meaningful reforms that serve the American people more effectively and efficiently.
“Too often, patients encounter a health care system that is a disjointed, dysfunctional maze. Complex and bureaucratic chutes and ladders have become the norm.
“Meanwhile, even as health care spending climbs, outcomes across a range of conditions continue to decline.
“Mr. Kennedy, if confirmed, you will have the opportunity to chart a new and better course for the federal approach to tackling both the drivers and the consequences of our ailing health care system.
“Your commitment to combatting chronic conditions that drive health care costs will be critical to our success.
“Prioritizing disease prevention and addressing the factors that fuel conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, Alzheimer’s disease, COPD and cancer will save lives, reduce costs and build a healthier, stronger country.
“Private-sector breakthroughs, from groundbreaking cancer medications to curative gene therapies, offer hope. But misguided government initiatives and market volatility risk eroding American leadership in lifesaving R&D.
“Your advocacy for health care transparency has the potential to empower consumers across the country, promoting competition to enhance quality while cutting excessive spending, both for patients and for taxpayers.
“Today’s hearing will provide a forum to hear more about your vision, particularly for the federal programs under this Committee’s jurisdiction.
“Mr. Kennedy, you represent a voice for an inspiring coalition of Americans who are deeply committed to improving the health and well-being of our nation.
“Regardless of political party, everyone in this room shares a common recognition that our current system has fallen short—as well as a common desire to make our country healthier.
“I look forward to today’s conversation, as well as to your testimony, Mr. Kennedy.”
Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – today issued the following statement after receiving confirmation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that there are no VA programs impacted by the federal funding pause:
“After my inquiry today, VA has confirmed that no direct benefits or assistance provided through grant partners is impacted by OMB’s pause on federal funding. Veterans and their families, as well as the organizations that serve them, will continue to have access to the benefits, services and resources provided through the Department of Veterans Affairs. I appreciate the VA quickly providing answers to my questions and continuing the important programs that serve our veterans and their families.”
While it may be true that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, are alarmist statements a good motivator for health messaging, or is there danger to using them?(Shutterstock)
The United States surgeon general recently called for a warning of cancer risk on alcohol labels. And I agree. But the discourse that has come out in the media, by health professionals and health influencers, has been alarmist and a disservice to informing the public on the real cancer risks associated with alcohol.
I’m a professor in Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University and I study how behaviours relate to the disease. I also write a blog on the role health behaviours play in your health.
But are these alarmist statements a good motivator for health messaging, or is there danger to using them?
Statistically, your risk for cancer goes up from the very first sip of alcohol. That doesn’t mean you will get cancer from drinking alcohol, it just means your chances increase. And as you drink more alcohol, your chances further increase. It’s like betting in roulette: the more numbers you bet on, the more likely you are to win. Or in this case, lose.
Out of 800 women, one drink per week will result in two additional women getting breast cancer. (Shutterstock)
However, what’s lost in this messaging is how much this risk is. Based on Canada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health, having one drink per week increases a women’s risk for breast cancer by 1.8 per cent. Approximately one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their life. Therefore, out of 800 women, one drink per week will result in two additional women getting breast cancer. Having one drink per day increases the risk seven-fold. These are real people who might otherwise not get breast cancer if they abstained from alcohol.
While these numbers are much lower than the number of people who die from cancer each year, it would also be accurate to say there is no amount of walking or driving that is safe. Despite this, people will continue to cross the street and people will continue to drive. But this illustrates the challenge in informing the public about risks and changing behaviour.
Fear in public health messaging
The use of fear in public health messaging should only be used if there’s an effective solution. In the case of alcohol, there is: abstinence. (Shutterstock)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, fear was at the forefront of public health efforts to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Indeed, the use of fear in public health messaging seemed to be quite an effective tool in ensuring behavioural compliance in pandemic measures. Community interviews of parents showed fear was at the root of both getting their children vaccinated (fear of the disease) or not (fear of the vaccination).
The use of fear in public health messaging should only be used if there’s an effective solution. In the case of alcohol, there is: abstinence. But the use of fear should also be commensurate with the risk, otherwise it risks having people tune out.
This may be particularly problematic when previous guidelines stated beneficial effects of moderate drinking and current guidelines on alcohol state one to two drinks per day is acceptable. Instead, the public may be best served by communicating the risk in terms the public understands, such as how many more people will get cancer from drinking.
Alcohol should have a warning label on it
Alcohol consumption in Canada is on the decline. In 2022, alcohol consumption decreased by 1.2 per cent compared to 2021. And in 2023, 54 per cent of Canadians reported having no alcohol over the previous week, with younger Canadians drinking less than their older counterparts. These trends are similar in the United States.
More than 40 countries have a warning label on alcohol (although far fewer mention cancer), but Canada and many European countries are not included. They should be. Alcohol is a highly addictive substance that can destroy the lives of those addicted to it and those around them. It impairs judgment and accounts for dozens of deaths per year from drinking and driving.
Warning labels on alcohol are a good step to reduce health risks, as long as they are clear and informative.
Scott Lear receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Hamilton Health Sciences, and has received funding from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Novo Nordisk, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The Securities and Exchange Commission, together with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), extended the compliance date for the amendments to Form PF that were adopted on Feb. 8, 2024. The compliance date for these amendments, which was originally March 12, 2025, has been extended to June 12, 2025.
Form PF is the confidential reporting form for certain SEC-registered investment advisers to private funds, including those that also are registered with the CFTC as commodity pool operators or commodity trading advisers. This extension will mitigate certain administrative and technological burdens and costs associated with the prior compliance date. This extension will also provide more time for filers to program and test for compliance with these amendments.
Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced she will serve as Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies (Ag-FDA). This Subcommittee oversees funding for the majority of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as well as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“I’m honored to serve in this new role and committed to building on my work to address the high cost of living that so many Granite Staters are experiencing,” said Senator Shaheen. “I look forward to finding new and creative opportunities to improve support for New Hampshire’s rural communities, including by investing in rural housing and water infrastructure, championing our small businesses and small and diversified farmers, continuing my bipartisan efforts to tackle the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, such as those to treat Type 1 diabetes, as well as funding federal nutrition programs that help Granite Staters put food on the table.”
Shaheen has served on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee since 2012, and formerly chaired the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Subcommittee. She will also serve as a member of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services and Education and Related Agencies and State, Foreign Operations and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittees.
Shaheen has long fought to support farmers in New Hampshire, including by successfully helping to secure disaster supplemental funding for farmers impacted by crop losses in 2023. Shaheen also has a strong record of working to improve crop insurance policies to support farmers in New Hampshire and leads legislation to reform the federal government’s crop insurance program. Senator Shaheen has supported more than 230 New Hampshire small businesses who have received over $25 million to lower energy bills and cut costs through USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program. She has consistently fought for increased funding and improved support for rural development programs, including rural water programs.
Shaheen also spearheads efforts to combat rising drug prices and make essential medications more affordable, including leading legislation to lower the cost of prescription drugs and bring generic drugs to market faster. Last Congress, Shaheen introduced bipartisan legislation, the Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act, that would work to increase competition from generic drugs through better oversight of FDA’s citizen petition process. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed this bill unanimously. As co-chair of the bipartisan U.S. Senate Diabetes Caucus, Shaheen has also consistently worked with FDA on access to diabetes technology and cures for type 1 diabetes. Senator Shaheen’s bipartisan INSULIN Act also includes proposals to expedite FDA approval of biosimilar drugs, which are proven to increase competition and lower drug costs.
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Lieutenant General Ulisses de Mesquita Gomes of Brazil as Force Commander of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
Lieutenant General Gomes succeeds Acting Force Commander Major General Khar Diouf of Senegal, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedication and service.
Lieutenant General Gomes brings to the position 35 years of experience in crisis response, conflict management and peacekeeping. He has both operational and strategic expertise as well as diplomatic experience. His last position was with his national military, where he served as Deputy Chief of Army Logistics Command. Prior to that, he was the Brazilian Military Attaché to the United States of America.
He previously served as the 7th Infantry Brigade Commander in Brazil, the Defence Adviser of the Minister of Strategic Affairs of the Brazilian Government and the Chief of Planning and Operations of the 11th Infantry Brigade. His international experience includes his deployment with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) (2008-2009) and his appointment as the Chief of the Current Military Operations Service and Policy & Doctrine Team in the Office of Military Affairs of the UN Department of Peace Operations (2017-2019).
Lieutenant General Gomes holds a bachelor’s degree in law from the Federal University, Brazil, and a master’s degree in military science and law from the Brazilian Army Staff College. He is fluent in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring Jasper residents, businesses and not-for-profits are supported as the community recovers from last summer’s wildfire. Since the beginning of the wildfire, more than $170 million has been provided from across the provincial government to support Jasper residents and businesses as the community recovers and rebuilds.
The donation-matching initiative with the Canadian Red Cross is just one part of the Alberta government’s commitment to help Jasper and its residents recover. To support Jasper’s recovery, the province has provided more than $12 million through a donation-matching initiative with the Canadian Red Cross into the Canadian Red Cross’s 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal to support the families and residents most affected by the wildfires.
“Alberta has worked tirelessly with the Canadian Red Cross to help Jasper and Jasperites recover from last year’s wildfire. Initiatives we have collaborated on, such as the small business supports program, have already provided support to over 270 Jasper businesses by using more than $12 million in matching funds from the Government of Alberta. We continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Jasper as they, and their municipality, recover.
Through the Canadian Red Cross’s 2024 Alberta Wildfires Appeal, every $1 donation made was matched with a $1 donation from Alberta’s government over the span of 30 days. The contribution from the province through this donation-matching initiative has helped fundraise more than $40 million to provide affected families, residents, businesses and not-for-profits of Jasper with a variety of supports. These supports include financial assistance, navigation supports and the small business supports program.
The province’s total assistance package of more than $170 million during and after the wildfire includes:
Up to $149 million in Disaster Recovery Program funding.
$7.5 million in emergency evacuation payments to more than 6,500 Jasperites.
More than $12 million in matching funds to support the Canadian Red Cross in providing support to residents and business owners in Jasper.
$18 million in funding to rebuild a seniors lodge for displaced senior residents of the Pine Grove Manor.
$2.5 million in tourism support.
$121,400 in food, financial and operating support to the Jasper Food Bank.
In addition to the assistance already provided, Alberta’s government remains ready to build $112 million worth of homes for displaced Jasperites, but the province cannot do that without land. If the federal government decides to step up and make land available, the province is ready to build the homes. Work with partners will continue to ensure that Jasper families and residents continue to have access to the supports and services they need during the community’s recovery.
Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union
WASHINGTON – Today, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), represented by Democracy Forward and Bredhoff and Kaiser PLLC, filed suit against the Trump administration challenging efforts to politicize the civil service through illegal executive orders.
The lawsuit asserts that President Trump illegally exceeded his authority in attempting to unilaterally roll back a regulation that protects the rights of civil servants. The suit also names the Office of Personnel Management for its role in failing to adhere to the Administrative Procedure Act in its attempts to roll back this same regulation.
“AFGE is filing suit with our partner union today to protect the integrity of the American people’s government,” said AFGE National President Everett Kelley. “Together, we can stop the efforts to fire hundreds of thousands of experienced, hard-working Americans who have dedicated their careers to serving their country and prevent these career civil servants from being replaced with unqualified political flunkies loyal to the president, but not the law or Constitution.”
“Schedule F is a shameless attempt to politicize the federal workforce by replacing thousands of dedicated, qualified civil servants with political cronies,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “Our union was born in the fight for a professional, non-partisan civil service, and our communities will pay the price if these anti-union extremists are allowed to undo decades of progress by stripping these workers of their freedoms. Together, we are fighting back.”
“In just the nine days since Trump took office, his administration has repeatedly demonstrated a blatant disregard for the law in service of its political objectives. Its efforts to politicize the non-partisan, independent federal employees who protect our national and domestic security, ensure our food and medications are safe, deliver essential services to people and communities everywhere, and much more is simply and clearly illegal,” said Democracy Forward President & CEO Skye Perryman. “Democracy Forward will continue to meet the Trump administration with legal challenges when it chooses to break the law and harm people and communities.”
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The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 800,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia.
Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visitwww.democracyforward.org.
ATLANTA – Gilberto Contreras has pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute nearly 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine.
“Contreras distributed massive quantities of dangerous drugs that posed a significant threat to the health and safety of our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “Our office is grateful for the diligent work of our federal and local law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to remove these poisons from our streets and to hold accountable those who peddle them.”
“This case represents the continued commitment of the DEA to identify and hold accountable those who engage in the distribution of dangerous drugs, such as methamphetamine,” said Jae Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges and other information presented in court: On July 2, 2024, DEA special agents received information about a local methamphetamine trafficker with multiple kilograms of methamphetamine for sale. The investigation led agents to a parking lot in Clayton County, Georgia, where the agents encountered Contreras. Law enforcement stopped Contreras’s vehicle a short time later and located a black trash bag containing approximately 44 pounds of methamphetamine. Agents then searched Contreras’s residence and backyard in Ellenwood, Georgia and located approximately 915 pounds of methamphetamine and $40,000 in cash.
Gilberto Contreras, 54, of Ellenwood, Georgia, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr.
This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with valuable assistance provided by the Clayton County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne A. Brown, Jr. is prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Committee Chair Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the Small Business Child Care Investment Act. This bipartisan legislation would increase the availability of affordable, high-quality child care for working families by allowing non-profit child care providers, that qualify as small businesses, to participate in Small Business Administration loan programs.
A recent report labeled the entire state of Nevada as a “child care desert,” and found that nearly 75 percent of children below the age of five don’t have access to a licensed child care provider. The report deemed the cost of child care a “huge concern” in Nevada and found it often to be more expensive than college tuition.
“The lack of affordable child care options in our communities hurts hardworking families at a time when they are already being squeezed by rising costs,” said Senator Rosen. “Our bipartisan bill will help increase the number of child care providers in Nevada and across the country by bolstering non-profits with access to much-needed federal resources, giving families greater access to care. I will continue working to lower costs of the everyday essentials that Nevadans rely on.”
“Finding affordable and high-quality childcare is one of the most pressing issues facing small businesses looking to hire and retain capable staff,” said Senator Ernst. “As chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I’m proud to help alleviate the pressure on hardworking families, especially in rural areas. This commonsense legislation will clear the Washington red tape, expand options, and drive down costs in Iowa and across the country.”
“The Small Business Child Care Investment Act is a game-changer for families and communities across the United States. By empowering nonprofit child care providers to access critical small business loan programs, this legislation ensures they have the resources to expand, improve and sustain the high-quality child care that working families depend on. At Save the Children, we know that accessible and affordable child care is essential not only for children’s healthy development but also for economic stability. We applaud this bipartisan effort and urge swift action to make these vital investments a reality for families nationwide,” said Christy Gleason, Vice-President for Policy, Advocacy, and Campaigns at Save the Children.
“For too many parents balancing work and family responsibilities, finding reliable child care remains a significant challenge,” said Sarah Rittling, Executive Director of the First Five Years Fund. “We are thankful to Senators Rosen and Ernst for their bipartisan work on this innovative bill to support small, non-profit child care providers and expand access so more children and families can find and afford the care they need.”
“Access to quality child care providers is critical for hardworking families and a strong, stable economy. Yet across the country, providers are struggling to deliver care on razor thin margins and with limited resources. Increasing access to capital by allowing these nonprofit child care businesses to utilize Small Business Administration loans will support providers looking to enter the child care space, expand services, and increase quality. These resources can be especially crucial in rural communities where access to child care fails to meet the needs of many working families. We applaud Sens. Rosen (D-NV) and Ernst (R-IA) for their leadership and making child care more accessible with the introduction of the Small Business Childcare Investment Act,” said Michele Stockwell, President of the Bipartisan Policy Center Action.
“United Way of Southern Nevada is a long-standing partner of Nevada Ready! State Pre-K, a program enabling hundreds of children from qualifying families to attend preschool at no cost. We have seen firsthand the positive impact that affordable high-quality care and education options have provided not only for our children, but entire families,” said Julie Houchins, Senior Director of Early Education at the United Way of Southern Nevada. “The Small Business Child Care Investment Act allows nonprofit childcare and early education providers to grow their capacity so they can meet the needs of working families in Nevada. We are very grateful for this bipartisan effort that will help local children, parents, and businesses alike.”
The bipartisan Small Business Child Care Investment Act would:
Ensure that qualified non-profit providers have equal access to key SBA loan options that allow providers to invest in and expand their operations, which creates local jobs and gives working families more options for affordable and quality child care;
Ensure non-profit providers can access the larger and more flexible loan programs like 7(a) and 504 that can be used for real estate, construction, remodeling, and other expenses critical to maintaining and expanding high-quality child care operations.
Senator Rosen continues working to lower child care costs for Nevada’s hardworking families. Last year, she joined a bipartisan bill to provide child care services for police officers and support law enforcement families. During a confirmation hearing in the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Rosen secured a commitment from General David Allvin, Air Force Chief of Staff, to cut red tape in a program designed to make child care available for military families like Airmen at Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases who work overnight shifts. Additionally, Senator Rosen joined in helping to introduce the Child Care for Working Families Act, legislation that would help lower child care costs for an average American family to no more than $10-a-day.
[BOISE] – Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced a $219,321.25 settlement in a Medicaid fraud investigation into Precision Diagnostics for allegedly false claims between January 2013 and December 2022, submitted to the Idaho Medicaid Program. Claims for medically unnecessary drug analysis tests were allegedly submitted by doctors that received free drug-testing supplies from Precision Diagnostics in exchange for laboratory testing referrals in violation of state and federal anti-kickback laws. This state settlement was part of a larger nationwide investigation into Precision Diagnostics and a settlement totaling $27 million dollars. “It is essential that all agents and actors of Medicaid are held to the highest standard of scrutiny when conducting business with taxpayer dollars,” said Attorney General Labrador. “This settlement returns funds back into the program designed to provide health services to Idahoans, not to fraudulently line the pockets of contractors and providers.” The case was investigated by the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s Medicaid Division. Precision Diagnostics has already submitted the first of five annual restitution payments and Idaho’s share of $69,220.28 will be returned to the Medicaid Division.
Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today announced that she will serve as the chairman of the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees funding across a large range of programs within the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, Health and Human Services (HHS), and other independent agencies. Senator Capito previously served as ranking member of the subcommittee during the 118th Congress.
“I’m honored to continue my efforts—now as chairman—on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee to represent the needs of West Virginians. In this impactful role, I will strive to ensure the funding we provide is used in the most efficient and effective manner and that critical oversight is provided.
“Additionally, I look forward to working with committee leadership and members in this new role to support many priorities that are important to my state of West Virginia, such as Alzheimer’s research, efforts to end childhood cancer, fighting the addiction crisis, the wellbeing of our miners, and supporting the education and research missions of our schools and universities. Regardless of the scope or challenges, I will approach this opportunity with the objective of ensuring the voices and priorities of West Virginia are heard and understood. I appreciate the support of Chairman Collins in this role and I am excited to work together in our Republican Congress to advance the goals of the Trump administration,” Chairman Capito said.
In addition to her chairman role, Senator Capito will continue serving on the following Appropriations Subcommittees: Defense; Homeland Security; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
In addition to the Appropriations Committee, Senator Capito will continue serving on the Committee on Environment and Public Works as chairman; the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and the Committee on Rules and Administration.
This is the fourth Appropriations Subcommittee Senator Capito has been a chairman of as a member of the committee during her time in the Senate. She previously chaired the Homeland Security, Financial Service and General Government, and Legislative Branch subcommittees.
Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME), a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), is highlighting the catastrophic consequences that could result from the immediate federal hiring freeze enacted by the new administration. In a letter to President Donald Trump, King specifically expresses his concerns about the impact this hiring freeze will have on access to healthcare and critical services for veterans in Maine.
King wrote, “Our veterans deserve access to the best quality health care, the benefits they earned, and someone to answer the phone when they call for help. I worry that this hiring freeze will have harmful impacts on the VA and their ability to continue providing critical services to our veterans. As a former governor who implemented a hiring freeze for state employees, I encourage your administration to take a measured approach to implementation.”
“As you know, the VA provides various services to millions of veterans—from health care to life-saving assistance from the Veterans Crisis Line. VA employees across the Department dedicate their careers to caring for our veterans,” King continued. “Without a broad exemption, I worry that any hiring freeze would hurt access to veterans’ benefits, including health care. For example, if support staff are not there to help schedule appointments or address IT issues, veterans will not be able to get care; if claims processors aren’t processing disability claims, veterans will not receive benefits; if there aren’t enough doctors and nurses, veterans will not have access to health care; if the National Cemetery Administration isn’t properly staffed, veterans will not have access to burial benefits.”
“I appreciate new guidance from Acting VA Secretary Todd Hunter that clarifies that more than 300,000 health care positions at the VA will be considered essential to department operations, and therefore exempt from the hiring freeze. I urge you and the VA to ensure that all positions within the VA are considered as essential, so that we can continue to hire dedicated employees to serve and care for our veterans,” King concluded.
Representing one of the states with the highest rates of veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. In the committee cabinet nomination hearing, King questioned nominee Doug Collins of his concerns over using artificial intelligence (AI) to determine the status of a veteran’s earned benefits. In the exchange, he pressed Collins for his commitment to ensure veterans’ access to benefits will not be adversely impacted by AI technologies. In 2024, Congress also passed Senator King’s bipartisan legislation to improve veterans’ access to health care and benefits.
The full text of the letter can be found here and below.
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Dear President Trump:
I write regarding the January 20, 2025, Presidential Memorandum instituting an immediate hiring freeze of civil service federal employees. While the intended goal of the hiring freeze is to allow the government time to evaluate the size of the current workforce, I have concerns about the impact this hiring freeze will have on our nation’s veterans, especially those in Maine. That is why I urge you to provide a full exemption to all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) personnel to ensure continued services to our nation’s heroes.
Our veterans deserve access to the best quality health care, the benefits they earned, and someone to answer the phone when they call for help. I worry that this hiring freeze will have harmful impacts on the VA and their ability to continue providing critical services to our veterans. As a former governor who implemented a hiring freeze for state employees, I encourage your administration to take a measured approach to implementation.
As you know, the VA provides various services to millions of veterans—from health care to life-saving assistance from the Veterans Crisis Line. VA employees across the Department dedicate their careers to caring for our veterans. Without a broad exemption, I worry that any hiring freeze would hurt access to veterans’ benefits, including health care. For example, if support staff are not there to help schedule appointments or address IT issues, veterans will not be able to get care; if claims processors aren’t processing disability claims, veterans will not receive benefits; if there aren’t enough doctors and nurses, veterans will not have access to health care; if the National Cemetery Administration isn’t properly staffed, veterans will not have access to burial benefits.
I appreciate new guidance from Acting VA Secretary Todd Hunter that clarifies that more than 300,000 health care positions at the VA will be considered essential to department operations, and therefore exempt from the hiring freeze. I urge you and the VA to ensure that all positions within the VA are considered as essential, so that we can continue to hire dedicated employees to serve and care for our veterans.
Veterans deserve the best care and we must deliver on the promises made to them. I look forward to working with you on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) today was named Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. Schatz is also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
“This new role will put me in a better position to continue the hard work of strengthening U.S. diplomacy overseas. I’m committed to working with Chairman Graham and my committee colleagues to stand by our friends, partners, and allies around the world, honor our international commitments, and deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to those most in need,” said Ranking Member Schatz.
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations is responsible for appropriating billions of dollars in funding for the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other critical agencies and programs that provide humanitarian aid, global health support, and economic and security assistance, among other things to those in need around the world.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
January 29, 2025
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), today introduced the Mentoring to Succeed Act in recognition of January as National Mentoring Month. U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), and Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) introduced companion legislation in the House earlier this week. This legislation creates a strong, sustainable support system through mentorship to ensure that children who experience barriers like poverty, disability, adverse childhood experiences, or drug or alcohol abuse, can successfully transition to high school, college, and the workforce. The Mentoring to Succeed Act would strengthen investments in mentorship programs to help youth facing risk develop the academic, social, and workforce skills that lead to success.
“Across Illinois and the country, young kids, especially from underserved communities, face obstacles like community violence and underfunded schools that have a dramatic impact on their ability to graduate from high school and transition to college and the workforce. But with the guidance of a mentor, youth could lean on a trusted adult to help them navigate these challenges,”said Durbin. “I’m introducing the Mentoring to Succeed Act to ensure that our most vulnerable children have the opportunity to succeed and achieve their full potential with the guidance of a mentor.”
“Too many young people, particularly young people of color, don’t have access to the academic or economic opportunities that everyone deserves,” Duckworth said. “At the same time, too many struggle with violence in their communities and other obstacles that stifle their dreams and their ambitions. Our nation’s children deserve a chance to reach their full potential, and mentoring programs have been proven to help students do just that. I’m proud to join my colleagues in re-introducing this legislation to help ensure every child gets the guidance and resources they need to succeed in school, in the workforce and in life.”
“Across the country, young kids lack access to the resources they need to thrive academically and succeed post-graduation,” said Booker. “Mentorship programs have a proven track record of helping young people stay on track and achieve their dreams by providing a stable support system for the kids who don’t have one at home. The Mentoring to Succeed Act will expand access to high quality, trauma-informed mentorship programs and help at-risk kids receive the help, support, and skills they need to pursue their aspirations.”
“In celebration of National Mentoring Month, I am proud to reintroduce the Mentoring to Succeed Act in the House of Representatives,” said Schakowsky. “Whether it be the gun violence epidemic, the ongoing threat of climate change, the rising cost of college education, or anything in-between, today’s students are dealing with a lot and deserve access to a support system. TheMentoring to Succeed Act will give students that support system – through a mentor – helping them get the resources and support they need to thrive in school, the workforce, and beyond.”
A study by MENTOR found that 70 percent of today’s young people could remember a time when they wanted a mentor for support but did not have one. As a result, these youth missed out on the powerful effects of mentoring that have been shown to make a child more likely to enroll in college, participate regularly in sports and extracurricular activities, volunteer in their communities, and hold leadership positions. Researchers at the University of Chicago found that Youth Guidance’s school-based mentoring program, Becoming a Man, reduced rates of arrests for violent crime, improved school engagement, and increased high school graduation rates.
Mentoring programs help youth develop valuable workforce skills that employers are seeking and prepare young people for future apprenticeships, internships, and workforce-based learning opportunities. A 2024 study found that 84 percent of employers say job candidates must demonstrate social and emotional skills, such as communication and problem-solving—with the majority of employers stating that these types of skills were the most important. The federal government can strengthen investments in mentoring programs to help youth facing significant barriers develop the academic, social, and workforce skills that lead to success in career and life.
The Mentoring to Succeed Act would:
Invest in Mentoring Programs. Establish a three-year, competitive grant program that provides federal funding to establish, expand, or support mentoring programs.
Help Youth Overcome Adversity and Trauma. Provide grant recipients with funding to train mentors in trauma-informed practices and interventions to increase resilience in youth and reduce juvenile justice involvement.
Strengthen Workforce Readiness. Support partnerships with local businesses and private companies to help youth facing risk with hands-on career training and career exploration.
Close the Opportunity Gap. Give preference to applicants that develop a plan to help prepare youth facing barriers for college and the workforce.
Support Capacity Building. Support partnerships with nonprofit, community-based, and faith-based organizations to increase the number of youth facing risk served.
Enhance Youth Success. Provide grant recipients with funding for program evaluation and identification of successful strategies.
The Mentoring to Succeed Act is endorsed by MENTOR; Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa; Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson, and Union Counties; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago; Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound; Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County; Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah; Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston; Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago; Boys & Girls Club of Livingston County; College Mentors for Kids; Friends of the Children; Girls Inc. of Chicago; Instituto del Progreso Latino; National Alliance of Faith and Justice; National Organization of Concerned Black Men; Partners for Youth with Disabilities; Sisters Circle; Union League Boys and Girls Clubs; Year Up United; and YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.
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